GREG: My heart came to a crash. “Please, no cops.” I pleaded nervously. Mum pronounced cops on Nicholas. It is the right thing to do to a thief, except I couldn’t bear the thought of sending him behind bars. The cops will not only escalate it, but for their bust, they will involve the media, and Nicholas will be labeled the nation's most famous thief. “Gregory, I know how you feel, but I can’t let it go. I can’t entertain a thief into this home.” “No, you have no slightest idea. If you do, you won’t keep calling Nicholas a thief.” “I didn’t make him a thief.” “Mum, please.” I shut my teary eyes, and when I reopened them, my cheeks soaked with liquid. “Let this go. For me. Can you do that?” “I am sorry, sweetheart. We are talking about my treasure, my symbol of commitment. I could consider your request if he had taken something else but that. He got good eyes for a thief, you know.” “Mum!” “Allow me to take him,” Granny intervened, tugging my arm. “Come, my boy, you need some
GREG: ~Hey~ (~~Pardon me. I couldn’t address you as I feel since I lost that right. I do not know of my right to write you either, but I want to believe by your kindness that you will read the honesty of a lowly thief you have refused to put behind bars. I wouldn’t brag on my belief of why you protected me except to thank you. Gregory, I do not want to apologize. Not because I am not sorry and ashamed of humiliating you. It is because I do not deserve your forgiveness. I do not deserve anything. I hate to say I do not deserve your love when it is all I need to survive. I want to live, Greg. I want to live knowing you let me admit to and rectify my wrongs. I want to live knowing you do not hate me. I want to stay alive, hoping you would come to me. Hence, I will remain in the garden until you come to hear me out ~~) Reading the last paragraph, I ran out of James' room like a pursued prey. (~~You may decide not to come, I won’t be expecting much. But I will be here still. I hav
NICHOLAS: The clinic holds a clear view. There was neither the couple doctors nor Ms. Reinta, the resident nurse, to see us ride through the gate or walk the long corridor. I need not be surprised about the scanty. It is so in Sanray, thanks to the absolute safe zone of the clinic. Believing Dr. Saint and his partner are either satisfying their urges on the effect of the weather and the nurse, perhaps, in a ward attending to a patient, I took Greg into Elena’s ward. “Meet Elena,” I said to the puzzled Greg. “My sister.” He didn’t react to the sudden news that I have a bedridden sister after assuming he knew me, nor asked questions about her or anything at all. Instead, he looked around the ward expressionlessly. I got sudden creeps on the possibility he feels skeptical about the clinic. But then, Dr. Saint and his partner take absolute care of their clinic. Notwithstanding the old construction and lack of a handful of patients, it won’t classified as shabby or unsuitable for pat
NICHOLAS: I couldn’t believe it was his touch until I lifted my arm to feel it. ‘Don’t get ahead of yourself, idiot. It is just a sleeping cuddle from a sleeping person.’ I was near to believing my subconscious self and his warnings when I felt Greg move his palm, caressing my arm. ‘Don’t get excited, stupid. Greg sleeps so freely.’ Then I felt his movement and adjustment on my nape. ‘Don’t try it. Don’t react; you clot. Greg is sleep-moving.’ His soft kisses came on me, making me shiver and twitch. ‘Don’t make a fool of us. Hold it in.’ Greg tendered more kisses on my neck. “I miss you,” he breathed, and I shut my eyes and clenched my hands, trying to listen to my subconscious self, not to disappoint us. ‘Good. Hold it in. Greg is sleep kissing and talking.’ Greg kissed my ears and plastered kisses all over the parts of my body he could access, moaning as he went. ‘What now?’ I asked my subconscious self, who I know is as confused as me. Greg traced his hand all over my b
NICHOLAS: “Hmmm.” I perceived amidst sleep. The scent was comforting and alluring. I have no one beside me but Greg, and I wonder why he would exude freshness when I still smell of cum. “Nice!” I reached for his hand with closed eyes and brought it to my nose. “Did you use a perfume?” “I did,” he said. The voice came deeper than I knew. But since it was a morning call, who cares for a clear voice? “Hmmm,” I kept sniffing and kissing his hand as I went on. “How did you get one?” “From my closet.” Huh? Closet? I blinked open to see my Greg, only to be furnished with Dr. Ray squatting before me, grinning like the Joker. “Holy shit!” I dropped his arm in disgust and sprang to my feet to his laughter. “Why did you….?” “Good morning.” I watched his laughter turn into a snigger. His eyes remained steady and stuck below me despite my celerity. “Fuvk you, Ray!” I stumbled upon the discarded clothes on the floor to cover up, causing more amusement for the old-ass doctor. “What the fu
NICHOLAS:“Are you alright?” He mouthed.I walked to a corner and stood perplexed, giving no ear to Greg’s concern.“Hi.”“Hi.” Dr. Waldeen responded to Ray with her gaze tight and rigid, pronouncing her not being happy to see me.“Please,” Ray guided her to his inner space, drawing the curtain against us.“Nicholas,” Greg came closer. “What is wrong?”“You!” Acting ignorant of his action put me off. “Nothing.” But I said. I am a thief. It is not wrong if I went in cuffs.“I am sorry I didn’t tell you beforehand.”I walked past him and out of the door. I entered Elena’s ward; if I am going into the cops' car, whose sirens I am hearing now, I will have to see Elena and warn her to stay alive.“Nicholas?”I tilted my neck to the voice of Greg behind me. I shut my eyes to endure his presence but couldn’t help it. I couldn’t stand his betrayal and caring attitude.“I want to be alone.”“What is wrong? You are being strange.”“Strange?” I burst against my intention, making him jump in fear.
NICHOLAS:Dr. Waldeen didn’t forget to complain about our absence from school and ordered our return to the city as soon as possible. But we had other plans.Greg suggested we spend more days in the countryside, and I saw it as a good decision and a perfect time to introduce him to my parents other than Ray.I will miss Ray. The inability to meet Dr. Saint before leaving the clinic made it sad, but I will have to bear it until I repay him a visit. Yes, I will come back to their shitty clinic to spend time with them, as always. I love and value them. I may not have said it, but they are the parents I lost years ago.“You can clear the wardrobe too,” Ray said in a disguised fear of the possibility I would take all my belongings.When he saw me folding D’caprias’ uniform into an old leather bag, he paraded the ward, sweating in worry. “Why should I?”“You know, since it is goodbye from here.”I knew he was scared of not seeing me again.“Do you at any chance miss me already?”“No!”I kn
GREG:“Good night,” Nicholas whispered and I clutched the jumper to suppress my desperation.I didn’t want it to be a good night. I wanted him to lie beside me, hold me, and maybe, do it with me. Yet I was too unsure to say it.I listened to his footsteps walking out of the greenhouse, and after a few minutes, I heard splashes from the lake.The movement of the water told me he was having a late swim. I could tell it wasn’t because of his prone to water and swims, but his little way of avoiding me, of wanting me to sleep ahead.I understand he needs time alone. His sister is the only meaningful thing to him in this clock frame. But I want him with me. I yearn for his touch.He may want the same, whereas it would be a freak denial to act blind to how important Elena is to him and his subtle to think of nothing else.He stole for her. He wanted nothing but to save her, and that is what I should do before heeding my desires.“Gregory!” Mum answered on the first beep.“Mum.”“What is going