4. Meeting the Boyfriend

Meeting the Boyfriend

"Fletch". Zee called Fletcher helping him clean the dishes.

"Hmmm". 

"Is it good to be in Love"? Zee asked drying a plate. 

"Yes it is. It’s amazing". Fletcher washed the last dish and turned to him.

"Emerson told me what Love is. But I think he doesn’t need to tell me. The way he looks at Alex. It shows what Love is. Have you noticed his eyes shine when he looks at him? His lips smile when he talks about him. His arms stretch on their own to hold him. His feet drag him where Alex is". Fletcher was telling him and Zee couldn’t help but notice the shine in his eyes. 

"Like you are glowing at this time". Zee said and Fletcher looked at him surprised.

"Am I"? 

"I don’t know who is the person you are in Love with Fletch. But your eyes are sparkling at the moment. Your face is all smiles. It’s tinted pink. Oh my god. You are blushing Fletch". Zee exclaimed in awe and Fletcher hide his cheeks.

"Damn Zee. Let’s go. Let’s watch a movie". He shushed him trying to hide his blush, but he failed. Charles said the same once. That he blushes talking about his Love.

"Nope. Not at home. I want to go for shopping. Then lunch what say? I missed you, Fletch". Zee was excited but his face screamed loneliness.

"I missed you too Zee. When I was abroad, whenever I would be free, I would usually think about you. There was a time when Charles was ready to pack me and send me here looking at me gloomy all the time. If only i had not pending work to finish, I would have never left you". Fletcher held him in his arms swaying left right.

"I Love you, Fletch". Zee said and Fletch smiled. It was a routine. Right?? 

But... Why was it different??

********

They had spent hours shopping. Zee was looking for a perfume; he turned and found Fletcher holding it. 

"Ohh Fletch. You already have it. You remember I love it". He was feeling giddy that his brother had already picked it for him. 

"Uhmm Zee. I ... I wanted to gift it... To..." He was hesitating a bit and Zee didn’t like it. But he masked his disappointment...

"It’s okay, Fletch. I will grab the other piece". Zee turned but Fletch stopped him. 

"Zee. It’s the last piece available. Okay how about you have it. I know you always look for this one. I will grab some other for him". Fletcher replied cheerfully handing him the perfume and went to check the other.

But for the first time, Zee lost his interest in it. He placed it back and followed Fletcher who was busy getting the perfume packed.

"Hmm, did you get it"? He asked him asking for his perfume to pay but Zee shrugged. 

"Actually, Fletch, the sales person said it was a defective piece. So I left it. I will have something else". He lied. And he didn’t know why. But he did. 

"Okay. Do you want anything else"? 

"Nope. Are you done"?

"Yes I have bought and tagged gifts for everyone. I guess we should head to lunch". He grabbed the bags and left for the restaurant. 

"Are you gonna introduce him"? Zee asked taking a bite of his favorite sushi.

"Of course Zee. I was thinking about tomorrow dinner. It’s weekend. Also Charles wants us to meet someone". He told him.

"Do you have his pic"? Zee wanted to see what it needs to be Fletch's love. 

"Nope Zee and that makes me wonder, I never clicked his pic. I never needed actually. He was there with me. We would study, play, and sleep together. I never thought I would need his pic to see him". Fletcher told everything casually.

"Sleeping? Did you sleep together"? Zee choked on his food.

"Oyii. Not that sleeping stupid. We shared an apartment for four. I, him, Charles and his boyfriend". Fletcher smacked his arm laughing and Zee smiled. 

Thanks God. He is still... But wait. Why the hell it matters to me. He can sleep with his boyfriend if he wants to. Stupid Zee...

He was smacking himself mentally. 

"Zee. You okay? Why spacing out"? Fletcher looked at him thoughtfully. He was noticing Zee spaced out time to time. 

"Oh no. I am good. Just eager to meet your boyfriend". He replied honestly. He did want to meet him. 

"Me too Zee. I miss him so much". Fletcher was surely missing him. 

"More than me, Fletch"? Zee did not mean to say this but Fletch caught what he said.

"Why are you comparing yourself with him Zee? I missed you every day for two years. You are my blood Zee. And he... Well... He is..." He didn’t know how to explain and Zee laughed.

"C'Mon Fletch. I was teasing you. Of course you miss me more than anyone. Right"? 

"Exactly Zee. No one compares with you. Now finish and let’s go home". 

****

"Emery, when are you coming back"? Fletch called Emerson.

"Fletch. We will be late. We are going out". Emerson informed putting the phone on speakers.

"Owh. Love birds on date... My brother has changed. He doesn’t love me anymore. I am so heartbroken". Fletcher was exaggerating and Emerson laughed out with a giggling Alex at the background.  

