Troye placed the food on the table. He grabbed plates and utensils and arranged them. He grabbed a chair for Ethan to sit.
"Have you waited long?" asked Ethan as he sat down and scooted nearer to the table. He grabbed a spoonful of the food. It's still hot but not that much. "Maybe you have waited for 30 minutes now?"
"I have waited for an hour," said Troye as he took a portion of the food as well. "But it's fine because it's kind of my fault anyway."
"This is delicious," Ethan said. "It's a shame I did not go home earlier."
Troye dropped his utensils on the table. "I don't want you to think that I am such a nuisance, but may I ask who you have met with?"
"A friend of mine. You did not know him," said Ethan as he ate more.
Troye nodded. "So, the exam's going to take place next week."
Ethan stopped eating. "We have wasted a week only to fight and not give attention to one another."
Troye reached for Ethan's hands. "I am sorry."<
“Why would you write it like that?” said Ethan as he sent daggers to Chad with his eyes.“Just a remembrance,” said Chad as he shrugged. “So, still haven’t heard from Troye?”Ethan shook his head. They walked past the school supplies section and went to the clothing section. “I’ll be buying gifts for my family.”“You know their size?”“Of course. Also, you can choose your own.”Chad pointed to himself. “Me? Oh, no. I accompanied you for free. No need to do anything for me.”Ethan shrugged. “If that’s what you say so.”Ethan picked up 5 different clothes for each of his family, and everything was branded. From formal to casual, he’s chosen it. He did not bother looking at a price – no matter how many zeros there are, he can afford it with no worries at all.“Let me help you carry this,” said C
The car stopped. It’s one block away from the building. It was already very late at night, yet there were still people lurking around because it was the month of December. Ethan hopped out of the car and grabbed every bag that he had bought earlier.“Are you sure you are alright in bringing these all by yourself?” asked Chad. “I could just drop you off in front of your place.”Ethan shook his head. “I’m going to be fine.”Chad asked, “I hope that you’ll be alright knowing what you have witnessed this day.”Ethan just nodded. He closed the door and bid goodbye.“Bye, Chad. Hope to see you soon again.”Chad smirked. “Soon, huh?”Ethan rolled his eyes out and started walking towards his place. Chad, on the other hand, has been following him with his car – slowly advancing. Chad rolled down his windows.“I’ll be wearing this
Ethan woke up as he felt the road get bumpy and rough. He roamed his eyes around and saw that they were now in his hometown. It's yet far, but the surroundings have entirely changed, and it was far different from the city."How many hours did I fall asleep?" asked Ethan as he opened a fridge and grabbed a can. He felt different this time, and maybe it was because he's now in an entirely different environment. He hasn't been back here for half a year, and this is the only time he gets to go home."You have been sleeping since we came from the city."He nodded. He was just observing like he hadn't seen all of this when he was young. Everything started to look familiar. Seeing the cows, trees, grass, chickens make him miss his childhood. He also missed his family."Do you think they would understand?" asked Ethan as he looked at the butler through the mirror. They exchanged glances, and then the butler nodded. Ethan left a shrug.It wasn't that long u
Ethan swayed his feet as the swing swayed back and forth. He stayed in the playground where he and Minty have been playing since they were still a kid. What his father said the other night has still lingered in his mind. It wasn't that easy to forget because it was his father that said those words.He also thought so much about what Pierre said. If he tells his parents that he's dating a guy, then would it mean that his father would also go to some extent where he'll destroy Troye's life just like the life of his business competitors? He shook his head at that thought.He noticed that someone occupied the other swing. He looked at that person, and it was the butler. They did not say anything to one another, and they just sat there silently. "I heard about it," said the butler, Giovanni. "I was not eavesdropping; I just happen to be in the corner being a guard.""I don't get why you need to be a
Just as was Ethan was supposed to tell himself, I told me so, the door to his bedroom opened up. It was Minty. He continued to do what he had to do, and that was to put his things away in his bag. He’s going home – rather, he was going to go home to his city.“You’re going back to the city? Right away?” Minty asked as she sat down into the bed as she observed Ethan packing his things.“I know what he’s going to tell me. That shit is disgusting. I don’t need to hear that remark from him,” said Ethan as he zipped the bag. “What he said earlier was still alright, but what happens next? He will definitely bombard me with insults.”“You don’t know that yet.”“Oh, Minty, I know. We have seen that movie. And what he said really hurts, and I cannot bear hearing that directly for me.”Minty sighed. “He’s our father. You are
