Is This Enough ||MxM || Lgbtq+ [ON Hiatus]

Chapter 19

Vinnie's P.O.V

"Hey, Vin... I think I might've underestimated that takeout last night." he admitted sheepishly on our video call.

Despite my warnings, he decided to consume the leftovers from our dinner order, and now he is regretting it. I, on the other hand, cannot even comment on the situation with an 'I told you so', as it is my responsibility to ensure the health and wellbeing of my ill partner.

My voice was laced with worry as I asked, "Have you had anything to drink today?"

Leo motioned to the water bottle beside him, his voice still hoarse from the coughing fit he had recently endured. "Don't forget to pick up my medication," he reminded.

"Don't worry, I won't."

At the conclusion of our conversation, Wes directed his gaze towards me with a rather mischievous looking expression. His mouth slightly upturned at the corners. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Bro, you're whipped."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "No, I'm not."

"Yeah, you are."

We ventured down the street, being sure to pause and make sure the traffic had dissipated before attempting to cross. On the other side, we encountered a section of the city that was alive with colour. Exploring this part was akin to entering an enchanted realm. Everywhere you turned, you could see the distinctiveness of the culture that was present. The walls were adorned with artistic murals, and the streets were bustling with life and activity. Instead of the government's hand being heavily visible in the area, the locals were in charge of the narrative.

I was filled with a wave of nostalgia, remembering all the stories my late grandpa used to tell me about his childhood in Brazil. He would always talk about the dazzling colours at carnival and his days of playing football with his friends.

"Whatever, let's get on with it." I snapped.

"What do we need to get?"

As I perused my list, I pondered: Is there anything I'm forgetting? "First thing's first, we have to visit the drugstore. Then we'll need to pick up a bouquet and a plush koala."

"Deffo whipped." he snickered.

"Shut it." I said without any spite behind the statement. Despite his vocal displeasure, I was adamant about getting the errands done. After a few stops around town, we finally made it to the pharmacy. After picking up what I needed, I dragged him to stores, where he made a pointed effort to embarrass me.

I angrily hissed, "Seriously, Wes? Can't you be a bit more discreet about it?" he had crammed the basket with all the necessary safety precautions; lube, condoms, you name it. Even though I was in full support of being safe, why did it have to be me who carried the basket?

He held up a packet of condoms with a playful twinkle in his eye, and gave a knowing wink to a passerby as he said, "Safety first, right?"

I hung my head as we walked through the bustling aisle, feeling my face flush with embarrassment. "Could you please stop drawing attention to it? It's embarrassing enough as it is."

He had a mischievous expression on his face as he said, "Come on, lighten up! It's just a basket of safety. We're grown-ups, right?"

I let out a disgruntled sound before responding with a quiet, "Yeah, easy for you to say. You're not the one holding the basket for everyone to see."

"Yeah, well, if you're feeling uncomfortable, you could always dance a little jig to distract them from the basket."

"I am not covering up your antics with a dance." I firmly placed the basket on a shop shelf as we wandered to a more secluded area and inquired, "When was the last time you had sex?"