NOT MEANT TO BE

Chapter 29

"......I don't think he's weird, Copter but he most definitely likes you." Kimmon contemplated.

"Really?" The younger tilted his head, frowning.

"I tell you he's totally into you," Kimmon said, his voice sombre. "From what I've seen from the photos and what you have told me I could guess. And I know because I'm a man too."

"Hey, P'Kim." Copter peered into the Copter screen. "You're not upset about it, right?" He reached out and touched the screen, imagining that he was touching the older man's sharp cheekbone, dusted with light stubble. Kimmon sighed as if he too was envisioning the boy's soft hand on his skin.

"I love you and I know that you love me too...." Kimmon started softly. "....and and I trust you more than anything in this whole world.... You would never betray our love.... Copter.... Gosh... I fucking miss you...!" To Copter's dismay, the older man started breaking down. He'd been Copter's rock all this time. Even when they were apart and he was feeling so low, he'd been there lifting the mood. Now he's falling apart right in front of Copter's eyes and it's breaking his heart.

"P'Kim!" Copter whispered adjusting his earphones. It was the middle of the day and everyone was out doing last minutes shopping or exploring the city. He faked a headache and stayed behind. "Please don't cry.... I love you... sooo much." His lips trembled.

"I know, baby.... I'm sorry." Kimmon laughed, rubbing away his tears. "Please, don't cry?"

"I'm not," Copter grumbled, hiding his face on the pillow. "You are the one who started it." They both chuckled softly, the dark mood shifting a little.

Copter jumped, hearing someone at the door, rapping softly.

"Someone's at the door," He hissed. "I'll message you, okay?" And he shut the laptop close and crawled under the bed covers. "Yes?" He called in a weak voice, pretending to be sick.

The door opened and Joss sauntered in. Copter tensed a little remembering Kimmon's words. It can't be. There's no way a guy like Joss would like someone like Copter. It's impossible.

"How's your head?"

Copter lowered the comforter just enough to look at the tall, big man.

"It's bearable now..."

He grasped the comforter tightly with his fists when the man sat on the bed. He swallowed visibly when a large hand was placed over his forehead.

"There's no fever." He contemplated in a low voice. Copter suppressed the urge to push that hand away and run from the room. Maybe Kimmon was right after all.

"I took some painkillers." Copter removed the hand and got up. "Have you all got done all your tasks?" He threw the cover aside and got to his feet.

"Not yet." Joss smiled crookedly. "I came early to check up on you."

"I'm feeling better now." He tugged the sweater down self-consciously. "I'll get ready and come down in a bit." He balled his fists nervously.

"Alright!" Joss got to his feet fluidly. "If you are feeling better then maybe we can go out for coffee." If he felt Copter's reluctance then he must have chosen to ignore it.

"S..Sure," Copter stammered. There's no doubt, the guy was hitting on him and Kimmon was spot on.

Putting aside the inconvenience with Joss situation, Christmas in Los Angeles was very festive. Uncle Chai, Aunt Annie, Joss and his older brother Luke made sure that Copter's family had the best Christmas experience ever. They visited theme parks, and enjoyed huge lighted and bedecked Charismas trees. It was buzzing with activity Copter couldn't say that he didn't enjoy.

It's just that during the dinner on twenty fifth, on their last day at Chai's place his dad and Chai made the most shockingly disturbing announcement.

"I would like to toast to my dear friend for gracing his presence with his lovely family." Uncle Chai lifted a glass of whiskey.

"The pleasure is all ours, Chai." Copter's dad smiled widely. "Come, let me hug you, man." Two friends hugged while other members of the family clapped.

Copter was smiling and happy too. They'd be flying home tomorrow. He'll be seeing Kimmon soon and the trip wasn't useless after all. He's glad that his dad met his old friend.

"Shall I announce it?" Uncle Chai looked around the dinner table with excitement.

"Let me tell the story first, man." Copter's dad chuckled, slapping his friend's back.

"Okay, go ahead, then." Chai sat back on the chair with a smile, letting Copter's dad have the audience.

Every person in the room sat silently, yet curious about what the two friends were going to say.

"So, this was something we did when we were young." The older man chuckled. "We were best friends but we wanted to turn our friendship into a kinship," He laughed as if remembering the past. "So we came into this agreement that when we grow up and had children we would join our kids in a marriage so that we would be in-laws." He shook his head and Chai chuckled.

"Apparently, fate was against us because we both fathered male children." Chai made a face and everyone laughed at him taking sips from their drinks.

"Shut up, man," Copter's dad thumped his friend's shoulder. "This is fate being kind to us. Be thankful.

"What do you mean?" Aunt Annie flapped her hands impatiently. "Stop with the inside jokes and tell us what's going on, will you."

"Okay, okay." Copter's dad lifted his hands in surrender. "Chai came to me with the most wonderful news a few days ago." He touched his friend's shoulder with a fond expression. "It appears that having male children won't prevent us from being in-laws." He smiled indulgently at Copter and his stomach twisted with fear. What did his dad mean?

"In fact, my boy Joss was completely smitten with Copter the moment he laid eyes on him." Chai clapped his hand on Joss's shoulder who dipped his head and smiled shyly. Copter felt his heart racing. What's happening here? What's going on? He felt dizzy with all the emotions playing in his head.

"And California legalized marriage equality just a few years ago," Chai spread his hands with a big smile.

"Copter can move here after his graduation." Copter's dad said.

Wait, what?

"But isn't this too soon?" His mother asked with a worried expression. "He's still in high school."

"Joss is in college too," Chai explained. "We'll wait until they both finish college.

"Exactly! We're not suggesting that they will get married immediately." Copter's dad gave a stern look toward his wife. He didn't like when his words were contradicted. "Copter can finish high school and do his college education in the states. And when it's the right time they can get married." There's finality in his voice. Copter knows his dad. When the man made up his mind there's no force on the earth that could reverse it.

"We're glad to have Copter here." Aunt Annie gave a fond look towards Copter, oblivious to his inner turmoil. "I'm sure Joss will take care of him very well."

To that Luke laughed but disguised it as a cough when Chai sent a death glare at it.

Copter felt that the whole ordeal was surreal. He came on vacation but ended up getting betrothed to a man he hardly knew. He was scared but he didn't panic. He knew that he had until the end of next year to make a decision. He's got twelve months and that's a very long time.

He needed to see Kimmon, as soon as possible.

tbc.