Ray of Moonlight

Chapter Eighteen - Ray

"I don't swing that way." I kept on repeating Leo's words in my head. From the moment that I heard him say that, it kept on being repeated in my head like a recording.

Even when we were at the elevator, the words were clearly ringing in my head. I tried so hard to keep it out of my mind when I was showering but I failed miserably.

Now, I'm lying on the bed, while Leo is in the bathroom taking a shower, and I kept on hearing the words in my head. I think I'm going crazy.

I shouldn't be affected by it because first of all, let's face it, we aren't going to materialize. We are related by blood, uncle-nephew at that.

However, I am affected by his words. It's like an arrow that pierced through my heart, only it was poisoned. As much as I know that we aren't going to materialize, it's not like I could turn my feelings off.

Not because he's my nephew doesn't actually mean I could just forget it easily. Being this close with him 24/7 isn't helping at all either. If anything, it's just making it more difficult for me.

This trip was a very bad idea, even from the very start. I just convinced myself that it isn't but actually, it is. I should've declined him coming with me but the impulsive me went on with the plan and even got excited.

'What should I do?' I thought to myself as I heard the shower stopped. Oh great, he's done showering. Here's to another moment of torture and self-restraints.

I closed my eyes as I heard the bathroom door open. It's better to pretend sleeping at times like this. I heard footsteps moving around, and I imagined him getting changed.

Seconds later, I felt the bed slightly dipped as he gets on top of it. He laid dangerously close to me, his arms brushing against mine. "What did I do wrong?" I heard him say, his voice soft and low.

"Did I say something offensive?" This boy is sure clueless, and impossibly oblivious.

I felt him move, followed by his breath fanning the side of my face. 'Great.' I thought. Now, he's on his side, facing me.

"I wish you could just tell me if something's bothering you." He whispered; the words obviously directed at me.

'If only it's that easy.' I replied him in my thought.

Suddenly, I felt him wrapped his arms around my torso, after he slowly sprawled my left arm on top of his head. He then slowly lay his head on my chest before I heard him sighed. "Goodnight Ray." He whispered.

'Goodnight Leo.' I silently thought.

I let sleep takeover as I felt comfortable with him next to me, hugging me.

-

I was woken up by the sound of a phone ringing. It's not my phone though. I opened my eyes and I was surprised to see that Leo is not on the bed. I looked around the room. He's nowhere to be found. "Leo?" I called out thinking he's in the bathroom, no one answered.

"Where did he go?" I thought out loud.

I looked at the empty space beside me and noticed his phone, Erico's name flashing on the screen accompanied by an orange heart. I frowned before flipping the phone over, and the ringing suddenly stopped.

"Oh." I said, surprised. We even have the same motion for silencing calls. I smiled. 'You've got the same phone as him, idiot.' My inner me stated the obvious, making the smile leave my face.

I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and connected to the hotel's wifi. My phone dinged as notifications arrived one by one.

One specific notification grabbed my attention and I clicked on it. Erico Perez sent me a friend request. I noticed that he had already posted the picture of him and Leo that I took yesterday. 'Lost and Found' the caption says with a rose emoji.

I accepted his friend request and I immediately received a message from him.

"Knock. Knock." That's the content of his message.

I played along. "Who's there?"

I choked at his reply. "Your feelings for Leo."

"What are you playing at?" I sent him.

"I know you like Leo." He sure replies fast.

"Of course, I do. He's my nephew." Did he catch up on something while we were out yesterday? I hope not.

"You know what I mean." He definitely did. Think Raymund, think. You can't get caught now.

"What do you mean?"

"Quit playing. I like Leo. It takes someone who likes him to know that someone else likes him too. In this case, that someone else is you." I felt like a deer caught on a bright light.

"You're making things up." As if denying it would make him think otherwise.

"Fine. Don't believe me. It's not like I noticed that Leo likes you too." I almost dropped my phone on the bed.

I picked it back up before typing in my reply. "What?"

"Now, we're finally getting somewhere. Yes dude, Leo obviously likes you." He couldn't be serious, could he? If Leo likes me, why didn't I catch onto it?

"How could you know that? Did he tell you?" That's impossible. Leo would never tell just anyone something like that, if it's true.

"It's obvious by the way he looks at you." Is this guy detective or something?

"How does he look at me?" Yeah, that's my curiosity taking over me.

"As if you're his favorite food." I laughed at the comparison. How could he compare me to a food?

"That's nonsense."

"You get what I mean anyway." I could imagine him on his bored look.

"Actually, no." What? He's actually quite entertaining in chat.

"Geez, you're no fun." I take that back. He isn't entertaining.

"I'm a lot of fun. We're not just close." I sounded rude to someone who just told me that the guy I like probably likes me back.

"Rude. Anyway, do you want to get your man or not?" My man. I smiled at the words.

"Why are you doing this? You know he's my nephew." He knew, right? I know I remember Leo telling him that when he briefly introduced us to each other.

"You being his uncle isn't my problem. That's your problem. My problem is how I could get you to tell Leo how you feel or how we could get Leo to tell you how he feels." Why does it sound as if he's a lot older than me?

"It sounds to me that you've got everything figured out."

"Of course. It's always nice doing charities." I choked. He didn't just call me a charity, did he?

"I'M NOT A CHARITY CASE." I should've probably shouted that at him if he's right in front of me.

"That's not the point. Do you want my plan or not?"

"I'll think about it." What I really meant is 'Yes" but I don't want to come off as too excited.

"I'll take that as a yes." He got what I mean nonetheless.

Just then, the door opened revealing Leo with a tray of food on his hand. I took in his appearance and he's still on his shorts but he has a shirt on now, his hair a little messy. I instantly felt my member getting aroused at the sight of Leo.

"Breakfast?" he asked as he moved towards the bed.

"I should be the one asking." I replied, my mood now a little better after chatting with Erico. He better not be lying to me or else, he's dead.

I smiled as I thought about Leo liking me back. "You seem to have woken up on the right side of the bed." Leo said, probably noticing the smile on my lips.

"Isn't waking up enough to put a smile on my lips?" Leo put down the tray of food on the bed.

"Sure, it is. So, what are we going to do today?" He asked me instead.

"I don't know what Erico planned for the day. Let's just hope that it's something fun and good." I answered him.

Leo just looked at me with confused and weirded face, as if I just talked in some unknown language.

'Just you wait.' I thought. 'I'll let you confess your feelings to me.'