Chapter 19 - The atmosphere between us

Vee
I looked at the person next to me and smile. How long has it been since I've
been able to smile so contentedly like this?
Maybe this is the first time since I broke up with Ploy, or maybe it goes even
further back and it's since the story regarding P Bar. I always felt like I
wanted to be loving to the person beside me, but there was something that
had prohibited my feelings, but now there wasn't, and the story between us
has changed.
"Eu..." Mark turned over to hide in my shoulder. We weren't asleep in the
room or sitting on the beach, right now we are sitting on the bus. Surprisingly
Mark had never taken public transport before.
At first, he wanted to return on a plane but I'd put my foot down and asked
him if he even realised how expensive it is to go on a plane? It's even more
expensive when catching one from the countryside. And does he not realise
that riding a coach like this is a brand new experience. You are able to look
out and view the landscape, letting your mind drift with the speed of the bus
constantly moving.
"How long till we get there?" Mark moves to sit up, before turning to me to
ask.
"We only left a few hours ago," I answered making his face scrunch up.
He looked around both inside and outside, before turning back to look at me
again.
"We should have just gone back with our friends." He said softly
"What's the difference? Either way, you would have been sitting on a bus."
"But wouldn't the atmosphere at least be better than this?"
The atmosphere was a little chaotic. In front, the lady is talking about her
sons further education. She is so loud we can hear her three seats away.
Around us is a mother and child feeding, there are heaps of people both
young and old, working-age, babies. I looked back and turned to smile at the
boy next to me.
"It's good experience to change up the atmosphere," I said and smiled. He
just sighed and plugged his headphones into his ears to listen to music,
ignoring me.
"Are you angry with me?" I asked pulling one of his earbuds out and
whispering close to his ear.
"No."
"No? Then why are you acting like you aren't very happy." I continued to say.
"Well...I'm hungry." He said that he was hungry softly, when I heard it I tried
not to laugh until he looked at me fiercely. He is hungry and behaves like
this, it's cute.
"Here take it," I say after rummaging through my bag for snacks. I pass over
the milk and biscuits I know he likes.
"Don't ask if there is anymore," I said and gave him snacks that he then
quietly sat and ate. He left the milk with me to hold. I opened it and sat and
waited for him to finish eating.
He liked eating biscuits and milk at the same time. I don't know when I
started to notice this, I just did. Don't ask when I started paying so much
attention, knowing I care is enough, even if I don't know when it began
"If you knew you were hungry why didn't you grab some more food?" I asked.
"Well...I thought you would take me back in a plane." He turned back, giving
me some milk to share.
"I'm poor," I replied turning to look.
"Why, can you not accept that about me?" I teased him.
"Yeah." He answered irritated. I smiled at his grouchy face, before shaking his
head gently.
"You!"
"Me what?" He turned to ask.
"Cute," I bend down to whisper next to his ear, my hand still on his head. He
started to choke on the milk, and I had to hurry up and find a napkin to wipe
his mouth, along with a towelette I'd already gotten ready to clean his hands.
He looked up at me with a quick glance, his ears bright red.
"Enough...enough already." He pulled his hands back. He put the rubbish in a
plastic bag and placed it at his feet waiting to discard it. That kind gesture
made me smile.
"When you get shy you like to bully," I confessed.
"Can I not bully you?" He said, I just shake my head and look at him like he
will be punished.
My relationship with Mark became clearer when I agreed to break my own
rules. I accepted him despite still being with Ploy at the time. He was already
making me feel possessive and jealous, even though I couldn't act on it fully.
As soon as she chose to walk away, I didn't follow her, I went to Mark. It was
this period that I'd already accepted him. I'm possessive when I see him
smile at someone else, even if it's just the crazy group of seniors or friends.
It was also really obvious that I was jealous during that time with Neua.
I'm not stupid to not realise I was jealous to that extent, or what was in my
heart, I was just stupid for refusing to admit it. I turn back to watch the
person next to me, who had fallen asleep. I didn't know that he would be
satisfied to sleep anywhere. Before we left, I didn't do anything with him
again, just that one time only is enough to make me full for the entire month.
I was so powerless, but I know he was also really happy. I didn't realise that
confessing to him at the same time like that as well would make me feel so
good.
I picked up the phone before fixing Marks head on my shoulder. He still
doesn't want to tell people about us, which actually I'm also not someone
who likes to announce things all over. I will have relationships with people,
and then break up but people only usually find out because of gossip not
because I've said anything. I clicked to take a picture of myself to upload to
social media. I made it so it showed a little bit of Mark, which was actually
only his hair and white headphones, one in his ear and one in mine. He was
listening to some international song I didn't know the artist of, or what it was
called, but listening to it with him, I think it's the best song.
pVnn
4 mins
Let the Story of us be like a journey
23 likes 7 comments
Maybe it's because my picture, or maybe the caption along with the picture
that got a lot of people interested quickly. Since leaving Ploy I haven't
uploaded a clear picture. I didn't mention any status, didn't say it was Mark, I
posted it up just as it was without saying anything.
