That day after the rehearsal and all, and after listening to Ben's panic and after giving him advice and calming him down, Mark was in his room in his hostel resting.
He didn't know if his words were enough to calm Ben down cause they were still going to rehearsal with the other drama crew.... And knowing Ben, he will go into another panic!.
Mark was conflicted on what to do for Ben that will calm him down, or really pass the message that he was there for him....
"what can I do." he asked himself while his hands moved across his hair. "knowing Ben his nervousness will likely get the best of him,' what do I need to do to make him feel relaxed.... Hummm.... Think, Mark think."
In his conflicted state he remembered about Ben's birthday party knowing that he organized the event, it brought smile to his face as he remembered every detail of that day and it brought happiness to Ben and everyone who attended the party.
Just thinking about that brought warmth to his heart "look at me trying to do something for a special person," he laughs and adds "the me back at my colleague days wouldn't have cared but look at me, all caring and it makes me happy.' although shocked that there was this part of me that genuinely care for someone."
The evening wore a nightly and cold glow that make him draft to sleep trying to come up with ways to calm Ben.... "but oh well..... I couldn't come up with anything yet" he murmured as he fell asleep.
Ben on the other hand was still awake looking outside his window to feel the nightly cold air that blew..... "what a day!! What comes next, no knows" he said to the night as if asking it questions that he has no answer of hoping that it could be answered.
"I will just have to wait for what comes, and then face it....." he smiles as he remembered Mark's face and reaches out this hand as if touching the face he was picturing "knowing him has given me confidence and courage, he changed me.... Without me knowing it... But one thing I know is!!!! He is by my side through the way."
He turned to his bed, moving to lay down leaving his windows opened. As he lay down he looks at the window one last time as he slowly closes his eyes thinking of his questions and the answers that he needed to know but didn't have at the moment..... Then the room went in silence as Ben's breathing fills the room and a calm cooling air that blew in his direction as if trying to give him answers.
SUNDAY MORNING
Sunday morning sunlight streamed through Ben's window, gently rousing him from sleep. He stretched, feeling refreshed, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. After a quick breakfast, Ben laced up his sneakers and headed out for a jog, the crisp morning air invigorating him. The rhythmic pounding of his feet on the pavement cleared his mind, and he lost himself in the workout. As he ran, his thoughts turned to the upcoming play, and he mentally rehearsed his lines, fine-tuning his performance. The exercise energized him, and Ben returned home feeling revitalized, ready to tackle the day.
Mark woke up with a lazy stretch, his eyes half-open as he reached for his phone. As he sat up in bed, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, trying to shake off the morning haze. Suddenly, he had a moment of clarity, remembering he'd spent hours researching ways to calm Ben's nerves about the scene with Anthony, he had stayed up all night for that reason. But as he scrolled through his notes and browser history, he was shocked to find that it wasn't there. A look of surprise crossed his face, and he muttered to himself, "Where did I save that?" Mark's eyes widened in dismay, realizing he'd apparently closed the tabs or deleted the notes in his sleep-deprived state. He let out a frustrated sigh, wondering where his research had gone.
Mark tossed off the covers and got out of bed, deciding to shake off his frustration with some exercise. He put on his workout gear and headed to his living room for a morning yoga session. As he flowed through the poses, his mind cleared, and he felt more centered. After his workout, Mark headed to the kitchen to whip up some breakfast. The aroma of scrambled eggs and freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and his stomach growled in anticipation. With a satisfied belly, Mark sat back down at his desk, refreshed and focused. He dove back into his research, determined to find the perfect advice to calm Ben's nerves. Sunday mornings were made for relaxation, but Mark was on a mission to help his friend shine on stage.
When he couldn't find anything thing that could calm Ben's nerves down he was conflicted and kept trying to look for solutions. But after an hour of no avail, he sat there thinking of a way. Then a sudden idea came up to him.
Mark picked up his phone and dialed Jonathan's number, hoping his friend's expertise in romance would help him find a solution for Ben's stage nerves. Jonathan answered on the first ring, and Mark explained the situation. After a moment of thoughtful silence, Jonathan dropped a bombshell: "Have you ever thought of taking him on a date once?" Mark's response was immediate: "No, I haven't. Not even once." The suggestion caught Mark off guard, and he wasn't sure how to react. Jonathan's words lingered in the air, leaving Mark wondering if there was more to his friend's advice than met the eye.
Mark wrapped up his conversation with Jonathan, his mind buzzing with the unexpected suggestion. He couldn't shake off the idea of taking Ben on a date, and a mix of emotions swirled inside him. With newfound determination, Mark opened his laptop and started researching date ideas, his fingers flying across the keyboard. Sunset picnic, art museum visit, or a casual dinner – he scrolled through suggestions, imagining what Ben might enjoy. As he browsed, Mark's thoughts drifted back to Ben's smile and laughter, and he found himself getting lost in the possibilities. The more he researched, the more excited Mark became about the prospect of taking Ben on a date.
Mark finally settled on a simple yet charming idea – a quiet dinner at a cozy restaurant, perfect for a low-key evening. He decided on a quaint Italian place he'd heard great things about. With the plan taking shape, Mark checked his calendar and picked this Sunday evening for the date. He felt a sense of anticipation and nervousness, wondering how Ben would react to the idea. Mark took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the ask. He picked up his phone, his fingers hovering over Ben's number, ready to extend the invitation and see where this new path would lead.
Mark's fingers trembled slightly as he typed out the message on his phone. He wrote: "Hey Benny love, how is my love doing today and hope he had his rest. Am just wanna ask if you have time to go out with me on a date?" He hesitated for a moment before hitting send, his heart racing with anticipation. The message flew out into cyberspace, leaving Mark to anxiously await Ben's response. He couldn't help but wonder what Ben would say, and whether he'd even consider it a date. Mark's eyes were glued to his phone, waiting for the response that would change everything.
Ben's response arrived quickly, and Mark's eyes scanned the message with a mix of excitement and relief. The words on the screen read: "Yea am free, and I had a good rest thank you. And about the date I will definitely be happy to go out with you." Mark's face broke into a wide smile as he read the words, feeling a rush of happiness. He let out a soft sigh of relief, thrilled that Ben had agreed to the date. Mark's thumbs flew across the screen, typing out a response: "Awesome! I'll pick you up at 6 pm on Sunday then?" He hit send, his anticipation building for their upcoming evening together.
Ben's response arrived, and Mark's eyes widened as he read the message: "Dummy that's this evening right, and 6 pm works fine for me. OK see you later then..... Love you!!!". Mark's heart skipped a beat at the casual affection in Ben's words, and the "Love you!!!" at the end left him feeling giddy. He couldn't help but smile at Ben's playful teasing, and the familiarity of their banter felt like a warm hug. Mark's thumbs flew across the screen, typing out a response: "Yessss, this evening! Can't wait to see you, love you too!!!" He hit send, feeling his excitement build for their date just hours away.
Ben's response was brief and to the point: "OK catch you later". Mark smiled, knowing Ben was likely busy with rehearsals or other plans before their date. He felt a sense of calm wash over him, content in the knowledge that their plans were set and the evening would be here before he knew it. Mark put his phone away, his mind wandering to all the details he still wanted to finalize for their date. He took a deep breath, focusing on the hours ahead, and let the anticipation simmer, savoring the excitement of their upcoming evening together.