Chapter 14 “Returning”
“Maybe… You should try to find someone too…” Allen said as he joined Dominique in the balcony after hearing Dominique talking to himself alone.
“Allen… Can’t sleep?” Dom asked. He knew his brother already slept tightly inside their bedroom.
“Yeah…” Allen answered shortly, last night's event still replaying itself in his mind, making him far away from his sleep whenever he closed his eyes.
“Allen… Wanna know a secret?” Dom asked as his eyes met Allen’s.
“Hmm… OK. About what?” Allen asked.
“It’s a story, just listen, OK?” Dom asked. His eyes had sadness in them, but he tries so hard to hide it.Allen nods, so Dom begins his story.
“Long long time ago, there’s a beautiful woman. She lived in a small simple village and she was married to a man. The man was a farmer, they lived happily, and God gave them a beautiful son, Lee.”
Allen felt a bit weird when he heard the word ‘Lee’. ‘Is it referring to Kaien?’ Allen thought and Dom continued his story…
“But, when Lee was five, his father died. His mother, the woman, worked so hard for their living. One day, a rich man traveled into the village, he fell in love with the woman and so was the woman. The rich man took the woman and her son into the city. They got a child out of marriage, they named their son, Kim. Kim and Lee grew up together, their bond strengthened.”
Allen thought that Kim was referring to Dominique, but he stayed silent as Dominique continued…
“Unfortunately, even now the rich man had a wife, soon, the woman was toasted away. He got rid of the woman when he was satisfied, satisfied to fulfill his inhuman lust… Even worse, their own son, Kim was… abandoned too. The woman took his two sons out from the man’s territory, caring about them, until they grew up... Now, the woman went back to live in her village again… But the two sons are living in the city… the capital.” Dom ended his story as his tears flood. Allen could not stand to see Dom crying. He immediately gave him a hug.
“Why are you telling me this? You know it’ll hurt yourself…” Allen asked as he tried to calm Dom down.
“Because… I want you… to know it… I want you to… know my and Kaien’s past… I…” Dom cried.
“Sssshhh…It’s Ok. Everything is going to be fine….” Allen said as he caressed Dom.
“Allen…” Dom called weakly, “I’m sorry.”
That night, after Dom calmed down, Allen took him into their bedroom. After making sure that Dom was sleeping, he went to sleep too.
‘Maybe…I’m not the only one who’s having a hard time… Kaien and Dominique too… Maybe all of us are having a hard time eventually… But we'll be fine as long as we stick together, right? I’ll be fine as long as I have Kaien, isn't it?’ Allen thought before he fell asleep.
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“Dom! Wait for me!” Kaien shouted as he chased after his brother and friends.
“
Bro! You’re too slow…” Dom teased.
“Yeah…” Allen agreed.
“Ben~ Wait,” Nathan said as he pouted.
“Ok… Kai, at least, you need to pout like Nat if you want us to wait for you!” Benji joined the teasing.
“Hey! Not fair! How can I catch up with you guys when I’m wearing my slippers?!” Kaien protested.
Yes, they were jogging around the park near their apartment. Unfortunately, Benji stole Kaien’s jog shoes first, gave his to Nathan and he was wearing Kaien’s. Kaien only has one shoe after all. He ended up wearing his slippers to jog.
“You guys go first, I’ll wait for him…” Allen said.
“Hm? Ok…” Dom answered.
“Ok… No need to tell me twice…” Ben said as he continued his jogging with Nathan. “Just don’t do ‘anything’ here, alright, Allen? People might be watching!”
“Ben! Stop teasing them…” Nathan said before quickening his pace. Benji chased after him and soon they were far ahead of Allen and Kaien.
“Allen~” Kaien called.
“Hmm?”
“Thank you for waiting for me…”
At the moment when Kaien opened his mouth to ask Allen about what happened that evening, Allen kissed him in such a sudden and unexpected manner. Kaien kissed back the young man. Then, Allen had broken it, and he smiled at Kaien.
“What is that for?” Kaien asked.
“For Lee and Kim…” Allen mumbled.
Kaien was more confused than he already was. He really had no idea of what Allen was talking about. “What?” Kaien asked.
“Just forget it…” Allen said as he started to jog.
“Wait! I don’t get it, Allen…” Kaien tried to keep up with Allen.
“I said just forget it…” Allen repeated again.
“Allen~” Kaien was dying to know. It was the first time Allen took the first action to kiss him.
“Kai… Just remember that you’ll have me no matter what happens…” Allen smiled.
Kaien chuckled upon hearing what Allen said. He then smiled and said softly, “Then…I’ll never leave your side, Allen.
We’ll always like this, right? Together?”
“Yup! Together like this!” Allen said as he hugged Kaien.