chapter 16

Oliver's mood suddenly drowned and he turned his head to his feet. His eyes bore some measure of pain and he toyed with his toes to distract himself from the sad reality he was now living in. the acts in itself touched Vukan and made him wonder how bad things had gotten. It was obvious he was seething in pain internally, but Vukan couldn't quite decipher why.

"Was he emotionally jilted? Did he break the relationship off because something crazy happened between them?" Vukan asked himself as many more questions began to flood his mind.

Oliver let off a drowning sigh before leaning his head backwards and into the wall behind him. He could not quite believe he was on the verge of reliving the horrible incidents again. They flashed through his eyes like it was happening before him. Even while it had taken years, there was just no counting how many times he thought of this particular love story.

It had come to shape him into who he was; a walking embodiment of some forms of pain and misery which was forcefully imposed upon him.

"Well, I once loved a boy and his name was Bruce", Oliver finally responded. "It isn't something I often speak with people about because it brings me so many hurtful memories, but I try to focus on the good ones too".

Vukan could feel the pain in his words already and wished there was something he could do. The thought to lean over and give Oliver a warm hug rattled his thinking, but he opted against it, knowing it just might not be the time. More so, he wasn't about to do anything that would make him come off as being an opportunist or a desperate individual.

He had messed up one too many times already and the few things he had managed to do was slowly redeeming his past deeds. Or at least, it was what he was hoping for from Oliver.

"I think it is better if I told you about the love story and how it went to hell", Oliver smiled, with his eyes looking glassy and his nostrils flaring some bit

Oliver began his story about how he and a rather dashing boy with thick blond hair and almost the same height as him had met. Their love story followed the typical high school romantic play but theirs was also somewhat different that Bruce Scott was helpful in ensuring that Oliver came out of the closet fully.

"He would tell me how handsome I was, and how the world is meant to be a loving and fun place without prejudice", Oliver continued. "We met in high school and without even expecting things to flourish between us, we hit the ground running right off the bat".

Oliver narrated how they spent their days together, always being by each other and even doing well to spend after school hours at each other's homes.

"His parents loved me and I adored them as well… it made being around him easier for me on his side, but things weren't quite equal on mine", Oliver slowly looked up as he spoke.

His hands had begun to shudder as he explained, his eyes narrowed in vision and seemed to widen within seconds and his lips twitched and contorted in discomfort. He had gotten to the part he really didn't want to tell. It was the part where the devil himself came in to ruin his happy thoughts. This was the aspect that had to do with his crazy biological father.

"While Bruce Scott and I were happy, my biological father, Ryan Smith wasn't in the slightest, happy with the both of us", Oliver sniffed and held himself back from crying. "He had a thing for gays and wouldn't ever want Bruce Scott anywhere around me.

"You corrupted my sn with your madness!" the man would say whenever he saw Bruce and Oliver together.

Oliver explained the endless mental abuse and physical tortures he endured all because he loved another boy. His father would constantly lay in wait for them and show up unannounced to beat the living hell out of the duo until they had to take on their heels.

"I was beaten, starved, insulted and treated in the most inhumane ways possible, just because my father didn't like Bruce Scott", Oliver added. "The pressure was too much for either of us to handle and I always thought I would be the first to crack".

Oliver had begun to shudder aggressively and uncontrollably as he lowered his head in shame. He did well to avoid eye contact with Vukan but couldn't quite hide his shaky hands.

"Bruce couldn't take it anymore. The pressure was getting to him and as much as I would have done everything I could to be there for him, he never showed he was in pain or suffering for us", Oliver sniffed as a bead of tear rolled down his cheek. "He never allowed me to see his pain".

Vukan had not expected the love tail to be that troubling but he could see how distraught Oliver was. His heart and soul still seemed connected to the individual he was speaking of and a part of Vukan felt jealous. He couldn't remember the time anyone actually loved him as such, talk less of crying that hard for him.

"What happened with Bruce? Did he quit the relationship because your father was being an animal?" Vukan inquired.

He was beginning to care dearly for Oliver and if he had the powers, he would do well to erase his pains in that very moment.

"Bruce Scott killed himself on my birthday", Oliver let off the bombshell. "They found him hanging in his bedroom with a note for me speaking about everything he had suffered and how badly he was struggling but could not tell me because he wanted to keep protecting me".

The revelation broke Vukan's heart for Oliver. It was cruel to have such an experience at such an early age. It was something that went on to define a lot of gay people and which ended up getting them to resent not just themselves but others. Some degree of responsibility is often felt and it could end up damaging a whole lot of things as well.

"I am so sorry… I am so sorry, Oliver", Vukan apologized as though he was at fault for Bruce Scott's death.

