Sarah woke up, her vision slightly blurred. She reached out with her hands, searching for her glasses. Once she found them, she carefully put them on and her vision became clear. To her surprise, she noticed that Mark was still hugging her. She found herself staring into his eyes, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Thoughts raced through her mind as she gently touched his hair.
"I don't know how to express these feelings I have," Sarah whispered to herself. "I feel so comfortable and happy when I'm with you. It's like happiness flows through my veins."
Suddenly, Ywen's voice broke her train of thought. "What are you doing, Sarah?"
Hearing Ywen's question, Sarah felt a rush of embarrassment. Her cheeks turned red, and she couldn't bring herself to look around. "Did they see what I was doing?" she wondered silently before slowly turning around.
Ynna, Ywen, and Uncle Brown were sitting beside the table, sipping their milk. Sarah asked in a slightly awkward manner, "Were you all here earlier?"
Uncle Brown replied, "We didn't wake you up so that you both could have a long rest."
"Why didn't you confess to him instead of silently admiring him?" Ynna teased Sarah.
Ywen chimed in, a piece of bread in her mouth as she spoke, "Yeah, there's no need to keep staring at him if you don't have any other intentions."
"You should just be honest with him," she added, focusing on her food.
Sarah felt a mix of embarrassment and amusement. She smiled awkwardly, swinging her hands back and forth. "No, no, you've got it all wrong," she replied, trying to brush off their teasing.
"You don't need to deny it, Sarah. We saw it with our own eyes," Ynna said, a mischievous smile on her face. "And don't forget, you already mentioned it to me before, didn't you?"
Ywen added to the teasing, "Yeah, we were about to spill the beans if you didn't confess."
Sarah felt a bit embarrassed and smiled awkwardly. "You guys always tease me. I'm going to wash my face," she said before walking away.
"What are you doing, Sarah?" she asked herself while staring into the mirror, her hands resting on the countertop after washing her face.
"Why can't I just tell him how I feel?" she pondered, frustration evident in her voice. "This feels like the perfect opportunity."
Taking a deep breath, she tried to regain her focus. "Okay, Sarah, you can do this. Just wait for the right moment... But how long do I have to wait for that moment?" she questioned herself, feeling a bit overwhelmed. "I'm starting to drive myself crazy."
"Ahhhhh, why is it so difficult?" she muttered to herself.
"Why did I have to go and fall in love with such an introverted guy?" she mused, a mixture of exasperation and fondness in her tone. "Whenever I see his face, he looks so serious. I can hardly even make eye contact with him."
"Does he feel the same way about me?" Sarah wondered aloud, her eyes searching her reflection for answers. "What do you think, Sarah? Am I beautiful enough for him?"
She stood there, lost in her thoughts, silently praying for a sign to guide her. "Oh, God, please give me a sign," she whispered under her breath.
Sarah picked up her eyeglasses and put them on, trying to regain her composure. Taking a deep breath, she approached the door and opened it, only to find Mark standing there, his hand about to knock.
"Oh, uh, are you done, Sarah?" Mark asked, noticing her slightly distracted state.
She paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts before responding. "Um, yeah, I'm done. You can use the bathroom now," she managed to say, flashing a slightly awkward smile before stepping aside to let him in.
"Sarah, join us and have your breakfast here," Uncle Brown invited, gesturing towards an empty seat.
Sarah took a seat, responding with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Uncle."
Uncle Brown looked at Sarah with concern. "Any news about your parents?" he asked gently.
Sarah's smile faded slightly. "Not yet, Uncle. I've searched the entire building here, but I still haven't been able to find them. I've also asked some officials and my uncle, but no one seems to have any information."
"So you have an uncle here. That's good to hear. Having a relative around can be helpful in situations like these," Uncle Brown remarked, offering some reassurance.
Sarah nodded, appreciating his words of encouragement. "Yes, Uncle. My mom's brother is a Military General."
Ywen's eyes widened in awe. "Wow, your uncle is a Military General? That's so cool! So everyone here is under his watch?"
Sarah chuckled. "Well, in a way, I suppose. He has a lot of responsibilities, but he's doing his best to ensure everyone's safety."
Ywen grinned mischievously. "That's awesome! Maybe one day I'll become a Military General too."
Uncle Brown chuckled, patting Ywen's shoulder. "You never know, Ywen. Aim high and work hard, and you might just achieve it."
