《Only You》


 Chapter 1 - 1

    It is my birthday today and no one in my family even bothered to wish me. They all forgot what today was and I wasn''t in the mood to remind them. It is not like they care at all so why should I bother to tell them.


    I have my breakfast in silence as the rest of my family talked about everything and anything that didn''t concern me. To say that I am not hurt that they didn''t remember the day I was born would be a lie. I am forcing the food down my throat despite not having any appetite. I try very hard not to choke on my food.


    "What is wrong with you today ?" asked my mother who must have noticed how quite I am today. Not that I am normally talkative but at least i always contribute a word or two to there conversations. I shake my head to tell her that nothing was wrong, I didn''t trust my voice not to reveal my emotions to them. I don''t want to create a scene by breaking down in front of people who don''t care at all whether I live or die.


    When breakfast is up I get my phone from my room put on a hoodie and leave the house.. I listen to music through the earphones as I walked down the road. I walk to the nearby cafe and sat at the back far away from prying eyes. Far away from anyone and finally broke down, tears flow down my eyes as I cried into my hands. I am all alone and there is no worse pain that being alone despite being surrounded by many people.


    The waiter came to ask me what I will have but I didn''t look up nor answer him. I continued to cry because I couldn''t control my feelings anymore. I feel so empty inside and nothing in this cafe can fix my loneliness. It is not possible to order a company or a person''s compassion. The waiter comes back with a chocolate short cake and green tea. "Green tea is good for you and the chocolate will help cheer you up. And don''t worry it is in the house so you don''t have to pay for it."


    He walked away after he gave me the food, I wasn''t hungry but his kind gesture compelled me to eat the food. I drank the tea slowly since it was hot and the cake, it was absolutely delicious. There are no words to describe how warm my heart felt at that moment. A new warmth engulfed my whole body, and for the first time in a long while the food I ate had taste. Normally I just eat for the sake of eating but today I felt good eating the food. It wasn''t like the food I have eaten before this one had a touch of home to it, you could literally feel the love that put in preparing the food as you ate.


    I greedily finish everything on the plate but before I could get up to leave someone sat down in front of me and placed another piece of cake in front of me. It wasn''t chocolate like before but different flavor, I looked up from the plate and look upon the person who gave me the cake. My eyes met with a beautiful man who looked like he was brought out of a movie. He looked gorgeous but a little feminine making him look absolutely beautiful. His beauty far surpassed many super models that he had met or seen on the television.


    He looked innocent and pure just sitting there and staring at him with tenderness in his eyes. His hair was messy and some that were out of place went upto his eyes and I felt like removing them so that I can see his beautiful face properly. His lips were thin with a natural red color that was so enticing that I felt like tracing it with my fingers.I wonder what it feels like to kiss those lips. I just want to... " you should eat the cake, it will get cold." he interrupted me from my thoughts that were headed in the direction that was beginning to scare me.


    My heart began to beat at a very fast pace and my palms became sweaty. How could I think that a boy looked beautiful and why did I think such thoughts about him. I dig into the cake without looking up due to how embarrassed I felt because of the thoughts I just had. "Are you okay now ?" he asked me making my heart increase its pace once again.


    It has been very long since someone had asked me if I was okay. Very long since someone last cared about me so my heart was overwhelmed with warmth when he asked me that. I could feel his sincerity in his question and it brought me to tears. My own family ever only asks me if am okay only for the sake of it, they don''t want to know if you are really fine or not. They are only busy with their lives so to have a stranger ask me that honestly wanting to know if I was okay cracked my resolve and the tears flowed down my cheeks once again.


    He came over to my side and took me in to his arms and locked me in a hug. He wiped my tears and told me that everything will be alright and I just nodded my head. He said the words that I have always wanted to hear for so long and I felt fluttered that he did that for today of all days. I at least can look back next year and say that I had an amazing birthday all thanks to this stranger.


    "Thank you," I whispered to him as I cling tightly on him. I didn''t want him to leave because if he did then I would be alone again and just for today I want to feel like I have someone with me in life. "No need to thank me a hug is free in our cafe." he said with his angelic voice." you can always refund me by giving me a hug if I am ever in need of it."


    I hugged him tightly and closed my eyes to rest as I haven''t had any proper sleep in a long time. I lacked peace in my life and that made it very difficult for me to sleep. I lay my head on his shoulder and sleep, I can smell his cologne with was intoxicated so I inhaled in his smell. "What are you doing ?" I heard him ask which made me realize what I had just done. My face turned crimson red as I blushed and hid my face in his shoulder. He chuckled at my reaction, I can''t believe I embarrassed myself in front of a boy who seemed to be the same age as me. He must think that I am a weirdo after the impression that I have made of myself today.


    I refused to look up again, there was no way I was going to look at him after this. I stayed in place and did not move and neither did he. He just sat there and allowed me to lean on him and rest. He smelled so nice and his arm was so soft to touch. I caressed his hand and he tensed up, I stopped and did not dare to open my eyes.


    What am I thinking and what is wrong with me today. Why am I acting impulsively today, why am I allowing myself to be carried away today. He has been nice to me and I am treating him so badly. After a while he left me saying that his break was over and he needed to return to work. I let him go but deep down I was grateful to him for today. I finish my food and go back home.

 Chapter 2 - 2

    I reached home and ran directly to my room, I was not in the mood to talk to anyone I just wanted to be left alone with the memories of that beautiful boy. He is the kindest person I have ever met and also the most beautiful man my eyes have ever seen.


    He was so nice to me and even took care of me and my heart. Today was nothing short of amazing, it wasn''t much but to me it was everything I could ever wish for. I had two different cakes today and was in the company of someone who actually cared about me. So I consider today to be a win and one that I won''t forget in a long time.


    I fell asleep thinking about how well today went and all this was thanks to that stranger. He would never never forget the kindness that boy had shown him today. I felt a tug at my side so I opened my eyes to find my mom sitting next to me on the bed. "You are awake, I wanted to talk to you."


    "What is it mom ?" I asked as I rubbed sleep away from my eyes. I think that she must have remembered that today was my birthday so she came to wish me..


    "Listen darling, I wanted to talk to you about a decision that your father and I made concerning you and your sister. You know your brother is at oxford university and he is doing well for himself so we thought that it will be best if both you and your sister followed in his footsteps. That is why we want you both to attend a boarding school. We have already made all the arrangements so you just need to pack your things as you will be leaving tomorrow." She said before walking out of the room and closed the door behind her. She didn''t even ask me if I was okay with their decision, they just do as they please.


    I get my headphones and listen to music as I cried in my pillow. They always remember their eldest son''s birthday even that of my sister but never mine. It always your brother this and your sister that but it is never me. Am I not also their child then why am I treated differently from my other siblings. It is not fair how despite the fact that I have different dreams for my brother i have to follow the same path as him.


    Before I forget allow me to introduce myself. My name is Brandon Avery and I am the son of Marco Avery the billionaire. I have two siblings, my elder brother Logan and sister Sara. My mother Melissa is a super model so you can already know that my life has not been simple. Having a billionaire father and a famous mother is not easy especially when you are their youngest child. My elder brother is being groomed to take over my father''s company. While my mother is training my sister to be a star. So far my sister is not just modeling but also acts, she is beginning to be famous.


    Every once in a while when we go out she gets people asking her for an autograph or to take pictures. My brother on the hand has never once got less than an A- in all his tests. He wins in everything he does and never fails to please my dad. And then there is me the last born in the family. Normally people are happy being born last because then they get everyone''s love and attention. But for me it is the opposite neither my mother and father remember anything about me. From my birthday to my achievements even my dreams.


    They remember my existence once in a while but not always. I am invisible to all of them, like a forgotten toy that was left in some corner of the house never to be used. It try to get used to it but that doesn''t make the pain any less. I have done everything to try to please them but nothing I do ever gets their attention away from my siblings. I got the best scores in school and became the student of the year seven times in a row but they didn''t notice. I have many awards at school but they didn''t bother to come and watch me or congratulate me. I have also tried becoming a star to be recognized by mother but that too backfired in my face.


    I have long given up in trying to please them. I have learned to ignore them just the same way they do me. Today is the day I was born and instead of having a grand celebration I am being asked to pack my bags to go to a boarding school. I don''t mind going there in fact I am happy that I will be far away from these people. Out of sight out of mind right then maybe being a distance away from them will ease the pain in my heart. But I doubt my absence will be missed in this house.


    I get up from my bed and head over to my closet and get my suitcase and put it on the bed. I get my phone from the nightstand and text my mother asking her what I should pack. She sends me a list of requirements and I get to work. I pack my clothes and shoes in separate bags, I pack my electronics in another suitcase and ensure that I get everything that I would need. It took me two hours of running up and down in the room and in my house to get everything I need.


    When I was done I dropped down on the bed to relax when my phone rang. "Hello," I say once I pick it up.


    "Hello, Brandon I have been trying to reach you the whole day. Why haven''t you been picking my calls anyway I wanted to talk to you to discuss about a contract sent to you by Rock studios. They desperately want to sign you as there singer." said my manager in one breath.


    "I will be there in an hour." I say and hung up the phone. Had it been anyone else they would be happy to sign a contract with the biggest music company in the city but not me. I had expected this to happen eventually so I wasn''t really surprised. I should also inform you that my plans to get my mother to notice me backfired but me being a star did not. I am a secret star, nobody except for my manager knows my true identity because to the rest of the world I go by the name Nobody. Nobody is my star name, I didn''t choose it. After I uploaded my first song on the Internet in which I wore a mask it went viral and since there was no name attached to it. People just started calling me Nobody and it just caught on.


    I always find myself on every teen magazine in the country everyday and I have become famous over time. I have over four million followers on Nobody''s Instagram and twitter. I have two cellphones one for me and the other for nobody. I had released my album two months ago then went on my tour and now am home resting.

 Chapter 3 - 3

    It is great being a popstar and singing is amazing, I feel like I can express everything I feel into my music and I think that is why people love Nobody. Nobody touches them with his music because it relates to them. And I love writing them because it helps to release the negative energy that I have in me.


    Music has helped me alot other than earning money I have online fans who I chat with from time to time. It makes life less lonely for me and it more than I can ever ask for. It is good that the school i am going to allow students to have their electronic devices with them so I will still be able to chat with my fand from school. I will also be able to upload my music online so in all honesty this decision is win for me in many ways but one.


    I won''t be able to see that boy again the one who made my day and my heart skip a beat. I finish packing my bag and fall on the bed and drift off to dream land. I opened my eyes to see that it was already dark outside, I head to bathroom to freshen up and change. I then head downstairs for dinner.


    Everyone is already busy eating when I arrive, I pull out a chair and sit down.. I serve myself some food and dig in. The food was tasteless to me unlike the one I had at the cafe which was delicious. "Have you finished packing your bags." my father asked me "We will leave first thing tomorrow morning so make sure you have everything you need." he continued and I just nodded my head in response.


    "Your sister was done with her packing so long ago. Can''t you follow in her example and be punctual in life Brandon." my mother added and my eyes watered as it does every time she compares me to Sara. I blink away the tears before anyone can notice. "I will try to do that in the future mom."


    "Hum," was her only response as she continued to eat while talking to Sara. I finish my food quickly and left the room as I lost my appetite. I enter and close the door behind me behind me before I dropped on the floor and broke down. The tears clouded my eyes as they flowed down my cheeks. Why does she always do this to me, what is it that she wants from me. No matter what I do it is not good enough for her. I always seem to lack at something when it comes to my parents. It is draining me to have to prove myself to my own parents and how could she do that to me today.


    They all forgot that I was born today as though I am not even a part of this family. I only have to wait two more years, after I become of legal age then I will leave this house forever. I already have enough money to last me a life time so I won''t need any of them in the future. I also have a career as a musician to survive on in case I need money.


    I open and go online and find that my manager has sent me a contract through an online signing app. I look at the contract and start the process but since i am a minor it required either my mother or father to sign the contract. It looks like I will be working with rock studios from now on. I turn off the data on my phone and head downstairs, I can''t wait to see the look on my moms face when she sees the contract. They were all watching a movie


    on Netflix.


    "Mom can I have a minute of your time please ?" I asked her drawing hers and everyone''s attention away from the television. "Yes, what is it darling ?" she asked surprised that I actually initiated a conversation with her.


    " There is a document I want signed but I am not old enough to sign it so can you do it for me."


    "Sure let me the document first." I hand her my phone with the contract. Her facial expressions changed from normal to surprised to shock. Now that is one good birthday gift, I never thought her she would be so expressive after reading the contract. I think that this is the first time she showed any type of emotions towards anything I do.


    "Thi..this is a cont...contract from Rock studios asking to si..sign you as sin...singer." she stuttered as she spoke and for some reason I felt happy.


    "Yes, they have been pestering me about it for a while so I decided to just agree."


    Everyone in the house looked so shocked it seemed as though I had told them that I saw Jesus walking down the street as I was coming home. This is definitely the best day ever. Not only because of that beautiful boy but also because for once I wasn''t invisible to my family. They noticed me and listen to me and paid attention to me. I will definitely never forget this day for many years to come.


    "Will you sign it please I want to go to sleep since I am very tired." she signed it and I took the phone back.


    "How did you land a contract with Rock studios and why didnt you tell us you wanted to become a singer." I heard my mom ask when I turned around to leave.


    "Why, would you have cared if I did." I fired back at her and glared at her. I had told her that I wanted to sing but as usual she forgot about it because it was about me. What gives her the right to ask me that.


    "Yes I would have cared darling, this is a big achievement and we should celebrate." she said and I almost puked. "You are my son and I will always care about you." she continued and I scoffed, what a drama queen.


    "Even if I told you I am sure you wouldn''t remember."


    "That is not true. How can I not remember such an important thing."


    "Easy, the same way you and the rest of the family forgot that today is my birthday." I said and ran to my room. I didn''t even want to see how they reacted to what I said and honestly I don''t care. I just want to leave and go to school far away from all of them tomorrow. The distance and the time I will spend away from them should help to heal my wounded soul. I am just sad that I will never see that beautiful boy again but I will always remember the warmth he brought me on this special day of my life. He did mention that the cafe gives free hugs it is just too bad that I won''t get the chance to take him up on that offer. I would have loved to get a hug from him at least every other day.


    I could still get a whiff of his cologne on the shirt I had worn to the cafe. I take the shirt and place it on my nose and sniff it, it smells like him and I love it. I don''t think I will ever wash this shirt ever again and I will take it with me to school. I close my eyes and fell asleep with the shirt in my hand.

 Chapter 4 - 4

    I woke up early in the morning and do my morning routine. I ordered breakfast in bed, I didn''t want to see any of my family members. After last night I don''t want to see their faces, I don''t want fake apologies and their fake love.


    The servant brought me my food in the room. I invited her inside and took the plate from her before I dismissed her. She had prepared my favorite food some drope scones and milk tea. I know that my mother had made her make this for me for feeling guilty about yesterday. I won''t take my anger out on the food but there is no am going to forgive her for yesterday.


    I opened my laptop and go online I start chatting with my fans about my life. They asked me very many questions and I took my time answering every single one of them. I love my fans just as much as they love me, they are strangers to me but they are more my family than my own flesh and blood. I have received over four million wishes for my birthday and I am so happy to receive them..


    I was chatting when a new fan started chatting with me on a private chat.


    [ What are you up to today Nobody] #138


    How did this person send me a chat privately. Who is he, is he a stalker. I don''t know who he/she is but since he took the trouble of talking to me privately then I will have to reply him. That way I will also get to know who he is and what he wants.


    [ Hi to you too. I am just getting ready for school.]


    [ Good to hear, I was just checking on you] #138


    [ But who are you if I may ask.]


    [ I am Ashton Dark.] #138


    [No way, as the famous video gamer who made the famous game Rock the Beat or a different Ashton dark.]


    [ The one and only] #138


    [ wow, that is so wow ]


    [ Not really you are quite famous yourself ] #138


    [ But I am not close to your fame yet]


    [ That is just for now but if you really want to increase your popularity then how about I help you] #138


    [ I don''t care about being popular but I don''t mind listening to your idea]


    [ How about allowing me to use your song for my video game that way all my fans who play the game will hear it. And if they love it they will follow you.] #138


    [ That sounds cool, I''m game.]


    [ Okay, I have to get back to you for now I have to get to school. Bye] #138


    I can''t believe this my the person who created my favorite video game just chatted with me. Does that mean that he is one of my fans or maybe he just loved one of my songs. Rock the beat is a video game where you as a character have to play a selected song in front of millions of people that play the game and the more rates and people who vote for you as a singer the higher you climb the level. Each level is different, in the first ten level you play for close a hundred people and the number of people increase with levels. You can sing with your voice or play an instrument their are also hidden features for amazing artist who rank high up in the level.


    The game has billions of songs that are very difficult and complicated to play which gives the players the challenge they seek. And cheating in the game is not only difficult but impossible because the songs don''t repeat themselves twice and your judges also changes after playing a song. It is there that I first developed my love for music and started singing and the fact that no one knows what he looks like since he stays out of the media gave me the idea of not revealing my identity to the world.


    He is my idol and this will not change. He saved me when I needed it the most, if it wasn''t for his video game then I would not be Nobody today but I would be a nobody. He is also going to school today just like me. OMG! I completely forgot about school while chatting with my idol. I remove my headphones and that is when I hear the banging on the door. I picked up my bag and opened the door to find my father who was fuming, I didn''t allow him to say anything since I know that he was only going to scold me.


    Him forgetting my birthday is not something I will forgive him for and that I am not going to talk to him. I enter the car and wait for him, the servants put my luggage in the car. I put on my headphones and play music with my eyes closed, my driver drives the car out of the compound and to goodness knows what direction. I think about the events that have taken place since yesterday. First I got to meet that beautiful boy with a kind heart and today I got to talk to my idol. It seems lady luck has favoured me and it makes me happy.


    Thinking of that boy I can''t believe that would never get to meet him again. It really does hurt me that I won''t get that warm hug ever again. I wish that I could see him again even if it was just for a while. His beautiful eyes full of kindness keeps haunting my mind repeatedly and it isn''t irritating at all but rather it makes my heart beat increase in a way that I do not understand.


    I wish to be in his warm hug once again because that was the first time I had been hugged since I was a child and I didn''t want it to end so soon. Even if I never see him again I will never forget him ever, I will be his fan for life since he brought light into my life during my darkest times. He gave me a cake and I made a wish, though it was naughty it was still a wish and that was more than enough. I should find a way to thank him properly for what he did for me that day. Had he not done what he did then yesterday would have been a terrible day for me.


    "Sir, there is a student by the road side that is wearing the uniform of Bright Future Boarding school. He seems to be in need of a lift, should I stop the car or not." the driver asked me and I agreed. If he is wearing the same uniform as my school then we will be school mates and it would be nice to make a friend on the first day. I hope he will be willing to be my friend and that he is a true person and not fake like many tend to be.


    I opened the door for him to enter and froze when I saw who it was. It was the boy from the cafe. His scent hit my nose and I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. He smells so nice, I could inhale that scent all day.


    " If you are done with that then can I get in ?" he asked clearly referring to me breathing in his cologne.His sweet voice was like music to my ear so I just nodded as I didn''t quite trust my voice and looked away blushing. Wait did I just blush, no I am just embarrassed that all nothing more.

 Chapter 5 - 5

    My heart was running a marathon in my heart as I sat right next to him as he slept peacefully. I held my breath due to being nervous in fear that I may disturb him if I breath. I watched him sleep and he looked more beautiful while sleeping than when he is awake.


    "It is rude to stare." he said and I looked away but I couldn''t help stealing glances at him. He was gorgeous and I''m captivated by his beauty, there is clearly something wrong with me. How is it that I can''t look away from a boy, it is because of what he did for me right. "I can still feel your eyes on me," he said getting up and looking at me "do you see something you like." he continued with a smug face.


    I looked out the window to the passing trees to avoid answering his question. " How about we make it interesting abit, every time you stare at me you have to pay me a dollar." he said with a proud smile on his face like he had just won the lottery or something. I look at him with disbelief written all over my face.. I can''t believe how absurd this boy is how can he make such a request.


    "Do you really think that I am going to agree with your silly deal ?"


    "I am just that you have to pay me a dollar for every time you stare at me as you seem to have a problem of looking at me longer than normal people do."


    "So are you saying that I am not normal."


    "No, I didn''t say that," he paused and moved closer to me which made my heart skip a beat. He was so close to me that our legs were touching. "I don''t think that you are not normal, infact you are very much normal." I moved back a little to create distance between us and he also moved towards me. I kept moving until my back was on the car door and he was so close to me that he was literally breathing on my neck. I felt goosebumps all over my body when his warm breath hit my neck. The heat on my body was rising slowly and so was my heart beat.


    "What is wrong?" he whispered in my ear sending a shiver down my spine making me tremble slightly. "You don''t seem fine tell me what is it." he placed his hand on my lap and gave it a gentle squeeze and my breath hitched. This is so wrong it is way beyond normal and I knew it but I don''t want him to stop because for some reason I like what he is doing.


    "We are here," the driver informed us and he moved away. The warmth I was feeling also left me, I was a bit disappointed but I don''t know why or for what reason I felt like that. He was just teasing me which is what friends do. We got out of the car and got our luggage with us before the driver turned the car around and left.


    When I turned around the boy was already walking towards some big building and just then I realized that I didn''t know his name. I took my bags and hurried to catch up to him. "Listen can I ask you a question ?" I asked him when I finally caught up to him.


    "That in fact was a question, so why ask permission for something you have already done?" he asked me in a matter of fact manner and I simply want to beat him up. He is not only beautiful but is also the queen of sass. Yes, I know that he is a boy but he is more beautiful than any woman I have ever met. And I have met a lot of them since I am a celebrity and all so I know what I am saying. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn''t watch where I was going hence I bumped into something or should I say someone.


    We both fell to the ground and I landed on top of him. You asked how I know it is a he before I even get a look at the person, well the answer is simple I landed on a perfect six pack chest that must belong to someone who goes to the gym. I myself am not bad but I don''t have such a chest so I can already tell you that me and this person won''t get along. He will make me feel less a man and I won''t allow that but man his chest is so soft.


    "If you are done feeling my chest you can please get up." I heard that very same angelic voice that belongs to the beautiful boy so I looked up to his face and he was grinning at me. I got up and dusted the dust on my clothes and picked up my bags and his. I was sure that my face was red by now so I didn''t dare look him in the eyes. I snapped his finger in front of my eyes bringing my attention to him. He held his hand in front of me and I was confused because I had no idea what he wanted.


    "What is it?" I asked him and he smiled at me. That smile was not the beautiful one he gave me at the cafe but it rather looked sinister. I was becoming fearful a bit and who can blame me, I can''t begin to tell you how much i have embarrassed myself in front of this boy in the two times I met him. For some reason I find myself acting on impulse around him and I don''t even process anything before I do it. Its like my body is a slave to him and it just moves on its own and does as it pleases leaving me completely embarrassed. He must think that I am a weirdo and who would blame him when all the impression I have given him of myself are not so good.


    "You seem to have forgotten so quickly but you owe me two dollars and before you ask me why I will tell. One was for staring as we were walking and you fell on me and we made a deal that every time you stare at me longer than normal you have to pay so pay up." he said with a smirk on his face.


    "And I never agreed to that so why should I pay you."I tell him with a grin of my own but instead of his smile falling like it was supposed to, he stretched it some more and he moved so close to me that our foreheads were touching, something inside me told me to run but my body as usual didn''t listen and froze in place. He leaned his head to right and leaned in and I closed my eyes automatically and held my breath in anticipation and that feeling that I felt in the car come back. My body felt so warm and my heartbeat increased once again. His breath tickled my face and then he was gone.


    I opened my eyes to find him with that knowing kind of smile. Like he knew something I didn''t but that wasn''t enough to dispell the disappointment I felt in my heart. Don''t even ask me why I am disappointed because I can''t tell you something that even i myself do not know.


    "Will you pay me or not." he asked again but with all the disappointments I have had today I have lost the energy to retort to that. "Sure."

 Chapter 6 - 6

    We walk to the big building I mentioned earlier where students who looked like they arrived today just like us were sitted down talking and getting to know each other which reminded me that I had yet to ask this boy what his name is.


    "Will you please tell me your name." I asked him directly because I have already learned how this boy gets with words. He can''t twist something that is so direct because there is nothing to twist, he will simply have to answer me. He kept walking until the end of the hall at the corner away from everyone and sat down and I followed him to sit at the chair next to him.


    "So you want to know my name ?" he asked after keeping his bags down and I nodded and he once again gave me that sinister smile. It really surprises me how a beautiful boy like him can afford such a smile on his beautiful face. "I don''t want to tell you."


    "Why not," I asked him confused, why would he not want to tell me his name.


    "Why do you want to know." he asked me looking directly into my eyes but not losing that smile.. I feel like he is teasing me but I really want to know his name.


    "Because I need something to call you with and I can''t simply keep referring to you as that beautiful boy." I say in irritation and he looked shocked for a moment before he gave me an even bigger grin.


    "You think I am beautiful ?"


    "Seriously do you not look at yourself in the mirror, you are not beautiful but dead gorgeous. You are the most beautiful person i have ever that even the actresses and models that I have met pale in comparison to your beauty." My irritation was getting the better of me and it was only after I was done talking that I realized what I had just said. I curse my brain that fails to work whenever I am around this boy, I hate to admit it but this boy is not good for me. The way he affects almost every part of me with his presence isn''t good for my health and this is a fact.


    I get up to leave when he pulled me by my hand and I lost my balance and fell on him. I once again came face to face with him and we were so close to each other that I could hear his heartbeat which was just as fast as mine. " You think that you can call me beautiful and compare me to women and I would just let you go." he whispered the threat in my ear in a husky voice and I shuddered with fear. My was sending me warning signals but my body''s reaction shocked even me. Despite being threatened the warm feeling came back again and time I didn''t feel warm I felt hot like someone had placed a fire nearby. My body was burning up and my mind was a mess and I couldn''t think straight.


    The feelings I have felt since I met this boy are all new to me, it is in a whole different level than anything I have ever felt before. It was driving me crazy and for unknown reason I wanted more of it, whatever it is. It felt so warm and for someone who had been lonely and cold for most of my life it was not just amazing but wonderful.


    "Are you done daydreaming yet ?" he asked me bringing me back to reality "If you have then please get up. It is the first day of school and the teacher will be here soon.You don''t want people to misunderstand anything do you ?"


    I got up and sat down next to him, I did my best to try and calm my heart but it became stubborn just like my body and now it wasn''t listening to me. Why does he do this to me and why does my body react like this towards him. I am losing control of my own body and heart and I am not sure that I will remain in control of my mind for much longer. This is just the first day here and I am supposed to be here for three months, how am I going to survive with him in the same school.


    Not to mention that I don''t even know who he is since he refused to tell me his name. Should I ask him again or will he refuse to tell me but the more he refuses to tell me the more I want to know. Before I can ask him what I want to know the teachers arrive at the hall one by one and sit down. It was then that I noticed that the hall was now full and there were so many people not to mention how big this hall is. It is almost as big as the last stadium where I held my last concert.


    "Hi, am Claire and I am new here." said the girl next to me as she held out her hand for me to shake. "Hi, am Brandon and it is nice to meet you." I reply as I shake her hand.


    We start talking about life and our expectations as the teachers waited for the remaining students to arrive. We talked about the subject we would take and the clubs we might want to join in the future and it just so happened that took all subjects together. We had everything in common and we became friends immediately and it made me happy. The first real friend who was interested in me because of my family status, lady luck truly has shone on me. Everything seems to be going well for me and I couldn''t be happier. I even forgot about those people who I left at home and felt at peace.


    I felt a hand on his thigh, " Did you forget me so quickly." he whispered in my ear in a soft voice that made the words I wanted to say to Claire get stuck in my throat. "N..no," I stammered the answer to him. I have never stammered in my sixteen years of my life and I have doing things I have never done before since I met this boy. "Then why are you ignoring me for that girl. Is she more important than me now." he asked as he rubbed my thigh making me loose my mind. My senses were becoming a blur.


    The headmistress started with her speaking and I couldn''t hear a word she was saying because my mind was not in its right senses to process everything that she was saying. Even Claire said something to me but I couldn''t make out what she was saying and this stupid boy who refused to tell me his name never stopped moving his hand on my thigh and each time it drove me mad. Does he know what he is doing or is this what friends do.


    I don''t have many friends and the last time I had an actual friend was when I was ten. I don''t how teenage friends behave since I don''t have much experience with having friends. He removes his hand from my thigh and I feel empty, I get confused with all the emotions he provokes in me. This is all new to me so I am most confused. The speech ended and everyone got up to leave, he held me back.


    " My name is Reiner Devon." he whispered sweetly to me before leaving.

 Chapter 7 - 7

    It was very nice to meet so many new people and exciting as well. Everyone was introducing themselves to someone new and I too got the chance to do the same. So far I have made three friends; Claire, Reiner and Charlie and they are all in the same class as me.


    Claire, Charlie and I are seated together talking about our assumptions of what the school year was going to be like as we waited for Frayer the school president to give us a tour of the school. I was super excited about school and I could already imagine how many memories I would get to make here with my new friends. Charlie and Claire seem cool and I enjoy their company but a part of me couldn''t help but miss a certain beautiful boy. He was standing a stone throwing distance from us with who I assume to be his friends. I felt a pang in my heart when I saw how happy he looked with his new friends.


    He seemed to have bonded with them quite easily and very quickly too. I wonder if he gave them a hard time like he did me when I asked him his name or maybe he just did that with me. The discomfort in my heart kept getting worse with the train my thoughts had taken. Before I knew it I was tearing up hence I looked away, I don''t understand what is happening to me when it comes to this boy. Why does my heart ache so much now, am I developing a heart problem.. It hurts so much, I kept my hand on my chest and squeezed my eyes shut from the pain.


    I have never felt like this before and the pain was getting worse by the minute. The tears were now rolling down my eyes but I wiped before anyone could notice. The ache in my heart calmed down when I felt a hand on top of mine, "Are you alright ?" Reiner asked me making me conscious of my surrounding. I noticed that I wasn''t with Claire and Charlie anymore but with Reiner and we were in a secluded place far away from everyone else.


    "What happened and how did we get here ?" I asked him finally getting a little composure back.


    "Well, I was chatting with my new friends earlier when I noticed your stare so I came to you to collect my money. That is when I noticed that you were having a panic attack so I asked for permission from the teacher and brought you here. So not only do you owe me money but you have also cost me a tour, if I ever get lost in school because I don''t know my way around I will be sure to collect another dollar from you." he complained about missing the tour and I noted something about him that he loves money. I will go bankrupt with this boy, for all I know he could charge me for being his friend. He kept on complaining about who knows what as I stopped listening to him.


    My heart was creating the rhythm it plays every time that I am near him. My heart which was in pain just moments ago felt fine and one could say that it had miraculously healed. Is Reiner a magician is that why he was able to make me feel better so easily. He always seems to know what to do to make me feel better when I am down. He is a good friend and such a good person deserves a hug from me for his kindness. I hugged him tightly


    and the emptiness I felt disappeared and went away.


    "You still owe me money," he said making me smile. I think that he is obsessed with money, it is all the ever talks about but if money is what will keep him here with me then I don''t mind staring at him forever. I might become poor but at least he will be by my side.


    "Come on let me go before someone comes and sees us in this state." he cautioned but I didn''t want to let go so I ignored him. "How long do you plan on hugging me for ?"


    "Forever if possible." I say and he laughs. God even the sound of his laughter is amazing. It sounds so soothing that I want to listen to him laugh all day long. Why is it that everything about this boy compels me to want to be around him and close to him always. Like a magnet that attracts me to him every chance it gets and why do I find it hard to resist him. My body does not even try it just goes with the flow.


    "Forever ! Are you mad. Do you expect me to stand here as you hug me forever, do you know how long forever is. You have lost your mind, let me go." he yanked me off him forcefully and I lost my balance and in an attempt to hold on to him as not to fall I ended up pulling him down with me. He fell right on top of me and his lips landed perfectly on mine. My eyes widened out of shock and I saw a fireworks display right in front of my eyes.


    He got up and dusted his clothes and glared at me and boy he looked beautiful even when he was upset. "I think that you are fine now so I will take your leave." he said before he walked away from me. I could not move, my body refused to listen to me and this time it wasn''t being stubborn it was simply because I didn''t communicate to it. My mind was so chaotic that it couldn''t tell my body to get up. My heart was pounding inside my chest threatening to escape and run after Reiner.


    ''What is wrong with me, why do I react like this when I am around Reiner. At this point I am sure that this is not what friends do together. I might be inexperienced with friends but I do know what a kiss is and that it should be shared among lovers. But all this what could it possibly mean, Reiner and I are not lovers and that kiss happened by accident but why is my heart beating so fast. Was it because I was afraid of falling, that must be it the fear of getting hurt is what made my heart beat so fast.


    I was finally able to get up but I felt a little tipsy so I sat back down. I traced my lips with my hand with the thought of how soft and warm Reiner''s lips felt on mine ran through my mind. It was so nice and a warm feeling still lingered on my lips from the kiss. Wait did I just think that the kiss was nice, did I like it and if so then what does this mean. What in gods name is happening to me. Why is my life getting complicated, I can''t seem to understand anything anymore and my own body is becoming a stranger to me. I hardly understand how my body functions anymore and it is all because of Reiner.


    He is responsible for the changes that have been happening to my body soul and mind. And only he can tell me what he has done to me. Something like this has never happened to me ever before in my whole life and as much as a part of me likes what is happening, the other part is scared.

 Chapter 8 - 8

    It is almost dinner time and I have finished unpacking my thing in the dormitory. I am a lion now which is one of the boy''s dorms, I am sleeping on the far end of the room in a corner. It is a bunk bed and I got the top bunk, I placed my things for tonight on top of my pillow and leave with Charlie to the dining hall for dinner.


    We get there and sit at the table next to Claire who is already seated and having his food. We settled down and serve ourselves before digging in. The food is delicious and the conversation with my friends was very comforting, for the first time in my life I feel like a big piece of the puzzle that is my life has been placed right. I feel like I have someone to watch over me and take care of me and it is amazing. I am not alone and I have friends who might one day become my family.


    This year is going to be different, full of colors and love. It will be peaceful and full of new memories filled with joy and happiness. And I will like and remember this year for many years to come. Interestingly enough I don''t even miss my family very much and they''re not loving me also does not hurt as much as it did before..


    I have had a real smile on my face today after so many years and it felt good to smile wholeheartedly. My dreams are finally coming true, I have people who accept me for me and not for the person they expect me to be. They just like me the way I am and it pleases me a lot to learn this. My birthday wish has come true, lady luck has her best wishes in mind for me this year.


    My heart started to beat and everything started to move in slow motion all of a sudden. Every noise inside the hall was suddenly gone and all I could hear was my heartbeat. It was exactly like the time when I am near Reiner, thinking of him and being around him causes my body, heart, and mind to go crazy. I haven''t seen him since that incident that happened earlier today, the incident about the kiss. The kiss that I haven''t been able to stop thinking about. Does he also think about that kiss as I do, he seemed so upset after that kiss that I doubt that he liked it. My heart was pounding in my chest and the pain from earlier came back.


    It hurt so much to think about it, I closed my eyes shut and held my fork very tightly. Tears were brimming in my eyes and my hand started trembling. "Take deep breaths and calm down and eat your food." I heard from my side and looked only to find Reiner sitting right next to me having his food. He smiled and continued to eat his food.


    My heart calmed down and I regained my composure, I picked up my fork and did exactly as he said. Then I understood that why my heartbeat increased a while ago, it was because he was right next to me. I didn''t see him but my body felt his presence or something like that I mean how else would you explain that. I think that he practices some sort of witchcraft and he has used his magic on me. That is the only reasonable explanation to what happens to me whenever he is around me. It is sorcery, I am not a believer but with all the signs right in front of me then how can I not believe.


    Everything went in slow motion just moments ago and now everything is normal and let''s not mention the pain in my heart that comes when I think of him disliking me and then disappears only when he is around me. He causes me pain and then magically takes it away, it is so strange just like the way my body reacts in his presence. He drives me so crazy just like his magical kiss that has rendered me completely helpless.


    I can neither forget it nor stop thinking about it. I have left longing for more of that kiss, I know that it is wrong to think like that about a boy but I can''t help it. It is only the first day and already I have lost my mind to the point that I have started to sin by thinking such ill thoughts about a boy. I don''t know what will happen in the future but I am sure that this is just the beginning of whatever is happening to me. I am glad that this school has a church that way I can confess my sins to God and pray for Him to forgive him.


