Aiden's Point of View

"So, how was your stay there?" He asked before sipping his coffee.

I'm with Regie, and we're in a café. I asked him if he wanted to chill for a while before looking for a hotel where I could stay for a few weeks.

"It's fine," I answered while smiling.

"I waited. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't bored waiting for you," he said, then laughed softly. "I really wanted to go there, if only Cynthia hadn't really stopped me."

Cynthia, his cousin. Even though I stayed in California for a long time, I still haven't forgotten the names of the people who were a part of my life when I was here. There are also days when I want to see them again and bond.

How are Regie's cousins? I want to see them, especially Criza; I want to see the change in her. She must have been a perfect young woman.

I chuckled, "I should thank Cynthia for that then."

"What about you? Didn't you miss me?" He asked after sipping his coffee.

"Of course, I do," I smiled. "You were the only one I used to talk to when I was in California. That's it; I've missed you and long to see you again."

"Wow," he said as he leaned back in his chair. "Should I jump for joy?"

I giggled and shook my head. "Hey, you might say I'm joking around, huh? I'm just saying how I feel."

He shrugged. "So, how do you feel about being with me now?"

"Satisfied," I gave him a thumbs up and winked. We both chuckled at my actions.

After we rested at the café, we decided to look for a hotel. Hep! We're not going to find a hotel for the two of us, okay? Just for me because I don't have my own house here in the Philippines. I need a hotel where I can stay for a week. Yeah, just for a week, until I find a house that I can live in.

While riding in the car, I turned to Regie, who was driving his car.

"Did you get yourself a girlfriend?" I asked.

Even though we often talk on social media, he hasn't told me anything about his love life. Even though I'm curious, I can't open it up to him because I'm shy, and he might think I'm gossipy. Maybe it’s only embarrassing to ask when you’re far away, but now that he's by my side, I was able to ask him about that matter.

He turned to me for a moment, and immediately returned his gaze to the front. He did the right thing, because if he had looked at me while he was driving, we might have woken up in the hospital later.

He shook his head, "No. Do I look like I’m interested in women? I'm gay, Aiden, you know that."

"Oh... I'm sorry," I apologized and sat properly. It's like I'm ashamed of him. Stupid, Aiden!

"Well, it's okay," he smiled. "I don't have a girlfriend, but I have a boyfriend."

My eyes widened in surprise. "What? Really? Woah, congratulations, Reg!"

He chuckled. "I know that no matter how long I wait for you, I still have no hope."

"You chuckled, but why do you sound disappointed?" I sighed and just looked outside. "Is he nice to you? Is he caring? Are you good to him? Do you really love him? If not, break up with him. Don't use another person so you can move on."

"Hey, do I seem that bad to you? I love him, I do! But, of course, at first, I don't," he admitted, scratching his nappy with his left arm while keeping his right arm on the steering wheel.

"Asshole," I looked at him and punched his right shoulder. "So, how long have you been together? You don't even tell me about him."

He laughed, "I'm embarrassed to tell you, and uhm... we've been in a relationship for 2 years."

"Woah, way to go!" I cheered and clapped my hands. "Is he your first?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "But wait, why do you always ask me? You? How is your love life?"

"Oh, don't start it." I rolled my eyes and stared outside again.

"Why? Don't tell me... You still haven't moved on yet."

My face soured, and I punched his shoulder again. "Shut up!"

He guffawed at what I said. "Really? Oh, my goodness, Aiden."

"Aish, I said, shut up." I glared at him.

"Okay, okay. I got it; don't be mad at me," he said, nodding but still wearing a mocking smile.

That "don't be mad at me." That was Wyatt's signature phrase when I was mad at him. Oh, damn.

My shoulders dropped, and I just bowed. It has been what? 6 years, but those remarkable words of his haven't faded in my memory yet. Now that I'm back here, will I be able to see him again? But what would I say if we ever meet again? Hmm, maybe we just shouldn't bump into each other.

I heaved a heavy sigh.

I never mention Wyatt whenever I am talking to Regie on the phone because I don't want him to think that I still love him, even though I really do. Additionally, I'm embarrassed. He would think that I'm stupid. Well, who wouldn't? I already flew abroad; I live there, and six years have passed, yet I still haven't moved on.

Goddamn it. If I could just order around this heart, I would command it to forget Wyatt and move on. But that's not the thing here; we could never ask our hearts who to love and who not to. Well, I wish we really could. Ha, fuck it.

Without realizing it, I heaved a heavy sigh again.

"Are you okay?" Regie asked.

Do I seem okay to him? Tch. Why does that man need to be included in our topic?

