At the living room, the two boys were sitting so still as a rock as they faced Mark's grandmother. Earlier, they had snuck out and even tried to fled the scene when Mrs. Rosewood saw them and yelled at them to come back with rage tinted in her voice.
"I can't believe you!" She finally cut the silence, "I never thought someone like you would... Go against my words and do what's worse for you! It's utterly shameful, Mark!" She scolded. "Did this young man told you to do it? I knew it wasn't good to leave both of you unsupervised!" Mark bit his lip as he tried to remain still. Pretending he wasn't shaking because this is the first time his grandmother has faced him this way. "We're just... playing..." He mumbled.
"Just 'playing'!?" She scoffed, "Are your toys and board games too boring now!? That you realised that being in danger is way more 'fun'!? Is that it, young man!?" Mark frowned but shook his head in a forced agreement. James tried to defend him for it was his idea in the first place, "... Don't yell at him, ma'am. I'm the one who told him to..."
Mrs. Rosewood furrowed her eyebrows more and James faced the floor and became silent like a lump is blocking his throat when he tried to speak. "Kids these days are so reckless! Do you want him to be in danger, young man!? What if he was admitted to the hospital again!?" James fidgeted and shifted as he sat there quietly. That didn't popped out of his mind and he for sure regretted that he convinced Mark to go out without any permission. "...I'm sorry, ma'am..." Is all he can say. "Sorry won't cut it, young man! In my entire life, I've been taking care of this boy because he was all frail and sick when his father left him here and then somebody just told me that he was outside! Outrageous! Oh what do have I done to deserve this!?"
She was completely being dramatic and that did not helped with the situation. She sighed and plopped onto the couch and put a hand on her forehead like the whole thing was stressful for her, Mr. Rosewood poke his head to wonder what was going on but didn't asked because he knows that at any moment, the woman would also scold him for being neglectful for he didn't watch the both of them clearly and let them go out.
James looked at Mark besides him and he saw how his eyes were wet from unshed tears. It was comical if it were in a different situation. This is where he found out that Mark could shatter like a glass at any moment. "I am doing this for your own good, Mark." She said firmly, "I know you're all good and better like a wilted flower that finally received sunlight... But we don't know what could happen next!"
She was right. Mark's body even almost gave up because of how weak he was.
"And also... I'm worried about another thing too... It's your appearance. You are too unusually perfect..!" This makes Mark confused and finally lifted his head to look straight to his grandmother, "What do you mean...?"
She sighed again one more time and spoke, "I mean... Look at you! You looked like you popped out a movie! Everyone here who saw you will go wide and... Maybe even kidnap you or anything!" The young man couldn't understand his words. 'Why?', he thought to himself. 'Am I took different for everyone...?' "But... I'm a kid too!" He fought back, "I also want to go out and play with the others!" She groaned and finally, Mr. Rosewood came to interfere at the moment, "Lad, have you ever looked at yourself?" That question was not very helpful at all.
Mark nodded, "I look close to those boy from Miri's favourite shows about romance and stuff. Why?" Mr. Rosewood scratched his head at that. "Maurie." He corrected, "And yeah, that's the problem. Do you want girls to suddenly stampede towards you like bulls, bud? The thing is... You have an extremely... Beautiful handsome face–" "Oh just shut up, you're not helping at all!" He was cutted out by his wife and he can't do anything but to shrugged and wonder what he says wrong, "I'm trying to help here, bub..."
Mrs. Rosewood thunk for a moment before finally surrendering. "...If you're fine with everyone looking at you like you're some ancient art at an museum... I'll let you go to school and maybe even play with the others..." The young lad's eyes lit up and he sprung up on his seat, "I am! I'm completely fine with it! I promise!" She sighed in defeat as Mark celebrated happily and jumped up and down, "Whatever... Go to your room. You're still grounded."
Mrs. Rosewood then turned to look at James who was almost forgotten at the moment.
"Young man. I'll put my trust on you and promise me no matter what that Mark will be away from unwanted attention and troubles every time the both of you go out. Is that clear?" James was shock and stumbled to his words, "eh...uh... W... W-why me...?" The old woman looks at him up and down with his eyebrow up, "If you're able to make him jump out of his window, then you can also protect him too. And surprisingly, nothing happened to him when you both were out earlier." James was still baffled but then Mr. Rosewood patted his head,
"Please, kiddo. You're the only one we can trust with." James was flustered and let a soft small nod, "...Yes sir...! I'll do my best!"