"Okie. Alex is laughing at me too. Fine... No more breakfast for tomorrow now. I was considerate enough for you both to take time spending morning together. But I see you are laughing at me". Fletcher was being overdramatic. 

"Oh no no no, Fletcher. I am sorry. Pretty please. Who else bothers to wake up for me to make a delicious treat in the morning? No one. Not even your brother. Only my lovely brother in law. I won’t laugh at you". Alex sounded so cute that Mew busted out laughing. 

"Emery. I thought I was the one. But guess what the award for the Drama Queen goes to your husband. Alex Donovan". 

They ended the call with a promise that Emery will bring their favorite food for dinner.

******

They were waiting for last half hour and Zee had been questioning Emery and Alex since then. 

"Guys, when will Fletcher come"? He whined again and Emerson sighed for the umpteenth time. 

“Baby. They are on the way. They must be here... See they arrived". Emerson sighed in relief when he saw Charles coming towards them. Actually Fletch and Charles were coming together were their boyfriends and Zee was a complaining mess since then. 

"Hi Emery. Hi Alex. Hi Zee". He politely greeted them before turning to reveal a beautiful man behind him. He was a bit shorter than him. But he was cute, handsome and currently nervous. 

"Guys this is Benjamin Hamilton. My beautiful boyfriend. He back hug him placing a soft peck on him temple to make him at ease.

"Umm. Hello everyone". He wa'ied politely and Emerson responded with a warm smile.

"Welcome to the family Benjamin. I am Emerson. Fletcher's elder brother. He is Alex my husband and he is Zee. The pampered baby, spoiled by Fletcher". Emery introduced him and Zee pouted.

"Benjamin. Or can I call you Ben? So Ben. Don’t ever listen to, Emery. He only speaks truth when he has to talk about his husband. I am the most innocent one". Zee exclaimed proudly and they all busted into laugh.

"Where is Fletch"? Emery asked and Charles and Ben looked at each other. 

"What"? Emery asked again looking at the signals they were giving. 

"Uhmm Emery. He had some urgent task to fix. So he is with his boyfriend. Will come soon. Don’t worry". Charles said sheepishly and Emerson smacked his forehead.

"Really? Now? In the restaurant. Couldn’t he wait"? He huffed.

"Well Emery. You couldn’t wait either. So it’s an even". Zee defended his brother swirling his drink and everyone laughed at Alex turning to the shades of red. 

"Hello everyone". They turned to hear Fletch greeting them with someone at his side, wrapped in his arm. They were same height but he was bit lean. He had sharp features with twinkling eyes. 

His lips stretched to a thin smile and greeted all. 

"Hello Emerson. Hello Alex. And you must be Zee. The one Fletch missed and love a lot". He commented and Fletcher looked at Zee with loving eyes. 

"Guys. He is Singto Prachaya....my boyfriend". Fletcher introduced them all before taking a seat beside Singto taking Zee at his other arm. 

"Glad to meet you Singto. Finally someone could tame Fletch". Emery remarked and Fletch scoffed. 

"Well what can I say? I would Love him to stay wild". Singto winked and Fletch nodded as in proud husband. 

Alex choked on his food. He felt his ears all red at the bold statement by Singto. He was casually observing him watching as he was talking to everyone. 

He was good looking, handsome with prominent features. But there was a slight glint in his eyes. Like there was something hidden. The way Fletch looked at him was full of Love, affection and devotion. But the way Singto perceived it was more like for granted.

Alex was feeling a slight different aura emitting from him. Like he owned Fletcher. As in Fletcher was supposed to make him happy being a dutifully boyfriend. Somehow Alex didn’t like it.

From what he experienced from his love life, Emery had always taught him that Love is accepting without expecting anything in return but never take is as granted. Because it’s a mutual feeling. 

He tried to avert his gaze to talk to Zee but he was stunned or shocked as he looked into his eyes. He was looking at Fletcher with pure definition of Love. 

And that was something a brother shouldn’t look at his elder like. 

It wasn’t adoration. It was longing. A desire to be loved. A sadness of not being on the same page. 

He saw as Zee slightly lowered his gaze whenever Fletch looked at him. He saw him shifting close to him as Fletch spread his arms over his shoulder pulling him into telling something about his childhood. He saw his cheeks slightly tint whenever Fletch stroke his hair at his nape. 

Alex was super confused. His mind was in chaos. He knew he couldn’t say anything. To anyone. Not even to Emery. 

One... Singto was Fletch's boyfriend and he might be wrong assessing him. And Zee. 

It was wrong. It was wrong in all aspects. 

-----

Tabby