Lovesick the Series :

9 - The Escape

Mick got a call while he was in school. It had been 2 weeks since their 6th anniversary incident. He was expecting that call. Mary had called her parents during the week and had sought their permission to divorce Mick. She made the first move and it took him by surprise. She seemed more desperate to move on, life after Mick. Her parents made a call to his parents. Here it was, the phone call from his folks. He was asked to fly to the city to meet with them on the following weekend to discuss the issue with Mary. This was a big issue for his family and it couldn't be done on the phone. He agreed to meet with them. Mick sighed. He wasn't himself lately and the teachers around him noticed. They tried to cheer him up but they were clueless on what weighed on his mind. 

Ohm had tried to contact him several times but he didn't pick up his phone. Mick left text messages instead - with excuses why he couldn't pick up the phone.

- With my wife

- Teaching

- Driving

- Meeting

- With colleagues

- At an event

Ohm didn't push further. At least Mick was making the effort to text him. Short, brief and cold but he was OK with whatever Mick texted. Ohm tried to leave brief love messages - Miss you, Thinking of you, Hearts, Kisses... those were ignored but Ohm didn't mind. At least, they weren't rejected. 

Mick and Mary still went about doing their usual routine. It was colder than what it used to be. It was suffocating both of them but they were tolerant people. As they were settling in for the night, he got a message from Ohm - 'I am in your town, staying at Grand Hotel, room no. 1211. Please meet me. Will be waiting.' Mick didn't waste time. He made a quiet getaway and drove to the city centre. He knew where Grand Hotel was. This was Mary's favourite hotel for anniversary celebration. What coincidence he thought! 

He knocked at the room and Ohm opened the door. Mick didn't know if he had come in too early or should he have made Ohm wait? Ohm pulled him in. It was a suite. Ohm held Mick's hand for a while, staring into his eyes - those pleading eyes. The smile slowly spread across his face when he saw that Mick didn't attempt to get away. It struck Mick how much he missed that smile and he began, 'Ohm, am sorry I couldn't take your calls. I couldn't call you back either because I don't have an answer yet...' Ohm didn't allow him to complete the sentence as he silenced a stunned Mick with a kiss. Mick responded readily this time. He missed Ohm, despite all his trials not to. Between kisses, Ohm called Mick's name and expressed how much he missed him. They were separate only for 15 days and Ohm couldn't help but fly down, without letting his manager know. Noh helped with the escape plan because Ohm was hard to console when he started crying about how much he missed Mick. He promised Noh to fly back the next morning as early as possible. Ohm had about 6 hours with Mick and he was going to make the most of it. 

When they had their fill of each other, they lay quiet. Ohm said that he had to get back on the 4 am flight because Noh would be waiting at the airport for him. Mick looked at the clock. They still had about 2 hours to talk their talks. Mick offered to drive him to the airport by 3 am. 

'I told Mary that I was having an affair. She doesn't know who and is not interested either. We've been talking about getting a divorce. I hope our parents don't make too much of a fuss over it. I have to meet with my parents the following weekend at the city to discuss this matter.' He updated Ohm.

Does that mean we're going to be together? Ohm thought. He didn't want to jump to conclusion yet but he was happy that Mick decided to share this piece of news. 'Mick, just remember I am there waiting for you and I swear, I am going to make up for all those years we missed.'

'Mary is a nice girl. I hope she finds someone really nice. I am going to give that house to her. I don't know why but I feel apologetic towards her. She is going through hell and I hear her sob every night to sleep. Ohm, I feel like I have committed the worst crime. She thinks I am having an affair with a girl. I don't have the courage to confess. I care for her and for her well-being... but at the end of the day, I know what I want.'

Ohm hugged Mick - the self-reflecting Mick. Ohm wanted to ease Mick's confusion but he didn't know how. 'Mick, currently I live in a villa owned by the company. I live with my band members, including Noh. I am planning on getting my own pad in the downtown before the year ends. Once you're able to sort things out with Mary and your parents, all you need to do is call me and I will come to pick you up.'

Mick nodded and touched Ohm's face. Ohm was the most beautiful man he had met and now a celebrity, doing well for himself. Mick felt small in front of Ohm. The horn tutor he had a crush on, Mick didn't expect it to last this long ... for both Ohm and him. He nestled in Ohm' embrace as comfortably as he could because he heard the clock ticking. He wanted the time to stop. They fell asleep for a while. When Mick woke up, Ohm was missing. Ohm had left a note saying that he was on his way to the airport and didn't want to wake him up. Mick fell back on the bed and pulled the bed covers to his face, Ohm's smell still lingered. He had to get back home as well. He had to go to school. Darn reality!! 

He found Mary at the front door when he reached home. She didn't question him. He didn't offer an excuse. The day went about as it would. He would have to deal with his parents the following weekend. He asked Mary if she wanted to go with him, so she would get a chance to meet her parents while in the city. She refused.