The sun shone brightly over the Ostyx orphanage, casting a warm glow over the bustling courtyard. Seventeen-year-old Mark laughed as he chased after Dean Colter, his best friend since childhood. June, their inseparable companion, cheered them on, her ponytail bouncing with each jump.
"Hey, slow down, Dean! You're going to trip!" Mark called out, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Dean glanced over his shoulder, grinning. "Oh, I'm shakin' in my boots, Mark!"
June giggled, her eyes shining with mirth. "You two are impossible!"
As they reached the courtyard's center, Mark tackled Dean to the ground, and they both ended up in a heap, laughing. June joined in, playfully hitting them with a nearby pillow.
"Okay, okay! Truce!" Dean held up his hands in surrender.
Mark stood up, brushing himself off. "I think we've established who's the real champion here."
June rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Boys and their egos."
The three friends continued their carefree morning, enjoying the warmth and camaraderie. Little did they know, their lives were about to take a dramatic turn...
As they strolled through the courtyard, they stumbled upon a group of younger kids playing a game of tag. Dean, always up for a challenge, joined in, leaving Mark and June to watch from the sidelines.
"You know, Dean's always been a bit of a show-off," Mark said with a chuckle.
June smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's what makes him so lovable."
Mark nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's a good guy to have around."
June's gaze lingered on Mark's face, her expression softening. "You're not so bad yourself, Mark."
Mark, oblivious to the subtle undertones, grinned. "Hey, thanks! I try my best."
As they continued to chat, Dean emerged from the game, flushed and triumphant. "Ha! I'm the champion of tag!"
June playfully rolled her eyes. "Congratulations, Dean. You're a true hero."
The three friends spent the rest of the day together, enjoying the sunshine and each other's company. But as the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the orphanage, June's demeanor shifted. She became quieter, lost in thought.
"Hey, June, what's up?" Mark asked, noticing the change.
June hesitated, her eyes darting between Mark and Dean. "I...I think I'm going to go for a walk. Clear my head."
Dean, sensing something was amiss, offered to join her, but June declined. "No, I need some time alone."
Mark and Dean exchanged a concerned glance, but June was already walking away, her footsteps fading into the distance...
"What's up with her?" Dean asked with a little squint to the nose, still moping at her as she walked away.
"Growth stuff I guess"
The night wore on, and the rain began to fall, casting a melancholic spell over the orphanage. Mark and Dean huddled together in the common room, trying to distract themselves with a game of cards. But their minds kept wandering back to June, wondering what was troubling her.
"I'm going to go check on her," Dean said, his brow furrowed with concern.
Mark nodded. "Yeah, make sure she's okay."
Dean slipped out into the rain, his footsteps echoing through the deserted corridors. He found June standing alone in the courtyard, her face tilted up to the sky, letting the raindrops wash over her.
"June, what's going on?" Dean asked, his voice soft with worry.
June turned to him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I...I just needed some time to think."
Dean's heart ached with empathy. "What's wrong, June? You can tell me."
But June just shook her head, her gaze drifting past Dean to the figure standing in the shadows. Mark, who had followed Dean out into the rain, watching the scene unfold with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"June, please..." Dean started, but she cut him off.
"No, Dean. I need to talk to Mark."
Dean's face fell, but he nodded and backed away, leaving June and Mark alone in the rain.
"Mark, can I talk to you?" June asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mark stepped forward, his eyes locked on June's. "Of course, June. What's going on?"
She gently walked with Mark off to a distance, where she knew Dean's gaze wouldn't find them.
June's gaze searched Mark's face, her eyes burning with intensity. "I...I just wanted to tell you something."
June's gaze searched Marks face, her eyes burning with intensity.
"I just wanted to tell you something". Her voice was barely audible over the rain.
Mark's eyes locked onto hers, his face inches from hers.
"What is it, June?"
June's hands rose to Mark's face, her fingers tracing the contours of his jaw. Her thumbs brushed against his lips, sending shivers down his spine.
Mark's heart raced as June's face drew closer, her lips parting slightly. He could feel her warm breath on his skin, sending his senses reeling.
Then, in a movement that seemed to defy time itself, June's lips pressed against Mark's. Softly at first, then with increasing intensity. Her lips molded to his, her tongue teasing his, sending sparks flying through his entire body.
The world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them, lost in the sensation of the kiss. The rain, the darkness, everything faded into the background as they surrendered to the passion of the moment.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, June pulled away, her eyes flashing with a mix of emotions.