**YiWa: Rhino /b>
**Fuse for fun: Oh! Completely hidden
**The answer is that the House has a lamp bigger than the tank: Not curious
at all where you went with one another.
**Mu mizawa: Who is it, P Vee?
**Momalina: is it the same person from the last picture?
**Pandora: I don't want to know who, ha!
**Pingpingsoo: wholeftwhofirstout ofPloyandV and is it certain?
**Nnorthh: don't curse at your friend. He still hasn't said they are dating.
As soon as I put it down, it wasn't long before it started ringing. I looked at
the incoming call and smiled. I thought the media post was enough. But
obviously I'll need to be more direct.
"What?" I said to the other person as soon as it connected.
“What are you doing asshole?” I smile listening to him curse. As if he doesn't
already know from Yihwa or from seeing it himself. Mark has also told him he
likes someone.
"What's it matter to you?" I replied with a small smile.
“When did you guys even start talking to each other?” he says sounding
irritated.
"Well, when did you start flirting with my person?"
"Urgh..." Mark made a noise in his throat because I accidentally squeezed his
hand too hard. Thinking of Nuea makes me get mad every time.
"Shhh go to sleep." I lightened my hand, before whispering soothingly and
gently rubbing the back of his hand until he was peaceful again.
“Where are you both?” Nuea asked in a turbid voice.
"In a bus," I answered in return
“You need to take good care of him, Vee. Don't think he is just a replacement.
Don't do it just because you want to try, like I've done in the past. The reason
I'm stepping back is not because I stopped liking him, but because I know
that Mark likes you. If you let him go don't think you will be able to return.”
Neua said, I just nodded in accordance with each word and made a noise in
my throat, before he hung up
"People like you much more than me," I say as I hold Mark's hand in my lap. I
realise just now how serious Nuea is. The more I think of his tone and his
words, the more I don't want to let go of Mark's hand. "There are a lot of
people who like you, but you only like just me right?" I whispered to the
person sleeping on my shoulder. He gently moans in his throat, before going
silent and leaving me submerged in my thoughts.
I didn't just want to try, and Mark is not a replacement.
Even now though we haven't agreed to date each other, but my heart knows
clearly we have something with one another. In the evening we arrive back
at the University and transfer to another bus to get to our faculty. I watched
him gently massaging his legs for a long time and feel guilty that I made
things difficult for him.
"I'm sorry," I said reaching out to grab his hand.
"What for?" He asked quietly.
"Making it hard for you," I said holding his hand and rubbing it. "I just wanted
you to experience something new, I didn't mean to force it on you," I said
continuing to massage his hands.
"You didn't force it." He said gently.
"Don't lie to me Mark. Fuse told me that you were a privileged child, I just
didn't realise it was to the extent that you'd never been travelling this way." I
think before putting my hands on his legs.
"If you take me to do it often then I'll get used to it." He said, making me
smile. I couldn't help raising my hand to rub his hair, his eyes darting left and
right making me laugh
"No one is here," I said before letting him go.
"So what do we do next?" He asked.
"Call your aunt."
"Huh?"
"Yihwa." I really wanted to take this face he was making right now and throw
it away. The time when he tilts his neck, making a suspicious face before
making a soft noise like this. It makes me have to refrain from staring or
telling him how cute it is. I've never thought a man was cute.
"Then why aren't you calling?"
"A moment ago she was cursing at me." In truth regarding my chat with
Yihwa, she said she will come and get him and send him to his tower, and
then she would come back and take me, so I hung up. It's better if Mark talks
because he wouldn't dare curse at her.
"Hello P Yihwa." He has never been that polite to me. I turned my head away
and let him continue to talk. He asked to be picked up but never mentioned
me. "She will be here in 15 minutes." He turned to tell me.
"Do you think Yihwa will kill me?" I asked.
"She might try and kill you." He says bored.
"If she does anything to me you have to protect me ok?" I say and pat his
head like a child.
"So you aren't a widow Mark. If your husband is killed, then that makes you a
widow." He turned to stare at me like he was fed up, but I just smiled at his
red ears. "Shy again?"
I say scratching his chin like he is a cat. He brushes my hand away, not
speaking, turning to look the other way.
"P damn it."
"You..."
"What?" He turns to ask me fiercely when I flick his ear. I move back, but
bring my face closer to speak softly next to his red ear.
"Cute!" I say before moving away and watching him blush from his neck up.
Beep!
The sound of the horn startled me as I turned around to look at Yihwa who
put down the window and started to curse at me.
"Are you going to return or just sleep together here?"
That's all she said, so we quickly got our things and went to the car. I put my
self in the back seat before Mark could. He was hesitant, not knowing
whether to sit with Yihwa or with me. He just stood there looking at me
uncomfortable.
"Why didn't you sit in the front?" He asked.
"Oh, and why do I have to? Come and sit with me." I said pulling his hand
towards the back.
