Michaels in Love (BoyXBoy) English

Chapter 31 - Season 1: Thank God I Found You

I opened my eyes abruptly. A sharp breath escaped me, trembling as if I had just surfaced from a turbulent dream.

A faint vibration tickled my pocket, breaking through the fog of my waking thoughts. Someone was calling. I felt the persistent buzz of my phone, but I ignored it. The heaviness of the moment weighed down on me more than the call ever could.

I sat up slowly, the sterile chill of my surroundings seeping into my awareness. Turning to my side, I was met with a concerned face—David. His hand rested firmly on my arm as if to anchor me.

An IV drip tethered to my left hand reminded me of my frailty. I was in the clinic of a mall. My heartbeat, erratic and fast, thudded against my chest like a storm trapped within.

"Michael, are you okay?" David's voice cracked with worry.

"I'm... I'm fine," I stammered, forcing a weak smile. "Just feeling a little off."

The truth betrayed me. My pulse was racing; each beat threatened to tear me apart. I clutched my chest, hoping to calm the chaos within.

"Relax, Michael... Relax," David said, his voice a balm against the rising panic.

I exhaled shakily. "Thank you... for bringing me here. I don't know what I would've done without you."

David shrugged off my gratitude with a small, selfless smile. "You don't have to thank me, Michael. I'll always be here for you."

The vibration in my pocket grew insistent. Reluctantly, I fumbled for my phone, my fingers trembling as I saw Deziree's name flashing on the screen. Gino's cousin.

"Hello, Dez?" My voice cracked as I answered.

"Michael..." Her sobs shattered the fragile quiet. "Gino is gone."

Her words struck like a thunderclap. My phone nearly slipped from my grasp as my world tilted. Gone? Gino couldn't be gone. My best friend. My brother in all but blood.

Deziree's voice wavered. "He coded... They tried to revive him, but... they couldn't. His family plans to cremate him immediately and bring his ashes home to La Union."

"No... no..." I whispered, my voice cracking as grief overtook me. Tears cascaded down my face, unchecked and unstoppable. Gino... my Gino... was gone.

David's voice pierced through the fog of my despair. "Michael, what's wrong?"

"My friend... he's dead," I choked out.

David didn't hesitate. He pulled me into a hug, his arms tight around me as if to shield me from the unbearable truth. "I'm so sorry, Michael," he whispered. His warmth was comforting, but it couldn't mend the gaping wound in my heart.

The door creaked open. My tear-filled gaze shifted to see Mike standing in the doorway. His expression froze as his eyes fell upon David's embrace. A flicker of something dark crossed his face—jealousy, pain. He took a step back, his hand hesitating on the doorknob. But then, he seemed to decide against leaving and walked toward us instead.

"Michael..." Mike's voice broke as he said my name. It carried a depth of emotion that made David release me. Mike's gaze locked onto mine, and in that moment, the world faded away. He sat beside me on the bed, his proximity overwhelming.

David retreated to a nearby chair, his expression unreadable. The tension in the room was palpable, a quiet storm brewing.

Mike reached out, his fingers gentle as they brushed away the tears on my cheeks. "Michael..." His voice cracked, the concern in his eyes cutting deeper than words ever could.