"Why did you do that?" Mark's eyes were widened in shock. Nothing could ever prepare a guy for this surprise.
"I've tried, time and time again...but...you're too dense...!" She yelled, angrily but with a mix of other emotions she couldn't understand.
"I've tried..." She said emotionally, her voice under her breath as she gently tugged at his collar.
"I've tried...but you just don't look at me..."
"I 'am' looking at you!"
"Not the way I want you to!"
She took her hand off his shirt and left him there, still very much bewildered.
Mark stood there, frozen in shock, his lips still tingling from the kiss. He couldn't process what had just happened. June, his best friend, the person he had known for years, had kissed him with a passion that left him breathless.
As he stood there, trying to make sense of it all, Dean emerged from the shadows, his face a picture of heartbreak. He had simply followed them behind...just in case if he had any help he could offer. But it seemed he was not needed.
"Mark, I...I think I'm going to go," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mark nodded, still trying to process his own emotions. "Yeah, Dean, go. I'll...I'll talk to you later."
Dean nodded and turned away, disappearing into the darkness, leaving Mark alone with his thoughts.
Mark couldn't shake off the feeling that his world had been turned upside down. He had never thought of June in that way before, but now, he couldn't deny the spark that had ignited between them.
The next morning as bright as it was wasn't bright for those three. They didn't speak at all. It was strange to see Dean or Mark walking alone.
When the got to the dining hall, none was willing to speak to the other, everyone was busy processing their own emotions. To make their problems more apparent, they weren't even sitting together like they used to.
Steph leaned closer to June's ear.
"What's up with your boys?..."
"I told Mark. I confessed but he..."
"He rejected you?"
"Nothing of the sort" June replied her, gloomy.
"I don't know if I'll ever fix this".
"They're your friends aren't they?" Steph rhetorically asked.
"You'll figure something out".
After their meal, each person went off to their own chores.
Mark found a pillar under the dining hall's roof.
As he stood there, lost in thought, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. It was June, her eyes flashing with a mix of emotions.
"Mark, I...I'm sorry," she said, her voice trembling.
"I didn't mean to hurt you or Dean. I just couldn't keep it inside anymore."
Mark took a step forward, his heart pounding in his chest. "June, what's going on? Why did you kiss me?"
June's eyes searched his face, her gaze burning with intensity. "Because, Mark, I think I might be falling in love with you."
Mark's world came crashing down around him. He didn't know what to say, how to react. All he knew was that nothing would ever be the same again...
Mark's mind raced as he tried to process June's words. Falling in love with him? It couldn't be true. They were just friends, weren't they?
"June, I...I don't know what to say," Mark stuttered, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut.
June's face fell, and she looked away, her eyes welling up with tears. "I knew it was a mistake. I'm sorry, Mark. I'll just go."
But Mark caught her arm, stopping her from leaving. "June, wait. Please don't go."
June turned back to him, her eyes searching his face. "Why? So you can tell me you don't feel the same way?"
Mark hesitated, unsure of what to say. He didn't want to hurt June, but he couldn't deny his own feelings either. Or could he?
"June, I care about you deeply," Mark said finally. "But I don't know if I feel the same way. I need time to think."
June nodded, a small smile on her face. "I understand. Take all the time you need, Mark."
And with that, she turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Mark alone with his thoughts.
As he stood there, trying to make sense of it all, he heard a noise behind him. It was Dean, his face a picture of sadness.
"What was that you pulled last night. Mark, I saw what happened,"
Dean said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I think I'm going to go away for a while. I need some time to think too."
Mark nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. "Dean, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."
Dean smiled wryly. "You didn't, Mark. You just opened my eyes to something I didn't want to see."
"What happened wasn't my fault..."
"You knew..."Dean sharply chipped in.
"You knew I liked her..." His voice sounded like a faint whisper.
And with that, Dean turned and walked away, leaving Mark alone, wondering what the future held...
**********************************************
A few days passed, and the atmosphere at the Ostyx orphanage was tense. Mark, June, and Dean's friendship had become awkward, with unspoken feelings and unresolved tensions hanging in the air.
Then, one day, Bishop Stephen arrived at the orphanage. His kind face and warm smile put everyone at ease, except Dean, who eyed him with hostility.
The bishop spent the day assessing the children, speaking with them, and getting to know their stories. His conversation with June remained private, but he spent a significant amount of time with her.
When he announced that he would be taking some of the children with him, but only with their consent, Mark's heart skipped a beat. He had always wanted to experience life outside the orphanage, and this was his chance.
