Chances and Happiness

Sliver of Hope

Noeul wanted to sleep in but he felt like someone was watching him as he lay on his bed. He opened his eyes slowly, only to see Boss lying beside him, studying his face like his world depended on it. He found himself hugging Boss, his head on the latter's chest.

Noeul tried to get up but Boss was quick to hug him and give him a kiss on the forehead.

"Good morning, baby. Did you sleep well?" Boss asked while lovingly fixing Noeul's hair.

There's no stopping this man now, Noeul thought. He nodded. "Uhuhmn. What time is it?" he said as he attempted to get up again. "Let me go to the washroom, Boss," he said when he felt the arms around him tightening again.

"It's 10am," Boss informed him as he got up and made his way to the bathroom. "Do you have anything planned today, baby?"

"I was planning on sleeping in," Noeul said before he closed the bathroom door.

Boss smiled as he got up as well and started to make the bed. Hopefully everything will go according to plan. He woke up early to set things in motion. He already called his mom. Now he just needs to convince Noeul to go with him.

By the time Noeul got out of the bathroom, Boss was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

"Come have something to eat, baby," Boss said when he saw the bedroom door open. He then pulled a chair, looking expectedly at the man he loves who's now making his way to the dining table.

"I whipped something up. I hope you don't mind," he said, putting a plate of toast, bacon and eggs with slices of apples and oranges in front of Noeul. The latter just shook his head and mumbled a soft "Thanks."

"Have some juice first, baby."

"Want some jam on your toast?"

"Baby, would you like some coffee?

Noeul doesn't know if he'd laugh or get irritated from all the overwhelming attention Boss is giving him. He didn't hate it though.

"Here, baby," Boss said, holding a fork with bacon to Noeul's mouth. "Aahhh..." he said, asking the latter to open his mouth.

Noeul looked at the man before him and instantly knew that his refusal would be for naught. So he opened his mouth and ate what was given to him.

"I have hands, too, you know," he told the man who's still looking at him with such lovely eyes.

Boss just chuckled. "You'll have to get used to this, baby. I'll be doing this for as long as you let me stay by your side," he said as he let his fingers trail along the side of Noeul's pretty face. Not being able to help himself, he leaned in and kissed the latter's forehead.

Noeul blushed and that endeared him more to the man before him.

Noeul insisted on doing the dishes after they finished eating. Though it was more like Boss feeding him while slyly asking to be fed himself.

"I'll go home for lunch. Wanna come with me baby?" Boss said hopefully. He saw Noeul stopped doing the dishes. His heart was beating so fast now. He held the latter's waist not just out of habit but now more to steady himself. He needs to reassure the man before him that they won't have any problems with his family if they get into a relationship. And the sooner he does that, the sooner he can convince Noeul to officially accept him as his boyfriend.

Boss felt his phone in his pocket vibrate before it rang. He's got to give it to his mom for the perfect timing.

"Hello, mom? Yes," he said without removing his other hand from Noeul's waist. The latter still frozen on his spot, the dish sponge still on one hand while the other hand was reaching for a plate halfway.

Noeul could feel the heat behind him as Boss's other hand pulled him closer to his body. There's no space between them now and he could feel his cheeks burn.

"It's mom." The man behind him whispered in his ear before nuzzling the crook of his neck.

"Yes, mom. He's here beside me. Wait I'll put you on speaker," Boss said without removing his face from the crook of Noeul's neck.

"Eul? I heard it's your day off too. Come join us for lunch, will you?"

Noeul felt like his knees would have given in if not for the fact that Boss was holding him close.

"Auntie. Good morning," Noeul said softly.

"Good morning, sweetie. I hope you don't have other plans for today. We can expect you, can't we? We all miss you already."

Boss smiled. He didn't ask his mom to say this at all. He just told her earlier that he spent the night at Noeul's and that it's their day off. When his mom asked him if there's anything he wants to tell her, Boss smiled and told her he's happy now.

"He still loves me, mom. He still loves me." Boss' mom could feel the relief and happiness in her son's voice.

"I just have to convince him to be my boyfriend," She heard her son say resolutely. She smiled knowing full well what this tone means.

"We'll be here for you, sweetheart. Do what makes you happy."

Boss' reverie was cut short when he heard Noeul laughing because of something that his mom said.

"I promise Auntie. We'll join you for lunch. Thank you for inviting me," he heard Noeul say while laughing.

"Good. I'll see you later then," Boss heard his mom say over the phone before ending the call without saying goodbye to him.

"She really likes you," he said, encircling Noeul with both his arms while still nuzzling the crook of his neck.

"I like her too. She's so good to me." Noeul resigned to his fate of being trapped in Boss' arms and just continued doing the dishes. The latter seemed contented to stay glued to him while he did his chore.

"Isn't this cheating, though?" Noeul turned around when he finished, but the hug didn't loosen. "You knew I couldn't say no to your mom."

Boss just smiled and pecked his lips. "I didn't ask her to say what she said. My family adores you. You should have known that already after seeing how they were with you whenever you guys met," Boss said, hugging him tighter.

"Now let's go get changed before I lose control and get an earful from my mom for failing to bring you to lunch," he said while carefully dragging a blushing Noeul to the bedroom, still keeping his arms around the man he loves for as long as he could. The latter just sighed and allowed himself to be dragged to the bedroom.