~The Têachers Pēt~bõyxbõy

The Têachers Pēt~Longing~16

Alexander went home, with a spring in his step, and joy in his heart. His face flushed with shyness, excited and fluttery at the thought of kissing his crush. 'No, not my crush, he's my boyfriend', he thought wondrously. He giggled in complete bliss, oblivious to the lurking shadow in the dark.

He skipped his way up to the apartment that he and his mother shared with... him, unlocked the apartment door, and went straight to his room without stopping. He looked at the gift bag that his boyfriend gave him, the first ever real gift he'd ever received from someone other than his mother, and made a slight squeal of joy, and covered his flushed cheeks with his hands to hide the silly-shy grin on his face.

"boom boom boom"

The sound of loud, heavy stomping jolted him out of his blissful state, and a douse of cold reality slapped him across the face. His rosy red cheeks paled at a pace visible to the naked eye, and his eyes sunk with panic and terror. His head swivelled rapidly towards his closed room door, and the sound of thumping made the fear in his heart sink deeper and deeper.

Alexander turned and stared at the gift in his hand for a few seconds and made a quick decision. He hurriedly took out the smartphone that was safely wrapped inside in delicate and cute packaging and rushed underneath his bed towards the loose board he discovered some time ago. He carefully placed the packaged phone inside alongside his most valued and treasured possessions. He hurriedly rushed from underneath the bed with the sound of keys jingling, unaware of the floating yellow that flittered down gently.

His heart beat rapidly, cold sweat rushed down his back, and a dark shiver swept over his entire being.

He sat on the floor, his legs weak in fear. He trepidly listened to the thump thump thump of heavy boots on the hardwood floor and the slight clinking of keys. The noise seemed to bring him closer and closer to the dark feeling of despair.

Alexander shakily got up off the floor and took trembling steps towards the open door of his 'room'. He closed the door, and the minuscule sound of the click, indicating that the door was locked, seemed to bring a slight relief to his fearful heart. He took a deep breath, and his body leaned against the door as if out of breath.

He hadn't been back here in a few days, and he was worried about his mother. It wasn't the first time that he'd stayed outside for a while. He could vividly remember once when he and his mother were beaten to the point of exhaustion, he still had to move his aching body to search for food outside for them. He had barely found two recently expired breads and a small bottle of water when he collapsed near a bakery. The old couple took him in and took care of him until he woke three days later. Because he wanted to control them, he had all their documents, and they lived homeless on the streets. The community was backwards, and the hospital only cared about money, so the couple couldn't afford to carry him to the hospital, but tried their best to help him as much as they could. By some miracle, he survived, and the old couple took care of him for another week before he was strong enough to walk.

The old couple wanted him to stay and even invited his mother to live with them, and it seemed as if God was finally favouring him when that man appeared and shattered his hopes yet again.

The old man was beaten badly, and their shop was ransacked. The little savings the old couple had were taken by him, and the old man was hospitalized in critical condition.

Alexander begged and pleaded with the man, but all he got were hits and kicks in return.

In desperation, he could only desperately steal back the money and hid it with a neighbour of the old couple.

The only reason he survived death that day was because the neighbour had told the police and the man packed them up and ran.

Since then, he has never gotten close to anyone again. He doesn't stay out too long, either. For fear of being suspected and implicating his mother.

Well, not until Jay, Alexander thought in a daze.

He was really happy and terrified at the same time. He felt ecstatic being with someone who liked him. He had never felt that before. It was different than with his mother. He didn't know how to explain it. It was just a feeling of being accepted.

But at the same time, he was scared. He didn't want anything to happen to Jay like the old couple. If it did, he would be completely unable to forgive himself.

Alexander froze.

Why, why is it so quiet?

He thought nervously. His body tensed, and the unnerving silence stretched. The only sound was his heartbeat and breathing.

Instead of calming down at the silence, Alexander grew more fearful. His body tensed, and his hands began to tremble.

That man liked to yell and hit and throw things. Alexander knew he was sick and twisted. He liked to torture him and his mother and revelled in the feeling of being served like a king. So every time he came back he would make a lot of noise and his mother would have to cater to his unending demands.

But now, he came back, but the room was silent.

Alexander didn't know what happened, all he knew was he had an ominous premonition and even his heart felt cold. His breathing increased and he trembled unceasingly.

He slowly backed away from the door, staring with wide eyes filled with horror, at the tall man that was standing there, staring at him with eyes filled with disgust.

Alexander didn't know when the door was opened. He didn't even hear when the door was unlocked.

All he knew now was the deep horror building up inside him.

The man walked towards him silently without saying a word.

Alexander saw his hand stretched towards him. Like the hand of the devil coming to take his life.

The hand latched around his neck.

Alexander's eyes bulged from the pain, and the instinct to survive registered in his brain.

He grabbed the hand on his neck and struggled to remove it. The hand squeezed harder, and Alex could feel his heart racing. The blood supply to his brain was being cut off and his lungs were fighting desperately for air.

He opened his mouth wide, like a fish out of water, trying to get as much oxygen as possible. His eyes became bloodshot, tears formed at the corners and his vision became blurry. His strength weakened and he raised his head with difficulty. In his blurry and dim vision, he saw the vague silhouette of his mother grasping the edge of the doorframe looking in, and watching as the man squeezed his throat, taking his life.

The surroundings became dark, sound disappeared and all Alexander could hear was static. The image of Jay, smiling at him handsomely appeared in his mind. The way he chuckled. How he looked at him when he saw him. How he always treated him gently and with care in a way he never had before. The way it felt when he held him. And the look of happiness he had when he took the initiative to kiss him.

Two streaks of crystal white tears rolled down the side of Alexander's face.

His hand fell limp.