Dean, however, was adamant that Mark shouldn't go.
"You can't just leave me behind, Mark," Dean said, his voice laced with desperation. "We've been through everything together. You're my brother, my best friend."
"I know, Dean, but I need to do this," Mark replied, his resolve firm. "I need to see what's out there, experience life beyond these walls."
Dean's face twisted in anguish. "But what about me? What about June? You're gonna run away and leave her here? We need you here."
Mark sighed and tapped his shoulder. "June has her own path to follow, and you...you have your own demons to fight, Dean. I can't stay here and hold you back."
Dean's eyes flashed with anger. "You're betraying me again, Mark. Just like you did with June."
Mark's heart ached, but he stood firm. "I'm not betraying you, Dean. I'm following my heart."
Dean turned and walked away, leaving Mark feeling guilty but determined.
Later that day, Mark sought out June, finding her in the courtyard, lost in thought.
"June, I need to talk to you," Mark said, his voice soft.
June looked up, her eyes red-rimmed. "I know you're leaving, Mark. Dean told me."
Mark nodded. "I have to do this, June. I have to see what's out there."
June was trying to fake a smile for him. But she couldn't.
"June, I need to talk to you," Mark said finally, his voice soft.
June looked up, her eyes red-rimmed. "I know you're leaving, Mark. Dean told me."
June's face crumpled, and she buried her face in her hands. Mark put a comforting arm around her shoulders.
"Hey, it's okay," he said. "I'll always be with you, no matter where I am."
June lifted her head, her eyes shining with tears. "Do you remember when we were kids, Mark? When we used to explore the woods together?"
Mark smiled. "How could I forget?"
June's gaze turned wistful.
"You found that little dog and fought it so it wouldn't hurt me" She smiled still teary eyed.
"And how you'd fight off the other boys cuz they touched my hair.....I was so happy then. I didn't know it, but I was falling in love with you, even back then."
Mark's heart skipped a beat. "June, I..."
But June continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know you don't feel the same way, Mark. But I need you to know that those feelings never faded. They only grew stronger."
Mark's mind reeled as June's words washed over him. He had never suspected that June felt this way.
"June, I...I don't know what to say," Mark stuttered.
June's face twisted in a sad smile. "You don't have to say anything, Mark. I just needed you to know."
They sat in silence for a while, lost in their own thoughts.
Then, June turned to Mark, her eyes burning with intensity. "I want to show you something," she said, her voice husky.
And with that, she launched herself at Mark, her lips crashing against his in a passionate, sensual kiss.
"I don't care if you don't love me back, Mark," she whispered, her tears falling onto his skin. "I just want you to know that you'll always have a place in my heart, no matter where life takes you."
Mark's heart broke, but he couldn't reciprocate her feelings. He held her close, though, savoring the moment.
As they pulled away, June's eyes locked onto Mark's, filled with a deep sadness.
"Goodbye, Mark," she whispered.
"Goodbye, June," Mark replied, his voice barely audible.
The next day, Bishop Stephen returned, and Mark bid farewell to the only home he had ever known. But Dean and June, the two people he loved most, didn't come to see him off.
As he left with the bishop, Mark felt a deep sense of loss and longing. His journey was always destined to be long and lonely...
As Mark left the Ostyx orphanage with Bishop Stephen, he felt a mix of emotions: excitement for the unknown, sadness for leaving behind his friends, and a hint of guilt for not being able to reciprocate June's feelings.
Bishop Stephen, sensing Mark's turmoil, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Mark, my son, you have a long journey ahead of you. But know that you are not alone. God is with you, and I will guide you to the best of my abilities."
Mark nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards the bishop.
As they traveled, Mark learned more about the world. But he eventually decided to become like his mentor. The bishop was hesistent first but in time sensed this was Mark's true calling. He would be enrolled in a seminary, where he would study to become a priest. Mark's life was tough at first but the bishop's kindness and wisdom helped him through the worst of it.
During his time at the seminary, Mark struggled with his past, particularly his feelings for June and his guilt over not being able to return her love. But with the help of Bishop Stephen and his fellow seminarians, Mark slowly began to heal and find his calling.
Years passed, and Mark grew into a compassionate and devout young man. He kept in touch with Bishop Stephen, who became like a father to him.
But despite his growth and newfound purpose, Mark never forgot June and Dean, the two people who had shaped his life at the Ostyx orphanage. He wondered what had become of them, and if their paths would ever cross again...