    The Almighty will have to forgive him for the sins he has committed and has yet to commit. He is not intentionally sinning, it is all beyond his control. This sorcerer seated next to him is to blame for him was the reason for everything that was happening to him and with him.


    "Get out of your thoughts and have your dinner else you will go to sleep hungry." He nudged me from my side bringing me out of my thoughts. I ate my food quietly, my friends were talking about something but my mind was so occupied with so many things that I couldn''t hear a thing they were saying. I was concentrated on my food, then Charlie and I went back to the dorm after dinner. He kept talking my head off but I couldn''t hear a single word, my mind was busy with thoughts of Reiner.


    We got back to the dorm and went to our beds, I climbed up to the bed and tried to sleep. Every time I closed my eyes I would see his face smiling back to him. I turned back and forth to try to get him out of my mind but it kept running back to him and it taunted me. I kept thinking about the time in the car and at the restaurant and my heart became excited as though it knew that my mind was thinking of him. I remembered the burning sensation I felt on my lips when he kissed me and that was the straw for my heart and mind to be in disarray. Everything was going round and round with his thoughts.


    "Stop thinking about me or I won''t be able to sleep tonight." I heard and up on the bed, my eyes opened but I couldn''t see anyone due to how dark it was. I reached out to the pillow and removed the torch from under it, I opened the torch and saw Reiner right there in front of him. My breath hitched and my heartbeat picked up. "Y..you, what are you doing here ?"


    "Well, I didn''t know that I needed your permission to be here. Secondly, my bed is right next to yours so where else am I supposed to be at this time of night if not here sleeping in my bed. I can go back to sleep as long as you stop thinking of me."


    "How did you know that I was thinking about you ?"


    "My instincts and the fact that I can''t seem to fall asleep but your reaction confirmed that you were thinking about me."


    "Sorry."


    "Come here I want to say something to you," he instructed me and I moved close to him. " goodnight." He whispered sweetly in my ears and kissed my cheek before climbing onto his bed and falling asleep.

 Chapter 9 - 9

    Reiner''s p.o.v


    I woke up at 5:00 am in ing for the morning preps, I got up and did my morning routine, and got ready for class. I looked at the bed next to me to see Brandon sleeping peacefully. He looks so cute in his sleep that it hurts to have to wake him up so early.


    "Hey wake up," I nudge him from the side until he opens his eyes. "Get up sleeping beauty or we are going to be late."


    "Late, late for what ?" he asked while wiping away the remaining sleep from his eyes.


    "Just get up and get ready. I will tell after.".


    I watch him get up from the bed and give me a questioning look but I ignored him and pushed him towards the bathroom. I arrange my books in the order of subjects that I will do today. We will start with English so I put my English at the top. I do the same for the prince who takes forever to freshen up. He is no different than a girl in many ways like who takes so long to shower at five in the morning that too with cold water. I don''t mind bathing with cold water but I also wouldn''t bathe for so long in it. One can catch a cold from that and getting sick on the first week of school isn''t good.


    "Now will you tell me why you woke me up so early in the morning? Everyone else is still sleeping so why are already dressed for the day," he asked after returning from the bathroom completely dressed. I ignore his question and give him his bag and take mine from the bed and grab his hand and walk out of the dorm. We arrive at the classroom and settle down on our desk, he sits down next to me glaring at me. "Are you ever going to tell me why you disturbed my precious sleep or did you just need someone to sit in this empty room with you as you studied? If that was the case you should find someone else to bully so early in the morning. I for one love my sleep very much and do not appreciate being treated like this." he spoke folding his hands in front of his chest to appear threatening but failed.


    He looked like a cute puppy throwing a tantrum when it is denied milk. I take out my book and pen and start working on this week''s English assignment. I noticed that he just sat there looking at me so I took his book from his book opened the first page and placed it in front of him before going back to work. He gave up glaring at me and started reading his book as well and just then the door to the classroom opened. A girl with short blonde hair tied up in a ponytail walked in. She was wearing her uniform neatly and everything about my first impression of her screamed control freak.


    She walked towards us and stood right in front of Brandon. "I didn''t think that I was going to find anyone already here. Hi, my name is Ellie and I am your classmate and hopefully friend," she said with the biggest smile a person can have, I can''t believe someone is that excited about school.


    "Hi too, I am Brandon and this is Reiner," he said pointing at me and I waved at her. "And no, I didn''t want to be here he forced me to come here and he won''t even tell me why," he complained to her making me smile.


    "Oh! anyway, it is nice to meet both of you. Since the class is arranged three people per desk due to the many students our class has done you guys mind if I sit with you." she asked so sweetly which makes me wonder how much sweets she consumes a day for her to turn out like this. You can tell that her sweetness is real and not like all those fake girls who fake themselves so much that they lose track of what is real or fake. They try so hard to fit in but this Ellie looks and sounds legit, I think that we are going to get along just fine.


    She sits next to Brandon and gets busy with her books. She is doing mathematics and from the looks of it, it looks like she is tackling next week''s homework. I would know since I already did it before school opened I have already completed all mathematics assignments for this whole term. It is all that I did in my free time during the holiday. All that is left is for the teacher to check it.


    I continue with my work and kept myself in my books until the door opened and a woman in her early thirties walked in came to us. "Wow, three people that is a new record for the first-day prep attendance. It looks like we have three goldens for this classroom. My name is Mrs. Mollins and I am the vice headmistress of the school and as the tradition of the school, we normally give the students who are self-driven like yourselves on the first day of school a golden pass. You see we don''t have morning classes today because it is the first day but that does not mean that students should sleep in. So we award those who come for preps today with the golden pass." she paused to let us weigh and process her words.


    "Now let me tell you the benefits of the Golden pass which is valid this whole term. You can get out of doing chores and homework by giving it to your house prefect. You can also get access to every room on campus except for the authorized ones. You also get to be perfect this year without having to be voted. It acts as a free pass to leave a classroom in case of an emergency or if you just don''t want to attend a lesson no one will ask you. It can also get you out of house games if you don''t want to participate and since in the house president hasn''t been selected each of you will have to be that for your respect houses and if two people come from the same house the one will be president while the other one becomes deputy. You also get five stars and so you only have to work for five more to become a student of the month and that applies for all the three months of the first term. A chance is given to winning more golden passes at weekly examinations for the top three students. The golden passes you have the more immunity you get because golden passes are like VIP passes around campus. Most importantly it allows you to buy everything at the school mall on 50% off offer so enjoy." she handed each of us a golden pass after writing down our details on them and left the room.


    "Now do you understand why I disturbed your precious sleep my dear sleeping beauty ?" I asked him with a cocky smile.


    "Wait you knew about this ?"


    "Of course I did, why else would I bother to wake up a lazy bone like you."


    "Did you also know ?" he asked directing the question at Ellie."I had no idea, I only came to catch up with assignments but I am glad I did. These passes are amazing. I went back to my book while Brandon and Ellie went on about the passes. I have attended this school since I was young so I know everything about the school. I am well aware of everything around this school for two reasons, I have studied here since forever, and two my dad happens to own this school.

 Chapter 10 - 10

    Today began on such a good note, I had got such an amazing gift this morning. I was throwing a tantrum over being woken up so early in the morning but he had my best interest at heart while doing so. I was so inconsiderate about everything but he was not just being kind but also caring.


    If he had not woken me up this morning then I would have missed such an amazing pass. I don''t know what I could have done in my past life for fate to have sent Reiner into my life. He is very nice and I misunderstood him all along, I even thought of him practicing sorcery. I have been very unfair to him and all he does is take care of me. He is always there for me when I am in trouble and knows exactly what to do to help me out and yet I have such I''ll thoughts about him. If he ever comes to know of the picture that I had formed in my head about him then he might grow to hate me. I can''t let him hate me or that weird pain in my heart will come back and I can''t let that happen.


    He is my savior and my guardian angel as he always watching over me. I am currently at the dinning hall having breakfast with my friends, I told them about the pass and all the benefits it came with. They were so happy for me but also angry at me for not telling them about it.. I have explained to them that I knew nothing of it before hand but they don''t listen. I have told them that the credit for me owning this pass goes to Reiner but they don''t believe me.


    "You know I have studied a lot about BFBS and I have learned alot of things that I didn''t know before. The school allows students to bring their electronic devices from home but they are only allowed to use them after 4pm in the evening. Also the school allows you to carry money and credit cards for purchase of items at the school mall but it also has a pass system that works just like money in the school." Claire said drawing both mine and Charlie''s attention.


    "There are several types of passes that can be earned by being exceptional in various things around the school. The more passes you have the richer you are around the school because the passes can be turned into money here in school so both teachers and students are always out to collect passes. The passes can also be used to buy good grades in school, the teacher is allowed to exchange a grade for a pass but the kind of grade you get depends on the type of pass. The most common passes in school are the red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. The golden pass is one of the special type of pass in school, it has alot of privileges and it is only given to the top best students in class or on the first preps of the term. But the most rare pass is the black pass which gives you total reign of the school without limitations. But the amount of people to ever have that pass are countable with the fingers of your hand." She added making me intrigued, I never knew that such an interesting school existed.


    "How does one get the black pass?" asked Charlie.


    "That, for you to get the black pass you have to be the student of the month. Only those students get a black pass." the answer came from behind me so both Claire and Charlie turned around to see who it was that spoke but I didn''t need to turn to know that person was. I recognized his voice and my racing heart also gave him away. Reiner sat down next to me with his food and started eating.


    "How can one become the student of the month ?" Claire asked and it seems that even she was not aware of how that is done. She looked very curious I think that she might want to try and get a pass.


    "The student of the month goes to the most disciplined student in the whole school, he/she has to be good in academic and also extra curriculum activities. The student must have school points that are above eight and must have at least three stars from each teacher in school. The stars are also important since they be changed into a pass if you have enough of them and the same goes for school points. Every student starts school term with a hundred school points but they decrease or increase depending on your performance and behavior during the term. As for stars every student starts the term with zero stars but they earn it as the term goes on but they decrease if a student misbehaves and the teacher that takes it away from you gets to keep it for themselves." Reiner answered very calmly and continued eating his food.


    Claire and Charlie are very excited about the information that they have received. Claire even noted down the things he was saying down on her note book. "And how do you suppose one can earn these stars." she asked Reiner and I was beginning to get worried about him getting offended by all these question when he only came here to have his food. Our table was full by now not just because the students enjoyed eating at our table but I think that they all have just come to listen to what Reiner has to say. You could tell by how attentive they were listening to everything he was saying. They were being very rude ease dropping on our conversation like that but I can''t just tell them to leave. Everyone was curious about the points and stars and how to earn them I can''t just up and ask them to leave, it won''t be fair.


    "The stars are given by the teachers, every time you get stars on your exam paper or smiling faces when the exams are graded then the stars and the faces are calculated to check your total rating. But you should know that it is not easy to get three stars at the end of it so they also gather displinary stars to help students chances to get three stars. Once the rating is done then the student with the highest star rating gets to have a chance of being student of the month. But don''t forget you need to meet the other conditions as well to get it so you should not just work on stars but points too. Points can be bought with passes but a star has to be earned, it is the only thing in this school that can''t be bought." he replied to her and didn''t seem offended by her numerous questions.


    "What is the highest rating of stars ever gotten by a student," asked Charlie.


    "That would be 9.9 star rating." Ellie did a spit take when she had that and it was only then that I realized that she was sitting right next to me.


    Reiner finished his food and left the hall, he didn''t even check with anyone if there had any more questions to ask him. He is very strange, I think he doesn''t mind helping anyone out as long if doesn''t interfere with what he is doing. He answered all there questions while he ate his food but once he was done he left the hall.


    "He left before I can even ask him the name of the person who has ever received the black pass." complained Claire as she pouted.


    "There is only one person who has won the black pass. He holds the record for getting it every time and not just student of the month he has won the diamond pass which you can only get by being the student of the year and he has won it ten years in a raw. But his photo was taken down because it is a new year." said a senior before walking out of the hall. We finished our breakfast and rushed to our first lesson of the year.

 Chapter 11 - 11

    We went to our lockers and Charlie got the books that he needed for the lesson and we went to class. I sat down in between Ellie and Reiner in class while Charlie and Claire sat in the desk in front of me. The class was loud and noisy as the students chatted the morning away. They were introducing themselves to each other and getting to know one another. It felt nice to be in such a lovely room.


    I have been homeschooled since as long as I can remember and this was my first time in a normal classroom with student. I am so excited about everything and I can''t wait for the lesson to begin. Ellie and Reiner are busy with there books, classes haven''t started yet so what exactly they are doing with their books puzzles me. They started whatever they are doing early this morning and they are still at it. I don''t think that they are going to have much life around campus judging by how they pay no attention to anything but their books. It seems that I have trapped myself in between two book worms and that will be bad for me since I want to make a lot of friends. I have always read in novels how lonely the lives of book worms can be and I don''t want that.


    I get up to go sit with Claire and Charlie but just then the door opened and the teacher came inside.. "Please settle down everyone," he said as he placed his files on the table and leaned on the table while facing the rest of the class. "Today is the first day of school so I understand that some of you are excited to start learning, others about making new friends while some of you would rather not be here. Anyway no matter how you feel, I want to give a big welcome to all of you. I want you to be comfortable and free with me because unlike the other teachers in school I am not that uptight. I hope that all of us will get along well but before we start the day I want you to turn to the person next to you and give them a compliment. Giving someone a compliment is one way of making friends that is why I am asking you do this because you will be seated with those same people for the rest of the school year so it will be better if you get along with them." he said before walking to his seat and sitting down.


    A student carried his hand up, "And no you can''t change your sitting arrangement for the rest of the year. This is one of the school rules and no you can''t buy yourself out of where you are sitting with passes or points." he added and the student kept his hand down. I think he wanted to ask about what the teacher just explained about and I can''t believe I am stuck here with this two book worms who don''t even see anything past their books. I feel cheated and sad, around the classroom everyone was busy complimenting their neighbors and introducing themselves to them. I felt so jealous of them because neither of my deskmates even bothered to compliment me. It is as though they didn''t hear the teacher''s instructions.


    I turn around and glare at Reiner but he just keeps writing in his book pretending not to see me. If he is going to be stubborn about complimenting me then I won''t stop glaring at him either. He finally looks at me after a while and raises his eyebrows to me in question of what I am doing. How can he be so cold, he can''t even spare me a single compliment .


    "Why are you looking at me like that ?"


    "What do you mean by that didn''t you hear what the teacher said or are you deaf ?"


    "I heard very well what he said but what part of that did he say to glare at me ?" he asked making me scoff at his ignorance. If he had what the teacher said then why didn''t he say anything to me.


    "Then why are you ignoring me, he clearly said to give a compliment to your neighbor."


    "Oh! so you want a compliment, is that why you are being so moody. Well he also mentioned if you were paying attention that this was so that you and your deskmate can be friends but I have no interest in being your friend so why should I compliment you ?" he asked me so casually that I felt like the whole place go silent. My mind processed everything he had to say and tried to make sense of it all but my heart already understood everything that he said. The pain that I felt in my heart was one that could not be described in words, my throat was suddenly dry while sting tears clouded my eyes temporarily blinding me.


    I can''t believe that he said that to me without a care in the world. The pain in my heart kept getting worse by the minute and it felt like everyone was a million miles away from me. I felt so cold like the room temperature had suddenly decreased. My vision was becoming blurry and I could barely make out Reiner who was sitting right in front of me, I think. I can''t hear anything other than the sound of my beating heart which was breaking apart. I don''t understand what is wrong with me nowadays, I should have a check up done because this could be a dangerous disease beginning to develop in me and if I don''t get treated them I might die. I inhale the air around me to try and calm my heart but it is futile.


    "What are you thinking about that your face is so pale?" I heard someone say in a hushed voice in my ear " Are you perhaps thinking of that kiss that you stole from me yesterday." he added before bitting my earlobe gently making me moan. I snap out of my trance and cover my mouth with my hand.


    "Ha ha haaaa," he laughed so loudly and caught the attention of the rest of the class and now everyone was looking at me. I could feel the blush on my face getting worse so I layed my head on the desk and refused to look back up.


    "Mr. Reiner would you mind sharing what is so funny with the rest of the class ?" asked the teacher making him laugh even more. I pinch him from under the table to stop laughing but that only made it worse since he continued to laugh. The sound of his laughter sounded so good in my ears that it made me blush even more when I remembered the question he asked me. I wasn''t about that kiss before but I sure am thinking about it now. The fact that he took the initiative of reminding me about the kiss means that he also remembers it and maybe even liked it just like I did. Maybe he also can''t stop thinking about the kiss and that is why he brought it up.


    "Sir, you did say that we should compliment our neighbor but I think that you have to start the first lesson by teaching Brandon what a compliment is. Instead of complimenting me he made a joke instead, he is so funny." I looked up when I heard his reply to the teacher and glared but he simply gave me his sinister smile and winked at me.

 Chapter 12 - 12

    "Why did you do that ?" I asked Reiner once the class was over, " Why did you throw me under the bus like that. You could have gotten me in trouble with the teacher."


    "I am going to be late for class." he got up and walked away from me but I am not going to let him go today. He can''t keep on doing this to me, one minute he is friendly and sweet and the next he acts indifferent to me. I am not some toy for him to play with when he is in the mood and then throw away when he is tired. I ran after him and push his back against the wall and hold him in place.


    "I asked you a question. What were you trying to achieve by doing that."


    "Let me go Brandon, you are hurting me."


    "Not before you answer my question.. Tell me do you enjoy treating me like this."


    "Like what exactly ? I don''t understand what you are going on about right now. Will you just let me go or we both will get in trouble if we are late for class. It is the first day of school and it won''t look good if we start being late so let me go." he said as he pushed me but I refuse to bulge today so I held my ground and didn''t move.


    "I will only let you go after you give me answers to my question."


    "Then ask away quickly I don''t like being late for class." he said right before we both heard the bell ring indicating the start of the second lesson. "Now look what you have done." he added looking pissed at me. I didn''t mean to make us late or to hold him back but I need answers, I can''t just go with the flow when I don''t even know where the flow is leading me. I need to understand what is happened to me and that can only happen once he explains to me what it is that he has done to me. I am acting way out of my territory right now but what can I do when it is the only way for me to get the answers to all the things that are troubling me.


    If I don''t get the solution to my problem soon then the problem is going to get worse and then it will be too late. "So what did you want to ask me ?" I take his and pulled him to the back of the classroom and sat him down on the seat at the corner and sat down next to him. "You were not just planning for me to be late but also for me to miss the entire lesson."he asked and I sighed, it wasn''t my plan to do any of this but I also won''t get a chance like this again so I might as well just get it over with.


    "I want to talk to you and I wasn''t sure you would agree had I asked so I had to do this. It is the first day of school so they won''t teach much people would just introduce themselves again like they did earlier. You won''t miss much I promise but we need to talk."


    "Well since the teacher won''t allow me to enter the class this late I might as well listen to what you have to say but we can''t talk here. The hall monitor does tours around the empty classrooms after every lesson to make sure that no student is flunking lessons. If we stay here we will get in trouble so follow me." he walked out of the classroom and out of the building while I silently followed behind him. He brought me to garden and went into the greenhouse.


    "The gardener of the school doesn''t arrive until tomorrow so it should be safe to talk in here." he said turning around to look at me and leaned his back on the wall. I walked to an old wooden chair by the window and sat down. I played with my fingers and looked at anything but him, I was so nervous right now and sweat trickled down my forehead. "Did you ask me here just to keep you company or did you have something to say to me." he asked making my insides turn.


    I know what I want to say and the questions that I want to ask him but I can''t get the words out of my throat. I can''t bring myself to utter the words that I do much wanted to say to him no matter how hard I tried to. My palms were sweating and I was so afraid, afraid to say the things that were in my mind. It was just the first day of school and maybe all I need is some time and the problem might go away on its own and there will be no need to talk to him. I tried to talk to convince myself and talk myself out of having to speak to him. Maybe it was a bad idea for me to hold him back and insist on talking to him, it was nice to do that when I can''t even utter the words that I wanted to say.


    I have not just wasted my time but his too. It was very selfish of me to have done that to him and not say anything, now the impression that he has of me being a weird person will increase and he might never talk to me again after today. What am I going to do now and how do I begin to tell him everything. I am so nervous that I don''t trust my mouth to say anything sensible. This has never happened to me before, I am a celebrity for crying out loud and I am used to performing in front of millions of people then how come I can''t even speak to one boy. This is so not me at all, I always speak my mind when something is bothering me but today I am so anxious that I couldn''t speak all because of Reiner Devon.


    I don''t understand what is so special about him that he provokes so many new emotions in me. Before I met him I didn''t know what the word nervous meant but now I do and this just goes to show why we should talk. He is just a normal extraordinarily beautiful boy that I came across then why is he affecting me differently. It is irritating how before him I become so vulnerable and dependent on him and I just want for this to end. I want to be in control of my life and myself but that can only happen when he let''s me go from whatever he is doing to me.


    "I hate to interrupt your thoughts but can we rap this up and will you finally tell me what you wanted to say, you have kept me enough suspense already."he asked making me look at him and there he was writing in his book again. Seriously what does he write in that book that he won''t even take a break from it.


    "What do you keep writing on your book?" I unconsciously asked.


    "Is that what you wanted to ask me ?" he asked me in surprise.


    "No, I was just curious of what you keep writing in your book since this morning."


    "Oh! Well I have been doing this week''s English assignments."


    "What! but we haven''t been taught yet."


    "I like to be ahead of the teacher and if you don''t mind me asking, what exactly did you want to talk about."


    "I wanted to talk about us, I mean you and me...not necessarily you and me in the sense of you and me but like you and I." I said and he burst out laughing and I looked down out of embarrassment.


    "So what is it, do you want to talk about us or you and me or you and I." he asked in between his laughs and I glared at him which caused him to laugh some. ''Why does this always happen to me.'' I thought to myself.

 Chapter 13 - 13

    I always seem to embarrass myself around Reiner and he just laughs at me. He must be having fun as I suffer so much humiliation because of him. It is all his fault that I get confused and nervous when I am around him and only he should be blamed for this.


    I want to wipe that laugh from his face so badly but I don''t know what to do. Perhaps I can threaten him to stop laughing at me but what can I use to threaten him with. The kiss, I am sure that he is embarrassed of it so I will use this as my weapon to get him to fall in line once and for all. He won''t dare to mess with me ever again just you wait and watch.


    I gather enough courage and walk up to him, I take his pen and book away from him. I have put on the most serious face that I could master and to be honest I feel like laughing at how ridiculous this all seems but I have to appear threatening so I bite the inside of my mouth to avoid that from happening. I look straight into his eyes and speak the most authoritative voice that I could master. "Don''t you dare laugh anymore or else you will regret it."


    "Really," he says getting up from his seat and moves close to me.. "Or else what?" he asked with a blank face. I can''t tell if he is mad or not but one thing is for sure, I don''t think he likes being threatened.


    "Or else I will tell the whole school that you kissed me." I tell cause there is no way that I am backing away from him now. I can''t wait to see him beg me not to say anything to the school, I will definitely give him a hard time.


    He took hold of my hand and pulled me towards him and held me in place by my waist. My whole body became hot and my face flushed, I really need to but some self control in the mall because I clearly lack it. "Wh...what do you think you are doing?" I asked him and as always he ignored me.


    He blew hot air on my face making me blush even more and smiled as if enjoying some show. I try to stay serious but I can''t because of how close we are, my mind can only think naughty things about him. I can even say out loud what I think of him at this moment but this would be so much nicer if he didn''t have his clothes on. I am truly going to burn in hell for this as it is a sin to desire and by now it is already obvious to me that I want Reiner.


    I deny it to myself many times but the truth doesn''t change that I am attracted to a boy and it is so exciting. I don''t want him to ever let go of me, he should always hold on to me like this. I had held him back from attending his class so that he can give me an answer but now I see that I had all the answers with me all along and just denied it. "You want to tell the whole school that I kissed you but you are the one who stole a kiss from me. I will not let you accuse me of something that I haven''t done so I will kiss you so that when you tell the whole school I will actually be guilty." he said in a hoarse voice that sent me shivers.


    He held my jaw in his hand and seized my lips with his, I opened my mouth slightly giving him permission to deepen the kiss. He kisses me so passionately and explores every part of my mouth with his tongue. I get lost in the kiss and wrap my hands around him and pull him closer to me. He breaks the kiss and turned away from me. He went back to where he sat and sat down with his back towards me.


    ''Did I do something wrong? Did he not like the kiss? Am I a bad kisser or does my breath smell,'' were the questions that crisscrossed through my mind. He didn''t say anything and just continued to sit there in complete silence. I don''t know what I have done wrong and i don''t like to see him like this. He is not saying anything and it is making me worried that I might have made some mistake. I have no idea whether I should talk to him or give him his space. He seems to be thinking about something so it will be better if I don''t say anything and disturb him. I go back to the wooden chair and sit myself down, it was all going so well so what could have happened that ruined the moment.


    The pain that I always feel didn''t come today I just felt disappointed and hurt. Disappointed that he ended the kiss so soon and hurt that he has just up and gone silent and won''t say a word to me. Does he not know that his silence is killing me, he could at least tell me what the problem is as I might help him think of a solution.


    I have come to care for him a lot in two days and forget two days, I feel like I have known him for much longer than that. He is my savior who rescued me from the loneliness that was my life and gave my life a new meaning. Had I not met him at that cafe then my luck wouldn''t have changed for the better. He has given me a new purpose in life and that is to give him all the love that I can give and make him happy. If he let''s me then I will leave no stone unturned to please him and make him happy.


    If he is happy then even I will be happy so it will be a win-win situation for both of us. I am rich and famous but this is the first time that I am feeling so happy and complete and he is the reason for it. He is like the moon in my very dark night and I don''t want to loose him so if I have made a mistake then I will have to apologize for it and make him forgive me. I searched my pocket and found ten dollars and since I don''t have change it will have to do. I slowly walk up to him and put the ten dollar note in his sight. "This covers my dept and the remaining amount is for the future."


    He takes the note and stares at me confused. "You once told me that I would have to pay you a dollar for each time that I stared at you a little longer than usual. So this covers my depts for the times I stared in the past and for when I will do so in the future." I say in all seriousness.


    "I see, but what about for accusing me and wasting my time by bringing me here when you have nothing to say to me?" he asks and I search my pocket for more money but I couldn''t find any so I gave him my credit card and watched ad he looked surprised at my gold credit card.


    "You must be rich to own this," he says "don''t worry I will return this to you safe and sound at the end of the term." he added before going back to his writing.

 Chapter 14 - 14

    The week was coming to an end and learning has never been so much fun. Me and my friends have had such a fun experience in school and everyday is a new adventure. Today is friday and in BFBS tonight is a movie night. There are so many movies being watched today all of which are in different halls. The students get to pick which movie they want to watch, I don''t know which hall to go to.


    I am not much of a movie person and I don''t know how to pick a good movie. Charlie is into science fiction while Claire is a big romance fan, Ellie on the other hand prefers horror. The three of them have invited me to watch a movie of the three genres. I have been thinking about this the whole day but I can''t seem to decide which invitation I will honor. It will be dinner time soon and I will have to give my answer by then but I am still undecided.


    I am currently on my bed with my laptop, I have google the three movies but nothing about the three interests me. I close the site and open my chats, I have a lot of messages from my fan. I can''t believe how many they are.. I have tried my best to answer most of their questions and reply to their messages during the week but they are unending. My manager also replies to half of them but they just keep piling up. I open the global forum where my fans who are online are discussing what my next was going to be about. It is so nice that they are interested in my life and I love them so much.


    I open my private messages and there is alot from my mom and my manager but the one that catches my attention was #138.


    [ Hi ] #138


    It is from Dark and it is from a few minutes ago, he is online and I should probably talk to him.


    [ Hi too]


    I reply and wait for him to text back but he doesn''t. I checked the message from my mom and manager in the min time. My mom is still asking about Rock studios and I am sure that she wants to get my sister there so I ignore her. My manager wants to talk about my next song but I haven''t finished writing it yet so I text him that and go offline. I play subway surf on my phone while I think about what movie to watch.


    "Hey dude what movie are you planning to see tonight?" I heard Alex ask in a loud voice as he entered the dorm with Reiner and Chad. Alex is Reiner''s best friend and Chad just hungs out with them. They are one of the most popular boys in school, they play football and are good looking so they automatically become girl magnets. They have girls running over them in each corner of the school that they turn.


    "I don''t know yet and you ?" Chad answered him while Reiner just ignored him.


    "I don''t know either,I plan to go to the one most people are going to." he said and Chad nodded.


    Reiner climbs on top of his bed and sleeps. We haven''t really talked much since the day in the green house, he has his friends and I have mine. He does sports and I have clubs so our world are kind of distant from each other. We sit on the same desk during class but hardly ever get to talk, he sleeps in each of the classes and the teachers don''t complain since he is the only student ahead of the teacher in every subject. He has changed his sitting place at dinner so I don''t see him much then either and when he comes to the dorm he just goes straight to bed. I still feel that pain in my heart but it isn''t as strong as before.


    Sometimes it feels like he is ignoring me on purpose and that he doesn''t want to be around me. He doesn''t even take a minute to look at me and when our eyes do meet he looks away almost immediately. ''Is it that I like him and he is a boy is that the reason that he is disgusted by me.'' is the thought that runs through my mind each time I see him. Whatever the reason is one thing is for sure, he doesn''t like me. I go back to playing my game.


    It is dinner time now and I have not the answer as to which movie to. I will just watch horror then, I have never watched a horror movie before. I inform them of my decision and they all agreed to watch a horror movie together. It is decided that we will take turns watching movies from different genres every other movie night. We have our dinner very quickly and rush to get better seats in the hall. We ordered popcorn and milkshakes on our way in and sat at the third seats from the front. Everyone got in and the lights inside the hall were switched off and the movie began. It is a movie called ''Zombie flesh eater'' and just the name is giving me goosebumps and not the good kind.


    Halfway through the movie and I was already trembling in my seat. I regret wanting to watch this movie and I don''t think that I am going to be able to sleep tonight. I should have gone with romance, this is torture. I can''t look at the screen but I also can''t turn away, many screams can be heard each time a zombie eats someone. I for one can''t even find my voice to scream, the fear of the zombie hearing me and coming after me next is stopping me from screaming. Someone should turn the screen off right now, how do people watch such scary things.


    I grab the person next to me by the hand and hid in his shoulder. This movie should be banned and never be watched again and the script writer should be arrested for writing such a scary movie.I sneak a peek at the movie again and regret it because that is when the zombie is eating a young woman''s brains. I don''t think that I will ever be able to get that image out of my head. It will forever haunt me and give me nightmares. This is the last I am watching any horror movie, it was not made for my delicate heart.


    "If you keep holding my hand so tightly how am I going to eat my popcorn?" I heard a familiar voice say to me and I looked up to check if it was truly him. I can''t see much in this darkness but I am sure it was his voice. "Reiner is that you?" I asked for confirmation but there was no reply.


    "Why do you watch a horror movie if you are so easily scared? You know what don''t answer that and just tell me how long will you hold on to my hand." he asked " Forever." I answered.


    I have missed him so much and he doesn''t even understand how I feel. He seems oblivious to the fact that I have fallen in love with him, he is here right next to me. I won''t get a better chance than this to get close to him, if I let this chance go then he will ignore me again. I move closer to him and lay my head on his shoulder while drawing circles at the back of his hand. He doesn''t say anything and just watches the movie, he is very strange he acts like he doesn''t want me close to him but doesn''t stop me from being close to him.

 Chapter 15 - 15

    The movie played on but I paid no attention to it, I was overwhelmed with joy in body. I have not felt thing amazing feeling in her heart and body for a whole week and I missed it. I felt so empty while he was away but now it feels as though the part of me that was missing has returned. I wish the movie would go on forever so that I can have this moment last longer.


    A longing for Reiner was running through me and all I wanted to quench my thirst. I want him to be mine not just for this night but for the rest of our lives. The yanked my hand off but before I could complain about it the lights turned on and the movie ended. Everyone was leaving the hall discussing how the movie went. I tagged along with my friends but I kept looking back to catch a glimpse of him.


    He was with his friends as usual chatting happily while I was feeling so bad. I hurried to the dorm upset and climbed onto my bed to sleep, I had already taken a bath before dinner. I close my eyes to sleep, my thoughts kept wondering off to that moment in the movie hall. His hand was very warm and he made me feel safe, I was under the impression that I would not get to sleep tonight because of that terrifying movie.. But I won''t be able to sleep for an entirely different reason and that reason is Rain. That is the nickname that I call him with.


    "Hey Brandon, are you up?"I heard beside my bed and opened my eyes to check who it was. "Oh good that you are up. I have been sent with a message for you by Reiner. As tomorrow is a weekend he said that he will be going home to see his mother and won''t be here to help you with your math problems. He told me to inform you that he is waiting for you in the music and that you should hurry up." said a strange boy I have not seen before around the school.


    "Umm thanks," I reply awkwardly and get off my bed. I never asked Reiner for help with math, I am actually very good at that subject if I were to say so myself. I pick my mathematics book from my bag and ran out of the dorm towards the music room. There are security lights everywhere so the school looks so bright that one can hardly tell that it was night. I ran as fast as I can into the room and take a break only once inside.


    The room was dark hence I could not see anything, I walked to the door and traced the wall trying to find the light switch. I was about to turn it on but a stopped when someone embraced me from my back. I felt a rush of panic run through my body and I went stiff, I caught my breath. "Relax, it is just me." he whispered in my ear and my body did just that.


    "Let me turn on the lights first," I said and tried to move but he held me back. "I would prefer it if the lights remained off."


    "But how will we be able to study in the dark ?" I questioned and he started laughing. Here we go again, does he never get tired of laughing at me. I don''t even think that I said anything funny and yet he is laughing. "What is so funny that you always keep laughing at me ?"


    "Nothing, you just never seen to brighten up my mood. I didn''t call you here to study, you seemed very sad when the movie that I felt bad. So I called you here so that we can spend some time together but if you want to study we can do that too."


    I am glad that the lights are off so he can''t see how much I am blushing. I am grateful to him for doing this for me, I have been wishing for this for so long and now I get the chance to be with him. Just the two of us in this dark room. "So what do you want us to do then ?"he asked and I turned around to face him.


    I pulled him close to me and kissed the nape of his neck. "Wow, easy there. I didn''t co...," I interrupted whatever nonsense he was going to say by planting a kiss on his lips. I don''t want to talk and I could think of a lot of better ways he could use his than just talking. Our tongues played together but he soon took charge and started kissing me back. His kiss was hot and demanding that it brought me to my knees. He broke the kiss as we both panted for breath. I was not patient today so I did not wait until I calmed before I started tracing his jaw with kisses.


    My body was begging for his touch as the my desires flickered to life. I traced kisses down his kneck and sucked on his neck and he moaned. I wanted to feel his chest underneath my fingers so I reached out to remove his shirt but he stopped me. "Don''t, you are moving too fast."


    "Don''t you like it ?"I asked my voice breaking as I spoke.


    "I never said that. Look I just meant that you are moving too fast and that is all. If I didn''t like you would I be here with you when I could have been in my bed sleeping. I just think that it might not be good to rush everything, we should take it one step at a time. I don''t want you to have any regrets in the future."


    "I won''t regret it I promise."


    "You will say that now but in the future it might be different. This is new to you so you shouldn''t rush it, I think that we have done enough smooching for one night. Can we just have talk for now ?"


    "Sure."


    Talking is definitely not what I had in mind but he is right. I want to get to know him better too but I just can''t control my yearning around him. He also likes me and wants to be with me I think and in itself is the best news I have had all week. I feel butterflies in my stomach just thinking back to when he said those words.


    "What are thinking about, come over here and sit with me." he requested and I obeyed. Once seated I started playing with my fingers, I have no idea what I should say to him and I am very nervous. I have had plenty interviews as a singer on live TV and it wasn''t as nerve recking as this.


    "Where are you going tomorrow?" I asked as it was the only thing that came to my mind, i remembered that strange boy mentioning that he won''t be here tomorrow.


    "I am going to see my sister and help her out in the restaurant." he answered lazily.


    "You help raise money, is she in any type of problem?"


    "No, she owns the restaurant and I love playing waiter. I am also a good cook so I help her out when she is short of staff."