"I'm totally fine," I answered, lying.

It's annoying. No matter how many times I told myself that he had fooled me and made me look like a fool, I still wanted him. Just think about it: I'm far away from him, but he's still on my mind every day that I stay there. Will you believe me if I say that to this day I still cry when I remember him?

Maybe you're thinking that I'm stupid for loving him until now. I don't care, because I was thinking the same thing.

"Tch," he clicked his tongue. "If you were really okay, what's with that heavy sigh, huh?"

"It's just..." I sighed again for the reason that I couldn't continue what I was going to say. "Argh, nothing."

"It's fine, you can tell me when you're ready," he said.

----

After getting a room at the hotel, Regie went home. And so, I'm the only one left alone here.

I laid down and closed my eyes. After just a few seconds, tears came out. Damn, I didn't plan to cry when I was the only one left here, but why are they going out? Aish, annoying!

I wiped the tears from my cheeks and got up. I took some clothes from my luggage and went straight to the bathroom to take a shower. I'll chill first.

After I finished taking a shower, I went straight to bed to lie down. I didn't blow-dry my hair anymore because I was lazy. I took my phone from my bag and opened it. When I opened it, Regie's message immediately appeared on the screen.

"I'll see you tomorrow!"

That is what is written on his message.

I typed on my phone's keyboard and replied, "See you. Thank you for today."

I sighed and put the phone on the bedside table.

How many sighs have I taken today? I also do not know.

Wow, it's boring. Very boring! I don't know what to do. I want to sleep, but I'm afraid I might dream about him. Almost every week in California, I dream of him; that's the reason why he is on my mind almost every day. When I was in California, I used to dream of him. How could it be now that I'm back in the country, right?

"Damn it."

I messed up my hair and stomped my foot, it was like a child throwing tantrums because his mother didn't give him candy.

What can be done to pass the time? It is not possible for me to buy my other things for the new house now because Regie and I have already discussed and agreed that it has to be us to buy my things.

Wait, won't her boyfriend be jealous? Or does he intend to include him? Wow? He still plans to make me their third wheel. Tch.

Anyway, how is Wyatt? I didn't ask Regie if he has a girlfriend or maybe... Boyfriend. Is he still with Agleen? Will Wyatt be happy now? Has he forgotten me?

I don't know what happened to him or even to his friends after I left the country. I didn't even ask Regie about their condition because I was ashamed. And maybe I shouldn't care anymore because I was the one who left.

"Aish, just go to sleep!" I said this to myself and closed my eyes.

I'm tired.

°°°°

Wyatt's Point of View

RING! RING! RING!

What the—who is so stupid as to call me when I'm sleeping well?

RING! RING! RING!

While still closing my eyes, I reached for my phone, which was placed on the table next to my bed. I turned my phone over to end the call and went back to sleep.

RING! RING! RING!

Aish! I opened my eyes and took out my phone. I looked to see who was calling, but only a number was displayed there. I pressed the end button and closed my eyes again. But I woke up again in shock when my cellphone rang again. Out of annoyance, I answered the call.

"Who the fuck is calling me this early in the morning?! Do you have nothing better to do with your life that you disturb someone sleeping?" I shouted at the back of my lungs.

For God's sake, I dreamed that Aiden came back to the country, and then this mother fucker suddenly called and ruined everything!

"What the fuck, man? Didn't we talk about buying food for our camping trip tomorrow?" Oh, it was Ryan, my cousin.

"Ah, yeah," I sighed, massaging my brows.

"Don't say, "Ah, yeah," to me, Wyatt. Get up there and come here! Marcus and I have been waiting for a while," he said, seriously sounding mad.

"Can I not go? I quit. I still want to sleep," I said while my eyes were closed.

"Do we still have to go over there to fetch you, huh, Wyatt?" It was Marcus. Perhaps Ryan gave the phone to Marcus.

"Argh, fine. I'll go, happy now? Tch." After saying that, I dropped the call and got up on the bed. I got my towel and walked to the bathroom.

Fuck it. I would not have agreed to go camping with them if I had known that my sleep would be disturbed. Argh, shit. It was Aiden who was in my dream. I hate those morons for wrecking my dream.

When will Aiden go home? I can't wait to see him. I don't know how long I have to wait, but I don't know if I’m still waiting for someone.

I don't want the day to come when I suddenly wonder why I'm waiting for Aiden. Or ask myself who I'm really waiting for. I also don't want to get to the point where, after my waiting is over and I see him again, only then will I realize that, during the time I waited, my feelings for him have disappeared. I don't want to be disappointed with my own feelings.

