Chapter 2
Encountered



Mark walked across the room, then he looked at Sam with deep concentration. There he knew she was his. He walked towards her and stretched his hand out. “I’m Mark Anthony Hales. How about you?” Sam was abruptly anxious. Please don’t sit beside me… please, please. She repeated on her mind continuously. If Sam took Mark’s hands, it would be a start on her journey to eternity. “I’m Sam, Suzie Anne Martinez.” She shook hands with him. And it is where and when her true journey begins.
• • • • • • •
After a while, Mr. Thompson and the adviser of the other section, Mrs. Greene talked. Mrs. Greene’s class lacked students so they’ve decided to take some students on Mr. Thompson’s class to have balance. They took Mark. Sam was really pissed because Mark, who was still a mystery to her, the guy she felt strange interacting with was gone, never to be seen again.

It’s been weeks and still Sam could feel something was missing. Something was wrong, something was about to happen. She made friends continuously, for every subject she attended, Biology, Economics, English, Trigonometry, Poetry and more. At the cafeteria, she could only catch glimpses of Mark. She was picking her food when someone touched her cheek with smooth caresses she abruptly came to a complete stop. “Miss me?” a familiar masculine voice asked Sam. (Who is this? Why is he touching me like this? Pictures, I can see a lot of pictures. I feel excited, no! I’m scared? WHAT IS THIS?!) Sam continued screaming in her mind. “Who are you?” Sam asked, slowly turning her head to know the guy. “It’s Mark, silly. Are you okay?” Mark laughed loudly. A slow smile curved on Sam’s face. She felt relieved to know it was Mark. Yet, why did she felt that way. She was still puzzled to what has happened; she took a deep breath to find the words to say. “Oh it’s just you.” Sam laughed nervously. “What are you doing here?” she took another deep breath. “I’m in the cafeteria, I’m eating.” Mark laughed more loudly. “Yeah right, sorry for that stupid question.” Sam shove her red streaked hairs pass her shoulder, it reached her waist. “Don’t say sorry, it’s nothing” Mark gripped on her shoulder. “Ooops, sorry.” she continued. “You did it again you know. You like saying sorry huh?”---“No. It’s just, well… They say it’s my mannerism.” Sam felt anxious, excited, scared, nervous, disappointed all at the same time. As her amber eyes held the chocolate brown ones, she saw some glimpse of images of herself smiling, grinning, frowning and more. “Yah I know.” Mark said confidently. (Oh no! She might wonder why…) “Yah I know? What?!” she touched the small if his back. “No it’s nothing forget it. Sit with me?” his masculine voice was so tempting. “I can’t, maybe some other time…” her voice so mesmerizing anyone would be bewildered. “And why is that?”---“Because, Stephanie’s waiting for me.” She took off.
Suzie walked away with such grace, turning her back from Mark, who still continued to stare at her. She felt his gaze, yet trying to ignore it. Sam waved a hand of goodbye but didn’t look back. “Hey Steph, I’m sorry for being late, I guess?” she stated. “It’s okay, as long as you’re with that handsome guy, I know his name… Wait.” Steph paused. “Mark, hmm, Mark Anthony Hales. Am I right?” Steph continued. “Yeah you’re right, but he’s nothing, just a friend and nothing less, nothing more.” She stuttered. “I wish that’s what he is for me” she whispered to herself that Steph couldn’t possibly hear.
As school ended Sam decide to walk home but suddenly she dropped her books, her bag, everything. Then she heard footsteps, it wasn’t walking, it was running and abruptly Mark came into view, breathing helplessly. “Hey, need help?” Mark offered. “I’m almost done, I… I’m fine.” picking her things quickly. Mark came closer and helped her, as their gaze met, Sam saw Mark’s thoughts. It was full of pictures of her, every smile, every hair flip and every grin she made. While picking her bag, Mark reached for her hands to help and all of a sudden their hands intertwined and Sam could feel a mix of emotions. Weird?! Sam thought. “Thank you…” Sam said. “Can I walk you home? That would make me feel better.” Mark stated with security. “Uh… okay, make you feel better??” she said while confusion was rising. “Well, it’s just I want to protect! Protect you from all of them!” he said,