One Breath (OffGun)

11. Past and Present

"So, Mark, what's happen now?"
Mark look into Finn eyes and raise his eyebrow.
"Do you have some problem with him? It's been view months from your big fight with him. Did it happen again?"

"I know you don't bring dinner here for free, Fin." Mark give some glare to his busybody friend.

"Then spoil it. Because I don't like to see you like this anymore, " Finn speak while he arrange the table for they dinner time.

"What? Me just here." Mark sit on the couch and turn on the television.
"Yeah, you put you ass here, but your mind goin' somewhere out there over the rainbow."

"Shit, Finn. Stop hear songs or musics with your grandma," Mark can stand with Finn greenleave line. Then he take a piece of meatlover pizza with extra cheese.
Mark take a bite, and munch it slowly, to take his time for preparing many answer to Finn. Because his bestfriend isn't just a busybody person. He's stubborn and hardhead, too.

"You know what," Mark look at Finn. He drink a sip of rootbeer. "I don't even know what's goin' on here."

Finn stare to Mark after he heard Mark's answer. He can't believe that his smart and cold friend, can be very stupid in this thing,

"Did you call him?"
"He never answer."

"Did you send him messages?"
"He never reply."

"Do you see his twitter or Instagram account?"
"Yes, and still the same. He never update those all."

"When is the last day you did all of that?"
"Why?"

"Shit, Mark! Here!" Finn hand him his handphone.

"I think it said where he is lately. He didn't write anything. He didn't put any word. Just picture. And couple days ago. Do you get anything? Because I feel that this picture kinda familiar."

Mark think the same thing, too. He looks something on the table. Then, he put his coffee cup. Cup which given by Neil at his day last year. Cup which made by Neil himself.

DING!

Mark hear ringtone of his phone. Notification from Neil!
He open it quickly and somehow he feel something bitter in his heart.

Finn become curious when he see Mark's face. He took Mark's phone and look in there

Give back what I shouldn't took home, but mine taken away.
It's finish.
It's time to say thank you and goodbye...

Forever

Mark feels something isn't right. In his heart. In his mind. In his .....
Mark doesn't understand why that words make his heart ache. He doesn't get why he feels so empty and something missing.

"Finn..."

"Are you okay?" Finn tap his shoulder.

"What's wrong with me?" Mark look at Finn. And he feels something warm fall to his cheeks.
"Why do I feel bitter after I read his words? Why do I feel that I'll loose something precious of mine?"
Then Mark look the picture on the cup in his grip.

I think I know where is he.
But before I move to the next step, I need to clarify himself.

Besides, he knew that in time like this, Neil needs time alone with himself. Mark feel that the distance will more if she meet Neil now.

"Finn...." Mark take a deep sigh.

The owner of the name just look at Mark, say nothing but only with his eyes.

"I wanna ask you few things"

"………"

"But don't you dare to put your fucking smile on your face. Or I'll plester that with this," Mark shove a fork close to Finn' face.
Finn lift up his hands above his head.

Finn POV

It's the first time I see my cold ice mountain friend get in nerves about something. Not because he doesn't know. It's more like he know but still unsure about that thing. Or someone...

Yeah, I'm sure for the rest of life that he changes lately.
He used to be a cold person.
He used to be not give much respond.
He used to be difficult to approach.
He used to be rarely to talk and laugh. Even better for him not to open his mouth or your heart will torn into pieces.
He used to be not an easy person.

I can't deny that Neil presence gives much effect to Mark's personality. And in short time. A year is short, if we talk about Mark here.
And I don't know, do he realize it or not. Cz everything goin' smooth and natural between them. Maybe they adjust each other day by day.

Wheneter dan wherever Nail around him, I can feel that the tension around him became relaxe more than before. He still hard to appoach, but now people, my club's member at least, can talk with him easily.

He do not put down his guard, but he let Neil do what he want to do with him, and in months, he can get along with Neil's habit.

And still amaze me.

That Mark let Neil being clingy with him more and more.

When Neil suddenly sit on his lap, he adjust his possion, to let Neil sit comfortably.
When Neil run to him with arms wide open, he low his body, to make Neil hug him easly, since his height is a head above Neil.
When Neil put his arm to him and tiptoes, Mark lean a bit to make Neil can reach neck or cheek, which Neil usually kiss.
When Neil suddenly hug him from the back, either in neck or waist, he just pause what he did before until Neil release him.
When Neil fall a sleep on his lap, he just let that junior there and hush all of us when he feel our voice is too loud.
The most of all, Mark is picky eater. The worst one. But lately, he always open his mouth for every food Neil feed to him. They even bite the same food. And drink from the same container.
And other they sweet things I can't mention. Sweet things which Mark didn't like before.

And the person who Mark let doing that all is Neil

Only Neil

And when I saw a drop of tear fell and his became moist, quietly surprised me.

He's just human...... Too

Yeah

And when Neil became lowkey until stopped all of that and started to give cold treatment to Mark, only to Mark, that's I knew, that something was't right.

"Finn....." He call me. I feel sadness in his voice.
I lean my back and cross my arms on my chest. I just look at him, waiting what will he say.

"What do you feel when you find Pam?"

I take one breath before answer him. Deep one.
Here we go.
Finally... It starts...