Even though those things enter my mind, I still refuse to meet someone else. If they are not Aiden, then I don't want them. I want only one, and it's him. It will always be him.

After taking a bath, I put on my clothes right away and went out of the mansion to go where Marcus and Ryan were. Of course, they gave me their location before I drove.

Right, my other cousins no longer live here; the only ones left here with Mom, Dad, and Grandpa are me, Cynthia, and Criza. Marcus and Ryan were already married. Regie was staying in a condo that his parents had gifted him. It should be a house, but he refused; he said he wants to stay in a condo.

I have no idea if Regie is in a relationship or not. Regie and I haven't spoken since Aiden left the country. And I don't want to initiate the talking. I still hate him. Damn it. Why am I even thinking about him? Erase! Erase!

I arrived at my destination in just a few minutes. I immediately saw Marcus and Ryan when they waved at me.

We're in the mall; we will buy what we will need for camping. They want to go camping, but they don't want to take their own family with them because they say it's dangerous, so they only took me with them. I agreed since I don't have anything to do tomorrow either. But if I really knew that I could dream of Aiden, I wouldn't have said yes to them. Tsk.

"Why did you choose to go shopping in the morning? It can be in the afternoon," I complained while walking. We're going to the shop so we can buy some camping materials.

"What morning are you talking about? It's noon!" Ryan answered.

"Because you're sleeping like a koala," said Marcus. "You should come to our camp so you can forget for a while."

"Forget what?" I asked even though I knew what he was talking about. But instead of receiving an answer, I only received a shrug. Tch.

When they got to the shop, they were looking at the items inside, while I was left in front of the shop just looking at the people passing by. I don't want to go in, I don't know anything there.

Boring. I want to go for a walk.

I turned inside before deciding to go inside to tell the two that I was going to buy something. But the truth is, I'm not going to buy anything, I'm just going to walk.

"Just hurry; we'll eat when we finish here," said Marcus.

I just nodded in response and left.

I put two palms inside my pants pocket while I was walking and looking around. I might see something I would like to buy.

I stopped walking when I saw a human-sized teddy bear. I just looked at it while standing on the road. I don't care if I'm blocking the way, I just want to look at it.

It reminds me of Aiden; they are both cute, but Aiden is the cutest. If only Aiden were here, I would give it to—

"Aiden?" I muttered at the same time that my brows furrowed.

A man who looked exactly the same as him walked out of the same shop I was looking at. He was hugging a carton with his left arm while typing on his phone with his right hand.

My lips parted, and my heart started pounding like crazy. I bit my lower lip before I ran towards him. I pulled his right arm to make him turn to me.

No way. It's... It's really him.

His eyebrows were furrowed at first, but when he saw my face, his eyes widened and his lips parted. His reaction was like mine a while ago.

"Aiden," I called out. Fuck, it's not a dream, right? Fucking tell me, it's not!

Damn. My heart is racing; I can't breathe well.

"You... Who are you?" He asked, then pulled his arm away from my hand.

"Don't be like that," I said. "It's me, Wyatt. Don't act like you've forgotten about me."

He rolled his eyes and said, "So, what if you're him? Do we still have matters to talk about?"

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "L-like the time you left. Uhm, so when did you come back? I—"

I couldn't finish what I was going to say when he raised his hand in front of my lips, like he was stopping me from speaking.

"Hold on," he said. "I don't think I still need to explain myself to you. You were the one who pushed me away." He sighed, shaking his head. "Ugh, never mind. I still have something to take care of, so I'm going now."

He was about to turn his back when I stopped him. But as soon as I held his arm, someone put his arm on my shoulder.

"Babe!" He said, which made my brows twitch.

I turned to him to say that he was mistaken, but I was stunned when I saw him looking at Aiden. Does that mean... The one he was calling babe wasn't me but Aiden? No. No fucking way.

When I turned to Aiden, he looked surprisingly shocked, like he wasn't expecting to see this man.

"What are you—" Aiden didn't finish his words when the man next to me spoke.

"I told you to meet me at the parking lot; what are you doing here with someone else?" The man spoke before he turned to me. Later on, he withdrew his arm from my shoulder and stood next to Aiden. "Do you know him?" The man pointed at me and asked.

Aiden looked at him before shaking his head. "No," he answered, which broke my heart. "He just mistook me for someone else. Let's go. Sorry for making you wait," he said before pulling the man's arm.

I was left alone there, stunned, while watching their backs move away from me. It was like my feet were cemented. I can't move.

It feels like several needles were pierced through my chest. It hurts. It hurts like fucking hell.

Who was that man beside him? Who was the man who called him "babe"? Fucking who?!