Forever My Love - 4. Chapter 4: Ben finds out some news that makes him stay away from David. Will this be possible?

David was standing outside the villa, moving from side to side and staring at his watch like his life depended on it. He had been at it for almost an hour and the workers were wondering what had caused their boss to act like that. The man was looking presentable in a black designer shirt that was halfway buttoned up, showing off his beautiful hairy, muscular chest. It was tucked in a white designer trouser with pitch black shoes. He was smelling nice except his mood was a little off.

After what felt like hours and almost giving up, he saw a white ford ranger coming to the villa and he was really, really hoping that it was him. The machine packed near him and the driver quickly got out and opened the back door. It wasn’t long before the boy got out and boy did he look so cute.

He had a white see-through shirt that showed off his body and a black skinny jean with brown sneakers on his feet. His hair was made into braids, his cute face possessing a smile that seemed to warm David’s heart. He was just so beautiful.

“Were you waiting for me, David?” Ben asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Errr…” He chuckled nervously as he moved closer. “No!” He lied. “I was just signing something off and I happened to have seen your car.”

Ben knew the man was lying. “Is that so? Well, sorry for the delay. I was a bit held up in a meeting.”

“It’s okay.” He said with a beautiful smile, shaking the boy’s hand powerfully. “The important thing is that you’re here. Are you ready to start the tour or would you like something to drink or eat first?”

“Who’s giving the tour?” He asked curiously. “I don’t see anyone here apart from you?”

David laughed sheepishly. “You didn’t think I would let you drive for close to two hours only to give you someone else to show you around, did you? I will personally give you the tour. Besides, it will give me an opportunity to thank you for allowing me to be part of the chocolate company.”

“Lucky me!” He gasped in astonishment but made it look so cute. “The great David Paola wants to give me a tour himself.”

David smiled and gestured with his arm. “Shall we?”

Ben nodded and they headed inside the villa. It was very beautiful, very modern and very luxurious. It was the perfect place for a vacation, just to get away from it. It had 45 air-conditioned bedrooms, a large garden with a huge pool, jacuzzi/spa, terraces and everything you need for a pleasant vacation. The location was also beautiful as it was near the sea.

Ben enjoyed the tour he was given. He was introduced to the workers at the villas and some of the guests were so thrilled to meet him. David explained to him about how he came to possess the villa from his grandfather and how much had changed in the past years. It was a beautiful story. As they walked around, they enjoyed their champagne and when they were done with the tour, they visited the beach.

*

“I must say that this is a very nice place you have acquired here.” Ben commented. He couldn’t lose the smile on his face. “And the fact that you already had this since childhood is crazy.”

“Yeah!” He sighed, staring at the boy. “But I wasn’t managing it until 18, I think, that was when mom legally gave it to me. But I’m pretty sure that someone like you has something like this, maybe even more.”

“No!” he shook his head. “I wish I did but I don’t think I own anything as beautiful as this to my name.”

“Really?” David raised an eyebrow. “How come?”

“Well…” He paused and took a deep breath. “Life hasn’t always been as luxurious as it is right now. Yes, I grew up in a very well to do home, but somehow, I always felt like I was not part of the family.”

Ben’s smile started fading, especially when he remembered about his father’s visit. He knew that if he thought much about it, it would bring tears to him.

“How come?”

Ben tried his best to smile but failed miserably. “I was born out of wedlock. My mother and father were not married. She was… was his mistress.” Although he said that with a smile, David could see the pain behind it. Somehow, he felt it, like he was one with him. “She died when I was 6 and my father brought me to his house with his true family there. Let’s just say, life was unbearable for me, especially since my step-mother did everything she could to make sure I felt out of place.”

He became quiet afterwards and just looked away. He wasn’t as strong as he thought he was. Memories danced on the precipice of his thoughts, teetering between cherished moments and painful reminders, threading a delicate line between solace and sorrow.

“I am sorry to hear that. I can’t even imagine how life should have been.” His voice was so low, filled with loads of emotion.

“Yeah!” Ben cleared his throat and smiled. “But I survived and here I am. Every pain is a blessing in disguise but some pains are so hard to forget. But I am here.” He took a deep breath and looked at the man.

David didn’t know why he felt the way he did. He felt like wrapping his arms around the boy, to hug him tightly and tell him that he didn’t deserve to go through what he went through. But he didn’t know how to do it.

“The restaurant, some days back, before your launch.”

“What?” Ben gasped, a frown appearing on his face.

“I think I saw you at a restaurant before I met you at the party the other night.” He said, his voice shaky and anxious. “You were ordering coffee and your voice…” He took a step closer to the boy, staring into those beautiful eyes. “…I could have sworn it was you. Your voice sounded so familiar, like I’ve heard it before in the past, even now. I know this sounds crazy, but have we met before that night at the party? Did you know me before?”

Ben’s pulse throbbed in his ears, a relentless drumbeat that drowned out all other sound.

“What do you mean?”

“I… I was in an accident six years ago and I lost all the memories 5 years before the accident.” He sighed, rubbing his temples. “Whenever I tried to remember, I got this severe headache that almost left me unconscious.”

“I… I am sorry.” Ben apologized.

“It’s okay. When I came out of the coma that I had been for 2 months, my family was beside me and someone new, my husband, Jim.” He added. “It was really difficulty for me as I had no knowledge of when I had gotten married or when we met. According to the pictures, we got married in a church. I forgot about everything and concentrated on my new life until that day in the restaurant when I heard your voice.”

Ben’s heart began racing and his hands began shaking.

“Your voice sounded so familiar and even when I followed you, I got flashbacks of a similar incident where I followed someone.” He was so nervous he sounded like a scared kid. “I couldn’t remember any of it so… that’s why I was asking. Have we met before all this? Did you and I ever had an encounter?”

Ben’s thoughts spiraled in a dizzying whirlwind, a cacophony of anxious whispers that drowned out reason, leaving him adrift in a sea of uncertainty. He was staring at the man and the harsh breaths on his face made things worse for him.

“David… I…”

“Baby!”

Suddenly, there was a loud voice just near them, interrupting the moment. Ben quickly moved away and looked in the direction of the voice, seeing Jim coming towards them with a smile on his face. He could tell the man was mad. David on the other hand was shocked to see his husband there.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” He asked in a surprised voice.

Without saying a word, Jim rushed to his husband, locked his arms around him and smashed his lips on him, kissing him so erotically. He didn’t forget to moan. Ben on the other hand took a deep breath and just looked away, feeling a dull aching feeling in his chest. Why did he feel like that, he thought as he tried to ignore the moans coming from Jim?

“I missed you, baby.” Jim said happily as he broke from those sweet lips. He didn’t forget to rub on those gorgeous lips. “Besides, my place is by your side. You’re my husband and… I don’t want evil eyes prying on you. Isn’t that right, Mr. Ben?”

Ben clenched his fist when he heard his name. He slightly closed his eyes and turned, smiling at Jim.

“Nice to see you too, Jim.” He commented. “If I am not mistaken, I would say that your husband might be misinterpreting my intentions, David.”

“No!” David shook his head abruptly. “I don’t think that’s the case. Jim didn’t mean to say that? I am pretty sure he was just joking, weren’t you Jim?”

Jim giggled and shrugged. He completely ignored Ben and faced his husband again.

