Love Mechanics

Chapter 34  Not a boyfriend.

 

[Vee Vivis]

 

I sit in the corner of the living room in my house. Yoo's model is propped up on the sofa. Upon seeing me, he smiled happily like a dog sees its owner. He must've been delighted that I'd come back to help him, but his expression changed to surprise upon seeing Mark's parents walking behind me, along with Mark. I remember my mom washing the dishes while my dad watched TV. But now the TV is being watched by the house's important guests. The unexpected guests.

 

I'm not surprised to see Madame, Mark's mom, observing the house in the way she does, and it's also not surprising to see Mark's father, a billionaire businessman, smile at me so derisively. My house isn't some mansion with many rooms; it's not spotlessly tidy, because the only one taking care of it is my mom, and it doesn't have the luxurious amenities that they have. I know we're different, but what can I do, since I've already fallen completely head over heels in love with their son.

 

"My apologies for the modest welcome." Mom smiles and sits down next to me.

 

"I understand. It's us who turned up so late." Mark's mom says smilingly. I look at the clock and see it's past 9, which is usually when I go out to see my friends.

 

"I just want to come and see with my own eyes. I didn't mean to disturb you." 

Mark's father mentions and looks towards me. He has intimidating eyes that appear cold and stiff, but become expressive whenever he looks at me, trying to convey how much he cares for his only son. He still doesn't trust me to take care of Mark.

 

"You've travelled far to get here, so. must be tired." My dad says.

 

"Physical tiredness is not as much as mental fatigue. If you saw what I saw, you'd probably feel the same..."

 

The person who had been staring at me shifts his body and utters. His words make me feel guilty, but perhaps not as much as Mark, whose fists are clenched.

 

"About that..I'm sorry for making you feel disturbed." I say, and put my hand over Mark's. We haven't said a word to each other since we got out of the car. The most I could do was look into his eyes and offer moral support, or hold his hand to let him know I'm right here and not going anywhere.

 

"Hmph! You both know what kind of relationship they're having?" Mark's father asks.

 

"I don't know what their status is called, but I know that they love each other."

 

"Love?.. Umm..'ve heard that word a lot today." Mark's dad nods his head and says softly.

 

"Mark is a very lovely child. I'm not sure how much you know about them, but whenever they're together, they seem so happy." My mom says and smiles.

 

"You both knew about this, but why didn't you forbid it?" Mark's father asks stiffly. 

 

He's familiar with pressuring tactics rather than outright intimidation. I'm feeling so pressured that I'm becoming fearful. I look at Mark's parents, who remain seated, and it appears that my mom and dad did not expect the situation to develop this way.

 

"I wanted to prevent it at first, but when I saw how happy they were when they're together, I simply couldn't. And when I saw how my son was so distraught because of your son, I really couldn't bring myself to put an end to things." My dad shifts his body slightly and replies in a similar demeanour to Mark's dad. I look at my dad, and we lock eyes for a brief moment. He smiles at me through his eyes.

 

"Sometimes, just love is not enough." Mark's mom mentions.

"Mom..."

 

"You speak as if you didn't marry out of love." My mom speaks out before Mark can finish his words.

 

"It's because I married out of love that I know how difficult it is to have just love without parents' understanding." Mark's mom says, slowly looking up at Mark's dad's face. "I don't want my son to go through the same thing."

 

"Mom.." The one sitting beside me calls out softly to his mom, who looks at us and smiles thinly.

 

"I understand you, Masa, but I'm also worried. I don't mean to be contemptuous, but this place is very different from our place, son." She turns to my mom as if to seek permission before saying to Mark.

 

"But I'm fine with this. P'Vee's parents treat me well. I even feel like I'm a burden."

 

"What burden, Mark? I've never thought anything like that, dear." My mom mentions.

 

"They're so nice to me that I even feel like I'm a selfish person," Mark says, and takes his hand away from mine. "I knew that you both wouldn't approve, but I resisted. I chose to love 'Vee despite knowing how things would end."

 

"So how will things end?" I turn to ask Mark, who looks confused. He's already given up and is ready to let go of my hand.

 

"I know that no matter what, we can't love each other." He says, along with letting his pent-up tears stream down. I feel so hurt that I need to look up to the ceiling. My eyes feel a searing heat that I can't help but let my tears flow like Mark.

 

"Who says you can't love each other!?" My dad utters. "If there's one person who prevents you from loving one another, then know that there's also me who won't allow you two to end your relationship."

 

"Masa.. don't want to see you crying like that." Mark's mom walks over to him and embraces him.

