8 - Comfort

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Next day, Noh and Phun met after the school in a small cafe on bar stools. Both of them wearing a solemn look as they sat side by side. It was Noh who broke the silence, "Phun, I met Earn yesterday. He was talking about Aim." 

"Uh huh" was all Phun could manage. He knew where this conversation was going and didn't want to spoil it for Noh. 

"Earn told me that Aim is moving to another country because she is..." Phun didn't allow him to complete the sentence and quickly placed a finger on Noh's lips. Noh's eyes widened and knew at once that Phun had confirmed the story. He looked away as tears welled up in his eyes and he choked on one of his first concerns. "Is it true then? Phun."

Phun reached out to hold his hand under the table and gave it a squeeze to answer his question. It was hard to talk about this to a boy he loved so dearly. He owed Noh a response and he'd have one if Aim hadn't left in the lurch. He would probably never know the answer. 

"I met Aim last night. She told me she is...... but she refused to tell me whose. Noh, I don't know what to say or do. It has been driving me crazy and I feel like I dragged you into this mess and I feel like a jack-ass doing this to you." He couldn't continue further. The pain and confusion manifested into drops of tears that ran quickly down his cheeks. Noh slowly turned his head to see a pitiful Phun quickly wiping away those careless tears.

Noh slid his arms around Phun's waist and held him for a long while as Phun tried to wipe away his tears as fast as they were falling. Noh knew that there wasn't much he could do at the moment but just hold this friend in an embrace to console and ease his confusion. He knew Phun, the righteous guy that he was, would go back to Aim in a jiffy if she told him that the baby was his. He would take responsibility and be the best dad there was. Phun was such a person. Noh was lucky that Phun loved him back just as much as he did. 

They had just one more year together in the high school. They would be college goers soon, and probably in different colleges, in different cities, maybe. With these thoughts, Noh turned to Phun and whispered, "Phun, I love you and I have never doubted your love for me, despite all that has happened around us. So I don't want you to belittle yourself or feel guilty because of the situation Aim is in. You did your part and went to her place to take responsibility. Nobody from our class, our age would ever do a thing like that. Please don't be hard on yourself. If Aim didn't tell you, she probably has a reason and that reason, for all you know, may not be something that concerns you at all. So please stop worrying Phun. If you need few days to yourself to clear your head, I will give you that space and time."

With these words, he left Phun with much hestitation. Phun stared into space with tears in his eyes. Noh's words were wise and comforting but he sensed much pain in his voice as Noh attempted to comfort and re-assure Phun of his steadfast love for him. He needed space and time but not now. The only way to get over this was to spend more time with his one and only brave Noh. Noh, the sweet boy who tried to comfort him despite being dragged into this pool of emotional chaos. 

He got up and ran out of the cafe to find Noh. Noh was just crossing the road, head down with a lifeless gait. He caught up with Noh and grabbed his hands. A surprised Noh let him hold his hand and didn't flick them off like he used to, in public places. They crossed the road together. They smiled. Shy smiles that broke into a glee of joy as they both reached the other side together and with each other's love intact. 

They headed back to Noh's house for the evening and spent the night in each other's arms. Noh and Phun had few more months together. They discussed late into the night between kisses and caresses, about their future. Phun wanted to apply to a renowned medical college and Noh was still clueless but they both knew that at the end of their final examinations, they'd have to part ways. They sighed with individual thoughts weighing on their minds - Will we still remain lovers or will we grow out of it and mature as straight adults? Future, who is to know. 

"Phun, what if we aren't what we are now, in the future?"

"I don't know how to answer that Noh but for the moment, its only you Noh - only you that I want and care about. I am not going to feel sad about what tomorrow may or may not bring. I am going to enjoy the rest of our school days knowing you're mine and I am yours."

With that, they finally gave into the night and slept off, in the comfort of knowing that they were there for each other. It may not last, but it was all they needed now.

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