****
"Oh my god! It's him!!!"
"Really!? Where!?"
"He is really handsome!"
"He's like a prince charming!"
Mark Louise walked excitedly towards his school with James by his side. It's his first day and he already caught everybody's attention, "Hey! Isn't this exciting!?" He asked to James while gleaming with sparkling blinding light around him. "...mhm... Yeah... It is..."
A week after the incident, Mark's guardian finally enrolled him on the school where Maurie is studying along with James. While they were walking inside, James kept glaring to anyone who dared to look at Mark weirdly as if telling them to 'back off and mind your own business' and it worked every time but it still didn't stop the way every girls tried to spark a conversation between them.
"People here are really friendly too!" James couldn't agree with that and let out a sarcastic reply, "Yeahhh... They are..." While making their way to their room, another girl showed up in front of them with the other two behind her, "Heyyy!" She giggled as she talked. "You're the new boy, right? Well since you're alone, why not hang out with us?"
"Nuh uh, he ain't going anywhere." James intervened to which makes him receive a dirty look from them, "Who are you to tell us what to do? Get out of here, stinky!" "Don't call my friend that!" Mark fight back and the girls immediately changed their tone, "Don't worry! We're not! It's just friendly bickering! Right, James?" They all forced a giggle and James could only mumble 'not really' under his breath. "Sooo... Wanna join our friend group?" They asked again but before Mark could answer, Maurie came out of the classroom and pushed her way between them, "I told you I won't let you guys get near my brother ever again. Back off, Daisy."
The little girl rolled her eyes and turned away, "Come on girls. Ms. Potato head is here." Maurie also rolled her eyes and flipped her hair as she spoke loud for them to hear, "At least I'm not that hungry for boy's attention." Daisy gritted her teeth but did not dare to talk back more and just run away in humiliation. "Come on, Mark. Let's go inside before our teacher sees us."
They both led Mark inside the room where the students still looks at him like he was a valuable gemstone that appeared in front of them. "You can go sit besides me. That's the only table available here..." James instructed Mark who does what he was told to, "Ain't that lucky that we get to sit next with each other?" He said with that smile that shaped like a heart. Too sweet and genuine which makes everyone's heart skip a beat. They spoke in silent voices to one another and saying that Mark doesn't deserve to sit besides someone who is a 'murderer'
James ignored them for he has Mark now.
"Someone used to sit there but his family moved away two weeks ago." James said casually as he sat besides him, "I'm glad that he did though... We get to sit with each other." He smiled a little and after a while, their teacher finally came inside holding books on her right hand.
"I see we have a new kid joining us today!" She spoke with delight as she looked at Mark, "Would you mind introducing yourself for us, kind boy?" He nodded but hesitantly stood up to his seat.
"..."
He was silent as they all stared at him. Finally, after what felt like eternity, Mark turned to James and whispered, "...What should I say...?" James tried not to laugh but helped the troubling boy beside him, "Just say your name and stuff, dummy..." Mark doesn't know what is that stuff but tried just spoke whatever popped up to his mind.
"Uh... Hello..." He started as his cheeks go pink a little, "...I'm Mark Louise Rosewood and I'm eight years old. I like music...and I hope we can all be friends..."
He then immediately sat down after speaking and his teacher smiled, "Hello, Mr. Rosewood. My, that's quite a long name! I am your teacher in English, Mrs. Fritz and I hope you can be comfortable here." Mark gave her an awkward nod before she continues talking, "Everyone, let's be nice to our new friend over here and give him a lovely welcome!"
As if in cue, everyone greeted him at the same time, mixing their voices together. "Welcome, Mark Louise " It was so awkward for Mark that all he can do was just smile and let a soft chuckle at that. "Alright, can anyone tell me what's our lesson yesterday..."
****
By the time the school was over, they both took the school bus together along with Maurie talking to her new friend, Opal at the back seat. James and Mark also sat together even though some onlookers still claimed that Mark should be sitting with them instead.
"So... Do you like your first day...?" The black–haired boy asked the other. "Hmm... It was great. But grandma was right with the looks." He said jokingly, "But I like it here! It's not as bad as they thought it would be." James smiled at that. Maybe he doesn't have to worry that much too. After all, this friend over here just wanted to have fun.