2. Rejection

Magnus POV

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I groaned as I felt someone picking me up from my chair and took me to the bed. I couldn’t open my eyes. And then I heard the shuffling sound from the closet? Who is it? A robber? 

Oh no. Someone is opening the buttons of my shirt. Shit. Magnus get up. I mentally slapped myself but am dead. I shivered as I felt a cool cloth rubbing on my chest. It feels refreshing. I felt being pulled into a pair of arms, held at his chest. And then the cleaning process proceeded with my back. My arm pits. Even I feel myself stinking of tobacco and alcohol. 

Some shirt was slipped into my arms and buttoned up. And then those fingers travelled to my jeans. Oh fuck. I tried to protest but my hands were smacked away with a growl.

"Stay still". Someone roared and I held my mouth shut. Who the hell is he? He is trying to dominate me, Magnus Prescott. 

My belt went off, button off. The zipper was pulled down along with my boxers. Oh shit. I closed my eyes tightly shut. The coolness of the cloth against my flushed hot skin was a torture. And I lost the time for how long it continued. I was embarrassed when that kind soul cleaned me nicely. He dressed me into fresh clothes. I felt the bed dip indicating that the person has left the bed. I whined at missing touches. 

And then my savior was back. He placed a cool towel on my forehead. And then I realized I was burning with fever. 

"Magnus don’t sleep. Eat this". 

Wait what... It’s Jeremy....

"Jer is it you"? I called him weakly. 

"Who else. Stupid. You were burning in fever, reeking of alcohol and tobacco. Ewww gross. Now come and eat this congee". He pulled me up a bit, leaning me with his broad chest. 

"Yuck. It tastes bad". I stuck my tongue out.

"Eat it quietly or I will forcefully make you eat it". He shoved a spoon in my mouth. And another and another. And I being obedient finished all, followed by water and pills. 

He tucked me in the bed. 

"Don’t go Jer". I held his hand. Finally I was able to open my eyes. 

"I am not going anywhere stupid. I am taking your cloths to the washing machine. I will be back". He smiled warmly and left the room. 

It took him a while to come back. I know he must be cleaning the mess. He is a clean freak. 

"I am borrowing your tee and sweats". Since we are almost same built, we borrow each other clothes at stay over. 

He took a refreshing bath and came back. He checked my forehead and maybe he was satisfied a bit. 

"You need anything, Magnus? Do you want to take bath? Or use toilet"? He asked and I nodded my head. Not for bath but I had to pee. I remember last time I almost slipped going to the washroom with closed eyes and dizzy head. 

He pulled me up, held me around my waist and took me to get relieved. He found my mobile drained of battery and put it on charger.

"Now sleep. You will feel better when awake". He tucked me in the duvet taking his side of the bed. 

"Can you cuddle me please"? Yes I get to be a baby when he pampers me. 

"I know you won’t sleep without cuddles, typically Magnus". He pulled me into his arms and I snuggled peacefully. He never bothers of germ transfers. Yes he is that selfless. 

"I love you Jer". Either it was my subconscious mind, or the effect of medicine or I should say Jeremy Effect. I fell into slumber, a peaceful happy slumber. The feeling of his fingers racking my hair was enough to chase every worry away.

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Jeremy POV

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The alarm went off at 6. Although I don’t have any class today but i have to check on Olivier. I saw Magnus sleeping. His fever was down now. I slipped out of the bed replacing my arm with pillow for him. I took bath and cooked some breakfast for him. 

"I have to go Magnus. Eat breakfast and take medicine. I have charged your phone so I need a notification from you as soon as you take medicine and get fresh. Take bath and rest. I will be back in the noon with lunch". I put a note on the night stand with medicine, water and his breakfast on the table and left his room after taking bath and changing into my previous day clothes. 

My heart is aching to see Magnus like this but I am waiting for him to get sober up. I reached Olie's faculty in no time and he was waiting for me. 

