The Bodyguard's Duty ✅

Chapter 47 - Realistic Expectations

*This chapter immediately continues from the last one.

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Ethan came bursting into the study room as he wanted to take Thomas away from everyone here. He stopped in the doorway when he saw Javier comforting Thomas.

"What's going on?" Ethan warily asked.

Thomas cleared his throat as his face became expressionless. "Nothing."

Ethan ignored Javier as he then stood in front of Thomas. Crouching down so that they were eye level, Ethan spoke softly to his boyfriend. "Let's go home."

Thomas risked everything by looking into Ethan's eyes. The green eyes he loved to get lost in were shimmering in front of him, and Thomas had to look away because he didn't want to break Ethan's heart more than he needed to.

"Where do I get my plane ticket?" Thomas asked Javier.

"I'll have someone bring it you by the front doors." Javier informed Thomas.

Ethan chuckled nervously as he thought he missed out on a terrible joke. "What are you guys talking about?"

Thomas couldn't bring himself to look at Ethan when he told him, "I'll wait for you downstairs."

Ethan stood up from his spot as Thomas bumped into him. Ethan felt dread run through his body because Thomas didn't even look at him, and the mention of a plane ticket scared Ethan so much.

Ethan intended to follow Thomas downstairs, but Javier's raised and assertive voice made him stay behind. So Ethan took this opportunity to clear the air about his relationship with Thomas.

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with the relationship I have with Thomas," Ethan acknowledged. "I don't need either of you two meddling with my love life!"

Javier pulled Ethan close so that he could place his hands on Ethan's shoulders. They were standing face to face as the only distance between them was Javier's outstretched arms.

"Ethan, I know there isn't anything fundamentally wrong with your relationship." Javier assured Ethan with seriousness.

"So what's the problem?" Ethan asked, as he pleaded for an answer on why his parents weren't being supportive of his relationship with Thomas.

Javier was being honest as he had nothing to gain from seeing Ethan heartbroken. "I think the both of you are exhausting your time in a relationship that won't last long - that can't last long."

"You don't have the right to make that judgement call." Ethan argued.

Javier was doing his best to try and be gentle with Ethan. He didn't like putting his son down, but his heart was in the right place when his main concerns involved his son. "As time goes on, you're going to fall harder and harder for someone that lives so far away. Whether it takes weeks, months, or years, there will be an accumulated amount of heartbreak that's going to obliterate you as the long distance tears you apart."

Ethan's voice was shaky as he tried to stay strong. "This is my life, and I get to live it the way I want."

Javier moved Ethan's face to look at him. He wanted to convey his sincerity when he told him, "Ethan, I love you so much son. But you need to be realistic about everything..."

Ethan felt so small as he looked back at his dad. Javier was one of the very few people Ethan trusted and relied on so dearly. This made everything he was listening to harder to hear, because it was something he didn't want.

"You're delaying the heartbreak by dragging the relationship through the broken glass that is this long distance. You're clouding your own judgement for a whirlwind romance that has only just started."