To The Moon, For You. [BL | TIWSON/POR]

17. I hope you feel less lonely....

School was fun. However, the daily business lessons were starting to take a toll on Por. Firstly, he had little interest in the subject matter. To make matters worse, he understands very little of what the lecturer was talking about in class. Most days, he goes to school with Jorn and nodded off into dreamland. He woke up for lunch and after that, he spent most days by himself in the library reading. When he got bored of reading, he aimlessly goes through the shelves of books. Window browsing, he called it. He does that until Jorn came to get him. They sometimes go out for dinner and some days Jorn would offer to cook. After a week of the same routine, the novelty of school starts to wear off. When Monday came again, Por realised he dreaded getting out of bed. Jorn asked why he bothered coming to school with him when he found it so painstakingly boring. Por wished he could tell him that he does so day just to have lunch with Tiwson. 

For the mission, the watch had lit up a few times during lunch. He must be on the right track. An inner voice told him that he is lying. Por shook it off. It was for the mission. The inner voice reminded him that even during lunch, he found a sense of joy, peace and even comfort with Tiwson. Tiwson reciprocated by getting him lunch daily. Por enjoyed not having to choose and would eat whatever Tiwson bought him. Also, most days after school Tiwson would come to hang out with Jorn. That was his favourite part of the day as he enjoyed listening to the two friends bantering over the silliest things. Yesterday, they bantered over whether Coke tastes better with or without sugar. Por found it absolutely ridiculous but the humour of it all is infectious. On the Moon, there were days that went by without laughter so this is a refreshing change for Por. Tinn would sometimes join them but he was too busy dating the two of them complained. 

All of a sudden, he felt a light push on his head. He shook it and looked at Jorn. What was happening?

"I was asking you a question."

Por realised that he was too caught up in his thoughts to notice what Jorn had asked.

"What is it again?"

"Are you coming to school with me today?"

"Yes."

"Why do you come it bores you."

"I like your company. Anyway, I don't have much to do at home."

They both got changed and were ready to leave when Tiwson appeared. Por looked at Tiwson with curious eyes. He usually met them at school, what was he doing here so early in the day? Before he can react, Tiwson pulled Por away and told Jorn he would like to borrow Por for an afternoon. Jorn looked at the both of them suspiciously but still drove off in his car. Por then got into Tiwson's car.

"Where are we going?"

"My place."

"Don't you have to go to school?"

"I have time off to do a project and I need your help."

"What help?"

"I'll tell you more later."

Tiwson drove Por to his condo. In his room, there were photos of him and an older woman. They were smiling by the beach. Por asked who that was and Tiwson looked at Por for a long while before replying.

"My mum."

"She passed right?"

"Yes. Sudden heart failure."

Por goes to Tiwson, and reached out his hand to touch his. Tiwson doesn't shy from the contact and instead held Por even tighter.

"How can I help?"

"I feel so stuck."

"How?"

"I need to write and film an original script and I don't know how to start. I was up all-night thinking about it but I don't know how to write it."

"What is it about? And I don't know film."

"But you understand loneliness. I want to write about loneliness. What does loneliness mean to you?"

Por felt a sharp pain in his heart as though someone had pierced a dagger through it. He smiled though everything of him hurt.

"Let me sit down."

Tiwson lets go of his touch and sat him down. He then sat down opposite him.

"Loneliness to me feels like I am the only one in the world and though I know rationally speaking there are many others but I still feel so on my own...."

"... and it never goes away."

Por nodded at Tiwson's reply. Tiwson cupped Por's face and pulled him closer.

"I hope you feel less lonely with me around."