“Come on, baby, I missed you so much and just wanted to be with you.” He sighed. “Besides, there’s someone who wants to talk to you so badly.”

A frown appeared on David’s face.

“Our son, silly.” He laughed, pinching his cheek lovingly. “He kept asking about you when I was talking to him. I told him that you were gonna call as soon I found you.”

David smiled brightly. “Wow! I completely forgot.” He hit his head. “I will call him as soon as possible. He’s probably wondering when daddy is gonna be home.” He looked at Ben who was minding his business. “Would you excuse me for just a second, Ben? I have to call my son quickly.”

Ben’s heart sunk. “You have a son?” He gasped.

“Yes!” David nodded. “He’s five years old and we usually have our father-son afternoon talk whenever I am not home to be with him. Just a second, I will be back.”

Without getting an answer, David moved a distance from them to call Michael. Ben on the other just turned his back to Jim. His misery was back and the hurt in his heart escalated from a dull throb to burning, glaring pain- faster than a lightning bolt. A single tear traced a path down his cheek as he felt suffocated and felt like something heavy was sitting on his chest. His eyes robotically moved to where David was on the phone call and the smile on his face said it all, he was happy and he loved his son so much.

“David is such a good father and husband, you know.” Jim chuckled mockingly as he got closer to the boy in pain. “When he married me, he didn’t wanna waste time to start a family. It was like today we’re married and a month later, he was asking us to have a child and how could I have refused that. He is such a good husband.”

Ben quickly rubbed his tears but not his pain.

‘Leah!’ A voiced echoed in his head.

“He regretted so many things that he did to hurt me, one of them being cheating on me with you.” He added fuel to the fire that was burning Ben. “Must hurt to see the man you gave everything for so happy, but just not with you. What belongs to Caesar will always come back to him no matter how many hoes try to seduce him. That’s how life goes. The same goes for my husband, dear, dear Ben.”

He rested his hand on Ben’s shoulder and laughed.

“You’re only wasting your time if you think that you’ll seduce David again.” He said with warning in his voice. “He moved on from you a long time ago. He felt disgusted by the mention of your name. As far as he was concerned, you were dead to him. You should have just died in that hospital and never returned here. Nobody needs you here and I don’t need to warn you to stay away from my husband because the consequences will be grave. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Ben didn’t move and neither did he say anything. He was feeling so much pain that his vision blurred. He didn’t know how long he stood there but it felt like forever and like he was standing on hot coals. That was the worst pain he felt yet.

“Sorry for that.” He heard David’s voice, getting him out of his thoughts. “Sometimes I get a little too excited when I am talking to my son. So…”

“I have to go.” His voice cracked, emotions cracking through the facades of strengths.

He began rushing out of there like the hounds of hell were after him.

“Ben, wait!”

“Let him go!” Jim gripped him arm and pulled him back. “The man probably has a lot of things to do. Besides, he’s already seen the whole villa. What else is there to show him?”

David was about to say something when he got hazy images in his head, like a flashback. He was in the men’s room and there was a boy that was running out of there. The emotions that he felt at that moment was something that he couldn’t explain, pain, yearning and misery. He couldn’t understand why he felt like he had a similar experience before.

“What?” He sighed, rubbing his temples as the headache settled in. “What are you talking about?” He turned and looked at Jim. “What did you say to him? He didn’t sound okay.”

Jim shrugged. “Nothing! We just stood here without saying a word. Perhaps he just feels threatened by my presence.”

David didn’t say any word. He felt Jim coiling his hand with him and leaning sweetly on his shoulder.

“Come on, baby.” He moaned, kissing his shoulder. “You should be happy that I am here with you. When last did we come to this villa? Let’s take advantage of it while we’re here.”

But David wasn’t in the mood. Even when he walked with Jim along the sea, his mind was somewhere else. This was the second flashback he had gotten in just a matter of days and it didn’t make any sense to him. What was going on?

***

Ben slowly entered the beautiful mansion, walking in like he had no strength left. He had a terrible headache that felt like someone pounded on it with a wrecking ball and a heartache that felt like it was being pierced by something hot.

‘I have a five-year-old son.’ Those words echoed on repeat, each hurting more than the last one. ‘We usually have our father-son afternoon talk whenever I am not home to be with him.’

He sat on the couch slowly and put his face between his hands, hoping those memories would shut down but they couldn’t. They kept on replaying, hurting him even more. He felt like he was going crazy with all those memories. After what felt like hours, he heard footsteps coming towards him.

“There you are.” He heard Carlos say happily. “It’s good thing you are here so that you can help me make a decision.”

But when Carlos saw the way he sat, he sat beside him and rested his hand on his shoulder, squeezing it.

“Hey! Are you okay?”

Ben raised his head slowly and Carlos didn’t miss that look in his eyes. He had been crying. His eyes were red and a bit swollen.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, losing the smile on his face. “Why am I even asking? It’s pretty obvious that idiot made you cry. This is the reason why I didn’t want him anywhere near you.” He wrapped an arm around him and brought him closer. “What did he do this time?”

Ben stared at Carlos and tears began rolling. As memories flooded his mind, Ben’s cries intensified.

“You know, I didn’t think I could feel more pain than I have already felt until today.” He said in between sobs. “I just found that David and Jim have a child, a 5-year-old son. While I was suffering in the hospital, going through all the pain, David was also busy planning for a family. While my child died, their survived.”

Carlos’ eyes widened in understanding, his heart aching.

“I'm so sorry, Ben. I really wanted to protect you from this.” He said sincerely. “Even if it was for the longest possible time.”

“What?” He gasped, staring at Carlos.

“Dad and I actually found out about the child that day at the restaurant.” He sighed. “He said he’s the reason why he wanted to enter the company because his son loves chocolate and it would mean the world to him.” He cupped his cheeks and tried to wipe Ben’s tears but it was all in vain. “I didn’t wanna hurt you with this information because…. Because…” Carlos paused and wiped away a tear from his own cheek, empathizing with Ben’s pain. “…because I was scared of this same thing. You loved him a lot and knowing he moved on so easily would have hurt you.”

“I thought he was the one, Lucy. We had plans, dreams... and everything shattered.” He sniveled. “It hurts so much, Carlos. I don't know how to heal this broken heart.” He said in between sobs. “I am back to square one. I don’t know what to do. My plans have been ruined.”

“What are you talking about?” Carlos frowned. “Those people ruined your life and left you for dead. They need to pay for what they did and I am all the way with you.”

“How can I continue with that?” He rose from the couch, gripping his hair. “My plan was to make sure that I ruin their happiness like they ruined mine but how do you expect me to continue?”

“What’s stopping you from that?” Carlos rose furiously. “Are you that emotionally weak? Right now, more than ever, you need to be strong. I watched you, each and every day as you died bit by bit.” He said with tears decorating his face. “As much as I don’t want you anywhere near them, they don’t deserve to be happy. They need to feel how you felt.”

“There’s a child involved!” He hollered, shaking his head. “An innocent child that deserves the love of both parents. All his life, he’s grown up with them. He loves them and….” He paused and sniveled. “…and how can I separate that? As a parent and someone who grew up without the love of a mother, I know how it feels to grow up yearning for love from both parents.”

“What are you saying?” Carlos’ voice was so low.