    "Nice, so your sister is rich then. I should probably meet her and get to know her," I teased and he grabbed my jaw with force making me wince in pain.


    "What do you mean by that Bran? I am saying this for your own good stay away from my sister," he said before letting me go. "Judging by how delicate you look, she will eat you up for dinner and throw you up at breakfast. She is the scariest person I have ever met." he added and trembled at the last sentence.

 Chapter 16 - 16

    Talking to Reiner and getting to him better was a good way to spend the night. It is the weekend today and I am heading out to meet my manager as I have to record my new song with Rock studios. Claire is going home to see her family while Charlie is visiting his grandma up state. Ellie doesn''t want to go home as she claims that she wants to catch up on next weeks assignment.


    BFBS allows students to go out of school on weekends to see their friends and family. Many have already left the school and others are still getting ready to leave. Very few people are actually remaining at school and Nicole one of the popular girls in school is planning to host a party. But with only the nerds being at school today the party might turn out to be a flop.


    I say goodbye to Ellie and the guys and I sit on the school bus which is going to drop everyone in town. From there we take our own transport home, we make small talk about how our weekend was going to be like. I can''t tell them that I am going to record my new song because nobody knows that I am a superstar so I just make something up.


    The bus arrives to town and everyone gets down, I try to call my driver to pick me up but he is not answering his phone. The others take a taxi and I am left with no means home. Due to how many students took a taxi in all different directions there were no more taxi''s around. I try to get a lift from the cars on the road but no one is stopping for me.


    It has been an hour and I still haven''t found a means to get home, I had this crazy idea that if I started walking then I will find help but that seems like a bad idea now. I have been walking for ages but no one will stop for me and I am already late for my meeting with the recording studio. I am going to grow old on this road if I keep walking like this, this is the longest I have ever had to walk in all my life and I am running out of air and energy to go on.


    My phone rings and I answer it. "Hello Brandon, where are you? You are late for the meeting and Rock studio is getting very angry. They want to hear the song right now, so if you could sing it through the phone it will be amazing. At least they will know that you do have a song." he said and hung up.


    I sat down under a big shade to rest. I open my phone to record the song but the battery died, I am bumped and I don''t know what to do. My phone is dead, I can''t find my way home and I am exhausted beyond all things. A truck stops in front of me and a man asks me if I need a ride. I put on my mask before I turn around and look at him. "Sure." I replied before getting into the truck.


    We drive for a while before we hit traffic near the highway, I am freaking out about my new song. If I don''t deliver the song in time I will lose my contract with Rock studios. I borrow the Chuck''s phone and try to get in contact with my manager but his phone is switched off. A text message notification enters the phone and I open it and read it,


    ''Come out of the truck and walk three cars ahead of you open the car door and get in now!''


    It must be a message for the truck driver, I should probably tell him about it. I am about to tell him about the message but another message enters the phone.


    ''And no this message is not for Chuck but for you. Now hurry up!!!''


    I give Chuck his phone back and rush out of the car to the one pointed out on the message. I get in the car and find it empty but there was a note the backseat. I opened the note which informed me that there was a set of changing clothes and Nobody''s mask on the front seat, I should wear it quickly. I put it on and a note falls off the the box,


    ''There is a microphone on the roof of their is a guitar at the backseat too and it is already connected to the speakers. There are people ready to record you so get out there and give them a concert of a lifetime.''


    I couldn''t believe my eyes, the answer to my problems found me and I didn''t even have to look for it. I do exactly what the note says and get on the roof with my ''Nobody''s'' outfit and get on top of the roof with a guitar. I test out the mic and it is working so I start to play the guitar and sing my song.


    Sing the song out loud ~


    And let yourself feel proud


    You only get a chance to live once


    so make sure that every shot you take counts


    take it one step at a time


    Cause nobody else gives a damn


    live life in your own terms


    and play the drums real loud ~


    I close my eyes and continue to sing the song, I get so lost in the music and keep playing wholeheartedly. This is a song that I wrote to tell myself to keep going when I was all alone. It a little sad but it speaks to my heart and I love it. The song is called ''Your own terms'' and it is one of last sad songs I might be releasing. After I met Reiner last week, I have been writting lyrics to this beautiful love song that I plan to sing for him.


    The song ends and I open my eyes and stop playing, the people start clapping and cheering for me to sing another song for them. It seems that everyone caught on traffic came out of their cars to watch my show. Every one of them were holding their phones towards me and recording my performance.


    "Hello everyone, it is your boy Nobody here and this song goes to all my fans out there who love and support me everyday. Peace out bye." I say and get down from roof and enter the car again. The traffic gets cleared and the car drives off and drops me off at Rock studios. The weird part is that I do not even know where that car came from or how it goes around without a driver. I feel so good after the concert, I had a chance to vent out all the frustrations in my heart. I feel more relieved and free.


    I walk in to the studio and walk into the lift and press the button for the top floor. I wait calmly as the lift goes up while music plays music. The music kept playing and then I heard my song playing on. I just played the song some moments ago and already it is gone viral. My phone rings and I answer it,


    "Hello," I greet once the phone is connected.


    "Hello Brandon, when I said sing a song on the phone I did not mean holding a concert at the highway. Either way you did great and everyone was impressed by you so good job. Your concert video has gone viral and it has millions of downloads. You have made me proud and Nobody is the talk of the town, everyone is talking about how the concert was out of your usual routine and they are anticipating the big reveal." he said and I was confused.


    "Big reveal?"


    "Yes, they think that you are going to reveal your identity soon."


    "I am sorry to disappoint them but that won''t happen anytime soon."

 Chapter 17 - 17

    I am in my room back at home watching anime. I still can''t get the events of this morning out of my head. The man on the phone who helped me was constantly on my mind. I was not aware of there identity and it puzzled me. The man knew to call Chuck when I was in the car and even had everything ready for me to have a concert. It was as though they were waiting for me to come and perform.


    For the person to have done this then they must know exactly who I am. They must know that I am ''Nobody'' and that I am a celebrity. But how could they have figured out that I am ''Nobody'' and why haven''t they gone to the public with the news. Questions of the mysterious man on the phone filled my mind and it distracted me from seeing where the anime was going to.


    I closed my laptop and decided to get some rest but all I could think was that voice. I tried to sleep again but the door opened revealing my mother who looked furious for some reason. I sit up and watch her come in and sit on the bed..


    "Brandon, we need to talk," she said and I sat upright to be more attentive. "I am not going to beat around the bush so here it goes. I wanted to have a meeting with the CEO of Rock studios for your sister but as you know he is not an easy man to meet. That is why I want you to help me with it." she said and I can''t say that I am surprised by her request. I just didn''t expect her to be so upfront about her request.


    "Sure, we can meet him tomorrow." I say not really sure if I can get the CEO of the biggest music company in the entertainment industry in the country to talk to me let alone her.


    "Thank you," she said and I nodded in response before she up and left. I just have to figure out how to get the CEO of Rock studios to meet me tomorrow. I am a celebrity but even I am not that powerful that I can get such a powerful man to meet me whenever I want. I guess I will have to get some rest later, I get up from the bed and get my phone that was charging before I head out.


    There has been one place that I have been meaning to go to since morning and now is a better time than any to go and see him. I drive my Ferrari out of the compound and to the cafe, I park the car real quick before I rush into the cafe. I know that I saw him this morning but I have this feeling in my heart like I haven''t met him in forever. I am very eager to see him.


    My heart starts beating very quickly and my insides were doing flips. I bumped into someone on my way in and dropped my phone. I bent down and picked it up in a hurry and apologized to him before going in. I took a seat at the same place I did the last time, my eyes wondered around the room trying to find him. My eyes spotted him and my heart almost jumped out of my chest at how beautiful he looks. It is just like the first time we met, he is absolutely gorgeous.


    "If you keep staring at me like that I will have to increase my fees," I heard and looked beside me where he was sitting calmly. "Ahh!" I jumped with freight.


    "How did you get here?" I asked him and he raised his eyebrows to the question. "I flew in a plane, didn''t you see it. I parked it on the table." he said and started laughing while I glared at him.


    "What will you have?" he asked.


    "I will have chocolate milk and a slice of strawberry shortcake. Don''t forget to add some manners to the waiter while you are at it," I say.


    He walks away and I smile, I won the battle against him today and from today I will make sure that I have the last word. I search online for the man with whom I have to find a way to meet by tomorrow. He is a ghost as I can''t find a single thing about him online. ''Why did I agree to my mother''s request?'' I asked myself as I kept searching for information about mr. D. I thought that I was mysterious and secretive but I have met my match.


    "How is it possible that is no news of such a rich man in the media or anywhere else?" I asked irritated that I dug myself a grave that I am not ready or prepared to lie in it.


    "Who are you looking for?" asked Reiner who had returned with my order.


    "I am looking for the owner of Rock studios online but there is nothing about him on here. Even google does not have any news about him and it is supposed to be a genius." I answer him.


    "Have your food and tell me what you think of it."


    I put down my phone and dig into the food. "It is delicious just like you,"


    "What!"


    "I said that it is delicious just like honey," I lied through my teeth but there was no way that I would repeat what I just said. I am glad that he didn''t hear me or he would have teased me none stop about it and I am in no mood for that. I eat the food slowly while savoring the taste in my tongue. The food is so good, he is such an amazing cook. That or the fact that I like cake so much so I find it even more tasty.


    I can''t go long without cake, I can eat it for an entire week and still feel like I haven''t had enough of it. I have a sweet tooth and cake is my weaknesses and the fact that he knows how to bake makes me like him even more.


    "That reminds me, I have been meaning to ask you something." I say and he looks at me. "What are we to each other?"


    He looks at me and digs into my food which is rude but I have more important things to worry about that my cake right now. I am nervous at the answer that he will give me after all he might reject me, he did mention that he liked what it was that was going on between us but that doesn''t mean that he would want to give it a name. Once we give a name to our relationship then it becomes official and we will both have to commit and I don''t know if he is willing to do that.


    We have known each other for a week and maybe it was too soon for me to ask him that but I am restless. And if I let it be then he might find someone else, he is so beautiful that both boys and girls would fight just to have him. So it is important that I make my move before it is too late and I regret it.


    "What do you want us to be to each other?" he asks.


    "It''s not good to answer a question with another question." I say. "But seriously answer me." I tell him in a serious tone. Only goodness knows how waiting for him is killing me and he is sure taking his time to answer a simple question.


    "I also want you to tell me what you want us to be to each other, so when you tell me that I will tell you my answer."


    "Okay, I want us to be lo....lo....lo..." I tried to tell him that I wanted him us to be lovers but the word would come out of my mouth and the funny thing about this is that he starts laughing at me like always. I go back to eating my food and ignore him.

 Chapter 18 - 18

    The day has been interesting but it was soon coming to an end. I neither wanted nor did I want to part ways with him. I just want to spend the rest of my life with him but I doubt that it will ever happen. Reiner is good-looking, he is sweet and smart there was no way he would want to be with someone like me.


    I walked back home feeling down, I know that I have only met him and known him for a week but I feel like he is the one. I have never felt what I feel for him for anyone else in my life. My life only started to have meaning and be bearable when he came into it and if he ever leaves then my life would end. He might know it but he is my savior and my hero. I go to the park and sit on the swings thinking about how my life has changed since my birthday last week.


    I can''t imagine what my life would be like if I had never into that cafe on that very day. I need him in my life to keep going, I am afraid of what might happen to me if he leaves me. My heart constricts in my chest just thinking about it. It is unbelievable how my life is holding on to one single person..


    "It is not a good habit to sit alone, " I heard on the swing next to mine and checked to see who it was. I came face to face with a handsome teenager who looked no older than me.


    "What!" I asked surprised that he talked to me.


    "Nothing, I am Zane and you?" he asked me.


    "Do you introduce yourself to everyone you meet?"


    "Only to handsome loners," he said and I looked forward. ''Did he just call me handsome I thought? " Well, are you going to tell me what your name is or not?"


    "I don''t introduce myself to strangers," I reply going back to what I was thinking about before he came and interrupted me.


    "Well if you tell me your name we won''t be strangers anymore," he said and I ignored him.


    "What will it take for you to tell me your name," he asked and I glared at him, I am thinking about something so important and he keeps interrupting my train of thoughts.


    "I won''t stop asking until you tell me," he said making me irritated.


    "Brandon," I said and pushed myself forward.


    "That is a very beautiful name you got there," he said and I stopped the swing and gazed at him.


    "Are you flirting with me?" I asked him. I don''t think it is normal for a guy to tell another guy that their name is beautiful.


    "What do you think?" he asked standing up and walking in front of and holding both ends of my swing. I tried to get to leave but he held me in place. " What happened do I make you nervous?"


    "A bit yes, can you move?" I asked him but he didn''t react and stayed put.


    "My gay radar is telling me that you Brandon are gay. Am I right?" he asked leaning in and I swallowed a lump in my throat.


    "N..no I a..am not," I said nervously.


    "Has anyone ever told you that you look cute when you lie? I think that you are or maybe you are just in denial," he said inches away from me. I could feel his hot breath on my skin as he spoke.


    "Let me go,"


    "But we are just getting to know each other. Tell me why do you want to leave are you somewhere?" he asked.


    "Let me go or I am going to scream," I said and he smiled. He removed his hands and I got up and walked away.


    "Brandon wait," he said and I stopped and turned around. He pulled me by my right hand and before I knew it he was kissing me. I froze and was confused about what to do, he wrapped his arms around my waist and deepened the kiss. I got my composer and broke the kiss and furiously glared daggers at him.


    "I have kept my number in your pocket do call me," he said and I just wanted to punch that smile off his face. How dare he smile at me after taking advantage of me, I turn around to leave and froze once again. Because right there in front of me was Reiner with my phone in his hand. He looked at me with an expressionless face.


    "You forgot your phone at the cafe, I came here to bring it back. I didn''t mean to interrupt anything," he handed me the phone and walked away. I was helpless on what to do, I want to run after him but I don''t know what I should even say to him. My heart shattered into a million pieces and I remained standing there like a statue.


    "Are you okay?" I heard Zane''s voice behind me but I couldn''t say anything to him. My heart was burning with rage, he had come out of nowhere and ruined everything for me. I was finally happy after so long and he had to show up and destroy everything. My heart started hurting so much, I dropped to the ground. The tears were flowing freely from my eyes.


    " What happened Brandon? Why are you crying?" he kept asking and my heart kept boiling with resentment. He helped me up and sat me down at the bench and sat down next to me. I couldn''t stop crying when I thought of Reiner witnessing that kiss. He must hate me right now after what he saw, what must he think of me right now.


    "Look I didn''t mean to offend you okay. If I upset you with that kiss then please forgive me," he said.


    " Brandon what is the matter, I apologize for what I did okay don''t cry. I didn''t know that you were so sensitive please I am so sorry," he continued to apologize.


    I didn''t want to hear his apology, I wanted to turn back the time and stop myself from ever walking into this park. I want to go make and make sure that he had not kissed me and Reiner had not watched everything. I got up and started running towards the cafe, I have to talk to him and explain what happened. I can''t let him think that I cheated on him, he must understand that I am not that kind of person and that I only want him.


    I ran as fast as my legs could carry me until I reached the cafe, I saw him outside talking on his phone. When he saw me he turned and started walking away, I rush over to him and pull him away to the back of the building.


    "Re...Reiner we..we need to talk," I said trying to catch my breath.


    " What is there to talk about? I am busy as I have to get back to work," he said and tried to leave but I blocked his path.


    "I won''t take much of your time, I just want to explain to you what happened at the park," I said in one breath.


    " There is nothing to explain, I think what I saw needs no explanation."


    "But you don''t understand," I said trying to explain to him.


    " There is nothing that I didn''t understand. What do you want to explain to me huh! What the kiss tastes like," he asked in fury.


    "No, I don''t want to say that. I want to say..." I tried to say but he walked away. " Reiner please listen to me," I pleaded but he kept walking. My mind was in complete chaos and I didn''t know what was happening. All I knew is that I had to stop him from leaving. I stopped him and did the only thing my mind could think of, I kissed him. He pushed me away.


    " How dare you kiss me after kissing that boy. I am warning you Brandon if you ever kiss me again or try to come close to me I will make you rue that very day for the rest of your life," he said in a cold threatening voice that made me tremble. He walked away and left and I couldn''t do anything about it.

 Chapter 19 - 19

    I laid down on the ground staring at the blue sky, this was not how this day was to end. I had not expected everything with Reiner to end so suddenly and I also didn''t expect my heart to be in so much pain today. It was much worse pain than the ones I had in the past.


    " I am so sorry Brandon, I had no idea that you had a boyfriend. I didn''t know anything about you and it was wrong of me to just kiss you like that. It is my fault that things turned out the way they did. Please will you ever forgive me," he said and just then I realized that he must have followed me from the park and saw the fight. I wiped my tears and got up, I walk away from him.


    I just want to get home and sleep forever, I don''t ever want to wake to my current reality. I stumbled as I walked but I kept walking, I don''t want to pass in front of the cafe so I decided to cross the road and walk on the other side. I clumsily tried to cross the road, I couldn''t see the road properly with the tears that clouded my visage. I was pushed out of the road and I rolled to the side with someone..


    I cleared my eyes and saw Zane laying on top of me."Are you out of your mind? You could have been run over by a car right now, what were you thinking crossing the road without looking both ways," he scolded.


    He got up and I got up too but slid down and he caught me before I could reach the ground. He pulled me up and I landed on his chest. I hugged him and cried, my heart was in so much pain, and more than anything I need a shoulder to lean on. Reiner''s threat kept replaying in my mind making it difficult for me to breathe. I glanced up and saw Reiner by the window looking at us. I quickly let go of Zane and wiped my tears away. He stepped away from the window and disappeared.


    "We should leave, standing here is not going to make him come out," he said and I nodded. He took my hand and led me away. My eyes kept glancing back at the cafe hoping he would come out.


    He took me to an ice cream shop and we sat opposite each other. " What will you have?¡± he asked but I couldn''t find the voice to reply to him.


    "We will have chocolate milkshakes with a slice of chocolate cheesecake," he said to the waiter who had come to take our order. Today reminded me of my birthday, I cried in a shop just like I am doing now. That day a beautiful boy sat across from me but today a handsome boy is, on that day I had chocolate cake bust like the one in front of me. More tears fell from my eyes when I remembered the day that we met. My luck started changing only that day after I met him.


    "What''s wrong? Don''t you like chocolate-flavored cake? I can order a different flavor for you if that is the case," he said.


    I tasted the cake out of curiosity but it tasted nothing like the cake he made me. The food was tasteless and I couldn''t bear to eat it, I pushed the plate away and lay my head on the table, and cried. I couldn''t contain my feelings anymore.


    "I can''t say that I know what you are going through since I have never been heartbroken before but I do sincerely apologize for my part in your heartbreak," he mumbled, and the more he spoke the more I cried. I don''t even know why I am here with him or why I keep listening to him. Maybe I just don''t want to be alone with my emotions right now and I just want to have some company.


    Going home will only make my pain worse, for one no one there cares whether I live or die so why would they be concerned about my heartbreak. I don''t even know how they will react when they find out that I am attracted to boys and not girls. "I think that they will disown me," I thought.


    "Who will disown you?" Zane asked making me aware that I heard said that statement out loud. I didn''t bother to reply cause quite frankly he is to blame for the state that I am in and I don''t want to talk to him. My family can disown me for all I care, it won''t make a difference to me anyway. They have always been like strangers to me so their opinions don''t matter but his does. I can''t deal with him being upset with me, my heart won''t be able to handle it. I close my tired eyes and fall asleep.


    ******


    "For how long will he continue to sleep?" Zane asked no one in particular. He got up from his seat and tried to wake Brandon up. He shook him and called out to him but he didn''t respond, the more he tried to wake him the more attention he attracted. The other customers got worried and came to see what was wrong. Among them was a doctor who checked on him.


    "We have to get him to the hospital, he is unconscious and his body is burning up," he said to Zane.


    They quickly called a taxi and they drove him to the hospital. The doctors at the hospital took him and attended to him. " We have conducted some tests on him and we can''t seem to find what the problem is. He seems fine or at least that is what the tests are saying but he has an irregular heartbeat unlike anything I have seen before," the doctor told Zane when he came out of the room.


    "What do you mean irregular heartbeat? Does he have a heart problem?" Zane asked the doctor getting worried.


    "From the test, we did it doesn''t look like he has a heart problem. That is why we are finding it difficult to identify what the problem is. You see it is due to this that he has become I''ll but we haven''t seen anything like it so I don''t know where to start the treatment," he said with a look of disappointment. He wanted to conduct tests on him to find out what was causing his condition but couldn''t unless the family permits him.


    The rest of the day the doctors kept coming in and out of the room doing their best to stabilize his heartbeat. Twice he had come close to death, the doctors were trying everything to help him. Zane had already paid the hospital bill and he now sat down next to him on the bed. He was watching him like a hawk to ensure that if anything happens he can call the doctor immediately. He had never known Brandon to have a heart condition despite knowing everything about him.


    He prayed that nothing bad should happen to him, he had finally returned to him after many years he couldn''t lose him now. He held his hand and begged him to wake up, he could not live without him but he didn''t react to anything he said. Just then Brandon''s phone rung and he let go of his hand. He went to the table and picked up the phone.


    "Reiner, why would he be calling?" he asked before answering the call.


    "You left your math book with me, come pick it up. I have left it with my sister," said Reiner on the other end of the call.


    "This is not Brandon, I am Zane," he said.


    "Oh, then tell your boyfriend to pick up his book from my sister at the cafe," he said coldly, colder than when he spoke earlier. Zane could feel that he was upset and wanted to clear the confusion for Brandon''s sake.


    "I am not his boyfriend and he can''t come to pick up the book..." he couldn''t finish his statement since Reiner interrupted him.


    "Why is he too busy making out with you to do that," he asked angrily.


    "No, you are misunderstanding me," he said.


    " I am sure I have," Reiner replied sarcastically before hanging up the phone.

 Chapter 20 - 20

    Reiner''s p.o.v


    "There is a limit to everything including shamelessness and Brandon has crossed all his limits," he whispered after getting off the phone.


    "What was that?" his sister asked him.


    "Nothing, I was just thinking about school work," he said and resumed cooking. His phone vibrated and he received a message, he picked up his phone to check the message. When he saw it was from Brandon''s phone he switched off his phone.


    He made a lot of mess at work since he couldn''t think properly, he kept thinking about Brandon kissing that boy at the park. His mind was occupied with such thoughts and it made him angry. "He claimed that it wasn''t what I thought and then he goes and embraces him in front of me," he mumbled angrily..


    He imagined in his head what they must have been doing at that very moment and shook his head. A tear fell from his eyes and he wiped it as quickly as it came. He was not going to break down or cry for someone like Brandon, he didn''t deserve his tears of feelings. He hit his hand on the wall and reprimanded himself for developing feelings for him. His hand hurt but not as much as his heart.


    He took his backpack and left the cafe in a hurry, his driver saw him leave and parked in front of the cafe. Reiner got in the car and the driver drove off, they arrived home and he rushed into the house. He went straight to his room and went to bed, he broke into tears on his pillow. He didn''t want anyone to hear him sobbing so he did it silently. He remembered the first day he met him at the cafe and how cute he looked with the way he behaved. He wanted to smile at that memory but another memory played out in his eyes, one which he witnessed not long ago.


    He had been a fool and opened up to someone who was only playing with his emotions. He had opened his heart to someone for the first time since she left and it didn''t take long for him to be disappointed. He looked and acted so innocent that no one would have imagined that he would be a two-faced snake. On one hand, he was putting on an act to get close to him and on the other hand, he had another boy. He was cheating on him. "But how can he cheat on me if we weren''t even in a relationship?" he asked himself.


    He covered himself with the blanket. He had enough of people using him and he was going to make sure that it never happens again.


    "Son are you okay?" asked his dad who was in the living room when he arrived and saw him rush to his room. He was worried that someone had upset him so he asked.


    "Dad, I have a favor to ask you," he said from under the covers.


    "Tell me,"


    "I want to continue my education away from here," he said which confused his father.


    "What do you mean son?" he asked.


    "I don''t want to be here anymore. Everything here reminds me of her and I can''t take it anymore," he replied.


    "Okay then I will book your flight tomorrow and get everything done in the meantime," he said to his understanding why he was upset.


    " Not tomorrow, I want it done by tonight. I want to leave today," he demanded.


    " Alright, I will get everything ready," he said and left the room to go attend to his son''s requested.


    Reiner laid in his bed facing the roof thinking about Brandon and all those times they spent together. Though short they made beautiful memories that were ruined by that scene at the park. He never wanted to see the weird boy ever again after what he did. He got up and started packing up his things. He had many plans to spend more time with the boy all through the year in school but now none of that would ever be possible.


    The butler helped him load his things and he got in and left for the airport. His driver watched him from the review mirror and sighed. His dad had said that he was leaving because he can''t bear the thought of her but he knew the truth. He knew the reason that his junior boss was leaving after all he was his driver and bodyguard so he kept up with everything Reiner did. He had seen him getting close to that boy and he also witnessed the scene at the park. He believed that there was some kind of misunderstanding, he didn''t think Brandon was one to play with Reiner''s feelings. He just wished that Reiner would have given him a chance to explain.


    He took out his phone and texted Brandon''s number, [ Reiner is leaving the country if u want to save your relationship then come to the airport and clear things up with him before it is too late]


    He hit send and relaxed in his seat, he had worked for the Devon family for years''s so he knew that it wasn''t easy for Reiner to open up to anyone. He wasn''t just going to sit around and watch him lose something special because of a misunderstanding. They arrived at the airport and sat down at the waiting area waiting for their plane to leave. They sat and waited to board, Reiner, put his earplugs on, and listened to music. His driver on the other hand kept checking the door waiting for Brandon to come.


    The boarding time arrived and they boarded the plane, Brandon never showed up which disappointed the driver. " Maybe he wasn''t who he thought he was," he said and buckled his seatbelt and tried to get some rest. Reiner sat next to the window and also decided to sleep. He closed his eyes but the memory of the scene in the park wouldn''t leave him alone. Tears flowed from his closed eyes but he was too tired to wipe them and let them be. He soon drifted off to slumber. The driver Mike wiped his tears for him before going to sleep too.


    ******


    At the hospital, Zane saw a notification for a message on Brandon''s but did not open it. He didn''t want to intrude on his privacy. Brandon''s heart started beating normally again after some hours and he woke up.


    "Reiner," was the first thing that came out of his mouth when he woke up. He got up from the bed and found Zane there looking at him. "What happened?" he asked him confuse as to why he was in the hospital.


    "It''s a long story. All that matters is that you are alright now," he said. Brandon''s phone vibrated and he picked it up and read the message from an unknown number.


    [ You lost your chance and now you have lost him forever ]


    He didn''t understand what the message was and scrolled up and saw the first message. His heart dropped when he read the message, he read the message over and over again trying to make sense of it. He wanted the message to change or for someone to tell him that it was a joke. Reiner had left the country forever, he had left him forever. He dropped the phone on the bed and his mind went blank and he became numb. His whole world had come crashing down on him one disappointment after another today. He was on edge of losing it.


    "What happened to you?" asked Zane who picked up his phone and read the messages. The guilt he was feeling earlier multiplied a million times, he was the reason that Brandon''s boyfriend left him. He had to help him get his boyfriend back.

 Chapter 21 - 21

    Brandon went to the cafe very early in the morning, his whole world had crashed down and he hoped his memories would fix at least a little bit of it. He sat in the same seat as before and weirdly enough he could still smell his scent in the seat. He lay back with his eyes closed and imagined that he sat next to his beautiful boy leaning on his shoulder. And inhaling that addictive cologne of his.


    He sat there for hours not moving and not ordering anything. One of the waiters who saw him called the boss to have a look because he was afraid that something bad had happened to him. " Get me a cup of green tea and a slice of the freshly baked chocolate cake," she said and waited for the order. The waiter came back a minute later with the order. She took it from him and walked towards Brandon''s seat.


    "Your order has arrived," she said and sat down. "I didn''t order anything," he replied without opening his eyes.


    "I know, I ordered it for you.. So have it before it gets cold," she said to him but he didn''t move an inch. " You will like I promise and you have been seating here since morning you must be hungry," she added.


    "I don''t want anything but thank you," he stated.


    "Rude and polite at the same time, have it quickly before it gets cold. You will like it and I will leave you alone," she said and he opened his eyes. He sat up straight and looked at the dish and it was exactly like the one he offered him on his birthday. He picked up the fork and took a piece of the cake and ate it, even the taste was the same. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling he got when he ate the cake, it brought him warmth.


    " I told you that you will love it," she grinned.


    "It is good now leave," he said straightforward. " Not until we talk,"


    "We have nothing to talk about," he said and she shook her head.


    "My name is Rocky and I am Reiner''s sister," she introduced herself and he was beyond surprised.


    "Brandon," he did the same while dining on his food.


    "Are you friends with my brother?" she asked and he thought about it before shaking his head in refusal. "So you are not friends then what relationship do you share?" she asked and he speechless on what to tell her. Their relationship had no name that is they were even in a relationship. He looked down embarrassed to meet her eyes.


    "It''s okay, I understand," she said making him look up wondering what she meant by that.


    "Look I am older so I don''t need a definite answer to read between the lines."


    "What lines are you talking about. Your brother and I go to the same school that''s it," he explained.


    "So that''s it, nothing else?" she inquired and he nodded.


    " We are school mates and we seat next to each other and sleep next to each other. I mean our beds are next to each other not that we sleep next to each other on the same bed," he said and ate another piece of cake.


    "I am sure that is true. Not like you would ever want to sleep on the same bed with him right?" she asked and he agreed.


    "But his bed is big enough for both of you to sleep in comfortably," she said and he spits the tea in his mouth.


    "What do you mean by that," he asked her feeling nervously.


    "Exactly what you were thinking," she replied digging into his cake with his fork.


    "Well I wasn''t thinking about anything," he said to her. "Same here," she replied.


    "But in all honesty, I know that there is more between that meets the eye. I don''t mean to embarrass you but you are kind of obvious. It won''t take a genius to see that you have feelings for him," she said and paused taking a sip of his tea.


    "I can also tell that you are mean something important to my brother, my staff have reported seeing him hold a conversation with you and I witnessed it myself yesterday. He likes you, I wasn''t sure if it was as a friend or more until we spoke just now. I don''t mind if he is with a boy or a girl I just want to see him happy and he was yesterday when he was speaking to you."


    "You are mistaken there is nothing like that going on between us," he stated.


    "It is easier to deny something with your mind but your heart will never lie. And our faces most often display what we feel and not what we think. You are saying that nothing is going on between you but the pain in your eyes says otherwise. It is clear that you both share some connection, you are in love with him and he loved you," she said and he disagreed.


    "He doesn''t love me and it is nothing like that. We don''t have anything between us," he said looking down.


    "You can cry if you want, don''t hide your tears. And let make one thing clear to you, a relationship doesn''t need a name to exist. Some unspoken relationships don''t have a name and even more successful. What matters is that you both feel the same way and that is the most important thing in any relationship," she advised him.


    "But he doesn''t feel anything for me," he said in tears.


    "Do you believe that or are you trying to comfort your broken heart. You can tell yourself that but you won''t believe it because it isn''t true. To tell you the truth my brother is not the easiest person to get along with and he doesn''t like people in general. The fact that he takes his time to sit and talk to you means you hold a special place in his heart. You both are young and are bound to take things lightly but it isn''t right. I want to see him happy and that means that I have to fix the issue between the two of you," she said.


    "But it''s too late he already left the country," he said trying to compose himself.


    " How do you know about that? Never mind just tell me what happened between the two of you?" she asked and he looked away in shame. "I can''t help you if you don''t tell me," she urged.


    "He might have seen me kissing someone else," he said in a soft almost non-existing voice.


    "Might or did?" she asked.


    "Did but I swear it wasn''t on purpose. Zane kissed me and I pulled back, I never wanted to kiss him I swear," he explained in tears. The thought of yesterday''s event stung him deeply.


    "You don''t have to feel so guilty it happens. Anyway I understand why he was crying, it must have hurt him to see that but you need not worry I already got him to come back, he is the one who baked that cake. I am his boss so he listened to me and came back despite being against the idea. I don''t want him to run away from his problems nor do I want him to regret losing later. I just want you to promise me that you won''t make me regret my decision," she said in a more serious tone.


    "I promise I won''t make that mistake again," he said feeling happy that he still has a chance to be with Reiner.


    "Then come with me," she said and walked away with Brandon following behind her. They went up the stairs and took a few turns before she stopped in front of the last door in the corridor. "He is inside, good luck," she said and left.

 Chapter 22 - 22

    Brandon was so nervous about going inside and meeting him again, his heart was racing in his chest. He gathered himself and pushed open the door, he went inside the room where Reiner was busy writing in his book.


    "I told that I didn''t want to be disturbed Rocky," he said.


    "It''s not Rocky, it''s me, Brandon," Brando said nervously he had no clue how Reiner was going to react with him being there. He just hoped he would get a chance to explain everything and that he understands that he didn''t do anything intentionally. Reiner got up from his seat and turned around, he didn''t look angry or sad. There wasn''t any emotion displayed on his face at all, he just stood there and did nothing..


    "What do you want?" he asked in a polite voice that surprised Brandon. He had expected him to get angry and yell or scold him for what happened.


    "I wanted to talk to you and explain everything that happened. I also need to apologize for all the pain and hurt that I have caused you," he said and he was offered a seat. "Sit down and say what you need to say,"


    "The boy you saw me with at the park, Zane. I don''t know much about him and I met him that day at the park. He was the one who kissed me and I didn''t even know he was going to do that. I am sorry please forgive me," he pleaded on his knees and asked for forgiveness.


    "I forgive you," he said and it made Brandon happy that he was forgiven. He got up to his feet and gave Reiner a big tight hug. "Thank you so much for understanding," Brandon said when he ended the hug.


    "Anything else I need to get back to my studies?" Reiner asked him.


    "There is one thing, can you have coffee with me. I know it is not the right time but can we have our first date?" he asked feeling his cheeks turning a shade of red.


    "Dates are for those who are dating and the last I checked we weren''t dating," said Reiner in response to his request.


    "I know that we aren''t official yet but we don''t a name to define our relationship. I care about you a lot and I know you feel the same way about me so it okay for us to go out. But if it helps the will you be my boyfriend?" he asked proposing to Reiner who didn''t let out any emotions.


    "No, I don''t want to be your boyfriend or go out with you. You came here to explain and I listened, you wanted forgiveness and I gave it to you but I can''t grant your final request. If that is all then I have work you can find your way out," he said pointing at the door.


    "Reiner, are you still upset with me. I have told you everything that happened please don''t be angry with me," he begged his voice breaking.


    "And I heard all that you had to say and already forgave you too. You see the of us have never shared a relationship so what you do with other people is none of my business. I am not upset at what happened but at my stupidity of letting your little games work on me. I promise that it will never happen again, if you won''t then I will," he said and gathered his things and left the room.


    Brandon dropped to the floor, he had lost the little energy he had left. The hope that he had that thing could work out shattered and he broke along with the pieces. He didn''t feel like moving or continuing to live in a world where everything he loves finds a way to leave him. He wanted to cry but no tears came out so he just sat there doing nothing. He stared into nothing for a long time until Rocky came to check on him. She could that things didn''t go so well with their talk.


    "What happened?" she asked him getting on the floor to the seat next to him.


    "Nothing, we talked and he forgave me," he said to her. "That is a good thing then why are you sitting here like this?" she asked confused.


    "Just taking a break from everything. A lot has happened recently and I just felt like resting for a while," he said offering her a smile. Rocky had to get back to work so she left him there and went down to the cafe.


    Brandon didn''t move from his position for a long time. Only one thought ran through his mind and that was that he had lost Reiner forever. He got on his feet and left the cafe, he took a taxi back to school.


    *****


    Reiner watched Brandon from his room through the monitor and even watched him leave. "He didn''t even come after me or even cry that I don''t want to be with him. He doesn''t care about me at all, he was just toying with me," he mumbled to himself and folded his hand into a fist.


    He threw everything around and destroyed the room in anger. He hit the wall with his fist and cried due to the pain in his heart. He got a first aid kit and tended to his wounds bitterly thinking about Brandon and Zane. ''He says that he didn''t know him and yet they spent the whole of yesterday together and he even let that Zane answer his phone when he knew it was I who was calling'' he thought.


