9 A CLOSURE THAT I DIDN'T EXPECT
[EROS' POV]
I'm thinking about him again.
And this time, it's about earlier.
We already see each other, we already talked and we will talk more later. He already has my phone number and he has already seen my message.
He didn't reply which I truly understand, I know he still has questions and still confused, we will solve that later.
"Eros?"
"Hey, Eros!"
I woke up from my thoughts when Ares and Eryx called me.
"Did you see something worthy?"
"What?"
"Wait, did you meet someone that made you smile like that?" Ares asked again.
"Am I smiling?"
"Yeah, like a creepy old stalker."
They are both looking at me weirdly.
We are here in my office and discussing some recommendation from their meetings regarding a new project.
"Whatever. Anyway, is this your new idea?" I asked them as I looked at the papers in front of me and they agreed.
"We're thinking about feelings," Eryx said.
"Feelings?"
"Yeah, like emotions, people's feelings."
"Okay, what about that?"
"We're thinking an application that will determine people's feelings especially when they're hiding what they truly feel."
"Hmmm... but there are already applications that include that," I say to them.
"Go ahead, Ares, tell him your idea."
"Fine but I know Eros, you will love this."
"What is it?" I asked.
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[ELLIS' POV]
"What should I do?"
Now, I'm talking to myself like a lunatic.
I'm in my room, taking these events seriously.
I mean the event that happened earlier.
I've never imagined that I will meet him today! Okay, I know this is unexpected, like yes, this is unexpected because if not, then, who will ask first? Who will ask to meet first? Or we never see each other for like... years! Whatever!
"I'm not going," I said.
"But! But we will talk." I added.
This is shit! I hate this.
He texted me again and he says that we will meet at his penthouse at 7 pm.
"Should I go? Will I go? Maybe? Maybe not? But what should I wear? Do I need to have perfume? Should I take a shower?"
What am I even saying? This is hilarious!
"I will not go! That's final!"
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[EROS' POV]
"Griffin, I've told you, I'm fine. I'm staying with Ellis the whole night and I'm safe with him."
"I know but he's still a guy who is not around you for years, we never know, Mr. Beckett."
"Drop that surname right now."
"Fine, I will drop it. But, I will stay here to make sure that he will not kill you."
Kill me? Then, I already imagined that Ellis has a knife in my stomach for leaving him!
Shit!
"T-that's not nice!" I say to him.
Ellis will kill me? I doubt that.
But, I know he's mad.
I stood up and I already showered and got a change of clothes, I'm wearing my long sleeves and jogging pants which I loved!
"Are you sure that you're on good terms with him?" He asked.
"Not yet. But, earlier, we've kind of... awkward but we're not done talking, so, I hope he will come."
"I guessed you're not sure either."
I sigh.
"Griffin, Ellis is my brother, I know him more than anyone in this world," I assure.
Knock! Knock!
My eyes widen and my heart is beating fast.
"Is he..." I'm excited but shy... but excited!
"I'll get the door-" He says but I cut him off and shoved his hand, "I will get the door."
I smile.
As I open the door, his little face with neck-length black hair reveals to my face.
He looks away.
He's wearing his casual clothes which I adore. He's the same Ellis I know of.
"El, you came." I smile but not revealing that I'm excited deep inside.
"Uhm... should I go inside?" He asked.
"O-of course!" I say as I gesture him inside.
He came inside and shyly looks around the room.
He looks at Griffin who is sitting on the sofa and Griffin looks at him like he's glaring at him.
"Griffin, if you may," I say to him and he stood up and allow Ellis to sit on the sofa.
Griffin stays behind me which is very likely of him. Ellis is still shy and looks like a baby.
I sigh, "I adore you."
Griffin and Ellis looked at me like I said something crazy which is I am!
Shit! I say that out loud!
It should be ONLY on my mind!
"D-did I say something? I mean, did you say something, Griffin?" I asked and he just looks at me and says, "I'll be in the kitchen which I should be preparing dinner."
"That's great!" I say.
Which is not! Ellis and I should be and must be alone together. But now, we have a third wheel here around the kitchen.
"Your place... it's big."
Ellis suddenly spoke up, clearing my thoughts.
"Thank you," I say and I sit beside him.
"Umm... t-thank you for coming here."