“It means I… I am done.” He gave a gloomy sigh. “I can’t take away what they have because I don’t think my daughter would ever forgive me. At this point, it’s better if I stay away from them. Maybe…. I should have listened to you and not accepted the business proposal.”

Carlos walked to Ben and wrapped an arm around him.

“I understand your point. And I’ll support whatever decision you make. At this point, there’s no need regretting something you already made.”

“Thank you so much, Carlos. I am grateful to have you by my side.”

Carlos pulled Ben into a warm embrace, holding him tightly as they both cried, the weight of Ben’s broken heart shared between them.

***

David was sitting on a swing in the garden, gazing off into the distance, visibly troubled. He had his son in his arms who was sleeping soundly and snoring lightly. They had had so much fun after he had returned and now the boy was tired. David wanted to take to him to bed but there was just so much in his mind.

He was lost that he didn’t even see Amber come to him. She didn’t miss the look on his face.

“Hey! Are you okay?” She asked, sitting close to him. “You seem worried.”

“No!” He shook his head. “There’s something wrong somewhere. I need answers.”

Amber placed a hand on his shoulder. “You can talk to me. I am here for you.”

David took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words.

“While I was with Ben at the Villa, I had another flashback.” He sighed gloomily. “There was a boy, though I couldn’t see his face, we were together in the bathroom and he seemed so hurt. He was running away from me while I was calling him. Weird thing is, this happened at the exact moment when Ben was rushing out of there.”

“What?” Amber gasped. “Why? What happened?”

“I am not sure. I left him with Jim and when I came back, he couldn’t even turn to look at me.” He said with a raised eyebrow. “He just said that he had to get out of there. But his voice sounded different, like he was hurt.”

“Am I shocked?” Amber shrugged. “You left him with Jim and I can bet my life he had something to do with it. You know how insecure Jim is. I am sure he said something nasty to him. He can’t stand any guy coming close to you.”

“I don’t know, Amber. I am so confused. This is the second flashback I am having and both have happened when I am around him. My fear started when I started feeling pain, like I could feel what he was feeling… or the boy in my memory…” He sighed, massaging his temple. “…. it’s so confusing. I have a feeling that this boy is connected to my past but I can’t figure it out. I can’t get my answers from anyone.”

‘Wow!’ Amber thought. ‘Maybe the more time David spends with Ben, the easier it will be for him to remember everything that happened. I know mom and Jim had something to do with why David got married quickly. But David never even told me. Perhaps, if he remembers, we’ll finally know why he left Ben and married Jim. That’s why mom and Jim got so scared the other night. They definitely have to be hiding something and I am gonna find out.’

She wore a smile and took his hand in hers.

“I have no idea if the both of you are connected in the past or not.” She lied, feeling bad afterwards. “All I know is that if you feel like knowing whether you’re connected with him is important, then you should go for it. I love you so much and the only thing I want to see is that your memories are back. You have still forgotten some of the best conversations that we had.” She laughed, slightly hitting him on the shoulder.

“What conversations?” David raised an eyebrow. “You’ve refused to tell me anything, Amber. You’ve even refused to tell me how your relationship was with Jim before we got married. You’ve refused to tell me why you hate him so much?”

“Because…” She took a long harsh breath. “…because I just don’t like him. Jim and I have never been able to see eye to eye with him. But I respect that you chose to marry him and I love that you gave us this bundle of joy.” She said, staring at the sleeping boy. “What you do for him is what every child dreams parents would do for them. All I know that is that you’re amazing dad, but I wouldn’t say the same for you husband.”

“Amber!”

Amber raised her hands in the air like she was surrendering, rising from the swing.

“I got it. He’s a good guy but I just don’t see it.” She carefully took Michael from his arms into hers, patting on him when he moved. “I’ll see you inside. Let me take this bundle of joy to sleep.”

She leaned forward and kissed his cheek before she left him alone. He began staring at the sky with lots of thoughts filling his head.

‘Who are you, Ben?’

***

Ben entered his office, looking smart and sexy in a blood red shirt that was tucked in a black designer trousers with black sneakers on his feet. His hair was made into a braided ponytail, revealing his gorgeous face. He was breathtaking.

When he entered his office, the first thing he noticed was a bouquet of beautiful roses that was waiting for him on the table. When he saw them, he couldn’t mask the shock that registered on his beautiful face. He slowly walked to them and got them, realizing that there was a note there.

‘Thank you so much for giving an opportunity.’ The note read. ‘I hope you love the flowers. Didn’t know what color to pick though.’

A smile registered on Ben’s face as he took the flowers and smelled them. They smelled so heavenly and he couldn’t help but feel like he was om cloud 9. He didn’t need to be a genius to know that Carlos, especially Gustavo had sent those flowers to thank him for the high sales of the new chocolates.

As he was in his reverie, his beautiful assistant came him and she couldn’t help but smile when she saw him.

“Good morning, Mr. Henandez.” She greeted lovingly.

“Morning, Felicia!” He responded happily.

“I take it that you love the flowers?” She asked softly.

“Yeah, they’re lovely.”

“That’s great.” She added. “He didn’t know if you were gonna love them. I am pretty sure Mr. Paola will be very happy to hear that you loved them.”

Ben’s heart skipped a beat and he froze, muscles locked in a momentary paralysis, his eyes wide with astonishment, surprise momentarily rendering him immobile. He didn’t know why he got scared but the smile on his face began fading slowly.

“David… left… these?” He stuttered, trying to control his breath.

“Yes!” The assistant nodded. “He said he wanted to thank you for the lifetime opportunity you’ve given him. They’re so beautiful!”

Ben couldn’t think straight. He had been so happy before but not anymore. He didn’t wanna get anything from David or anything that reminded him of his pain. He needed to stay away from the man.

“You think so?” Ben chuckled nervously and when the lady nodded, he extended his arms to her. “You can have them.”

“What?” She gasped, her eyes widening. “But they’re not for me, sir. Mr. Paola brought them for you.”

“I know, but… I am not really fond of flowers.” He lied. “I love them but I can’t take them. Since you love them, you can have them.”

“But… sir…” Her voice became low. “Mr. Paola…”

“He doesn’t have to know anything.” He smiled, handing the flowers to her. “Just tell him that I said thank you.” With a pat on the shoulder, he picked up some documents from the table and started heading out.

But he barely got out when he saw David coming towards him. His jaw dropped, eyes widening in disbelief. Lucky for him, the man seemed to be busy on the phone and didn’t see him. He stumbled back, losing his footing for a brief moment. He blinked rapidly as his eyes as he scanned to see if there was a place he could hide quickly. His mind froze and he couldn’t think properly.

He rushed behind the door, surprising his assistant who was staring at him like she had seen a ghost. Ben gestured to her, putting a finger on his lips to tell her not to say anything. She couldn’t get it even when he began mouthing until…

“Hey there!” She heard a voice. She got it when she saw David that Ben was hiding from him. What was going on, she thought as she smiled.

“Sir!” She cleared her throat. “You’re back?”

“Yeah!” He said as he let himself in, walking towards her. “I came to check if perhaps he came here. Someone told me that he was headed towards his office.”

“Oh…” She chuckled nervously, glancing at Ben who was pale. “…yeah, actually…”

As she was talking to the man, Ben got it as an opportunity and silently and carefully moved from his hiding place and tiptoed out of his office. His heart was racing so much that he thought he was gonna have a heart attack.

