Conflicted About Their Feelings.

Mark suddenly became aware of his proximity to Angel. It prompted him to take a step back. The room fell into silence.

Mark cleared his throat in an attempt to dispel the awkwardness that had settled over him. It was better he left the room as the emotions tuning through his system were lingering. He turned away, his back to her.

"Finish your food before it gets cold." With that, he exited the room, leaving Angel's cheeks to flush with color.

Mark paused, after closing the door, his thoughts consumed by the unexpected flutter in his chest that had occurred when he was near Angel. He couldn't help but marvel at how he had managed to form a coherent sentence to extricate himself from the situation.

His hands, he noticed, were pressed against his chest, as if to still his racing heart. The realization of his own reaction left him stunned, feeling like a stranger to himself.

It wasn't just Angel who had experienced a jolt of emotion; Mark's involuntary response had betrayed the spark he