"I am not your chauffeur. Mark come and sit here with me." Yihwa said and
so he twisted his hand out of mine and went to sit up front with Yihwa
"Separating the wife from the husband, you better watch out if you have
someone," I complained softly, but loud enough someone could hear
because Mark turned around and glared at me. That wasn't as fun though as
Yihwa softly cursing me.
"Shut up Ai handsome, do you want a ride home or not?" Yihwa turned to ask
me.
"No," I said rummaging around and eating some random potato chips I
found. It's from my friends car so I wasn't concerned.
"So then where should I take you?"
"Oh, the same building as my code line right? Your wife's tower, the beautiful
star that is matched with you?" She said playing. I looked at Mark who had a
weird smile, before I looked at Yihwa.
"I have only one wife," I answered shaking my head at her, let the truth be
known about each other.
"Yes, I have so much faith in you Bastard."
"My name is Vee."
"And did you not almost die when Ploy left?" Yihwa cursed raising her middle
finger. Huh! Actually, I'll probably die because of her driving.
"Actually I almost died because of Mark yesterday."
"P Vee!" Mark called my name immediately when I said that. He turned
around looking at me fiercely.
I lifted my eyebrows back, then glanced at Yihwa who was muttering under
her breath, face red, same as Mark's ears.
"I'm just telling the truth why curse at me?" I said softly before putting a
random candy in my mouth.
"You better be serious and not make my Nong upset," Yihwa says.
"Don't try and lecture me, just now I've already spoken to Nuea and I am
aware already," I answered.
"You talked to P Neua?"
"Quiet you," I said to Mark who made an unhappy face at me, before turning
back to face the front.
"Just making sure you are serious with his heart and not playing," Yihwa said.
My heart itched at my friend's words, when she said that I don't know what
Mark was feeling or what his face was like, but I can say right now there is no
chance.
"Mark is the only person in my heart," I said as I left the car.
I walk to enter the building with Mark, after leaving Yihwa in her crappy car
and feelings till she blows up and dies. He leads me to the lift quietly, not
having spoken since we left the car. I just followed along quietly behind. I
don't know if he's angry or embarrassed or what.
"Mark," I called after entering the room.
"Huh?" He responded but didn't look back. He walked to the bedroom and
threw his bag on the bed. I followed behind after placing my bag on the sofa
"Are you angry with me?"
"About what?" He turned back to me with raised eyebrows.
"In the car," I answered, standing there watching his face as he bit his lips,
before looking down at the ground.
"Well..."
"If you don't like me saying things like that then I won't say it again." I
understand he has never been someone's
'wife'.
He belongs to only me. Previously I know he has always been on the other
side, and so me emphasising like this, it wouldn't be wrong for him to maybe
be angry with me. I completely understand, but my mouth moved faster than
my brain so I'd already said it before I could really think.
"I..."
"I'm sorry." I walked over reaching for his arm and pulling him in to meet me,
pressing his head down on my shoulder gently.
"I'm not angry." He said, voice muffled slightly by my shoulder.
"Then why won't you look at me since we got out of the car?" I asked as he
moved away from my shoulder.
"Well..."
"Or are you shy?"
"Well..."
"You've said that many times Mark," I said seriously, trying to press him to
speak
"You said it in front if P Yihwa." He spoke softly and dodged me to sit on the
bed. I followed standing in front of him like before.
"So what? I can't talk like this?"
"You just never told anyone else before that you and I have something
together." He said stopping to look down at his hands. I smile before moving
closer and grabbing his hands.
"From now on, I'll tell everyone who asks. If I wasn't concerned about you I
would have already posted it on Facebook yesterday." I said to him.
"Just your friends is enough." He says looking up at me.
"I'll tell all my friends. especially Nuea so he knows clearly."
"P' you're crazy." Mark cursed softly but I just smiled at the insults.
"You make me crazy," I said as I turned to sit beside him.
He turned to look at me with eyes that made my face warm.
"But I've been crazy because of you for a long time."
"Naughty child," I said softly, before laying back on the bed. Looking at his
wide back I couldn't help being shy. The crazy words and eyes of that person
really has to much influence on me.
"Shy from me?" He asks throwing himself down on the bed next to me,
before rolling over onto his stomach, bringing his elbows and knees up either
side of me, placing his head on his hands, eyes looking at me mockingly
"Don't look at me like that Mark," I say fiercely before trying to turn away,
but he grabbed my face and kept it in place.
He moved over my chest before gently leaning down, his mouth touching
mine softly, but not moving. He wasn't trying to kiss further, but my heart
was beating rapidly because of how his eyes were looking into mine. So still
and clear. As soon as I looked back, I became aware of so many feelings. He
gently sucked on my bottom lip before pulling away.
"Right now I am not sorry for belonging to you." He spoke close to my lips,
causing my heart to swell. I smiled big, pressing behind his neck to bring him
down for another kiss.
We delivered all our feelings through touch and our mouths, every stroke,
every movement, it's all full of passion and makes me so happy. The things
Mark says and does, It makes me realise it isn't wrong, choosing to have faith
in him since that day isn't wrong.
It isn't wrong that I choose to forget Ploy in order to love him today