Secret Love

Chapter 33

Opening his eyes, Levi moved his hand to his belly as it rumbled underneath his palm, reminding him that he had yet to eat dinner. Sitting up, Levi swung his legs to the edge of the bed and went to the kitchen. 

Getting a clean glass from the cupboard, he turned the tap and put the cup underneath the running water. Once it had accumulated enough water, Levi turned the tap off with one hand while the other lifted the cup to his lips.

After drinking his water, Levi turned around and leaned against the countertop, looking at the clock. Levi knew it was too late for him to order anything from outside; letting out a silent sigh, he took another drink from his cup when the door of his room opened.

Levi stared in shock at the person who had just entered, asking himself if it was real or all part of his imagination, something that had been happening lately where he envisioned seeing Dante in the room with him. Only when a loud sound resonated in the room did Levi break eye contact with the person across the room and look towards the sound.

The cup he had been holding dropped to the floor and shattered. Levi bent down to pick up the broken ceramic pieces when a voice across the room spoke, making him freeze in place.

"Don't touch it," ordered Dante, moving from his spot near the door; he placed the plastic bag on the small table as he passed before he squatted down beside Levi.

"It's sharp. Don't touch it; you will cut yourself if you're not careful. Let me do it."

Dante reached out to grab Levi's curled fist. The moment their skin touched, Levi quickly pulled his hand back, bringing both hands towards his chest; in the next second, Levi left the kitchen area and headed for the door.

Levi ran towards the forest entrance, the moon high in the sky lighting up the way for him.

Levi reached the forest edge when he was grabbed from behind once more. Not wanting to deal with what was before him, Levi freed himself from Dante's grip and continued towards the forest once more. This time, Dante did not stop him but followed Levi into the forest, away from the dormitories and anyone who might be out enjoying the moonlight.

Once they came to a clearing, Dante grabbed Levi's hand again before speaking.

"Wait a minute, would you? Who are you running from?"

"Please let me go."

"And where will you go once I release you?"

"I... home, I want to go home."

"Then let's go", said Dante, grabbing Levi's hands.

"No", answered Levi, releasing his hands from Dante's grip again and continuing further into the forest.

Dante clenched his jaw together before going after Levi once more. He raised his large hands and spun Levi around before locking their lips together.

After a while, Dante opened his eyes and saw Levi looking at him with tears, knowing that he caused those tears. Levi was in great pain to the point that he collapsed, making Dante angry at himself.

With a sigh, he pulled Levi into his arms and held him tight while gently stroking his back, but he let go once he felt Levi pulling away.

Levi pulled himself away from Dante and spoke in between sobs.

"You .. found .. another lover, didn't you? If so, why? Why did you come back? I was ready to put our past behind us and move on."

As lame as he might sound, this was the only answer Levi had come up with. A person who went missing for weeks could only mean that they have another lover.

"Move on"

"Yes, move on you.."

"Let me tell you something: as long as I have a breath in me, I will not allow you to be with another; you are mine; every strand of hair on your head to your toes, every inch of you is mine."

"I don't.."

"Have you forgotten what I told you last time? No one can have my heart if it is not you. You are the reason for my existence. You have been from the moment I laid eyes on you."

"You left me."

"I never intended to leave you; a family matter occurred, and I was needed back home. I thought that I could resolve the matter in a few hours. It never occurred to me that it would take me more than a month to resolve it."

"I called you."

"My mother took my phone away; she believed I would be distracted if I had it. She gave me a new phone while I was away."

"You could try to contact me. Send me a letter or something."

"I couldn't do that as I was on another continent before leaving; however, I had asked Lester to watch over you."

"Lester"

"Yes, Lester"

Dante reached into his pockets, brought out a new phone Levi had never seen, and showed him a picture. It was a picture of himself in one of his lectures.

"This was the last update I got of you from Lester; once I saw you in the picture, I knew I had to wrap things up with my parents and the company. I took the first available flight back without my parents' knowledge."

For weeks, Levi tried to find out why Dante had left unexpectedly, now that he knew why. He felt silly for letting his mind run wild. Turning away from Dante, Levi looked up at the bright moon and wondered how many nights had passed since he would look up towards the moon like he was now. He asked when he would meet Dante again. Now that the man in question was standing inches away from him, Levi felt silly to the point he did not know what had possessed him to be so vulnerable.

"The moon as my witness if I, Dante, make Levi cry again. Please bestow the most painful death upon me as I would.."

"No, don't; I forbid you to say anything like that," said Levi, covering Dante's mouth with his hand.

"Does this mean you forgive me?" asked Dante, removing Levi's hand from his mouth before kissing it.

Levi tried to pull his hand back but failed as Dante grabbed Levi's hands and brought them to his lips, making sloppy kisses all over Levi's soft hands.

Dante opened his mouth to speak when a loud rumbling sound could be heard; feeling embarrassed, Levi pulled his hand away from Dante's grip before turning away from Dante again and putting his hand on his belly.

Letting a light chuckle, Dante spoke.

"Let's head back. I went out earlier to get some food for you; it might be cold now."

Retaking Levi's hand, Dante led them out of the forest and back into their dorms.