 

"I told you that I love P'Vee." The muffled voice cries out, while I can only cry along. Both joy and sadness are mixed. I'm his elder, I'm the one who made him feel hurt, and I'm the one who made him love me. But there's nothing I can do for him.

 

"I know...know how much you love Vee, Mark." Mark's mom looks at me after finishing her sentence. "I hope that you won't make my Mark hurt again."

 

"I won't do it again."

 

"How confident are you with your words? What if my son sheds tears because of you again, hmph?" Mark's dad asks.

 

"Your son.." Mark pulls himself away from Mom's bosom and looks at his dad.

 

"Why? What's so surprising, Masa? Even though I don't have much time for you, and although I don't dote on you as much as Madame does, it doesn't mean you're not my son." He speaks at length while looking at his son.

"Dad..."

 

"Hmph! As the Madam said, it's difficult to live together with just the word love." Mark's dad shifts his body slightly before uttering

 

"But if you don't give your blessing, our son will be very sad." Mark's mom says and turns to her husband.

 

"I don't know why you both have to think too much. That's your son and my son right there. I don't know how much pain they're suffering, or how sweet they are in love. All I know is whenever my son is sad, I'll console him. Whenever he's happy, I'll be happy for him. Whatever he needs, if I'm able to, I'll provide for him. Because he's my son." My dad's words stop my tears.

 

"I also think as Vivas does." Mark's mom says.

 

"Well, I've never been able to prevent Mark from doing as he wishes..All I want to know is why he loves him so much.

 

"If you get to know P'Vee better, then you'll know," Mark says to his dad.

 

"I've come to know him a bit better today." He says and stands up. "Thank you very much for today. Please excuse me. I have a branch meeting tomorrow." He extends his hand to my dad, who flashes a handsome smile and shakes it.

 

"You're welcome here next time when you have some free time." My dad replies after releasing his hand.

 

"Please excuse me. I'll go stay at the hotel, Masa." Mark's mom says to my mom, before turning to tell Masa with a smile.

 

"Wait.." Mark calls out to his parents before they walk out. "Does this mean you allow..."

 

"mph! Your boyfriend's eyes look at you in a similar manner that your mom looked at me when I asked her for her hand for marriage." He looks at me upon uttering the sentence and pats Mark's shoulder softly before turning and walking away.

 

"P'Vee..." The excited voice, different from earlier, calls out to me.

 

"Hmph? Are you happy?" I ask out and walk towards Mark, smiling thinly at the younger person. We lock eyes for a long time before Mark responds to me with a smile.

 

"Yeah."

 

"Oye~ Once that's all cleared up, you guys behave as if you're the only ones here." Yoo's voice booms out, his sarcastic comments drawing my attention. I turn my eyes away from Mark to look at my brother.

 

"I didn't see you helping out with anything," I say, and walk towards my parents without forgetting to take Mark's hand with me.

 

"My dear brother, I even put my model away so that you could dispute with your future father-in-law," Yoo mentions jokingly.

 

"Should I be touched?"

 

"It would be great if you could help me  finish assembling it." He says to me with a smile.

 

"Are you dreaming, Yoo?"

 

"What's with the bickering? Aren't you afraid Mark will get annoyed?" My mom asks me and nods towards my back. Mark gives out a small smile and walks over to my mom.

 

"Mom.." Mark walks in to embrace my mom, who responds by embracing him and gently patting his head.

 

"Come and be my other son from now on." My mom says to Mark and sends me a smile.

 

"Thank you," Mark says, and pulls himself away. "Dad too. It's because of him that my dad gave his blessing."

 

"I fell in love with you from the first day." Dad walks over and gently pats Mark's head, but his words echo in my head.

 

"What, Dad!?" Two voices are uttered at the same time. One is yours, and the other is mine. I walk over to pull Mark's hand away from my parents. The kid turns to me, puzzled, then glares at my dad.

 

"You crazy boys. I meant I adore him." Dad clarifies.

 

"Then use the proper words, Dad," Yoo says, and walks towards his model.

 

"C'mon, boys, I spent so much energy dealing with Mark's dad already. What a stuck-up snob." Dad says and walks over to sit on the sofa with Yoo.

 

"Dear...you're even cursing the man in front of his own son?" Mom asks lightheartedly and pulls Mark along.

 

"I'm not that close to my dad. He doesn't have much time for me." The tall guy says glumly.

 

"Resign from being a businessman's son and become my son, then. You can swap with Vee." Dad rubs Mark's head and consoles him.

