No Fairy Tales in Real Life

Wake Up Call

Wake up call (Copter)

I stopped the car in front of Bas’ house and killed the engine. The kid hasn’t been answering his phone for a week now. I was worried for him. He’s been keeping an eye on P’Kim for me and he's been missing in action lately.

Am I so pathetic or what? Stalking the guy who used to be my lover. But what can I do? The idiot is so careless. I don’t know why I still feel responsible for P’Kim. He’s not mine anymore. But he’s never been completely mine ever to begin with. But I loved him. I still love him. I may not want to make him mine. But I want him to be alright.

I’ve been following him through social media but he hasn’t been active much lately. Little information I gathered from came through Bas. According to him, P’Kim is not doing very well. He’s been acting the perfect fiancé and perfect son in-law for public, but he doesn’t look happy. I knew that the little guy had been keeping the whole truth from me. I don’t like prying too much. P’Kim is his friend. He’s bound to be faithful to him. I know he would tell me if anything is seriously wrong.

I just need to find out what happened to Bas. I stood near his door and sounded the doorbell.
“Copter?” Bas’ mom opened the door.
“Yes auntie, is Bas in?” I greeted her respectfully.
“Yes, yes come in love.” She led me to the house and directly to the dining area. “I’m glad you are here.” She indicated a chair and I sat curiously.
“Is he alright?” I asked carefully. Bas must be sick.
“Yeah, he’s fine physically.” She started tracing the edge of the table. She looked agitated and worried.
“Auntie? What's wrong?” I asked getting up. “Where is he?” I looked up at their white winding staircase. “Is he in his room?” I looked back at her worried face. She nodded.
“He's been hiding in his room. Something must have gone wrong with him and Godt” She sighed. Bas and Godt? What the hell is she talking about?
“I haven’t been out of the house since last week. I’m afraid to leave him alone.” She looked tired, her usual pretty self is less pretty. I stood up and took her both hands.
“Auntie, I’m sorry I haven’t been a good friend to him” I hugged her. “I should have been looking after him.” I mumbled to her shoulder.
“No, no love, I don’t have your number. I only have Kimmon's number. And he’s been out of the country for couple of weeks.” She sniffed. Oh so that’s where he is.
“Auntie, I’ll be with him today, whole day.” I held her shoulders and smiled down at her. “Go out and run your errands. I’ll call if there’s anything.” She was smiling up at me. She placed one palm over my cheek and patted.
“You’re such a sweet boy Copter. Thank you so much. Go ahead love. He's in his room.” She turned to go. “It’s the second door to your right.” She added.
I tapped Bas’ door and entered. He was hidden among a mountain of pillows. I picked few pillows and tossed away. His sleeping face came into my view.
“Hey?” I gently shook his shoulder. “Nong? Wake up. It’s midmorning already.” His eyes fluttered opened.
“P’Cop? What are you doing here?” he mumbled sitting up slowly.
“Nong? You haven’t been answering your phone for ten days.” I brushed his hair away from his face. “I was worried.”
“Has it already been ten days?” He rubbed his eyes dazedly. I nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Yeah, what happened Nong? Auntie said something about P’Godt.” I asked observing his face carefully. He scratched his head awkwardly.
“Let me wash my face first.” He mumbled and crawled out of his nest of pillows spilling them out of the bed. I picked them up and placed them back on the bed.

I was sitting on one of his bean bags reading a fashion magazine when he came and sat on the floor beside me. I placed the magazine away and sat beside him on his plush carpet rug.
He looked thinner than usual like he hasn’t been eating well. His pretty eyes  have lost their usual light, I can see. I scooted closer and took one of his hands clenched around a green soft toy rabbit. He raised his eyes shining with tears.
“I promised him that I wouldn’t cry.” He said, his voice breaking. “But I have no control over this.” He whimpered pointing his rapidly wetting cheeks. I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him to me tightly.
“Sh…” I patted his back. I’m not exactly sure what happened. But I let him hid his face in my shoulder and cry. I gently rubbed his back soothingly. Even if I didn’t know what happened, I recognized his tears. They were familiar. They were so much like mine. They were tears of a broken heart.
“P’Godt and I….. we've been getting together.” He mumbled, when he'd stop crying in my arms, his face flushing. “I think I crossed a line by falling for him.” His voice is scratchy from all the crying.

Jesus, I never saw that coming. Huh, so Bas isn’t a virgin anymore? I felt ashamed of myself for still being a virgin. I quickly dismissed that idea and focused on the little guy.
Bas poured his heart out to me. And I did the same to him, since both of us are in the same boat. We both cried  till our tears ran out. Then we both sat and watched Starwars movie marathon eating chips and scattering pieces everywhere.

We were in the third movie when his door crashed opened. I sat frozen when P’Kim came barging into the room angrily.

“Why the fuck aren’t you answering your phone?” he shouted at Bas but his stride faltered when his gaze landed on me. “Copter?” his voice changed from angry to surprise.
He looked disheveled. His expensive designer suit wrinkled. His face looked haggard. What happened to him? He hasn’t been taking care of himself. I felt so mad at P’Sprite for not taking care of him.

“P’Kim?” I acknowledged him. “Bas is not well. Please don’t shout at him.” I warned him. His gaze snapped to Bas, immediately. He came and kneeled besides Bas. For once Bas was doing okay. He was looking at both of us eating chips with a small smile on his lips.

“What happened?” He clutched Bas' head with both of his hands. “Kid? Are you alright?” He peered down at Bas’ eyes for few seconds and let go. He sat crossed legged in front of us and messed up his hair. That familiar gesture I was so used to seeing. I eyed him discreetly. I long to jump in his arms and hug him. The longing is like a physical pain. I clenched my hands into tight fists to stop myself from touching him.

“I knew it.” P’Kim muttered. “I’ll beat him to death when I see him next.” P’Kim growled. So P'Kim knew about Godt and Bas.
“No no no P’Kim, it’s not his fault.” Bas quickly grabbed his hand. “Please don’t say anything to him.” He begged.
“Still defending…” He snorted. He eyed me and gave me a slight smile. “I’m sorry Cop, I didn’t know you were here.” He rubbed his thumb over his pant leg. “But there’s been an emergency.” Both our heads snapped up.
“I cancelled my trip and came home immediately. I’ve been calling Bas for hours.” He dragged his palm down his face.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news." He let out a long sigh.

“P'Tea's wife passed away.”