GREG:As days went by, I found myself still trapped in a prison of anger. I avoided anything and everything related to Nicholas, except for the wallpaper in my room, which I couldn't bring my hands to remove. I convinced myself that I had put so much time and effort in the darkroom creating that stunning image. So, whether pissed on the model or not, I will not allow a petty emotion push me to discard a perfect work.At school, I withdrew from every activity that may involve seeing Nicholas. I ditched the swimming club too. I dedicated more time in the photography club which I invested in tutoring the newbies, thanks to the online classes, I became more advanced in the knowledge and skills.Frederick, on the ground of being helpful and supportive, tried to convert my interest to his club as well. He believed I had grown bored of the swimming club and needed another activity to fill my time. He didn't let a school day go by without extending an invitation. My eardrums suffered from h
POV: WENDYD'Caprias is the perfect escape. It provided ample attention and engagement, giving me a taste of adventure and easing my years of loneliness.Then, there is Park. Our friendship started the moment we both joined the school. Park is a lively individual. It didn't cost him a sweat to win me into responding to him. Our friendship developed hugely in which many believed we've known each other since birth.Meeting Park on my first day in D'Caprias was a stimulating experience. He had returned to the country from England the same year, and as a greener in the land, he was slowly tailing on making friends. The pretty English boy found no one interesting until I came driving into the school. He said he had found me oddly intriguing and had told his mum that I will be his best new friend. And so it happened. We became inseparable. He knew everything about me—the struggles with my broken family and solitary existence. I didn't try to hide anything; I didn't want to. Being around h
WENDY:Through the mourning period of Park's deceased grandmother, I witnessed a side of him I had never seen before. He was visibly sad and vulnerable, and completely sank in his shell.He became less talkative and disinterested in doing anything. It was difficult for both Ms. Drown and I to handle him. His father was out of phase. He had traveled back to England upon the news of his mother's death and had made plans for his family to join him after Ms. Drown must've nursed Park out of the sorrow.I did a lot of nursing for my best friend as well even when I have no experience in consolation. I stayed at his house from dawn until nightfall, before returning to my isolation. I lent him my shoulder and listened as he told stories about his dear grandmother and expressed his regrets about not being able to say goodbye.Park couldn't bring himself to go back to school either. Hence I missed school with him; it wasn't that difficult to decide. He was the only reason school was enjoyable f
WENDY:"Wendy!" Park's voice delighted from the other end of the phone. "Switch to video, I want to see your face, man,' he cried eagerly.I switched to the video without hesitation, "And how does my face look?""Cold as ever.""Thanks," I replied. We paused for a moment, smiling at each other. I debated whether to ask about the burial or not. He seemed happy, and I didn't want to change his mood. But I decided to take my chance. "What's up with you, Park?""Fine. It's boring here. And cold.""How is Grandma Isla?""Buried and rested," Park's voice conveyed that he had come to terms with his grandmother's death. I felt relieved that he was doing better."Okay. Send my regards to Ms. Drown.""Sure. Good to see you, Wen. You know I appreciate you, right?""Not so sure?"He smiled. He further asked about Grandpa Kosa and his condition, to which I briefed him and shared the good news. We discussed how we were spending the holiday without each other. Park was with his relatives and they
NICHOLAS:Since my arrival, Elena has shown no signs of improvement. She remains motionless, her complexion growing paler and thinner by the day. Her skin is unnaturally white and shrinky, resembling that of a vampire's victim.It is manifest that something is devouring her from within, which demands crucial attention, but the doctors have chosen to proceed at a snail's pace, insisting they need more time before starting any rescue mission."We have to wait until the tumor grows larger and becomes more visible," Dr. Saint explained.According to his diagnosis, Elena's brain has become stagnant, and a tumor has developed within it. The tumor must be removed, but it can only be done when it has reached a certain size. This growth could take days, weeks, or even months, depending on how quickly the tumor chooses to develop. "I'm sorry, but she will continue to become weaker and paler. The tumor requires her blood and strength to grow," he said.His explanation made no sense to me. Lettin
NICHOLAS:Same old. The bar hummed with life as usual, filled with patrons enjoying their drinks and the lively atmosphere. Colorful lights bathed every corner, while the rotating balls above the ceiling added to the vibrant ambiance. I approached the counter, where a tall, dark-haired man with an apron tied around his waist greeted me, holding a hand towel."Coke with ice, please," I ordered, and he moved towards the shelf to prepare my drink.Leaning on the counter, I scanned the bar, pretending to search for someone. I had no clear reason for being here or what I hoped to achieve. My gaze shifted upwards to the lounge area, where Vain usually oversaw his business. He was nowhere to be seen, only his loyal men standing in ovation."Are you new around here?" The waiter asked, sliding a glass across the counter.It was customary for friendly waiters to initiate conversations with customers. I could either ignore him or use the opportunity to divert attention from my true purpose of