 

"Are you crazy, Dad!? How can you just dump your handsome son off to others like that?"

 

"You're so confident that you're handsome, huh?" Yoo asks, and looks at me wearily.

 

"If I really go, you'll be sorry, I'm tellin' ya," I say.

"And then you're gonna quarrel with my dad every day," Mark says.

 

"What are you saying? He's already given me his blessing." I walk towards the one who's just confessed his love to me and pat his head while he's seated. He looks up at me and smiles.

 

"He just let you guys date, not giving his blessing, though." Yoo points out.

"That's pretty much the same thing." I contend and take a seat beside Mark.

 

"You should go and take language lessons with Dad, Vee," Yoo says, and looks down at his model.

 

"If he doesn't give you his blessing yet, then just gradually prove yourself to him," Mom says, smiling at me.

"That's what I think, too. Even for Mark, I gradually proved myself until he accepted me."

 

"Who did what, and who accepted what?" Yoo looks up and asks. My brother looks at me confusedly before flashing a devilish smile at Mark.

 

"Finish assembling your model, P'Yoo." The kid whose face is heating up utters, before looking up with stern eyes.

 

"Yes, sister-in-law." -

"P'Yoo!"

 

"He's right, though." I place my arm across the sofa and lean my head onto Mark's shoulder.

 

"What are you doing?" He moves away, but I grab hold of his arm.

 

"I've been tired all day. Let me wheedle you a bit." Hook at him with pleading eyes. His stressed face turns red. His lips, which were clenched in thought, instead tried to hold back his grin.

 

"I'm sorry, but dad's there, and beside him his mom, and the one right in front of you is your elder brother," Yoo says.

 

"So what?"

"Oyyy, just get outta here. I can't finish up my work." He points upstairs.

 

"Can we? Is it okay, Mom?" I look up and crane my neck to ask Mom.

 

"Go ahead. I'll stay up with Yoo a bit more. You boys go up and sleep first." My mom says and rubs Mark's head. "Sweet dreams."

 

"You too, mom," Mark says with a smile, then gets up after me. I bring him upstairs to the bedroom. Even though it's not late yet, and it's not our usual bedtime, I feel tired, and Mark should get some rest. The tall one circles around my room once and throws himself on the bed. His oval eyes look at me, while I flash a smile and throw myself beside him.

 

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask and turn to the side to look at the other person.

 

"Nothing. Can't I look at you?" He can look at me whichever way he wants, but the eyes he gazed at me just now seem happier than usual, more than any other time we've been together. They seem content and satisfied, even though all we did was talk to our parents. Truth be told, our status remains unclear.

 

"Well, someone's happy," I say to him teasingly.

 

"Aren't you?" He leans his face over to ask me. I reply with a smile before placing my hand over his waist and moving closer to him.

 

"..A lot," I whisper next to his ear, which has turned a pinkish colour similar to his bright cheeks.

 

"P'Vee..."

"Hmm?" I make a sound in my throat and look up at Mark.

 

"Thank you." I sit still upon hearing those words. I'm both confused and surprised to hear the words of gratitude from the one who's lying down beside me. "For today."

 

"Isn't it me who has to say that?" I smile a little smile and ask him.

 

"I don't know. I just want to thank you for coming back to me." Mark says and looks at me. His eyes can convey everything. Everything that has passed, and everything that will happen in the future.

 

"But I want to thank you for saying that you love me," I utter, and shift my body to Mark's level. "You've got so much energy."

 

"Whatever," Mark responds bashfully and avoids my gaze.

 

"Why aren't you close to your dad?" I ask the one lying beside me once we both fall silent.

 

"Dad's always busy with work. He even came here to attend a meeting. My mom just accompanied him, so they took the opportunity to visit me. How can we possibly be close?" Mark answers in a calm tone, with a tinge of forlornness and disappointment.

 

"Do you know that he loves you a lot?" I tell him the feelings that I can sense from Mark's dad. He's not intimidating. He just appears cold and stiff compared to normal. His words may seem aggressive, but they are tinged with care in every word. Especially when speaking about his son, I can feel how much he loves him.

 

"When dad spoke before walking out. nearly cried." Mark says, and turns to me. "Dad never said that to me before, so I've always felt intimidated by him."

 

"He really loves you. Believe me."

"How do you know?" Mark leans down to ask.

 

"People who love you can tell," I answer, and look up to stare at his eyes.

"You're so..." He chides me softly, and turns the other way.

