3-Minute Passion (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 29

[JAMES' POV]

After I spent my Christmas with Red. I went to my folks' loft. Red offered to drive me to Columbus, but I told him to take care of Apollo instead. He kept insisting that Apollo is our son, even though it's a dog. He told me that we could act parents and take him to the vet together and walk him out together. I love his proposal, but labeling ourselves as parents is a big thing. I don't think I'm even capable of being a parent nonetheless to a dog. He asked me if I can think about it. I had no other choice, but to agree with him. My mom called me 20 times this morning, reminding me about our Christmas lunch. She said that a couple of my dad's colleagues will join us. Red and I had been texting non-stop after I drove off to Columbus. He told me that Apollo loves him. I guess that's a good sign that Apollo is perfect for Red.

I park my car on our driveway. There are about 5 cars parked in front and at the driveway. Two of them are my parents. I guess dad's colleagues are here already. I check my cellphone to see the time and it's already 12:30. I hope they already started. As much as I want to eat, I prefer to eat alone at the moment. My mother opens the door and squeals. She's wearing a red silk dress all the way to her knee and has a green apron with a Santa Claus on it. I sigh and open the car door. She runs toward me with her black stilettos. I think she's the one of the few who can actually do that. She gives me a hug and plants a kiss on my cheek.

"Thank goodness you're here. Not much snow on the road?" She's gone all out with the make up and jewelry. Gold earrings and diamond necklace, she must be impressing my father's colleagues. I give her a nod and we walk toward the front door. There is something weird being inside a house full of Christmas decorations. It's just too much to even put Santa Clause on the ceiling, not to mention the elves riding the reindeer almost everywhere near the walls. I step in the dining area and the humongous table is filled with a couple of people I don't know. Near my father's seat, which is the far-end of the table, are my grandmother, Daniel, and Stefan. The two empty seats on the other side are probably for my mom and I. They still haven't noticed me. They already started, but I think that they aren't halfway done. I observe the faces that I would be eating with.There are old people around my father's age at my grandmother's side of the table. The vacant seat's, which is a seat away from my father, occupied by a familiar face. I can't put my finger where I've seen that skater haircut and caramel eyes. He raises his head from staring intently at his plate and our eyes meet. His face gains color and he smiles.

"Hey." He says loudly. Heads start to turn to me. My jaw drops. I don't want any attention.

"James! Finally, take a seat! Happy birthday, son." My father chimes. I roll my eyes.

"Yesterday's my birthday." I take my seat beside the guy I forgot who he is but something tells me he remembers me.

My grandmother greets me a belated happy birthday and so is Stefan. Daniel, who dislikes my existence, eats his food as if my presence is irrelevant. My father and his colleagues start to talk about how the company's shaping up. My mother joins us a short after. She brought apple pie as part of her gift for me. She knows that I once liked it.

"Yow." The guy besides me nudges my arm. I refill my plate with mashed potatoes and turn to see his face.

"Remember me?" He gives me a small smile. I raise a brow, examining the skater haircut and those caramel eyes. I think his name is somewhere at the tip of my tongue.