Chapter 4 - An Awkward Affair

The trip to the flash camera store had started out fine with Aian dragging Kalvin around the store exclaiming over all the things and pointing out all the useful accessories he would like one day.

Cameras and photography were his passion and he couldn’t help but fawn over the latest models on the market. He also hoped that by pointing out and explaining everything there was to see, he would distract the other man.

What he hadn’t realized was that Kalvin had snagged an employee to note down what things he was pointing out to.

He had been gazing at the latest models of cameras on display when Kalvin called him over to the register.

Aian’s jaw dropped at all the things spread out over the counter being scanned and packaged. Turning to Kalvin in alarm, he opened his mouth to question what was going on when the man’s phone rang.

His twin flame passed over the same credit card he had used earlier in the restaurant and excused himself to step outside to take the call.

Panicked, Aian took the chance to plead with the sales assistant.

“Wait, I don’t need all of this. While he’s out, we can put some of this back.”

The assistant laughed in his face. “Sorry, man, I listen to the person with the credit card,” he whistled as he held it up for inspection. “Especially when they have one of these babies. Don’t see a card like this very often. If it were me, I wouldn’t say anything. Seriously, just let daddy buy you your stuff.”

“...”

What?

“He’s not my dad!”

“Oh.”

What the hell?

“Who is he then?”

Aian looked away and fidgeted a little. The whole thing still seemed so surreal to him.

“... He’s my twin flame.”

“Damn, dude! You got lucky! I’d kill to have that kind of money thrown at me. But anyway, just keep your mouth shut and let your sugar daddy treat you. You seriously don’t know how lucky you are.”

Aian choked at the sugar daddy comment but Kalvin returned before he could protest. He couldn’t throw a tantrum in the store like a child and refuse the purchase.

So now, Aian had more camera equipment than he ever imagined himself owning. He couldn’t get over the events of the day.

“I have to get back to work. Do you need a ride home?” Kalvin asked as he grabbed one of the large bags.

“I took the bus. Parking here is terrible,” Aian responded automatically while he tried to think of a way to return all the camera parts.

“I’ll drop you off on my way then.”

“Oh but-” he stopped as Kalvin turned and strode out of the store without looking back.

With a small scowl of annoyance, Aian grabbed the rest of the equipment and trotted after the other man. Clearly, the man expected to be followed and the action was oddly grating.

He couldn’t think of anything to say as they made their way down the busy street.

A limousine pulled up to the curb in front of them and Kalvin opened the door, gesturing Aian inside.

Staring in surprise, he moved on autopilot to accept the invitation in and slid along the leather seats to give the other man room to join him.

After giving his address to the driver at the front, silence reigned once again. It was tenser this time, as though neither of them could find the words they wanted to say.

What could you say in this situation?

Their impromptu lunch date had quickly taken on a relaxed atmosphere but since their stare off, things felt strained.

Thankfully, they arrived at his address quickly and he mumbled his thanks as he gathered all the camera bags.

Kalvin caught his hand as he reached for the last bag. “I’ll call you,” he said firmly as he pulled out his phone. “What’s your number?”

Aian rattled it off hesitantly and felt his phone buzz in his pocket as it received a message. In the whirlwind of events, it hadn’t even occurred to him that they hadn’t exchanged contact information.

With another awkward goodbye, Aian slipped from the vehicle and walked up to his little run- down apartment.

*****

Aian walked in to his apartment and carefully sat his new camera and lenses on the coffee table.

He threw himself onto his couch to bury his face into a cushion with a groan. He had accepted the offer of a ride home with little thought and had just been dropped off home in a limo.

A limousine of all things.

Seriously, who rides around in one of those like it’s nothing?

Got in a fight, broke his camera, found his twin flame, had an expensive lunch, was given a new camera, and finally it was topped off by a ride home in a limo.

He groaned again. Now that he was by himself and able to collect his thoughts, he realized that all day, he had been the one doing all the talking.

So while he knew the name, face, and phone number of his twin flame, he knew nothing about the man himself.

The rumors were clearly exaggerated as the man had seemed civil enough except for when Aian had tried to tell him no, then he got a glimpse of a very intimidating persona. Otherwise he just seemed to have that small smirk and amused glint in his steel gray eyes.

The deep baritone of his twin flame’s voice would catch him off guard nearly every time he spoke.

He didn’t know what to make of the man or the whole twin flame thing.

Great, so that person was ‘meant’ for him.

His perfect counterpart.

But in what way?

There was nothing that told him how they fit together, nothing gave a hint to what this all meant.

He understood that was how it worked but it seemed far harder now that he faced so many questions.

When he had spoken with those he knew who had found their twin flames, they all seemed to have come to the conclusion about how they fit together fairly quickly.

But Aian honestly felt like everything was still a mystery.