Try Again

As Lyle stirred his tea, he glanced at the direction of laughter. Amongst the men in suits standing in the crowd, Vince's golden hair never failed to take his attention; along with those amethyst eyes. Once brimming with unbridled enthusiasm and happiness, now reduced to a gentle dullness worn out over the years. Lyle wondered if even now ...

He didn't finish the thought and went back to his tea. Taking a sip to enjoy the chamomile aroma and flavour, he moved towards the office, passing by his partner's as he sat behind his own desk. Lyle set his cup to a coaster on the side and began filtering through the documents of their current assignment, as usual. In this silence of performing a mundane task, Lyle couldn't help reflecting on the time passed. Has it already been five years since?

The words processed in his head in a hurried blur before Lyle circled down key points and took a sticky note to write down: 'Red herring? Closed room. 2 bullets in victim. Suicide? Murder?' He paused and sighed through his nose. Lyle placed his pen down and flipped the paper over to read further on the case. And yet his mind wandered.

Should he give up now?

It'd be understandable since he'd been pining over a certain blond for more than five years. Ever since they were assigned as partners, Lyle had fallen for Vince's charismatic personality supported by his quick critical thinking, his out-of-the-box ideas, and there was never a boring moment with the man. Respect and admiration came naturally from someone six years his senior. But Lyle began developing this strange thing ... called feelings . Perhaps it was how well they worked together as a team, only becoming more in tune like a well-oiled machine with each case they solved.

Despite being young, Vince has not only taught him things, but treated him as an equal. Always patient and gentle with him, Lyle couldn't not fall.

Unfortunately, he never stood a chance.

Vince came into the office, unable to contain his excitement in those magnificent purples. And the words spoken that day shattered his heart.

"She said yes! We're finally going to get married!"

Lyle took a bit longer to react then. But he softly lied, "Congratulations."

He buried those unnecessary feelings when he attended the wedding as Vince's best man. And even became the godfather of their first child, Kai. The little sweetling was truly a darling carbon copy of Vince. One Lyle didn't hesitate to shower with affection when he visited. Continuing to play his role as Vince's close friend.

Lyle had accepted his unrequited fate. And as long Vince was happy, shouldn't he also be content?

... Five years. That was how long Vince was married before the divorce.

Lyle flipped through another page. The scratching of his pen echoed in the quiet room.

Lyle admitted to feeling guilty as joy and hope surged into his heart when Vince came knocking to his door. A crying mess with an equally sobbing Kai in his arms.

He let them in, taking Kai to pat him on the back as he sat beside Vince, frantically explaining with unsightly tears and snot what happened.

"We're ... getting a divorce."

"... What?" Lyle thought he heard wrong, but Vince said it again. More brokenly.

And Lyle deluded himself. Because he was already a close friend, someone Vince had known for years. And someone Kai is also comfortable with. He had a chance—

Lyle shook his head at his immature thinking back then. Closing the file to start writing a summary report on the case when his partner comes back.

For years after the divorce, also five years had passed since then, Lyle continued being the close trustworthy friend and partner Vince could rely on. Whether it was babysitting and teaching Kai. Performing his share of the work so Vince could have a leave of absence. And naturally encouraging the blond to take on a hobby—painting, Vince chose—Lyle was there in every step of the way.