five

Mark hadn’t talked to you all day. You’re thankful for that yet it still somehow scratched your heart, like you’re—upset. You excruciatingly forced your mind to delete and permanently ban the feeling inside you, whatever it was, it’s no good.

Mark had been putting that glower on his face since you saw him for the first time in the day at five twenty in the afternoon. It’s eight fifty now and it did not fade for a millisecond. His face was so dark that the dinner on your side had requested to change table. You didn’t want to care about him while waiting for Jolene but you could not stand the depressing tension. It’s like someone had robbed his house and killed his dog.

You impatiently tapped your finger on the table. Jolene said she would be here around nine which meant you had to sit with the mannequin opposite you for the next ten minutes. It’s an odd like once in a lifetime chance that Mark actually knew how to keep his mouth shut instead of taunting you when he had the opportunity to do so. You glared around the restaurant, at the couples, at the families, at some random men and women in their thirties eating alone. Everywhere but him. Yet you could feel his intense gaze burning you from skin to bones. You dressed appropriate today, a plain black long-sleeve shirt, white high-waisted wide-leg pants and a white blazer. You didn’t reckon you looked like a ballerina or a detective living in London in the 80s.

Your logical analysis was abruptly interrupted by the familiar figure at the entrance of the restaurant. Jolene was quick to see you as she treaded her way toward your table at the corner beside the window.

You noticed Mark’s eyes lit up when he saw your best friend, a thorn twisted your heart again but you brushed it off.

“Hi, how are you doing?” You stood up to give her a hug. The girl wrapped her arms around you tightly, patting your back. “Pretty good, you?”

“Boring life.”

Mark silently glazed over the sisters reunion in front of him. He did not know how the universe worked when you and Jolene coincidentally wore the same outfit. When he said the same, they were literally the same. The black shirt, the white pants and blazer. Including your hair color, your skin tone and your eyes, you and her looked like two copies. The problem was that he could not tell which one was the original. Practically, deep down inside his mind, he knew but he rather not talk about it. His speculation seemed to be off.

“Hi, you’re Mark right?”

Mark’s eyes sparkled again when Jolene turned at him, offering her hand out. You’d asked her to pretend like you had no clue which baffled her at first yet she agreed eventually. His gaze pinned on the woman who had been at the back of his mind for these past years. The flame burnt in his chest again, not as strong as it was, anyhow he only needed to know it was still burning hot.

“Yeah, nice to meet you.” Mark stretched his arm out for a handshake. The genial gesture lingered longer than it‘s supposed to be and certainly the whole thing was noted inside your head.

Jolene sat down beside you while Mark was alone on the other side of the table. And never in fresh hell you would expect that. Was she fucking losing her mind?

The dinner went on well, not for you though. During the time being, you kept your mouth sealed unless it’s your best friend talked to you first. However, this looked like a dinner date between Mark and Jolene and you’re a third wheel since they were chatting joyfully. Their conversation wasn’t captured vividly in your ears, you’re not interested in whatever they were talking about. You were trying to figure out the weird thing that made your tongue thick, air thin and your breath shallow. While your mind was in severe denial, your heart was about to cross the barrier.

You broke your gaze on the street outside to glare at your friend and your husband. They had good chemistry, it’s undeniable. If the communication between you and Mark was brutal and childish, the way they talked and looked at each other was more like a married couple.

God knew how to torment humans.

“Bye sweetheart, we should hang out sometime.” Jolene gave you a goodbye hug and you flashed her a grin as you pulled back. “Call me anytime.”

“Bye Mark.” She glared at Mark and he smiled back, a smile that you’d never seen from him before.

“Bye, get home safe.”

He opened the cab’s door for her. A gentle gesture that he never did with you even if you travel in the same car with him. You forced yourself to admire the mom and her son on the other side of the street, the beautiful sight eased the unreasonable pain in your chest. The child even noticed you staring and he waved at you, his little hand flying in the air causing you to chuckle. You waved back at him and gave his mother a slight nod when they walked away.

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