"You can achieve anything you set your mind to, Ywen, but it's important to also act maturely," Ynna stated, teasing her sister.
Ywen playfully rolled her eyes. "Oh please, I don't get scared and scream at every little scary scene in a novel like you do. And let's not even talk about your tendency to burst into tears whenever something bad happens to a character. Oh, and those crazy giggling fits of yours, they're something else."
Sarah and Uncle Brown chuckled at Ywen's playful remark, while Ynna tried to hide her amusement.
Ynna quickly recovered and retorted, "Well, at least I can fully immerse myself in the story and empathize with the characters. It shows that I have a heart. Unlike someone who got so frustrated over a video game that they threw their PS4 away"
Mark, who had been quietly listening from behind, walked over and sat beside the twins, interjecting in a calm and gentle tone. "Alright, let's put an end to the teasing and arguments. Remember, we're all here together as a family. We may have different preferences and interests, but that's what makes us special. Instead of focusing on our differences, let's embrace and appreciate each other's uniqueness. This morning is meant for us to support and enjoy each other's company, so let's make the most of it."
"You're talking too much, We're just having a playful conversation," Ywen retorted with a playful smile.
Ynna chimed in, teasingly saying, "Yeah, Why don't you listen to Sarah for once? She has something to say."
Sarah blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment. "Oh, it's nothing, Mark," she replied, her smile revealing her nervousness.
Ynna couldn't resist adding, "Don't be shy, Sarah. Just tell him your little secret."
Mark, curious about the conversation, asked, "What secret, Sarah?"
"Um, actually," Sarah began to say.
"Oh, I forgot, she already told me her secrets," Mark said.
"Really?" Ywen asked.
"Did you mean..." Ynna started to say.
Uncle Brown interjected, "Alright, everything is settled down now. You should take your shower."
"Yeah, let's give them some privacy," Mark said. "We have something to discuss."
"Did you mean..." Ynna tried to hear the answer again.
"Enough talking," Uncle Brown interrupted. "Let them talk to each other. You can take a bath now."
"It's so cold," Ywen complained.
"Let's heat it up. We want to hear it," Ynna said.
"No, you're too young for that," Uncle Brown said, chuckling as he left the bathroom.
Sarah blushed and felt romantic excitement in her stomach. Finally, the time had come.
As Uncle Brown left the room, Sarah's excitement turned into anger. She clenched her fists and exclaimed, "Why are you so oblivious, Mark? I like you!"
Mark was taken aback by her sudden outburst.
"Finally, we hear it!" Ynna laughed from the bathroom, where she and Ywen had been eavesdropping.
Mark, still surprised, managed to compose himself and turned to Sarah. "But what about the secret you were going to tell me, Sarah?"
Sarah's anger subsided, replaced by a mix of frustration and embarrassment. "You're impossible, Mark! I just told you that I like you!"
Ynna and Ywen continued laughing from the bathroom, thoroughly enjoying the unfolding drama.
Sarah felt sad, and tears began to stream down her face. "I thought you felt the same way," she said, wiping her tears behind her eyeglasses.
Mark noticed her distress and hesitated for a moment, realizing the impact of his words. Gathering his thoughts, he took a deep breath and mustered the courage to speak his heart. "Well, Sarah, the truth is... I've developed feelings for you too. You've been such an amazing friend, always there for me, and I can't help but think there might be something more between us."
The room fell silent as Sarah absorbed his words, a mixture of surprise and a hint of a smile appearing on her face. After a moment of contemplation, Mark added, "Sarah, you've become an incredibly important person in my life as well. Your friendship means the world to me, and I cherish the moments we've shared."
A wave of relief washed over Sarah as she felt Mark's warm embrace, wrapping his arms around her.
"So that's it? No romantic stuff like flowers and chocolates? Ah, this generation is so boring," Ynna said, playfully teasing them.
They were taken by surprise, and Mark asked, "You finished your bath so quickly?"
Then, Ywen popped up on their right side, adding to the teasing, "I think Kuya Mark needs to do something special to make Sarah fall head over heels in love."
Ywen starts to sing:
🎶🎶
In a room filled with laughter and light,
A love story unfolds, shining so bright.
Sarah's heart longs to confess,
Mark's feelings, a secret, waiting to impress.
Ynna joins in:
🎶🎶🎶
In this moment, emotions collide,
Friendship blossoms, where love resides.