He leaned his head against the window. They have already gone on their way, and the silence has taken over. Only the sound of the engine and Ethan's sobs can be heard inside the car. There's no limousine—just an ordinary car.He wiped his tears, but he still kept sobbing. What he felt was like choosing himself and throwing his family, and that made him heartbroken. It's the moment where he's hurt the most. He wiped his snot and looked at the butler through the mirror. "Don't you dare look at me with pity."The butler, Yohan, brought his gaze back to the road. He's already driving for hours, and now they're heading into the city."Have you ever loved someone, Yohan?" Ethan asked as he completely dried his face up. "Come on, and you can talk. It's only you and me, and you are my butler.""I am your father's butler."Ethan scoffed. "He sent you with me so you can look after me. To put it that way, you are my butler now. I don't care if you repor
“Don’t tell my dad about this, please.”Yohan just nodded. Ethan is now leaning his head on the counter as he orders another drink. They have already ordered a bucket of beer, and he’s been the only one who’s drinking while Yohan just sat beside him.Ethan wanted to handle things by himself, and as of the issue that he’s been going through right now, he doesn’t want his father to know because he knows that even if he’s been likely disowned by his father, he might do something about Troye and Mellow, and he doesn’t want that.“Whatever I do, don’t tell my father about it, okay? Just report to him when I already have a wife,” Ethan said as he chuckled and grabbed another shot. Yohan’s not stopping him, and he’s in no right to stop a person who has been betrayed and hurt. If this is his way of letting his feelings out, then he’ll let him. He’ll just listen to whatever he
"Please, just tell me everything."There was silence. After hearing what Mellow said, it seemed so hard for him to imagine that he was supporting Troye's father's medication all this time. Everything is connected. Right now, he just wanted to plead and ask for every truth that's been hidden."Speak up!" said Ethan as he crumpled his hair with his hands because of frustration. Yohan was standing on the door, guarding, but he tried not to eavesdrop even though he could hear what they were talking about.Troye sighed and said, "As I have said, Mellow always watches our practice. At that time, I was already accepted as a scholar for the incoming year. We were seeing each other, and I said I could not date her because I have my priorities which is my father. She told me that she would do anything just to date me, even if she had to take care of my father. And so we ended up dating.""You are desperate, huh?" said Ethan as he glared at Mellow. "Continue."
Ethan picked up the toys that were scattered on the floor. He put those toys one by one onto the treasure box. As he picked up the last toy, he stumbled upon the Christmas gift, and he placed it back again where it should be. He stood up straight, touching the Christmas tree with his hands. It's that time of the year again, and every time this holiday comes, sadness seeps in. The nostalgic feeling always comes back because this is the time where he and Chad end things.And here he is after seven years have passed, still carrying the feeling that happened on that day. He still remembered it clearly up to this day, letting himself take a trip down memory lane."…maybe we can even marry each other!" Rebecca said as Ethan remembered clearly. That's when he realized that when things go smoothly and perfectly, something will always ruin that moment.When he looked at Chad at that time, he just smiled, like it was nothing. Like they were just friends and roommat
Time seems to fly fast. A year has passed after they were both kicked out of the university. When the people living in the apartment, Pearl Haven, heard the news about Chad being the professor and the manager of the apartment, some of them didn't mind, and some moved out. The news spread fast in the city to the point that they must lower the unit prices to attract more people. Although they moved already past that, and now they are making more income than ever when people saw how much they had changed their apartment, and there's no issue with Chad being the manager.They matured more, particularly Ethan, who has learned how to save financially. He's also trying to get new ideas to improve more of the apartment. It looked so expensive, but the price was just affordable, and that's what they are after because they knew that's what people want. He didn't get to finish what he came here in the first place, but he's thankful for Chad and Yohan for helping and staying by his side.
