Ménage à Trois (A Feverish Series)

Alway have been, always will be.

Holiday came and they all had a week free from their classes and other curricular activities. So, the three of them found themselves in a beach resort eight hours away from the city. It was out of impulse that they decided to come here. Jeff said he wanted to be in a quiet place away from the busy university life and Yibo said he wanted to surf. Bible right away booked them a hotel and hauled them to travel to the said destination.

The place and the ocean view were majestic. There were very few guests and they were lucky to get the beachfront villa which is quite secluded.

Their first night to say crazy was an understatement. It was the most heated night they ever had since they decided to live together and got into whatever you can call their relationship. As usual, Yibo started the flirting and the stirring, which ended up with all three of them making a mess of their bed sheet. They can't even count how many times they made love, how loud their moans and mewls were, and the sweet words that were said.

In the morning, Bible was the last to wake because he hadn't been getting enough sleep before their school break due to the tons of projects he needed to submit. He found the bed void of the warmth he usually woke up to, which meant the two already started their day.

Outside on the patio, Bible found Jeff reading while having his breakfast.

"Good morning" he greeted

"Hi. Yiyi is already out surfing or swimming, I don't know. He was already gone when I woke up" Jeff replied as he handed Bible his portion of their breakfast served by the hotel.

"He didn't eat?" Bible

"Dunno. His plate is still here untouched" Jeff

"That's surprising. He would usually devour even the leftovers from the previous night whenever he wakes up and there is no food yet," Bible said wondering.

Jeff snuggled closer to Bible when the latter sat on the patio couch beside him.

"I think something is going on with that guy," Jeff said, "he was too quiet lately and been busy before the break" he continued.

"Maybe we were just used to him not doing anything but hanging around. I checked his school papers though and he was able to finish all on time" Bible

The two finished their breakfast and took a nap after. They didn't see Yibo until it was lunch mid-afternoon.

Jeff felt a kiss on his forehead which woke him up from his nap. It was Yibo back from who knows where. They stayed in bed for a few more minutes in each other's embrace.

"Where have you been?" Jeff asked.

"Out" Yibo

"Obviously. Why were you out till late, though, and where is Bibi?" Jeff

"Bibi went to the lobby to check if they can serve dinner here, he said he wanted to walk around too. I was out surfing and swimming to clear my mind." Yibo

Jeff sat on the bed upon hearing the last words that Yibo said.

"Why, is there something wrong?" Jeff

Yibo looked at Jeff and kissed the latter softly on the lips.

"You know I've been crushing on you since before all this?" he asked

"I had a hunch, yes" Jeff

"You are so beautiful, Jiji. I am so happy to be here with you and Bibi. You are both the most beautiful part that happened to me" Yibo said smiling.

"Yiyi you are scaring me" Jeff replied with worry.

Night came and the three of them decided to sit on the shore in front of their villa, with enough light coming from their patio. They just finished their dinner and wanted to hang out before heading to bed.

Bible prepared some beers for him and Yibo, while Jeff got an apple juice. They were talking about anything at random and sometimes Jeff and Yibo would bicker over a topic that would need Bible stopping them before they ended up fighting.

They laughed enjoying the sound of the waves and the faint music from the hotel bar.

"I'm leaving"

Silence.

Bible stood up and walked towards the water then back again, "What did you say?"

"I'm leaving"

"I heard that. I mean, what do you mean? You need to leave now back to the city or...?" Bible

"I mean I'm leaving. I'm moving out."

Jeff released the breath that he'd been holding "Yiyi, why?"

Yibo reached for Jeff's hand and kissed his wrist where the pulse was.

"I'm sorry. I need to go abroad because my father got tangled in a big case which might compromise our safety and the people around us. I can't risk the both of you getting involved, it will kill me if anything bad happened to any of you" Yibo explained.

"Since when? You never told us anything, a warning or a heads up would have been appreciated" Bible said with anger as he sat beside Yibo.

"I just recently found out too. Dad already gone and I will follow, all had been prepared and my flight will be on the same day we go back to the city" Yibo

Bible wanted to smack Yibo's head like he always does whenever the latter does something dumb. He wanted to curse him out for making Jeff cry, he wanted to scream and ask him to stay. But he won't, he couldn't.

"I love the both of you," Yibo said as he held Jeff and Bible's hands. "I don't want to leave because I don't know when or if I can still come back to you"

A soft sob from Jeff. A heavy sigh from Bible.

"I can't risk losing any of you so I'd rather leave than put you in danger. I'm sorry" Yibo

"Don't. It's not like this is something you wanted, right Yiyi? If only you have a choice..." Jeff choked on the words he wanted to say.

"I love you, the two of you, too" Bible whispered as he held the two close to him.

"I love you, Yiyi. I love you, Bibi" Jeff

The night came and it went on with a broken heart. They spent their remaining days in each other's arms, with unspoken love and unbidden tears.

Yibo left on the day they got back to the city. He didn't allow them to accompany him to the airport. Didn't even tell them where exactly he was going, all they knew was that it was in Europe.

Life went on for the two who were left behind. At least they tried.

There were times that Bible would still cook food for three, only for a portion to go to waste.

Jeff would still sing at night, only this time, the one whom he always sings to is no longer there to hear the lullaby.

They would make love but there is always that lingering feeling of being incomplete. They would reach their physical high but end up having emotional lows.

Three months passed and it was almost the end of their last semester, the end of their university life. Bible found Jeff curled up on their couch when he got home. He rushed to his side and caressed the man's face who had obviously been crying.

"Jiji...I miss him too" Bible said

Jeff sat up and gave Bible his house keys.

"What is this?" Bible asked though he knows what he is holding in his hand.

"Bibi I can't... I love you but I miss him too," Jeff cried, "I'm sorry but I think I need to leave too."

Bible was expecting this. He prayed for it not to happen but he knew deep inside that they needed this. No matter how they try to continue what they have with just the two of them, it just doesn't feel right. They will always be hurting in the end.

They kissed and they stayed in their embrace until one was ready to leave and the other stayed, back to how it all began. Bible, alone again in this house.

Someday, maybe, if fate will be more giving, they all will find their way back to the same place. Or anywhere, so long as it is with them. For him, Yiyi-Jiji-Bibi, always have been and always will be.