Chapter 63: The Changes And Memories

Birds chirped at the open window, while a gentle breeze ruffled the curtains. Marc Junior sat there with Hershey sleeping in his arms. He smiled and thought he looked like her in high-school. The way her body seemed to curl around him, like a cat. He brushed some of her hair from her forehead, only to see her closed lids and relaxed mouth as she slept peacefully. He couldn't understand how he didn't snore. How his body seemed to move together in unison whenever she slept.

His eyes dropped to her chest as he watched her take a deep breath and then exhale. Her chest rises and falls with every move she makes. Reaching out, he slid his thumb and forefinger over her and took the small bud in his fingers. When he did, he let the gentle movement of her chest slide over his fingers. The bud immediately shriveled. Marc Junior sighed as he twirled his thumb around until it tightened around his finger. He had never seen anything so beautiful in his entire life. Leaving her chest alone, he ran his fingers along her ribcage, feeling the intricate bone structure. To the area that protected her esophagus, and then below, feeling the soft skin that seemed to mold her with just a touch. He continued down, feeling her heart beat faster.

He didn't tell her this, but after they had a son Jeromy, he wanted more children from her. That's when he thought about things between them. He thought that maybe God would show them some mercy. He also knows that he wants to be with her for the rest of her life. He loved it so much. He was very angry when Hershey left, because that meant they couldn't be, not together and at that time, that was something he couldn't handle.

He knew he would get through the death of his mother and the death of their son Jeromy with her by his side. He just needed a way to ease the pain. He wanted it gone right away. He didn't want to spend years in counseling, years telling some people he'd never met about how he felt when his baby and his mother died.

He likes to do things his own way.

His fingers trailed down her lower abdomen, stopping at her navel. He remembered that the first time he felt Jeromy kick it was here. His little foot jumped on the skin which made Marco Junior laugh. God, that felt so good. He wanted to hug Hershey and kiss her and hold her and show her how much he really loved her. But...that's not what happened. He laughed a little and for some unknown reason, he moved further away from her than before.

Clearing his throat, he felt a tear form his cheek. She deserved more than that, than what he offered her. When he looked at her, he felt his heart melt with compassion, sorrow, and love for her. He still loved her. He still wants to. Although he had no right, he felt it was his. He reached out, and taking her fingers in his, he placed delicate kisses on each one, running his thumb over her ring finger.

She must have a ring on that finger, his mother's ring. He swallowed softly, whispering, "You deserve better."

"Hello to you too." Her tone came out raspy. The interesting part is, she never heard of it until now. Looking at her face, he smiled, trying to match his hold on her own.

"Did you sleep well?"

She shifted her body and stretched, the sounds coming out of her mouth like a cat. "I slept like a baby."

He laughed softly, "More like a kitten."

Hershey laughed, "Yeah, if you say so."

Marc Junior continued to stare at her fingers, picking at the elongated shaped nails. "I say so." His thumb ran over her nails, feeling their softness.

"What are you doing?" She asked, her gaze falling to his lips.

"Thinking." He said.

"About what?"

He smiled, "I can't say yet."

"Why not?" she asked.

His eyes went to hers, "I was thinking about how I would like to marry you."

Hershey's stomach dropped and she gaped. "What?"

"I wonder what my mother's ring would look like on your beautiful, long, beautiful fingers."

Hershey's eyes widened, shocked. "Since when?"

As usual, he answered her question without asking. "Since, we have Jeromy."

Hershey felt the lump in her throat and the pounding of her chest out of rhythm with her heart. "Marco Baby."

"Chocolate..Hershey." His eyes darkened and he whispered, "I still love you, Chocolate. You know that."

Hershey tried to breathe, but couldn't seem to get any more than her throat. Giving up, she closed her eyes, told herself not to panic, and counted to ten. He didn't understand why she was panicking when he was the one who owned her heart. The one he used to want to be with. None of this makes sense.

XXX

A few hours later that afternoon, when they both got up to make lunch, Marc Junior opened the door to his mother's room. Flipping the switch, he looked around and stared at the clothes lying on the unmade bed. He could still smell his mother's perfume clinging to the air. Walking over to the bed, he ran his fingers through a pair of slacks she had worn while cleaning. He saw her tall thin frame standing in stretch pants, t-shirt, and scarf tied with dark brown hair hanging over her shoulders. He took a deep breath and walked around the room, touching everything. He really missed her. He has become a great man, inside and out. The most beautiful woman he had ever met.

Taking a deep breath, he bent down under the bed and pulled out a box placed under the right corner of the bed. Pulling it up, he opened it.

Hershey ended up making fruit salads with hotdogs for their lunch. She took two glasses and placed them on the table. In front of them, he sat down with forks. Grabbing the towel hanging from the bar of the stove, Hershey wiped her hands. Turning her back, she went up the stairs and went to her room. Finding her room empty, she turned to his mother's room. Knocking on the door, she called his name. No answer. She knocked on the door a second time, calling his name louder. "Marc, I'm going to eat."

A few minutes later, she heard movement in the room. She was about to leave the door, he stood in the hallway when it opened. Marco looked at her with red eyes. He took a sip and with a bright smile, asked, "What's for lunch?"

