A Million Sunsets With You (A Boys Love Story)

CHAPTER 3

It was five in the afternoon, with the wind so cold and the sound of heavy rains pouring on the roof. The sound of thunder and the striking rays of lightning darkened the sky. Joshua was sleeping so tightly while hugging his pillows, covering his whole body with the blanket. He was still waiting for his parents to come home. Leaves were touching each other, and trees were dancing, following the course of the wind. After a deep nap, he woke up and sat in the corner near the window, seeing the rain pouring outside the house. The day started to become dusk, and gradually, the night covered the sky.

Joshua was near the window when his phone rang. He went to the other corner of his room, where his phone was on the table. He picked up the phone and answered the call. It was Jane who was calling him. "Yes, Jane?" he uttered. "Hello, Josh! Is it raining there?" Jane asked in a very energetic voice. Joshua was also confused about why Jane called her. He then asked about her purpose for calling him at this late hour. "It was a gloomy afternoon. Why did you call me?" She fervently said, "Why not? You know what? I am alone inside my room. Are you too?" Joshua didn't have any idea what Jane was trying to figure out. He tittered. "Why were you asking that kind of question? Yes, I'm alone." He guffawed while talking to Jane on the phone. Jane snickered. "You are alone? I know what you are doing. You are masturbating there, especially now that we have a very cold weather temperature." She taunted and giggled. "You are crazy, Jane. I am in the corner of my room near the window, reading my favorite book. What a dirty mind, gal!" They laughed at each other while on the phone and started to chinwag about what had happened to them at the cafeteria. "You know what, Josh? I still could hardly believe that I took a picture with Alex Perez. He is the heartthrob of our university. It is such an honor," Jane exclaimed, delighted about meeting the famous varsity player of their university. "And then? Move on," Josh interrupted.

"Che! You are just so bitter because you haven't been in a relationship since birth." Jane taunted and laughed at Josh. "Whatever, I still have my books here." Josh grinned and guffawed. "You are just imagining all the characters in your books. Remember, those are just fictional. That kind of guy who is perfect, who has abs, who is caring... that's far from reality. A guy who will do everything for you. A man who will cook your favorite foods and send you thousands of flowers during your anniversary... you're hallucinating, though. Everything is just a product of creativity and imagination," Jane concluded. While Josh was holding his phone, he laughed so hard about what Jane had said to him. He couldn't even imagine why Jane acted like that. He was so confused about whether Jane was broken or not. He then grabbed the table to place his books and arrange them accordingly. "You know what, Jane, are you broken? The book that I am reading here is not a love story. It is a science fiction story." Jane was speechless and open-mouthed. "Oh, I see. Whatever!" Jane was inside her room with Josh on the phone when she heard Josh's parents calling his name. "Jane, my parents are already here. Call me later!" Josh ended the call by going downstairs to adjoin his parents, who just came from work. "Mom and dad, coming!"

Joshua got everything his parents brought from work. He was sitting on the sofa while waiting for his parents to change clothes. Turning on the television, he found out that there was a typhoon that struck the province, including their town. He lay on the sofa, holding the remote control, when his mother called him for help. "Son, can you wash the vegetables so that I can start cooking?" He then went to the kitchen and washed the vegetables. His father adjoined them in the kitchen while getting the knife at the top corner of their tray. "How's school, son? Was it great?" Josh's father stared at him and smiled. "Yes, dad. It was. We've done lots of things, especially in our history class. We were tasked to interview someone who had experienced the People Power Revolution." He continuously cleaned the vegetables and, one at a time, put them on the filter to remove excess liquid.

"That's great, son. Just be happy and continue dreaming of the life you've always wanted to have." Josh hugged his father and smiled. "Josh, can I have the vegetables now?" He handed the vegetables to his mother, who was preparing the pan to be heated. Joshua washed the cauldron for him to cook rice in. He was planning to prepare their dinner before his parents came home, but he woke up late in the afternoon due to the cold weather. His mother asked, tapping his shoulder. "Son, I bought something for you. They are inside my bag. Later, I will give them to you." His mother smiled and kissed him on the forehead. "Okay, mom. Thank you!" He hugged his mother and kissed her left cheek.

After preparing the dinner, Josh and his parents sat at the dining table. He prayed for the food. "Lord, thank you for everything. Thank you for this family, which is full of love. Kindly bless the foods that we're going to eat, Lord. May these foods be our source of strength. This is all I ask, in Jesus' Name, Amen." Josh sat at the top center of the table while his parents were sitting beside him. "Oh, the rain stopped. That would be okay!" His father pointed outside. They talked about a lot of things, especially about Josh's studies. His parents were so supportive of his studies and whatever Josh wanted to achieve in the future. When they were done eating, Josh washed the dishes while his parents were on the sofa, watching television. Arranging the plate, drying the utensils, and placing them on the tray.

It was already seven in the evening. Josh went to his parents, who were on the sofa where he was going inside his room. "Mom, I gotta get inside my room." Josh kissed both of them while bringing his favorite teddy bear. His mother exclaimed. "Wait, son. Before I forget, I need to give them to you." His mother got something inside her bag, and it was plenty of books. Books, which were Josh's favorite companions. "Oh, that's nice, mom! Thank you." He was so astonished and wide-eyed after seeing lots of books bought by his mother for him. His mother knew what the things were his son wanted to have, and correctly, it was books. "No problem, son. Just for you." She handed the books to Josh. After that, Josh went upstairs to his room. When he got inside, he then placed the books and started to read the prologue and epilogue. "I have new babies. These will challenge me more to have time management when reading them one by one."

He got his camera and photographed the books that were given to him by his mother and posted them on his Facebook account with the caption, 'Thanks, mom. You're the best! "He then arranged them on his table and slept after an hour of scrolling news and articles.