"Jeremyyy". He ran to me and I pulled him for a light hug, pinching his chubby cute cheeks. 

"Hi pumpkin". I ruffled his hair and he blushed. 

"I was waiting for you Jeremy. Where were you last night"? He asked and i smiled walking with him to cafeteria. 

"Well my friend Magnus was burning with fever. So I had to take care of him". I told him and he nodded in understanding. 

We spent a good time together. He was sharing his memories of a year that we were apart. How he stalked me on my social media. How he was excited to get registered in this university. Suddenly I heard my mobile chime. 

"Hi Dr. Jeremy. I took breakfast and medicine and fresh now. I am waiting for you to come over when free". I smiled at his text and replied that I will visit soon as I am with Olivier for a while. I didn’t get a reply on the message and for first time it didn’t bother me. 

Olivier had to go to his class so I bid him goodbye promising to meet him again and left to see Magnus. Not forgetting his lunch. 

I entered his dorm and smiled to see a big baby snuggled in the blankets watching a movie. 

"How you feeling now"? I checked his forehead and he nodded that he was fine. 

"Come have lunch". I took his hand to the table and he surely was hungry as he took few big gulps before turning to me. 

"Won’t you eat"? He asked and I shook my head.

"I had lunch with Olivier". I replied and he stopped.

"Olivier"? 

"Yes. You remember the nerd I use to talk about. He is Olivier. I was so stupid to ignore my feelings. Yesterday I saw him and I purposed him to be my boyfriend. And he accepted. So..." I told him all smiling, failed to register his gloomy face. 

"You love him Jer"? He asked and I don’t know why I blushed. 

"Yes I do. I do love him Mag. And he does too".

"But I love you too Jer". He said and i felt everything stopped.

"I love you too Magnus. You are my best friend". I said but his reaction was way shocking. 

"But I don’t love you as a friend damn it". He smacked everything on the table. To say I am shocked is understatement. 

I never saw this side of Magnus. Yes he was caring and possessive of me. But I just took it as friend. 

"You saw the love that Olivier had in his eyes for you but how could you ignore my feelings for you Jer for years". He was shaking me and I was dead in my tracks. 

"I think you need to rest. I will be leaving now. Talk to me when you are in right state of mind". I stood up and this infuriated him more.

"I don’t need anyone. Go. Leave me like everyone does. Do you hear me Jeremy Royce? I don’t need anyone. Magnus can live alone. Go". He went to his room and slammed the door shut. 

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Magnus POV

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I can live alone. I don’t need anyone. I don’t even need Jeremy. I grab my bag. Put on some cloths, took my bike keys and left my dorm. Though I feel slight weak but I am not weak. 

I locked my door from outside and almost bumped into Lam...

"Where are you going Magnus? Is everything okay between you and Jeremy? I just saw him leaving confused and gloomy". He said and I just shrugged. 

"I am leaving for resort. I will be back in a day or two. I know we don’t have any lecture and I will text Mark to handle the hazer activities. Bye Lam". I waved him bye and hopped on my bike. 

"What the fuck is with these two"? I heard Lam saying but i had no intention to go back and clear his doubts. 

It’s our family resort. By family I only have my Dad. We have reshaped a portion into our living space though we only need one to sleep. Being the peak season, I know Dad would be busy at the resort. I had not informed him about my arrival so when he saw me there he was surprised but happy. We met after 3 months at my last semester break. 

"Hey bud". He hugged me tight and like always i melted in his arms. 

I sighed and he quickly pulled off. He held my face in between his hands. 

"What is it, Pres"? He always called me by my nick name when he was concerned. 

"No.. Nothing Dad". I tried to lower my gaze but he held my chin.

"Get fresh I will be up soon". Dad kissed my forehead and i went upstairs. 

"Here. I got your favorite cheese cake with coffee. Now tell me what made you come at this hour, unannounced". Dad sat my by side holding my hands. 

