Call Me By My Name

Fever

5 years ago, on December 19, at Son's Residence

It was a gloomy Sunday afternoon. The skies were so gray that they reflected on the white walls of Gab's room, making almost everything that surrounded him as sad as the color.

"I feel lazy," he groaned, throwing his pen on the study table before spinning around with his ergonomic chair.

He had grown to have a love-hate relationship with this kind of weather. A lot of memorable events in his fourteen years of living happened during the rainy season. He also loved the nostalgia it brought, but it was always a struggle to finish something without being sad due to the cold breeze and dark clouds. Just like today, he felt like it was already time to go to sleep when the clock showed it was only a quarter to two in the afternoon.

To fight the gloom, he filled the house with soft notes from Vivaldi's piece, since the place was once again peaceful without his mother. And a bit lonelier too.

He was getting used to it, though. Ever since Inna Son was appointed as the chief executive officer of ParkSon Group and Holdings, the woman have become busier than before to the point that they only see each other at night—that is, two to three times a week if Gab is still awake because the CEO often works overtime if not out of town.

"Hey, kiddo. Still doing your homework?"

Fortunately, Inna's younger sister, Issa, decided to spend her weekend with Gab, knowing that her nephew would be alone again at the huge house. At 33, Issa Son has no children yet, even though her life isn't fully occupied by her work as the chairperson of Fallesca University's engineering department, nor is her husband, who works as the president of another university. Her taking a long time to bear a child is not a problem because she treats Gab more than her nephew; he is like her son, and that is enough for her.

"Yeah," Gab replied with a yawn. "I'll just take a nap first while it's still cold."

The woman moved away from leaning against the doorway. "Okay, but when you wake up, come downstairs first. Let's bake cookies before you continue torturing your brain."

The boy's smile disappeared as soon as the door closed. He wanted to sleep, yet he also wanted to be productive by finishing the homework on his table and doing another. But just as he threw himself on the king-sized bed, his phone rang along with Vivaldi's notes.

"Hello?" he greets, breathing heavily from standing abruptly to answer the call he's been waiting for all day.

["Gabriel."]

Gab's forehead furrowed at the voice. "Did you just wake up?" He glanced to check the time since his boyfriend usually naps at this hour.

["Can you come here? Please?"]

Something was not right. Lucas' raspy voice sounded like he was in pain, not because the boy had just woke up from a nap and was missing him first thing. "Are you alright?"

[No, I have a fever. Please, Gabriel. Dad and Leo aren't here. I can't even get up to get water...]

Gab quickly realized that he probably got a fever after they spent time running in the rain yesterday. So without a second thought, Gab left his room to search the whole house for his aunt after telling Lucas that he would be there.

So, his sudden appearance in the garden startled Issa. "Oh, I thought you were sleeping."

Her nephew took his time to catch his breath. "Auntie, can I go to Lucas? He's having a high fever."