    He felt sad that he had misunderstood the person behind those lonely tears and kind smiles. "How could a person like him be lonely when he has so many people to play with. Everything he said and did was all a lie and made up just to trap me and like a fool, I fell for it and I even developed feelings for him," he scolded himself as he bandaged his hand.


    *****


    Zane was troubled about his feelings for Brandon but he knew that Brandon was in love with someone else. He wanted Brandon to be happy even if it was with someone else. Since it was his fault that Reiner misunderstood Brandon and broke up with him. He made a vow to help the two get back together.


    He made a few phone calls and got himself admitted to BFBS. He would leave first thing in the morning for school, when he spends so much time with them at the school he would be able to get the two to patch things up and be together again and maybe even find someone for himself while he was there. He made up his mind and started packing his things for school, it was sure going to be a good surprise for Brandon when he shows up at school tomorrow.


    He couldn''t wait for all the things that they would get to do together on their journey to becoming good friends. He even thought of how fun it would be to tell him that he was Aston Dark and that he knows that he is Nobody. They would work together and become even more famous.

 Chapter 23 - 23

    Brandon had been keeping to himself since he returned to school. He didn''t feel like talking to anyone and his friends were getting worried. He kept his head and avoided everyone at school, his eyes only looked up every once in a while to stare at a certain beautiful boy. Reiner had left his sleeping place and moved to the other side of the dorm. He had also switched to advance classes so they were not in the same class anymore.


    He made sure that Brandon understood that he wanted nothing to do with him. Brandon felt the void in his heart grow bigger and bigger by the day but didn''t say anything. He was slowly losing himself to the pain but didn''t bother to get help from the school therapist. He remained silent and endured everything.. The pain he felt was nothing like he had ever felt before and he didn''t know what to do about it. He had been sent to the nurse''s office many times after he passed out but they couldn''t figure out what was wrong with him.


    He had heart attacks every other day but no one knew the cause of it. He also didn''t say anything when he was questioned, he remained quiet and went on with his life. He wished his heart would stop beating and save him from the pain that he has to endure every moment of every day. He had forgotten how to smile or how to do anything at all, he became lifeless and worked like a robot without any emotions. His parents were called to the school by the principal out of concern but even they didn''t know what was wrong with him. It not like they ever knew anything about him.


    Brandon had become a quiet kid in the room no one paid attention to. He moved to the back of the classroom and kept away from his friends if they can even be called that now. He was alone in this cold world and he liked it. He started getting used to being cold that he forgot how good warmth is not like he would ever want to be warm. It was written that he would be alone forever so there was no need for him to create relationships. What was the point of them when they didn''t last nor brought him happiness?


    He accepted his fate and decided that it was good for him to just be alone. Every once in a while he would run into Reiner in the hallway or the cafeteria but they didn''t talk to each other. His eyes would stare a little longer at the beautiful boy but he never thought of getting close. He knew that he couldn''t get rid of the feelings that he felt for Reiner but he wasn''t going to ever act on his feelings. He would love Reiner from distance and wait until his feelings for the boy died down. He would secretly watch the boy play football in the field from the library''s window.


    He would still glance at him when he passed but the feeling was different. His heart no longer skipped a beat seeing the boy not did his body change like it normally did. He just liked looking at the boy and nothing else. He went on with life with no goal, not ambition, he even lost the will to write a song. He tried many times to write something but each time it was a fail. He tried to express his pain through music but nothing worked his body had grown numb. He could neither express pain nor happiness.


    His manager had asked him to write a new song since they needed to release a full album but he couldn''t write a single thing let alone sing. He tried to play some of his old songs but he couldn''t hit the tune properly and it always came out off. He had lost the one thing that got him through all the bad days in his life and he didn''t know who could help him get it back. He was floating on thin ice and feared that the ice would break the next minute and he would sink since he didn''t know how to swim. His studies were also going down since he didn''t pay attention to anything the teacher said in the classroom. His mind was always just thinking of those beautiful memories he shared with the beautiful boy.


    His mother and father had gotten him to see a specialist but he refused. Despite his refusal, the principal allowed the specialist to visit the school and see him. He was forced to sit for an hour with her as she asked him questions he didn''t feel like answering. He only wanted to be left alone, it was hilarious, that when he used to beg for everyone''s attention they were never around, and now that he didn''t want them to be around him they were there. They looked concerned and we''re worried about him.


    "Tell me, Brandon, why are you so quiet?" she asked and he looked at her without responding. "Did someone do something to you, is that why you are scared to talk?" she asked him and received the same answer as the first time. She went ahead and asked him so many questions but it was all the same answer.


    She was trying to be patient with Brandon but she couldn''t get anything out of the boy. He always looked straight into her eyes and stayed silent. He wouldn''t say a word for an entire hour hand it troubled her. She had never met such a case before, she studied his file and he was indeed a rare case. The unusual heart attacks and his fainting put a lot of question marks in her head. She had tried to ask him when he started having those pains but he wouldn''t respond. She was helpless on what to say to get a reaction from him.


    "Excuse me," she said and a cleaner who was passing by the room stopped. "Is it possible for you to call me? Reiner Devon for me?" she asked and saw Brandon''s eyebrow twitch. That was the most reaction she had ever seen the boy do. The cleaner left and she turned her attention back to Brandon.


    "Do you know Reiner Devon?" she asked and for the first time, he looked away from her and shook his head.


    "Are you sure because it seems to me that you do know him? Anyway he is on his way and I will just ask him if he knows you," she said watching Brandon''s reaction carefully. He didn''t look up or say anything and just kept his head down. He didn''t feel excited or happy at the thought of seeing the beautiful boy. He didn''t feel nervous, he just didn''t want to talk about the past. He was tired of everything and most importantly he didn''t want to open old wounds.


    Only he understood how much pain he was in and he liked not feeling anything. The only fear he has was feeling something especially the pain of being left behind by the person that he loved. It wasn''t even his fault and yet he suffered such a harsh punishment for it. He wished to just let everything be the way they were, he didn''t want to be hopeful and have his hopes shattered every which way he turned.

 Chapter 24 - 24

    Reiner''s p.o.v


    Life has no been easy since that day that I officially ended things with Brandon. I have tried everything that I can think of to get him out of my mind but everything reminds me of him. I have moved away from my sleeping to get away from him. It would have even worse if I saw him every morning and every night, I just want to forget it all like a bad dream that it was.


    I have transferred classes and now I am taking the classes I should have taken from the beginning. I only joined his class because I wanted to be close to him. He was the only good thing that happened in my life since my mother abandoned us and married another man. I thought that he was different but he was just like her the only difference is that the pain he caused is much worse than she did. I avoid him like a plague because I am afraid of what will happen when I see him.


    He not only betrayed me but also shattered my trust and the thing about trust is that it isn''t easy to fix when it is broken.. I have repeated his explanation in my head a hundred times over trying to believe it to be what happened but what my eyes saw goes against what he said. So he not only betray me by cheating on me but also lied about it. He could have just told me if I wasn''t good enough for him and I would have backed away. He didn''t have to embarrass and humiliate me the way he did. I will never be able to forgive him for what he has done and now I won''t ever trust anyone again.


    I have put in all my time to my books and sports to get it all out somehow and try to forget but not even the difficult mathematics equation keeps my thought from thinking of him. I go for football practice every day and burn out my frustrations by playing aggressively, it doesn''t help to get my anger out when I feel him staring at me. His stare is one that I can never mistake and I always feel it on me every time I come for practice. I even question myself sometimes if I go for practice to train or because I know he is there watching.


    Apart from me feels good that his eyes still look for me but when I remember the kiss he shared with that boy I become furious. He was mine and he should have remained mine, he wasn''t supposed to kiss or look at anyone else. I have made a point to avoid him stop me from going insane with all these mixed feelings but we always cross paths around the school. He looks worse than when I first met him, I want to take him in my arms and comfort him but his betrayal stops me.


    I can not just ignore what he did to me and to top it all this could just be another plan for him to trap me and use me. I fell for it once but it won''t ever happen again, I will never let him come close to me just to ruin me again by using me. Sometimes I grow weak and wish to be with him even if it is all just a joke for him but I stop myself.


    I am not so weak that he would break me apart. I know that I will pick myself up from everything that has happened. I just have to have so much work on my hand that I don''t get the time to think about anything but work. That is why I asked my dad to hand the responsibility of the school to me. Now I not only pay attention to my studies but also to matters that concern my school but I should have known that it wasn''t easy to let go of the past. Because the first case I received was of Brandon, the teachers were complaining that he might fall into depression.


    They say that he suffers from a weird heart disease that even the doctors can''t recognize. He doesn''t pay attention to his studies and he has kept to himself. Even his friends don''t know what is wrong with him, he has withdrawn himself from the rest of the school and hasn''t spoken a word in a long time.


    My heart ached when I heard all they said, I wrecked my brain trying to find the reason he was like that. I asked around to find out when this change began and learned that it all started after the incident that happened that drove us apart. I called his family to the school to talk to them to find out if they were responsible for his condition. Something told me that our fight was the reason he was like this but I refused to listen, I didn''t want that burden on myself. They informed me he never went back home that day and came straight to school. They suggested that he should see a specialist and I agreed.


    I approved for the specialist to come to see him in school when he refused to go to her. I asked her to keep me updated on everything that she found out. For long she has only given me the same answer and that is, he doesn''t say anything and just looks at me. Today was the last day that I heard given her to be here. If she doesn''t find the problem with him then I will have no choice but to send Brandon away from my school. I was busy with the preparations for the board meeting that was to take place soon but then I heard a knock at the door.


    "Come in," I said and a lady dressed in a cleaner''s uniform came into my office.


    "Sir the doctor that treats Brandon has asked for you," she said and I excused her. I was curious as to why the doctor wanted to see me so I left the work to my secretary and went to see her. I walked across the building to reach the hospital wing in the school. I go directly to the room that they were in. I didn''t bother to knock since the door was open and walked in. I looked at the doctor and didn''t let my eye wander to him even though I wanted to look at him.


    "I was told you wanted to see me," I say and she asks me to take a seat next to Brandon." I am a sorry doctor but I don''t want to sit next to him," I say and she raises her eyebrows at me.


    "Why is that Mr. Devon?" she asked and I stayed silent. I can not tell him about what happened between us in the past. "Mr. Devon, I believe I asked you a question. What is going on between you and Brandon?" she asked and I became nervous. Could Brandon have told her about us I thought and glared at Brandon? He looked up from his hands and locked eyes with me, he didn''t look sad or happy and I couldn''t tell what he was thinking. His eyes were clear as they stared at me, the eyes that looked at me with love once looked at me with no emotion at all.


    I guess I was worried for no reason, he isn''t like this because of me because he never really loved me.

 Chapter 25 - 25

    Reiner and Brandon sat awkwardly next to each other not knowing what to do. The doctor who was observing them could tell that there was something wrong with both of them. She remained quiet and didn''t say anything pretending to be writing something in her notebook. She wanted the two of them to get comfortable and talk to each other.


    Reiner had no intention of talking to Brandon and Brandon didn''t feel like talking so they sat there waiting for the doctor to talk. Time was passing and the room remained quiet, the doctor realized that her tactic wasn''t working and thought of trying something else.


    "Brandon, please hold Reiner''s hand," she said making both of them stare at her like she was a ghost. They didn''t expect her to say that or ask that, Brandon started feeling nervous. What he was afraid of was happening, he was afraid of getting too close and now the doctor was asking him to do just that. The pain was too much so he hesitated in doing what he was told.


    Reiner didn''t like the doctor''s request one bit because he didn''t want to be anywhere near Brandon. But he had to admit that seeing Brandon''s hesitation hurt him more than he would ever want to admit..


    "Brandon, this is not optional. You have to do as I tell you, now hold his hand," the doctor repeated. Nervously Brandon reached out to hold Reiner''s hand. The minute their hands touched he felt electricity travel through his body from Reiner''s hand. His heartbeat picked up and started racing like crazy in his chest. All these emotions coursing through his body so suddenly made his breath heavy and it hitched. He removed his hand just as fast and looked down.


    He felt empty when he let go of his hand but he had to. He was tired of losing things and he shouldn''t get attached. The doctor was keenly watching him and saw all the changes that he went through. For the first time since he met Brandon he saw him being emotional. Though it was just for a few minutes she got a lot from him. She saw a lot of emotions in his eyes at that moment; fear, sadness, longing, love, and pain.


    She was no expert in love but she knew enough to know that the two share a deeper connection than both of them would care to admit. She didn''t find the problem with her patient but she found a possible solution.


    "Reiner, it''s your turn. I need you to hold Brandon''s hand and do it for five minutes. I will time you and tell you when to let go," she instructed and took her phone out. Instead of opening the clock up, she checked her emails. "Start now," she said.


    He took Brandon''s hand and held it, it felt a bit cold but he didn''t care, at least that is what he kept chanting in his head. He kept telling himself that he didn''t care but not even his mind was in the mood to be fooled. He tried to ignore the warm feeling he got from holding his hand and how complete he felt at that moment. He felt like Brandon''s hand was a perfect fit for his and he wanted to hold his hand forever. He closed his eyes to get rid of the thoughts in his head. He intertwined theirs hands subconsciously and held on to Brandon tightly.


    That simple thing sent Brandon from reality to crazy town. The screws in his head came loose and his mind became chaotic. His heart had long won the marathon but it still kept beating faster than he had ever felt his heartbeat before. The butterflies in his stomach were flapping their wings happily making a blush appear on his face. He was blushing so hard, his mind kept screaming at him. ''He still cares about you'' he thought over and over again.


    The doctor took note of both their reaction and applauded herself for being right. Reiner didn''t have any expression on his face but his body language told her how he felt. Brandon on the other hand was an open book with all his emotions on display for her to see.


    "Time is up," she said bringing Reiner out of his trance. He opened his eyes and saw their fingers intertwined, he glanced up at Brandon who was also looking at him. He saw the same boy that he met that day at the cafe, with all the pain and sorrow that he saw in his eyes that day if not more. He tightened his hold on his hand, he couldn''t bear to see him like that. He wanted to pull him for a hug but recalled how Brandon had hugged Zane so tightly right in front of him. Like it wasn''t bad enough that he kissed him so he went ahead and embraced him. All his rage and anger resurfaced and he yanked Brandon''s hand away.


    Brandon was surprised and he wanted to complain but the look on Reiner''s face told him otherwise. The anger and hatred were visible for him to see and he didn''t like what he saw. The warm feeling from a moment ago vanished and was replaced by a cold feeling that he had grown used to. The pain in his heart came back but he stayed silent, he didn''t cry or say anything to the two people in the room.


    "Now what I want you to do i...," she started saying but stopped when Brandon fell from his seat and dropped unconscious on the ground. She got up and went to him. "Reiner help me," she said and that is when the frozen boy got his senses back and carried Brandon to the nurse''s office. The nurse was not around so the doctor was the one to do the check. She checked upon him and gave him an injection and turned to Reiner.


    "We need to talk Mr. Devon," she said and signaled him to come out of the room. They walked out of the room and stood in the corridor leaning on the wall.


    "What do you want to talk about?" asked Reiner feeling nervous, he was worried about Brandon and hoped the doctor wasn''t going to give him bad news concerning the boy.


    "Your relationship with Brandon," she said. "And don''t deny it, I know that something is going on between the two of you," she added.


    "I don''t know what gave you that idea but there is no such thing going on between the two of us," he replied strongly.


    "Is that so, reading people is part of my job and I know what I am saying so stop denying it. I want to help Brandon and I need your help. He has not been as expressive as he was when you held his hand and I saw him come to life just from it so please help me," she said.


    "If you want him to come alive then invite his boyfriend to come here and do that for him," he said bitterly.


    "Boyfriend?" she asked. "I didn''t know that Brandon had a boyfriend," she said.


    "Now you know and if there is nothing more I will leave," he said and left. What the doctor had said, seeing Brandon like that broke his heart. He wanted to stay and help Brandon but Zane keeps popping up in his mind and he stops.

 Chapter 26 - 26

    Reiner''s nightmare had just begun because the very next morning Zane had steeped into his school with his belongings. Zane was excited about finally making it to BFBS and he couldn''t wait to see Brandon again after so long. He would have made it earlier but he was caught up with work and had a lot to do.


    He prayed and hoped in his heart that Brandon had found a way to fix his problems with Reiner so that the both of them can be together. He hoped that the three of them can hang out as friends, it will be his first real friend in a long time. Being a video gamer and maker and running a billion-dollar game company wasn''t easy and it made it difficult to keep friends. He was always busy in front of his monitor working that he didn''t have a life at all.


    He took his bags and walked into the main building. He asked for the principal''s office and was directed on where to go. Reiner was not in his office at the moment so his secretary helped Zane with all the formalities needed. Once he was done the secretary walked him to his classroom, she asked someone to move Zane''s things to the dorm. It was the same dorm that Brandon and Reiner slept in and to top it all he got the bed that Reiner had left. He was going to sleep right next to Brandon..


    They got to the class and she knocked on the door. "Come in," was heard from the room before the secretary pushed the door open.


    "Sorry to interrupt your class, Mr. Fitz," she apologized and faced the class. "We have a new student here with us, I would like all of you to welcome him. Mr. Zane, please come in," she said and everyone in the room looked at the door. Even Brandon who was sleeping got up and stared at the door.


    "Please don''t be him," he kept mumbling softly.


    Zane walked into the room and stood in front of the room. His eyes scanned the room and he made contact with Brandon who looked pissed. There were whispers in the class after he walked in, the girls were going out of their minds at how hot he was. Some even went as far as calling dibs on who was going to date him.


    "Zane you can seat with the boy at the back. His seat is the only one that is free," instructed the teacher. He nodded and went to the back and sat next to Brandon.


    "Hi," he said but Brandon didn''t reply. He went back to sleeping, he was not in the mood to befriend the boy who ruined his life. Zane wasn''t offended by his behavior, he was at fault but now he was here to fix everything. The lesson went on and the students participated in making it interesting and lively. Zane concentrated on the sleeping boy next to him, he could never have enough of the boy who stole his heart so many years ago. He watched him sleep and felt peaceful.


    He had been stressed about things not working out between Brandon and Reiner that he hadn''t been at peace with himself. The lesson ended and the students got up to go for their break. Zane waited for Brandon to move so that they could go together but that didn''t happen. Brandon kept sleeping despite that rang indicating the end of the lesson.


    "Maybe he didn''t hear the bed," he whispered to himself and shook Brandon to wake him up. The boy refused to get up and continued to sleep, he sat there and waited for Brandon to get up. He tried to wake him again but each time he went back to sleep.


    "Don''t you want to get something to eat?" he asked with no response from Brandon. He got up and helped Brandon to get up against his will and held him up. Brandon glared at him, they were so close to each other. He held Brandon with his left hand being on Brandon''s waist to support him and his right hand was holding Brandon''s hand over his shoulder.


    "I can''t let you stay here hungry. Let''s go get something to eat then you can continue sleeping," he told Brandon. He helped the lazy boy walk, as they got out of the room they saw Reiner in the distance. He was chatting with his friends before he turned around and saw them. He and his friends were walking towards them.


    Brandon was once again in a tight spot, he couldn''t push Zane away since he didn''t have the energy to stand on his own. He had not had a good healthy meal in a long time ago that he was growing weak each day. He also couldn''t stop Reiner from getting angry from seeing them like that. He saw in the beautiful boy''s eyes how angry it made him see them like that. He wished to explain that nothing was going on but the boy''s anger won''t allow him to believe a word he will say in his defense. He cursed his luck and wished that Reiner would just look in his eyes and understand that he was the only one for him.


    Reiner walked past them with his friends. He was so furious at seeing Zane in the school wearing that uniform. He was thinking of putting his ego aside and talking to Brandon. He was headed to class to see him since he found that Brandon didn''t attend breaks. He didn''t expect to witness what his eyes just saw. He was mad, he let the doctor''s words get to him and he even forgave Brandon for everything. But Zane had to show up out of nowhere and hold Brandon in front of him like that. He believed in his heart that they did that to hurt him.


    Zane helped Brandon to sit under the tree in the garden outside the cafeteria. He went inside and got food for both of them. He sat down and handed Brandon his food, he watched the boy staring into the distance. He was sure that he was thinking about Reiner and their earlier encounter.


    "Eat," he said and pushed the food into Brandon''s hand. Brandon eyed the food but didn''t move to eat. He stared at the dish and only saw Reiner''s angry face, he had told himself that he didn''t care anymore but he did. He still cared about how the boy saw him and felt about him.


    "Here," said Zane who had finished his food and decided to feed him. "If you won''t eat on your own then I will feed you," he said and held the spoon to Brandon''s mouth. Brandon refused to eat.


    "It seems you don''t like this food. I have another food you could try, you know the one I gave you at the park," he said and Brandon lifted his eyes. He remembered the kiss and blinked his eyes twice in shock.


    "You wouldn''t," he said nervously.


    "Try me," Zane threatened. Brandon allowed Zane to feed him his food and ate all of it. He couldn''t have Zane kiss him again, if Reiner accidentally saw them then he wouldn''t know what to say. One time is a mistake but twice will be intentional and didn''t want Reiner to misunderstand more than he already has. Zane took the dishes back and Brandon waited for him in the garden. He did a few stretches and looked up to the sky. He smiled at the beautiful sky, he looked down from how bright the sun was. His eyes stopped at the roof of the building and his smile froze.

 Chapter 27 - 27

    Brandon and Reiner stared at each other for a while, Reiner was boiling with anger. Brandon could see clearly that he was upset, he knew that Reiner must have seen his interaction with Zane. It seemed to him like he was cursed and that is why it keeps creating obstacles in his path that extend the distance that is already there between him and Reiner. He mouthed a sorry to the beautiful boy.


    Reiner didn''t react to him sorry at all his mind was still thinking about how close the two seemed to be as they ate. His heart broke seeing the two of them acting like couples. He was the one that should have been in Zane''s place. His eyes wandered at the spot where they sat. His soul was torn to pieces at the moment, he felt so broken.


    He couldn''t move at all despite wanting anything more than to go away and unsee everything. He felt so down he didn''t bother to wipe the tears on his cheeks. All the pieces of his heart shattered and he felt so torn apart. He felt so broke life half of a whole and the void in his heart grew even worse than before.. He stood frozen in place until his friend Alex came and pulled him away to get back to class.


    "Hey, what are looking at?" Zane asked Brandon.


    Brandon didn''t reply, they walked back to class. Reiner''s hurt face was stuck in Brandon''s mind. He kept seeing it everywhere he turned. The lesson went on for the rest of the day Brandon didn''t feel like doing of saying anything. Zane tried to indulge him in activities but failed. The doctor came back again for a session with Brandon. Zane escorted Brandon to the doctor, he was really worried about Brandon, and the fact that he had feelings for the boy wasn''t helping.


    It was killing him to watch Brandon be so lifeless. He wanted nothing more than to take the boy''s pain away and make him happy and cheerful. The doctor was surprised to see Zane escorting Brandon because Brandon didn''t have any friends.


    "What is your name young man?" she asked out of curiosity.


    "Zane."


    "How are you related to Brandon?"


    "I am his friend," he replied.


    "How long have you both been friends if you don''t mind me asking," she said noting down everything Zane said.


    "A while."


    "Tell me would you happen to know Brandon''s boyfriend. I have a few things I would like to ask him and as you know your friend doesn''t talk much. I can''t ask him." she said pointing at Brandon.


    "Yes, he is dating a boy named Reiner. I don''t know his last name though," he said and the doctor nodded.


    The doctor sent someone to fetch Reiner once again. She had a lot of things to ask him including why he lied to her. Zane sat with Brandon and held his hand to give him support. He watched the boy and his heart ached. He felt so guilty for what he had done that he couldn''t leave the boy alone. Reiner walked into the room with his head high. He looked bright and happy, he was smiling so sweetly.


    "You wanted to see me?" he asked feigning innocence.


    "Yes Mr. Devon, please take a seat," she said and offered him a seat next to Brandon. He went to seat down and the first thing that he noticed was Zane''s hand intertwined with Brandon''s. His blood boiled at that sight but he kept his smile and pretended to be unaffected.


    "Look I don''t know what is going on here but I do see a broken boy who needs help. The two of you in this room are the only ones who can tell me what the hell is going on," she said in a pleading voice. "Can one of you tell me what happened to Brandon? Any incident that you think could have caused him to fall into depression," she asked them.


    Zane and Reiner looked at each other and back to the doctor but neither of them said anything. "Reiner, you at least should know what is wrong with your boyfriend?"


    "I already told you that there is nothing like that going on between us. He is not with me."


    "If he isn''t with you then who is he dating," she asked.


    "Him," he replied pointing at Zane.


    "What! Brandon and I aren''t together," defended Zane who was surprised by the allegations.


    The two kept bickering on and on about who was dating Brandon that the doctor felt like she was going to be sick. Her head was going to expose from listening to the two boys arguing. She had a pretty good idea of what was going on, both boys were in love with Brandon. What she was yet to figure out was which one of them Brandon liked.


    "Okay enough," she said putting an end to their bickering. "Reiner tell me why do you think that Zane and Brandon are dating?"


    "I don''t think I know and it is not even something that should be up for debate. They don''t even try to hide it. They both display their love everywhere, be it in school or the park, it makes no difference to them," he said bitterly and angrily. His blood always seems to boil every time he thinks of that kiss at the park.


    "Is this true Zane?" she asked him and he shook his head.


    "Listen, I have already told him that the kiss was an accident and it my fault, not Brandon''s but he doesn''t listen. Brandon and I are just friends Reiner believe me," he pleaded.


    "Do I look like I can easily be fooled?" Reiner asked him letting his shield down. His pain and hurt became visible to Zane and the Doctor. "Am I so foolish that I can''t tell lovers and friends apart? Okay, then please explain to me, what happened," he said as the tears that had gathered in his eyes flowed down his cheeks.


    "Brandon loved you and he is only like this because you refuse to forgive him. He didn''t betray you or cheat on you," Zane let out hoping to convince Reiner of how much Brandon loves him.


    "And yet every time I turn around he is either hugging you, holding your hand, leaning on you, or being fed his lunch by you," he said. "Tell me is that his way of showing love to me or you?" he asked in an ice-cold voice.


    "You are misunderstanding everything. Earlier I helped him to eat because he is too careless with his health and I was only trying to help him. I swear Brandon only loves you, you are the only one for him."


    "Sure, I must be pretty gullible to you, for you to try and sell me those pathetic lines. You both must take me for a fool right, if Brandon wants to play with you then it''s fine but leave out of your sick game," he said and wiped his tears away.


    "Why are you being so stubborn, if you loved Brandon you would trust him and not doubt him as you do," said an infuriated Zane.


    "Trust is earned and your lover there had done nothing to deserve my trust. If you trust him so much then why not keep him," he said and left the room.


    Brandon who had been quietly listening to their conversation couldn''t help but cry silently. Reiner''s words were like a million stabs to his heart.

 Chapter 28 - 28

    Brandon left the doctor''s office alone. He didn''t want Zane to accompany him so he left without him and rushed to the greenhouse. He knew no one would be there and he would get to be alone and away from the people who keep disturbing him. Little did he know that Reiner had gone there for the same reasons.


    He entered the room and locked the door, the building was far away from everyone so he should be safe from any disturbance. He walked in and released a sigh when after a few when Zane didn''t knock on the door. He was happy that the boy didn''t follow him. He remembered what Reiner said and kicked an old glass on the floor hard that it landed on the wall with a loud thud. Reiner opened his eyes at the noise and got up to see who it was that disturbed his peace.


    "You, why do you keep following me?" he asked Brandon who was shocked to see him.


    "I.... I... I di...didn''t know that you were here," he stammered out of nervousness.


    "Cut the crap Brandon I know you came here intentionally to taunt me."


    "I did not, I just... I just..." he tried to say but the words wouldn''t come out.


    "You just what?" he asked dragging Brandon to the wall and making him bump his back painfully. He shrieked in pain but Reiner didn''t care. "You just want to rub it in my face how much you are into Zane right?"


    "No, I wou...," he stopped when Reiner sealed his lips with a kiss. He kissed him, the kiss was hot, rough, and demanding that Brandon''s mind completely forgot what he wanted to say. He stood still and let Reiner kiss him, he felt hear course in his veins. Reiner broke the kiss to catch his breath.


    "I warned you what would happen if you come close to me but since you won''t listen I will just have to teach you a lesson," he threatened in a chilling voice. Brandon felt the chill go down his body and he shivered. He moved back but there was no more space to move to. He tried to get away from the side but Reiner blocked his path with his hand.


    "You say that you love me then why are you trying to run?" he asked maliciously.


    Reiner got hold of his shirt and ripped it off him, the sound of his shirt tearing made Brandon even more fearful. There was nothing but anger and hatred in Reiner''s eyes and it scared him. Reiner wasn''t in his right senses and be was worried he would do something that he would regret later. He was more worried about Reiner than he was about himself.


    "Rein please stop," he pleaded.


    "I should stop but why? Not long ago you used to beg me to continued, what changed?" he yelled pinning him hard to the wall. "Is it that you found someone else or am I not good enough for you anymore?"


    "It is nothing like that," he said but Reiner stopped listening. He began to trail kisses on his neck and Brandon bit back a moan. He didn''t want to encourage Reiner, it was getting harder to do that when Reiner sucked on his neck. He was sure that there were going to be hickeys all over him.


    He pushed Reiner away." I said stop," he said authoritatively. Reiner stopped but instead of getting angry like Brandon expected him to be. He just looked at Brandon with tears rolling down his cheek. He wasn''t feeling guilty but rather hurt, he wasn''t planning to do anything because he loved Brandon. But the fact that Brandon thought he could break his heart. He just wanted to see whether Brandon would push him away or embrace him.


    "You don''t have a problem when Zane comes close to you but you do when I do it?" he asked and Brandon froze.


    "You claim that he kissed without your permission but you let him do but when it came to me you pushed me away. He can hold you as much as he wants but when I do it it''s a crime right? You go around acting like I did something wrong to you and have people point fingers at me as the culprit when you are the villain in this story. You appear everywhere I turn and taunt me with memories of our past and hurt me every time I see you but I am bad. You keep getting close to that boy in my presence knowing very well that I can''t see you with anyone else but I the bad person, right? You say you love and have him say this to me and yet you hurt me more than anyone has ever done," he confessed in a pained voice that broke Brandon''s.


    "You are not the only one with a heart Brandon and you are the only one who can feel pain. The rest of us are humans too and we break just the same. But how will you understand that you are the victim of everything right? I don''t know if I am wrong or right but you have to me is wrong. I pray that no one treats you the way you treated me, that no one toys with your heart and leaves you broken with no way to fix yourself. I love you and I hope that you are happy with Zane, I will pray that you don''t go through what you put me though because I can''t see you hurt," he said and walked away.


    Brandon ran and blocked the door before he could leave." You say you love me but you don''t trust a word I say. What kind of love is that?" he asked. Reiner didn''t reply and remained silent. He pushed Brandon out of the way and opened the door, Brandon grabbed his hand before he could and tightened his hold.


    "You said everything that is in your heart and now you will listen to me," he commanded, he pulled Reiner and sat him down on the wooden chair. "First of all I love you too," he confessed and sat himself down on Reiner''s lap.


    "Get off me," Reiner growled but Brandon didn''t move an inch.


    "Though I have tried to tell you of the feelings that I have you, you don''t listen. Every time that I come near you I get so nervous and lose my mind. I can''t begin to tell you how crazy you make me and how much I depend on you. It is weird but I think that my heart is somehow connected to you. I don''t know how to explain it but that day when you ended our nonexisting relationship. While you were traveling out of the country I was dying in the hospital," he said and paused.


    "And every time I think about us and the thought of you hating me, my heart reacts weirdly and I wake up either in the hospital. The doctors don''t know what is happening to me but you are the reason for it. You are the reason my heart skips a beat and you are the reason it stops beating. I came alive when I met you and each time you go away from me I come close to death. When you leave me I don''t feel like doing anything. Everything seems so dull and lifeless to me So no, I am not the villain of your life because you are the villain of mine."

 Chapter 29 - 29

    The two boys sat in silence after the both of them were done pouring their hearts out to each other. They stared into the eyes of each other, "You told me once that you would agree to be with me as long as I can say it out loud," he reminded. "Reiner I want you to be my boyfriend," he proposed and held his breath nervously waiting for his reply.


    "What do you take me for? Do you think that I am going to say yes to that? You already have a boyfriend then why are you proposing to me," he stated.


    "Enough!" he yelled. "Zane and I are not together, I have told you many times and this is the last time I will say it. You can either choose to trust me or keep looking for reasons to be angry at me. I love you, Reiner Devon you are my life. What more do you want, you already have the whole of me," he said and broke down in tears.


    Reiner brought his hand to Brandon''s thigh, his move his hand up and down slowly generating heat in the boy''s leg. Brandon raised his head and glanced at Reiner with longing eyes. He longed for Reiner so much that he could not think of anything else at that moment..


    "Prove it," he heard Reiner whisper in his ear. "How?" he asked willing to jump at any chance to show Reiner how much he loved him.


    "I won''t ask you to do something impossible, all I want is for you to stay away from Zane. I don''t want to see you talk, look or even think about him for three days. I will be watching you and if you can do it I will believe you and accept your proposal. But if you fail then I will know that you are lying to me. Deal?" he asked Brandon.


    "Deal," said Brandon. He was happy that he was given a chance to fix everything and get Reiner back. He felt so alive and happy that he could not stop his hands from roaming Reiner''s body. Reiner took hold of his hands and stopped him from exploring his chest.


    "Not just yet, you are free to touch me in three days if you pass my test but until then I am off-limits," he said and Brandon pouted.


    "Can I just once?" he asked and he refused his request. "No, I will not feel good if you touch me now but after you prove to me that you only belong to me I will be comfortable with your touch. Right now mind will not allow me to accept your request, I can''t stop thinking that you might be imagining Zane in my place as you touch me," he explained and Brandon understood his concern.


    "I will prove to you that you are the only one for me and that Zane means nothing for me," he said and stole a kiss from Reiner before could refuse him.


    "Hey, you are cheating," Reiner complained.


    "You said I couldn''t touch you, you didn''t say anything about kissing you," he defended.


    "Well, I am saying it now. You are not allowed to touch me in any way with any part of your body till you pass the test of love," he said.


    "What happens if he comes close to me?" he raised his concern.


    "It''s your job to make sure that doesn''t happen. If it happens then I will go to a place where you will never see me again. You claim your life depends on me then think of this as not a test for my love but your life," he said and caressed his cheek. "I have often heard that people would do anything for their lives so I want to see, how far you are willing to do for your life," he said.


    "I will try to pass the test," said Brandon enthusiastically.


    "Is that how much you love me that you will only try."


    "No, I won''t try but I will do it. I will show you the power of my love," he said and got up from Reiner''s lap.


    He left the room feeling very giddy, the butterflies in his stomachs were going crazy. He was beyond excited after his talk with Reiner, he could not wait for the three days to end so that he could have the one that he loves with him again. He went to the dorm and took a cold bath to calm down a bit. He was a little too happy and too much of something was dangerous so he wanted to play it safe. He took out his books and worked on his assignments, he hadn''t done them in a while so he had a lot to catch up on.


    Instead of doing his work he ended up writing lyrics to a love song to complement his feelings.


    It is not easy to let go ~


    and move on~


    If the promise is till death do us part~


    We all deserve to be loved~


    And to love unconditionally~


    To bring content to the heart~


    He smiled at the lyrics and wanted to release the song as soon as possible. He wanted to express his love for Reiner in a more romantic way that he won''t be able to refuse him. He will be so happy that he will accept to be his boyfriend. He got up and ran to the music room with his mask. He set up his camera and went to live, he got to the piano and started playing.


    He closed his eyes and channeled his emotions into the song and sang the lyrics from the heart. His fans saw his song online and send the word around. People ran to their screens to catch a glimpse of their favorite singer. Even the students of BFBS we''re also excited to see Nobody. He was the one who they loved the most since he sang songs that touched their hearts.


    "This song is dedicated to the one that has stolen my heart, I have fallen in love with that person. When he accepts my proposal then I will reveal not just mine but his identity to all of you," he announced before he logged off the net.


    Zane had been watching his performance, his heart broke when he heard the confession. He had accepted that he was not the one that Brandon loved but that did not make it easier for him to see that. He only wished that Reiner would see how much Brandon loves him. He was happy that his love had come out of depression and was cheerful again. Seeing Brandon express his feelings like that warmed his heart. He left everything and went to find Brandon to congratulate him on his recovery.