 

"I wanna hear it again," I utter, before moving closer to the other person.

 

"Hear what?" I slip my hand under Mark's neck and lie sideways to look at the other one's face. I don't pressure him, but I just want to hear it.

 

"That you say you love me..If I hear it again, I'll have a sweet dream." I mention and smile at Mark.

 

"But today I've said it more times than you." He says, and turns to look at me at the same time that I look up at him. That moment brings our faces close together. Our eyes gaze at one another, our noses brush, and our lips nearly touch. Look into Mark's eyes, conveying to him all the feelings I have for him.

 

"I love you, Mark.."His cheeks turn red, and his pretty eyes try to avoid me. "Do you hear me? I love you, Mark."

 

I slowly press my lips onto the pretty mouth beneath me. Mark responds by opening his mouth and accepting the kiss. We suck each other's lips gently, and clasp my lips against his, nibbling his pretty mouth and the sweet tip of the tongue of the one below me. Mark slips his hand into my mop of hair and rubs it softly, while I slip my tongue to savour the sweetness in his pretty mouth. We gradually feed each other sweetness till we both moan.

 

"Uhh.." I open my eyes to look at the one who's gasping for air. I kiss his pretty lips once again and pull myself away in disappointment.

 

"We haven't kissed for five minutes, even," I say, without moving anywhere.

 

"Are you gonna kiss me to death?" He says, while wiping saliva away from his mouth. I let out a chuckle and kiss the hand that's on the corner of his mouth.

 

"I'll kiss you till you love me," I say upon pulling myself away.

"But I've loved you for a long time."

 

"What?" I ask and stare at him upon hearing him mumble out a confession of love from within his throat. He looks at me and shoves me away before avoiding my gaze.

 

"You're being too much." He grumbles softly, but I don't feel annoyed or upset, as I know that his complaint is born out of bashfulness.

 

"Mark.." I call out pleadingly. "You said it clearly that time," I say, and lie face down, using my arms to prop myself up with my chin and look at him.

 

"Your eyes are so..."

 

"If you don't say it, I'll stare at you till you melt," I mention, and gaze into his eyes. His pretty oval eyes look back at me. We glare at each other for a while before he turns away.

 

"That's enough."

 

"Hmph?" I make a sound from my throat once again. Mark turns and looks at me before his slender arm slowly wraps around my neck. His pretty eyes gaze into mine again, conveying his mixture of emotions at the moment, which are both bashful and nervous.

 

"I love you, P'Vee.." Mark utters slowly, but my heart beats fast. "I love you, P'Vee."

 

Mark pulls my neck towards him, and we kiss once again. This time, the younger one initiates. His moist tongue intertwines with mine and makes me feel blurry for a moment. Mark is skilful, though I don't yield to him. We exchange our tongues for a long while before I push him away.

 

"Are you gonna kiss me to death?" I repeat what he said to me earlier. His bright cheeks turn red before he unfurls a bashful smile.

 

"I'll kiss you till you love me." I laugh and throw myself onto the bed. I move close to the biceps on his pretty arms and whisper beside his fair-skinned ear.

 

"I love you... love you a lot." I reply as soon as Mark finishes his words. The younger one lets out a little smile. I know he's unable to hide his bashfulness, since I feel the same way. It's not that I want to mess with him, but what can I do? After all, seeing him being bashful makes me so happy.

 

"P'Ve..." My boy calls out softly, as he doesn't know what else to say, so he does what other people might label as just calling out the other's name to avert one's own bashfulness.

 

"Can we be boyfriends yet?" I ask him when he turns to me. Mark flinches a bit and looks at me pensively.

 

"I don't wanna be your boyfriend," Mark replies. I look at him confusedly, and he smiles at me. "I want to be everything more than just a boyfriend."

 

"What's more than just a boyfriend?" I ask, and look at the one in front of me.

 

"What, hmm?" 1 really wanna rid him of his wheedling voice. I'm really trying my utmost to restrain myself.

 

"You're such a flirt, Mark," I say to avert my bashfulness.

"You don't like it?"

 

"Do you want it?"

"You're so..."

 

I chuckle a bit upon seeing his awkwardness. I'm dying to embrace him, but one's gotta play hard to get sometimes. Time passes a while, and the one beside me turns his body to get on top of me. His oval eyes look into my eyes, while the corner of his lips unfurls an impish smile. I lock eyes with the pair of eyes that are trying to convey something to me, and my heart beats fast.

 

"Wh...What are you gonna do?"

"Anything... that's more than just a boyfriend."