Episode 26: A little outing

Teo stared at the older one's calm demeanor, wishing he could read his mind.

"I mean, if I were to stay in this town, wouldn't you ask me out like a normal person, ninny?"

He sputtered blatantly, seeing how Josh laughed almost awkwardly, not sure why he reached in such a manner.

"How long would your brother take?"

Josh spoke as he felt relieved the question was addressed towards another path.

Teo rubbed his chin, doing some fast calculations.

"An hour? I don't know, do you want me to call him?"

He suggested as he wasn't sure if his brother was nearby.

Josh nodded to which Teo dialed his brother's phone number until he picked up.

"Teo?" Ramon asked a bit fast, wishing to know if it was indeed his brother.

Teo grinned as he noticed his brother's voice a bit shaken, Josh observed Teo, "hey, bruh! Wanted to know how long it would take?"

"Wait a minute." His brother answered to then address the same question to someone else.

"Hey, pal. How far are we from Beach Palm town?"

"45 minutes" the reply was straightforward, coming out a bit simple but easing off any concern.

Teo spoke before his brother could repeat his workmate's words, "gotchu. I'll be waiting for your call"

"Take care" his other brother replied to reassure him, which worked.

Teo spoke chuckling knowing how clumsy his brother is, "You too" the call got cut right after.

He handed the phone back to Josh who took it with a blank expression.

"Would you gimme the honor of going out with me for a walk?"

Josh spoke gently, matching the gaze in his eyes, pocketing his device in the back pocket.

Teo's eyes widened, not because he wasn't expecting that, but not out of the blue just before he left the place.

His body language answered as he nodded and the corner of his lips curled upwards.

"Take my hand" Josh said, extending his hand to the younger who took it without hesitation, chuckling, his eyes sparkling like diamond painted on the sky on a dark night.

The older led him out of the room as the elders noticed them leaving the room they commented softly.

"Enjoy your outing youngsters"

The elderly woman smiled kindly, eyeing the young boy thinking Josh was the crush he talked about last night.

"I'm glad everything worked"

Josh got baffled for a while whilst Teo's face coloured in different shades of pink, waving up his free hand in the air.

"No… I mean, welp-"

"No need to explain yourself, good luck out there, stay in the shadows as the sun is really strong today"

Teo was mortified and Josh laughed at how cute he looked being flustered, he might not know why but he enjoyed seeing new sides of him which amused him every single time.

"I'll take care of him" those words left Josh's lips as he bowed to the elders.

Teo mimicked his action, before he left the elders' house to take a little stroll outside.

Josh walked by his side, never letting go of his hand, squeezing it a little bit from time to time.

Looking down at their interlocked hands when they stopped after 10 minutes of walking.

Teo looked up just to find the dark-haired eyes on him already, a fond smile painted on the older's striking handsome face.

"Um… so" he did not know what to say, yet he felt he needed to say something as he did want to make the most out of the little time they had left.

"What do you wanna talk about? Any questions?" Josh's eyes centered on his beautiful face which marred with sadness thinking about farewell.

"Don't be sad, it's not a goodbye"

Josh squeezed his hand gently, his free hand coming up to cup his cheeks.

"Who said I'm sad?" Teo spoke with a pout, nose scrunching up, yet his hold didn't loosen up.

Josh lifted an eyebrow, which gave him a breathtaking air which stole the words out of his mouth.

Teo shook his head to clear up his mind, trying to not get lost in his train of thoughts.

"Anyhow… you better call within 24 hours or"

"What if I don't?" Josh teased the blonde who narrowed his eyes.

"Whatever" he sulked yet his hold tightened which was enough of an answer as his nails dug in the back of his hand.

He wrapped his arm around his shoulder after letting go of his hand, pulling him closer.

Teo leaned his head on his shoulder, closing his eyes, even if words were not exchanged he felt comfortable as if he were at home already.

