𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘆𝗕𝗼𝘅 𝑨𝑫𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑵 𝗢𝗻𝗲𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘁𝘀 [2]

𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬. 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 [2]

the moment adam closed his bedroom door, he sobbed. the overwhelming mixture of emotions he bottled up for all these years without him finally spilling over. the sadness, guilt, anger, and longing.

it was the first time adam had seen him after he suddenly left his life. the numbness he felt from the shock of seeing his face again had worn off, and all the pain he tried to hide with his joyful façade resurfaced in the form of teardrops.

his cheeks and neck glistened in the faint light coming from his bathroom, the sleeves of his jacket soaked up from his endless weeping.

he clearly never knew that fate would decide to play with his life, once again. he is not yet ready to face the mistakes and wrong decisions he made, but here he is now, and he couldn't find a way out.

adam's cries were soon cut short when his phone started vibrating in his jacket's pocket. although he is extremely tired and he didn't think he has the proper strength to talk to anyone at the moment, he took his phone and squinted his eyes from the brightness of the screen.

his breath clogged up in his throat after reading the contact name of the current caller. it's justin, his ex. he's calling.

the exact man he unexpectedly met again in the bookstore.

adam didn't have the courage to answer, he doesn't know what words he would say. he knows exactly why justin is calling.

"adam?"

the said man couldn't believe his eyes. he couldn't believe who he just come face-to-face with. all the air was pulled out of him, and suddenly, he can't breathe.

"h-hi, long time no see," justin awkwardly chuckled at adam's reaction. he bit his lip nervously, scratching the back of his neck.

"justin.. hi, i wasn't expecting to see you here.." after a moment of uncomfortable silence, adam finally spoke. his voice going in an irregular tone and pace, as if he was unsure if he should talk back or not.

justin cleared his throat, before flashing a small smile at the younger. "i was just... strolling around," his eyes met with adam's as he spoke, then his voice went down in volume, so low human ears wouldn't catch what he said, but surprisingly, adam did, "i missed this place."

adam thought he felt his heart stop beating for a second, an unpaintable expression showing on his facial features as he doesn't know how to react to the sudden revelation he (shouldn't) have heard.

the older opened his mouth to speak again, hopefully to ease the tension never melting in the hot air their conversation just created, but was then stopped when a little girl came running towards adam with a storybook in hand, tugging on the sleeve of his jacket.

"papa! papa! i want this book please!"

and that was it for adam. his heart fell to his stomach, his eyes widening as he froze on his spot while his young daughter continuously chanted the word 'papa' when she assumed she still hadn't gotten his attention, when she clearly has. two people's attention, rather.

"papa?"

the call stopped ringing. the contact name disappeared from the screen and his lockscreen was showing instead. adam unconsciously pouts at the picture of justin smiling endearingly at the camera on one of those little dates they had. he had a glass of strawberry milkshake in hand, he remembers that he ordered a chocolate one.

when he thought that was it, his phone started ringing again. he knew this wouldn't stop unless he answers, he just couldn't. perhaps it was his fear that was keeping his hands tied behind him, refraining him from doing any action.