    He ran to the boy saw him leaving the building. He rushed to Brandon and gave him a big hug, he felt like expressing his happiness as a friend even if he couldn''t do it as his lover. Brandon pushed him away and pinched him," Why are you always so clinging?" he asked.


    "I am just happy that you have become yourself again," he said and hugged him again.


    "Let go of me," Brandon said and went away. "Uhh," he screamed when someone pulled him to a corner.


    "What did I say about staying away from Zane. Three days is all I asked for and you couldn''t even do it for an hour. I guess I have my answer of how you feel about me," said Reiner before leaving.


    Brandon was so excited about getting a second chance that he forgot about the condition that Reiner had set. This time he had no one but himself for losing Reiner.

 Chapter 30 - 30

    "I can''t lose you," Brandon whispered under his breath and chased after Reiner. He forcefully pulled Reiner away from the hallway and into one of the empty classrooms.


    "I agree that I made a mistake but please don''t speak like that," he begged. "I am not going to let you go this time so please reconsider. I love you and I know how to show you how much I love you," he stated wanting to show him the Nobody music video. He was ready to tell Reiner his secret identity.


    "I don''t want to see anything, you failed my test and now I am not interested in what you have to say. Remember what I told you would happen if you failed. I am going to leave and you will never see me again," he declared.


    "I refuse to let you go away from me, Reiner I have already confessed my feeling to you and I know you know that they are true. Will you please just put everything behind us and be with me. I need you and you need me too so can''t you just say yes?" he asked caressing Reiner''s hand..


    "I don''t want to hear your explanations. We had a deal and you broke it, how can I trust that you won''t break my heart as fast as you broke our deal?" he asked him pulling his hand back from Brandon.


    "There must be something else I can do to convince that isn''t like the first deal. I can try to stay away from Zane but he is just too clingy and I can''t control him. I can''t guarantee that he won''t come close to me," he explained to Reiner hoping to get a third chance.


    "That just gave an idea of what you can do to convince me. You say that he is clingy when it comes to you then don''t stay away from him. Get close to him instead," he told.


    "Say what now!" he inquired confused as to what was going on in Reiner''s mind.


    "I will explain, what I want you to do is simple. I want you to make him believe that you have fallen in love with him and then break his heart," he professed.


    "What!" Brandon exclaimed in shock. He could not believe what Reiner was suggesting for him to do.


    "Every time he comes close to you I can''t stand and it hurts right here," he said pointing to his heart. "It breaks my heart to see you with him, he knows that I don''t like it but he still does it. So I want to watch him feel the way he makes me feel."


    "Are you crazy Reiner! We are talking about a person''s heart here. I can''t just up and hurt someone like that, I know too well what a broken heart can do to a person and I am not going to do that to a person intentionally," he said in a matter-of-fact manner and refused him.


    "Then my answer to your proposal is no. No, I don''t ever want to be your boyfriend or anything to you for that matter," Reiner replied.


    Brandon felt his heartbeat slow down and intense pain in his heart when Reiner uttered those words. It was like a curse that taunted him each time he felt or thought that he was going to lose Reiner forever.


    "Wait, I will do it. I will break Zane''s heart for you," he said in tears and prayed that Zane would one day forgive him for what he was about to do.


    "Don''t cry, baby. Once this is all over I will make it up to you when you become my boyfriend," said Reiner wiping his tears for him. "Just think of the two of us together forever and do it. Don''t disappoint me," he added and left the classroom.


    Brandon was left alone in the room with his feelings and his conflicts. He agreed to do what Reiner asked him to do but he wasn''t comfortable hurting someone. He was not even okay with getting close to Zane, to begin with, and was clueless about where to begin. He decided to rest on it for the night and think about it again the next day. He left the classroom and walked back to the dorm slowly. He was deep in thought as he left, he didn''t notice Zane standing behind the classroom door.


    He was worried that Brandon might drawback to his sad state so he followed him. He arrived in time to hear all their conversation. He would say that hearing Brandon accept to play with him like that didn''t hurt but he would be lying. He understood that he had messed up a lot for him but to play with his feeling and emotions wasn''t something he expected from the boy.


    He wiped the tears sliding down his cheek before anyone could notice. "I made a mistake by kissing and I made another one today by hugging you. I won''t let you lose Reiner because of me, I will help you get the one that you love," he whispered in a pained voice and blinked away the tears that had gathered around his eyes. Love was indeed the most painful feeling that he had ever known. He walked to the dorm and found his love busy with his book.


    It made him happy to see Brandon lively again. He climbed on his bed and took his book out to do his assessments. "Zane," Brandon called out feeling very nervous about starting a conversation with Zane. He felt so guilty about what he was about to do.


    "Yes," he replied to him. Brandon was second-guessing going through the plan that Reiner had made. Zane made mistakes but he was a good friend to him and he cared about him. He couldn''t bring himself to hurt him when all he ever did was love him and take care of him.


    "Never mind," he said. In the distance he could see Reiner shaking his head in disapproval, ''Our deal,'' he mouthed to Brandon.


    Brandon bit his lip and folded his hand into a fist and dug his nails deep into his skin. Zane watched him and followed the trail of his sight and saw him sitting on Alex''s bed playing chess. He looked back at Brandon and decided to help him.


    "Brandon, can you help me with something," he asked getting Brandon''s attention.


    "What is it?"


    "You won''t be able to see it from there can you come here," he said and patted on the bed suggesting for him to go sit there. Brandon complied obediently and sat on his bed.


    "What''s up?"


    "What I need is for you to help me with this math problem," he said and handed Brandon his book. While Brandon tackled the problem he played along with what Reiner wanted and would hold Brandon now and then. Reiner was right to have asked for this to hurt him. Every minute of it was breaking his heart but he kept up a brave front and did what he could to help Brandon.


    Reiner would once In a while look at them. He wasn''t happy at all with what he saw, he hated seeing the two of them so close to each other. He thought he could handle letting Brandon go but it hurt. Brandon loved Zane and he was the obstacle in his love story, he thought. Now they can be together without having to pretend in front of him.


    "Alex I have to go," he said and got off the bed. He stared at Brandon one last time. "I don''t deny that you once loved me but now you love someone else and I don''t want to come between the two of you. Goodbye Brandon."

 Chapter 31 - 31

    8 years later.


    We have all loved and lost but some of us don''t know when to let go or when to stop. They will go to any lengths for the sake of love and they are not afraid of trading down the wrong path for the sake of love.


    The same thing happened to Brandon Avery, he had the one he loved and it has been right years of longing and pain. He had tried to move on with his life so many times and pretend like he is not hurt by what happened. Since that very day in high school, he has never met Reiner Devon ever again. He felt not just cheated but betrayed as well, he couldn''t understand why he left and why he was given false hopes.


    The experience had made him cold, bitter, and heartless. He is now the head of Avery technologies which he took over from his dad. He not only runs the company but also has a music company of his own called Rhythm. He had made a name for himself in the business world and finally got the recognition that he has always craved for..


    "Sir, the investors are here and they are waiting for you at the meeting," reported his secretary.


    He looked up from his work and stared at the secretary. The young woman was secretly trembling on the inside but kept up a strong front. Mr. Avery was known to fire people and reprimand them for the smallest reason. And didn''t like it when he was disturbed or interrupted, he also didn''t like anyone entering his office and she made a mistake by not knocking.


    "I will be there," he replied in a soft voice shocking the secretary. That was the first she had ever heard him speak like that and he didn''t lash out at her for barging into his office. She didn''t wait a moment longer or ask him why he was acting strangely and just thanked the heavens for not being fired.


    "8 years ago on this very day, you left me. It''s been a long time but why does it still hurt?" he asked straightening his coat and getting up to attend the meeting. He was in no mood to be in a meeting or to talk to people but he had to work. He walked into the room and the room went silent. He didn''t bother to greet anyone and took his seat, he opened his file and started reading it.


    "Don''t cry baby, Once this is all over I will make it up to you when you become my boyfriend," he recalled as he tried to concentrate In his file. He gritted his teeth when his heart started aching again. He clutched the file very tightly due to the pain in his heart.


    "Every time he comes close to you I can''t stand it and it hurts right here," Reiner''s words from that very day kept replaying on his head over and over again making the pain even worse.


    "Sir," said the person next to him and he turned his head in the direction. "You have your file upside down," he said and Brandon checked. Indeed the file was upside down, he turned it around and tried to read it but his mind was busy recalling memories.


    "Excuse me," he said and left the meeting room. He couldn''t stay in a room full of people, he needed to be alone. He knew that he was not going to get any work done today and left the office. The scars that Reiner had left in his heart were very deep and no matter what he did it was not healing. Whoever said that time heals all wounds was mistaken, it has been right years but it feels like it yesterday that his heart was broken.


    He got into his car and changed his clothes, he planned to do for a walk and clear his mind and he didn''t want the paparazzi or the press to follow him so he was in disguise. He was dressed in simple blue jeans and a white shirt that hugged his chest. He wore a cap on his and black shades. He looked like a gorgeous ordinary citizen, even with the simple clothes he still looked extremely hot and as he walked both men and women turned their heads in his direction.


    He walked past them not giving any attention to them, he knew he was handsome and he had already gotten used to being the center of attention everywhere he went. He listened to the song that he had written for Reiner in his head and thought of the memories they shared. Their time together was short but memorable and sweet, he couldn''t understand why someone who claims to love someone could hurt them the way that Reiner hurt him.


    He saw a nearby cafe and went inside, he took a seat at the corner next to the window and stared at the streets. Memories flooded his mind and tortured him emotionally. "Can I get your order Sir?" asked the waiter.


    He turned around and looked at the waiter and looked back at the streets and ignored him. The waiter walked away but he didn''t care, he was not there to eat he just wanted to sit down with his thoughts and forget everything else.


    "A cup of hot chocolate and cookies," said the young waiter putting the order in front of Brandon. Brandon looked at the plate and at the waiter with questioning eyes. "Don''t worry it is on the house," he said and Brandon frowned. He wanted to forget the past but it seemed like the universe had sent the boy to taunt him even more by re-acting the scene from the first day that he met Reiner.


    He got up from his seat," Where is the manager of this place?" he shouted and got the people in the room to look at him.


    "Sir, is there a problem?" asked the young man.


    "Where is the manager?" he shouted again. A woman in her late twenties came out of the backroom and rushed to him.


    "What is the problem Sir?" she asked him looking at the young man with questioning eyes. The boy lifted his shoulders to tell her that he didn''t know what the problem was.


    "Are you the manager?" asked Brandon and she nodded."I want you to fire this useless waiter of yours. He not only does not understand his job description and shouldn''t attend to people," he said shocking the young man to the core. He was only trying to help him and yet the man was asking for him to be fired. Brandon got his card from his pocket and gave it to the manager.


    "I will never return to your cafe again if he is not fired this instant," he threatened, on seeing who he was the manager could not afford to offend him and fired the young waiter. Brandon paid for the meal and left without touching it. He walked away feeling worse than he felt when he left the office.


    "What is wrong with you?" asked the young waiter pushing him to the ground. "I was only being considerate towards you and you get me fired," he shouted.


    Brandon got up from the ground and pulled the young man away from the streets and into the alley. He pinned the man to the wall and choked him by his neck. "Don''t ever make the mistake of touching me if you don''t want me to end you," he threatened in a chilling voice that made the man tremble.

 Chapter 32 - 32

    The young man was afraid that Brandon was going to hurt him. He closed his eyes out of fear, he was used to situations like this but it didn''t make it easier to endure violence. Brandon let go of him and turned away to leave when he noticed that the boy hadn''t moved an inch. He waited for a couple of minutes but the boy was still frozen in place. He sighed and went back to the boy. He pulled him by the hand and stopped a taxi, he forced the boy inside and entered too. He told the taxi where to go and relaxed back on his seat.


    "Listen, Sir, I am sorry," he said in a pleading voice. .


    Brandon ignored him and continued to sleep. The scene at the alley reminded him of the day his life and his happiness went away from him. The day that Zane had come into his life and Reiner left him.


    "How dare you kiss me after kissing that boy. I am warning you Brandon if you ever kiss me again or try to come close to me, I will make you rue that very day for the rest of your life," he recalled and tears rolled down his cheeks. He placed his hand over his heart and tried to calm it down. He missed Reiner so much and every day was hell without him.


    The young man had been watching Brandon the whole time, he saw the change in him. He went from angry to sad in no time and started crying. He felt bad for Brandon, he reached out his hand kept it on top of Brandon''s hand. Brandon opened his eyes when he was touched, he glanced at the man making him withdraw his hand.


    The taxi arrived at the place and a man dressed in black carrying a gun in his waist came to them. "Do you have a visitation card?" he asked the taxi driver.


    "He asked me to drop him here," said the taxi driver not wanting any trouble with the dangerous-looking man. The man went and knocked at the backseat window.


    "Do you have a visa...," he began to ask until he saw who it was when the window rolled down.


    "Sir, welcome home," he said to Brandon. "Open the gates," he shouted and the gates came open bringing into view the enormous mansion that laid behind the walls. There were men dressed in black at every corner of the huge compound. The taxi driver and the young man had their mouths wide open out of pure shock. The mansion was beautiful from the outside and it looked like a palace for a king. The taxi stopped in front of the mansion and they got out of the house and headed inside. One of the guards at the door went and paid the driver before he was asked to live.


    The young man followed Brandon into the house quietly, he was still not sure whether he was dreaming of not. He took in the beautiful architecture of the house and had his eyes everywhere. He was still not sure why he was brought here but he wasn''t objecting in any way. When he met Brandon he could never have known that he was so rich judging by how he was dressed.


    Brandon went into the living room and sat down on his luxurious sofa. The head maid came with six other maids came in with snacks for him. They set it down on the table and bowed before excusing themselves.


    "Your name?" he asked the young man.


    "Kye West," he replied his mouth watering at the food set on the table.


    "Are you hungry Kye?"


    "Yes, a little," he replied. Brandon patted at the space next to him and Kye walked over to him and sat next to him.


    "I was thinking of letting you stay here in this house and giving you everything you can ever want," he said caressing Kye''s jaw. Kye felt uncomfortable and moved back away from Brandon. Brandon pulled him back with so much force that he fell on top of him.


    "You should bear in mind that when I want something I always find a way to have it," he said. "But you can relax, I am not interested in you in that way. But the payment for my generosity will be quite similar to this," he stated and let him go.


    "What do you mean by that?" Kye asked not understanding what the man was saying.


    "I will explain, I want you to seduce a man for me and once he falls in love with you. I want you to break his heart," he explained offering Kye a cup of tea. "What are you willing to do for a million dollars?" he asked him.


    "Wait, you are offering me a million dollars to break someone''s?"


    "If it is a small amount for you then I can add another three million on top of it but that''s my last offer."


    "Done," he agreed immediately. I mean who would turn down four million dollars for any reason.


    "Aright then, I will have a room made ready for you. I will tell you when you can start but until then enjoy the snacks," he got up and went up to his room. He changed his clothes and got into his leisurewear and went for a walk in the garden.


    "You gave me a condition in the past and left before I could fulfill it and prove my love for you. You broke my heart and now it is my turn, the only difference is that you won''t see me coming," he mumbled staring at the distance. "Kye will break your heart and then you will understand what I have had to go through.


    Kye enjoyed the food and praised his lady luck for bringing Brandon into his life. His life would change forever after he gets that four million. He would be rich and he would only have to break someone''s heart. The man must want to get even with his girlfriend after their breakup. Rich people sure had weird ways of spending their money but as long as he gets paid he was okay with seducing some girl.


    " I am in the house," said a cheery voice from the door. Kye turned around to see who it was and came face to face with a handsome man in a blue Italian suit.


    ''Are all his friends hot,'' he thought and stood up to greet him. "Hi, who are you?" the handsome visitor asked.


    "I''m Kye," he replied.


    "I''m Zane and it nice to meet you handsome," he said flirtatiously.


    "He is off-limits. Don''t damage my goods," said Brandon coming into the room.


    "I didn''t know you were seeing someone," he stated.


    "I am not and he doesn''t belong to me. I am going to groom him to be the perfect boyfriend for Reiner," he explained and poured himself some red wine.


    "Brandon, we talked about this and I remember telling you that this is a bad idea. Don''t go through with it because it will come back to haunt you."


    "Don''t worry about me, I can take care of myself."


    "You can take care of yourself but your heart will not. It listens to him more than it does you and when you hurt him, it will hurt you," he said trying to knock some sense into Brandon but the man was in no mood to listen.

 Chapter 33 - 33

    In a night club with loud music and drunk people movingg to the music. Brandon walks in with Zane and Kye, he orders a room and they all head over to the private room. Brandon ordered some red wine for them to drink.They chatted and made conversation to pass the time.


    "We should have a little fun tonight. We are at a club now so let''s get some fun."


    "And what do you have in mind for fun Zane?" asked Brandon curiously..


    "I was thinking that we should go all out, I was thinking that we could get some hot guys and have a good time," he replied and got up. He took Kye with him and they went to the first floor to join the party. Brandon was left alone in the room with his thoughts and red wine. He laid back on the couch and let his mind drift away. His mind was filled with a million thoughts about Reiner and tbs feeling was unbearable.He had to admit that despite all the years apart he still was very much in love with the beautiful boy. His heartbeat picked up as he thought about him.


    He heard the door opening but didn''t open his eyes as he assumed that it was either Zane or Kye that had returned to the room. He kept relaxing on the couch until his heart leaped in his chest. He opened his eyes immediately and glanced at the person who touched him. The place the man had touched was burning him, he strained to look at the man''s face in the dark but he couldn''t make out who he was. He watched the man struggle to get up, he looked drunk and was having a hard time keeping himself up.


    Brandon got up to help him leave the room but he slipped and they both fell on the floor with Brandon being ontop of him. The man shrieked in pain when his head hit the floor. Brandon tried to lift himself up but when he touched the man''s chest he felt his hands on fire. The man held his waist and moved his hands up and down on his back. Brandon felt a warm fuzzy feeling at the spot the man touched.


    "Who are yo...?" he tried to ask but the man locked their lips together and kissed him. The desires that Brandon had pushed down in his heart flickered back to life when the man kissed him. His heart and mind screamed only one name ''Reiner'', the kiss was just like his in every possible way. He couldn''t be wrong and his heart was like a radar that could detect Reiner from a mile. He was the only one that could make his heart excitedlike that.


    He didn''t fight the kiss and granted him access and let him explore his mouth. The man deepened the kiss and it tasted better than the kisses that Brandon had in the past. With the wine and alcohol in their lips the kiss was more hot and passionate. The man ended the kiss as they both panted for breath.


    Brandon took that opportunity to get up from the man and he also got up from the floor. He turned around and planned to leave when Brandon called out to him. "Wait," he said and rushed to him. "You are drunk and unstable, if you don''t mind can I take you home?"


    "Sure," said the man in a husky voice.


    Brandon helped the man walk out of the room, he walked him into the corridor where the lights were on. He glanced at the man''s face but couldn''t make out his features as his long shoulder length hair was covering his face. He took him out of the club and helped him in the car. He took his phone out and texted Zane to let him know that he was leaving. He got in the car and drove away from the club, he stole glimpses of the man sleeping at the back seat through the review mirror. His heart beat raced in his chest every time he looked at the man.


    He drove to his house at the beach in the outskirts of town to have some privacy. He mind was going crazy thinking of possibilities of what could happen if the man really was Reiner. He could imagine how happy he would be to see him again, Reiner would probably ask him to be with him and then all will be well in the well in the world. He got carried away with his joy that he forgot about his revenge and the plan that he had in mind for Reiner.


    He parked the car in the driveway and got out of the car. He rushed to the back seat to help the man in the backseat walk in the house. Once inside be switched the lights on and helped the man to the room on the second floor. He sat on the bed and laid the man carefully on the bed, he reached out his hand and brushed the hair away from the man''s face. His breath hitched and his heart skipped a beat when he saw his face. It was his beautiful boy with only a few improvements on his looks. He looked more manly and handsome but he was just as beautiful as he used to be.


    "Why in the world do you have such long hair?" he asked the sleeping beauty with a smile on his face. "It doesn''t matter if you like it then I love it too," he said and kissed Reiner on his forehead and on both his eyes.


    He walked to his closet and got a few pajamas for himself and Reiner. He got changed and went over to the bed to help Reiner change his clothes. He hesitated to remove the man''s clothes as he has never seen him with out clothes before. His trembling hands reached out to his shirt and began to unbotton the buttons. He removed his shirt and froze to take in his perfect six pack chest with beautiful lines. He brushed his finger on Reiner''s chest and removed it just as fast. He felt electricity run through his body when he touched Reiner''s bear chest.


    "Do you like what you see?" he heard and stopped staring at Reiner. He looked away nervously like a thief caught red handed in the act. His face turned red with blush as he took deep breaths to calm his heart. "If you like so much then take it," Reiner offered.


    Brandon thought about helping him out of his trouser but decided against. He didn''t have the heart to do and let him sleep with his trousers on. He covered Reiner with a blanket and left the room,he went to sleep in the guest room instead and left everything. He was very happy that he had found Reiner after looking for him for so long. Everything was going to fine now that they found each other again after so long. He would finally get the happiness that he deserves and has been longing for, his such will come to an end and he only had to convince Reiner of there love and how much they should be together.


    "I love you Reiner," he whispered and fell asleep.

 Chapter 34 - 34

    Brandon''s p.o.v


    I woke up very early in the morning to get breakfast ready for me and Reiner. I decided to make him some remedy for the hangover he will have when he wakes up. Breakfast sounded cheezy in my headd but I still went for it. I want to surprise him and make him smile first thing in the morning.


    I have made scrambled eggs and a peanut butter sandwich with warm milk. With a plate of sliced fruits to the side. I carry the food to the room and slowly open the door and walk in. He is still sleeping so I set the food by the table and sit down.


    I brush some hair from his face and admire the beauty of the man who stole my heart and broke it. I want to be angry at him but having him so close to me I can''t help but be happy.. I am a lost cause I guess but for now i just want to enjoy this moment and cherish it for a long time.


    "I might have to charge you a dollar for each time you stare at me," he said with his eyes closed making my heart skip a beat. He hasn''t changed much and he still thinks the same way he did back then.


    "Get up I made you breakfast and it might get cold."


    He opens his eyes and looks at me, I freeze and hold my breath in fear. ''What if he hates me and asks me to leave or maybe he will get angry and yell at me for coming in front of him.''


    He picked up the tray and set in front of him and began to eat. I felt relieved when he didn''t scold me but I still had my fingers crossed behind my back. "Did you make this?" he asked and I nodded my head in reply. "It is good. Did something happen between us last night?" he asked and I shook my head to refute.


    "No, you fell asleep the minute we arrived."


    "Sorry," he said apologetically and I mouthed no problem to him. "I will be done soon and then I will repay my debt."


    "What debt? You don''t owe me anything," I say confused at what he was saying.


    "We came here to make love right and I fell asleep so I do owe you that," he said and I choked on my own breath. He has not out grown his shamelessness that''s for sure. How can he say something like that so calmly and with so much ease.


    "Are you alright?"


    "Yes, there is no need for you to worry and you definitely don''t owe me anything," I assured him. I can''t get over how handsome he looks and even his long hair seems to look very good on him. I don''t think that I will ever be able to get enough of him. I feel at peace just seeing him so close to me.


    "Are you sure you don''t want s*x? You are looking at me like you want to eat me," he said and I laughed nervously. Would he find it weird if I told him that I did dream of doing exactly that during the night.


    "I was just thinking that you look handsome now and manly. You have outgrown your beautiful face, I have to admit that you are appealing to the eye now but I preferred my beautiful boy to how you look now," I say and he looks up from his food and directly into my eyes.


    "What do you mean by that? Do I know you?" he asked and my heart stopped beating for a minute. I should have known better than to think that he wasn''t angry. He clearly still hates me for everything that happend in the past. I move closer to him and take his hand in mine and look in his eyes.


    "Love is not displayed in a lover''s words or actions but his eyes. Can''t you look in my eyes and see how much I love you Reiner. I love you so much and I know that you won''t believe me but it is the truth. I have tried to forget you in this year''s that we have been apart but I haven''t been able to. You probably hate me after what happened but please don''t say that you don''t know me. Don''t break my heart by denying me," I pleaded with tears flowing out of my eyes.


    Reiner didnt say anything to my confession and just looked at me. I feel so nervous about what he will say to me next. I just pray that he doesn''t stay angry at me forever, Zane was right. It didn''t matter what I wanted my heart will always side with Reiner over me. I have hated him for eight years and after meeting him for only one night I am already begging at his feet for him to accept my love.


    "I was just joking, how can I forget someone who loves me so much," he says and my heart leaps with joy. I let go of his hug and hug him very tightly close to my chest. I want him to hear the beat that my heart plays only for him. "I love you Rain." I break the hug and let him finish his food.


    "Do you always call me that? Rain I mean?"


    "Only in my dreams or when you are not around. I never got the chance to run the nickname by you so I didn''t call you with it," I replied happily. I haven''t smiled in a long time but he was able to make me smile without doing much. He is the only one for me, I just hope that he understands this.


    "Did you ever miss me?" I ask and he stares at me without saying anything. "Do you hate me?"


    "No, I don''t hate you," he says but I am not convinced. He is acting as though I am a stranger to him, if he doesn''t hate me then why is he so cold torwards me.


    "Then why did you leave me before? Do you know how heart broken I felt when I lost you. I felt so hurt that I started hating you for it, you hurt me a lot back then."


    "I am sorry."


    "Don''t apologize to me now, my pain won''t go away with just an apology but... forget it," I say and leave the room. I rush to the bathroom in my room and splash some water on my face. I can''t believe that I almost asked him for a kiss as an apology. I dry my face and take a deep breath.


    "But what?" I heard in my ear and jerked up. Reiner''s warm hands embraced me from the back. How did he get behind me when I didn''t even hear him come in. "Tell me," he begged and I gave in. I turned around not breaking out of his hold and faced him.


    "But I would be able to feel better if you..you promise not to leave me again," I say and pat my back for the quick improvising.


    "Is that what you wanted to say before because I think that you are lying to me. Whatever you wanted to say before made you blush but this request didn''t," he pointed out and I looked to the ground.


    "I won''t leave you ever again," he said and I hugged him. This is the best day of my life.

 Chapter 35 - 35

    I don''t understand what has happened to Reiner that he has become so sweet. It is like the first time when I met him and not when he was consumed by his anger and jealousy. I am happy that things have gone back to the way things were in the past.


    Time has passed and we have grown up but our love for each other has not changed at all. I am sure that our love has just grown stronger with the distance between us.


    "What are you thinking about?" he asked me when I was lost in my thoughts.


    "I was just thinking about us. In the past, we looked so good together."


    "Do you have any photos I could see? I just want to see how happy we looked."


    "I wish I had a photo of us but I am afraid that I don''t.. We never took any. Can we take a selfie?" I asked him nervously.


    "Sure," he said and I moved closer to him to take the photo. I took the selfie, I held my phone to my chest to cherish the first photo that I have with him. My life feels complete with this photo in my hand. Even if he goes away from me again then at least I have something that I can use to remember him.


    "It''s just a photo. You don''t have to treat it like it is gold," he said and I put the phone down. I want to hold that photo in my arms forever but more importantly, I want to hold him.


    "It might just be a photo but it''s your photo so I love and cherish it a lot," I said in a soft voice and looked away. I sound so cheesy and he probably doesn''t like it. He took my chin in his hand and made me stare straight into his eyes. I feel a blush crawl up my cheeks while staring deep into his eyes. "Don''t ever go to a place where I can''t see you," I said subconsciously.


    He wiped my tears and smiled at me. I get an important call from my secretary asking for my presence at the office. "Reiner, I have to go to the office. Can I drop you home?" I ask him.


    "Is it okay if I come with you instead? I don''t want us to part ways again," he said. His statement made me smile. I nodded my head and allowed him to come with me. I helped him with some clothes from my wardrobe and we leave for the office. This day feels so right, it is how I had imagined my life would be if we were to be together. We would wake up together and have breakfast and escort each other to work and return to each other when the day was over.


    I drove the car at a moderate speed towards the office and park the car in my private parking lot. I get out of the car and opened the door for him, once he is out I lead the way to enter the building.


    "You work here?" he asked me from behind and I nodded my head. "That is so cool, you must make a lot of money."


    "You could say that," I say. I wonder if he will be shocked when he finds out that I own the company.


    We walk in through the door that was build just for my usage and walks. I don''t like seeing people and that is why I had this build. It is also good for privacy since I don''t like gossips about myself. We get to the elevator and I press the button for the top floor.


    The elevator ride was not long so we arrived at the top in three minutes. The door opened and we walked out together. "What is the issue?" I ask my secretary whose name slipped my mind.


    "The newly signed artist of Rhythm is causing problems, Sir."


    "Where is he?"


    "In the conference room with Mr. Zane," she said and my eyes couldn''t help but stare at Reiner to see his reaction. He is not the biggest fan of Zane and who knows how he will react to the fact that Zane is still a part of my life.


    I look at him and he looks calm, he is just looking around the room in awe. "Maybe he didn''t hear her," I whispered and kept walking. Zane is my best friend and Reiner is the man that I love, I would like it if the two of them can try to get along. I hope his jealousy doesn''t take him away from me again.


    I open the conference room and get in as Reiner and my secretary follow behind me. "Oh, you are here. Don''t worry, I already took care of the problem," said Zane as he embraced me in a hug. My heart beats frantically in my chest, the fear of a repetition of the past threatens my heart, and I break the hug quickly.


    "What is the problem, Brandon?"


    "Nothing, if the problem is already fixed then I will leave."


    "Wait, the problem is fixed but there are other things we have to discuss. Let''s go to your office."


    Zane walks past me and froze when he came into contact with Reiner. ''Please don''t fight,'' I prayed in my heart.


    "Reiner," he said in disbelief.


    "That''s me," was the reply that he received. I was shocked to hear Reiner''s reply but also happy that he has learned to let go of his anger and jealousy.


    "It''s nice to see you again."


    "You too old friend," Reiner replied making Zane and I look at each other in surprise. I have a feeling that there is something wrong since when did Reiner ever speak nicely to Zane, and calling him a friend was out of the question for the boy I remember.


    "Reiner, you do remember Zane right?" I ask to taste the waters. It could be that after so long apart he has gotten rid of all the negativity in his heart and has accepted that Zane and I are just friends.


    "Isn''t he our friend? I have been away from I wouldn''t forget my friends," he said seeming nervous to me. I look over to Zane and he has the same suspicion in his eyes. "Yeah, we had been friends for three years so how can you forget me," Zane said and I looked at him confused at what he was saying.


    "Right, one can''t forget three years of friendship," Reiner added.


    Zane pulled me out of the room leaving Reiner and my secretary alone in the conference room. He frowns at me with his eyebrows raised at me. I know what he is trying to ask me but I don''t have any answers to give him. I am also surprised at what just happened.


    "What is wrong with your boyfriend?"


    "First of all he is not my boyfriend," I say not able to hide the blush on my face. "Secondly I have no idea what is wrong with him."


    "It seems to me like he has amnesia or something. I don''t think he knows who I am or else he wouldn''t be too chill and judging by how cool he is with you I don''t think he remembers you either."


    ''That explains why he is so different, it was not because he changed but he must have forgotten the past,'' I thought to myself.

 Chapter 36 - 36

    "What do you plan to do now?" asked Zane concerning the issue at hand. I have to think about it carefully as not to make a wrong decision. " I have a suggestion for you," he said and I listened carefully. "Why not take advantage of this. It seems to me like life has given you a second chance to be with him. Just go along with it."


    "But I have to help him recall the past," I said to him.


    "Why, when fate has given you a chance to be happy then why ruin it. Reminding him of the past is just going to take him away from you. He will go back to being a jealous jerk and nothing good will come out of it."


    "I can''t lie to him, Zane. I love him and love doesn''t cheat or lie.."


    "You have two choices, take the high road and lose him or just think about your happiness and make new sweet memories with him."


    "I can''t be selfish about the matter. But I won''t let him go again, I will help him remember the past and then I will see what to do from there."


    "As you wish but don''t regret this decision In the future."


    I invite Reiner to join us in my office. It was nice to be in his presence and be able to talk to him so peacefully. "I have canceled all the meetings that we can have today. My day belongs to you now," I tell him and he smiled at me.


    "Should we play chess?" asked Zane. I was up for chess but I don''t think that Reiner liked the idea. It was quite clear from his expression that he was not okay with that suggestion.


    "I have an idea, why don''t you and I play chess while Reiner made us something to eat. I have missed his cooking especially his chocolate cake. The kitchen is through that door," I said and guided him.


    He went into the kitchen as Zane set the table for our game of chess. The game of chess is hardly fair since I play chess better than Zane. Even though we have only begun to play I can already tell that I am going to win.


    "Ahh," we heard a scream coming from the kitchen. Without wasting any time at all I went ahead and ran to the kitchen. I found Reiner holding on to the sink while his other hand was holding his head. I ran to him and take him into my arms. He holds his head with both hands and leans on me with tears rolling down his eyes.


    I help him out of the kitchen. "Zane get the car we are taking him to the hospital," I ordered as I carried Reiner in my arms. I leave the office through the main elevator and the main door. All the employees are watching and will probably gossip about this but I don''t care. I just want to make sure that Reiner is alright.


    Zane brings the car around and opens the back seat door. I enter the car with Reiner in my arms. The pain seems to increase and I hold him tighter, my chest tightens seeing him in that condition and I feel a heartache coming on but I ignore it.


    "Drive faster," I scream with my heart at my throat. I can''t lose Reiner after all this while nor can I let anything happen to him.


    "I am going as fast as I can."


    "It is not fast enough," I say and get my phone out of my pocket. I dial the number of the head of the traffic police. "I need the road to the city hospital cleared. My car is stuck in traffic and it is an emergency. Plate number *****." I ordered and cut the call.


    Within a few minutes, the roads to the city hospital were cleared for me to pass. The other cars were stopped by the traffic lights and only my car was let through. This made us go faster and gave me hope of reaching the hospital faster. I can''t wait for Reiner''s pain to be eased.


    We arrive at the hospital and Zane goes inside and comes back with the head doctor to take a look at Reiner. I get him admitted into the best room in the hospital and give the doctors space to take care of him. Zane and I sit outside and wait for the doctor to tell us what is wrong with Reiner. My heart is restless and in chaos after what just happened. I pace up and down at the waiting area and try to think of what could have caused Reiner to suddenly fall sick when he was fine some time ago.


    The doctor returned from the lab. "Hello, which one of you is related to the patient?" he asked the two of us.


    "I am," I replied but couldn''t bring myself to say what relationship we share because at this point I am unsure if we are even in a relationship.


    "Can you please tell me what he was doing before the attack happened?"


    "He was in the kitchen as I had asked him to bake a cake for me."


    "That must what triggered his ECHO system to overflow in his mind. Mr. Devon has been a patient in this hospital for eight years now and as you are aware. Being in the kitchen and trying to cook something he did in the past must have caused his attack. By doing that his mind tried to recall the memory and thus this happened."


    "What do you mean? What sickness is he suffering from?" I asked confused at what he was going on about.


    "Are you not aware of Mr. Devon''s situation? Then I suggest we go to my office as it is a long story. "


    Zane and I followed the doctor to his office to learn more about Reiner''s condition. My heart is racing in my chest wondering what could have happened that could have forced Reiner to be in and out of the hospital for eight years. The walk to the doctor''s office is not long and we arrive there in a few minutes. We go in and take our seats as we wait for the doctor to tell us what the problem is.


    "I will start from the beginning but first I must ask you to identify yourselves and how you are related to the patient."


    "My name is Brandon and he is Zane. We are all friends" I said getting impatient to hear what the problem could be with my Reiner.


    "Brandon, as in Brandon Avery?" he asked and I rolled my eyes at him. I know that I am famous but could he get to the point and tell me what is wrong with him.


    "Yes, we can talk about that later. I will see if I can support the hospital with finds later can we talk about Reiner."


    "That is nice of you to offer but I was not asking because of that. I was asking because that is the name that triggers Reiner''s attacks. It is this name that has troubled him for the past eight years."


    "What do you mean doctor. How is Brandon''s name the cause of Reiner''s condition?" asked Zane taking the words right out of my mouth.