Watching Oliver struggle with his pains broke his soul and prompted him to draw closer as he wrapped his arms around the weeping boy. Oliver let the tears down in full force, wailing softly under Vukan's embrace as he felt his warm tears trickle down his cheeks for the next few minutes.

"I cannot begin to imagine how it must have felt", Vukan confessed passionately.

For Vukan, the concept of being gay had not been a terrible one. His parents had been supportive right off the bat and even while it was difficult to break the news to them when he finally came out of the closet, they still did well to accept him for who and what he was. His father basically laughed it off, while his mother shared a warm embrace with him on the night he felt it was time to tell them.

"I had my suspicions, but I wasn't entirely sure so I had to cool it", his mother had said.

"Well, so long you are happy, then we are also happy", his father had added.

His journey as a young gay individual had been awesome ever since. Asides few heartbreak and relationship issues, he had not gotten into any form of qualms with his doting and loving parents.

"I am sorry you had to go through all that because of your father", Vukan continued.

Oliver was thankful he could share the pain with Vukan who was being protective of him through the night.

"Is it sad if I say I still miss him?" Oliver asked.

Vukan shook his head.

"I still miss him and I still love him so much. He was the first person I ever loved and nobody has come close to replicating how I felt for him or how I still feel whenever I think about him", Oliver continued.

There was a part of Vukan that felt jealous. While he had to be sympathetic to Oliver's plight, he could feel the emotional selfishness slowly crawling into place. He wanted what Oliver was willing to give out to Bruce Scott. He wanted what Oliver felt for the dead boy. He wanted a whole lot more and wondered if he would be given the opportunity to show how much he truly cared for Oliver.

Oliver finally dried his eyes as he pulled away and took a moment to breathe.

"Thank you for tonight and for saving my life", Oliver muttered. "I owe you much more than I can ever repay you".

Vukan wondered if it was the howling wind that had somehow toppled Oliver over when he fell or if there was more to it which he wasn't being let in on just yet.

"You're welcome", Vukan replied as Oliver yawned and stretched.

Vukan stared at the sexy looking body and wondered what it would be to see Oliver without some clothes on.

"I guess it's time to sleep", Oliver noted. "I feel so tired and cold".

Vukan smiled back as he watched the boy fall asleep without taking his wet clothes off.

"Poor thing, he must be tired as hell", Vukan wondered to himself.

Vukan remained awake, staring at Oliver as he snored peacefully and seemed to be taking himself farther down the dreamland. The sense of hurt the boy had narrated, stayed with Vukan as he curled himself up against the wall. He was wishing to stay awake to protect the two beings sleeping in the room with him, even if it meant keeping himself awake all day.

His eyes felt heavy, his nerves felt stiffened by the cold and his body threatened to catch a cold too. Vukan wondered what his parents must be thinking since they must have found out his car wasn't parked in the driveway. Thankfully, his water resistant watch still survived and it was about two in the dead of the night already.

"Six more hours to go", he told himself.

He wondered if he could stay awake that long. Even while he badly wanted to be by Oliver's side, he couldn't predict what course his body was going to take. More so, he had exerted himself both physically and mentally when he thought Oliver was going to die.

"I will protect you always", he said to himself while he leaned over to stroke Oliver's hair.

Oliver shuddered for a moment, before slowly growing pale in skin and worrying Vukan.

"That doesn't look normal", Vukan said to himself.

He glanced at his watch again and saw it was just three minutes since he last checked. The night was bound to be a long one and not just for him alone, but for the puppy which was whining and making some rather discomforting sounds where it lay. Vukan figured the cold was getting to it, and hurried to turn off the air conditioning, which was what he ought to have done from the start.

He rushed back to the window to try to shut it, as the wind continued to rattle against it and cause it to swing dangerously in an oscillatory manner. The broken locks made it harder to sort, but he managed to get the window in place, with little bold air from the storm making its way into the room.

"Oh shit! You have got to be kidding me!" he grumbled upon seeing there was a leak in the room.

He raced over to the bathroom to fetch a bucket, before placing it just underneath the leaking spot to avoid the ground from getting wet and slippery. His work was cut out for him for the night and Vukan was certain he might not be able to sleep at all. Asides the physical strain it was bound to take on him, he didn't quite care though; he would keep the other two in the room as comfortable as possible.

It didn't matter if it would be at his personal detriment. Oliver deserved the care; at least that was what he felt in his head and it was what he would practice.

"Sleep easy handsome", he smiled as he brushed Oliver's hair backwards in gentle strokes.

Vukan wished he had told Oliver how he felt before watching him doze off. It was his only regret for the night.