Sacred Madness

Affection

"Why do I always have to see you cry?" Mark asked as soon as he came back from the convenience store. He had bought ice creams for him and the boy sitting in the front seat of his car.

"I'm sorry" Gun replied before accepting the ice cream that Mark handed him.

"You're always sorry. Maybe that's the reason why people makes fun of you". Mark was just telling the truth, so why does he need to feel guilty when he heard the older boy sniffled as he eats his ice cream in silence. "I'm sorry" he said after seeing Gun's reaction, which was then followed by a moment of dead silence.

"Thank you" Gun's voice was low, but it was enough for Mark to hear. It was more than enough for Mark to feel the sincerity in Gun's words.

Mark nodded, he had this gentle smile gracing his lips which was a rare sight. "Don't mention it" he said in an equally low voice.

It seems like an awkward atmosphere but for these two, it was a rather comforting silence. Just sitting there, eating their own chocolate ice creams, respecting each other's need for personal space and moment for self reflection. And maybe that's what Gun needed right now, the feeling of someone beside him, but not intruding.

Mark started to drive as soon as he finished eating his ice cream. Gun on the other hand was a slow eater, but it doesn't matter because he's not the one driving.

The car took a turn in a familiar street and it brought Gun into a sudden realization. He forgot to tell the younger boy that that place was no longer his home. Typical stupid Gun.

"Can you drop me here?" Gun suddenly asked to which the other boy was confused as he did so.

"Did you forget something?" Mark asked after pulling up on the sidewalk.

"I..." Gun swallowed hard. It was hard for him to admit that he doesn't belong there anymore. "I moved in with my father".

Mark was surprised upon hearing what the other boy just said. Isn't his father his mom's rapist? If Kris told him right then that man should be in jail until now. How can he move in with a criminal?

"Isn't your dad a rapist?" Mark doesn't know the concept of filter your words. He just realized how bad his question was when he saw the older boy looking downcast while unconsciously playing with the hem of his shirt. "I'm sorry" he said almost automatically. Mark hardly apologize due to his prideful nature, but Gun had managed to make him say sorry twice in a span of an hour.

"Its okay. You were right, and I'm the result of that blasphemy" Gun was blinking faster, lips quivering as he tried his hardest to hold back his tears. He doesn't want to cry anymore. "You should probably stay away from me N'Mark before I soil you too. Just like I did to my brother". With that Gun opened the door. He was about to step out when Mark stopped him, gripping tightly his slender arms to prevent him from leaving.

"I'm so sorry P'Gun. I didn't mean to offend you" Mark sounded desperate.

"I'm not offended" Gun replied as he slowly turned towards Mark, looking at him straight in his eyes. "I just don't want you to be dragged in this mess that I am"

Gun's eyes was like the night sky shimmering with unshed tears. His plump lips turning into a darker shade of pink as a result of his constant anxious biting. His brown messy hair perfectly framing his delicate face, and his porcelain skin illuminating as the light from the moon and the streetlamps shone through the car windows. He looked simply Devine, like an angel in a human flesh that had Mark rendered speechless. Mark realized in that moment that If Gun was a maze, he has been lost. If Gun was the sun, Mark has been sunburned. If Gun was a religion, Mark has been a devotee. And now he was drowning with so much emotions because Gun was like the ocean, beautiful, yet full of mystery. Maybe this is love. Maybe Mark is in love.