NICHOLAS:"Nice bike."I heard the compliment from my raging state as I struggled to unstrap my helmet. I curiously turned to the voice, and he was on his height, daring and staunching in the dark. He leaned against a wall covered in amateur graffiti, puffing on a smoky cigarette that polluted the air, defining a prodigal waiter notwithstanding his attractive physique.The music from the bar blared, and scantily clad women wandered around with their prey. He looks not so different from those men, they are all filled with randy intents and conquests.He grinned at me as I mounted my bike, paying no attention to his hymn and presence."Riding off with such venom should be the least of your worries," he began, tossing the cigarette to the ground and stamping it out. "The alley is dangerous after sundown, everyone knows that." He paused, waiting for his words to muddle some punch, but I raised my eyebrows precipitously for his continuance; I have no patience in dialogues that have nothi
NICHOLAS:The night had been pleasant, and the morning promised even better. I slowly stretched on the oversized mattress until my hand came to rest on his solid sleeping form. Blinking sleepily, I took in the warm and dimly lit room, my gaze settling on his peaceful presence beside me.The lingering scent of our encounter filled my nostrils, and the gentle sound of his snores affirmed that the night had been equally satisfying for him. I shifted comfortably, stealing a glance at his serene face, memories of our escapade flashing through my mind. The turbulence from his thrusts sweeps me again, wishing he hadn't stopped last night; the desire for more of him still burned within me.We had reveled in exploring each other's bodies, and what he had done to me was worth cherishing as a memory. I could wake him and indulge in another round, but I knew that wasn't how a one-night stand worked. I needed to leave without him knowing. It was a shame that he was too good to be abandoned, but I
Nicholas spent the entire night pleasing Greg and trying not to say anything that had Rahul in it. Greg refused to stop talking about it anyway. He complained about how Nicholas couldn’t stop looking at and admiring Rahul. “You should have hugged and kissed him since you missed him so much,” he nagged. “Babe, I can’t kiss and hug your brother’s boyfriend.” “What if he wasn’t my brother’s boyfriend?” “Then he wouldn’t have appeared to make my fiance so jealous.” “I am not jealous. I am angry!” “Why?” Greg rolled his eyes and thought of the reason he was angry, and when he couldn’t confirm any, he shook funnily, went into the bathroom, and banged the door. "My love..." Nicholas knocked at the door. "Let me join you, okay?" "Go away, and prepare the couch! You will sleep there tonight!" "Sweedy..." "Two nights!" Nicholas couldn’t raise the topic of their tomorrow's supposed wedding. Instead, he waited for weeks until Greg came to terms that Rahul would only be his
GREG: “Attention, ladies and gentlemen,” Nicholas’ voice erupted through the speakers and everyone unleashed their attention to him. “Thank you." “What is he doing?” I asked Frederick. “I hope it is not what I am thinking.” “My name is Nicholas,” he echoed. “Ehh, I am not a public talker; stage fright is real, so please, reduce the attentiveness.” Everyone laughed at his silly humor. “It is happening,” Frederick blurted out. “Yeah, and it is going to be fun.” “Greg…" “Just listen.” Damn it! Frederick is disturbing. “First, I want to thank Mrs. Crown, Mrs. Freyet, Mr. Sam. Ms. Cecilia, Janie, and everyone for coming out today to celebrate the graduates. And congratulations to you all in that deserving gown; you did it!” The graduates cheered and clapped, including me. “Are you seriously clapping?” Frederick asked. “I am a graduate, Freddie.” I twisted to face him. “Okay, what is it?” “We should stop him.” “Why? he is doing fine.” “Wendy said something
GREG: Time flies. A two-week stay-in vacation came and ended in a day. I rolled on every day wishing it would last a lifetime, yet, it didn’t. Each day with Nicholas is an unforgettable experience, and it hurts to see it over. It is alright, I will ask him to marry me. I am graduating soon and will propose then; waiting a few more days to own him forever won’t hurt too much. Nicholas is everything but the one to ask me to marry him. I have insisted on not moving in with him until we are married in the guise of knotting and pushing up his actions, but nothing has happened. He thinks it doesn’t matter. I spend nearly every day with him; what difference does it make? But I want it official. I am dying to upgrade from the boyfriend title, and it is clear the manifestation is my call. I make huge proposals in our relationship anyway; I asked him to be my boyfriend, and since he is waiting I ask him to marry me as well; I will. And I will do it before everyone. Meanwhile, I need t
