A love like ours

Chapter 2

Forth was at his office, exhausted after a whole day full of meetings. He had been avoiding all the texts and calls that Beam had sent him. He knew that they should actually talk, to fix things, but he just could not get himself to do it.

Even though he was the first to give in, during most of their disagreements, this time just hit different.

Right then, he heard a ping from his phone and it was another text from Beam.

'Forth, I see that my words are not enough to show you how much you mean to me. So, I'll show you instead. I promise I'll be there for our anniversary. Please wait for me.'

His heart skipped a beat upon seeing that message. He was amazed that even after all these years together, Beam's words could cause butterflies in his stomach. But he reminded his traitorous heart not to hope, not to expect anything. Because, hope had been leading to disappointment a lot these past months and he wasn't sure he could handle another one.

So, he steeled his heart and wrote back, 'yeah ok'. It felt wrong to be this way, but he didn't want to take it back.

"Was that P'Beam?"

Forth looked up to see Ming, his friend and colleague who was once his junior, standing at his door.

"Huh?"

"Well, for once, your expression is not that of a grouchy bear, like it has been the past week and you were staring at your phone. So, I figured that P'Beam texted you."

"Oh... yeah... I'm sorry if I've been snappy with you. It's just that, I've hardly even seen him, ever since he took the new job at the rural hospital. That has put a strain on the both of us. So, it has been rough and the last time he came down, things didn't end well."

He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.

Ming nodded along.

"Yeah Phi! I figured something was wrong when I got a text from P'Beam asking me to take care of you and if you seemed alright."

To Forth, it felt good to know this, because it reassured him that his husband still cared.
"P'Forth, you do know that I'm here for you right? Anything you need. Even if it's just listening to you rant, I can be your sounding board. Because I understand where you're coming from. Even though Kit and I live in the same apartment, I never even see him most days, because of the doctor's crazy hours."

He felt a rush of affection for the younger man who was more like a brother to him and he smiled at him.

"Thanks Ming, and yes, I know."

Ming grinned at him and nodded. But then his face took on a more serious expression."

"I don't know what exactly happened, but you have to know that P'Beam loves you more than anything. Even when I don't get to see Kit for extended periods of time, I remind myself that we love each other and then everything else is background noise. I tell myself that the love we share is worth working through all the hard parts and above all, I trust him to make the right choices for us, for our future together."

Forth was a little surprised by the sudden outburst but then he realized that he envied that Ming had such unwavering trust and devotion. He couldn't help but think that they used to have that too and wonder when and what had changed.

He shook himself and got off his chair. It was the end of the work day at his firm anyway and he felt the need to get out of the office. He walked up to Ming and threw his arm around his shoulder.

"Look at you saying such smart things. When did you get so wise N'Ming?" he ruffled his hair playfully. "Come, let me treat you to dinner."

Ming laughed at this 180 and eagerly nodded so they both headed out to get some food and drinks at a place near their office.