"I promise I will" Josh opened his eyes as the older one spoke, his big almond eyes focused on him, their faces not so far from each other.

"Liar" he winced, closing his eyes again, cheeks stained in a peachy pink color.

"Want me to make the promise feel more real?"

Josh mentioned letting go of the younger one's shoulder.

Teo opened his eyes looking at him, a bit confused. "What do you mean?"

A small frown knitted between his thick dark blonde eyebrows, whilst Josh took a hold of his long hands between his own.

"I mean something like this"

The dark-haired lifted his hands up to his lips staring at his eyes, his fond gaze meeting the stunned one in the younger, his voice light yet firm.

"I won't make promises offering the world, nor asking to wait for me forever, but my resolution lays in the fact I'll keep in touch for as long as you allow me to"

Teo was a bit lost because he wanted to know if it was something or nothing.

"Nice words, but do you mean you don't want me?"

Josh pecked his nose to get him out of his head, "I want you. I mean" he cleared his throat as Teo's lips curled up, eyes sparkling like stars in the blue sky of his eyes.

"I wanna keep in touch. Look, do we really need to do this?" The older one got flustered when Teo kept staring at him without taking his eyes off him giving his full attention.

"I know it's too soon to ask this. But what are we?"

Uncertainty was taking over Teo's mind, he squeezed the hands held with his thumbs, his puppy eyes begging for an answer.

"I don't want to tie you to me"

"I know, but what if I want to?"

Josh's eyes widened whilst Teo just realized how straightforward he was with his words and tried to correct himself.

"If you want to, it doesn't have to go that far"

Teo looked down to get some courage before looking up at him again, just to find a pair of plum cushioned lips landed on his, easing his worries away.

Josh leaned his forehead against his, putting some distance between each other.

"I'd only agree if it's a non exclusive one. I'd hate to cut off your freedom."

It was not like Josh wanted this in such a way or sounding like he could not commit into a relationship but taking into consideration the distance which would keep them away from each other for a while he had to be open minded and give the boy the freedom to leave whenever he saw fit even if it broke him.

"That means you can date someone else?"

Teo asked with a pout, eyes squinting.

"Not exactly, what I mean is: if you find someone else or feel attracted to someone else you can tell me without fear I'd get mad, I just want you to know you can trust in me"

He was being honest as he did not want to build something on a rocky boat but an anchored one on port where they could board their ship and sail together knowing they gathered all the needed to get this afloat in sea.

"So you mean you're giving me the freedom to choose you or anyone else? What about you?"

He was intrigued to know if the older one had someone else in sight and that was the reason why he set up those conditions.

"I'm fine just the way I am, I don't think I'd find someone here, but for now I want to get the small project I have in mind working."

"So you're telling me I can date someone else and date you at the same time?"

Teo wanted to confirm as he knew he could not fathom the thought of sharing someone he was with with anyone else.

"Pretty much it! You're young and I would understand if you want to… live"

Josh did not know how to say it as he couldn't really form the words within his mouth.

Teo on the other hand gasped, "Is this because of me?"

Josh nodded, smiling, giving his hands a gentle squeeze, "Yeah, long distance relationships are tough, and I don't want to pressure you with it"

Teo grinned, shaking his head side to side as if telling him he was not feeling pressured.

"You're a big dummy!" Poking his chest with his index finger.

"Me? Have you ever been in a relationship?"

Josh asked, guessing his answer.

Teo puckered out his lips, "Nope… it can't be tougher than school"

Josh touched his nose smiling, "Yeah, but it still can give you a headache and cause you to overthink everything." He was trying to save the younger and himself the pain of being separated and the hurt one goes through waiting for a call everyday.

Teo, as stubborn as he was he tsk-ed, "I will show you how mature I can be. I'm not a baby, bring it on, man! I'm in! All the way in"

Josh chuckled seeing how he talked in a pout, not willing to back down, "Then tell me your conditions"