12:29pm
"Go Jack! Lift those boxes!" Mark cheers as he watches me place a stack of boxes on the floor.
With a pillow in his arms and his feet dangling off the kitchen counter, Mark kicks his feet excitedly and pumps his fists into the air.
A small smile creeps onto my face.
"Yay! Keep smiling!" Mark chirps happily.
For the past hour, I've been helping Mark move into his nice apartment. It's small, spacious and comfortable unlike my aunt's house.
I understand why he needed my help. There are so many boxes that the entire floor of the newly bought apartment is barely seen.
Mark hasn't lifted not one box, he grabbed his pillow from the moving truck and told me to help him bring up the rest of the stuff.
Usually, my mind will tell me if I'm being used but I know that I'm being useful today.
When Mark and I hugged, I realized how skinny his arms were. Maybe he's too weak to carry these heavy boxes.
As I grab another box from the moving truck, I notice a word written on the box.
Tuan
"That's my last name." Mark explains as he peers past my shoulder. "My full name is Mark Tuan. What's your full name Jackson?"
My eyes drop to the ground. I'm not a fan of my family name.
"You won't tell me?" Mark grabs my arm and pulls on me. He whines with a pout on his face. Sometimes he reminds me of a child.
"Tell me, tell me, tell m-"
"Markipooh!"
A woman's voice makes me jump.
A woman with shoulder length brown hair wearing a floral shirt and blue jeans runs up to Mark.
"Tammy! Hey sis!" Mark hugs the woman and she hugs him back.
"How have you been?" She ruffles Mark's hair. He giggles.
"I'm good." Mark fixes his hair and straightens his black button sweater.
"Have you been taking your medicine?" Her smile subtly drops, her tone becoming serious.
Mark sneaks a glance at me then he nods his head.
What medicine?
The woman notices his eyes shifting to my direction. A smile instantly takes over her face as her eyes meet mine.
"And who are you?" She asks politely.
"This is Jackson, a very good friend of mine." Mark introduces me. He stands beside me and pats my back.
"Nice to meet you, Jackson." She stretches her hand out.
She wants me to shake it?
Hesitantly, I place my hand in her grasp. A weary smile plays on my lips as we shake hands.
"He doesn't talk much." Mark smiles. "But he's really nice!" Mark shakes me playfully.
"Cool. I'm Tammy Tuan, Mark's sister."
He has a sister? I guess I can see the resemblance.
I wish I had siblings.
Tammy helps me carry the rest of Mark's items into the apartment and Mark watches us with a pout.
Tammy refused to let him handle any of the boxes. She even yelled at him for picking up a radio inside a box.
"I'm not a kid, Tammy. Stop treating me like one." I've never seen Mark glare, not once, and the look he gives Tammy is laced with pure venom.
"I'm just making sure you're careful." She fights back.
"I'm fine." Mark turns his back on her. He grabs a pot resting on the counter.
"No, you're not." Tammy insists on pestering him. She snatches the pot out of his hand.
"Stop it."
I can't see Mark's face but from the tone of his voice, he sounds hurt.
"Go sit down, I'll do this." Tammy shoos him away.
"Stop!" Mark yells at his sister.
"I'm doing this for you!" She yells back.
"No you aren't! You're just doing this because of mom and dad!" Mark's words start to break.
No Mark.
Please don't cry.
"No I'm n-Mark!" Tammy grabs his wrist as Mark begins to walk away. He pushes her off of him and he storms deeper into the apartment.
With my eyes, I watch Tammy storm into the back of the apartment. With my ears, I listen to their arguing.
Banging on the door, yelling, it sounds terrible. Mark doesn't deserve to be tormented like this.
I choose to go outside to the porch of the apartment. It's too stuffy inside.
Outside, it's cool and dark.
My hair flutters into my face reminding me I need a haircut. I sit on the floor of the porch and stare at the starry night sky.
Footsteps stomp out of the apartment and the front door slams shut. Must be Tammy.
Soft footsteps approach the sliding door leading to the porch. I crane my head to see Mark coming outside. He sits beside me and hugs his legs to his chest.
We sit outside on the porch in silence. The cold wind kissing our faces gently and the stars gazing down at us.
"You ever feel like you're fighting a battle by yourself?" Mark speaks softly.
He stares into the night sky.
His once bright eyes look lost and dull. He turns to me and smiles weakly.
"You ever feel like that, Jackson?"
I nod my head.
I fight a battle with myself every day. Me versus my mind.
My mind normally wins.
Mark nods his head. He stares back into the dark night.
I stare at him and observe.
How his brown hair flutters effortlessly in the wind, how his eyes become teary by the second, how his lips start to quiver subtly.
Slowly, I inch my hand near his. I grasp his cold hand and squeeze it tightly.
He stares at our hands as a single tear trinkles down his pale cheek.
I pull his body towards mine. My arms wrap around his slim torso, his head rests on my chest, his hands grip my jacket as he cries.
I rest my chin on his sweetly scented hair as his body trembles from his tears.
I guess that happiness he always shares has a price.
I wonder why he's crying but I don't dare to ask. Because when you're hurting the most, people prying only makes you feel worst.
So, until his tears dry up and his smile returns, I'll hold Mark all night long.
