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Carmine meets golden as Mana D. Campbell opens his eyes. He was expecting to be hurting all over, but instead, a warm arm supported his back. The guy who prevented Mana’s extremely embarrassing fall was breathtaking. It was like the devil was staring into his soul. The man smells slightly of cigarettes and the way it fits his devilishly handsome looks almost sent Mana to the moon. A blush creeps onto his cheeks as he stares into his savior's enthralling carmine eyes. Mana was enamoured.
“Are you okay?”
Oh god, Mana was going to faint. The guy's voice had this caring gruff to it that sliced right through his heart. Mana could only nod at the man's question. This mystery man left him utterly speechless. The guy helps Mana stand on his feet and picks up a fallen book. He returns it to Mana with a charming smile; a smile that ripped the flesh off his bones and left him feeling exposed.
“Well, I've got to go now. Be careful now. Don't be running in the park. There are a lot of things you can trip on.” the guy says with a wink and walks away. The way his hips swayed with confidence was going to drive Mana mad.
His soul died and got resurrected right on the spot. That was Michaelangelo’s statue of David that just helped him. Mana turns away and walks to his original destination, the shock of the encounter still prominent. He'll be coming to this park more often.
(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)
Nea, Mana's brother, bursts out laughing. “My dear brother, you have gone mad!”
Mana blushes. “I have not!”
“Have too!”
“Watch! I'm going to come home with the best man alive one of these days and then I'll be the one who has the last laugh!”
Nea rolls his eyes. “And I'll come home with Marylin Monroe.”
Mana huffs and pouts. “You're the worst.”
“I'm no mirror, Mana. Stop projecting your insecurities onto me.” Nea jokes.
Mana groans. “That's it, I'm killing you!”
(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)
Mana sits down on a bench at the same park he had that enchanting encounter with his knight in shining armor. He's determined to meet him again. He felt a spark that day and he's destined to turn it into a flame. He can feel it in his bones!
Mana brought a long novel called Zone with him and began reading it. It was one he heard about on the news. People were worshiping this novel as if it were their God. He wondered what was so special about it and would soon find out.
He was now four hours in and the novel had his full attention. It was surprisingly good. So many twists and so much character development danced on the pages in his fingertips. His mission of meeting his soulmate was forgotten about. His new one is to find out what happens to Robin/Julia and Rinali.
Someone sits way too close to Mana, but he couldn't be bothered to look up. He was too engrossed in his book. He didn't even notice that someone else was there. He didn't notice the familiar scent of cigarettes nor did he notice the person clear their throat as a way to get his attention. The book was his only focus. Finally, after 10 minutes, Mana sneezes. The sneeze was so hard it broke him out of his hyper focus.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Mana freezes and goosebumps decorate his arm like chicken pox. He shyly looks to his left and sees his one and only. “H-hey.”
The guy touches one of Mana’s bangs that frames his face and tucks it behind his ear. “That book got your attention, huh?”
Mana blushes and feels his heart trying to break free from its rib prison. “Y-yeah! It's uhm really good. You should give it a try.” Mana felt so giddy, but at the same time anxious.
“You know, I think there's something more interesting out there.”
“Oh? What is it?” Mana was curious as to what could catch the attention of a hunk like him.
With a flirtatious smirk, the guy cups Mana's cheek. “You.”
Mana could see his soul leave his body. The heavens above are now shining down on him and he's ready to walk toward that light. He could hear the golden gates opening wide for him and the choir singing welcome. A chuckle interrupts his passing into the afterlife and he falls back down to Earth.
“So, what's your name, Hun?”
Hun.
Mana was going to explode into a billion pieces. “Mana.” he could barely even say his own name. Hun was going to sentence him to the electric chair.
“That's a lovely name. My name is Cross.”
Cross is the name of his one and only. The name suited the man. There was something priestly about him and Cross just made it more prominent. Mana was going to prove Nea wrong and it would be today that he did it! Newfound determination fills his heart as he closes his book and turns to face Cross.
“So, what brings you here?” Mana asks.
“I felt like enjoying a scenic view today.” Cross replies with a wink.
God, everything about this man was dreamy. It truly was like a dream to him. A dream he hopes he could never wa-
Mana violently wakes up. He starts panting and looks around for a bit. Once reality wraps itself around him, he calms down.
“Is everything okay?” Cross asks while shifting his position to look at Mana.
“I had the worst dream ever! You weren't you and I was so head-over-heels in love with you that it physically hurt! You were like those basic men who only know how to flirt and you didn't have your mask on! You looked like the secret love child of Zac Baggans and Johnny Depp! The whole dream was just like one of those terrible romcoms you always watch!” Mana vents.
Cross laughs so hard a tear appears at the edge of his visible eye. “Well, Hun, I could always make your dreams come true~” Cross says with a wink.
Mana buries his head in his pillow and screams. “Oh my God, divorce! I want a divorce!”
Cross laughs even harder and cuddles with Mana. “Awwwee, come here, sugar. I can make you regret saying that~”
“Stop! I'm seriously going to divorce you, you brute!” Mana threatens in a non-serious way.
Cross kisses Mana's cheek and nuzzles his nose against the top of Mana's head. “Then divorce me. I'd like to see you try.”
Mana huffs and rests his head on Cross' chest. The sound of his steady heartbeat lulls him back to sleep. Hopefully, his dream isn't another out of character romcom.