"There's a reason why I'm here, Ros." He starts and continued, "I want to know the reason why you wanted to leave in the first place. But I know, it's not just about the freedom that you always wanted but there's something else."
"El, I'm sorry for leaving you. But yes, there are reasons why I left."
He waited.
"But I... can't say it, I'm sorry."
"Ros, you're saying sorry before you left."
He stood up and looks at me, "And now, you keep on saying sorry since we met earlier."
"El, listen..."
"Dinner's ready."
We both stopped and looks at Griffin who is taking his role as my secretary and a friend seriously.
What is he even doing here? Grgg.
And the dinner is fast! What did he even do?
"We should eat something," I whisper.
"Who is he anyway? Your friend? Your butler? Your maid?" Ellis is getting mad.
I need to stop this.
No, I need to be the grown-up man here and should keep him calm.
"I am his secretary and a friend. I am here to ensure that he is safe from harm. But, I am holding a knife right now which I'm not sure if I'm still keeping him safe." Griffin suddenly spoke.
I gulped.
Even Ellis looks at him straight.
"T-that's enough, Griffin."
"The beef is getting cold, we should eat it."
Ellis said. He got scared.
We sat down in my kitchen's chairs.
I inhale and I exhaled.
Ring! Ring!
My phone is ringing but I ignore it.
I'm looking at him while he's chewing the steak. He looks so adorable! Why is he still have the babyface that I expected him to have?
I want to pinch his cheeks!
He's here right now, eating with me like we used to before. What does he feel right now? I just can't help but smile!
Ring! Ring!
Griffin's phone is ringing.
"May I excuse myself?"
I nodded and he went to the balcony.
"How was the steak?" I asked Ellis.
"It's good."
I smile, "Do you remember when we first had a steak at the Steak House? It's expensive but mom bought us another meal."
He stops eating and says, "I remember... You don't have to tell me about it."
He's rude! This is a good sign of maturity right? But he's still cute!
"How about the time when we-"
"What are you trying to do?" He's getting serious now.
"Uhm..."
I kept quiet and he continues to eat.
"You've matured and a few inches from my height! You can already shout at me or swear at me, El." I say to him suddenly.
"What are you saying?" He's confused, I know.
"C-Can I pinch your cheeks?"
"W-what are you saying, Ros? Y-you're acting weird!" He says as he moves far from my touch.
"If you think you can do that to me, you're wrong about that. I'm already 27! I'm not a kid anymore."
"T-twenty seven? Already? So, that means, I'm already 29! Time flies." I answered.
"Ros, are you a 29-year-old man?" He sarcastically asked.
"I still remember the time when we first took a bath together! You're so shy that you don't want me to see you tiny-"
"Just stop!" He says and now he's irritated... or shy? Or mad? I don't know that expression from him. It's my first time seeing him like this.
"Mr. Beckett." Griffin called and he continues, "Mr. Alejandro just called me saying that you're not answering his calls, he will be here in a minute."
"Griffin, you should have told him to not come here since I have my brother here with me."
"He insisted. My apologies, Mr. Beckett."
"I told you, drop the surname!"
Now, I'm getting irritated.
He kept quiet and I'm sensing that Ellis is looking at me. I don't know what his reactions are since this is his first time to see me like this... irritated.
"I should go."
When he said that, I quickly stood up.
"El," I called and he's about to walk to the door.
"I don't know if this is the right time to talk, Ros..." He looks at Griffin and to me, "And you will have a visitor coming, also, we still have things to clear about..."
He stops and he's looking down.
I already see his left hand, clenches.
"Look, I know there is a reason why fate made us meet again, but I think... not to become like we used to before." He says and I just can't believe what I'm hearing right now!
"It's hard for us to become brothers again."
He finishes and he's about to walk and I'm about to stop him but suddenly the door opens.
Click!
The face of Eryx reveals.
"Eros!" He smiles and he looks at Ellis.
"I know you. You're the guy from the elevator, right? And... oh my! Is this for real? You're his brother? Ellis?! Why didn't I notice that? Ares didn't too!" He reacts and Ellis just keeps on looking at him.
"You're so grown-up! You're still cute!" Eryx added and continues, "Am I late for the reunion?"
"Yeah, the party just ended," Ellis replied and he walks out the door without looking at me and saying another word.
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