“He did come here.” The lady agreed. “But he didn’t spend much time. He had a meeting that he was rushing for so he just picked up some files and left. I can take up the message if you want.”

“No… not really. Did he like the flowers?”

“He did.” She smiled. “He said I should thank you on his behalf when I see you. In fact, I was just about to mail them to his house.”

David couldn’t contain his happiness. “That’s great. In that case, I should run as well. I have a meeting to attend.”

He said his goodbyes to her and left. He was about to get his phone out when he saw someone rushing to the elevator. He had his hair tied in a braided ponytail and from that body, he didn’t need to be a genius to know that it was Ben. He felt his heart pound in his ears and he gulped, feeling weak in the knees.

But there was also the fear that he felt… fear of the unknown. He noticed a strange sensation creeping into his head. It started as a faint throb at his temples, like a gentle tapping, and gradually grew into a dull ache. Confused and slightly worried, she tried to shake off the discomfort but then he began having flashbacks.

In his images, he was at a party standing on the dance floor with Jim calling his name. It seemed they had been dancing but something had taken his mind away, the boy that was heading towards the exit. That was the first time he had seen Jim in any of his flashbacks. The feeling felt so awfully familiar and scary at the same time.

As if his feet were on fire, David began splinting towards the boy that had already entered the elevator.

“Ben!” He hollered, waving at him. “Ben! Wait!”

But it seemed the boy didn’t hear him. When he reached the elevator, it completely closed. The last thing he saw was the boy’s eyes when they locked with his. But in his flashbacks, he didn’t even get to see who the boy was.

“Shit!” He screamed, hitting the elevator.

He felt so much anger, and it was all so familiar, like it had happened before. With each passing moment, the pain tightened its grip on David’s head, as if invisible hands were squeezing his brain. It felt as though a storm was raging inside him, lightning bolts of agony flashing through his thoughts. The world seemed distorted, as if seen through a foggy lens, and every sound, no matter how soft, pierced his ears like a thousand needles.

He tried to massage it away but it only intensified.

What was he going to do?

***

Isaac opened the door to his office and found David pacing around like someone who had lost something very precious. He could tell that something was bothering the man.

"Hey, bud!" Isaac greeted, raising an eye brow. "Sorry, I couldn't come earlier. I was in the E.R for an important surgery. What's wrong?" He asked as he took off his coat, putting it on a hanger.

"I don't know." David sighed, massaging his head. "I've been experiencing these terrible headaches and I feel like I am gonna go crazy if they don't stop."

"Really?" Isaac rushed to him and placed his hand on his head, checking his temperature. "You don't seem to have a fever. I can run some tests just to make sure that you don't have any...."

"This isn't an illness." David sounded frustrated. "I feel like there's another person living in my head. I've been having these flashbacks and I just can't figure out what's going on or why...."

"Flashbacks?" Isaac gasped, a smile creeping up his face. "That's good news, bud."

"It's not!" David shook his head. "I'm just getting more and more confused. There are so many questions running in my head and I don't know how I am gonna get them. Man, I don’t know how much of this I am gonna take. It’s too much for me."

"Calm down!" Isaac reassured, holding his hand. He took him to the small living room in his office and offered him some water. "Okay, tell me how often you're having these flashbacks and what you can remember."

David took some water and took a deep breath.

"Not very often, I've only had them three times now."

"Three times?" Isaac couldn't mask the shock in his voice. "And why am I only finding out about this?"

"Because I... I don't know what to make of them." He spoke. His voice was rising. "They only happen when I am around him, when I am around Ben."

"Ben?"

"Yeah!" He sighed, massaging his temples. "The first time I saw him at the restaurant before the party...."

He began narrating every occasion that he had had a flashback and as he went on further, his headache got worse. But he made sure that he told his friend everything. He could tell that Isaac was paying so much attention but he also didn't miss that worry in his eyes. It was obvious that the man might have been thinking he was going crazy.

"So, I need your help, man." He said, holding his hands. "You're my best friend and I very well know that we do most of the things together. Do you remember the party I was at or did you at any point meet the boy in my memories? I could clearly see Jim's face but not the boy's face. Perhaps, you know who this boy was and why I was running after him. I know what you’re gonna say, but I cannot ask Jim these questions because of obvious reasons.”

Isaac was quiet and he had reasons to be.

'All those occasions he's describing where things that happened in the past with Ben. I never really met the boy but I am pretty sure that Ben's return must be triggering his memories. This is good.'

"Isaac!" David called, getting him out if his thoughts.

"Yeah!" He nodded. "I remember the party but I don't think I remember seeing someone you described there. That night, you left the party early and didn't really tell anyone where you were. Sorry, man, I wish I could help but I don't know who the boy is."

"Shit!" He said under his breath, hitting his head. "I feel like I'm going insane, man. And question is, why does this only happen when Ben is around. And there always this feeling that I get whenever he is around... I don't wanna say it but... I like spending time with him. I feel emotions that come with these memories. It’s like I don't want him to go away whenever I am around him."

"What?" Isaac was shocked. "David, whatever you're feeling, I hope you don't...."

"Don't get me wrong, Isaac, it is not what you're thinking. I am a married man and I love my husband, no matter what the situation is. Although I don’t really remember anything, our marriage is one thing that I am sure of. Jim is a sweet guy and we have a son together, a very beautiful boy that adores the both of us. But…” He paused and took a deep, harsh breath.

“I cannot ignore these memories because I know they’ve got some meaning behind them. It’s like my mind is now ready to remember. I might be wrong about all this. Maybe it isn't even Ben. It might just be someone that reminds me of him, maybe that's why I am having these flashbacks."

"Could be!"

"But that's why I need your help, Isaac." His voice was so low. He sounded so desperate. "I need to remember my life before that accident happened. I need those five years of my life and know who that boy was. Is there any way that you can help me remember? Maybe... maybe some drugs or anything that can force me into remembering. I'm ready to pay any amount of money."

"David, it doesn't work like that." He shook his head. "You've got retrograde amnesia and it's not something that can easily be fixed by some drugs. You need to remember naturally and, in this case, that's good news. Let it continue and eventually you'll remember everything. You need to continue seeing your neurologist regularly as well. When last were you there?"

"You know I don't like going to that man." He rolled his eyes. "I feel like he doesn't do anything but rather asks me weird questions all the time. I'm tired."

Isaac burst into laughter. "Well, you know I'm not a neurologist but a surgeon. I can only advise but he's the one that can give you the help that you need. You should go and see him. He might have a better solution for you."

"Nah!" He shook his head. "I'll pass. I have a lot of problems as it is. I can't endure his questions anymore."

"We can go together right now. I am free."

"Yeah, I'll pass..." David said, laughing as he rose from the couch. "And I don’t want my mom or Jim to hear about any of this.” He warned, pointing at Isaac. “I cannot afford them being worried. If it’s important, I am gonna talk to them myself but right now, they cannot know anything.” Isaac raised his hands like he was surrendering. He nodded, making David chuckle. “All this talk has gotten me hungry. I'll treat you out for lunch. You coming?"

"You know you're crazy, right?" Isaac commented, raising an eyebrow.

"As long as you're coming, you can say whatever you want." He was leaving as he said that. "Just prescribe some drugs for my headache."