"Dad". I couldn’t speak anything. I was afraid of the tears that were ready to fall. 

"Oh my baby". He hugged me tight and i let myself be his boy. Not scared to be judged. 

"He doesn’t love me Dad". I was wailing in his arms. It was too much for me to handle. "He only loves me as a friend Dad. Why can’t he see it? He believed that his junior loves him but he doesn’t accept me, Dad". 

Dad was listening to me running circles on my back. It took me a while to calm down. 

"Magnus, love is uncertain. We can’t impose it. It needs our heart and mind toward that person to be in love with you. I can relate the pain of one sided love but son, choose if you still want to be friends"? Dad said and I lift my head to look into his eyes. 

"But Dad will he accept to be my friend, still after my confession? After his rejection"? I was confused. 

"Depends Magnus. You got to talk to him. Let’s hear out what he has to say. And if he chooses to be your friend, keep it that way". Dad racked my hair. 

"But Dad it hurts. Watching him all acting love in front of me with his boyfriend". Tears were filled again in my eyes. 

Dad sighed before taking me in his arms. Well he is still stronger than me.

"Magnus, there is not turning back in Love. Confessing your feelings was in your hand and that you did. But if he didn’t accept or return your feelings, you can’t force him. You can’t force him to reciprocate. You have two options. Either cut off all ties with him. And never look back. Or accept him to be your friend only with no strings attached and burry your feelings down. It will hurt both ways. Depends how strong you are. Take time. Think. And then talk to him. But make sure whatever you decide, stick to it. The Prescott’s never back off". 

Dad was right. I have to choose. If i can really live without having Jeremy by my side or not? 

"Talking about HIM. Do I know him"? Dad asked as I took a bite of cheese cake. 

"Yes Dad".

"Who"? 

"Jeremy. Jeremy Royce". I said and he looked at me...

"Jeremy. The Jeremy Royce. Your high school bud? Since when"? Dad was shocked. 

"Since forever dad.  Anyway. I am going to sleep. Will leave back in a day or two. Ask me if you need any help". I said Dad before going to washroom to take a bath.

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Jeremy POV

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I am lost. I am confused as fuck. Magnus loves me, more than a friend. The fuck. I can’t focus on anything. And that idiot once again ran off. His phone is switched off and his bike is not parked at his designated spot. That means he wasn’t here. 

He had not still recovered. And what the hell he thinks he can go anywhere just like that after dropping a bomb on my face. 

The fuck. I was messed up. 

"Jeremy, are you okay"? I heard Olie. 

"Ahh yes Olie am fine. Just late night study". I tried to sound confident and he bought the lie because he knows how crazy I am while studying. 

"Owh my hardworking, boyfriend". Olivier winked and I smiled a genuine smile. He was surely my sunshine. 

"Olie, do you want to go dinner with me"? I asked him and he looked back at me wearing his cute round glasses.

"Calling in for a date eh"? He teased and I bit my lip. 

"Well. We can call it. How about movie and dinner at my place"? I tried my luck. 

"At your place"? Yeah I asked him for the first time to crash my place.

"Only if you want"? I said ruffling his hair and next moment he was jumping in joy. 

"Yes yes yes. And I thought you would never ask me". He was chirping and I laughed at the baby.

"Okay. So i will fetch you at 6. Okay"? I pinched his nose before pecking it softly and he turned into fifty shades of red.

I, Beam, Kit and Olivier. We all live in one building. Magnus lives third to my right. Lam and Park lived in the opposite of our building corner. That means more chances of looking at each other. 

I went to my dorm first to arrange everything. I picked up movies, projector, snacks and beer. I had everything planned but my heart sighed when I saw the bike still not returned. 

"Where are you Magnus"? I had my head hung before proceeding to my room. 

Yes i am confused. But i do miss him. Stupid, idiot, Magnus.

******

Tabby