THE PROMISE

Chapter Three: Until My Song Reaches You

Charles woke up to the sound of his phone's ringing.  Still sleepy and tired, he took his cellphone and answered the person calling.  It was his mom.  He checked the watch on his bedside table.  It said 7:43 AM.  Now, what could his mother want this early in the day of Saturday?  

"Hi, Mom." he greeted, sound coarse from sleep.  He stood up and went to the kitchen to make himself coffee.  

"Good morning, Charles! How are you today?" Charles heard two voices from the other line.  The other person is probably his dad.  Their actions truly bother Charles.  What's up with their excitement anyway?

"Fine." he half-heartedly replied.  Slurping from his coffee and letting the caffeine kick in, his mind travelled back to last night's date with his boyfriend while the enthusiastic voices of his parents hung in the air.  

They went to the mall and watched a midnight move premiere of this...this...

Huh, curious.  He couldn't recall the story nor the name of the blasted movie they watched.  Now, why is that?  The thing is, since meeting the strange guy who happened to be his housemate, his mind drifted.  He wasn't able to pay attention to his much-awaited date with the doctor because he kept thinking about Gavin.   He knew full well that he had just met Gavin.  But something called out to him saying that was not the truth.  Now, that something...he had no idea.  

He rubbed his temples, soothing the panic that was slowly creeping in, and dropped his reverie.  No good can come from overthinking.  He reminded himself.

"So, we'll be there at 10 this morning!"

Wait, what?! Charles almost spat his coffee.  What did his parents say?!

"What?!"

"We'll visit you today at 10."

"No! You can't come here today! My housemate is moving in today!" he exclaimed.

"Okay. It's settled then.  We'll be there at 10.  Bye!"

"Wai--

The call ended.  He gripped his phone tight, annoyed at his parents' tendency to do whatever the crap they want.  He sighed in exasperation and gently put down his phone.  Really, what had taken over his parents?

A knock on the door came.  Charles opened it and was caught by surprise.

"Morni---

Gavin couldn't finish his greetings due to the vulgarity of what he's seeing.  Wide-eyed out of realization, Charles slammed the door, flushed with embarrassment, hurried to his room and put on a short over his blue-striped boxers.  Outside, Gavin was trying his best to not burst into laughter.  It was not the first time he had seen Charles in his underwear, yet Charles's flustered expression never fails to crack him up.

The door opened again.  And this time, Charles with decent clothes to show.  Gavin entered carrying his gray duffel bag and a medium-sized box.  Upon entry, Gavin couldn't help but be awed at the house's interior. 

The maroon and black combination as the color motif perfectly suited the wooden and glass furniture.  A person who will enter will immediately notice the bar counter inspired kitchen; bottles of wine held by customized encasing of the main scaffold, three compartments, a huge silver refrigerator, and an induction cooker inches away from the service counter.

Gavin's eyes focused on the two doors from his right.  Those must be the rooms.  

"Wow.  You sure are early." Charles commented, cheeks still red.

"I did say I'll move in today." Gavin nonchalantly replied, putting down his box and duffel bag on the plush maroon sofa facing the LED television appliance.