----- PROLOGUE -----

“YOU WILL COME BACK FOR ME, RIGHT?”

The words that Sky wanted to exchange with and promise to. Towards the only person who made him feel special and the very first one who became his true friend and eventually his dearest one. 

“I will. I promise you that.”

The words that they exchange and through a pinky swear that seals their promise to each other. Sky draws a smile, and wipes his tears away and nods excitedly and gleefully towards the upcoming days and temporary departure that will hold the two of them for a while apart but will be looking for the days and the time to come to be together again. 

“I will be waiting, waiting for you.”

“Hmmm! I will be back, so wait for me.”

He whispers, while drawing the sweetest smile that everyone at first will only take as an innocent gesture of two friends saying goodbye to each other. Little that they know nor have any ideal or a slight clue about.  The two seemingly innocent kids have that certain feelings for each other that is more than just friendship. That little budding feeling that is starting to sprout.

“Do not forget your promise, for if you will. I will never forgive you.”

“I will not. Don’t worry, a promise will always be a promise.

To that day, as the dawn is approaching, they smile and bid their temporary goodbye. Sky stands at the door way with both of his parents while watching his dear friend go inside his family’s car. They wave their hands for goodbye while he held himself firm and easing the longing and tears back that wanted to escape from his eyes.

“Bye, bye!”

He whispers while waving goodbye in a way that is a bit hesitating. His sadness that is evident to his face and tears that he is trying to not show. With the rest waiving their goodbye and the car departed slowly unto his eyes. His special one looks at the back window of its car and screaming.

“Sky!”

“Wait!”

“Young Master!”

Couldn’t bare it, while innocently and honestly didn’t know the deeper meaning of the lingering emotions that he has deep inside. He chases the car, neglecting, no, didn’t hear the call of their servants and his personal butler. Now chasing the car to their pathed gateway. Crying while wanting and deep to scream his name. His dearest one looks out from the side of its car and screams while waving its hand at him. 

“I’ll see you soon, very soon so wait for me!”

He finally stops chasing, stops running and toughen his heart. Thinking that soon enough he will be meeting him. He then wipes his seems stubborn tears from shedding, and waves back, standing at the edge of their mansion’s gate waving their goodbye unto each other. A goodbye that hopefully will never take too long. 

“I will be waiting,”

“SKY!” 

HE wakes up, no, jolted up awake from the deep and long nap after being awaken though an ear-piercing call from his cousin. That is much effective, but worst than an alarm clock. Sky rubs his eyes and looks outside the road to where they are heading. With Andrea and Bea taking their excitement up and hype for their vacation. His dear naughty and mischievous cousin pop its face in front of him waking him up and calling out his name once more. 

“Wake up you sleeping beauty, but a prince. Where almost there.”

“Really? I’m still a bit sleepy.”

A bit protesting, but could never get angry with his only cousin. Andrea smile’s is wider than he had ever seen. All too excited and enthusiastic for the grand vacation that his uncle and Andrea’s father prepared for the three of them. Including Bea which is Andrea’s best friend. The grand vacation in the cruise ship that he is forced to take and took Andrea with a lot of convincing for him to come along.

“Come on Sky, be a little excited, won’t you? This is just a once in a lifetime experience.”

“Sky, smile for the camera.”

“Please.”

Not in the mood with the fact that he is forced to take this vacation. Andrea pouted, disappointed to him while Bea is trying to cheer the mood while filming everything of their journey.

“Wake up and be active for once my dear near and introvert cousin!”

“Alright, alright. I’m up, I’m up, and please stop with the introvert thing Andrea.”

He replied and immediately, calming Andrea down and once more for the many times is defeated by his cousin’s convincing, no, pushy attitude that he always ends up finding cute and unique about her.

“By the way. What is your dream about?”

“Why?”

“You seem to be calling for someone and moaning like you’ve been left behind and crying.”

“I did?”

Taken aback from those words from Andrea who immediately drops the topic and back to their little filming journey with Bea. Sky is left thinking for a second and deep from what Andrea just said to him.