 Chapter 37 - 37

    The doctor sat at his seat as he recalled every detail of Reiner''s case as to narrate it to us, but my heart could hardly wait to hear what he had to say. Whatever he is going to say can either put my mind and heart to rest or kill me. I won''t be able to forgive myself if at all it is true that I am responsible for Reiner''s condition.


    "Ahh, I remember now. It was on a weekday that day when Reiner was brought in by his sister. It was a very scary day for not just the siblings but the whole hospital."


    "Why? What happened?"


    "Reiner was brought into the hospital in a very critical condition. He was having seizures and his heart was acting up in a way that none of us could explain. His sister had placed the whole hospital on lockdown and threatened to ruin the hospital if we didn''t save him."


    *****


    Flashback (8 years ago..)


    "Doctor, I need help!" Rocky screamed as she rushed into the hospital.


    "What is the problem miss?" asked one of the nurses at the hospital.


    "My brother. He is in the car and I have no idea what is wrong with him. He was complaining about pain in his heart and then he suddenly fainted," she explained to the nurses she forcefully pulled her to her car to take a look at Reiner.


    They helped get Reiner out of the car and got him admitted to the hospital but as it was a busy day in the hospital the doctors were all occupied with patients. Rocky sat next to her brother and held on to him as he took heavy breaths. Fear ran down her spine and she lost her mind.


    She couldn''t imagine losing her brother after all that they had been through together. She still had a lot to say to him and make up for. She had just begun redeeming herself as a sister and now life threatened to take her brother away from her. She shouted for the doctor to come and attend to him but the nurses kept giving her excuses. Her blood boiled when there was no one to attend to her brother.


    "Micheal," she shouted and a man in a black suit rushed to her side.


    "Yes miss," he answered.


    "I want every doctor in this hospital attending to my brother now!" she demanded. "And if any one of them refuses then I want you to make sure that even their tenth generation won''t ever forget this day," she added her whole body trembling with anger.


    Micheal went out for a minute and when he returns all the doctors in the hospital were rushing to attend to Reiner. The whole hospital was closed from the windows to the doors and the other patients wondered who the important figure could be that is being treated in the hospital.


    Reiner was taken to the ICU and the doctors and nurses were doing their best to stabilize him but they couldn''t figure out what was wrong with him. His heartbeat was far from irregular and other than that all else seemed to be fine with him. They conducted all the known tests on him and all of them returned negative.


    They put him on oxygen to help him breathe but all their efforts seemed to be in vain. His heart would stop beating for a while and then start the next minute. They had the honor of pronouncing him dead six times only to have his heart start beating again.


    Rocky on the other hand waited outside impatiently. Her head was hurting from all the worrying but she couldn''t help it, she called her father and informed him of what happened to Reiner. She hesitated to call her mother after what the woman had done to her and her brother but with Reiner fighting for his life in the ICU room. She set aside her anger and hatred and gave their mom a call.


    "Hello," said a sweet voice at the end of her call. Rocky tried to get the words out but they were stuck in her throat. She just couldn''t look past the pain that she caused them. "I know that it''s you, Rocky," she said but Rocky remained silent.


    She had not heard that voice in a long time that she had forgotten what her mother''s voice sounded like. "Reiner''s life is in danger at the city hospital," she said in one breath and hung up immediately. All that mattered is that she told her, whether she decided to come or not was entirely up to her.


    She paced up and down. Her mind thought of Brandon and how worried he must be about Reiner. She dialed Brandon''s number on her phone but her hand froze before she pressed the call button. She recalled the big fight that the two had. Her mind raced like lightning at that very moment and many facts were coming up in her mind.


    "Reiner was upset because of him. He wanted to leave because of him, today happens only because of him. He must have done something to Reiner for him to have called me at this hour to pick him up from the school. "


    The last thing Reiner said before he fell sick " He prefers to be with Zane," she recalled her brother''s words.


    "And if I am not wrong he is said to have weird heart disease. Could he have infected my brother with hid disease," she asked herself and gritted her teeth? She wasn''t just angry but her heart was filled with bitterness for Brandon.


    "If anything happens to my brother. I will destroy you, Brandon," she swore. She deleted Brandon''s number from her''s and Reiner''s phone. "If you survive this then I will make sure that Brandon is nothing more than a bad memory for you," she said and sat down.


    "Rocky," she heard a familiar voice call to her from behind.


    "Dad," she said turning around and running to him. She embraced him in a tight hug and let him comfort her. She held on to him tightly as her life depended on it which it did.


    "What happened?" he asked worried about his son.


    "Brandon," was all she gave him as a reply. She buried her head in his chest and enjoyed the warm comfort that he provided. She could feel him getting angry and tensed after she mentioned Brandon''s name.


    Mason Avery knew too well who Brandon was and the relationship he shared with his son. He was in no way against the idea of their relationship as long as Reiner was happy. But that boy had brought nothing but pain to his son''s life that he felt like doing something that he would regret.


    He had watched his son cry a lot since Brandon came into their lives but he stayed out of it but now he would have to do something. He couldn''t allow his son''s life to be ruined because of someone else''s heartlessness.


    "Mason," they both heard and turned towards the voice. "How is my son?" asked the woman in a short blue dress.


    "As you care," Rocky retorted and walked away to get away from her.


    "Lara, I don''t have any news. The doctor is still attending to him," Mason replied. Lara and her husband sat down in the waiting area and waited for the news about Reiner from the doctor.

 Chapter 38 - 38

    It has been over an hour and the doctors had yet to give the Devon family a proper answer to what is wrong with Reiner. The doctors were sweating out of fear for their lives should happen to Reiner and they were blamed for it. They gave all the treatment that they could and prayed for him to get well so that they could find peace themselves.


    Everyone was getting worried for Reiner. Mason summoned all the best doctors in the city to came and attend to his son. And without wasting any time all the invited doctors made it to the hospital in no time. All were given a chance to examine Reiner but even they couldn''t explain what was wrong with him.


    They injected him with sleeping drugs and let him sleep. They transferred him to a private room where they would observe him and give him treatment and his family was allowed to meet him.


    Rocky rushed into the room and went to her brother''s side. She sat on the bed and held her brother''s hands and massaged them. The others walked into the room one by one and took their stand around Reiner''s bed.. The sight in front of them caused them a lot of pain and suffering.


    "Rain, my dear. Open your eyes and.."


    "Didn''t you what the doctor said," Rocky interrupted Lara as she was talking to Reiner. "He needs rest," she added.


    "I heard what he said but what is wrong with me talking to my son?" asked Lara.


    "The fact that you aren''t even ashamed to ask that Is the problem. Your son? Oh please, goodness knows what shameless pill you took before coming to the hospital that has left you with no restraint."


    "What exactly do you mean by that?"


    "Don''t glare at me or question me. You lost that right when you left us."


    "Both of you stop it!" Mason screamed at his daughter and ex-wife. He couldn''t believe how they both can choose this to be the time for them to fight whiles his son was fighting for his life. He felt like throwing all of them out of the room and giving his son peace but he chose to end the fight instead. "Reiner is sick. If you have no way to help him get better then at least don''t make his situation worse," he said and the room went silent.


    *******


    In the present


    "Doctor, you have a patient," announced one of the nurses interrupting the doctor''s story.


    "I will come."


    The doctor excused himself and we let him go. He didn''t tell me much but from his story I at least understand something. Reiner thought I would be happier with Zane and that is why he decided to leave but his heart wanted to stay with me and reacted the same way mine does when I think of losing him. But why does he not remember anything if the problem was with his heart? I still have yet to understand why the doctor said that my name was the trigger of his condition.


    Zane got a phone call and went out to receive it. And I was left alone in the room with the nurse that had asked the doctor to leave. I don''t know why he is still here or why he is looking at me so strangely but at this point, I don''t care. ''I just want to know what is wrong with him,'' I thought.


    "Knowing what is wrong with him won''t do you any good," said the male nurse.


    "What?"


    "Even if the doctor narrates his life for the past eight years to you it won''t help you or him. It won''t stop him from dying either," he said and I stood up. I glared at him as if to kill him with my eyes. He has some nerves to say that My Reiner is going to die. How dare he make such assumptions to me, if he says something like that again. He will not make it out of this room alive if I have something to say about it.


    "Don''t even try that nonsense and before you ask me what I am going on about I should probably warn that I can read your mind. So don''t attempt to kill me for speaking the truth."


    "How can you be so sure that he will die?"


    "Because it is destined. When the two of you strayed away from the path that destiny had written for you, his lifespan was cut short."


    "What? What are you talking about?" I asked worried about the loose screws on the guy''s head. I wonder where this hospital found such a crazy nurse or why he is licensed to work in a hospital when he should be locked away in the mental asylum.


    "The thing is right now you both were supposed to be happily married with a son. But because of going away from the destined path, you are both suffering now. His case is worse because he cut ties with you and now your bond is killing him," he said in all seriousness and I think I am beginning to believe him but not so much since he is speaking a lot of rubbish.


    "And you know this how?"


    "That is not important. What is important is what you are willing to do to save your love?"


    "Nothing, because he is not my love," I said sure that Reiner would probably not like it if I go around telling people that he is mine in any way.


    "It is that stupidity that has him on the hospital bed and if you wish to join him then keep that mentality. It doesn''t matter whether he likes it or not the fact won''t change that the two of you are destined partners. Your hearts are linked in one heartbeat and when one strays from the other it will stop beating. In this case, Reiner''s heart, body, and mind are giving out because he tried to break the link."


    "But if breaking the link is causing this can''t you just fix the link?" I asked going along with his theory which at least explains this weird thing between Reiner and me.


    "Of course because I am a magician," he said sarcastically. "The link the two of you share is called a true love tie. Such a tie is not easy to come by, it is born from the act of true love in a past life. From it, destiny blesses the lovers the chance at love again but with the bond of their past love." he continued making my head spine trying to understand a word that he said.


    "For the link to be broken or fixed it has to be done by either one of the lovers. No outsider can interfere in this," he said.


    "Then what do I have to do?"


    "Make a wish," he said and I almost burst out laughing. I think that this nurse has watched a lot of fairy movies growing up that he has completely lost his senses. I too have lost my mind to be listening and contributing to this.


    "To save Reiner won''t you give my suggestion a try. I have seen you fight death for him, then how hard can it be for you to believe me if it ends up saving him?" he asked and I eyed him with worry. A part of me was saying scream for help but the other part wanted to listen.


    "When did I fight death for him?" I asked him.


    "How do you think you earned the bond of true love tie in your past life?"

 Chapter 39 - 39

    ''I am crazy,'' I screamed in my head as I followed the weird nurse to the hospital room. He might throw me off the building but here I am following behind him like an obedient student.


    "What now?" I asked him once we were standing It the roof. I looked down and the ground was so far that I was feeling dizzy just looking down.


    "You have to make a wish."


    "I wish to save Reiner''s life," I said and he shook his head in disapproval..


    "That is not how you do it. The wish has to include you both, say I wish to undo our mistake and fulfill our intended destiny," he said and I said the exact words he asked me to say.


    I stand around for a few minutes with nothing happening. It didn''t work which I knew it wouldn''t but at least I can scratch that on my attempts to save Reiner. I decided to give him another minute before I go down to see Reiner.


    Just as I turned around to leave bright strings came from his pockets and he started knitting. He was using his hands to guide the strings to move in the air into whatever he is trying to make. ''And he says that he is no magician," I thought as I watched the beautiful movements of the strings. He kept performing his trick and out of it came a flower with all the colors of the rainbow.


    I clapped for him for the amazing show that he put on for me. He might not have saved my love but he made me happy and less worried. And with a clear mind, I will be able to think of a solution to help him. "Thank you," I said feeling grateful.


    "Don''t thank me yet. My job is far from over," he stated matter-of-factly.


    I turn around to leave the mad magician to his madness but I freeze in my steps. I found that I was no longer on the roof of the hospital but in what looked like my brother Logan''s room. I would know as I have always desired his room for it was the biggest and had everything that a teenage boy would ever need to have the best time.


    I glance back at the magician who is making himself comfortable on the bed. "Where are we?" I asked just to make sure that I wasn''t hallucinating and that he could also see that we are not in the hospital anymore.


    "The question is not where are we but when are we," he said and my heart dropped to the bottom of my stomach.


    "W...what do you mean by that?" I asked nervously. I had a weird feeling that I was not going to like what he was going to say next.


    "Your wish took us all back to the time when the two of you have yet to stray from your destiny. Now you get a do-over," he said and I wish that I had not asked my question.


    I don''t ever want to relive all the bad that Reiner and I went through. I am not sure at what point in time he has taken us back to or what my relationship with Reiner is like. I must find out. I walk to the door to leave and go check on my love but then I hear my father and my brother''s voice and freeze.


    In the past, I was not allowed to enter my brother''s room as I pleased. It made my father very angry, if the two of them catch me and that crazy nurse in here then my life will be over even before it starts. "We have to go," I say dragging the nurse by the hand to the window.


    We are on the third flow but I think that we might survive if we jump. But if we are caught in this room then death is the only thing I see in our future. I climb up the window first and try to jump but the distance down is so big that I can''t bring myself to jump.


    "What do you think that you are doing?" I heard my father ask in worry and swallowed hard. "Get down from there," he ordered and helped me down.


    I stared at my father with disbelief written all over my face. This was the first time that the man had ever done anything for me. He not only helped me but showed concern for me which means that he noticed me. Tears of joy flowed down my eyes as the happiness of having been noticed for the first time by my dad filled my body.


    "Why are you crying, my dear boy? Did someone do something to you?" he asked me again but I was too shocked to believe the word that came out of his mouth. How can he be the same man that I know who never found me worthy of even a second of his but today he is showing concern and is giving me his time.


    "Logan, what did you say to your brother?" my father shouted bringing me out of my earlier shock into yet another one. Did the great Marco Avery just shout at the apple of his eye for me or any dreaming? I eyed the two of them suspiciously wondering what game they were playing.


    "But I have been with you the whole morning father. When would I have said anything to him?" Logan defended himself. The weirdest thing of all is that my father still glared at him in distrust as though he did not believe him.


    "Then maybe that ill-mannered sister of yours must have done it. I just don''t understand why you are so envious of your brother''s success. Brandon is the pride of this family and the two of you simply have to accept that," he said and dragged Logan out of the room.


    I couldn''t help but look at the nurse to explain the weird thing that my eyes had just witnessed.


    "What was that? Why did my dad shout at his favorite son and what did he mean by I am the pride of the family?" I asked getting straight to the point.


    "Well, you wanted to walk your destined path. The wish you made was so that the two of you don''t break the tie and Reiner doesn''t die. This is just one of the prices you paid for the wish."


    "Price? You never mentioned anything about a price earlier. And you still have not explained to me exactly what is going on," I state in anger at this new information that he left out earlier.


    "You are a businessman. You of all people shouldn''t need to be told that everything in life has a price. For one to live another must doe and for one to find love another must receive hate. You being unloved by your parents made you weak and you allowed others to walk all over you including Reiner. Had you had the backbone to tell him no he would not have strayed from the path and hence your wish got you that love. You are the apple of your mother and father. You are a superstar as your mother wanted and an aspiring businessman like your dad wishes," he said and paused to let me absorb everything he was saying. My jaw fell from shock with all the things he was saying.


    "As you are now the beloved child of the Avery family it is only natural that your brother and sister are unloved and neglected. You have what you have always desired at the expense of those who had it. With you having all the love and attention you won''t need to become nobody and hence Zane won''t come into your life and without Zane, no major misunderstandings will occur between you and Reiner," he explained.

 Chapter 40 - 40

    I feel sad that I won''t have a friend as great as Zane in my life again. Today is my sixteenth birthday once again and unlike before my whole family wished me a happy birthday first thing in the morning. My dad has everyone running around to make this day special for me.


    He has promised that there would be a grand party later on to celebrate my birthday and everyone who is anyone has already received an invitation to the party. All this attention and love is new to me and I can''t say that I dislike it that much, having my parents notice me and shower me with love feels nice.


    I get dressed quickly because I still need to go to the cafe and meet Reiner. I have to see him again and just the first time I want to fall in love with him again but this time I won''t let him go away from me so easily. Jack the man who brought me back to the past was able to convince my family to stay by my side as my bodyguard. Until he unites me and Reiner together has is stuck here with me.


    I wear blue jeans and a simple white shirt with white sneakers. Leaving the house with Jack by my side we walk down the streets towards the cafe. My heartbeat increased the beat as I took a step closer to the cafe.. We finally reached the door of the cafe that held the pages of my incomplete love story.


    Pushing the door open I take a long breath to relax my anxious body. I walk over to the last seat in the corner and settle down as my eyes wonders around the cafe trying to find him. Jack takes a seat next to me, he picks up the menu and calls for a waiter.


    ''This is it,'' my heart screams with happiness. He will come and talk to me.


    The waiter comes in from the back and stands next to me. My heart falls to the bottom of my stomach with disappointment as he is not Reiner. "Kye," I call out subconsciously wondering what could have gone wrong.


    "Yes," he answers making me conscious of the situation. My eyes drift to Jack and I send him a dark look as I am ready to incinerate him.


    "Why are you here? Where is Reiner?" I ask him.


    "..."


    He stands there and looks at me with suspicion. I don''t understand why he is giving me that look and I don''t care as I just want to meet the love of my life right now.


    "Can he serve us please," I say when he refuses to say anything?


    "Uhh, Reiner doesn''t work here," he tells.


    "But Rocky owns the cafe and he likes to come by and help her outright?" I ask with desperation oozing out of every word from my mouth. Jack has changed so much in my past that nothing seems to be going according to the original line.


    "I will be back," he says and walks away.


    I turn and glare at Jack who acts like he has no idea why I am glaring at him. I seriously can''t believe that I listened to him and let him ruin my life like this. First, he took Zane away from me, and now Reiner and I might never get to meet. He claims that he came into my life to fix everything but why does it feel like he just made everything worse. I should have just stayed in the hospital with Reiner and helped him recover instead of listening to a stranger and have my life turn upside down.


    "Why are you glaring daggers at me?" he asks.


    "What do you mean why. You have ruined everything," I mumbled.


    Kye comes back from the back and behind him is the beautiful boy that makes my heart skip a beat. He looks different from the first day that I saw him. He has long hair just like he did in the hospital. His hazel eyes looked so gorgeous in the morning rays that came from the glass windows. My breath hitched and my heart stopped as everything around me seems to be going in slow motion. His hair bounces on his shoulder as he walked a step closer to our table. My eyes watched his every movement not wanting to miss anything.


    "I heard you were looking for me," he said in his melodious voice that sent a shiver down my spine. My heart reacted with excitement and increased Its pace in my chest.


    "Hello," he told shaking his hand in front of my face to get my attention. I pinched myself to be attentive. "Why were you looking for me?" he asked slightly irritated.


    I got up from my seat and pulled him into a hug. It felt like forever that I got to hold him in my arms and not worry about him lashing out at me. Just to have him near me and by my side with nothing to hold me back from being close to him was like a dream come true.


    "I missed you so much," I whispered to him sweetly with a grief wide smile on my lips to compliment the warmth that I was feeling inside. I held on to him tightly, I didn''t want to ever let him go again.


    He breaks the hug, he stares at me. "Who are you?" he asked and I could hear all the sound of my heart-shattering in my chest. My heart broke into a million pieces when he asked who I am. The realization that he probably doesn''t know who I am stung my heart. I bit my lower lip to prevent the tears that had gathered in my eyes from flowing down my cheeks.


    "He is Brandon," I heard Jack say. I would feel grateful to him for saying something when I couldn''t with the words stuck to my throat but right now I feel like murdering him. He made the one person that I love forget who I am and now I am stuck unsure of what to do.


    "Why did you want to see me? And why did you hug me when we are not friends?" he asked me, that statement that he said reminded me so much of the time when he distanced himself from me. How he expressed repeatedly that we weren''t friends and that there was nothing between us. The thought itself made my heart ache with so much pain that bitting my lip couldn''t stop my tears from flowing.


    My tears flowed down my cheeks and I let them. Being rejected by someone who means the world to you is so painful but not as painful as looking at them and gave them look back at you like a stranger. I had seen this look in him even before he forgot about me and it doesn''t hurt less today. The pain still hurts the same as it did before even though I know that he didn''t plan to hurt me.


    "What a heartless monster. You broke him, Reiner," I heard and turned my head to see where the voice came from. I stood aghast with my eyes popping out of their sockets in shock from who it was that spoke.


    "I haven''t even said anything to him. It is not right for you to accuse me," Reiner said in his defense. "Zane, I swear I haven''t said anything to him. You can ask Kye if you don''t believe me," he added.

 Chapter 41 - 41

    Reiner''s p.o.v


    The weird boy left the cafe with his friend. Meeting him was the weirdest thing that ever happened to me. He seemed to know so much about my friends and even my sister.


    "I think that he was a stalker," Zane said and I nod my head in agreement. There is no way he would know so much about me if he didn''t stalk me.


    "But why do you think he is stalking me?" I ask him. He shares a look with Kye and he just raises his shoulder and goes back to eating his pie. I hate when the two of them are together, it always feels like they are having a secret conversation that I can''t understand. They understand each other without even having to utter a single word to each other..


    "Does any of you care to explain that conversation you just had?"


    "Well we shouldn''t have to explain," says Kye. I don''t understand why they are keeping me in the dark instead of just telling me what is going on.


    "It is quite clear if you ask me," Zane added.


    "I don''t get it so why don''t you fill me in."


    "Try to figure it out. It is very simple," he said. I wreck my mind to find the answer to the question but I can''t figure out what is. Why would that boy stalk me, what is it that could make him want to know so much about me.


    "Help him before he overuses his brain. Overthinking it will take him further away from the truth," Kye stated.


    "Okay but you tell him."


    "Reiner, the reason is simple that boy is in love with you," he said and I froze. My hand trembled and the cup of coffee I was holding fell to the ground. "People only want to know more about the ones they love," he added driving my mind into chaos.


    "N..no..no it can''t be true," I said not willing to accept what he just said. Brandon and I are both boys so it is not possible for him to love me. How can two boys be in love with each other?


    "Why not? All the signs are there. It wouldn''t take a genius to see the love in Brandon''s eyes for you," Zane said taking my shaking hands into his.


    "Two bo..boys can..can''t be together in that way," I struggled to say.


    "But why? Kye and I are like that with each other. We love each other and we are in a relationship," I said and I agree that the two of them are a match made in heaven but this is different.


    "This is different," I say voicing out my opinion.


    "How is it different Rein?" asked Kye.


    I stand up and walk to the window. Why can''t the two of them understand that there is a difference between their situation and what they are insinuating? It can''t be possible that Brandon is in love with me, he must have thought I was someone else that is why he reacted the way that he did.


    "It just is," I say not able to come up with a reason why.


    "The truth can''t change just because you find it difficult to accept," Zane commented.


    "I never knew you are a homophobe Rein," Kye said making me turn to face him. How could he possibly think that I am homophobic when I am not. I have never judged anyone for their choice in love especially not my dearest friends. I love that they love each other so much and if ever I get into a relationship I want it to just like theirs.


    "No Kye," I shouted as I stepped closer to him. "I am not like that, I would never," I say in my defense hoping that my friends don''t get the wrong impression of me because of this.


    "Then what problem do you have with the idea Of that Brandon boy being in love with you."


    "I...I...I don''t know," I answer honestly.


    "Stop it, Kye, you are making our baby emotional."


    "I was just joking around Zane. Who would have thought that he would be so sensitive," he said and they both began to laugh.


    "You both," I yelled and they just continued to laugh. Life is always like this with these two. They find a way to tease me and then laugh at me, I too can''t get mad at them since I make it easy for them to do this. If only I was not so gullible then they would not have such moments to tease me.


    "Admit it though, you are scared that Brandon is in love with you," he said.


    "A little bit. Enough talk about Brandon now."


    Brandon is a bit weird and what they say it''s true that he indeed did resemble a lovesick puppy when he was in front of me. He looked like he was seeing his long-lost love after a very long time. The truth is strange but I have to accept it. Just because he loves me doesn''t mean that I have to reciprocate his love. It also doesn''t mean anything since I probably won''t see him again.


    We finish our food and went ahead to play some video games with Zane winning every one of them. I feel happy being with my friends and it is the best time of my life to be with them but I can''t shake the thought of Brandon out of my head. The hurt expression on his face and the tears he shed.


    It felt like he was in so much pain and it was because of me. Not just that but when he cried the weirdest thing happened to me. He was the one hurt but my heart for a minute felt the pain. I didn''t say anything about it to my friends because they would only tease me about it.


    "Are you thinking about Reiner," I heard in my ear and turned around to look at Zane?


    "N..n..no," I say.


    "Then why are stuttering?" he asked.


    I shut my eyes and tune him out. It is bad enough that I can''t stop thinking about Brandon. I don''t need him in my head making it worse.


    "Maybe he is thinking about that actress we met on the cruise. They kinda hit off," Kye said and I glared at him.


    "Yes, she was like. Oh! Reiner, my sweet darling. Take my hand," Zane said imitating that stupid actress who could not stop clinging to my hand and saying sweet things to me. She irritated me more than anything especially since she gave Zane and Kye an excuse to pick on me and tease me about it every chance they get.


    "I am telling you now. You two will be the last people I tell when I start dating if you don''t stop teasing me," I warned and smiled victoriously as that shut them up. It always feels so nice to win one on them even if it happens once in a full moon.


    We continue with the games and make small conversations in between our games. Just chilling for the rest of the day as we all didn''t have anything else to do.

 Chapter 42 - 42

    Brandon''s p.o.v


    I left the cafe in a hurry as my heart could no longer bear the pain of not being remembered by my love. It was okay for me back then when he hated me even if his hatred was misplaced. At least he knew that I existed and showered his feelings on me be it love or hate. But now, he doesn''t even know who I am or that we had met and fell in love at some point and this pain is unbearable.


    I wish that I could go back to the future and never make the decision to fix anything. If not then I should at least find a way to warn my future self from making this mistake in haste. The past is not as it was and it has changed so much, I would rather have that other life where no one loved or cared for my existence as long I had Reiner''s love.


    I have all the love from the ones around me that I lacked before but the one who''s the love I wish for the most doesn''t even know me. I made that wish to be with him but I ended up sending him further away from me than he already was..


    The truth is hard to accept especially when it comes with such a painful ache in the heart. It is also not easy to ignore it when I feel it everywhere in my body. "Be careful," Jack cautioned getting me away from the road.


    My mind and heart are not in their right senses after everything that has happened. It has all happened so fast that I never allowed myself to properly understand it all. First of all, Reiner came back into my life, then he fell sick and I had to rush him to the hospital. The truth about his health which I never got the chance to know fully due to Jack walking into my life. Then the wish that I made and got sent back to a past that was never mine. Then Zane being taken from me only to come into my life as Reiner''s friend and lastly my love Reiner, doesn''t even recognize me.


    All this is too much for me to handle all at once. No one ever told me that love hurt as much as mine does or is it only my choices in life that have made my love so painful. Because not being remembered is the most painful thing that can ever happen to a person. This pain I feel is one that I would not even wish upon my enemy if I had one.


    In normal cases I would try to help him remember what happened between us but how do you remind someone about something that has yet to happen. "Don''t lose hope yet. You can still make Reiner fall in love with you," he said.


    I want to believe that I can win over Reiner''s heart and fix everything that has gone wrong from that wish I made but my heart is just tired. Tired of fighting the same battle each time ending up on the losing end. Fighting for my love is the only battle in life that has proven impossible. Be it in the life I have already lived it the one I am in right now.


    In each of these lives being with Reiner has proven quite a difficult task. But that doesn''t mean that I am going to give up, I just need a time out for my heart to heal from the wounds that reality has inflicted upon it.


    If only someone took the time to warn me that wishes have a way of haunting you and they come with a price then I would have thought twice before choosing to make that wish. I simply wanted an easier and quicker solution in solving Reiner''s problem but little did I know that I was digging a bigger hole for myself than the one I was already in. I can''t even blame Jack for what is happening because I too allowed myself to get swayed and made the wish. If anyone is to blame for all my pain them it is none other than me.


    I am responsible for everything. I fall to the ground when my body gives out, it feels like I have lost the most important battle in life before the war began.


    "Get up Brandon, don''t let yourself be defeated just yet. Yes, I know that right now things don''t look too good. Everything is not in your favor but you can''t give up. Don''t forget that it is always darkest before the brightest morning," I heard Jack say.


    His words all sound comforting and encouraging but just for today, I want to forget about fighting. I want to concentrate on letting myself feel all the negative emotions in my heart because if I let myself bottle them up then I am afraid that the pain will destroy me. I will get back up and fight tomorrow.


    "Get up Brandon please."


    I lay on the ground and look up to the sky. The blue sky brings a sense of peace and serenity to my troubled soul. It calms me down and allows me to let go of all my worries. It feels as though it is whispering "All will be well," in my ear.


    I let my thoughts wander to the memories that I once shared with Reiner. It is as if it was a lifetime ago that we knew each other and the feeling of him being a million miles away from me is getting stronger and more terrifying for my weak heart.


    His eyes and smile are all too familiar to me. That sinister smile that he always had on his face before he teased me. The way his eyes glowed when he succeeded in making me blush and the way that he used to take of me when my heart acted up. I can never forget my strange beautiful boy who acted like he didn''t want me around but never pushed me away when I went close to him. His thoughtfulness in understanding what I wanted, though it felt without me having to say anything is what makes my heart skip a beat every time that I see or think of him.


    It is this very memory that has kept me going for the eight years that we were apart and they will give me the strength to fight for you and make new similar memories with you. The memories of our love will ensure that the fire of love that burns within my heart will never be extinguished for eternity. I will hold into your love until the day that you show me to ask me to let go.


    "Every drop of blood in my body loved you, Reiner. And I will keep loving you until there is no more blood pumping in my body. As long as my heart beats it will beat only for you," I whispered to the sky and myself but I am sure that Jack heard it too.


    And once I successfully win you over then I will not hold myself back from shouting for the whole world to hear about my love. I will show you so much love that you will have no choice but to love me back the same way that I have grown to love you.

 Chapter 43 - 43

    Brandon laid down on his bed drowning in the pain of his choices. He had a lot of what-ifs running through his mind. His tears flowed down his cheeks, not being remembered by Reiner was too painful for him to bear.


    Jack laid there right next to him helpless on what to do. He tried to use his thread to return them all to the future but his thread refused to work. He couldn''t travel to the future. This was something that had never happened to him before. He tried to get his sister to help him but he was unable to contact her.


    Stuck in a time and life that was not his was not planned and it made him restless. He too couldn''t understand why this is all happening. He only said those things to Brandon before to look like he was in control but that wasn''t true. The truth is that the past was not supposed to change at all, everything was supposed to happen exactly as it did before but for some reason, everything changed completely..


    He knew that there was a reason the plot changed. Something must have been added to Brandon and Reiner''s love story. Whatever it was must be very important to their love that it missing the first time might be the reason the two strayed away from each other. He wrecked his mind to figure out what missing piece of the puzzle was added and how. It was him who brought them back to the past. He wrote the moment they would return to but he couldn''t figure out what was happening.


    He thought that with Brandon not being Nobody that Zane might have accidentally been erased from the story but he is still around. The only difference is that he is Reiner''s friend and not Brandon. He was not the reason the story changed because he in both cases has been there to support their love.


    "What could it be?" he asked himself but Brandon heard him. He came out of his thoughts and looked at Jack. He might not have said anything but he had noticed the worried look on Jack''s face for a while now. His curiosity got the better of him and he decides to ask what the problem was.


    "What are you thinking about?" he asked.


    "Just trying to find the plot hole. What has changed in your love story," Jack replied subconsciously. "What do you mean by that?"


    "Can''t you tell that things have changed? I am stuck here powerless as my powers have stopped working and things are happening in contrast to the first time. Something else needs to happen this time, one that directly affects you and Reiner but what?" He said. He was so lost in his thoughts that words just poured out of his mouth.


    Brandon listened carefully to what Jack was saying. He didn''t understand most of it but he did get what he was trying to say. This change caught them both off guard and he was trying to figure out how to get it back on track. He too thought about the changes that have happened but couldn''t figure it out. For one he had no clue what to look for so whether he found the answer or not he couldn''t tell.


    He sat up on the bed and snapped Jack out of his thoughts and asked to sit up. "Things have changed and now we are both stuck here. Staying in bed and mopping over spilled milk is not going to help anyone. I think that we just have to fix everything ourselves." he said to Jack.


    "But how?"


    "Simple, I have to make Reiner fall for me and you are going to help me. And while we do that maybe we will figure out what else has been added to the story but that is only possible if there is a story. So first thing first is to get me and Reiner back together."


    "That is one way to go about it but mind you if we can''t solve the new puzzle to the story then the whole story might come apart," Jack warned.


    "Then we just have to be on the lookout for clues. And by we, I mean you because I have no idea how to do that."


    "You are right. The most important thing here is you and Reiner, as your love story plays out I might figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. So let''s do it," he said determinedly.


    The two of them spent the rest of the day thinking of ways that they could make Reinet fall for Brandon. They all wrote ideas down on their notepads with the thought of trying them all out to see which one would work.


    ****


    "You should call him," Zane said to me when I was done with my piano practice.


    "Call who?" I asked him feigning ignorance. I know exactly who he wants me to call. He and his boyfriend have left no stone unturned to tease me about Brandon and they do it every single chance they get.


    "Brandon who else. Call him, you know you want to."


    "I am not interested in talking to him," I said hoping to end the conversation.


    "And yet you can''t stop thinking about him," he said making me glare at him.


    "I have not been thinking about anyone. And what reason do I have to think about him anyway?"


    "I know that you are thinking of him because you have all the signs. I am speaking from experience. Remember when Kye confessed his feelings for me, I too thought it was weird and I couldn''t accept that a boy was in love with me. But I was curious about the idea that I kept thinking about it all the time until I decided to give it a try just for the sake of it. But look at me now, I am floating on the wings of love," he said. I didn''t know what to say about how to refute his accusations. The truth is that I have been thinking about Brandon since yesterday.


    His thoughts are the only ones that have occupied my mind. I even had a dream about him.


    "I am not you and nothing of the sort has happened to me."


    "You missed a note today while you played and I have noticed you have been thinking a lot today. What the matter then if you aren''t thinking about the cute heir of the Avery family?"


    "I was just thinking about life," I told. It is a lie but it is better than feeding the God of teasing with more reasons to make my life hard with his teases.


    "Then why did you write his name repeatedly on your homework assignment?" he asked. I know he is teasing me so I am not going to react and give him the satisfaction he seeks. There is no way I did that, he just wants to find out if I have been thinking about Brandon.


    "I have done no such thing," I say confidently.


    "How about we make it interesting. If in case it turns out that you did write his name as the answer to all the questions then you have to give him a call and ask him out. And if not then Kye and I won''t tease you about him ever again," he proposed.


    "Deal," I said not giving him a chance to go back on this one-in-a-lifetime pass. A chance to get them to stop teasing me is a chance that I can''t pass on.


    He reached for my math book and opened it to the homework assignment we did earlier. He grinned and showed me the page. My eyes went wide with shock when I saw Brandon''s name everywhere on the paper.


    "I think you have a boy to ask out for a date. Should I dial for you?" he asked but I was too surprised by what I did to reply to him.

 Chapter 44 - 44

    I held the phone to my ear nervously. Zane had dialed Brandon''s number which he got from Jack the man he was with before they left the cafe. My palms are sweaty out of nervousness. I have never asked anyone out for a date and now just because of my stupidity, I have to ask a guy out. I feel so gay.


    "Hello," Brandon greeted as the call went through. I remained silent unsure of what to say in such a situation.


    "Hello," he said again. "I''m hanging up the phone if you don''t want to talk."


    "No wait," I said before he cut the call. "I wanted to talk to you," I added..


    "Reiner," he called out. How does he know it is me when I haven''t introduced myself to him yet? I ask myself.


    "Yes, it''s me. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out sometime."


    "Hang out? Like on a date?" he asks and I say yes.


    "When and where?"


    "I don''t know yet, I thought of asking you first."


    "How about in an hour at the park," he says and I agree not having another option.


    I know for a fact that Zane would kill me if I back out from the deal. He is not the forgiving type so it is better if I just do my part. It can''t be that bad to go on a date with a boy. I will not think of it as a date but just meeting a friend at the park just like I do with Zane and Kye.


    ''But Zane and Kyle don''t have romantic feelings for me,'' I thought.


