[15:35] finally walking home after a tiring day in class, you hear your name being called. turning back, you see mark skipping towards you, his backpack slung on his right shoulder as he waved enthusiastically, grinning from ear to ear. the warm afternoon sun shone brightly behind him, creating a halo above his bed of bouncy, dark hair.
‘hey, i um didn’t know you were going this way too??’, mark said sarcastically, enunciating each syllable as he usually did as he pointed forwards.
you walked the same route every single day, and every single day, you’d hear mark’s voice calling your name to wait for him, making the same joke.
he reached out his long and slender (yet somehow still chubby) hand for you to take, a tradition you had maintained since the start of your friendship, as you both proceeded to shake the stress of the day off by swinging your hands and skipping down the road.
you were always happiest when you were together, watching mark’s eyes crinkle as he opened his mouth wide with a burst of over-the-top laughter or giving each other piggyback rides when the other got tired.
no matter what, between all the laughter, soft, playful pushes and small, reassuring glances you shared, mark was always the reason for the smile on your face.