Chapter 04

"Promise me you won't freak out."

"I won't."

Big beads of sweat formed around Elliot's forehead. Wheezing as he sat on his bed. "W-What the hell," he sighed.

Descended from his bed and dragged his feet to the dark kitchen where he drank a glass of water.

He considered it as a nightmare, dreaming about his past. The cold water ran down his throat, quenching his thirst.

Momentarily, Elliot closed his eyes, forcing his brain to eradicate all the memories he created along with Damien.

"It's hard not to think of me, ey?"

Elliot jolted in surprise. A pair of chartreuse green eyes were lurking at him in the dark. It was as if his brain had an instant reset.

Elliot couldn't find the words to say to him.

"Losing the ability to speak too?" Damien floats in the air. In a swift motion, he was in front of Elliot. "Are you ready to go now with me?" his voice was filled with enthusiasm. Hopeful, as he asked.

"G-Go where?" Elliot's voice trembled. The longer he stared into those eyes, the more chances of his feelings to revive.

Elliot looked away, turning his back.

The deafening silence filled the room. "What's holding you back, Elliot?" Damien shoved his hands into his pocket. He sat on the kitchen island while facing his lover.

"I told you, Damien. There's no more us."

"Bullshit."

Elliot faced him. "It's over, Damien. Just accept it! How many times should I tell you that we are done? Done for good!" he yelled at him.

Damien lowered his head. Slowly nodding his head. "All you said when you left me because you were young and you're pursuing your dreams, Elliot. I didn't get the context that you're over me."

"I couldn't be anymore clearer, Damien. It's ridiculous that I have to keep on saying the exact words!"

"… I'm sorry if I can't let you go."

"You should, Damien! Let me go!"

"F-Fine. Y-You don't have to yell at me." Damien sniffled.

In a blink of an eye, he disappeared. The window curtain swings in the air.

And the back door was slammed shut.

It was excruciating for Elliot to do it. But he ran out of options. And it was the only way to stop Damien from intruding back to his life.

Elliot returned back to his bed. Hugging his boyfriend from behind. Marcus snored softly, sleeping like a baby.

Elliot shuts his eyes, forcing to be back into dreamland. But he failed.

Cursing inside his head, Elliot felt a bit of animosity for himself. He admits he was being rude. And it wasn't his nature to act like that. Guilt slowly consumed him.

¼

"That dark bag underneath your eyes are extremely visible, babe."

The sun was striking hot outside and Elliot was sipping his coffee. "That doesn't hurt me," he shrugged his shoulders.

Marcus bobbed his head, chewing his pancake. "Lucky you, there's no class today."

Elliot gasped. "Really? How come I did not know that?"

"Uh, yes, you did. I told you before going to sleep."

"Why didn't you remind me about that this morning? Argh! I could have sleep a bit more instead of waking up early."

Marcus chuckled. "I thought so too. I was like, why is my cute and tight boyfriend is waking up early? Is he a vampire or what?"

Elliot coughed, choking on his blazing coffee. "Woah! Are you alright?" Marcus asked, gently caressing Elliot's back. "I-I'm fine."

Swallowing a lump on his throat, Elliot forced a smile. But it projected differently than what he hoped for.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Marcus squinted his eyes.

"W-What do you mean? I always smile like this!" Elliot made it bigger.

"No you don't. You look nervous to me."

"…"

"Are you hiding something from me, Elliot?"

Panic is visible to Elliot's face. He was running out of time to fabricate an excuse or weave another web of lies.

His face softened when upon hearing Marcus' laughter. "I'm just messing with you, babe. You should have seen your face."

"Vampires. Pshh."

"Y-Yeah. T-They're fake, right?"

"Totally, babe."

They spent the day, lying on the couch. Cuddling as they turned the aircon to a high level while binge-watching their favorite show.

"Should we adopt kids after we graduate?" Marcus broke the silence. Elliot raised his brow. "Are we ready to become parents, Marcus?"

"Well, you're a wifey material and I'll be the one to work for our family, so yeah, I think we are," Marcus kissed Elliot's lips and it always makes him blush.

"You're kissing me so much, Marcus."

"And you're blushing hard as ever, babe."

Elliot snapped his head. "Are you really serious about that, Marcus? It's no joke becoming a parent."

"I agree," he sighed. "But you do want kids, right? I hope that's not something that we should agree to disagree."

"I like having kids. But we should have a perfect time to have one or two or I don't know how many of them," Elliot raised his brows.

"Maybe we should go see a doctor," Marcus scratched his beard.

"For what? Do you feel sick?"

"No."

"Then why would go to see one?"

Marcus sighed. "We keep on doing it every night before going to sleep," he then gently tapped Elliot's belly. "Those ovaries of yours maybe expired."

Elliot rolled his eyes at him. They both laughed.

"I love you, Elliot."

Those words made Elliot cried so hard. Suddenly, he became so emotional.

"W-Woah, babe. Why are you crying? W-Was it about my joke? I know it's bad but I-I'm sorry if I offended you," Marcus apologized.

Elliot shook his head. "I-I love you too, Marcus."

Their eyes met. Marcus leaned his face closer to Elliot. They shared a passionate kiss. "No words could describe how much I feel about you, babe."

"D-Don't leave me, okay?"

"I won't. But just so you to know, I have to take a pee and poop, right? Unless you wanted to come with me and smell the odor of my shit—"

"Marcus!"

"Just kidding, babe. I'm all yours."