Chapter: 12.****It's been two weeks since David got back from Steven's, and he was glad things have gone back to normal after he told Raya how guilty Steven felt when he thought he fell in love with her and how sorry he was. She forgave him and promised to speak with him but for some weird reason, she has told David that for over a week now, she couldn't reach Steven. Not that it's any concern to David so he would always just tell her that Steven might be busy and he'd call when he has the time. Steven is a grown man, who knows what he wants and can as well take care of himself. David, on the other hand, has a family and a name to protect."Honey,"David looked up and saw Raya looking down at me with a worried expression on her face."Baby, what is it?""David, what's wrong sweetie?""What? Nothing I'm perfectly fine.""No you're not, I've been standing right here calling, and you didn't even hear me.""Really.""Yes!""I'm sorry babe, really, I just had this troublesome client, who
Chapter: 13.*******Steven opened his eyes to be greeted by an extremely bright light, and he closed them again. When he did open them back up, the lights weren't all that bright anymore. The walls are just plain white, where the hell are his pictures? And why is his room so small?The hell...Why was he on a bed? And why is it so small? Steven tried sitting up but a strong hand held him down and soon he found himself drifting off into oblivion while listening to distance chatter. Sounds like birds chirping on a tree, which was seriously provoking to his poor ears. While he slept, he had a very pleasant dream, waking up from it he made to get up again, but that same force wouldn't let him, Steven was tired of sleeping, so he insisted until they spoke."Are you trying to get yourself killed again?" The voice asked."What?""Now you're deaf too? perfect.""Who is that?" Steven's head was pounding in his ears, the voice seems a little too loud for him, he tried to turn around when he fe
Chapter: 14.******"Do you love him too?" The little girl had asked.Yes, yes I love him so much. I love him way more than I love myself. Just, not in the same way that he loves me. David was going to answer her but her mother came in and he figured it's best he didn't say a word and so he just left. Steven looked so alone. His eyes. God, I hated seeing him like that. David's thoughts wandered. I should go back to him, to apologize and let him know that I love him. David felt his eyes sting. "No this is wrong, I can't love him that way," David yelled his frustrations into his car. Fuck David, what is wrong with you? Steven is part of him, he can't live without him."I missed us." Steven had told him. I've missed us too, Steven, and I need you, more so now than ever. David, couldn't tell from where these thoughts came but it was certain Steven completes him. David had thought staying away from him would change anything, but the truth was, it worsens everything. He almost died thi
Chapter: 15.****"Speak."Those were Steven's words after he hadn't heard from him for so long. That was his fault anyway, he neglected him, made sure he left him hurting to the point of wanting to die. He caused Steven so much pain and left him when he needed him the most. Steven had not only come out to him but had also realized he was in love with him, which was a whole lot for anyone to take in, yet he left him."Why are you calling me?"David wanted to share this moment with him, to let him know he was going to be a father soon, at some point in their lives they had both wanted this, to get married have kids, and yet still be best friends."I missed us."Steven had said those same words to him at the hospital and he heard his heartbreak, even more when he had told Steven they Couldn't stay friends anymore."I'm going to be a father, Steven." The line went dead, he should have known, this isn't the right time to talk about that, he hasn't even called him for over a month now, al
Chapter: 16.*****Standing to look out his window and perhaps open the blinds, his breath caught in his throat. A red airport taxi drove into the building, he looked on until the passenger emerges. He saw the face of the one person he desperately wanted to see and a smile seeped into his soul and filled its very ache and hollow.Steven, his best-friend, vibrant, joyous, beautiful Steven. Who had been the one happy constant in his life for years? And also the one person who caused him the most confusion. A quick look at the bed, Raya still sleeps beautifully. Quietly David made his way out of the bedroom, with eagerness in each step, he finds himself waiting at the front door.Silently, he pushed the screen door open, inviting Steven inside. Steven stepped past David into the foyer without saying a word, doing his best to ignore the surge of heat that went through him as his arm brushed David's broad chest. As always, his proximity left Steven a little lightheaded. He thought he would
Chapter: 17.*******David pulled Steven farther down the hall into the same room, he had stayed in the last time he visited. Closing the door behind, he finally let go of Steven's hand and walked to stand at the window, his back to Stevens."Why are you so upset? You know I have to get back, I've got work to do.""Steven....look, I--,""No, David... I came here so we could talk.""Then, tell me. But don't leave in two days, please!"God, I hate it when he begs. Makes it harder not to do as he says. Steven felt his heart melt for him."You know, for someone who hasn't spoken to me in a long time and probably never cared about me. You sure have a way with words.""I care about you Steven, and even if I never called. There is no day that went by, that I do not think about you, and regret every moment I've caused you pain.""Well, it didn't seem that way.""I know, and I'm sorry....please forgive me.""Fine, I will leave in five days.""One week then, please Steven, one week.""Then one
