Hindrance

Hushed Beginnings

He doesn't know when it started meaning more. One thing is for sure though. In the midst of all the stress and tight schedules, he looked to him and suddenly, he saw more than just a smile. He saw how his eyes crinkled and almost disappeared with every laugh, or how tiny wells appeared over his cheeks as his lips curled upwards. He loved how his laughter bounced against his ear, momentarily lifting the heavy weight upon his shoulders, giving him an inexplicable high. He doesn't know when this whole thing began but one thing was for sure. The minute his smile started to make him feel something, he knew he was a goner.

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Having been uprooted from his home for the sake of his dream, the daily grind hasn't exactly been the easiest. He had to carve out a new normal; to find some other alternative to what he once knew.

It's only been a few months but the whirlwind of events had worn him out. Most nights he thinks of returning home and leaving behind everything he's started, but there are a few people who persuade him to stay. Being in the company of people who made you smile always evokes a feeling of pleasure and lightness. Things could be much worse. People had been put in the same predicament as he was and they pushed harder than ever just to achieve the dream. So he stayed.

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Admittedly, it felt foreign and strange. He hasn't exactly felt this way before. They had certainly been good friends, almost inseparable, found with each other at every turn. Time spent together was never wasted. It would be quite the exaggeration to say he is at his happiest when he is with him, but he means it completely. But then the question loomed over his head. How would you draw the line between friendship and something more? His whole life he's been taught to find people worth keeping and make friends out of them but somehow, he felt that this was more than just friendship. He doesn't have any semblance of an idea as to how this works or goes, but they are both happy with each other and he believes that's all that matters.

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Sometimes he would forget about home if he ended up laughing too much, clutching at his stomach, desperate for air. Other times, he would enjoy the company he had here. Regardless, he couldn't deny that he was one of the reasons he was happy.

Statistically speaking, people who made you laugh and smile are the people you fall in love with the hardest.

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Shows and projects multiplied exponentially. Sleep was as en elusive being and staying sane and normal during those stressful weeks was a feat worthy of awards. Quitting seemed like a viable option, but he lived for the moments in between all the haggard hours and mad dashes. It is in the moments of rest they would approach each other and brew up trouble and fun to pass the time. Adults attributed their youth to the endless amounts of energy they had, but it wasn't that.

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Sleep. That was all he wanted. That was all he needed.

Funny how we was willing to forego it in exchange for tirades and conversations. Much needed hours of slumber can wait. They had this moment now.

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He's found that he's shy around strangers and fans. Behind the scenes, he was this ball of sunshine, refusing to settle and sit, always exploding with antics and shenanigans. It always amuses him seeing him so different with other people.

"Darren's just as hyper as I am, trust me," he would tell the fans, their phones at the ready for a picture.

Their faces morph into masks of confusion and disbelief. He's got everyone fooled except him.