Ray of Moonlight

Chapter Seventeen - Leo

"Thank you for accompanying us today." I thanked Erico. "We had fun. Seattle is indeed a nice place." After all the hype at Pike Place Market, Erico led us to another place called Volunteer Park Conservatory.

The conservatory is actually a beautiful botanical garden and is one of the city's landmarks. It's the kind of place that every photographer is dreaming about.

With just 4 dollars, I got to see palms, bromeliads, orchids, succulents and plenty of other plant species I've never seen before. I really went wild taking photos of the plants as we wander around.

We even went to Capitol Hill's Lake View Cemetery, quirky I know, but it's actually where Bruce Lee was buried, alongside his son, Brandon Bruce Lee.

You'll be surprised by the amount of people that are visiting, and it's a cemetery. Can't blame the people though. He's one fine icon. Chinese and Americans are probably very proud of him.

"I had fun too." Erico told us. I looked at him and felt my heart skipped a beat.

If it weren't for the dilemma that I'm in, which is by the way standing right next to me, I'd totally kiss him. The fact that only my parents know that I'm bi not fazing me at all.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" he asked, glancing at Ray's direction momentarily.

"Sure." I agreed as I understood what he meant. "Wait for me." I told Ray.

Erico led me farther away from Ray before he started speaking. "I don't know if I'll ever see you again so I'm just going to tell you. Just listen okay?"

I nodded, as I noticed him nervously fiddling with his fingers. "Seeing you again felt surreal. I wasn't even prepared so maybe; you'll just laugh at me."

He looked around him, before continuing. "I like you Leo. I've liked you since fifth grade. I like you until now and I haven't seen you in years. I was just stalking you on Facebook, trying to know what you're up to, if you already have a girlfriend and everything that is there for me to see. I haven't had the nerve to add you as a friend because, well, I wasn't even sure if you still know. So yeah, I like you. Please don't freak out."

I was astounded at how he was able to blurt out everything. I could see the nervousness in him. If anything, I find it very brave of him to be able to confess to me. I hugged him. That's the first thing that came into my mind.

He was shocked at first, probably not expecting me to hug him, then he hugged me too. "Thank you." I whispered, before I let him go.

Erico is hot, that's for sure. Aside from that, he's also nice. No one who's sane would probably turn his confession down, except for me.

"Sorry." I started.

"Don't be." He cut me off. "You aren't obliged to return my feelings. That's not how it works. I'm not even sure if you're into," he stopped, then pointed at himself. I get what he meant. "I just want you to know that I like you. Probably this way, I can move on from you."

I wanted so badly to tell him the truth, because he deserves to know at the very least, but I realized that I wasn't ready yet. "I wish you find someone better than me. Someone who can actually reciprocate your feelings."

What I really wanted to tell him is that I'm bi. I wanted him to know that. I also wanted to admit to him that I have a little crush on him. I just don't have the balls.

'In another parallel universe.' I thought and it brought a tiny smile on my lips.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked, his voice hopeful.

I discreetly looked back at Ray and noticed that he's occupied with his phone. "Sure." I agreed.

He quickly kissed my cheeks and here I thought and hoped, he's going to go for the lips. I was disappointed, though I didn't let it show.

He hugged me tightly, once again. "Thank you." He whispered before he finally let me go.

Not being able to control myself anymore, I quickly pecked his lips. His eyes widen in shocked. "You at least deserve that." I said then winked at him.

We said our goodbyes after exchanging numbers. "Let's keep in touch." I told him before I went back to Ray, while Erico went the opposite way.

Ray looked up from his phone when I reached him. "Did he confess his feelings for you or something?" he asked.

I choked at the accuracy of his words. "Yeah."

"Yeah?" He sounded surprised. Regaining back his composure, he asked. "So, how did it go?" he put his phone back in his pocket, his full attention now focused on me.

I shrugged. "I said I was sorry I couldn't reciprocate his feelings. Told him I don't swing that way." Of course, the latter part is a lie. He didn't need to know that.

He cleared his throat. "Let's go." He said as he walked inside the hotel.

The guard and the front desk lady greeted us as we pass by them. I also noticed that the coffee place where we had our breakfast this morning turned into a natty wine bar. Talk about quick business transitions.

We walked to the elevator with me following behind. All the way up to our room, he didn't say a single word. 'Did I say something wrong?' I thought but couldn't remember anything that might've offended him.

"Are you okay?" I asked him as we enter the room.

He stopped then glanced back at me. "Yeah." He smiled. The smile is even forced, I could tell.

"I'll wash up first." He said before going into the bathroom.

I was just left there standing, trying to think what I did wrong. When I can't remember anything, I groaned. "This is more difficult than a tricky math problem." I muttered as I sat on the edge of the bed.

I listened to the sound of water droplets hitting the bathroom floor. As I heard it stop, I braced myself for the things that are about to unfold.

Ray walked out of the bathroom with his naked glory, only a piece of towel that is loosely wrapped dangerously low around his waist covering him.

He quickly put on a boxer followed by shorts. I watched as he walked to his side of the bed before lying down. 'I guess that's my cue to go to the bathroom.' I thought as I left him lying on the bed.

I quietly washed myself while my mind tries to think about the things that happened today and tried to remember where and when did it go downhill.

I walked out with the towel wrapped around my waist after I finished washing and I was surprised to see Ray peacefully sleeping. "I guess he's just tired." I whispered, trying to convince myself.

At the back of my mind though, I know that something is wrong and it's nagging me. I tried pushing it back farther. 'Let me sleep for the mean time.' I thought.