THE AUTISTIC

A Romantic Panic

Mile knew he was doomed, as soon as he finished going through Apo's diary. The guy clearly saw a futuristic relationship between the two, which was beyond friendship and as per the diary, it didn't seem to be constricted to a high school crush.

He was in a fit of whether he had to appreciate his admirer's Shakespearean poetic skills or feel pity for his unrequited love since he just felt friendly affection towards him. Or did he?

The internal turmoil spiralling within Mile was brought to halt when he heard a creak of opening of his door. No sooner did he sense someone entering his bedroom than he threw himself on his bed and pretended to be fast asleep. Out of curiosity, when he peeped, it happened to be none other than the diary's owner, Apo. The guy had an unreadable tired expression hinting a tinge of sadness holding a tube of ointment in his hand. 

He stood for a while at the same spot to make sure Mile was fast asleep before he went on to aid his wound caused by his kick. There seemed to be a genuine concern in his eyes, which was on par with the concern his mother exhibited when he was ill. No matter how frustrated he was with his unrequited love, it didn't stop him from caring for his mate. 

  He took out some of the ointment on his finger and began to massage the spot on his leg gently; causing Mile to actually drift into deep sleep. Apo was mad at himself for physically harming Mile, although Mile wasn't the one at wrong. But he also had reached a point of self realisation that he had to protect his self respect along with his heart and had to start afresh; It was time for him to mature into a man from a lovesick teen, he had also decided to stop his chase for Mile and be satisfied with whatever they shared at the present.

______________

At the break of dawn, Mile was awake and seemed as if he hadn't slept all night. He was unsure how to confront Apo, he was his friend indeed but felt a tinge of discomfort and awkwardness in him. The current circumstance seemed like a bitter cherry, sour and distasteful. This  was the first time in his life he had encountered a boy in love with him. Although he had heard of several guys to be swooning over him; he had ignored all such rumours and believed them to be a myth.

During breakfast Apo seemed to be experiencing a deja vu of ignorance. His mate seemed extremely distant, the guy who would usually sit beside him, help him serve dishes, wouldn't stop blabbering and entertain his audience around the table, surprisingly he refused to even sit at the table for breakfast and chose the living room instead.

Was Mile mad at him for yesterday?

He had to feel better since it would help him sabotage his feelings, instead it felt sort of terrible. The most problematic thing about mankind, 'We always desire for the opposite of the present setting' and Apo was no different.

"Mile, are you leaving so early?", Mae Rom questioned seeing the lad rushing towards the main door without sparing a glance and informing any of the family members.

"Yes I have to meet a friend of mine, before reaching the school.", he answered ignoring any sort of eye contact with anyone.

"But what about Apo, are you not going to take him with you?"

"Sorry, it's an emergency just for today can you ask Pa to drop him on the way to to work.", and without awaiting for a reply he sprinted out leaving the other guy dumbfounded like moon would be during midday. 'It's obviously Preen, isn't it?', Apo thought and just chuckled sorrowfully. 

______________________

Unknowing how the future was going to be and perplexed regarding his own thoughts, Mile currently stood outside Jeff's house like a lost puppy. His predictions and advices were truly baffling  and at the moment he needed advices of how to deal with this unexpected suitor. Even before he rang the house bell, Jeff's mom opened the main door with a huge smile lit on her face.