You Belong With Me

24

As the sun was almost setting and the moonlight was glowing it's presence, Rahul stood at the familiar spot by the riverbank, where he and Sourav would often meet to enjoy ice cream under the warm sun, a place which was desolate with only a few people walking who didn't even recognize them. Today, however, there was an unusual tension in the air. He knew what he was about to do was a little dramatic, but he couldn't think of any other way to get Sourav here, to talk to him.

With a deep breath, Rahul approached a stranger passing by, his heart pounding in his chest. "Excuse me," he said, his voice a little shaky. "Could you do me a favor? Could you call my friend from my phone? Tell him I've been in an accident, and he needs to come urgently. My friend is not talking to me, and I need to call him here."

The stranger, a kind-faced man, looked at Rahul with concern. "Of course, young man. I'll do it right away."

Rahul watched anxiously as the man dialed Sourav's number. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Sourav's name pop up on the screen. The man talked to Sourav and handed the phone back to Rahul.

Ten excruciating minutes later, Rahul saw Sourav hurrying towards him. Sweat glistened on Sourav's forehead, his breath came out in quick pants, and his hands shook with tension. Rahul's heart twinged with guilt at the sight of his boyfriend so worried.

Sourav reached Rahul's side, his voice shaky with emotion. "Rahul, what happened? Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes scanning Rahul's body for any signs of injury.

Rahul looked up at Sourav, "I asked the stranger to call you so that you come here. I'm fine, by the way," he said, his voice soft with relief. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty for making Sourav worry so much.

Sourav's voice boomed; his frustration palpable. For the first time in what felt like ages, Rahul witnessed Sourav shedding his usual composed demeanor, revealing the raw, unfiltered emotions he had kept bottled up for so long. It was like catching a glimpse of the old Sourav, the one who would fly off the handle at the slightest provocation. But this time, it wasn't about some petty prank; this time, it was different. This time, Sourav's concern was genuine, his worry for Rahul unmistakable.

"What kind of prank do you call this?" Sourav's voice thundered, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and concern. "Are you trying to act like a child or something?"

Rahul stood there, his gaze fixed firmly on Sourav. His eyes held a glimmer of admiration, like stars twinkling in the night sky. Despite the storm brewing within Sourav, Rahul remained undeterred. It wasn't Sourav's anger that Rahul sought to weather; it was something deeper, something far more profound.

With every fiber of his being, Rahul longed to peel away the layers of facade that enveloped Sourav. He yearned to uncover the true essence of his boyfriend, to witness him laid bare, stripped of all masks and pretense. This was the Sourav Rahul knew, the one he held dear to his heart

But Sourav wasn't finished. "Would you care to explain yourself?" he demanded, his voice slightly softer now, but no less intense.

Rahul cupped Sourav's face, his touch was like a whisper against Sourav's skin, gentle and warm. His eyes, deep pools of concern, searched Sourav's, worry evident in every glance. In that moment, they stood so close, their breaths seemed to dance together, mingling in the air and creating a soft, intimate cocoon around them.