“What is it in my---”

He stops, changing his mind of asking Andrea. Thinking that he shouldn’t bother his cousin for such a trivial thing especially something like a dream. But his mind wouldn’t rather give it up. Like it is more than just a dram, rather a memory he curses and wants to forget, yet is still hunting him. He took a deep sigh setting that thought aside, while focusing on his task for this entire vacation. To take care of more than a little kid cousin of his who always had some schemes and plans that he rather didn’t want to happen. His responsibility towards the only person who accepted him and his entire dark past and personality.

“Shall we make this one of the memorable things in our life, Sky?”

Andrea retorted, leaning on her cousin’s shoulder and grabs Sky’s arms while taking a video vlog for this entire trip. Her motto is to take everything like it is the end. Added by her hyperactive lifestyle and happy-go-lucky personality as her coping mechanism for moving on from the heartbreak that she had just been through. The fuel that gives her only cousin the headache for her mischievous attitude. 

“Right?”

“Alright, alright. As you said it.”

She asks in a tone and with a puppy dog eyes of hers that always get through the ice-cold barrier Sky build unto his heart. Sky gives up as he has always been with her and nods in defeat.

“That’s the spirit!”

“Andrea, look!”

“Where almost there!”

The two cheers, with Bea who is equally excited with this trip, but is not a headache for Sky. It is just she is someone Andrea got with her little schemes and plan that he needed to make sure that she will not stumble into any kind of trouble. Trouble that is the same like her cheating boyfriend. Giving a high five to Bea who is her sidekick for her plan at hand, they both giggle and scream when they oversee the ocean up ahead and the cruise they will about to board. 

 “Where here!”

“Sky, where here.”

“Yes, I can see it.”

“Finally!”

Bea retorted in excitement and equally with Andrea. While Sky is in the neutral zone for both liking it and not. A few moments they all arrive at the point where the guesses are slowly arriving and now boarding the luxury and private cruise only the riches and influential family could set a foot on. With their family name and Andrea’s ever-smart and an influential father who knew almost everyone in the Alta social circle and community alike.  They got the ticket and luxury to board the liner as their gift for passing the entrance exam of their chosen college. Setting their eyes to the cruise ship, they step out of their family’s limo.

Sky looks ahead and somehow nostalgia is knocking towards him.  

“Tsk! Too much of a dream.”

He whispers unto himself, a bit trying to remember his dream after just a while of shaking it out from his thoughts.

“Damn, stop thinking about its Sky.” He shakes those thoughts once more from his mind. “There are things that is more important than that dream.” He looks at Andrea who he needed to look after and more likely becoming the baby sitter of his cousin.

All with Andrea’s broken heart and sensitive state that he needed to put his full support from.

“Sky!”

Andrea and Bea both called out his name while waving their hands gesturing him to board the cruise. He nodded and immediately followed the two, slowly behind. To the cruise entrance, they are warmly welcomed by the liner’s usherettes greeting them and assisting their luggage. Meting more than their expectations for the grandest cruise in the world. Andrea and Bea casually made their way to the deck grabbing him by both hands and one by each of them.

“Let’s go!”

“Wow!”

They took a deep breath as the wind gently blew. With the breathtaking view of the vast ocean ahead. The two took some pictures and videos. A bit forcing Sky to join in the fun and ended up accompanying them with the uninterest expression and forced smile from time to time. But let them be with their request and a bit immature attitude, especially Andrea who is still struggling behind those smiles and cheerfulness for the heartbreak that turn everything upside down. 

“Shall we head first to our rooms and prepare for dinner?”

He reminded, yet rather a command by which the two agree. They head to their rooms as the cruise employee leads them. Sky gazes at the entrance door which in perfect time. The door opens with the name and greetings unlike no other, but for VVIP guess. 

“Welcome aboard, Young Master Clay.”

“YOU WILL COME BACK FOR ME, RIGHT?”

“I WILL, I PROMISE YOU THAT.” 

“The most inherently masculine thing I can do is throw caution to the wind and love you.”

----- Anonymous -----

“Society says men aren't supposed to show emotion or love each other, but my love for you can't be contained.” ----- Anonymous -----

“Let my loving arms embrace you for all eternity with all the strength of man.”

----- Anonymous -----

“My sexual orientation points to nothing more than my love for one man, you.”

----- Anonymous -----

“Gay is an understatement, what I feel for you is love!”

----- Anonymous -----