Silence | Book 2

2-7: Christmas

A loud buzz woke Tristan from his slumber. Only half awake he rolled over and searched between the blankets for his phone. Another message gave him some direction to look for, before plucking the device out from underneath his waist. With a heavy groan he brushed his hair out of his face and was instantly blinded by the light of his screen. He had to squint to read the words.

H: Merry Christmas babe!
If I were there I'd give you my shirt

And my jeans
And everything else
How does that sound?

Tristan smiled and then chuckled slightly at the blatant flirting – but couldn't stop the slight blush from warming his cheeks, nor his heart from beating faster.

T: Sounds wonderful love. Merry Christmas.

He typed back, still smiling. Immediately the message was marked as read.

H: How about I'll be the first to get you a gift?

It's just for you

T: You don't have to?

You already gave me the cufflink.

As he wrote it, he glanced at the golden cufflink still around his wrist. It was more than enough already. He didn't really know what Hibiki had planned – and he couldn't just assume that it would be cheap or simple.

H: Shh

I'm already sending it

Just be quiet and enjoy

He felt his heart skip a beat – and then the image popped up in his messages. It was a selfie of Hibiki, more confidently shirtless than he could handle this early in the morning. The blush on his cheeks burnt brighter, but he couldn't quite get himself to press it away. Instead he found his gaze drift past all the details he had been missing for nearly two weeks now. In his mind he ran his fingers past his skin, and wished he was close again: closer than any picture.

You can keep it

But it's for your eyes only

T: Okay

He wasn't even sure if he should keep it, considering it was fairly incriminating to have. But with how long they would still be separate, he knew he wouldn't get anything better. I'll delete it when he's back.

H: Promise?

T: Yeah

H: Good boy

A bit startled by that response, he swallowed audibly. Even though it was alone, part of him felt so embarrassed he couldn't look at his own phone screen for a second.

H: My parents want me back at this family gathering

My grandmother gets pissed if I don't pay attention

Even though she hates me being there

She has a huge mansion, but I need to be in the one room together with these fucks

It sucks

T: Does your family celebrate Christmas?

H: Not really

It's just a good excuse to get my family together

But I have to be social

What about you?

T: My dad wants to go to the afternoon mass, with me and my siblings since I will be leaving in the evening after dinner with my dad's family. Then at midnight, I will have to go to another service with my mother and Anya.