Hershey sighed, ignoring the signs of tears. "Food."

He laughed, "What do you mean food? I bought some stuff a couple of days ago."

Hershey shook her head in disagreement, "No, I saw what you had with you and that was not food. That was scrapings."

Marc Junior sighed, "Scrapings?"

"Yes. I don't like that."

"What are you doing?"

"I came home and stole some of the food I bought for our house."

Marc swallowed, putting his hand behind his back, "Don't you need that?"

Hershey shook his head, "Nope."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"What did you get then?" He asked as they walked to their seats at the table.

Hershey sat in front of him. Glancing at him, he answered her question, "I'm an impulsive shopper Marc. If I see a sale, no matter how unnecessary I am, I always get it."

Marc Junior laughed, "When did it start?"

Hershey shrugged her shoulders, "It's always there. I've just never had the money until now to get whatever I want."

"Oh. You're making a lot of money now, aren't you?" Marc Junior teased.

Hershey glanced over with a charming smile. "I guess you could say that. What about you, Marco Baby?"

Marc shrugged, "I work back in Shanghai."

"Really?"

"Yes, I work in a small company."

"Really? What kind?"

Marc Junior sighed, "A company that constructs buildings."

"Really?"

"Yes, it's called Chan Construction Company."

"Chan?"

"Yes, this is a company that just went out of business about five years ago."

"Is the money enough to live on?"

Marc Junior raised an eyebrow, pausing in the middle of his second hot dog. "That's an inappropriate question, Chocolate."

Hershey felt her cheeks heat up with embarrassment. "Sorry."

Marc Junior looked at her with a smile on his face. There are things that haven't changed. "Yes, it's enough to live off of.. and then some."

Hershey nodded, "Good."

"What about you, Hershey? Are you and Derek dating?"

Hershey shook her head no. "We're not dating."

"Why not? He seems like your type."

Hershey took a taste. "He's ok, I guess. So, are you still going to study for Law?"

Marc nodded, "Yeah, I'm majoring in civil studies and then I'm going to go for Civil Law."

"Hmm, interesting." Hershey stated, pushing away her empty plate, so she could reach her fruit salad.

"Why did you say that?" Marc Junior sat in his chair, both plate and bowl empty, his stomach full.

"I just thought lawyers were all criminal law."

Marc Junior shook his head rebutting, "No, not all of them. There's way more than criminal law."

Hershey smiled at the fuse of his passion when talking about Law. He continued with all the details of the law and although she would have been listening, she couldn't concentrate on his words, as her body took over the spotlight with dramatic gestures, a determined gleam in his eyes and the most -sensual of all is the way his mouth moves.

She tried to zoom in on his words, but for the life of herself, couldn't focus. Instead, she focused her attention on the bowl of fruit salad. When she was beginning to understand some of his words he stopped talking. It took her a minute to feel the look he was giving her. She looked up to see his eyes shining with irritation. She swallowed, "I'm sorry."

"If law's too boring for you, Hershey, just say it." Marc Junior said, taking his dishes and taking them to the sink.

Hershey's eyes widened, annoyed that he would think she would be that stupid. "I tried to concentrate." She defended himself.

"You did well." Marco answered sarcastically.

This made Hershey laugh. Marc Junior glanced at her, his cheeks heated up, "You know, I don't like history at all, in fact, I hate history but I at least provide you the courtesy of listening to the most dry subject there is."

Hershey sighed and stood up, "History is fundamental ok. And anyway, I couldn't concentrate on what you are saying because the way your body moved when describing that was quite interesting. I was drawn in to that."

Marc Junior put the dishes in the sink and turned away from her. "What?"

Hershey began to chew on her bottom lip, her tone soft "I was distracted because I was too busy watching your hands move, the twinkle in your eyes, the smile that looked fascinated by it and your mouth while you speak."

This caused him to narrow his eyelids, unable to speak. Hershey swallowed her worry. "I love the way you were so animated. I could see the happiness there, it's beautiful."

Marc Junior felt something loosen in his heart. What exactly, he wasn't sure. He didn't even know that someone was weighing him down. Staring at her, he said, "Hershey Villamor. I believe that was the sweetest thing you ever said to me."

Hershey smiled, "Yes." He moved away from her, his gaze falling on the wall next to the doors leading to the living room. He couldn't explain why, but he felt ashamed.

Marco stood there by the sink for a few seconds smiling. He really has a heart, sweet, sighing, he went behind her. He watched as the small hairs on the back of her neck stood up. He let out a deep breath and placed a kiss on the nape of her neck. A soft sigh was heard. He whispered, "Let me hold you."

Hershey said nothing. She didn't move. He slowly wrapped her in his arms. Instantly, his body relaxed against hers, releasing the tension in her shoulders. He stood over her, kissing her hair.

Hershey closed her eyes and relished the feeling of his strong arms wrapping around her. She couldn't explain it, but she felt a sudden pang of pain in her heart.

Swallowing, she put her hands on his arms, signaling to him that she wanted him, she needed him, she let out the pain, tears falling from her eyes. His arms held her tightly. She listens as she closes her eyes.

XXX