'And you're certain that you aren't upset or anything?'
Malcolm gazed at Jackson in confusion before fully registering what he was referring to. It's been nearly a week now, and Jackson had been talking about it worried that Malcolm might have felt some type of way about having brunch with Alexander being present, and the subsequent revelations that were made at the table.
'I thought we already spoke about this. Why would I be upset?'
'I don't know Malcolm,' Jackson hesitated. 'I mean no sane person would be okay with learning what you learnt that day.'
'Okay fine, let me ask you one thing.'
Jackson suddenly felt nervous and prepared himself for the worst possible question. This was it, Malcolm was finally going to bring in the bug guns and he'd been waiting all week so that they could confront it and put it behind them.
'Do you still have anything going on with Alex?'
'That's it?' Jackson asked, looking at him directly in the eyes.
'Were you expecting something else?'
'For crying out loud Malcolm, I just want to tell me that you're angry or uncomfortable. Something!'
Malcolm laughed. Jackson was being serious about wanting Malcolm to have a reaction, but there was nothing to react to.
'So you had sexual relations with a downlow dude, who actually had a girlfriend. What's shocking there?'
'He was present at the brunch.'
'Oh, no?'
'Malcolm this isn't funny,' Jackson whined. 'I just want to get passed this.'
Malcolm pulled Jackson closer, eyeing his soft lips. He planted a soft kiss which made Jackson break out into a soft grin.
'How is that for a reaction?' Malcolm enticingly asked. He could not be any less bothered about being in a public space, all that mattered was that he was with Jackson.
Standing against a backdrop of a large window that gave views of the runway, parked Boeing and Airbus jets and the blue skies, the two were at a concourse at O.R. Tambo International. Malcolm's time in Gauteng had sadly drawn to a close because the grim reality that was his busy work schedule beckoned – and he could not ignore the call.
'I don't know, I think let's see it again.'
Malcolm gently kissed him again.
'On the real though Jackson, there really is no reason for me to be upset. You've told me that you are done with Alexander, and I am taking your word for it.'
The trust these two had for each other ran very deep. Years in the making, it was only a matter of time before their trust would face the test of distance and they had been doing abundantly well so far. Malcolm felt absolutely nothing for anyone in Cape Town and Jackson had his eyes set of Malcolm, and Malcolm only.
There was no reason to go seeking for anything else when they had each other.
'I suppose I'll take that.'
'Good,' Malcolm smiled. 'I just have a recommendation.'
'Shoot.'
'I would recommend letting Alexander know that you really are over him. From the way he kept gazing at you last week, I would swear he isn't over you.'
Jackson snuffled.
The possibility of Alexander still holding on to the hope that they could pursue something was stupid. Jackson had given enough time and distance between them for him to be able to set his eyes elsewhere. There had been no formal communication since, so what Malcolm was saying was very funny.
