A Million Sunsets With You (A Boys Love Story)

CHAPTER 9

He woke up in the morning, facing the rising sun. "Good morning! Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful and beautiful day. May all the odds be in my favor."

Josh went to the bathroom to take a shower. He toweled himself and happily went downstairs, where his parents were waiting for him to go down. "Hello, son! Good morning. All is set!" His mother kissed him on the forehead. "Good morning too, mom and dad!" He smiled at them and sat down in the middle of the table. His dad asked, "Why are you so happy, son? Is there something that we must know?" He grabbed the plate in front of him and said, "I'm just happy, dad. It's such a beautiful day for us to celebrate life. You know, life is too short for us to dwell on negative things. Life must be celebrated every day." His mom lent him the rice. "That's okay to know, son. We are happy if you are happy too."

After a few minutes of eating breakfast, Josh helped his mom bring the dishes into the kitchen.

"Mom, dad, I'm going to school. I love you both." He was standing at the door while his parents were in the kitchen preparing food. "We love you too, son. Keep safe always!" his dad answered while slicing the carrots.

Joshua was already in the school when he met Jane, going towards their classroom. "Hey, Josh! You look so fresh today. What's made you blush today?" Jane grinned. Josh raked a hand through his black hair. "What are you trying to say?" Jane glared at Josh, raising her left eyebrow. "I know that you know. You are just playing like a fool. I know you and Leo." Without them knowing, Leo interrupted their conversation. He shouldered Josh and said, "Hi, baby! Are you okay?" Jane chortled and teased Joshua. "Oh, that's what I meant a moment ago. It's like something is going on between the both of you." She poked Josh. "What are you trying to say, Leo and Jane? Whatever you say, it's not important to me. Please stop annoying me, because you know today is really so wonderful. So, stop making it a bad day for me." He walked inside the classroom where their classmates were waiting for their English teacher to arrive. Leo grabbed the chair near Josh and talked, "Josh, are you angry? It's just a joke. Just smile." He tapped Josh's right shoulder. Jane, who was in the front seat, was staring at them and trying to still tease Josh. After a minute of waiting, their teacher came. "Good morning, sir!" They stood up from their respective chairs. "Good morning too, Class! It seems that you are all present today." He smiled at them and started to discuss the lessons with them. "Who among you here knows the importance of mass communication students in society?" Most of the students raised their hands, but the teacher called Jane. "Oh, Miss Jane. Can I hear an answer from you?" Jane confidently stood up while stretching her wrinkled pants. "Sir, we, Mass Communication students, are important, especially in society, to deliver news and information about the current events happening in the world. We are also like messengers of truth and justice." Everyone applauded Jane for her answer. "Very good, Miss Jane. What a very strong answer!" the teacher said. Leo raised his right hand. "May I add some, sir?" Their teacher nodded. "Yes, proceed." Leo stood up in a confident manner. "The importance of Mass Communication students in society, Sir, is that we know how to deliver authentic and factual news, like how I deliberately say my feelings to Joshua." His classmates were shouting inside the classroom, and Josh said, "We, Mass Communication students also, Sir, know to fact-check information, if it is true or fake, especially your feelings you have for me, Mr. Leo." Their teacher was thrilled and overwhelmed. "Oh, I'm kind of blushing here now. Well, your answers are all correct." It was a very long discussion when the bell rang. "Okay, class. See you next meeting. I hope you've learned something today."

As usual, Josh, Jane, and Nisha went to the cafeteria, waiting for their next subject. This cafeteria was really their venue for chitchats, sharing personal life and problems. They were walking on the pathway, passing through the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, going to the cafeteria. Jane faced Joshua. "Josh, are you and Leo together, or do you both have mutual understanding?" Nisha chortled, covering her mouth. "What kind of question is that, Jane? You really are like Karen." As they were conversing with each other, Leo was at their back and interrupted them. "Hey, everyone! Are you going to the cafeteria? Then, I'm going with you." Leo tapped the left shoulder of Joshua and shouldered him as they were walking towards the cafeteria. Joshua said, "Can you remove your hand from my shoulder, Leo? You really are an issue-maker." Joshua said in an annoyed voice. Leo then removed his hand and snatched Josh to face him. "Why are you annoyed? Isn't it true that I love you and you love me too?" He grinned and giggled in front of them. Jane on the other side of the pathway said, "Okay, that's enough. I know that Joshua also has a crush on you, Leo. Don't worry, he is still on denial stage. Right, Josh?" Josh turned his back on them and hurriedly walked to the cafeteria. Jane exclaimed, "You are not single anymore!"

As they were already in the cafeteria, they ordered food and sat down on the chairs, waiting for their orders to come. Leo sat beside Josh, while Jane and Nisha were sitting in front of them. It was so obvious the giggling action of Jane and Nisha while facing Joshua and Leo sitting together. Joshua, in a snobby voice, said, "What are you doing both? Stop that or else I'm going to leave this place." A minute later, they had already received their orders. As they were eating together, Leo tried to feed Joshua, but he was snobbed by him.

The bell rang...

"Class, today I'm going to give you paper works. All you need to do is comply with them. Just jot down all the things you want to have in the future, and how do you see yourself in the next three years?" the teacher tasked them. He put all his things on the table. He sat down and arranged all the books he brought with him.

Joshua was sitting in front, seriously accomplishing what their teacher had tasked them to do. Jane together with Leo went near to Joshua. "Josh, are you done?" Jane asked. Joshua, who was busy with the task, faced them. "Almost. What about you? What did you write on your paper?" Leo was at the back of Josh when he replied, "I see myself as your life partner in the next three years." Jane was twitterpated and teased Joshua. "Oh, I'll be your number one fan."

Hours later, they had already attended all their classes. "That was fun, everyone. So, we can call it a day!" Josh said while going outside the university. They all went home.

"Oh, I'm home. Thank you, Lord!"