The gym is on the bottommost floor. She did consider using the elevator, but her gut feeling is telling her to use the stairs. And as a cop, her gut feeling has saved her more times than not, thus the stairs for her.
Think of it as a pre-warmup. 22 floors down. It may be hard, but that would mean she would not need to do the mill anymore.
She made sure her hair is tied up before heading for the door for the flights of stairs. Her rap playlist is now ready and is now blasting Em's Godzilla with her phone securely tied up to her arms with that phone holder. Before starting her downward jog, she did a few stretching exercises. Feeling her body slowly heating up, she knows she is ready after a few minutes of stretching.
She took a deep breath before starting her downward trip, but even before she can take one step, she felt a hand grab her shoulders. Her training automatically kicked in, she folded her knees just enough for her to duck down and then punched the grabber's side's midsection.
Tried to punch more like. Seems like the person knows how to move goes since the person was able to move out of her fist's way, grabbed it, and twisted it so that she will have to twist her body along with it, ending with him holding her two arms folded behind her. She tried to break free but he had both her arms locked tight behind her.
While she was thinking about what to do next, the person behind her spoke. "If you are thinking of either slamming your head to my face or stepping on my foot," it's Mark. "I highly suggest you change your mind about doing so." He then let her go.
Having her arms back, Mara had them crossed in front of her and raised an eyebrow at the guy who she almost hit. Almost. Her pride couldn't take it, so would say almost. "What gives?" she asked him as she lowered the volume of her phone to hear his explanation.
"Give what?" he had the audacity to look surprised by her question.
She didn't look amused, nor does she feel amused. She put her weight on a leg while waiting for him to answer her. She is really late now for her workout and is pissed that it is interrupted so abruptly.
Mark sighed. "I tried calling you a couple of times but you were not responding." You motioned to her ear. "Your music is so loud for you to hear me. So I thought that grabbing you would be the quickest way to grab your attention," he explained.
She rolled her eyes. "You know damn well that my question isn't that." She looked straight into his eyes. "Why did you follow me, Mark?"
"So NOW you know me?"
Sarcasm coated his words but the playful glint in his eyes gave it away. Mara knows that she can't get a clear conversation with this guy at all. I am wasting my time here. She turned around and started going down the stairs this time. She didn't bother to wait for him to catch up to her and continued going down the steps.
She could feel him chasing after her. She just let him be. She isn't interested at the least though. Or as what she convinces herself to think. She may not be able to tell him something, and she may not have spent that long of a time with him, but nonetheless, Mark has this effect on her that still makes her shiver with delicious expectation. Even if she hasn't seen him and thought of him for the past 5 years, he still affects her with such intensity that it shook her.
He finally caught up with her. He stopped in front of her. He didn't lose breath after chasing her for 2 flights of stairs. He is fit.
"Okay, okay. You win." her eyebrow went up again. He needs to provide further explanation than that.
He shook his head seeing her attitude. "I just wanted to ask you how you are doing. But it looks like it is a foolish question looking at you right now." He tried to look at her from head to toe.
Tried because -- "Keep looking downwards Mark and I will make sure that you're the one who won't be feeling well after I punch you in the face real hard that even your ancestors will feel it." Of all things he can do, he had to do the most sexist thing he can do by checking her out. Other women might feel elated at that, but not her. Being a female detective on the job, she has gone through all kinds of sexism that she can drown in it for a lifetime.
He was surprised to hear her say those things. She smirked. No wonder. I guess he has only been around women who feel sexy being checked out. She is not being prejudiced but she is pissed as hell right now. She watched him raise his hands as if conceding defeat.
"If all you have to say are stupid stuff, please stay away from me. I have a life to get back to, so I hope you do the same." before she can hear anything from him she shut down any further argument from him by saying, "I know we haven't seen each other for 5 years after what happened between us, but trust me, there's nothing lost between us for that span of time." She might be cruel but it's exactly what she wants. That he turns away. "You have nothing to be sorry about, nor do I have to be sorry for."
She can see the disbelief in his eyes. Yes. I am such as bitch. "Long story short Mark, I recovered from my tumor and moved on with my life. I am now a cop and am living happily on my mediocre salary. That's it." She did tell him the truth. Not the whole truth though, but still the truth. "There should be nothing for you to ask from here onwards. Goodbye."
He didn't say anything. Good thing. When she was about to turn around and resume her descent, he dropped the bomb, "I know you were pregnant, Mara."
It's her time now to be silent. And then it dawned on her what he just said. She dropped her water bottle. It's his turn now to smirk at her. He picked up her water bottle and handed it back to her. "So Mara, this isn't goodbye." He whispered. "This is where we say "Hello, again," and continue where we left off 5 years ago." He turned around, but before leaving he added, "See you around, Mara."
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5 Years Ago
"So, if I say "Yes", can we be in a relationship for a couple of weeks?"
Mark was slack-jawed with her bomb of a question after he opened the door. He seems to have just woken up. 'Good,' she thought. He needs to be disgruntled for her question. 'Back at ya.'
"Can I come in?" but she still went in before he answered. She is actually more than welcome in his house. His mother loves her like a daughter and has always invited her for meals whenever her mom is away on a trip. She hasn't been here for a while, but the place still looks as clean as always.
Mark followed her inside after closing the door. His mom won't be home since she saw her leave before coming. So, she made herself comfortable and took a seat on the nearest couch our of the three they have.
"Mara. It's 6 in the morning. Can this wait?" He then yawned and dropped his body facefirst on the sofa beside her and tried to find that perfect position to fall asleep. He tried 6 different positions, but none seems to fit. She was just quietly watching him try to go back to sleep, looking like a jerk.
When he realized that it was all in vain, he raised peeped at her from the pillow he has his face buried in. She smiled at him. She knows he got her bothered by the question. Well, she just barged in so early the next morning they had that fiery kiss.
Yup, she used firey because hot won't cover it for her. Well, that's what she thinks. And she hopes that it would be the same for him. Damn him if it wasn't.
He got up. By the way, let me just tell you that he really looks hot in that loose basketball shorts and a plain white T-shirt. Have I told you before that this guy boxes? Yup, he does, so that would mean that those muscles and abs are screaming TOUCH ME to her.
She followed him with her eyes as he came closer and sat down beside her. Too close for comfort, but she didn't come for comfort, take note. His eyes are boring into hers, then to her lips. She can feel the heat of his breath as he is slowly coming closer.
"Can I have another kiss before we talk about it?"