PHASES

Episode 2: Don't Speak

Welcome back!

Boy Love: A Story is wishfullment and fanfiction all rolled up to one. I didn't base any of the characters or storylines on anything that already exists. I can confidently say it's 100% original and any similarities with other stories is just purely coincidental. That being said it was inspired by my love for Thai BL dramas but I put my own little spin on it because I wanted something some serious, logical and realistic.

This episode's soundtrack is "Spinning" by Mark Ronson ft. Ilsey

Enjoy!
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Justin sat eating cereal Monday morning in his kitchen. He kept nervously checking his phone now and then between spoonfuls of Cherrios. From his expression one could tell that there was something wrong.

His mom, Reneè, had noticed his behavior as well. A full figured, graceful middle aged woman, she wore her fitted grey pants suit with elegance and a sense of command befitting the strong businesswoman she was. Her long, dark brown hair pulled into a tight, clean ponytail.

"What is wrong..." she asked sympathetically , picking up her grey blazer from the kitchen stool she had been sitting on and putting it on. She waited for an answer and didn't get one. She looked at him for a moment and deposited her own bowl into the sink.

He had her dark brown hair but his eyes were his father's, a piercing golden amber. His slender frame had always worried her, he had been skinnier than all his friends. But as he grew up Renee had just to accept his body was built that way no matter what he ate.

"Are you gonna tell me what's going on" asked Reneè. Her back still to him, filling up a glass of water.

"No" came a barely audible response from her son.

Finally she turned around to face him again. "Baby, you barely said a word all weekend. You spent every second of it couped up in your room. And you have been carrying that same gloomy expression the whole entire time"

At first she had been worried that it had finally happened. That someone one had acted homophobically towards him at school. Justin had never had been harassed for his sexuality as far as she knew. In Nu'Est no one really cared about what you were as long as you were an upstanding citizen and most importantly ; kept your nose out of their business. And that was the same for the high school was well, full of 21st century, open minded teens. Who had grown up in a tolerant environment and had an expanded world view. Owing mostly to their worldly parents and their "mind your own business " attitude. But she had always been worried there would be a bad egg.

"I'm fine mom. There's nothing going on." asserted Justin. "Really, I'm ok" he added.

Reneè knew she wouldn't get an answer from her son now but she knew that her baby would come to her when it was time. She was very close to her kids.

"Ok, get your bag. I'll drop you off" she said changing the subject " has your brother called yet?" She asked but Justin merely shook his head.

Justin's school wasn't really that far away and on normal day he actually preferred to walk. Sometimes Zoe or Mark would join him as they also didn't live far. But today he didn't feel like he had the energy for the fifteen minute walk and was happy to catch a ride with his mom.

He arrive early to school that morning and was nervous as stepped out of mom's car and said his goodbyes.

He bumped into Zoe in the entrance hall surprisingly and they walked towards their class together.

"Have you seen Mark yet?" He asked

"No. I haven't seen him since..." She said trying to remember. "Wait! Did u find him?"

"Yeah"

"Hmm...Well I tried to call him all weekend but nothing. I really got worried..."

And Zoe's words trailed behind as he was consumed by his own thoughts. "We'll probably see him at lunch... earth to Justin" came in Zoe's voice. She stopped walking and glared at him. "What's up with you today?"

"What? Nothing. Let's go to class" dismissing Zoe.

The Trio: Mark, Zoe and Justin were all in grade 11 but only Zoe and Justin shared a class and they also happened to share a desk together. Mark was in the other grade 11 and the only time they got to see him was during Physical Education on Tuesdays and Thursdays and during lunch time.

But little did they know that at that very moment Mark was home, still in bed and staring blankly at the ceiling of his bedroom. He too would frequently check his phone now and then but would be left disappointed at every turn. Everytime this would happen he would resume blankly staring at the ceiling. But after checking his phone one last time though sighed, grabbed ahold of his sheets , covered himself and went back to sleep.

At lunch Zoe and Justin bought their lunch and made their way to their usual table but they were surprised to find it empty. They stopped midway to it and exchanged anxious expressions before they proceeded on. Justin looked worried and as soon as they sat down he took out his phone to check it again, he stared at it for a minute until Zoe reminded him of their rule: no phones at the table.

Lunch went on as usual but Zoe was called out to a School Representatives meeting and had to leave towards the end. As soon as he finished his meal Justin left the cafeteria to go to the school ground where he was hoping to find Mark's deskmate.

Calvin was sitting with a group of his friends in the bleachers as Justin arrived. He greeted everyone and asked to speak to Calvin aside.

"Hey..." smiled Calvin

"Hey..." smiled back. It was honestly hard not to. " did Mark come to school?"

Calvin's smile flattened a bit. "No. I haven't seen him since Friday"

Justin then thanked him and started to turn back when he heard "Wait..."

He turned back to face Calvin again. "Have you tried calling him?" asked Calvin

"Yeah" lied Justin. " Well thanks anyway" and he turned to leave in ernest but Calvin remained rooted where he was watching Justin leave.

"Cal! CALVIN!" called one of his friends. Calvin only turned his head, smiled at them and returned to steal a glance at Justin one last time.

..........

Mark reached for his phone again and checked the time. School must be out he thought as he pushed it away. He sat alone in the silent kitchen, still in his boxers and t-shirt, eating cereal. He had just gotten off his bed 30 minutes before and this had been his only meal so far.

He noted how silent the house was. Everything was clean and where it was suppose to be. He had helped Manny clean up on Saturday which was something that he rarely did. Not that he was lazy, the house hardly needed cleaning; he lived alone and was rarely home himself. And what ever dust found itself in the house, Manny always swept it away.

Moments like these rarely came to him. He rarely felt alone but today, at that very moment he missed his parents. Manny had come in while he was sleeping. She had cleaned what needed to be clean and cooked him a meal and left right after lunch time. On normal days she would wait for him to comeback from school, Mark suspected that she didnt want him to arrive to an empty house, and he appreciated her for it.

Vincent was absent that day and would no doubt come in around five o'clock, so the gate was only manned by Alfonso, who could be seen roaming the yard every now and then. The security guards rarely came into the house and that day Mark was actually grateful for that as he didn't feel like talking to anyone.

After a tutor class that ended late, Justin took a taxi home. As he came upon Mark's house he asked the driver to stop in front of it. As soon as the car stopped he looked up at the house for a moment, hesitated looked at his phone one last time and finally asked to driver to go.

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Thank you for reading. Next chapter is up next! A little question for you; what would you have done if you were Justin? And do you think Mark was drunk when Justin kissed him?