The two friends left the office and went laughing on their way out.

***

The aroma that filled the kitchen was to die for... almost everyone that smelt it from the outside could almost taste the deliciousness of what was being prepared. The smell was inviting, almost hypnotic....

And here he was, smiling as he carefully mixed the ingredients, both dry and wet. There were very few things that made him happy after his experience and making chocolate was one of them. The fact that he was gonna donate that chocolate to the kids at the orphanage made him so excited. He knew his daughter would have wanted that for him.

He was wearing a white apron with his daughter's name engraved on it, from where he got his motivation and power. His hair was tied with a band and he was a little messy but he couldn't have loved it in any way. The chocolates that he had managed to finish were put on the trays in the fridge. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face, its radiance contagious.

As he was busy working....

"Wow!" He heard a voice speak, almost making him jump. "When I smelt this beautiful aroma, I couldn't have imagined in my wildest nightmare that it was you making the chocolates."

Ben quickly raised his head and when his eyes landed on the man, his heart almost skipped a beat and he felt weak in the knees. The man was smiling so wide at him that it gave him chills. He knew that smile very well and he could remember it.

David on the other hand couldn't explain the excitement that he felt when he saw the boy there. A radiant smile spread across his face, his eyes sparkling with an electric energy that illuminated the room, a vibrant reflection of his exhilaration. He hadn't seen Ben in a number of days and seeing him felt so damn amazing.

"David!" Ben gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"Why?" David chuckled, getting nearer. "You didn't wanna see me? I haven't seen in that few days and I must say that I'm so happy seeing you again."

"I have been busy." He sighed and continued doing his work. "I am also kinda busy right now. Is there anything that you wanted to discuss?"

"Not really." He was getting nearer and his eyes on the work the boy was doing. "Wow, that looks and smells amazing. Where did you learn how to do that?"

Ben knew he couldn't get himself out of that. "I think it's just a natural gift. Like I said before, I discovered this during one of the darkest moments of my life. I was grieving and then I realized that I got so so happy whenever I saw how chocolate was made. Decided to do it and I've been hooked ever since."

"Wow!" He held his heart, smiling at the boy. "You know, I don't know what you were going through but I'm glad you pushed through it and got back to your feet. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been blessed with all these delicious chocolates."

He began unbuttoning his jacket, surprising Ben.

"What are you doing?"

"I wanna help out." He said as he put the jacket on a chair. "I've always been curious how you make chocolates and now that I've gotten an opportunity, I wanna ask you to teach me."

He took off his tie and unbuttoned his white shirt halfway, revealing his muscular hairy chest. Ben took a harsh breath as he felt his heart pound so hard in his chest that he felt like it was gonna rip out. He wanted to deny the man's request but seeing how excited and ready he was, he knew that he couldn't come up with a good excuse.

"Alright!" He nodded. "I'll try and do my best to teach you. Just that I've never actually taught anyone how to."

"You'll be surprised to find that I am a good learner." David commented, winking at the boy. "I am ready."

Ben took a deep breath and began showing the man how he did, the melting of the butter, the mixing of the ingredients. He was nervous at first but as they proceeded, he calmed his nerves and began enjoying himself. The man was making a mess of himself, which made Ben laugh like a child, but overall, he was very good at following instructions.

Ben had to hold his hand to show him how to mix the ingredients together and David couldn't have appreciated it more than he did. At that point, his worries went away and the only thing he could think of was how much fun he was having with Ben. The world around him seemed to blur as he moved, the rush of exhilaration blinding him to everything but the pulsating thrill of the moment.

In no time at all, they made the first set of chocolates and boy was it delicious. David couldn't have been prouder of himself, of the both of them. They were on to the second and Ben let David do it this time with minimal helping and he couldn't believe how he was able to remember most of the things. His chocolates were done and they tasted good, not as good as Ben's but he was proud of himself. He was gonna take them to his son to taste.

"Wow!" He laughed, wiping the sweat off his brow. "Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be able to make chocolates. This is one of the moments I am gonna seize. Thanks a lot for showing me this."

"Like you said," Ben shrugged. "You're a natural. The more you make them, the more you're gonna improve. I love making chocolate because it makes me happy and forget about my worries and troubles."

"And what might be worrying you?" He shrugged. "You're a chocolatier, working in the biggest chocolate company in the entire continent."

Ben dropped his eyes to the floor.

"There are so many things that I cannot solve with money, David." He said softly. "If money could solve all my problems, I would have been with the loved ones that I've lost."

David didn't know why but he felt it when Ben said that, like he was sharing the sadness in between them.

"I am sorry." He said simply, taking a step closer to the boy. "But everything happens for a reason. You just have to find a way to let the past go and find your happiness again. Someone like you deserve to be happy."

"Well..." he smiled sheepishly. "...it's not as easy as that and I don't know if I wanna move on. Some memories are worth keeping and I'm afraid if I let go, my life won't have any meaning."

When Ben raised his head, he found the man so close to him that he could feel the breath on his face. He thought he was dreaming but he saw the man's hand getting close to his face. He froze where he stood and felt shivers running up and down his spine. He wanted to run away but he was paralyzed to the spot.

"David!" His voice quivered, words stumbling out in disjointed fragments.

"You've got something on your face." David's voice was so low and it was nostalgic for Ben.

His hand reached Ben's face and he slowly wiped what was there, carefully and lovingly but his eyes connected with Ben's, staring deep into them. His eyes were beautiful, like the moon and the stars. When Ben felt that hand on his face, he slightly closed his eyes as the painful memories flooded his little head.

***

6 years ago

*

Ben was making dinner when he felt arms wrap tightly around him. He felt light and carefree, like the world was finally set to rights.

"I don't know what smells good, the food you're cooking or you." David moaned as he kissed his neck. "I could easily take a guess. It's you...."

Ben turned his head to stare into the man's handsome face and blushed. Oh, how he loved him was from out of this world.

"You're just hungry." He said happily. "I am almost done with cooking. You can go and freshen up and then I'll call you in a bit."

"You're right," David said as he slowly turned the boy so that they were facing each other. "I am hungry, but not for the food. I am hungry for you, to feel your naked body close to mine and to make sweet passionate love to you."

Ben felt shy and he dropped his eyes to the floor, trying to hide his face. He had gotten used to David flirting with him, but it made him shy all the time. David on the other hand raised Ben's face.

"You're so cute when you're so cute when you're shy, baby." He took his hands and kissed them. "Makes me wanna kiss you all over right now."

"David!" He smiled. "You're hungry. Let me finish cooking."

He tried to turn but David couldn't allow that.

"Oh no, you don't...." he teased, pulling him closer. "...you're not running away from me, my dear sweet husband." He had a tight grip on his waist. "By the way, you have something on your face."

"Really?" Ben asked, trying to rub his face but David stopped him.

"I got it."

He did something so crazy. He cupped Ben's cheek and leaned in closer. Then he took out his tongue and licked Ben's cheek. Ben couldn't help but giggle as the man did that. He embraced the moment, eyes closed. David took his time, enjoying every bit of it. When he was done, he found Ben's eyes closed and his breaths harsh.

"Delicious!" He spoke softly, running his hands through Ben's hair. "Now, about my food.... do I get the reward now?"

Ben opened his eyes and said "yes," without even thinking about it.

