In Any Lifetime I'll Find You

Chapter 9

A week later, they went on as a couple in secret. Jeff rarely went to the flower arrangement classes but he promised that he could meet Bible at the bar. 

Bible sat at the counter and staring at Jeff with full of love. Jeff looked back at his boyfriend giving a sweet smile and a wink. Sae grinned at the two and tap Bible's shoulder. "Hey it's suffocating here could both of you stops?". Bible squinted his eyes "Just say you're jealous Sae" he teased. 

"Nahh am not. You both should thank me. I played my role well as cupid for both of you. I deserved thank you y'know" Sae placed one hand on his hips, scowling. Bible covers his mouth laughing "What's so funny here". Jeff came wrapped his arm around Bible's back giving a kiss on his cheek. "Sae jealous". Jeff mouth rounded "Ohh". He leaned towards Bible and kissed him on the lips. In between the kisses they both exchanges I love yous. 

"Guys stop! Get a room". Sae shout covering his eyes. The lovebirds laughed out having fun teasing Sae. "Alright Sae, we take our leave now". Sae waves his hand motioning them to go, seeming happy that they are leaving. Jeff and Bible exits the bar walking back home with their fingers linking together. 

At Jeff's home, Bible went to sit in the living room watching TV while Jeff in the shower. At the corner of his eyes, he saw a shadow passed by. Bible blinked confuse, was his eyes playing?. He lifted himself off the couch and walk towards where the shadow disappear into. 'Jeff..? Is that you?'. 

He continues to walk and then he come across an odd hidden door blended well with the passage. He traced the outline of the door and push it a little. The door open a little. Peeking inside, Bible could see it is a spare room and smell of rose tickle his sense of smell. "A hidden room..?" 

He step inside, carefully. It was dark, Bible reached out through the wall trying to find light switch. Once the room lighted up, he found the room was mostly empty just a grand high-back chair, a vase of roses and a covered frame on the wall. He stood in the middle of the room, he had sudden urge to pull the silk covering the frame in front of him. He stood at the frame, hand reaching to hold the silk but he stop halfway 'Should I..?'. He pulled the cloth, watching it slowly slides down. He could identify two figures sitting close together then a hands cover his eyes. One arm wrapped around his waist.

"No don't" Jeff whispered on his ear "Jeff..what is it?". Bible shakes his head attempting to remove the palm covering his eyes. "I don't want you to see it". The human went quiet, the more Jeff forbid him from seeing it the more he want to see it.."Jeff what..?!" Jeff turned Bible around holding him by the waist. Bible frowned looking at Jeff's sad face. Puzzled over Jeff's suspicious action "I don't like this Jeff..What are you hiding from me?". 

"....". Not getting an answer Bible take hold of Jeff's hand on his waist, tugging it off him. He slowly steps back. When Jeff tries to follow him Bible raised his hand up stopping him. Jeff look at him, begging him to not turn around. Bible turned his back and look at the portrait. An old portrait the paper were brownish but the illustration stayed well. He could identify who was in that frame. 

He sees Jeff's face wearing clothes from the past then his eyes trailed to the person beside him. Holding Jeff's hands so gently and he gasped when he saw himself. Identical but his feature were soft and he have mid-long hair. With that smiles Bible knows how kind-hearted person he is. 

"Who are you..?". Bible whispered to his framed twin. He recalled back the memories he had when he first touched Jeff "..That's..was..you?..your memories?..premonition?" he asked but the man in the portrait just smile. Amidst the confusion he feel overwhelm, he feel pain and unexpectedly..a betrayal. 

'What's going on here?'. 

He bowed his head down "What is this...Who is that Jeff?". He kept his back facing Jeff. "That's my late fiancé...500 years ago" Jeff said. 'His fiancé..? Having exact feature as me..Is this a joke?'. Bible thought Jeff love him for who he is. But seeing this causing him to have doubt about their relationship. Those times they spent together, who did Jeff saw in front of him..him or this man? Is Jeff fooling with him?. 

Jeff went forward catching Bible's hand "B-Bible..". The human shakes his head "No..don't you try to fool me..I can't trust you right now". He went back to stare at the portrait, his eyes look hurt and feeling of envy arise. They truly are a perfect match, they probably had lived long together, had done many things as a couple. Sadly his fiancé passed away first. And now he thought that Jeff coming into his life is to make him his lover. Now isn't it like he taking Bible as substitute for his late fiancé? 

'What if all this while, he sees his fiancé but not me?' 

"Who do you see Jeff? Me as myself or your late fiancé?" Jeff heart ached when each Bible's word stabs his heart. The room were silenced. Bible turned around to look at Jeff with hopeful eyes. Jeff didn't notice it, he was too focus on what in his mind. Mixture of guilt and unsure shown on his face as he played different scenario in his mind. 

If he said he love the current Bible will their fate changed. If it does, he's more than willing to forget his late fiancé, start anew with current Bible. Unless fate is playing with them again. If he choose his late fiancé then he need to let Bible go and he will live. But he will do the one thing he never wanted to do; break Bible's heart. In turn he will suffer again waiting for another reincarnation. Jeff don't think he will be able to go through it again. 

'Fate, tell me what I should do..please' Jeff asked. 

Bible swatted his hand from Jeff's hold. He waited for Jeff to answer but its taking too long. "Don't stay silence..Please tell me..Tell me please!!" Bible voice breaks, he still hopes for that one answer from Jeff's mouth but why he got none? 

Frustrated, Bible grasped the vase and about to throw at the frame. That pulled Jeff from his thought, he caught his wrist a little bit rough stopping Bible from doing so. Bible widen his eyes and it changes to disappointment. 

"Is he too precious to you? Even his death you still can't let him go?". "I..I.." Jeff struggle to say out his words. Bible wasn't having it. 'This won't work'. "I thought you will answer quickly, I was hoping for that one answer..but it seems like you having trouble picking one" Bible dropped the vase breaking it into pieces. "You still in the past..." 

He walked passed Jeff and running out of the apartment. Bible run through the streets wiping his tears. His heart hurt, he want to scream. He slowed his pace, crouching down on the sidewalk. "I love you Jeff..so much..why you making me think that I'm just a substitute? What holding you back..?..What you hiding from me?" he sobbed out. 

He didn't know that loving a vampire who had a past lover could be this painful

TBC