    It is going to be weird being around Brandon when he considers me to be the object of his fantasies or however gay people view the boys they love. I texted Zane to let him know that I made plans with Brandon and of course he flooded my inbox with nonsense about being proud that his baby had found love. He then went on about how I have grown up so much.


    He speaks such nonsense when the two of us are both the same age. I might even be older than him for all we know and yet he talks as though he is father and I am his son. I put my phone down head in to taking a shower. I get out of the shower and look through my walk-in closet to find the best clothes one would wear to a date.


    I wreck my closet but I can''t seem to know what is okay for the date or not. I have never worked so hard in my life to dress to impress and for some reason, I want to dress to impress Brandon. I have this feeling of wanting him to like what I wear for goodness knows what reason. It is silly that I am seeking a boy''s approval in what I wear but I can''t help it.


    I end up putting on a black durag on my head and I wear a white tracksuit with black sneakers. I pick up my phone and make my way out of the house. Getting into my car I drive out of the compound and towards the direction of the park. I arrive some few minutes after and I park the car.


    Looking at myself in the review mirror I make sure that my face looks good before stepping out of the car. I am a bit early and will probably have to wait a while before Brandon shows up. I don''t even know why I rushed here to meet him, he is just a stranger to me but he is already influencing my train of thoughts and actions.


    "Reiner," I heard someone scream my name. I looked up in the direction of the voice and see Brandon in the park seating on a mat with what looks like a picnic basket. I lock my car and slowly make my way to him.


    "Hi," I said when I got him and sat down on the mat. "Hi."


    "When did you get here?" I ask trying to make a conversation.


    "Half an hour ago," he says surprising me.


    He unpacks the basket and I just watch him. He is the son of the influential Avery family, his family is rich and he probably had everything that he can ever desire in life so why is he interested in me. We have never even met before yesterday and he acts as though we have known each other forever. He rushed here when I called and waited for him.


    The rumors speak of him as someone who values his time above all else and hates to waste it. But he came here and is with me just to have a date. I don''t know whether to feel honored or not.


    "How do you know me, Brandon?" I asked out of curiosity.


    "We met before on my bir..." he began to say but stopped and stared at me as though he had said something he shouldn''t have. He didn''t even finish his sentence. I am dying to know how he knows me and what I could have done that made him fall in love with me a boy when he probably a long list of girls who would kill just to be with him.


    "I saw you at the cafe," he said changing what he wanted to say earlier. "Here, have some cake," he offered. I accepted the cake from him with the cup of tea.


    "So you just saw me and fell in love with me?"


    "Who says that I am in love with you?" he asked. I looked down and avoided his eyes out of embarrassment for assuming things. The fact that he asked me that is proof that he doesn''t like me. He probably just wanted us to be friends, Zane and Kye must have misunderstood him and confused me.


    "Sorry," I apologize.


    "For what? You are right, I am in love with you. I was just teasing you. You looked so cute," he says and my jaw dropped.


    Am I so gullible that I fall for prey to everyone who wants to tease me? Even a stranger is pulling one on me just like Zane and Kye do all the time. ''Wait, did he say that he loves me?''


    "I...I don''t know what to say to that."


    "Then don''t say anything, when you figure out what to say then you can say it. I will wait and listen," he says and takes a sip of his tea. His words of confession and his being so understanding make my heart skip a beat.


    "Sure," I say to mask the weird reaction just had.


    The date continued well, we talked and got to know each other better. It felt so nice to talk to Brandon. It felt like he understood me so well, more than my best friend does. I can''t explain it but it was as though he could read my mind and know what I wanted to say even before I said it. Just like Zane and Kye understand each other without saying anything to each other.


    Zane and Kye have been together for a long time so that is normal but is it possible to share such a strong connection with a stranger? Was Zane right when he said that Brandon and I were like him and Kye?


    I shake my head and clear my head and stop my thoughts from going down a dangerous path.

 Chapter 45 - 45

    Brandon took Reiner to his car after the picnic. He gave him a set of changing clothes as he didn''t like to see his love in the clothes that he was wearing. He gave him white shorts with a blue shirt, Reiner looked at him after changing and he looked pleased.


    "What was wrong with my previous clothes?" he asked.


    "Nothing was wrong with them. They just didn''t suit you. Now you look handsome," Brandon complimented.


    "Why did I have to change when I am just going back home from here?" Reiner asked.


    "Who says that I am going to let you go so easily. I have a surprise for you. Shall we?".


    Reiner got into the passenger seat while Brandon got behind the wheel. He drove away from the park and towards the city. There was something that he wanted to do with Reiner before he let him leave. Everything was going to be fine as long as he didn''t lose hope in his love and kept fighting.


    He glanced at Reiner and he smiled with happiness. The butterflies in his stomach wouldn''t stop flapping their wings. He was so happy and anxious at the same time. He just wishes that Reiner likes what he has planned for the two of them.


    Reiner sat there waiting to see where Brandon was taking him. He was curious to know what the surprise was but he didn''t want to appear desperate in front of Brandon by asking and just waited patiently.


    "Are we almost there yet?"


    "We will be there soon," Brandon replied.


    "But the sun is setting and we are going far away from the city. How are we going to get back, will you drive at night?"


    "Don''t worry about it Rein, I will take good care of you," he said to comfort him.


    "Rein?"


    "It''s your nickname," he expressed and hoped that Reiner won''t dislike it. "Do you hate it?"


    "No, it''s okay," Reiner said feeling weird. He turned his face away to look outside the window to avoid Brandon from seeing how red his face had become.


    The drive went on for another half an hour to the outskirts of the city. They drove to a cliff, Brandon parked the car on arrival and got out of the car before helping Reiner out too. Out of excitement he pulled Reiner by the hand and led him into the woods. It was getting dark and outside but that didn''t scare him. He led Reiner deeper into the woods.


    "Did you bring me out here to kill me and bury my dead body?" Reiner asked why he was brought into such a place very late at night.


    "No silly, I brought you here for a surprise. May the heavens strike me dead if I ever think of hurting you," he said and continued to walk.


    "But can''t you give me the surprise in the car or at home. I...I am scared of the dark," he confessed holding on to Brandon''s hand.


    "I can only bring you to the surprise as I am not able to bring the surprise to you. You need not worry about going far cause we are here," he announced. Reiner looked around for the surprise but all he saw was darkness.


    "Where is it?"


    "Give it a minute," Brandon said. As he finished his sentence the place became bright with light. The fireflies flew to the sky and on the trees around the lighting everything. "I have heard of this place before, they say its beauty renders people breathless. Many lovers or friends come here to see the fireflies at this time."


    Reiner gazed at the fireflies as his heart started racing in his chest. He couldn''t describe the feeling he got in his heart after seeing the surprise that Brandon gave him. He was rendered speechless by the beauty of the fireflies in the sky in the dark. Only the light of the fireflies could be seen and nothing else and it was mesmerizing.


    "They say that a firefly is a small fairy and if you catch one and make a wish on it then the wish will come true," Brandon explained. He stretched his hand out and waited till a firefly landed on his hand. He closed his fist not too tight to harm the firefly but just enough to not let it fly away.


    "I wish that you would give me a chance to love you and make you love me in return," he said staring directly into Reiner''s eyes. He let go of the firefly and walked into the distance. He didn''t want Reiner to see the tears in his eyes. Before it was Reiner who initiated everything but now he was forced to do it. It hurt him that Reiner doesn''t remember that they were once in love but silly things such as his jealousy kept them from uniting.


    "Are those tears for me?" Reiner asked him surprising Brandon with his presence. He wiped his tears and faced Reiner and smiled. " They are tears of happiness," he confessed and hugged him.


    Reiner hugged him back, all this was confusing him. He didn''t know what to do, part of him wanted to grant Brandon''s wish and wipe the boy''s tears away but another part of him was hesitant in taking that step. He knew that once he crosses that line then there will be no turning back.


    The two of them embraced each other amidst the fireflies and they both let themselves enjoy the warmth that the other provided.


    Brandon was the one who broke the hug. He didn''t let go of Reiner, he looked at him. The man who had stolen his heart, the man who made his heart skip a beat every time he was around. He leaned to him and wanted to kiss him on the cheek. But at the last minute, Reiner turned his head and Brandon''s lips landed on Reiner''s lips.


    Reiner felt electricity travel through his skin at the contact. He felt a sense of familiarity, the kiss awakened all his desires for Brandon.


    He felt the need to possess Brandon and make him his forever. He felt the need to be with Brandon got the rest of his life, to love Brandon and take care of him. The desire to be with Brandon and be the only one for him was screaming at him internally. He didn''t even know why he turned his head and let Brandon kiss him on the lips and why he was yet to push him away. All he knew was that he wanted Brandon.


    He pushed Brandon away from him when his thoughts began to scare him. He turned away from the boy. His mind was going out of control and he had no idea why that was happening to him.


    "Take me home," he said not being able to stand being in Brandon''s presence. ''I am losing my mind,'' he thought as he walked away.


    Brandon took his hand and pulled him back. He landed on Brandon''s chest and their lips locked once again only this time Brandon deepened the kiss. He kissed him the same way that Reiner used to kiss and Reiner moaned.


    His mind played a scene to him where someone pulled him back and he landed on top of that person and they accidentally kissed. The memory was blurry and he couldn''t see the face of the person but the feeling he got from it was the same as the one he was feeling as Brandon kissed him.

 Chapter 46 - 46

    "Do you need anything?" I asked Reiner as I made preparations for him to sleep in the guest room.


    "I''m fine."


    "Look, I I''m just in the room next to you. If you need anything don''t hesitate to tell me," I told to him and left the room locking the door behind me. I went to my room still feeling the jitters from earlier. I left the door open in case Reiner might need something. The day might not have gone the way I wanted it to but it was still a win. Just a little more and I will have him back. I went to bed and switched the lights off and closed my eyes to sleep.


    My heart was restless, just the thought of him being in the next room to mine was driving me out of my mind. I turned around in bed to try and fall asleep but my mind kept going back to thoughts of him.


    I got up from bed and went online to browse. I needed to gather new information about the changes that have taken place since my return. I don''t want to be caught off guard like I was in the cafe due to a lack of information.


    "Can I come in?" I heard Reiner ask at the door. I closed my laptop and looked up at him.


    "Sure."


    He walked into the room and stood next to me. He seemed nervous and troubled. "Can I sleep in your room tonight? I had a bad dream and I don''t want to be alone," he requested and I agreed. I scooted over and patted on the bed for him to hop on. He got on the bed, covered himself with the blanket, and went to sleep.


    "If you don''t mind me asking. What was your dream about?" Did I ask out of curiosity?


    "It''s stupid and I don''t want to talk about it," he says making me more curious. How can a stupid dream have scared him?


    "Tell me please, I promise I won''t laugh."


    "Okay, but if you laugh then I will never speak to you again. Well, my dream was a bit weird. I was in a park and there were these two boys in front of me and they were kissing," he said covering his face out in embarrassment.


    "You are scared of two boys kissing," I asked him in giggles. I know I promised that I wouldn''t laugh but I can''t help it when the reason he is afraid is so stupid.


    "For your information that is not why I was afraid. The way my heartfelt watching them kiss is what scared me. I felt betrayed, cheated and heartbroken. I wasn''t able to see their faces properly but I felt a connection to one of them. I ran away afterward but one of the boys chased after me and we got into a fight. The exact words we exchanged weren''t very clear but one was."


    "What was it?" I asked nervously.


    "The threat I gave that boy. I told him that if he ever kissed me again then I will make him regret it. I know you probably think that I a stupid but the dream felt so real like a memory that I have forgotten," he said and I swallowed. Hard.


    I knew all too well the memory he was talking about. It was the day that everything started going wrong. The day he began to hate me and distanced himself from me, how could I forget that day.


    "I only came to you because I didn''t want to be alone with these weird dreams. And my heart is not in the right place at the moment," he continued.


    I didn''t know what to say to him but if he is dreaming about the past then his memories are returning to him and that means that I don''t have much time. I have to find a way to convince him of my love before he recalls everything from the past and leaves me again.


    "Say something."


    "What do you want me to say. Your dream wasn''t stupid and I don''t think that it is real either. I think that your mind is just playing tricks on you, you are afraid of me and what might happen if you were to accept my proposal so your mind is just reacting to that fear. Maybe you are worried that if you give me a chance I will betray you with someone else," I explained hoping that he buys it.


    "Maybe. It won''t be the first time that someone I cared about betrayed me," he said and I held my breath. It felt like he was directing me with that statement and I know that I am guilty. I am betraying him by keeping such a big secret from him and acting as we had just met. He probably won''t be happy with me when he recalls the past we share but I will cross that bridge when I get there.


    "What do you mean?"


    "It''s nothing. I am tired and I want to go to sleep. Today has been exhausting for me," he confessed and turned around to sleep with his back to me.


    "Sure but I will let you sleep on one condition," I said getting his attention as he turned around to look at me. "You have to fulfill a wish of mine."


    "Can we do that tomorrow, I am tired?"


    "Alright. Then you have to sleep tomorrow as well. Because I won''t let you get any sleep at all if I don''t get what I want."


    "Tell me then, What do you want?"


    "Nothing much but I have always wanted to sleep in your embrace. And lay my head on your chest and listen to the sound of your heartbeat coarse me to sleep. Will you please fulfill my wish?"


    I didn''t wait for his reply afraid that he might refuse and hugged him. I laid my head in his chest and got comfortable to sleep. Listening to the sound of his heart beating I felt at peace. The weight that has been weighing on my shoulders was a little lighter. Being so close to him brought joy to my soul.


    "Why do you love me?" I heard him ask but didn''t move from my position. "You are from a good family so I can''t say it is for money. But I still wonder why it is you love me. You could have any girl of your dreams to be with you, so why me?"


    "Only you can make me happy. Only you understand the rhythm of my heart. Only you can make my heart skip a beat and only you can love me the way that I deserve to be loved," I replied speaking from the heart.


    "But we have only just met. How sure are you that I am capable of worthy of all the praises that you are giving me?"


    "Because I know you and I love you. I could never love someone unworthy of me."


    "Isn''t that a bit cocky?"


    "You have no idea. All you need to know is that no matter what happens you must never forget, that I love you very very much. And I will wait for you no matter how long it takes for you to love me back," I let out and fell asleep in his arms.

 Chapter 47 - 47

    "Good morning sleepy head," Brandon greeted happily. Reiner ignored him and covered himself with the cover. "Hey, sleeping beauty wake up. Your breakfast will get cold," he warned but was ignored again.


    He pulled the blanket from the boy and Reiner groaned. They fought for the blanket with Brandon emerging the victor. He got the food from the stand and kept it carefully on the bed.


    "Let me sleep a little more Summer, please," Reiner said in his sleep. Brandon yanked him awake furiously. Reiner woke up and looked at Brandon, he raised his eyebrow to him to question as to why he did that.


    "Who is Summer?" he asked him.


    "A friend," he replied wiping sleep out of his eyes.


    "A friend whose name you whisper in your sleep?" he asked jealousy written all over his face. He wanted to know the relationship between them.


    "You are right. She is my girlfriend," he said picking up the breakfast set from the bed and putting it on his lap. He took a sip of the tea and took a bite of the pancakes.


    Brandon''s face twisted and his happy mood was ruined. He got up from the bed and went for a shower, he washed away the anger he felt and the jealousy he felt. He got out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He dried his hair in front of the mirror. He gritted his teeth oiled his hair.


    He noticed a stare from the side of the room where the bed is, he glanced over to the bed and noticed Reiner was starting at him. Had the conversation they just had not taken place he would probably be happy that he caught Reiner''s attention but he didn''t feel good at all. He took his clothes and walked back into the bathroom and got dressed there.


    Reiner munched down on his food with a smirk on his face. He was enjoying Brandon''s reaction, the truth was that he had no girlfriend. Summer is his childhood friend who is a girl. So technically he didn''t lie, it wasn''t his fault that Brandon misunderstood him and thought it was the other kind of girlfriend. The only reason he might have uttered her name in his sleep is because she has a tendency of coming to his house very early and waking him up from his sleep. That is why he mistook Brandon for her when he woke up.


    He received the call from his phone and answered without checking who it was that was calling. "What happened to you. Did Brandon kidnap you after your date or did the two of you heat it up last night?" Zane asked on the other end not even caring to greet him.


    "Hello to you too," he said avoiding the question the teasing master was asking.


    "Shut up and tell me the details. Was he a top or bottom?" he asked and Reiner furrowed his eyebrows to the question.


    "What does that mean. Ask me clearly, I don''t understand those terms," he said.


    "Okay, what I am asking is simple. While the two of you had *cough* then were you on top or the bottom?"


    Reiner almost dropped his phone when he heard the question that Zane asked. He truly believed there was no limits to the shamelessness of his friend. "Nothing like that happened," he answered nervously.


    "What do you mean nothing like that happened. The two of you spent the night together and you are telling me that you didn''t do anything with him?" He yelled at him.


    "Look, Brandon and I just met. What did you expect to happen between us?"


    "I don''t know. Boy likes boy and vise versa, I expected the ultimate. Sex," he replied and Reiner''s hand trembled at his friends boldness.


    "No," he said but it came out to loudly for him own liking. He was worried that Brandon would hear him, he couldn''t tell him why he shouted so he kept a hand on his mouth.


    "Why did you shout like that. Does the thought of being intimate with your lover scare you?" he asked and Reiner''s breath hitched. He was getting nervous about the mention of the Brandon as his lover.


    "He is not my l..lo..lov..."


    "The word your looking for is lover. Why are you shy to say this word, are you shy from thinking of him this way," he teased.


    "Don''t say that. Brandon is not my lover and he never will be," he yelled reaching the limits of being teased.


    Brandon opened the door of the bathroom and stared at him, his eyes were teary and he was biting his lower lip.


    "Fine, if that is how you feel then I won''t bother you with my feelings again," he said and locked the bathroom door.


    He dropped to the ground holding on to the door and cried. It was painful for him to imagine Reiner with someone else but it was unbearable for him to hear Reiner that he won''t be his ever. It hurt him to hear him say that with so much confidence.


    "Brandon, please open the door. It isn''t what you think," Reiner said banging on the door.


    The situation was very familiar to him.He remember that day that Reiner had caught him at the Park with Zane. How he had pleaded with him that it wasn''t what he saw but Reiner never listened to him. He felt enraged, he was always the one who had to understand. Even when Reiner was being completely out of his mind and making unreasonable demands but he was not going to repeat the same mistakes.


    He got up from the floor and opened the door, he glared at him. "Then what was it?"


    "I wasn''t talking to you," he said.


    "Oh, so you just shouted that you don''t want me by your side for a stranger to hear."


    "No, I just.."


    "No nothing. You don''t like me. You would never want to be with me then why are you even explaining anything to me," he said upset.


    "That is not true," he defended but Brandon wouldn''t let him have it.


    "Prove it," he said cornering Reiner.


    "Anything," Reiner replied. "Will you be my boyfriend."


    "Yes," Reiner shouted before realising Brandon''s request.


    "Thank you," Brandon said excited. He hugged Reiner and held him tightly. "I love you dear boyfriend," he said kissing Reiner on the cheek before walking out of the room with a victorious smile on his face. His first win since he started the journey of fighting for his love. He couldn''t control the butterflies in his stomach.


    "Way to go," Reiner heard and turned around. It was then that he realised that he had yet to switch off his phone and to make matters worse Zane had heard everything that had happened. He was sure that he was not going to hear the end of it from his friend. Hashtag teasing ticket of the whole year. "You are taken now, I have to award Brandon. He made you his boyfriend with only one date, he is a master," Zane praised and Reiner ended the call.


    He couldn''t believe that he fell for the oldest trick in the book and became Brandon''s boyfriend. He say down on the bed and scolded himself for his stupidity. "You tricked me today and made me yours in name and I will get my revenge. And I know just how to do it. Summer," he whispered and smiled.

 Chapter 48 - 48

    It was the first day of school today, Brandon was excited too since he would get to see his beloved boyfriend at school. He was a little sad that they weren''t going to a boarding school but a day school one. He got up very early in the morning and did his morning routine, putting on his uniform he left the room and went downstairs.


    He didn''t bother to have breakfast as he wasn''t hungry so he just headed out. "Someone is in a good mood," Jack said helping him into the car.


    "I feel happy after a long time. I can finally the silver lining to all my problems. And you, have you figured out how to return to the present?" he asked him concerned that Jack was stuck there with him where he didn''t belong.


    "Not yet, I would understand if you couldn''t return by why am I being kept here," he said and sighed.


    The ride to school was calming, he had already given in to his fate and stopped fighting it. He was just going to embrace everything as they come. He was very happy that he and Reiner were on good terms now. Even though he had tricked him into being his boyfriend.


    He felt like the happiest man in the universe for finally giving his relationship with him a name and now that the two of them will begin their journey as a couple.


    They arrived at school, Brandon got out of the car and looked ahead at the building that will teach him all he needed to know for the future. "I will be going now. I have a few things to look into but have a good day in school," Jack said and drove off.


    Brandon went into the school. He wore his cold and aloof face and walked ahead, he walked into the hallways of the school and the hallways became quiet. There were murmurs and whispers from the students which he ignored. The girls were giggling in the background as he walked and it annoyed him.


    He went to the office and got his schedule. He walked around trying to find his class, his eyes also searched for him in the crowd. He had only two things to achieve in school, be the best in school and be the best for Reiner.


    He found his first class which was a history class. He smiled and walked in before the bell rang, on entering the class the students shushed down for him. It was a welcome he wasn''t used to since he was always the one no one paid attention to but since he came back everyone tracts like this wherever he goes.


    He looked into the classroom and saw an empty seat next to the window at the back and also spotted Reiner sitting on the third row next to the wall. He smiled at the male but he looked away from him. He walked to the back of the class and took a seat, he removed his history book from his bag and kept it on the table.


    The history teacher came into the classroom. "Good morning class, I am your history and homeroom teacher Mr. Fitz, and welcome," he said in one breath and wrote his name on the bed.


    "Now why don''t we introduce ourselves to each other so that we can all be friends. Turn to your neighbors and introduce yourself and shake hands," he said and the students compiled.


    "Hi, I''m Brandon," he said to the person next to him while out the window.


    "I''m Charlie," he said making Brandon turn his head to meet him. He was so surprised to his former best friend sitting next to him in class.


    "It''s nice to meet you," he said honestly and sincerely.


    "Same here," Charlie replied nervously. The class was quiet and everyone had their eyes watching the heir of the Avery family interact with a nobody. They didn''t expect that of him but they were a little relieved to know that he was an easy-going person.


    The lesson continued after the introductions, Brandon had his eyes digging holes into Reiner''s back while the boy was doing his best to ignore him. He was all smiles seeing how tensed Reiner was, it brought him joy that he was affecting him.


    "Aren''t you taking notes?" Charlie asked him noticing his lack of concentration in the lesson.


    "I already have them," he said passing his book to him. Charlie opened his notebook and saw there was already the whole month''s work and assignments noted down with neat handwriting. He was impressed by it, he had the impression that he was another slacker who only relying on his father''s wealth and was not going to put in any effort in his studies.


    "Wow, this is amazing," he exclaimed out loud getting the attention of the whole class.


    The teacher turned to face them. "Charlie, do you mind telling the class what is so amazing?" the teacher asked.


    "It''s nothing, sir. I was just thinking that all the information that you are giving us is so amazing," he said and the teacher smiled. He put Brandon''s book back on the table and went back to his work. The class continued with no more interruptions, once the bell rang the teacher stepped out followed by the students.


    Brandon got up from his seat and rushed out of the room to ran after Reiner. He wanted to speak to him but the boy seemed to be ignoring him.


    "Brandon," Charlie called out to him. "You forgot your bag," he said panting from all the running that he had done to chase him.


    "Thank you," he said gratefully.


    "Who were you chasing after. Why did you run out of the room like that?"


    "It''s nothing, I was just exercising. Now tell me is there a place we can have our lunch in peace?" he asked. Charlie stared at him like he was mentally disturbed.


    "The cafeteria is that way," he told and gave him directions. "I don''t eat there, I will see you," he said and walked away.


    "Good, I don''t like cafeterias either. I will come with you," he said and walked by his side. They went into the music room that was empty and far away from the rest of the students and took their seats to eat. Charlie borough out his sandwich and juice box while Brandon took out his lunch box which was packed with five stars cuisines from the main dish to dessert.


    Charlie looked at his dishes with a watery mouth. He looked down at his dish and felt down. "Wanna switch?" Brandon asked noticing his change of mood. Not waiting for the other''s reply he took the sandwich and juice from his and slide his dish to him. He ate the food humming his favorite tune.


    "Eat," he instructed. Charlie took the spoon and dug into the food, he ate it greedily due to delicious it was. Being from a poor family meant that he never had the chance to eat such food in his life.


    "If you like the food so much then tomorrow I will pack two lunch boxes," Brandon said to him and he smiled. He was happy that at least Brandon was nice and trying to bully him like all the other kids. Grateful that he treated him like a friend and a human being.

 Chapter 49 - 49

    The next day came faster than Brandon had expected. He did his morning routine and left the ybe house for school. He recalled how Reiner had avoided him the whole of yesterday that they didn''t even get the chance to talk. He entered the school ground and just like before the students started murmuring among themselves.


    He looked around and noticed the group of girls that Charlie had told him about, apparently they were the most popular girls in the whole school.


    He walked over to them in confident strides and stood in front of them. "Hello ladies," he said in a seductive voice. The girls squealed with joy. They fan themselves and held each other for support. He smiled at their reaction and waited for them to catch their breath.


    "Hi," they replied in unison.


    "From what I hear, you are the coolest people to keep as friends around here. As you might know, I am new in this school and I could use friends," he said and the girls immediately agreed. They walked to class together, it was mostly him walking and the girls fanning around. He smiled and conversed with them as they walked down the hall.


    As he got to the classroom door, Reiner and his friends were also arriving at the door. He looked at him for a second and walked past him with the girls and entered the classroom. The girls created space for him to sit with them in the front row near the door.


    He happily accepted the seat before the teacher came in. The class went on with the teacher teaching and the students trying their best to learn what is being taught. Scarlet the girl who is the leader of the group of girls he approached earlier kept passing notes to him in class and he did his best to reply to all the questions she asked him. He could feel eyes digging to the side of his face from where Reiner sat but he didn''t look his way.


    "You want to ignore me right, well two can play that game," he whispered and smirked.


    The class ended after an hour and it was time for the next lesson. Brandon got up from his seat and called Charlie over to him. He introduced him to the girls and told them that he was his friend and that they should take care of him. The girls had no objections and together they all headed to the next class.


    "What is that all about?" Zane asked Reiner.


    "How should I know?" he asked in return.


    "Why do you look mad Rei, you said it yourself that you wanted nothing to do with him and that you were going to ignore him for the whole school year until he forgets you. Now that he is fulfilling your wish why does it bother you?" Kye asked him.


    Reiner looked at his friends and started in the direction that Brandon had gone with those girls. He felt mad at how Brandon was behaving.


    "It doesn''t bother me. I am just furious at him for lying to me. He said that he loves me and then goes behaving like that a day after. Does his love not mean anything," he exclaimed angrily.


    "So what if he behaves like that. It is his life and he has every reason to do with it as he pleased. The question is why are you so affected by him being close to those girls. Are you jealous," Zane asked him.


    An angry Reiner bit his lower lip and exited the room, he went to his locker and picked his book for the next class, he turned around to head to class but froze when he saw Brandon in the distance laughing with Scarlet.


    "They look happy," Zane commented next to him.


    "Yes, one might think that they are in love with each," Kye added.


    Reiner locked the locker with force and walked away. He walked past Brandon without looking at the boy, he went to class and took a seat on his chair. He leaned his head on his locker fuming.


    "He is such a flirt. A shameless flirt," he said in between taking deep breaths. "One minute he says he loves me and then he goes flirting with.." he stopped not able to contain his anger from growing from thinking about it.


    "He is an idiot," he continued.


    "Yes, he is."


    "He is characterless," he whined.


    "I agree."


    "And he.." he froze when he realized someone was replying to him. He looked up at once.


    "Hi," Brandon greeted him with a bright smile on his face.


    "Don''t smile at me," Reiner said composing himself. "Your smile irritates means me," he added.


    Brandon stopped smiling. "Done," be told him and Reiner frowned. "Happy now?" he asked.


    "I can only be happy if you go away from me," he replied and looked out the window with his back turned to Brandon.


    "Is that what you want?" he heard the boy ask him. He wanted to turn around and tell him that he didn''t mean it and that he was only saying that because he was angry but he bit his tongue and ignored the question. "Tell me, Reiner, Do you want me to leave and never come near you again?" he asked again.


    Reiner took his music player and put his earphones on. He didn''t answer Brandon because the answer confused him too. On one hand, he wanted to be close to the boy but on the other hand, he was scared of taking that step. Being with a boy was a concept that he was yet to grasp. Even though his heart was beating so fast in his chest every time Brandon was close to him.


    "If that is what you want then I will leave. I won''t force you to accept me," he said and up to leave. He walked slowly to the back of the class. ''Look at me once. Just once if you love me please,'' he pleaded on his heart.


    Reiner felt a pain in his heart hearing Brandon''s words, he took a deep breath to calm his heart. He removed the earphones from his ears and turned around to look at Brandon. Their eyes met and they held each other''s gaze until the teacher walked in.

 Chapter 50 - 50

    It was lunchtime and the cafeteria was already full with students trying to get their food. Others who were already eating their food were making small talk as they ate. I made my way to our table with Zane and Kye, I was in a terrible mood and the last thing I wanted was to endure any teases from them.


    "Say, Zane, don''t you think our baby is being a little overdramatic. Brandon was just being friendly with Scar and he is acting like he found his wife cheating on him with the next-door neighbor," Kye stated.


    "I don''t think he overreacting, Brandon had no right to fraternize with the enemy like that. Reiner has every right to be jealous," Zane said. It might sound like he is on my side but believes me he isn''t. He is mocking me just like his boyfriend.


    I know that I don''t have the right to be jealous but I can''t help it. I just can''t stand seeing Brandon be so friendly with those girls.


    "Can I sit here," I heard and looked up? Brandon and some nerd kid whose name I don''t remember were standing with their trays at our table asking for permission to sit with us.


    "Sure, it will be our honor to have you with us," Zane said.


    They sat down. Everyone ate their food while making conversation, I concentrated on my food and ignored having him sitting so close to me.


    "Hey Brandon," we all had again. She doesn''t even wait to be invited to sit down and sits right next to Brandon. " I was wondering if I could borrow your notes since you are so ahead in everything," she says putting her hand around Brandon''s hand.


    "Sure, I can give it to you after lunch."


    "Can''t you do your work?" I blurted out. Everyone at the table stopped eating and stared at me. "What are you looking at, I was just asking."


    "That wasn''t very polite Reiner," she said and I scoffed.


    "If you want polite then why don''t you attend an etiquette school," I fired back.


    "How dare you."


    "Yo..." I began to say but stopped when I felt a hand on mine under the table. My heart thumped in my chest, his hand electrified me. I looked down to see whose hand it was and realized that it was Brandon holding my hand.


    His hand was so warm and soft, I brushed his hand away and got up and left the cafeteria. Even after walking away, my heart was still beating very fast in my chest. I head over to the washroom and look at myself in the mirror, my face was so red.


    I poured water on my face and took deep breaths to calm my heart. I got a napkin and dried my face, the water helped me return to my normal. I turned around to leave the washroom.


    "Ahh," I screamed as someone pushed me against the wall. I heard the door being locked and looked up, my breath hitched when I saw Brandon standing so close to me. Holding me up against the wall.


    "Who gave you the right to walk away from me?" he asked me seeming angry. I was too dazed looking at him that I didn''t find the voice to answer him. "What gave you the right to remove my hand like that?" he asked again.


    His hand brushed the hair that was on my face away bringing me out of my trance. "Let me go," I said trying to get away from him.


    "Why are you in a hurry to leave?"


    "I don''t want to see your face," I replied. He tightened his hold on me and pinned me to the wall.


    "Is that so," he said. I opened my mouth to respond and froze when I felt his lips on mine. He kissed me. My mind went blank and I think I saw fireworks above his head. His lips felt so warm against mine and for some reason, the kiss felt right like we belonged together.


    "You are mine, the sooner that you accept that. The better it will be for the both of us," he whispered in my ear. I frowned at his words.


    "And if I refuse?" I asked him daringly.


    "Then I will kiss you in front of the whole school," he said giving me a sinister smile. "Will you be my boyfriend?" he asked.


    "No," I replied.


    "Okay," he said and let me. I opened the door and walked away. He grabbed my hand and pulled me with him in the direction of the cafeteria.


    "Hey, where are taking me?" I asked him trying to get my hand from his hold but he was holding me too tightly.


    "Everyone is in the cafeteria right now so I am going to kiss you there," he said.


    I shuddered with fear at the thought of what he was suggesting. My whole body trembling at what will happen if he does kiss me in front of the whole school like that.


    "Please don''t," I pleaded in a shaky emotional voice. He stopped in his tracks and turned around to face me with a worried look in his eyes. "I will be your boyfriend so please don''t do that."


    "Rein, are you okay?"


    "Please don''t do it," I begged him.


    He let go of my hand and I ran off, I left the school ground, got in my car, and drove off. Tears of despondency slowly cascaded down my cheeks, leaving me so weak. My shaking hands tighten around the steering wheel and I increase the speed of the car.


    I stop the car and get down. I stop a taxi and get, I throw all the money in my pocket at him. "Drive me around until all the money is used up," I said to him and closed my eyes in the backseat. My heart still won''t calm down from the incident earlier.


    I kept my hand over my heart, I thought of a happy thought to relax. My mind took me back to that night in the woods with the fireflies and the kiss. I opened my eyes as my hands stopped shaking.

 Chapter 51 - 51

    Reiner went home, his heart was heavy in thought as he struggled to accept the feelings he was developing for Brandon. He missed school the next few days and avoided his friends too. He felt his whole world falling to pieces right before his eyes.


    He went online and happen to read all the negative and harsh things people write about two people of the same gender being together. All this made him even more scared of his feelings.


    He was scared of what will happen if anyone were to find out that he liked a boy. His family might leave him, his schoolmates might bully him and call him names and he wasn''t ready for any of that to happen.


    "I am perfectly normal," he repeated to himself over and over again in his bed scared to even get up. He covered himself from head to toe and kept chanting this mantra to keep himself sane. The room seemed to be getting smaller and smaller and was soon to crush him.


    "Sir, your lunch is here," he heard his butler say.


    "I am n..not h..h..hungry send it back," he said in a shaking voice too scared to lift the covers.


    "But you haven''t eaten anything for days," he said but Reiner neither moved nor answered him. He sighed in defeat and left the room with the food. He took out his phone and called Rocky and informed her that he refused to eat yet again.


    Rocky drove back home from the spa and went straight to her brother''s room. She opened the door and rushed inside.


    "Let me hear it. What is the problem and why are you refusing to eat?" she asked but got silent as a reply. "The butler tells me that you skip school, you don''t eat your food, you don''t play or get out of bed. What is the matter?"


    Rocky waited for a reply but none came, she got mad and removed the blanket that covered Reiner and threw it on the floor. She looked at her brother in anger only to notice him shaking severely. She jumped onto the bed and took her brother into her arms.


    "What is wrong with you? Why are you shaking?" she asked feeling his forehead to check his temperature. His body was burning hot and he seemed to be having a fever. She took her phone out and dialed the doctor''s number and asked the doctor to come to the house and check on him. In the meantime, she got water and a face towel that she used to wipe his body.


    She ordered the chefs to cook some soup for him to have and a steamer brought to Reiner''s room.


    "There is someone here to meet young sir," the maid informed her.


    "Who is it?" Rocky asked her.


    "He says that his name is Brandon and he claims to be a close friend of Reiner''s," she informed.


    "Alright. Let him in," she told. The maid left the room and went downstairs where Brandon was waiting patiently for her. She bowed her head to him and asked him to follow her. She led her to Reiner''s room and left closing the door behind her.


    Brandon walked into the room, he was shocked to see Reiner''s condition. He ran over to the bed dropping his school bag on the floor. He started down at the male feeling guilty. He blamed himself for his condition as he had pushed him to accept him without thinking of what that could do to Reiner''s state of mind. He wasn''t the Same Reiner from his past who was open to such relationships and he should have been understanding and should have taken it easy with him.


