Jenna had in her hands, Pam's local favorites including chips, cookies and dried fruits. "I know you miss these."
There was no trace of crying on Jenna's face. When she walked inside the room, she held her nose to avoid tears from falling. She breath in and out. She gets sensitive at the mention of marriage. Didn't Mark asked her before? She was the one who proudly turned him down at that time. She was not sure if he is fooling around still. They were the real fuck buddies and she didn't mind before…. yes before.
Pam was giddy looking at the goodies. "Thank you, Jenna!"
When Jenna sat beside Mark, he held her on her waist. She looked at him, "are you done?"
"Hmmm"
"Jenna, let's go shopping for our feast tonight." She sounded very excited. There is hidden motive to this, she wants Tim and Mark to talk so the later could deal with his issue.
"Then I would go bath first." She looked at Mark, "Are you coming with us?"
"I am taking back my man from you!" Tim said this without a batting an eyelash.
Jenna hugged Mark on the side, "no he is mine! Hey girl, take your husband with you shopping. I don't want to go home alone." It does sound like a joke, but this is really how Jenna felt from time to time. Since she grew up in a broken family, she lived her life freely hoping to find one day her 'home'.
Mark turned his head near her ears and said softly, "I am yours forever". Then he adjusted and looked the couple in front of him full of meaning. "Tim and I are cleaning the house for a change."
"You go bathe first Jenna. I am going to orient these two where the cleaning aid are." She winked at her signaling her to go.
"Alright! You," pointing at Tim, "dream on!"
Unknown to Jenna, Tim and Mark are also going out to buy something. They spoke where they are going to ensure they don't cross path.
When Mark returned to the room, Jenna was changing. She was wearing her underwear and is choosing from the clothes they brought.
"Are you really cleaning up here? Do you know how to?" Unlike Tim, Mark is carefree in fact, she is the one who takes care of his apartment. The only thing that he is probably good at is to throw the clothes inside the washer.
"We will figure out." He hugged her from her back. "Are you worried I will mess this place up?"
"No…of course you can do it." She smiled back at him and gave him a kiss on his lip. Jenna warmed up after what he whispered earlier. These words were enough for her. She does not need marriage.
Mark could clearly feel her deep love. How stupid is he that he ignored all the caring she gave him and rely on her to make the move to seal their relationship? In the end, even if marriage is just s piece of paper it reinforces commitment to make the relationship stay. It still a security blanket for women no matter how strong they are.
Mark did not release Jenna from his embrace. He instead held her tighter causing her to squirm. "What are you doing, are you breaking my bones?"
"No, I wanted make you stick with me like this. You were crying last night." Jenna stiffened. "I never saw you cry. I feel bad for making you cry. I love you babe."
Jenna bowed her head; her nose is sore. "I know sometimes it's hard to keep up with my mood swings. I am sorry. I love you too."
"I never minded your mood swings, I love everything about you. You never gave cold shoulders like that. I am scared of the feeling that I am a stranger to you."
"Enough of this, otherwise the girl outside will take this opportunity to bully me. I cannot let that happen. Clean up well." Jenna's heart is overwhelming with joy now. She always sees Mark bubbly, easy going but never this insecure.
Mark does not want to let go of Jenna, he in fact wanted to take her right here right now. He will never ever let her go.
Jenna kissed him again, "Pam will be waiting. I am sorry for making you feel scared. I was thinking too much." He finally let her go.
The two ladies when on window shopping, they do not have intention of buying anything but the things they need to buy for the Christmas Eve dinner. This was bonding moment for them. They tried make ups, clothes and even perfume just for the fun of it.
Pam tried a jumpsuit. "You look like college girl," Jenna exclaimed admiring her friend's youthful vibe. "Who can tell you are 28 and married!"
"You are really my friend. To be honest getting married to Tim was nice to have for me. I only wanted to be treated right. I did not know we can still be together. Whether we are to be married or not I just wanted to be with him in the end regardless."
Jenna brightened up her face, "Yeah! Who cares about marriage? As long as the man you love is right beside you accompanying you in happiness and sadness, that is all the matters." Jenna sighed, "I didn't know Mark can be sensitive, yesterday I don't know why I am irritated with him."
"So now you are admitting there was something wrong yesterday!"
"Kinda, but it's me not him. I don't know I suddenly felt insecure which is not exactly me. I have been together with Mark for a long time as bedmate or officially his partner, I never saw him so worried. I normally have tantrums and he just let me be. Yesterday I did not know he took to his heart my reaction. Anyway, it's all fine now. I should stop acting stupid."
Pam smiled, "I don't think you are acting stupid, you just needed to feel secure. We all have that moment. You know Mark like a wife who has been married for 10 years, you love him, and he loves you. You make a great couple!" Pam thought of telling her Mark is already considering her as his wife but decided not to. It is more important that Jenna feels it than just hearing it.