A dance of words, a game of tease,
Two souls connecting, hearts at ease.
Ywen sings alongside Sarah:
🎶🎶
Tears in her eyes, emotions overflow,
Hoping her feelings Mark will come to know.
Yet uncertainty holds him back,
Both hearts yearning, courage they lack.
Together they sing:
🎶🎶
In this moment, emotions collide,
Friendship blossoms, where love resides.
A dance of words, a game of tease,
Two souls connecting, hearts at ease.
In this moment, emotions collide,
Friendship blossoms, where love resides.
A dance of words, a game of tease,
Two souls connecting, hearts at ease.
Ynna sings to Mark:
🎶🎶
Gathering courage, the moment is now,
Confess your love, let it freely flow.
Sarah, a smile beneath her tears,
Finding solace in the love that appears.
Ynna and Ywen sing together:
🎶🎶🎶
In this moment, emotions collide,
Friendship blossoms, where love resides.
A dance of words, a game of tease,
Two souls connecting, hearts at ease.
They concluded the song, their gaze falling upon Mark and Sarah, with Ywen standing by Sarah's side and Ynna standing by Mark's side
"Hey, guys, that's enough. Let's go and get dressed," Mark said, trying to steer the moments away.
"Okay, fine. You better do something for Sarah," Ynna said.
"No worries, it's okay for me," Sarah responded with a smile. "Thanks guys."
Uncle entered the room and said, "Hey Mark, we need to turn on the TV."
"Soldiers are saying that they need to recruit more new soldiers," he added.
Mark turned on the TV, and a soldier appeared on the screen, addressing the Maharlikans. "To all Maharlikans, we are in need of your cooperation. We are currently experiencing significant losses in our soldier ranks, and we require your assistance. If you are of legal age and capable of acting swiftly, we request your participation. We will be deploying soldiers to every building to gather information from selected volunteers representing each family. If you choose to volunteer, please prepare your belongings as you will be staying at the training camp."
"I need to get my things ready. I'm the one who will volunteer for this family," Uncle Brown said determinedly
"No, Uncle, you're already older, it's time for you to rest. My sisters need guidance from an adult, so I will be the volunteer," Mark replied.
"I want to join you, Mark. I'll make sure you stay safe, and besides, My Uncle will help and protect us," Sarah chimed in.
"No, Sarah. I want you to stay safe with Ynna and Ywen. They need you, too. I've learned enough from this battle," Mark reassured her, holding her hands.i
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Uncle Brown opened it and found a pretty girl standing there.
"Excuse me, is this the room where Mark is staying?" the girl asked.
"Yes, who are you, and what do you need from him?" Uncle Brown inquired.
"Hey, Spectre, what brings you here?" Mark recognizing her.
Mark smiled, "She's a friend, Uncle. Let her in."
All of them sat on the sofa, creating a comfortable atmosphere.
Mark introduced Jhohan, saying, "By the way, this is Jhohan. She's the one who saved me from the people who tried to kidnap me. I call her Spectre Since it suits her."
Sarah chimed in, holding Mark's hand tightly, and said, "That's a cool name. Thank you for saving my boyfriend."
Mark sensed the strange behavior from Sarah.
Jhohan smiled and replied, "You're welcome. Mark never mentioned he had a girlfriend."
Sarah laughed, "Yeah, we've been friends for a long time."
Jhohan then turned to Mark and said, "Anyway, I wanted to let you know that the command center has declared the recruitment of new soldiers, and they want you to join."
Mark's expression turned serious as he considered the request. He glanced at Sarah, then back at Jhohan, and finally nodded, "Yes, just like what we've seen on TV recently, I've already made a decision, Spectre."
Uncle Brown stood up and began gathering Mark's belongings, preparing him for the military. Ynna and Ywen approached, their voices low as Ynna asked, "Did we hear correctly that you're joining the military without our consent?"
Mark reassured them, "Don't worry, guys. I always prioritize my safety for you, and Sarah and Uncle Brown will be by your side. Plus, I'm not going anywhere. Remember, we're all in the same place."
"Looks like the soldiers have arrived," Uncle Brown said, peering out the window and noticing the military trucks coming to a stop.
"Please take care of my siblings, Sarah," Mark said, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. After providing comforting reassurance to his sisters, he prepared to depart.
As they made their way down from the building, Mark waved goodbye to his sisters, his hand swinging through the air as he caught a glimpse of them watching from the window.