Chapter: 18.******Days flew by after that ordeal, though both men have no idea, that they had masturbated, each on his own side of the closed door. Yet they felt they knew each other's secrets. Both men longed desperately to touch, to feel, each other, and yet confusion, guilt, and shame, wouldn't let any show what they truly want. The sexual tensions between them each time they were found together alone, were becoming unbearable.Today was the last day of the agreement and Steven had to leave the next day. Neither he nor David was happy. None wanted the other gone. An unspoken desire, that troubles the innermost part of their souls. Why does it have to be this complicated?They both wondered.*********"Good morning, family." Steven greeted with the best fake smile ever. David knew the moment he looked into those eyes, that Steven was sad, but trying to play it off. The thoughts of Steven's departure and the fact that he lives so far away annoy him to no end."Morning handsome, I'd
Chapter: 19.*******“Boys!" The voice of Raya echoed again.******David allowed himself another second, one more moment to relish the sweet heat of Steven's kiss, and then he tore himself away. "Raya." He panted. "She's home."Steven searched his eyes for long seconds. "The bathroom." He suggested. "I'll distract her and keep her downstairs, then you can join us. Unless you'd rather have us walk out together.""No, it's fine," David said while walking into the bathroom, Steven shut the door behind him and came out to great Raya."Hello, beautiful.""Steven...sorry, did I just walk in on something?" Raya asked, with a wicked smile on her face."What?" Steven whispered. Fuck, I should have checked the mirror. He mentally slapped himself."You looked sexed," Raya told him, and couldn't hide the full grin on her face anymore. Steven knew he was in for a long one, from her."Keep your voice down, I don't want David hearing you." Steven needs a cover-up lie and fast. Somebody, please hel
Chapter: 34.*******Steven went back to reading, the words blurry but he tired. Whatever was going on, would be explained by this note. So he read. Hey baby! I know what you’re thinking right now, don't worry too much I'll tell you everything. God, I'll miss you so much! I'm so sorry for what happened. Raya had you shot and you were going to die from excessive bleeding in your chest. I couldn't let that happen, baby, so I-I. God, this is so difficult to write. Steven, I shot myself so you could have a change of heart. That's right baby, I gave you my heart. See! You're not totally alone. You've got me, forever. Living inside of you. That's where I belong. That's home. That's where I am meant to be.I'm sorry if you don't understand any of this, but in time you'll do. Go on living for me baby. Please!I need you to stay alive, for me. For us.You're my world, Steven. The sex, love and all that we shared would always be a memory I'd die for over and over and over again. And I m
Chapter: 33.******Steven had just woken up to the blinding lights that seem to pierce his very soul, he felt weak and tired.What had happened to me? He wondered, his vision blurry, memory fleeting. He couldn't remember a thing. With much struggle, he sat up and looked around him. Well, wherever he was is most certainly not his bedroom. Steven looked down at his clothing and discovered they were that of a hospital gown.What the fuck! He mentally yelled. Where the heck is David? His heart was throbbing in his chest. Panic getting ahold of him. Steven wanted to call out for help, but his voice came out like that of a broken record. He couldn't hear his own voice.God, what is going on? He could feel his eyes going misty. He was going to cry. He didn't know why he was filled with agony. The feeling of loss was too profound that his head couldn't understand it. Somehow he felt like a newborn like he's never seen the word before. He seems not to have a memory of where he was and what ha
Chapter: 32.******Raya kept turning and tossing on her bed. She knew something wasn't right, she felt sweaty and out of breath. She sat up quickly and climbed out of bed, leaving the bedroom. it has been four days since David left her to go see that Steven. She cursed and slammed her coffee cup on the table, winching as the hot content spilled on her hand. She cursed and took a towel, furiously wiping at her hand, when a maid came into the dining room. The maid stretched out her hand offering her a letter."What is that?" She inquired dejectedly."It came in for you ma." The maid said, dropping it on the table as instructed and she left. Raya gave a bitter smile and tore through the envelope...Hello Raya...Congratulations baby you did a good job, I must commend you. To think that Steven loves you so much and was ready to share. If he had given the word. I would have left you a long time ago. But he didn't want that. He loves you so much that he couldn't bear the thoughts of ever h