He opened the door to the unit. Chad greeted him with a smile only to see him deep in thoughts. Chad greeted him and said, "How was it?""It was bad," he said as he walked towards the living room and let himself fall on the couch, "It was very bad, Chad."Chad walked up to him and caressed his face. He is getting tear-eyed at this moment because when everything is getting too perfect, something and someone will always come to ruin that. He wanted someone to blame but couldn't bring himself to blame others but himself for being so vulnerable and easily deceived."Don't you think we should stop it now?" asked Ethan; a tear fell from his eye. He saw Chad stunned hearing what he said. "Dianna took pictures of us, and Mellow, you know her, she took that camera and run away with it, and maybe now she's already uploading it. It doesn't matter for me now because my parents aren't here anymore and that I have my apartment, I can live with that. How about you? You are a p
Ethan woke up holding his head and groaned and massaging his temple. He had a blurry memory of what happened yesterday. Chad’s usually on the bed next to him when he wakes up in the morning, but he wasn’t there this time. He heard someone inside the bathroom, showering. It must be Chad.He put his other hand on the bed for support as he continued massaging his head. He wondered how in the hell does he went home. He knows it’s Chad that took him home, but how did he do it without anyone noticing?He felt a cold breeze. He wrapped his arms around his body and looked at it, and he realized that he didn’t wear anything. He looked under the sheets and noticed that he wasn’t wearing any underwear either.What happened had sunk in as his hands gripped tighter, remembering what happened yesterday.As they finished making out yesterday, they went out of the room after the person next to the cubicle had left the bathroom. They made sur
"That was hard," said Chrystyn as she put her pen back in her pencil case and then zipped it. "I guess it was easy for you, huh, because Chad's tutoring you?"Ethan rolled his eyes. "Of course not. It doesn't mean we are living together means he's teaching me. We are just a normal couple."Ethan and Chrystyn have reconnected their friendship when they meet again for their next class. They talked a lot about things during the weeks they have missed to converse. They also stroll around the town before classes. Chrystyn's also just planning to stay over at Ethan's unit.Chrystyn shrugged. "Just kidding. You're too smart!"She grabbed Ethan by the arm and whispered, "You think I wouldn't notice how both of you were looking at one another earlier?"Ethan blushed. Chad was their proctor for their last exam, and they have been teasing one another with their stares. He remembered biting his lips and spinning his pen with his fingers while staring at Chad.
"In my place," said Ethan as he buckled up. The class has just ended, and as Chad told him, he is taking him home when it's his class schedule.Chad sighed. "I'm still thinking about it because first, Yohan is there. His room is just meters away from yours. Not that I don't trust him, but wouldn't that be awkward that I am dating the boss, and he's working with me?"Ethan shook his head. "When we choose your place too, that means I'll leave Yohan behind. Yohan isn't just a person I can leave because he stood by me when my parents cut off connections. He took care of me, and he's a family. That unit, that's the only place I can call mine, my possession."Chad gripped the steering wheel. He hasn't turned on the engine yet because right now, they have to decide. They have already been arguing over this for weeks now, and the exam is already coming. So Ethan wanted to decide with no arguments involved because this conversation was taking a toll on him. He doesn't kn
Their lips met one another. Chad bit his lower lips, making him groan. He put his hands on Chad’s nape and pulled him closer to his lips. It seems like it has already been a long time since they have kissed and touched each other, and this feeling just fills their hunger.Ethan felt Chad’s hands roaming from the top of his chest down to his waist and squeezing it. On the other hand, from Chad’s nape, he touched his chest and pushed him to the corner. Chad turned their position around, with Ethan now leaning on the corner of the pavilion.He felt Chad’s tongue entering his mouth and sucking his tongue. He groaned, and he did the same thing to Chad, causing Chad to be more aggressive. He grinned.Ethan pulled back and licked his lips. “I like you a lot.”“I like you a lot, too. And I am going crazy with what we’re doing right now,” said Chad as he leaned closer again to kiss Ethan.After a long mi
Ethan pushed the rack of clothes and pulled out the navy-blue dress. "I think this dress suits you, Chrys."Chrystyn looked at it and sighed. "Hmm, I don't know. The color seems dull, though."He put it back on the rack and pulled out another one. He poked Chrystyn and pointed out the red dress with a high slit. "How about this?""This is gorgeous!" said Chrystyn as she grabbed the dress from Ethan and placed the dress in front of her body as she looked in the mirror. "I think I like this."Ethan has paid for the dress. Sure, Yohan said he could spend money on his attire, but he realized that he'd just go with the black suit he has on his home. Now, he's treating Chrystyn to the dress that she liked. He can see that it suits her too. All they know is to purchase a mask.They entered another shop just two blocks away from where they were. Ethan admits that he's been looking forward to this occasion, particularly that Chad asked him out. He also like
Ethan still has not yet gotten used to working in his office. And he was working with Chad. It has been days when he started working, and that also means there are only a few days until the acquaintance party takes place.Chad's classes are on Wednesdays and Fridays. And right now, he's looking at his schedule."Wednesday," he said as he looked at Chad, busy working on the paperwork. Chad did not enter his office after that day. He's just looking at him from behind. Sometimes, he goes to his mini living room and watches television. When it's already afternoon, Yohan goes to his office, and they'll go together to the parking lot so Yohan can drop him off at the university.He's really trying to get used to that routine. Even though sometimes he feels useless because he just sits in his office and waits for the afternoon to come.He propped his elbow to the table and just looked at Chad, who had been busy working. He wonders if he's just the same as the oth