PHILOPHOBIA || lgbtq+ / manxman ✔️

three.

The morning sun had fled earlier than expected, as clouds gathered for some showers. The lightning creeped up behind the curtains in his apartment, and the thunder following sounded like a lion's angry roar.

Mark had awoken at the sound of his alarm clock, with a groan, as he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. The hours he had spent overlooking the resumes and cover letters of the potential candidates were endless, and he wanted nothing more than to wave a magic wand, letting his office be filled with the correct employees.

But, to his dismay, it never was that easy.

At least, his life wasn't.

This was only adding to the stress he pushed aside; the constant nuisance of his past and the nightmares he had throughout the nights he actually slept.

He had scheduled an appointment with a sleep specialist, after being nagged by Haru, and he was somewhat skeptical, but had already promised he would go.

The scheduled doctor's visit was set for the next day, so the present day was focused on the thousands of humans that would need to impress him in order to make the cut.

As the snooze ring on his phone went off, Mark noticed it was already eight fifteen and with the loudest yawn, he sat up to stretch out every muscle. Though, Mocha came by to cuddle, which stopped the process midway.

"I'd love to cuddle you, Mo, but I have to work," Mark pouted at her, before making his way to the shower.

"You'll play with Clover, later, Mo," he shouted to her, while he stripped off his clothes. With that, she barked back, happily.

The spray of water was hot, steaming up the sauna like bathroom; he knew that the longer he stayed in there, the more difficult it would be to be outside in the winter weather, but continued to let the water drizzle on his body.

When the water had cooled, Mark exited the misted space, slipping on his dark brown towel, drying himself.

Going through his suit closet, Mark picked one that was black in color, matching it with a pink shirt and a black tie.

Grabbing his gloves, beanie, and coat, the raven haired man headed towards the office.

Not before making sure Mocha was fed, and had water, of course. As for walking her, Haru had already stopped by, as she did every morning around five, for her run, and had Mocha tag along.

****

The office was organized and put together. It wasn't at all as Mark had left it, the night before. Thinking back to that evening, when he took off for his home earlier than he had planned, the place still had boxes lying around the many empty rooms.

His personal work room had been painted, as Haru suggested the previous day. The accent wall was a blue-gray color, contrary to the violet he had heard her propose.

Violet was nice, but the denim like color on the wall to the left of the desk was spectacular.

It was enchanting and almost fit Mark's personality to the T.

Placing his briefcase on his new dark brown wooden desk beside his new computer, which had been set up, Mark slid his coat, gloves, and beanie off, hanging them on the coat rack Haru had insisted on him getting.

Who knew she was always right?

He had to deal with beanie hair, which did infuriate him, but it wasn't something to cry over.