(FOUR YEARS LATER) NICHOLAS: “You ditched me.” Greg cried. “Is that even possible?” I missed his calls in an early queue for coffee. Getting back to the car, and seeing the notification, I decided to call him after dealing with the morning rush, but here I am, facing a trial of loving him less. “How do you explain missing my calls and still breathing fine?” “I didn’t survive. You are talking to my ghost.” “No jokes.” “Sweedy…” “You do care only about your clinic.” “Tell me to close down this fuvking clinic and I will. Just a word and it is over.” He chuckled at the other end of the phone. “No more fuvking word, Babe.” “I am fuvking trying.” “Fuvking try harder.” I laugh out loud, having a few nurses turn to me in admiration. I am a dentist, a successful one, in my magnificent clinic. I owe this achievement to the Waldeens and Lansey, who have in the past years, become a bosom friend. Despite returning to his country, we kept the communication nourished. My clinic didn’
GREG: Preparation for Granny's late husband’s memorial went on. Since I didn't intend to embark on the trip, Mr. Ben would drive her to the countryside and return to the city. “He should stay all through, Dad.” I pleaded. I couldn’t have her alone in her home. With Nicholas in the city, attending his therapy, and Elena living with the doctors, Granny will have her enormous yard lonely and deserted. “Ben will be needed.” The last trip kept Mr. Ben in the countryside, and whereby I decided to use this holiday for a personal plot, Dad saw no reason Mr. Ben should stay back. “It is a remote area, Dad. Please, she shouldn’t be alone.” “Jerome would be helpful.” “But…” “Assign more help to her.” “Thank you.” I let it be. I comprehend Dad’s choices. Mr. Ben remains his most trusted and cherished driver; sharing him was for me. Dad also knows Mr. Ben has been more than a driver, and for such development, he’d prefer he patrol within my reach rather than away. Jerome dro
NICHOLAS: My joy was evident. It had me doing extraordinary things. I wrote beyond the class lessons and every read textbook and marked my final paper as the best. Last night created that effect; having accessed Greg’s hole more than I hoped for was a grand experience — He was nothing like my past encounters. In addition to the news about Elena, my spirit elevated and circulated the air. Wendy and Park caught up on it and offered to join my visit to her. Greg climbed behind me, with Park and Frederick riding in Wendy’s car, we went to the hospital at the end of the examination. Everyone abandoned the students’ celebration to partake in my life. They chose to participate only in tomorrow’s graduation ceremony for the call to see Elena. We arrived at the hospital, eyes on us. Neatly uniformed D’caprias representatives alongside Greg Waldeen, is a topic and rouse. We got into the exclusive elevator together, against everyone’s curiosity, and ascended to the twelfth floor of the hospi
GREG: “Right now?!” “Hmmm." “We can stay here.” “Do you not want me in your room?” How do I explain his photos on my wall and every corner of my room? “I…” “We can stay here,” he said sadly. “Can I use the bathroom? Your father made me sweaty.” He tried to joke and appear cool, but I saw his disappointment. “I have a towel in my room. Would you like to use it?” “Yes, please.” That is it! Nothing beyond existence can happen. Finding out my obsession will only give me a moment of embarrassment. I turned to Nicholas and tried to warn him again. “Come on, Greg, open the door already.” “You must promise not to laugh or make a mock of me.” “What do you have in there? Nude postcards?” I opened the door to him and as Nicholas saw himself all over my life, he stood speechless. I knew it! He would see me as creepy and obsessive. He walked into the room, looking at the pictures with wide eyes and a mix of admiration. “Say something.” He ogled at me and went
NICHOLAS: My face bleached at the curt reflection of sunlight, and I put out an arm for a shade, yawned, and rose from the pillow. “Arise and Shrink!” Park came loud and disturbing. He lifted the curtains to my face. I didn’t see but could hear in his voice all he had done. “Damn it…” I groaned and held my head from collapsing as I tried to open my eyes but felt them heavy. “Do you need some water?” Park isn’t asking out of care. He is threatening. He is ready to assist my waking with a bowl of water, and if I do not kick out this dizziness, I will have myself drenched and dripping. “Are you alright?” Wendy resonated deeper and consoling yet I was unimpressed. His voice lifted my drowsiness; I opened my eyes to him, leaning against the wall with arms and legs crossed, doubling my incertitude. “What is happening?” I stretched for better sight. “What is this ambush all about?” “Do you feel better?” “Why? Is something wrong with me?” I remember nothing except getti
GREG: Nothing is more satisfying than having Nicholas with me. He has proven his repentance, and if I were to choose, I see no reason for any discussion. All I want is to get back with him. Bringing him to school is secondary; I am not ashamed to voice it. “Where are we going?” I asked as we left the elevator to the building's car park. I know where we should go. We should be in his apartment, making up for the days apart rather than doing a bulky head of talk. “Anywhere.” He said. “Are you sure I can choose?” We indeed needed to talk. But that doesn’t mean we can’t after what I had in mind. If only he agrees I decide, I will lead us to a perfect location. “Greg, please.” Too bad, Nicholas is having it grim and strict. “Okay, serious head, we can drive to D’caprias if all you want to be is focused and determined.” “Shit!” He exclaimed and turned to me in horror. “Stop the car!” “What?!” “Pull over.” “What now?” I pulled to a pathway and Nicholas loosened his seat belt. “W