The Deal [boyxboy]

Chapter Seven [7]

(Liam's POV)

I'm in deep shit.

Those sparks that I felt when Ash and I touched still lingers on my mind. What was that?

Just one touch made me feel like I already knew him all my life, even though we've just met. It felt like a missing piece that I didn't know suddenly just connected itself like a Lego piece. It's not normal.

I admit that he has pretty nice features. Too pretty in fact, that it felt like he wasn't human at all. He must be an alien.

Yeah, that's right. He must be using some voodoo trick to deceive my feeble eyes!

...

Nah. His genes must be bestowed by God himself or something. That's the only logical explanation that I can think of.

Wait, what am I thinking of? Right, the sparks.

What do I do? Should I ask someone about this? Is this normal? Should I ask the twins?

For once, I'm at loss. As I sat on this bench in the park after class, I pondered about every detail of my current situation. The twins wandered off somewhere, probably having fun in the mall's arcade and games area or something.

The setting sun casts a shade as it disappeared over the horizon, on top of the newly painted slides and swings that was only recently fixed, given that its noise was unbearable whenever kids try to use it. The monkey bar that I used to play as a kid stood empty as the other rides, seeing that it's almost evening now.

This was the place that I escaped to as dad went on his drunken spree, and mom wasn't home. This place was a witness to all of my silent cries, and a shrine to accept my mumbles of prayers, hoping that someone will come and save me.

Back then, I was thinking of ending it all and just wanted to have an eternal sense of peace.

Without worries.
Without pain.
Without giving a single damn about the world that rejects all my pleas of salvation.

But thankfully enough, that it never happened because of two cheeky childhood friends.

-

This was the place where I met the twins.

I remember them often riding the swings, pushing each other alternately, the swings squeaking as they try to push harder as if they wanted to fly off the seat. They must've seen me sulk in the picnic table in the corner as I watched the other kids have fun, because the next thing I know, there were two bodies blocking my view of the playground.

I remember their inquisitive gaze as they try to invite me to play with them on the roundabout. I hesitated, but rejected their invite in the end, worried that they might see the bruises that I've earned.

But they didn't relent, and instead they adamantly pulled me towards the ride. They let me ride first, then George, the older of the twins, gripped the handle and started to spin the roundabout. Justin was screaming as the ride became faster and faster until George hopped on. They laughed gleefully, while I gripped the handle, with my knuckles going pale. I was unable to contain my laugh as well until we chorused in giggles and screams as we enjoyed the ride.

I've never had so much fun in my life until that day.

Those were the days where I forgot everything that had been bothering me, and instead looked forward to every playtime that we have. I forgot that I have an abusive father and have been enduring all the pain.

Reminiscing all these moments brings a pleasant feeling of nostalgia and at the same time, a feeling of pain as I recalled all the good and bad moments.

They saved me, and I intend to do the same to them should the need arise.

-

Night approached fast, as the sun slowly descended below the horizon and casted its one final wave and disappeared from view.

All those pondering and deep thoughts about Ash and things in general made me lost my sense of time.

I went home, and half-expected for mom to be there. But to no avail.

Dumping my school bag under the table and changing into my snug clothes, I scanned the contents of my phone and scrolled through the messages that my friends and teammates sent over the past few hours.

There were talks about having an off-city tour to various places for recreation and team building activities for our team, and some random DMs here and there about school and practice stuff.

It was an uneventful night, to say at least.

I collapsed on the bed, not having any intentions to have dinner and wait for mom to come home.

Sleep came fast, and I was out for the night.

- - -

Author's note: It's been a few years since I had updated this story, and frankly I already forgot the general plot that I developed up for Liam and Ash due to personal reasons and due to being extremely busy with life in general.

I've had the draft for the next chapter of this story since 2018, and back then I was thinking of continuing to finish writing about the story. But right now, I'm not too keen to continue writing until I recall the general plot or just make a new one altogether. I decided to just add a few more words to the draft and publish it as it is just to progress the story and also leave this (long) note.

I apologize if some were left hanging by my unannounced absence, and I hope that I finally find the motivation and time again to do this once more.

Thank you.

- Anna out :)