webnovel

Who are we to judge

Melvil stare at his reflection in the mirror inside his bathroom, his grey eyes glimmering with green tint as the light hit his face bringing out the silver colour more with the hidden green colour, he stare quietly at himself in thought recalling the state he found Serene when he came to wake them up after finishing lunch preparation.

She was trembling on the bed clutching on to her chest tight and drenched in sweat as she hyperventilate searching for a air to breath with tears streaming down her cheeks like waterfall.

"Rosy, John" those were the names she called out in her dream well more like a nightmare. Only someone who doesn't know her will not recognise those names which in itself is hard to find anyone in the whole New York city who doesn't know Serene Louis, the star in every mega hit, the icon in every famous and rich brand, it's just hard to find anyone who doesn't know her even if he don't watch movies. Her pictures everywhere, on the advertisement boards, posters, products of wealthy brands ,in news, charity events and so on, so were Rosy and John.

Her agent and lover with her bestfriend, they were like her right and left, they're almost everywhere she is.

He wonder what more have they done to her after what they said about her on media after that video that made his heart ache for no reason. He had no idea why he felt that way when he didn't even know her apart from seeing her on screen.

He didn't believe what he heard from them or the media, and he felt it was even ridiculous believing she was innocent, but still it was just a feeling and a strong instinct to trust, true to appearance, looks and actions, Serene is naive and innocent.

He shook off his head clearing his thoughts back to reality and he quickly took a small towel wetting it with the tap cold water and went out of the bathroom to where Serene was still lying on the bed, her knees pulled close to her and her hand wrapped around her with her head still on the pillow as she half lied on the bed staring into nothingness.

He sat close to her on the bed his weight dipping on it but she didn't acknowledge his presence as she look lost in thought. He gently wiped her face that was painted with the after stickiness of tears and sweat, he stare at her observing every features of the dimmed star up close as she flinch seemingly now aware of his presence but couldn't bother to move further.

He wiped her pale white forehead that was crease with folds from frowning in her thought, swiping further her almost hollow cheeks and her prominent sharp nose, he stopped, staring at her pale lips, it was dry and chapped, in need of hydration but he still found it tempting as he found himself gulping down a thick saliva.

Serene who was focused on her thought notice the slight shift in the air and she glance sideways facing the young man who recently stepped into adulthood, his eyes that were on her lips shifted slowly trailing her face to her eyes, the bottle green color of her eyes look dull, soulless with no joy of life and he felt his heart ache just thinking of what she went through.

He quickly look away when he realise her attention was on him and he muttered a small apology under his breath which was almost undetected by her ears.

"Lunch is ready" he muttered walking to the couch at the side of the room and shake the young boy lounging on it sleeping peacefully without knowing what had been going on in the room or with his favourite star and idol, he really look up to the lady, so seeing her taking her own life will be traumatizing when her words were what made him pull through his own difficulties.

"Huwnm!, Brother?"

"Wake up, it's time for lunch" the younger one yawn with his hand covering his mouth and stretched up on the couch before getting up to follow his brother out of the room.

"Serene?" Ashton call out on the doorway as he halted his steps after sensing her still on the bed.

"Can you bring the food here please? I don't wanna go out of bed" Serene's meek voice sounded like she was coaxing a child which she actually is but in different conditions and purpose.

"Sure, can I eat with you?" Ashton asked not wanting to leave her lone so she wouldn't feel lonely. Serene squinted her eyes at the irresistible doe eyes Ashton was involuntary making and sigh in resignation.

"Sure bunny!" He giggled as he got the consent his eyes bribed and bounced out of the room to get their food.

He entered the kitchen bouncing happily on his feet and took a tray placing two plates on them before filling them with the food and adding the fluffy cupcakes Melvil made and the said cooker just stare at the young boy bewildered asking himself where the young bundle of joy is taking the food.

"What're you doing?" Melvil's deep calm voice asked.

"Fetching food duh!" Ashton answered the obvious with the tone of 'are you blind' making Melvil raise his right brow in bewilderment and amusement at his brother's rare sharp tongue, he's always timid and shy around people but bubbly cute and innocent when with him with raresarcasm.

"Where're you taking the food to, aren't we eating together on the dining table" Melvil instead asked dismissing his brother's earlier sarcastic response.

"To your room, Serene wanna eat inside and I wanna eat with her" Ashton proudly answered this time decently as he finished filling the plates and start walking to the doorstep.

"Huh! So you're abandoning this big brother of yours because your idol is here" the whining and abandoned puppy look on melvil's face was an unbelievable expression to anyone who sees it but to Ashton, it isn't that very rare, he knows his brother is slightly teasing but he won't give up any chance to dine with his favourite celebrity and not even the puppy face and sound of his brother.

He lift his head up with a smug look on his cute face and quickly walk out of the kitchen to his brother's bedroom where Serene still sleeps in for security purpose cause they don't want to leave her alone after the stunt she pulled. He set the food tray in the bedside drawer as he waited for Serene to adjust on the bed before giving her the food on one of the plate and they start digging in without a word exchange between them.

"Serene" She look up to the young boy in front of her at the sound of her name and locked eyes with his twinkling innocent ones just staring at her in adoration like he's seeing an angel who descended on earth. She was baffled with the admiration the young boy was showing towards her and had always wonder if he actually knows what been trending in the media about her, perhaps not.

"Why do you still admire me? Don't you know why I'm at this stage in my life?" Her confused voice found her inner thoughts bringing it out of her.

"...huwn, I saw it, it was put on celebrity gossips"

"And you still like me?" She was baffled beyond comprehension, why will he like her after all those videos and acquisitions.

"They framed you, and even if it isn't like that I still like you, you made me go through what I faced without giving up, you're my idol" Ashton's firm voice responded, the shyness vanishing away as he recall his life with his brother in that forsaken mansion.

"You're too nice and kind, I didn't do anything, it was your willpower that lead you through any obstacles you faced" Serene refused the praise by complimenting the young boy's willpower and strength to live through whatever he faced when she couldn't.

"You're the nice and kind one, you didn't find me disgusting or an abomination when I told you about my crush and being a guy" he retorted quietly with solemn voice, trying to fit in the society with your sexuality is a battle itself which you'll realise who truly are your loved ones especially when you come out in a political society, it was one hell of a ride what he experienced and went through, but he was glad he wasn't alone, his brother was by his side through the lava of hell holding his hand as they walk in the super temperature of it, comforting each other while lamenting on their bitter life.

"Who are we to jude when we all bleed red" Serene mumbled as she look into the distance with a soft sad smile thinking of how all suffer through life in one way or another, some people's challenge in life is greater that the others, but finding who can relate to your pain and comfort each other without ulterior motives is hard in the generation of selfishness and greed.

The words were like an ice on wound, soothing the wounded and reminding him with pain there's a relief, you just have to find one who cares enough to want to elevate the pain for you.

He smiled softly, his heart calm, face relaxed and eyes glimmering in adoration as he stare at her, that's why she's his idol.