Water and Fire (BL)

Chapter 72: Going In Separate Ways

Dave looked up at the twilit sky, wondering for a second if it really was a good idea to trust Eric that he'd come today.

He should have forced Eric to come today. He should have done everything in his power to make sure that Eric would really come today.

But then, if David did that, then it meant he doesn't trust Eric. And that he doesn't respect Eric. And besides, didn't the boy actually said he'd think about it? The ball's on him, clearly, and David gave him that choice.

But now, more than an hour later, at 4:30AM, David felt like every minute of waiting was excruciatingly painful, that Eric wouldn't really come after all, and that everything would be for naught—including David's effort of waking up at 2AM to pack his things and go here, at the place behind the school, the place where David and Eric said their feelings for each other. Kinda.

David could see the multitude of trees towering from within the high wall fencing the school. From where he was, David, in his own mind, could see himself jumping from that wall and running into where he stood now. And then there was Eric's ghost, climbing over that wall and jumping like a fucking idiot, chasing David's ghost.

It made David smile like a fool, with backpack strapped on his shoulders, two travel bags on both hands.

The purple yam sky soon gave way to a spill of peach and cherry, mixing together in beautiful colors like a salad of delectable fruitiness above. It was 4:58AM.

And still, no sight of Eric's person. David sighed, as if defeated. He didn't want to go inside the school and board the bus without Eric. He had to be with Eric, at whatever cost.

One side of David told him that Eric wouldn't come anymore—their rendezvous was at 4AM, for crying out loud, and it's like, what, 4:59AM?! But another side of him wanted to wait a little longer—heck, he would even wait all day or even all week for Eric. But then the bus would have already left by then. But it was okay, since what David really want was to be in Eric's presence, camping or no. David dropped the two travel bags on the pavement, intent to wait longer for even just 10 minutes.

But David's reasonable side won. Despondent, he quickly picked up his travel bags. He started walking away from that secluded place, into the main street outside, and turned left to the school gate's direction.

He was ten steps in when he heard a rush of wind coming from behind.

"I'm so sorry!" It was Eric, hands on his knees, panting, beads of sweat trickling on the street.

David dropped his bags and ran to Eric to give him a whack on his back.

"You're one hour late, mister!" David yelled, arms akimbo.