Chapter Five

Blake looks at Mark's matured face carefully. He only remembers Mark from many years ago when they were still children. They were so close then, but one day, Mark disappeared suddenly. He still remembers how he waited for him for the entire day that day. The next day and even many days after, he still went there, hoping that he would come back for him soon. He was unwilling to accept the fact that he would never return and they would never meet again. He would go to that place every day and would wait for him there for the entire day.

 At some point, he even thought that something might have happened to him, so he couldn't return. But when this continued for a long time, he thought if he had done something wrong unknowingly. And because of this, his friend was angry with him, unwilling to see him. After going there for two months or so, he stopped visiting that place frequently. Still, he did not lose hope and would stop by often. He even left notes of apology for him there, so that if Mark visited that place in his absence, he would see those notes and forgive him. Gradually, a year passed by. But Mark never returned. 

 After so many years, Blake never thought he would meet that person again, that too, in such a place.

 

*12hours ago, at a club*

 Blake was looking into the drink in his hand. He watched as the ice melted into the alcohol; small clouds of fumes rising out of the glass. In all these years, he still could not forget Mark. He promised himself many times that he would move past it all, towards a new future, with an improved self. But here he was again, another night to spend in the bar. He drank the content in one gulp, let out a mocking smile, and said to himself "tsk, So pathetic!". He then put down the glass on the counter of the bar and turned around on the stool to observe the people in the bar.

Suddenly, he felt a powerful gaze towards him from a darker corner of the bar. He was used to receiving such looks wherever he went, so he simply tried to ignore it. But in the end, he couldn't because of the intensity of the gaze that he was receiving. He moved his eyes lazily towards that direction. He couldn't see the person's face properly because of the lack of proper light in the surroundings, but he could feel that that person was deliberately trying to hide from him. If it was before, he would have simply ignored it, but this time he, for some reason, could not. He was curious as well as amused. So, he took notice of that person more closely. He saw that man ordered quite a few bottles of wine and drank all of them in one go. Blake was astounded and he couldn't help but ponder "How much did he drink already…!!" He also felt worried about that person for no particular reason. He rose from his seat and slowly walked towards him. When he reached him, he finally saw his face clearly. 

 Blake never thought that after so many years, they would meet like this. Suddenly, something indescribable rose in his heart. Blake carefully looked at the man he had longed for so long until some time passed by unknowingly. Finally, he composed himself, walked up to him, and after pulling up a smile on his handsome face, he spoke "Mark we meet again".

*Present; at the dining hall*

For Mark, what felt like the first time in decades, was sitting down on a dining table eating breakfast with eggs, sausages, and bacon. It was surreal to be doing something he had not done in a long time. He felt unreal and himself out of place. Yet he doesn't seem to hate it but rather, he is enjoying this new feeling.

He looks at Blake, who is sitting across the table. It's been a long time since he last shared the same space with Blake. Mark keeps on looking at him sneakily. From the way he looks, it doesn't seem like he cares much about what happened between the two last night. Seeing this, he feels uncomfortable in his heart. But then suddenly, he recalls the frightening look in his green eyes; he could still feel the hair on the back of his neck rising. Not being able to let this stifling silence persist for long, Mark takes the initiative to break it,

 "It's been a long time, Blake. I am glad that you have been well."