David laughed and then leaned forward, capturing those lips in a passionate and sensual kiss. It was sweet... blissful... absolutely breathtaking. David was kissing him. Once, twice, until he had a taste and realized he'll never have enough. David was everywhere up his back and over his arms and suddenly they were kissing harder, deeper, with a fervent urgent need they both had never known before.

That day, they made love and it was exquisite...

***

Present day...

*

Ben wanted to move away from the man as the painful memories slipped through him. But there was nowhere else to go with a counter behind him. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He clung to the nearest support, fingers digging into the hard surface, seeking an anchor in the storm of his panic, desperate for something to hold onto.

David on the other hand didn't know what he was doing but it felt so damn good, that familiar feeling in his gut beginning slowly. At one moment, he was staring into the boy's face and the next moment, he was in a small house with his arms wrapped tightly around a boy. He was so happy and he felt it, happiness that he hadn't felt in a very long time.

He licked the boy's face and no time; they were kissing passionately. David felt everything like it was real and he felt his heart pound deep in his chest. But like always, he couldn't see the face of the boy he was with. He was blurred. The only thing he could tell was that he was happy.

Ben felt trapped and suffocated. In response, he quickly pushed David away from him and turned his back to him as he tried to catch his breath. David who had gotten out of his memories, staring at Ben who he could not see the face.

"So... sorry..." David stuttered, ignoring the headache that was starting. "... I just had some flashback, not very clear though."

Ben was quiet. He needed to be away from David or he was gonna make a very big mistake.

"Ben..." his voice quivered as he got nearby. "...I don't think I had gotten an answer from you last time. Did we ever meet before all this? I don't know why I get this sense of familiarity whenever I am around you. The flashbacks that I am having only occurs when I am around you."

Ben's hands trembled uncontrollably, fingers twitching with nervous energy. The unexpected revelation had sent shockwaves through his entire being.

Ben took a deep breath and turned, putting on a smile.

"No!" He said abruptly, shaking his head. "We've never met before this. Otherwise, I would have remembered."

"Is that so?" David sounded disappointed. "But...."

"You need to leave now, Mr. Paola." He chimed in. "I need to finish this up. And i have somewhere i really need to be."

"Ben..."

"David, please." He pleaded. "Just go."

Without a word, David nodded, picked up his jacket and left as quickly as he could. He didn't know why he wasn't buying Ben's answer. He could feel that they knew each other in the past but that was the memory that he couldn't remember.

As soon as David left, Ben's breath came in ragged sighs, a heavy exhale that carried the weight of his sadness. He felt lonely as he stood there, trying to gather himself while silent tears silently ran down his cheeks from sorrow. His heart felt like a shattered mirror, each piece a jagged shard that cut deeper with every beat, a reflection of the fractured soul within.

It was too much for him....

***

David dropped the towel on the couch after he was done toweling his hair. He had returned home and was feeling so confused. There was a headache that couldn’t go away and he didn’t know what he was supposed to do.

He took a deep breath and sat on the couch with his head dropped and his eyes closed. The weight of the day had settled upon him, and he felt the heaviness in his bones. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, memories, and responsibilities, each one adding to the burden on his shoulders.

‘Who was that boy?’ That was the question he couldn’t find an answer to.

Whoever that boy was, David knew he had a strong connection with him. He could feel it but he didn’t know who the boy was and hence the confusion. One thing was for sure, that wasn’t Jim. But could he have been Ben, he thought as he took a harsh breath.

As he was deep in thought, he felt hands glide effortlessly over his shoulders, applying just the right amount of pressure to ease his muscles. His eyes suddenly opened and he tried to move but was pulled back. He felt a hot breath on his ears right before a seductive moan.

“Relax!” Jim moaned, licking the tip of his ear. “It’s just me. I know how tired you must be feeling right now. Just let yourself drift into relaxation, and I'll take care of the rest.”

David let himself relax and closed his eyes, enjoying the massage. The massage continued, and Jim seamlessly transitions from his shoulders to his neck, skillfully kneading and working on every tense spot. He started working his way down his husband’s chest and David didn’t miss that change of breath and he knew what was gonna happen. David opened his eyes when he felt Jim unbuttoning his pajamas and slid his hands down his chest, moaning in his ears.

His hands continued going down sensually until he began sliding down David’s hem. David quickly rose like the hounds of hell were after him. He stood a distance from the stunned looking Jim who couldn’t believe what had happened.

“Are you okay?” He asked in shock.

“Y-yeah!” David stuttered, chuckling nervously. “I am fine… just that… that I am tired. I got exhausted from all the work.”

“I know.” Jim moved closer and started caressing his chest, kissing it. “That’s why I am here to take away all that tiredness. I haven’t felt you inside me in a long time and I am dying to feel you. Come on…” He stood on his toes and kissed the man’s lips sensually, moaning.

“I am tired!” David said as he held Jim’s arms, pushing him slightly. “I cannot do this tonight. You have to bear with me. I am sorry, love, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do this. But next time when I am not tired, we’ll do it.”

Jim felt like someone had just poured fire on him. He wanted the man so much that it hurt.

“David, that’s not fair, you know.” He tried to mask his anger but David could smell it. “You’re my husband and it is your duty to satisfy me. When was the last time you touched me or even cuddled me? I need you, baby.”

“I know but I will not be able to perform tonight!” He said, smiling at him. “Can we just go to sleep?”

Jim’s mouth formed into an unpleasant twist. “No!” He snapped, shaking his head. He furiously moved to David and grabbed his crotch, rubbing on it sensually.

“Please!” David gripped his hand and stopped him. “Understand!”

“No!” Jim shook his head. “We’re doing this.” He continued rubbing, trying to arouse him despite his rejection.

“Jim!” David sighed in frustration.

“No, David!” His hands slipped into his pants. “We’re doing this whether you like it or not.”

“Jim?”

His hands slipped into his pants and he grabbed his cock, stroking it slowly.

“Stop it!” David snapped, slapping his hand away. He felt a colossal rage surging in his chest.

At that same moment, David experienced a feeling of de javu right before an image formed in his head.

‘Stop it!’ His voice echoed in his head.

He was in a decorated room and Jim was in a sexy nightwear, trying to put him in the mood. It felt so familiar and David experienced a severe headache that made him to wince. He raised his head and didn’t miss that hurt in Jim’s eyes. The man was so pissed that he could see it from the way his hands were shaking.

“I… I am sorry.” He sighed gloomily, getting closer to Jim. He held his hands and rubbed on them. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just that I am not feeling well. I promise that we’re gonna do it when I am not tired.”

Jim was quiet.

“Please, understand.” He leaned forward and kissed Jim on the cheek. The man still didn’t say anything. “Get some rest. I will be on the balcony.”

Without getting any word from him, David rushed outside on the balcony and closed the door behind him. He was so confused that he didn’t understand what was going on. None of the flashbacks were making sense and he felt like he was gonna go crazy.

Meanwhile, Jim was so mad that his hands trembled with repressed fury, fingers curling into tight fists, nails digging into his palms, the pain grounding him amidst the tempest of his emotions. Just then, he heard the door open and a voice that really took him over the edge…

“Is papa here?”

He furiously moved his eyes to the little boy who was in his pajamas, holding his teddy bear. His gaze burned with an intensity that could scorch the earth, a fiery inferno of anger and resentment, as he locked his eyes with the little boy.