    "I take it you snuck out of school to come here?" Rocky asked after analyzing him. He was wearing his school uniform and it was still during school hours so he didn''t to be there.


    "I had to see him," he said taking a seat at the table.


    "What relationship do you share with my brother?" Rocky questioned.


    "I. I am his friend," he said to her.


    "Are you sure you to are just friends? The way you looked at him when you came in, it looked to me like someone would look at their lover after seeing them for a long time. There were a lot of mixed feelings in your eyes so I can''t believe that the two of you are simply friends," she said Matter-of-factly.


    "It''s nothing like that," he said defending himself. The Rocky from before didn''t mind him having feelings for her brother but if Reiner has changed so much he assumed that she must have too.


    "If you insist. Stay with him, I will go and see what is keeping the doctor so long," she said and walked out of the room. She stopped outside the door and listened.


    Brandon took Reiner''s hand and brought it to his lips and kissed it gently. "I know you are awake so open your eyes," he said to Reiner who had his eyes closed. Reiner didn''t open his eyes and continued to sleep.


    "If you don''t open your eyes then will kiss you," he threatened and Reiner''s eyes flew open. They looked at him with fear and other feelings that made his heartbreak."Do you dislike me so much? Is that the reason you are like this, if you don''t want me to come close to you Reiner all you had to do was ask? I would never force myself on you. Since I now know I promise this is the last time that I will come close to you again," he said to him.


    Reiner felt a panic in his heart that far surpassed his fear. He realized that he was scared of his feelings for a boy but he was more scared of losing the boy who evoked such feelings in him. He reached his hand and grabbed Brandon before he left and pulled him back down on the bed.


    "I don''t w..want you to leave," he said in a soft voice and looked away from Brandon.


    "Then what do you want?" he asked him.


    "I w..want to be your b..boyfriend," he confessed.

 Chapter 52 - 52

    Rocky smiled from the door and gave herself a thumbs up for guessing it right. She knew from the moment he stepped into the room like a broken-hearted Romeo on seeing his Juliette wounded on the bed that there was more to the "just friend".


    She phoned the doctor and canceled the appointment. She knew her brother''s problem was not medical and there was no doctor of the heart so she just left the two to talk in private.


    " You don''t have to be my boyfriend if you don''t want to Reiner. I can wait."


    "No, I want this but no one can know. Not even Zane and Kye, I will tell them when I am ready," he said still having goosebumps from the thoughts that troubled his mind a while ago.


    "Alright, if that is what you want then it is fine with me. But we have to celebrate this great news. We are officially boyfriends," Brandon said happily and jumped with joy.


    "How do you suggest that we do that?" he asked him.


    "How about we celebrate this beautiful moment with a kiss," he suggested. Reiner opened his mouth to object but Brandon took advantage of this and kissed him. The kiss was short and sweet.


    "I am beginning to think that kissing is your hobby. You do that a lot," Reiner commented after he broke the kiss.


    "When the lips are as tasty as yours. I won''t mind taking that up as my career," he said seamlessly and Reiner''s mouth dropped.


    "Never have I ever met anyone more shameful than you," he said to him.


    Brandon moved closer to Reiner, he placed his hand on his waist and pulled him closer. He gazed into Reiner''s eyes his heart filled with happiness. He leaned his head to the left and kissed his love. Reiner held him and kissed him back.


    He closed his eyes to enjoy the burning sensation from the lips. He held Brandon''s shirt tightly, his head hurt and his heart was squeezing in pain.


    "Are you okay?" Brandon asked noticing his discomfort.


    Reiner opened his eyes and averted his eyes from Brandon and looked out the window. He got up from the bed and went into the bathroom and turned the shower water on. He stood in front of the mirror and looked at his reflection.


    His cheeks were a deep shade of red but the rest of his face was pale. He poured water on his face and gritted his teeth. He was angry at Brandon.


    "How dare you do this with me, Brandon," he said between his teeth. He got out of the bathroom and went back into the room.


    "Sorry about that, I was just a little feeling under the weather," he said with a sweet smile embracing his lips.


    "It''s okay. I''m just glad that you are okay," he said to him.


    "I was thinking that about how we can make this day more memorable. How about we go on a date," he suggested.


    "Sounds like a good idea. Do you have a place in mind?" he asked him.


    "How about that place where it all began," he said in an icy cold voice that sent shivers down Brandon''s spine. He had a bad feeling about where Reiner was taking him and with his change of behavior.


    "Where is that exactly?" he asked him nervously.


    "Trust me, it is something best served cold and one of your specialties and you will love it a lot," he added and held Brandon by that hand. "Enough with the questions and let''s go."


    He took Brandon out of the house bidding goodbye to his sister and getting the driver to drive them. He whispered the destination to the driver and sat back with Brandon.


    Brandon sat nervously in his seat. He played with his fingers when he wasn''t able to relax, his mind was restless from all the suspense that Reiner was creating for the date. He just hoped that they would have a sweet and beautiful date. Perhaps a coffee date at a cafe like the first day they met.


    He did say he was going to take them where it all began. He smiled at the thought of Reiner recreating their first date and how they met. But his smile dropped soon after. ''But he doesn''t seem to remember the past, how can he recreate something that he is unaware of?'' he asked himself in his thoughts.


    His restlessness returned and he took deep breaths. He looked at Reiner trying to figure out what he was up to but he was busy sleeping. It reminded him of the time when they rode together to school. His long hair laid on his shoulders calmly. He looked beautiful.


    "Beautiful," he whispered.


    "If you keep staring at me I will charge you for it. A dollar for each time that you look at me a little longer than normal," he said opening his eyes.


    Brandon looked at him with surprise in his eyes. His words were exactly what he had said to him in the past when they were going to school. Instead of being happy, his heartfelt fear, it seemed that the memories of the past were coming back to him and it scared him.


    He just needed a few more time to convince Reiner of his love before he can remember the bad or all his plans will go to waste.


    "We are here," the driver said to them.


    They got out of the car and walked to the park. The Park was empty with no one around at all.


    "Are we having a picnic?" he asked him. "But where is everyone else?"


    "I booked the park just for us. I want to spend time with you with no interruptions," he said and took him by the hand, he led him a few feet away and made him stand in front of him.


    "I love that you are doing this for me," Brandon said.


    "I am glad that you love it just as much as I loved watching you kiss another boy at this very spot," he said his sweet nature vanishing from his face. He glared at him with anger and hatred.


    "Reine.."


    "I don''t know how you did it but I gave to congratulate you. You were able to turn back time and play a fool out of me," he screamed. "You will be sorry for this," he said.

 Chapter 53 - 53

    "Reiner I can explain," he said in fear of a repetition of what had happened before to happen again.


    "Explain what?" Reiner asked angrily. "That you have cheated me once again. That you don''t love me at all but just enjoy making fun of me? Or what were you trying to prove by doing this? That I can live without you?" he asked him.


    Brandon opened his mouth to reply but closed his mouth again. He was tired of having to explain himself to Reiner over and over again. All he ever did was try to fix things between them but all Reiner ever did is question his love and loyalty to him. He never once trusted that his love was pure with no ill intentions and never once believed in his words.


    Brandon didn''t answer him and just looked at him, his heartbreaking with every question thrown at him. He was beginning to question why he had fallen in love with Reiner in the first. It would have been better for him if he had never gone to the cafe on his birthday.


    "If that is what you wanted to prove then," Reiner said coldly and placed his hands on Brandon''s shoulder. He was about to turn him around but stopped when Brandon spoke.


    Brandon looked up to meet his eyes and smiled. "You are right. I did come back here just to play with your feelings. Do you think that anyone can fall in love with a heartless monster like you?" he asked him, his voice filled with bitterness from all the suppressing feelings he had for long. Reiner''s hand trembled on hearing him.


    "W..what are you s..saying?" Reiner asked nervously his voice shaking.


    "The truth that you wanted to hear for a long time. You are right and have always been right," he said to him. ''You are not the only one who can break one''s heart, Reiner. If you insist on breaking my heart then I won''t spare your''s either,'' he thought bitterly.


    "What exactly have I been right about?" he inquired.


    "Everything. I don''t love you, I love Zane," he confessed to him. Reiner''s hands on his shoulder dropped down and he stumbled back from Brandon."I have always loved Zane and wanted to be with him but you made me feel so guilty that I had to hide my feelings for him. And this, I did this to unite with him but sadly he was with another when I arrived so I settled for the second-best thing," he added.


    "Second best thing? So that is what I am to you, a second choice that you turn to when the one you wanted is with another?" he asked him.


    "Yes."


    Reiner folded his hand into a fist, he glared at Brandon with anger in his eyes.


    "Stop it, Brandon," he said to him. Brandon smirked at him in return.


    "Why? Can''t you handle the truth?" he asked in a playful tone. "Can''t the great Reiner Devon handle the fact that he is unlovable?"


    Reiner''s veins were visible on his face. His level of anger was increasing with every word that Brandon uttered.


    "Is that really how you feel?" he asked Brandon hoping that he denies everything that he just said and tell him that he was only speaking in anger and did not mean it.


    "Every word," Brandon replied confidently.


    "Well, if that is how you feel then I can''t do much to change your mind. I am happy that you finally told me the truth of how you truly feel about me and I promise you that the words you''ve said to me today will forever remain in my heart," he said calming himself. He reached out to Brandon and held him by the shoulders and turned him around.


    "It was supposed to be a surprise for you but I suppose it was stupid of me to arrange it," he said to Brandon.


    Brandon looked up, his eyes went wide with shock from what he saw. Right there behind him stood Zane, Kye, and a few more people that he couldn''t recognize. There was a table that was decorated nicely and had food and drinks on it.


    Zane and the others stood carrying cards that were beautifully decorated and were written on them. The words on the large cards were ''For the distance and time you''ve gone for me, I want to say thank you. For as constant as the stars above, always know that it is you I love, my dear Brandon.''


    "I wanted to give them time to arrange everything. So I thought to distract with what happened back then, I wasn''t really angry. I thought I would apologize for being a jerk but you surprised me with a surprise of your own," he added to him.


    "Burn it all," he shouted to the men and turned around and walked away.


    Brandon bit his lower lip. Regret and guilt pouring down on him like ice-cold water. He regretted reacting in anger and saying all those things. He should have waited for Reiner to say what he wanted to say before opening his mouth and saying so much nonsense.


    He watched the men set fire to the cards and the table, he could feel his dream of being with Reiner burning in the fire along with Reiner''s surprise. He had no one else to blame for it but himself.


    He turned around and ran after Reiner, he was lucky to catch up with him before his car left. He entered the car and sat next to the beautiful man who glared daggers at him.


    "What are you doing here. Get down now!" Reiner demanded.


    "I am not leaving and I am tired of you telling me what to do. This is all your fault you know," he said in one breath. Reiner looked at him for a second and went on to put his earphones on and ignored him.


    "How nice of him. He just turned me out without listening to me but I have dealt with you long enough to get used to it. This time I won''t let a misunderstanding come between us. I won''t use words to express how I feel but action. I love you Reiner and I will bever leave your side," he said.


    Reiner who was looking out the window smiled at his words. He could hear everything that Brandon said since there was no music playing in his earphones.

 Chapter 54 - 54

    Reiner and Brandon ended up at the movies after the incident at the park. Brandon wasn''t even concerned about the movie to which he bought the tickets. He just wanted to have been with Reiner and hopefully, get a chance to clear the air.


    Their misunderstanding had gone on long enough for his liking. He hated that no good moment they spent together had to end in a tragedy. He pulled Reiner into the movie theatre and had his seat down as they waited for the movie to start.


    The lights went off and the movie started. It was then that he realized that it was a cartoon movie he had booked tickets to. He was not sure about Reiner''s taste in movies but he was sure about one thing he was not a fan of cartoons.


    "Nice choice baby," Reiner told in a teasing manner. Brandon looked up from his seat his face burning up from the way Reiner was talking to him. He stopped and just stared at him, it felt like speaking to his Reiner again. The one with a sinister smile adorning his lips.


    Reiner leaned in and he froze, he held his breath in anticipation. Reiner reached his hand to Brandon''s pocket got his wallet and sat back in his seat. Brandon frowned at his action and raised his eyebrows at being robbed in broad daylight. Reiner took his credit cards and kept them in his wallet and returned Brandon''s wallet to him.


    "That is called stealing," he pointed out.


    "It is not stealing if you saw me take it. And it is payment for all the stares you keep throwing my way," he replied.


    "Does this mean that I can stare at you for as long as I want?" Brandon asked laying his head on Reiner''s shoulder and wrapping his hands around him.


    "Knock yourself out."


    They watched the rest of the movie in silence. Brandon enjoyed the peaceful beat of his heart, it had been long since his heart was that calm but he was still a bit worried. He and Reiner needed to sit down and talk to clear out their misunderstandings or else they would never be at peace with each other.


    There is a lot that they both had said to each other in heat of the moment and they had to sort things out. He looked up at Reiner who was busy sleeping instead of watching the movies and decides not to disturb his sleep.


    Reiner took Brandon''s hand and held it in his, this move startled Brandon but he soon relaxed to it. Until Reiner started pressing on his hand tightly that it began to hurt. He opened his mouth to talk but stopped when Reiner spoke first.


    "I am sorry. I am sorry for being a jerk to you and for the way that I treated you in the past," he said to him. His voice was soft and with a lot of emotions.


    "Don''t worry about it. It''s all good, at least now that you accept that it was all your fault and have apologized," he replied to his apology.


    "Thank you, Brandon," he said his hand loosening a bit on his hold.


    "I know. I am the most generous person in the world to forgive you after everything but there is no need to thank me," he said.


    "Since when did you become cocky?" Reiner asked opening his eyes and stared at him. He wasn''t able to see his face clearly but he was sure that Brandon was smirking.


    "Since I met this cocky boy with a very sweet smelling scent," he replied taking a deep breath on Reiner''s chest. "But why are you thanking me anyway?" he questioned. Reiner held his hand tightly again when he asked about that.


    "Because you saved my life," he said.


    "All I di..."


    "I don''t know how you did this and changed our lives but I am grateful that you did," he said interrupting Brandon. "Thanks to you I got to know what it feels like to celebrate Christmas with my whole family. I got to know what it is like to have a birthday celebration and to understand what it means to be a part of a family," he added his hand that was holding Brandon started shaking and his body soon joined in.


    Brandon was confused at what was happening and had no idea why Reiner was reacting like that. What he meant by what he was saying didn''t make sense to him, he was pampered by his sister and father like crazy so why he was speaking like that troubled him.


    "What do you mean?" he asked out of curiosity and concern. He moved closer to Reiner and hugged him tightly to stop him from trembling. He had seen Reiner being vulnerable but never did he ever see him become so weak.


    "I grew up in my house with my father, he gave me the world as long as his money was able to but it but he was never there for me. His business meant the world to him after my mother left him for another man and he neglected me."


    Brandon listened to him and felt bad for him. He for one knew what it was like to be neglected by your family since he too had the same life.


    "I''m sorry," he said to him.


    "My mother met her boyfriend when I was seven years old. They became close and got closer as time passed. She started going away from me and she too stopped caring about me. One day she had taken me to the swimming pool to teach me to swim," he said wrapping his hand around Brandon with his fingers digging into Brandon''s skin.


    "You don''t have to tell me if you are not ready," Brandon told feeling how uncomfortable the topic was making Reiner.


    "She got me in the water and was keeping me floating on the water while she taught me different swimming styles. But then her phone rang and I remember seeing that man''s name on the screen. She left my hand and got out of the pool and went to answer her call. I had no idea how to swim and I was in the middle of the pool with nothing to hold and started drowning," he said and took deep heavy breaths.


    "Reiner I think we should just watch the movie. We can continue this talk some other time," he said Reiner''s body shaking more and more.


    "The butler was the one who saved me and took me to the hospital. After that they decided to divorce, their divorce was messy and they also fought for custody. It hurt me so much when my mother chose to take my older sister over me. And just like that the two of them walked out of my life. Rocky and I stayed in touch and we''re close but only for a year and then she too became too busy with her life to remember her younger brother. My calls went straight to voice mail, my texts were never read and my letters remained unanswered," he continued Brandon''s forehead getting wet from the tears from Reiner.


    "Rein, I.."


    "From then my life becomes dark in every corner. I lived alone in the mansion with the servants and spent every occasion and festival alone. I spent my birthday waiting for my family since I was nine and not once did any of them ever come. At times they sent gifts while other times they forgot to. I did everything that I could to be the perfect child thinking that it would bring my family back. I studied ahead of everyone and scored perfect grades. I wore a smile on my face every day but nothing ever changed," he said with a pained voice.


    "But your sister loved you so much when we met. How come you two were so close then?"


    "We weren''t close. That was her trying to make it up to me and trying to bring back the brother she one''s new back," Reiner replied his voice getting smaller and smaller.


    "What do you mean?"


    "On my fifteenth birthday, I was walking near the pool and accidentally slipped. I fell into the pool and almost drowned but was saved. The family thought that it was a suicide attempt and became concerned. They started showing their pity love for me out of guilt since then they wouldn''t leave me alone," he replied.


    Brandon had never expected that Reiner''s life to be so sad. He had thought that he had known loneliness but he was beginning to question his definition of loneliness.

 Chapter 55 - 55

    Brandon took Reiner out of the theatre and went for a walk. The male was still shaken up from opening up to Brandon. He held Reiner''s hand and guided him down the street. He spotted a cafe not fat from them and thought a good cup of coffee would warm Reiner up.


    He took him to the cafe and took the seat far away from everyone else. Reiner was emotional and he couldn''t stop his shaking hands from shaking.


    "Is there anything else that you would like to get out of your chest?" he asked him. He wanted Reiner to let out all the things that he kept in his heart so he would be free from them.


    "I woke up in the hospital after the incident, all my family members were there. They spoke to me and looked after me but I was too tired to care or bother to respond. I could find no joy in being around them or in anything for that matter. It was as though a part of me did drown in the pool. Everything was dull around me I lost the desire to do anything," he uttered in a dazed state as though replying to the memories of that time as he narrated it to him.


    "That was expected I mean I too went to such a place when I lost you so it is understandable," Brandon said and placed his hand on top of Reiner''s shaking hands.


    The waiter returned with the coffee that he had ordered. He gave a cup to Reiner and urged him to drink it. Reiner took the coffee and held it in his hand.


    "I was so cold and exhausted. I stopped going out and talking to people. I remember that I remained without saying a word to anyone for six months," he said causing Brandon to spit out the coffee in his mouth.


    "You didn''t speak for six months?" he questions in shock. The longest he had ever remained quiet for was a week but even then he felt the itch to talk to someone. He couldn''t imagine what it could be like to be quiet for months.


    "When I spoke no one listened to me and I had no one to talk to so I got used to just being quiet. My family got me to see different doctors for me to open up but I could never get the words out. I didn''t have the energy to say anything to any of them. From then they just made themselves a part of my life no matter what I did. My dad agreed to everything I wanted no questions asked. My sister opened the cafe and forced me to work there in the hopes of bringing life back to me. My mother called and visited once in a while but..." he halted his voice breaking, he crashed the coffee cup in his hands spilling all the hot contents out. The coffee poured on his hands but he didn''t even flinch from the burn.


    Brandon took his hand and wiped the coffee fr them and blow hot air to the spot the coffee poured to. His heart was heavy with pain from the suffering that Reiner had gone through in his life. He found himself feeling guilty for not being able to give him all the love that he deserved and lacked from his family. Reiner dropped his head on the table and closed his eyes. They were red from all the crying and they were beginning to hurt him keeping them open.


    "I made it a habit to smile at the customers and offered to those who came in looking sad. I would do my best to cheer them up and make them smile and that in return made me smile. I had practiced having the perfect smile on my face for such a long time that I couldn''t even tell whether the smile on my face was real or fake. I just smiled," he continued. Brandon couldn''t hold back his tears. He too started crying. ''If I didn''t have music and my fans in my life back then would I have gone through this ?'' he asked himself in his mind.


    "It''s all over now. You are safe," Brandon said and took Reiner into his arms. He wanted so bad to hit himself, he sucked at cheering Reiner up and he knew it. While Reiner always knew how to make him smile and cheer him up when he was sad.


    "One day I saw this boy walk in, he was looking so sad and was crying too. I approached him and asked him what he wanted but he didn''t say much, I knew that being alone was the last thing he wanted so I got him green tea and came to cheer him up," he said. He kept going without pause like he couldn''t bring himself to stop talking. "He greedily ate it all, I smiled when I saw and took a seat to talk to him and he started crying when I asked him if he was okay. I hugged him and wiped away his tears but then he went from sad puppy to a cute puppy."


    "Hey," Brandon said in between listening to him. He could not believe that he was just called a puppy. "I am not a puppy, if anything I am like an alpha," he said as a joke but Reiner didn''t react. He was still with his eyes closed, tears flowing from his eyes.


    "I could see myself in him, the signs were all there, I could not bear to have him walk down the path that I walked on so I made a promise to make him so happy that all his pain would go away. It just so happened that we went to the same school so it was easier to keep an eye on him. I made sure to watch him carefully so notice when he would need me so I would be there for him. Like I would have wanted someone to do for me," he added surprising Brandon. He had no idea that all that time Reiner was always just looking out for him.


    "That must have been tired.."


    "It was all going well and I could see him becoming lively again. With that he also started to bring life back into my life, I thought of him as the light in the darkness that was my life. I loved every minute that I spent with him and how he reacted to me being close to him. He was my hope but nothing good ever lasts in my life," he let out sadly. Brandon could feel his heartbreak apart as he could already predict what the next part of the story was going to be about. He could already feel guilt crawling up his bones.


    "One day I caught him with another boy and everything fell apart," he said narrating the story as though Brandon was not the subject of the story but a third party.


    "My heart was broken and all my hope shattered at that moment. It felt like I was back in the pool, he was teaching me to swim out of the darkness in my life but then a phone call came with the other boy''s name on it and he left me in the pool and went to receive the call. I was drowning and he was the reason. It felt like the scenario with all my loved ones repeating itself all over again with him," he confessed.


    "Reiner, I never meant to.."


    "I ran away, I ran as fast as my legs could take me to get away from him. From the pain and the pool, I didn''t want to die in the pool. I wanted to live," he said his body shaking so much. He was trembling and his hands were getting colder, his breath was becoming heavy.


    "But he wouldn''t leave me alone, every time I turned around he was always around that other boy just like the others. He never missed an opportunity to show me how much he preferred that other boy over me. And every time it felt like a push deeper into the pool, I was losing it but he just wouldn''t stop. Because he was the victim and I was the villain. I tried to ask him to stay away from the boy, not to answer the call as I wanted to live but he wouldn''t listen. I guess deserved it for thinking I could be loved," he said and went silent. His body was shaking more than before, other customers were attracted to them. They surrounded them.


    One customer who was a doctor took a close look at Reiner. "Call an ambulance, he is having a seizure," he shouted and got Reiner from his seat and laid him down on the jackets the customers had lent. He kept his legs raised and covered him up. Brandon stood shocked, he was in disbelief at everything that happened. He was shocked by how the talk with Reiner led him to break down completely.


    The ambulance came, the doctor and Brandon went with Reiner to the hospital.

 Chapter 56 - 56

    Brandon sat with the doctor in his office to talk about Reiner''s condition. He had been shaken up by what happened, it happened out of nowhere.


    "What is wrong with him?" he asked the doctor.


    "I''m afraid he suffered a mental breakdown. It happens when a person is overwhelmed," the doctor said.


    "So there is no reason to worry," Brandon said relieved.


    "There is a reason to worry. He is too stressed and that isn''t good for him," the doctor said. Brandon felt his heart tightened with fear.


    "Tell me, doctor, just how serious is the situation?" he asked in a soft almost none existing voice.


    "Let me explain in a way that it will be easy for you to understand," the doctor began."His mind is like a computer, it can process many things and do other cool stuff too but when a virus infects the computer then it starts to malfunction and if the problem is not taken care of then everything inside the computer would be lost. You will have to start afresh after flashing the computer," the doctor said.


    Brandon listened to his words. He tried to follow along but he was confused and lost. "I don''t understand," he said.


    "Your friend Reiner is the computer and all the sad things that happened in his life are the viruses. If he keeps dwelling on them then it will affect his mental and physical health, if he doesn''t cheer up and become happy then his mind will become defensive," the doctor explained.


    "What do you mean his mind will become defensive?" he asked the doctor scared out of his wits. The thought of anything bad happening to Reiner left his heart torn to pieces.


    "To protect Reiner, his mind might help him forget the memories that taunt him and the person in the memories like they never existed in his life. Or his mind might change the actuality of the memory to something less toxic to him to avoid his malfunctioning," the doctor clarified to him slowly for him to get him to understand every word he spoke.


    "And if pushed to the limits, he might die."


    The minute the word die left the doctor''s lips Brandon shivered. His heart broke into a million pieces.


    Just when things were starting to work out this had to happen. But the explanation from the doctor might explain the weird situation he was in back then with Reiner when they met after so many years.


    The possibility of him being the reason, the one who pushed him past his limits in the past made his heartache. He was the last straw that pushed Reiners''s mind to forget the past that the two of them shared and all of that due to a misunderstanding and past painful events that Reiner went through.


    "What can be done doctor?" he asked curiously. He needed to fix his mistakes and make it up to Reiner, the boy deserved something good happening in his life after so long.


    "I can recommend some medicines to keep him calm but I would advise making sure he tries to stay happy," the doctor said. He prescribed a piece of paper and handed it over to Brandon.


    "I will make sure that he is the happiest boy in the world," he vowed and dashed off the room. The doctor had informed him that it was okay to see Reiner now as he was stable.


    He raced into the room. His hurried footsteps waking Reiner from his sleep. "Hey good looking," he greeted him.


    "You are growing naughty," Reiner said struggling to sit up. Brandon took to the bed and helped him sit up and kept a pillow on his back to use.


    "I learned from you everything I know."


    Brandon hugged Reiner tightly in his arms. He was scared of letting go, afraid that he might leave him forever like the doctor had warned was a possibility.


    ''I won''t let any harm come to you. If happy is what you need to be then happy, you will be,'' he thought with tears flowing from his eyes.


    "Did the doctor say something?" Reiner asked feeling uneasy. He was sure that Brandon was tense and keeping something from him. He needed to know if he was okay or not.


    "The doctor just said that your mind malfunctioned or something like that," he said trying to make it sound less serious. Reiner needed not to worry.


    "How far?" Reiner asked making him raise his head It confused him what he meant by that.


    "What?"


    "It''s happening again. I need to know how far it is, has my condition gotten to the red flags yet?" Landon asked. The monitor he was on started beating faster, he was getting worried. It terrified Brandon to see worries in his eyes.


    "Kidding," Brandon said cheerfully. "It wasn''t what the doctor said. I was simply pulling your leg. The doctor said that you were just overwhelmed that''s all," he added.


    Reiner relaxed, he couldn''t handle what had happened before. Being in out of the hospital for so many years and then losing his memory of Brandon was something he didn''t want to experience again.


    "You think that is funny?" Reiner asked pulling Brandon by the hand and pinning him underneath him on the hospital bed. "Should I punish you?"


    "Yes please," Bradon said. Reiner''s lips landed on his. Reinet kissed him intensely, he moved with such precision that Brandon couldn''t help but give up dominance to him. He had always enjoyed the latter''s talent in kissing.


    The kiss was hot and demanding. It expressed Reiner''s desire to have him. The desire was so intense Brandon''s eyes were clouded with lust from the kiss.


    They had waited too long to be in each other''s arms and both found that they were ready to cross the line and become one.


    Reiner broke the kiss and gazed at the male underneath him, the look in Brandon''s face told him all that he needed to know about what Brandon wanted. It was alluring to see the desire in Brandon''s eyes for him.


    "I love you," he whispered to Brandon. Brandon smiled and replied, "I love you too."

 Chapter 57 - 57

    Brandon drove Reiner home. His face was adopted with a smile all the way there. He releases the breath he was holdinh when he pulled up informed of the male''s house.


    He was nervous and tense while driving that it surprised him that he didn''t get them into an accident. The doctor''s words were still fresh in his mind and it made him really nervous.


    Being responsible for Reiner''s life was a weight that he wasn''t sure he could handle. It was all just too sudden that he panicked.


    After leaving Reiner in his sister''s hands, he left the house to go home. He was terrified of the worst that would happen to Reiner if he fails to keep the boy happy.


    He drove all the way home the stress only getting worse the more he thought about it. If the past has proved anything it was that maybe yhey werent meant to be. And if that was the case then his could he take such a big responsibility.


    If Reiner died because he failed, he would never be able to forgive himself for it. The guilt would catch up to him and eventually end him to, that he was sure of.


    He parked the car and rushed to his room. He passed his parents in the living room. They looked worried about his but he didnt have the strength to deal with them.


    He locked the door behind him and went to his knees, he was tired. After Taking care of Reiner at the hospital and smiling so much. He was mentally and physically exhausted.


    "Why is it that things never get better?" he asked himself. Everything keeps them apart one way or the other, the world wasn''t theirs, he thought.


    His phone beeped in his pocket. He wiped the tears from his eyes and took his phone from his pocket. He read the message from Reiner.


    ''I miss u already. Hope you got home safely''


    He locked his phone and threw it on the ground. He just couldn''t bring himself to accept the things that were happening in his life. It was unfair that his happy ever after was filled with so much pain.


    It was as though the wicked with of the west was watching him from the shadows creating obstacle for him and Reiner along the way.


    He picked up his phone and himself from the ground and went to the couch. He kept his earphones on and listened in his ear.


    Music was always something that he could count on when he felt down. They understood him and his ge felt. They expressed the words that defined his feelings in perfection.


    He closed his eyes to let himself get lost in the song to stop getting stressed. He hated himself for lying to Reiner about what the doctor said but it was either that or let him get dressed and reduce his lifespan.


    He wished that he could go back in time, this time the two of themshouldbt meet. That way Reiner would suffer the same fate and he wouldn''t remember how much he loved him.


    They both would not have each other but at least they would live a long life.


    He couldn''t get it out of himself that like the rest of the boy''s family. He was also responsible for pushing him off the edge. He had vowed to keep the boy happy and prolong his life but he had no Idea how to do that.


    He didn''t know what to do to make Reiner so happy that he wouldn''t get stressed and have another attack.


    The music only made it worse. Instead of calming him down it made him more stressed. He couldn''t relax.


    "What am I supposed to do?" he asked. The room was silent with no reply to his question. He was alone and Zack was no where to be seen.


    "I wish I knew how to save you,"he said with pain in his voice. "Then you would get better and I wouldn''t get to worry about you," he added.


    He was new to this and lacked the knowledge of what to do at this point. If only relationships came with a manual then thing''s would be fine.But no, they were that part of life that was different yet for everyone.


    He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He needed to help Reiner get better since he couldn''t live without him but the way to do so was unknown to him.


    His mind wondered to Reiner and how good he was at making him happy back then. His flirtatious ways that always got him to blush and smiled were what he missed the most.


    He never would have thought that such a warm person lived such a lonely life. The problem was that he didn''t have that in him to flirt with the boy and make him smile.


    He had worked so hard to make the boy love him back and got that, and now they were in this Great place with each other but this sickness was threatening that.


    He didn''t think he would be able to look at Reiner in the eye knowing that any wrong choice of words that he might use might kill him. Or if he did something that makes the boy unhappy then he would never see him again.


    There was so much running through his mind terrifying him more than he already was. He didn''t know what to do about that but hopefully things will look up in the morning.


    He picked up his phone and texted Reiner back. ''I miss you, got home safe. I love u''


    His eyes were filled with sadness while sending the text. Saying the words I love you made it the more painful to imagine that one day Rainer won''t be there anymore and he won''t have anyone to send the text to.


    It was heartbreaking to imagine his future without Reiner in them. Such a future would not only be terrible but it was one that he never wanted to apart of.


    "I never want to live if you aren''t around you be with me," he whispered.. "Don''t ever leave me."

 Chapter 58 - 58

    Reiner''s p.o.v


    I walked into the cafe. Brandon had called me up for a date and I didn''t want to be late. Things are not all well at the moment but I hope we get passed it.


    The problems between us have all passed and now it''s time to pick up the pieces. I chose the table that is at the corner. It was private and we could have a peaceful conversation.


    Taking a seat I took a quick glance at my watch. I had arrived a half an hour early to our date.


    ''I should order while I wait,'' I signalled for the waiter to come to me. The boy looked close to my age, he was waiting an apron over his clothes. He saw my hand and nodded.


    As someone who had been a waiter before, by choice of course. I know not to insist as he was with another customer. The day was sunny with a peaceful serenity in the air, it gave off the feeling of luck and favour in the air. My relationship with Brandon could most certainly need that.


    The waiter arrived at my table ready to take my order. "I want~"


    "A chocolate shortcake and some cappuccino latte," he spoke before I could.


    I frowned as he seemed to have guessed exactly what I was going to order. The coincidence was too good to be true with the knowing smile on his face.


    "How did you know that?" I asked him confused. His face seemed familiar to me but I couldn''t point out where exactly I had seen him.


    "Because, I pay attention to things that are important," he said in a tone that suggested that I am supposed to know him. "I''ll get your order," he added and winked his eyes before leaving.


    I was left puzzled by the weird encounter. The waiter seemed oddly familiar, the way he spoke to me was also personal which further confirms my suspicions.


    "Where is Brandon?"


    My eyes searched the door for the male hoping to find him. He was supposed to be here, usually when you set a time for a date. It is advisable to arrive early but he was not even arriving.


    I reached into my pocket and fetched my phone. I saw a notification on it.


    <<I am going to run a little late>>


    This was the first date we were going on without all the problems we had hindering us and he wasn''t even here. He was running late, he was unbelievable.


    "Who is unbelievable?" the waiter boy set my order down. I raised my brows at his question, we were not that close for him to ask me about my matters.


    Before I could give him a befitting reply, he went ahead and took a seat opposite from me. Why does this situation look so familiar to me?


    ''Oh, the day I met Brandon.''


    "That seat is taken," I say to him hoping that he leaves. It won''t look good if Brandon comes and finds him there.


    "Yes, by me," the waiter replied cockily.


    I gazed at the boy wide eyed at his nerve to sit down with me and act like we are close friends when I don''t even know him. I am here to meet with my boyfriend and he was just getting on my nerves.


    "Leave before I call your boss," I threatened. But the thick head stayed put unfazed by my threat.


    "I own the cafe and other branches such as this," the waiter uttered. "If I fire myself as a waiter, I won''t sleep hungry," he replied his like curling up into a smile.


    He seemed to take joy in annoying me. "Can you go seat somewhere else?"


    "No, my property my choice," he replied.


    I stood up from my seat to leave. There was no way that I was going to seat there and tolerate that idiot. He was acting like me and I am me so it''s irritating. I am supposed to be the cocky one in the room and I should be the one teasing others not the other way around.


    The only person allowed to tease me was my lovely boyfriend Brandon and he wasn''t around so anyone else should go to hell.


    "Leaving so soon shorty? I was only getting started, I had no idea that you had grown soft?" the boy stated.


    I stopped in my steps. That nickname, only one person ever called me with that name and it was in the other life. The time before Brandon magically turned back time.


    "What did you call me?" I asked to him.


    "Did you forget yourself after travelling back to the past, my dear shorty" the waiter boy asked me.


    He got up from the seat and walked passed me and went away. My heart skipped a beat as the realization hit me of who he was.


    I found myself sitting back down. Meeting him again was too much to take in at once, what was worse was the fact that he spoke as though he recalled our time together.


    It was impossible to recall the past, he didn''t have someone like Brandon to remind so how come he knows of the past. My parents don''t even remember they had been separated in another timeline. And yet the male spoke as he did before.


    "Brandon," I looked up when someone knocked on the table.


    "Is that someone special," the waiter boy questioned taking a seat once more.


    "Where did you go?" I curiously asked.


    "Did you miss me," he inquired with a teasing smile in his lips. "I am all yours now," he added.


    I shook head at how much he remained similar to himself that I knew before. He was younger but still had the same spark in his eyes.


    "Who is this Brandon?"


    "My boy~"


    "Forget him, now that I am here only think of me," he said flirtatiously. "Now, how about that date that you owe me," he spoke.


    The smile on my face dropped as he uttered that word. It was so sudden that my breath hitched.


    "You have not forgotten the promise you made me now have you shorty?" he asked.


    I gulped nervously. I do recall the promise that I made him and it was not good that he is here to collect.. This was the worst time to meet him again, that too with him recalling everything from the past.