1:15am
Mark had to work late today. He still isn't back.
I feel bad.
He has to work so hard to pay for both of us living here. My doctor said in two weeks I can start working again.
Well...I can't really get any other job until I settle this dispute with my aunt.
I'm still under her custody. My family is threatening to bring me back to China if I lose the case. In their eyes, Mimi Wang did nothing wrong and I am the one at fault.
It's a crime to not talk apparently.
I refuse to go back to China. Especially when I have Mark by my side.
I hope I can win this case next weekend.
My slippers slap against the hard wood floor as I walk to the kitchen. A glass of water would be nice for my throat.
I can't sleep unless Mark is home safe and sound.
Just on cue, the apartment door clicks open and shuts.
"Jackson?" Mark calls for me and I greet him in the corridor of the entranceway.
"I knew you'd still be up." Mark giggles.
I ask him how work was and he tells me how they had a super sale. He cooked so much food tonight, Mark is positive it's more food than he's ever eaten in his life.
After the story about his exhausting day, Mark takes a shower. I sit in my room reading a book that I found at the library as I wait for him.
I'm sure I've read almost every book in the world. Romance, Drama, Action, Adventure, Sci-fi, Historical, Nonfiction, Fiction, etc. You name it, I've read it all.
My aunt had a collection of romantic books. I never was allowed to watch TV so I was stuck reading those for years.
No wonder my aunt could never settle down. The books in her collection consisted of clichè romances, vividly written sex scenes and a story line flatter than a squished pancake.
One time she caught me reading one of her books. She told me it was a story only for adults and little peasants like me shouldn't read it.
"The actions depicted in this book will never happen to you anyway. So, keep on reading. Imagine it because you'll never experience it."
I close my book. My aunt sure was awful now that I think about it. That hurts.
I've never thought about it until now. Maybe those actions will never happen. I'm not a sex fanatic as she is, so personally, I don't mind.
But that makes me wonder....what is Mark and I's relationship?
Yes, we're friends, but we've kissed. Are we dating? Or...I have no idea.
"Jackson?" Mark peeks his head into my room. I turn to him and smile.
"Whatcha doing?" Mark skips into my room and sits beside me on the floor.
My nose is greeted with the sweet smell of his shampoo and the calming scent of his lotion. A white t-shirt and black sweats hangs loosely on him. He has a towel laid around his neck. His hair is still wet as I watch a bead of water roll down his neck.
"You're still wet." I pull the small white towel over his hair and rub until his hair is completely dried. I don't want him to get sick.
"Thank you." Mark giggles as he touches his fluffy, messy hair.
"What were you doing?" Mark looks at the book in my lap.
"Reading." I rest the book on the floor.
I notice we're both wearing the same thing. A white t-shirt and black sweatpants.
"Can I ask a question?" I break the silence.
"You just did." Mark chuckles. "But yeah. Go ahead."
I look Mark straight into his vibrant brown eyes.
"Are we dating?" I finally ask.
Mark blinks once.
Then twice.
Then his entire face turns as red as a tomato.
"I-I think so?" Mark speaks shyly.
"We are?"
"Jackson! I don't know how this works either!" He grabs my shoulders and shakes me. I laugh from his cuteness.
"We're dating." I declare as he pats his hot cheeks.
Mark calms down enough for his face to return to it's pale beauty.
"Yeah. We are dating." His cheeks turn slightly pink again.
I stare at Mark with fond eyes. He's wonderful. Inside and Out. Mark is a beautiful being.
"Don't stare at me like that." Mark blushes even more. "You're killing me!" Mark hides his face in his hands and turns away from me.
My arms wrap around his waist and I pull his back to my chest.
I lay a soft kiss against his warm neck. He tenses. Another soft kiss on his neck. His tension dissipates.
I place a series of kisses on his neck. Mark grabs onto my hands and giggles.
"That tickles, Jackson." He giggles.
I hug him tightly and he snuggles his slim body against my battered muscular body.
We stay like that for a while until Mark falls asleep.
I never would've thought that I'd be dating. I never thought that I could hold someone in my arms like I am.
I'm grateful.
Thank you, Mark.
My boyfriend.
i'm soft:')