“What do you want?”

“Papa…” The boy said simply. “…I wanna see papa. He said that we’ll play when he comes back from work and…”

“Really?” Jim chuckled bitterly as he walked slowly to the boy. “Has anyone ever told you that disturbing your parents at night is very bad? Good kids should be sleeping by now and not disturbing their parents.”

“S-sorry…” The boy stuttered.

Jim gave a sinister smile as he leaned and rested his hands on the boy’s shoulders.

"Please, don't lock me up in a dark room." The boy pleaded. "It's scary there."

"But that's where bad kids are supposed to be so that they learn their lesson." He shrugged. "Then there will be no more ice cream or chocolate for you. You'll have no friends and you'll be scared tyr whole time. Is that what you want?"

The boy shook his head in fear, tears building in his eyes.

"Good boy!" He chuckled maniacally, running his fingers through the boy's hair. "Next time, don't come here looking for your father because I'll lock you up in the room. Do I make myself clear?"

The boy nodded.

"Now be a good boy and go back to your room." He said with a smile.

"B-but papa is supposed to read me a bed time story."

"You're a big boy, aren't you?" He asked. "Big boys don't need bedtime stories. They just go straight to sleep when they’re told to. And by the way..." he took the teddy from Michael and threw it on the floor. "...you won't be needing this tonight. You're a big boy and big boys don't play with teddy bears."

Michael stared at Jim with tears in his eyes. He was obviously hurt but he couldn't do anything but just nod.

"And next time, I am gonna take your ice cream away then your chocolate and if you don't learn to behave, I'm gonna make sure that you stop seeing your papa."

"I am sorry." The boy said with a tear going down his cheek. "I promise I will be a good boy."

"I know. Now..." he moved his cheek closer to Michael's face. "...why don't you give daddy a kiss and go to your room? And don't say anything to your father because I'll punish you."

The boy hesitantly kissed his cheek and left the room slowly. Jim didn't care. He picked up the teddy bear and wore an evil grin as he watched the boy leave the room.

'I'm not gonna be the only one who's gonna be lonely tonight, Michael.' He thought. 'If David won't spend any time with me then neither will you. David is my husband and you're my son but I won't allow him to give you priority over me. That's a promise.'

With an evil grin, Jim threw the teddy on the couch and went to sleep with a smile on his face.

***

Michael was seated on his desk, coloring his book. Class was done and he was just waiting to be picked up. The boy was a little scared from the experience he had with Jim. He had a hard time sleeping and he hadn't seen David that morning.

"Hey there..." he heard a sweet voice speak to him.

He raised his face and found his teacher smiling at him. She was a very beautiful blonde woman that loved him so much and paid much attention to him. David paid her just to make sure his little bundle of joy was well taken care of you.

"Guess what?" She leaned and held his little hand. "Your father is here to pick you up."

"Papa!" The boy gasped, a wide smile spreading across his face.

He rose from the chair, packed the book and carried his bag, running out of the room. He couldn't mask the happiness that he felt. He ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. He couldn't wait to see his father.

He reached outside the school and just stopped, the smile on his face slowly disappearing. A distance from where he stood was not David but Jim who looked impatient, staring at his watch every second. Seeing him, the little boy felt his heart begin to race and he was reminded of what had happened the previous night.

'I'll take your ice cream and then your chocolate. If you continue with this, I'll take your father as well.'

He clutched at his chest, fingers trembling, as if trying to keep his racing heart from leaping out of his body. Memories of the time he had been locked in a dark room began playing in his head and he got really scared. He thought he'd done something wrong and he was gonna be punished.

Not knowing what to do, the boy began running and he was running away from Jim. The man was too busy on his phone that he didn't even see the little boy running away.

****

Ben was slowly walking along the paved way, lost in deep thought. The wind was cool and radiant but his mood was not. He had just been from visiting his daughter's grave and he was feeling lonelier than ever. He had told his daughter about his encounter with her father and how much it had made him miss her even more. It was a sad moment and he didn't know how he was gonna make himself feel better. The walk in the park was something he had hoped would lift his mood but he couldn't have been more wrong.

He was still walking along the road when he heard a child crying that got him out if his thoughts. He stopped in his tracks and stood still, trying to see if his mind was playing tricks on him or there was an actual child.

"Hello!" He called nervously.

Everything seemed to spin, a dizzying dance of lights and colors, as nervousness wrapped its tendrils around him. He knew the park had kids there but he couldn't see any around him.

'It's probably my mind playing tricks on me.' He thought, shaking his head.

He started walking a little faster but as he did, the child's voice started becoming a little quiet and he stopped suddenly. He didn't know why his spirit told him to and find out what was wrong with the child.

He took a deep breath and started going back, looking for the child. As he moved, the child's cries got louder. He didn't have to walk very far when he found a little boy who looked nowhere above 5 years sitting on the ground near a bush crying. His little eyes were red and he kept looking around like he was expecting someone to come and get him.

Seeing him, Ben didn't know what he felt or why he felt that way. His heart broke and he slowly walked to the boy, kneeling before him.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked softly. "Where are your parents?"

But the boy gripped him and wrapped his arms around him tightly. Ben felt a shiver a shiver go down his spine when the boy hugged him. Time seemed to have stopped and his heart pounded against his ribs as if trying to fulfill a thousand beats. His breaths came harshly and he suddenly got emotional. He had gotten emotional before around kids but this one was different.

Ben slowly and robotically moved his face to stare at the crying. His shaky hands touched the boy's hair, running his hand through it. What he felt was different and he didn't know why that was the case. He didn't know when a tear went down his cheek or how long he hugged the boy.

"Hey!" He placed his hands gently on the sides of his face, running his tears. "Stop crying. It's gonna be okay."

"I... need my daddy." The boy said in between sobs.

"It's okay. We're gonna find him but you need to stop crying, okay." He reassured, smiling at the boy. " I will take you to him."

"I need daddy." He cried even more.

"I know." He reassured with a smile. "But stop crying. I'll help you find him."

The child sniffled and looked up at Ben, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“What’s your name?”

“A-Angelo…” He stuttered. He could tell the boy was scared.

“My name is Ben and I am your friend.” He smiled, slowly rubbing the boy’s tears. “I am sad seeing you cry like this. Your father is probably also looking for you and we’re gonna find him together. Did you come with him to the park?" He asked lovingly with a smile. "Do you know where he is?"

"I-I don't know... I-I am scared."

Ben smiled even more. "Scared of what, baby?"

"He... he said he's gonna lock me up in the room and... and he's gonna take my papa away." His voice quivered.

He began crying again and Ben tried his possible best to calm him down but he couldn't. He was worried the boy was gonna get sick if he continued crying. He took him in his arms and sat him on his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around him. The child hugged him but continued crying. Ben knew he had to do something to stop him from crying.

"Hey, listen, I have something for you but only if you stop crying."

The boy stopped crying and looked at him.

"Do you like chocolates?" The boy nodded abruptly. "Okay, if you stop crying, I'll give you lots and lots of chocolates. But you're gonna have to promise that you won't cry ever again. I'll find your father and you'll be with him. No one will take you away from him ever again, okay?"

