"You're hurt," Lian pointed out as he caressed the bruised knuckles on Callum's hand. Callum pulled his hand back and wiped his tears. "I-I understand if we can't be together again. I just want to be close to you. If you allow me, maybe we could be friends again at least," Callum said, avoiding Lian's observation."Callum," Lian called out in a scolding tone.A smile sneaked its way on Callum's face. It was the same tone Lian always used on him whenever he would get hurt and hide it from Lian."Don't worry about it. I'm fine," he tried to reassure Lian but he just gave him a disapproving look. "What did he do, Keane?" Lian asked, turning his head toward KEane.Keane had to look away. He doesn't want to lie to Lian and he also doesn't want to push Callum under the bus. Lian stared at Keane as he waited for an answer and sweat was starting to form on his forehead. He looked over to Callum for help and he just shrugged so Keane took it as a cue to tell Lian what happened. "Well, uhm,
Lian was discharged from the hospital a few days later and was admitted to an inpatient rehab facility. There was no telling how long he would be in there but Callum and Keane promised that they would visit every time that they could. The first few nights were horrible for Lian. He felt scared and alone. The nightmares didn't help either. He was put on different medications and he had therapy sessions almost every day. What scared him the most was the detox treatment. His body was greatly suffering from the drug withdrawal and there were days wherein he would almost collapse from the pain. This is why he wanted to be in an inpatient facility. At one point, his willpower will not be enough to stop him from running back and inserting the drug into his system, all to stop the pain. "You have a free day today. You can go around the facility, play some sports, watch movies, or you can stay here and rest, okay?" Mike, his main caretaker tells him. "Thanks, I guess I'll just stay in for n
"They threw out Lian and disowned him because they found out about your relationship," Lyle said."What?" Callum asked in disbelief. "You weren't as discreet as you thought. There were pictures of you at the pond during the night," he said. Lian's face flushed when Lyle mentioned the pond. He's just hoping there aren't any incriminating pictures of the two of them on there. Silence engulfed the room after the revelation. Lian had a hard time processing all of it. Callum on the other hand was enraged. He couldn't believe he had stayed in business with the Moore family. He felt angry and disgusted with himself."Thank you, Lyle, for finding me," Lian said after a while.Lyle looked at him in shock. He was fully expecting Lian to lash out at him. He played a role in making things worse for his brother yet here he was, thanking him for something he should've done years ago. Lyle pulled his brother into a tight hug before the water dams burst open once again. Lian held his brother tight.
The two weeks had gone by much slower than they had all anticipated. The siblings have rekindled their relationship and Lian was more than happy to have his brother back though he still has no idea how his brother and parents' current relationship. It was hard for him to know that maybe his brother would be losing their parents as well but seeing what they did, maybe they really are better off having no ties with them.Lyle parked his car beside Keane's. The three of them were there to pick up Lian and have a housewarming party for Lyle after. The three waited anxiously by the doors for Lian to come out. Keane made sure that he was not beside Lyle or he might not be able to control himself. He may or may not have been texting with and seeing the man whenever he could but somehow he couldn't bring himself to stand next to him.Callum noticed this and dragged Keane so he'd be standing next to Lyle but the man resisted with all his strength. Lyle just raised his brow at the two grown men
Just like Lian predicted, the food was already cold when they got there so the first thirty minutes of the party was spent reheating everything. Callum would steal glances at Lian almost every second. Lian hasn't uttered a single word toward him ever since they got to their new home. Lian stuck near Lyle or Keane but never Callum and he was painfully aware of that. The four of them sat in the newly decorated living room as they wait for the food to finish heating up. Lian looked around and saw pictures of him and his brother. One particular picture caught his eye. It was him and his brother baking a bunch of pastries. It also happened to be taken a week before he was kidnapped. The memory entered his mind like a truck that lost its breaks. Lyle immediately noticed the change in his brother's mood. He pulled his brother closer to him and engulfed him in a comforting hug. He knew that his brother wasn't ready to talk about it yet so all he can do is assure his brother that he'd be the
6 years ago...The two were sitting near the pond once again. A routine they had established ever since they got together. They silently watch the creatures that habituate the area. Callum reached out and grabbed Lian's hand. "Don't you think it's time to come out to your parents?" Callum asked.Lian heaved a deep sigh. "No, not yet. I'm not ready.""Lian, we've been together for six months already. How come you're still not ready?" Callum scoffed. Lian pulled his hand away and scowled at Callum. As much as Lian loves his parents, he knows that they can be unpredictable at times and he couldn't be sure how they would react once they knew about him and Callum. Lian was also scared of losing everything he had worked hard on. "Can you not act like it's such an easy decision?" Lian snapped. "You don't even know how my parents would react.""That's why I want to be there with you!""It's not that fucking easy, Callum!""Yes, it is!" he snapped back. "Are you ashamed of me?" Callum asked
Present..."Knock, knock!" Lian yelled through the door."It's open!" Lyle yelled back."I can't open it!"Lyle sighed and begrudgingly got up from his already comfortable position on the bed. "Hi," Lian giggled as soon as his brother opened the door. He was holding two pillows in his arms that prevented him from opening the door. "Can I sleep beside you?" Lian asked. "Actually, I'm not asking. I'm sleeping beside you," Lisan said before pushing past his brother. Lian plopped on the bed with a content sigh and Lyle closed the door before laying beside his brother. Lian always loved to sleep beside him when they were much younger. Lian never really liked sleeping alone so he would sleep beside someone whenever he could. Lyle thought of all those years that Lian had to sleep alone and probably not in a comfortable place. He felt like such a failure of a brother.Lyle turned to his side and pulled his brother into a hug. Lian's face was nuzzled on his chest and his eyes were already
Their mother has a displeased look on her face. Lyle was expecting this but Lian wasn't. He could see the pain in his brother's eyes as they approached their mother."Let's go to my office before anyone sees you," Andrea said with such distaste that it made Lian wince.Andrea didn't even wait for her sons to follow her as he walked away. The elevator ride to the top floor felt extremely suffocating. It took everything in Lian not to stop the elevator and just use the stairs. Not a word was uttered between the three and Lian had no plan of saying the first word.The elevator finally opened and Lian let out a sigh of relief. They walked down the hallway where at the end of it was a vast oak double door. Andrea stopped and knocked on the door and it was immediately opened by someone inside. William sat in the middle of the office. The large oak desk complimented his build. William was a large man, standing at 6'4". Lyle clearly got his height, standing at 6'6" but unfortunately for Lian,