²⁵HE EVEN HELD THE LIFELESS BODY

²⁵

HE EVEN HELD THE LIFELESS BODY

"Rory, say bye to Mommy."

He holds the small hand, gesturing goodbye, and waves it twice while his tears can't be stopped from falling onto the grave.

Timid footsteps approach the two. The little one was crying loudly, and the other was silent.

"Brother, let's go; Mother is waiting inside the car."

"Hmm."

...ehem

...sniff

...cough

As the car left without turning back, one pair of red eyes under six feet on the ground shone bright like a grim reaper.

25 YEARS PASS

"You may now kiss the bride."

The people present inside the church cheered after the veil was lifted by the groom, and a passionate kiss was shared between Nigel and Ivi.

(Ivi, pronounced as Ivy)

"Congratulations to the newlyweds."

Iko said and hugged his mother, who looked younger and fresher compared to him, who was buried in a lot of things to think about.

(Iko, pronounced as Aiko)

"Thank you, and where are your brother and niece?"

Ivi asked, not seeing the presence of Iro and Rory.

"Rory's waiting at the reception already, and brother, he said he will be late; his car broke down, and I don't know if he caught the last train or if he's already hailing a cab."

Nigel, who's listening to their conversation, can't help but feel sad. Caressing his little baby bump, he's about to give birth soon. That's why the marriage was made in a rush to welcome their little potato into a good environment.

He's still thinking that Iro didn't show up intentionally because he married the mother of his best friend.

It's a long story about how he ended up marrying Iro's mother, but he gave his all to make Iro understand what was going on.

It was an ordinary Sunday morning when Iro caught them naked next to each other with a mixture of the lingering scent of sex, pheromones, heat, and rut.

He almost lost his life to Iro's hand if Iko hadn't come on time to separate them.

That day Iro accused Nigel of rape, but it wasn't like that; things happen with consent. And he was the one taken advantage of, not the other way around.

On that day the blanket is the only covering on his lower half while his body was showing pride of red marks; he kneels while telling Iro that he has long been bonded to Ivi before they even meet each other.

It's like they're fated to be together. He also can't understand why, but he knew the moment their eyes met, they were meant to be.

To make it worse, Ryo just died that day, making the situation much more complicated, which made Iro so angry that he didn't even know if his story and brief explanation were heard.

All he knew was that, if it wasn't for Ivi and Iko, he would be playing chess with his ancestors above the clouds.

That day Iro lost his soul but still exists for the sake of Rory. The little one was left on their doorstep covered with nothing but fresh blood, an uncut umbilical cord, a note, and the black card of Reesidex.

Running out of the train to catch a miracle taxi to attend the wedding of his mother. But luck was on his side sarcastically; while he was rushing on his way out, someone bumped into him, and they both fell on their butts so hard.

Papers were scattered everywhere, and a meal in a small cup was thrown on the floor. Iro was mad and accidentally stepped on something that cracked while getting up, and when he lifted his feet.

It was shattered, a thick-rimmed glass.

While the other party was hastily rummaging through his bag, pulling out a box and expertly opening it, contact lenses were put in his eyes.

He was not in pain after getting his vision back, but he was uncomfortable, which is why he hates contact lenses and prefers old-fashioned eyeglasses.

But like any emergency, he has no choice but to wear it; he's clumsy and always losing balance or being in collision anywhere all the time. He can't even count how many glasses he has bought and broken.

"I'm sorry, I'm just in a hurry to catch the last train."

And the train makes a sound, like a joke. Leaving them dumb.

"Oh shucks, I'm late again." The other party exclaimed, collecting his papers.

Iro's world stopped spinning as if he was back to that day when he first met him.

"Ryo...?"

It was full of doubt, wanting confirmation.

"No!" Iro slapped his face, pulling his hair and clutching his chest.

"Impossible," he muttered, memories flashing; he saw with his own eyes that day. He even held the lifeless body.

He lifted his head; he couldn't even hear his surroundings. He was stunned by the person in front of him; with that kind of resemblance, it was hard to deny.

"Ryo!"

This time Iro grabbed the hand that was collecting the papers, to the shock of the other party.

He pulled his hands away; the electricity spark caused him pain and flowed through his spine.

"Who are you?!"

Iro was ecstatic to hear that exact same voice after twenty-seven years of longing.

"Ryo, is that you? But how? I saw with my own eyes that you---

Iro's voice suddenly wavered. "Yeah, what did I see again?" He asked himself. A charred body wearing an altered watch, with GPS installed, he exchanged in one of their meeting.

"How--- cutting his own statement, "I t's only a body, but why did I believe it was Ryo back then? What if it wasn't him?"

His thoughts were cut off by a cold voice.

"You got the wrong person."

And so he stood up with his things, about to leave, but in a few steps, he felt a tight embrace around his waist and a trembling body behind him.

He could also feel his back getting wet; the stranger was crying.

All of a sudden he's in chaos within; why does he also feel pain?

"Ryo..."