The boy nodded excitedly. Ben helped clean his face and felt his heart get warm when the boy smiled. He took out a bar of chocolate and gave it to him. He kept his arm around the boy, providing a sense of security and warmth. As the child ate the chocolate with a smile on his face, Ben felt the most peace he'd ever felt in six years.

His heart beat so calmly and his joy overflowed as he looked at the child. He had memories of his daughter and tears in his eyes but those were tears of joy. He was happy and he couldn't understand why that was the case. The boy was very handsome and probably the same age his dead daughter would have been.

"Do you like it?" He chuckled happily.

The boy nodded without saying a word. Ben stayed with him, watching him as he ate his chocolate. He messed up his face but Ben cleaned him up. He started walking around the park with the boy in his arms, trying to see if he could locate his parents but there was no one that knew the boy. Ben was starting to get worried. He wanted to go to the police but he thought he'd wait a little longer. Maybe someone was gonna show up looking for him.

Ben bought the boy some food. He talked to him, told him stories but as seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours, Ben started getting worried and he knew that the boy too was getting distressed. He was starting sob, crying for his father. He knelt down before the beside the boy and gently wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a comforting embrace.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, sweetheart. I am here."

The boy clung to him and his cries subsided as he found solace in Ben's embrace.

"I know you're feeling upset right now and I understand." He whispered. "I'm right here and I won't leave you alone. I'll be with you, I promise."

Ben began to sway gently from side to side, cradling Michael in his arms. The rhythmic motion seemed to work as he felt the boy calm down. He knew what he needed to do. He took a nervous breathe and began singing.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray...."

As he sang that song, memories began flooding his head. He remembered singing that song every night when he was pregnant six years. Surprisingly, this time, with those memories in his head, there was minimal pain. He had no idea why he felt so at peace with that child.

"...you'll never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away..."

He repeated the chorus a few more times, his voice tender and loving. He gazed into his eyes, conveying comfort and security with his presence. He sat on the bench with the boy lying on his lap as he played with his hair. He was starting to get worried but he didn't wanna show the boy that.

"I miss papa."

"It's alright, sweetie. We'll find him together. Just close your eyes and when you open them, you'll be with him."

Michael's face brightened up a bit and he closed his eyes. Ben took a deep breath and tried to get rid of his nerves. He had to find a way to take the child to his father otherwise, he was pretty sure that they were worried sick. He got the bag the child had been carrying and started going through in order to find anything that could give him a clue.

'Maybe I should go to the police. We'll find his parents faster.' He thought.

What was he gonna do?

****

The atmosphere in the living was tense and everyone was looking like they had a funeral, especially Jim. He was nervous as fuck because he was the one that had lost the child in the first place. He kept asking himself questions because the teacher had told him that Michael had been on his way to meet him. So, what had happened, he thought?

Amber's heart was on her sleeves. Each time her phone rang, her heart skipped a beat. She glanced at it anxiously before picking it up. But as usual, there was no good news. She had gone to the school, checked the surrounding areas but there was no news. She had come back home hoping to find him but that wasn't the case.

"Where is he?"

Everyone felt their hearts hammer in their chest when they heard David's impatient voice. They saw him entering the house together with Isaac. Both of them looked like they hadn't slept in weeks.

"Baby...." Jim sobbed, rushing towards him. He wrapped his arms around his waist and just sobbed on his chest. "...our Michael is not home. He is missing?"

"What?" He gasped, blood draining from his skin.

His breath came in shallow gasps, chest rising and falling rapidly as if the weight of his fear threatened to suffocate him. Tears built in his eyes, gripping Jim's arms. He looked into his eyes and shook his head.

"What? Why? How? When did this happen? And why am I knowing about this so late?"

"I had gone to pick him up and the teacher told me he was on his way." He said in between sobs. "But he didn't come out. I waited, I swear, I waited and I looked for him, but nothing."

David's hands trembled, and he clutched his chest, trying to steady his breathing. His imaginations began running wild as vivid pictures of danger and despair began painting in his mind.

"David!" Claudia shook her head. "I'm so scared just thinking that our little boy is out there all alone and it's getting dark." But David didn't hear any word she said as he was so far gone in his imagination. "What if something happened to him? What if he's hurt? We need to find him, please."

"My little boy!" David quivered. "Where's my little boy?"

"We couldn't contact you and we had no idea where your meeting was held." Amber said abruptly, wiping her tears. "That's why we sent Isaac to find you. We've already called the police and they are on the case. They told us to stay at home in case of anything."

"I need to find him." David said as he began splinting towards the exits feeling like his legs were on fire. "I need to bring him home."

"David!"

"I'll go with him." Isaac said as he began running after him.

David didn't care about anything but finding his child. He came out of the mansion like the hounds of hell were after him, rushing to the car. But as soon as he had stepped out, he stopped in his tracks and just froze. He looked straight ahead absently, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

There was a man walking towards him and he didn't need to look twice to know that was Ben. He would have wanted to just stand there and stare at him but his eyes immediately went to the boy he was holding in his arms with his head on his shoulder. From the clothes he was wearing, his beautiful dark hair, he didn't need to think twice to know that was his son.

"MichaelAngelo!" He gasped, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Michaelangelo!" Ben's voice was barely above a whisper.

'If we have a son, we're gonna name him Michaelangelo!' David's voice echoed through him. 'And if it's a girl, we're gonna name her Leah.'

Memories of their time together danced in his mind, haunting and beautiful, yet also tormenting. He felt like his heart had been ripped out. A state of misery that he couldn’t see the end of the tunnel. A terrible weight fell onto his shoulders. He could feel a searing pain in his heart.

At that moment, Claudia and Jim came running outside and when they saw him, the look on their faces was incredulous. Claudia stood there, staring at Ben holding her grandson, feeling like her heart was threatening to run away from her. Her skin prickled with a clammy cold sweat, goosebumps rising like a constellation of fear.

"Papa!"

Michael's voice got Ben out of his painful memories. Ben took a deep breath and leaned to put the boy on the ground. He watched as he ran towards David who on his knees with his arms wide open. Once the boy ran into those arms, David held him tighter with fear to let him go.

"My love!" He said emotionally, kissing him all over his face. "Where have you been? Do you know how worried I got."

"I missed you, papa." Michael said in his tiny little voice.

"Are you okay?" David pulled from the hug and began inspecting his son. "You are not hurt, are you?"

"No, papa." He shook his head. "The handsome man was so nice to me. He told me that he'll bring me home and he got me chocolate."

David got his son in his arms and rose, staring at Ben with so much love. He was filled with a mix of emotions, happiness at seeing Ben again, and curiosity about where he had found his son.

"Thank you so much." He said with tears in his eyes. "You have no idea what you have done for me. Michael is my life and I would have died had something happened to him."

Ben’s eyes welled up as he nodded, his eyes still locked on the boy in David’s arms. He wanted to run away from there but he couldn't do it. Seeing the boy safe and sound was amazing but knowing he was David and Jim's son broke him.

"Thank you!"

David started getting closer to Ben but before he could move further....

"Ben!" A surprised voice came from behind.

He stopped in his tracks and stood still, quickly taking a glance behind. His eyebrows shot up, forming a high arch of astonishment when he locked eyes with his sister. She said she didn't know him, he thought. Then why did she call his name like that? David stood there with lots of questions running through his mind.

To be continued....