Saturday

When the weekend came, Mariana wanted to meet Micah at a park. He agreed and now they were walking on the gray path that meandered between the freshly, bristly grass. A soft breeze blew past amidst the calming silence.

"How are you, Micah?" She asked, her voice was languid and casual with arms fixed behind her.

"I'm okay, you?" His tone was calm and collected, although it was low and down like his head centered towards the ground. He didn't make eye contact and his mind seemed to be somewhere else.

"I'm good, how has your week been?"

"It's alright, except for a few things."

"Oh, like what?"

"Just some things at home, nothing to worry about."

"Hm, okay." Even though he said there was nothing to worry about, he didn't sound very convincing and wondered what he was thinking about.

They then sat down on a wooden bench, with a serene blue lake opposite them. Wildflowers grew on each side and tiny ripples were made by small fish. Mariana had the catibias all safe in her purse as she studied Micah's peculiar, yet, sullen gaze. His back sunk and slouched, his eyes were fixed straight ahead as his lips slightly frowned.

She looked at her bag and then back at him, and suddenly felt a bit hesitant to give him his gift, with his current mood and all, but she decided to anyway.

"Um, I got something for you," she said with a slight tint of nervousness. She didn't exactly know why had that sudden feeling, maybe it's because this wasn't the mood she was expecting when she gave it to him.

"Really?" His eyes perked up a bit as he leaned towards Mariana's side.

"Yeah," she adjusted herself so that her knees faced his. His mood seemed to have lightened up at her words which made her smile. She brought out the aluminum packaging and placed it in his arms "here." 

"What's this?" He said with curiosity as he started unwrapping it like a child opening up a present. She watched him without saying a word as the pastry started to unfurl itself.

When he finished unraveling it, his mouth dropped open, with a drool of saliva that hanged out like a hook. His eyes began to water with nostalgia as he couldn't believe what he held in his hands.

"Is this Catibias...?" He said slowly, unable to believe the reality.

"Yes it is Micah," she spoke softly like the whisper of a hummingbird.

"How did you know?"

"I asked your mom for help."

He was speechless at hearing her answer. For a moment, he looked at her, then back at the food, then back at her again before suddenly pulling her into a hug, catching her by surprise, as a warm smile stretched across his face.

"Thank you Mariana, thank you so much, you really are a ray of sunshine," he then pulled her into a sudden kiss, catching her completely off guard.

He used one hand and cupped her face like she was a delicate diamond, fragile yet beautiful. His thumb slowly caressed the rosy part of her cheek down to her jaw as he tasted her sweet, succulent lips. She was so soft, like a feather fallen off a graceful white dove.

Meanwhile, she basked in his loving and warm arms. They were warm like the sun itself was grazing against her skin, warm like she could sink into his very arms, knowing he would catch her, warm like this kiss could go on forever.

It filled her with exhilarating butterflies, flurrying around in her stomach as Micah's soft lips connected with hers.

Since last Sunday, his week has not been that good so having something from his childhood, really cheered him up. At the same time, it was all very strange, like she knew exactly what he needed at this specific time.

He let go of her and took one out. Mariana took one also and they began eating together. The mixtures of flavors swerved around his mouth like a whirlpool of memories becoming alive with each, distinct, texture unlocking something new.

"It tastes exactly how my grandma used to make it..."

"I know," she smiled proudly as she learned that fact from Crystal.

Micah returned her smile, but he was of gratefulness and admiration. It bloomed onto Mariana like he was the sun and she was a newly budded flower, opening up its bright, beautiful petals, welcoming in the spring and all the joy that came with it.

Every time his eyes settled onto her, it was like his whole world had been packed into one person. Everything about her he loved, from the small dents that formed when her cheeks rose, from the tiny freckles that created a beautiful bridge around her nose, to her intoxicating laugh that puts anyone in a happy mood whenever she's near.

There was no other woman who could make his heart race like her or even make it stop just from the sound of her voice or her approaching footsteps.

He continued eating until Mariana reached over and tickled his ear affectionately. "Your mom told me everything that happened with you and Electra."

"What..." he froze with his hand in mid-air. He definitely wasn't expecting to hear that.

"Yeah."

"Oh," his voice suddenly turned mild and there seemed to be some sort of disappointment hidden within it. He slowly pulled away from Mariana's touch and gave a long, very long, exasperated sigh; suddenly feeling uneasy because it felt like his mom had betrayed his privacy.

"I'm sorry about what happened to you."

"It's fine... it's all in the past now," he continued eating but now with a sudden change of mood.

"Are you sure? Is that why you don't like me around Mason?"

"Um... no," he said simply and tried to avoid looking at her, but the tone of his voice and the side glances belied his words.

"Do you think he's gonna take me away from you?"

He stayed silent and stared at her for a few minutes. Now, he couldn't help his true feelings started to seep through his facial expressions.

"I just don't want history to repeat itself," he admitted sadly. His attention then went to the soil that was under them. "You mean too much to me..." he hated thinking of the past and that was part of the reason he never wanted to talk about it. Just thinking of what his brother did was even too much. And with Mariana...

He didn't even want to think of that.

Mariana's heart welled up inside as she was touched by his words, although the former had a sad and bitter memory attached to it.

"That's why I wouldn't cheat on you Mariana," he added.

She rubbed the back of his neck in comfort, even though she still wanted a date for that photo she despised so much. Ever since Electra sent it to her, there seemed to be some block between them that always seems to put them at a distance, no matter how close they were, and it looked like it wasn't going to be lifted until that photo can be put into the past permanently.

A/N: Hey I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thank you for 600 reads! ❤️❤️❤️

I don't like how Mariana and Micah keep calling me single and broke, it's not fair💧👁👄👁💧.