Chapter: 31.*****“I hate home works," Lily mumbled again, she has been trying none stop to solve this particular math problem that is really starting to annoy her, she hates the subject and now she can't help but hate it even more."Stop saying that sweety, you'll get it in time." Alice encouraged, walking into her daughter's bedroom, with a letter in hand."What is that?" Lily asked, throwing her books aside and sitting up to face her mother."I think is a letter, with our names written on it." Alice sat beside her daughter on the bed."A letter?" Lily whispered. "From whom?""I have no idea. Want me to read?" Alice asked, with a nod from lily she tore the envelope open and began reading. Hey Family.I know what you're thinking. Who is this stranger? Well, I can assure you, that I am no stranger. It's me, David. How are you, Lily? I want you to do me a great favor. I need you to take care of your uncle Steven for me. I know you love him and am glad he has you to look after him now
Chapter: 30.******“Mrs. Mebel you really should stop crying, this isn't good for your health," Stella begged for the umpteenth time that day. She hated seeing any of them hurt this way, she is as a Mother to Mebel and a Grandmother to Steven, they are her family since she has none. Mrs. Mebel has been broken since yesterday she had that argument with her son. Steven had left home and not come back. She regretted the way she handled the situation. Steven is her only son. He just came out to her, which is very difficult to do, and yet she had pushed and pushed until he left. If only he would call her and come back home. She would tell him she was sorry for calling him names and hurting him. She would tell him to go on and love whomever he wants, that she's in support of him."Madame," Stella called handing a package to Mrs. Mebel, calling her attention for once. Mebel made Stella open the package and brought out a letter from it. "It's for you," Stella said giving her to read. She st
Chapter: 29.******Mrs. Roseline just got off the phone with Raya, who has been crying her eyes off none stop on the phone, while telling her about David and Steven's secret affairs. It was shocking news to take in, never had she thought their closeness would get to this. But some were along this long run, she had known. It took them quite a long time to get to this point. Mrs. Roseline did what every mother would and tried her best to make Raya stop crying while promising to call her son to come to see her at once since he was in town. She knew the boys have been close this past few months, but then again, she couldn't remember a time, when they haven't been that way. She turned on her heels and was about to go into her room when one of her maids called."What do you want?" Roseline asked exhausted."This just came in for you, madam." The maid said, handing a package to her. Roseline unwrapped it and hissed when she saw it was a letter. "Do people still leave these?" She wondered.
Chapter: 28.******Once all the formalities had been completed and the police had finished their inquiries. Dr. Shepard sat slumped in his chair. He was beyond exhausted, the surgery was a success. But that was far from his worries at the moment. He still couldn't get himself to understand the reason why such a promising young man would take such a drastic decision, in just a blink of an eye. Shepard rubbed at his temple, his brain was harming in his head. Remembering the letters David threw in his hands. He searched for them until he found where he stacked them in. He brought them out and dropped them on his table while looking through each of them. They seem to be addressed to different persons. He sorts through them and found the one that has his name on it. With trembling hands and shaky breaths, he opened to read.Doctor Shepard. I'm sure by the time you're reading through this, that the transplant must have been a success. I have absolute faith in you, doctor and I hel
Chapter: 27.*****David banged and kicked at the door. Yelling for Raya or anyone else to open the door for him. 45 minutes later and he was still locked up in there. Frustrated and tired. Steven would be waiting for him right now. He cursed, stood up, and marched to the door, a few seconds later after kicking at the door none stop, it flew open. He picked up his phone and credit cards and walked out of the door. He was certain he wouldn't be coming back here in a long ass time. David got to the living room and found Raya crawled up in a ball on the sofa. He was too upset to stop and ask her any questions. So he went for the front door, one hand on the handle and his phone vibrated in his pocket. He swore and reached for it, an unknown caller ID. He pressed it to his ear and waited. "Who is this?" "This is Doctor Shepard, you seem to be the last person who called Steven's line."Steven? Doctor? David's heart was thundering in his chest like it would fly out at any moment."Yes, Ste
Chapter: 26.*******It's been three weeks since David got back home. The very day he came back, Raya had greeted him with the worst kind of news ever. She had told him she lost their baby. David was beyond shocked and sad. The last time he had spoken to the doctor, she did tell him that Raya was losing weight, but anything other than that was absolutely fine. The baby was fine. And now she said she lost it. He blamed himself for leaving her alone for so long, for making her worry. He blamed himself for the loss of their child. And he wanted to make it up to her. Once he returned from work, he'd stay home with her. Doing all he could to make her happy, watching her favorite shows, taking her to her favorite outing place. Raya has also been sick for a few days now, she seems to be getting these headaches frequently. He is such a bad husband to Raya, a terrible father to their dead child, the worst kind of lover to Steven, and probably the most horrible son ever. He had made mistakes, a