Forever My Love - 6. Chapter 6: More lies... Will David succumb?

Elena quickly raised her face, looking dumbly at Ben who stared at her like he wanted to kill with his hand still raised.

“I can’t believe it.” Ben chuckled bitterly, furiously dropping his hands. “After all these years, Elena, you still think you can lay your hand on me and I’d take it lightly. You have no idea in how many ways I have changed.”

Elena’s eyes bulged, she stared at Ben like he’d grown another head, trying to process what had happened. He had slapped her right in front of people.

“You still think you’re gonna abuse me after all these years?” He yelled, making her heart jump in fear. “Do not push me to my limits because you might just what kind of monster I can be. You…”

Ben paused when he heard sobs underneath, making his heart pound heavily. He dropped his eyes and saw Michael holding on tightly to him with tears going down his face. Seeing him like that, he felt his heart drop to the floor.

“Michael!” He quickly knelt in front of him, cupping his cheeks. “Oh my God, sweetie. Did I scare you? I am so sorry.”

He rubbed his tears and kissed all over his face.

“Don’t cry. I won’t hurt you.” He said in the most soothing voice. “Remember I promised that I would protect you and take you to your father, right?” The boy nodded, making him smile. “I won’t let them take you.”

“Wow!” Jim clapped. “Trying to get through to David through his son? How shameless can you be?”

Elena slowly rose, letting go of her cheek. She couldn’t let that go.

“You’re gonna pay for that slap Ben.” She vowed, her fists clenched. “I am gonna make you pay for this slap and it will be sooner than you think.”

Ben ignored her, totally focusing on Michael. “I’ll take you to dad. Come on,”

He opened his arms and took the child in them, holding him tighter.

“You’re not taking that child anywhere.” Jim snapped, blocking the way. “That is my son and I will sue you for kidnapping.” He warned. “Now give him to me so that I can get out of your face.”

Ben frowned, shaking his head. “Growing up, I really thought you were gonna be different from your mother. But guess I was wrong. It is true what they say, an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. A child that you claim to love, you cannot be treating him like an object that you only use to get what you want.”

“Don’t say things that you do not know.”

“Look at him…” He shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. “People would kill to have such a lovely child, but he’s scared of you. You’re only using him to get what you want.”

“Shut up!” He seethed, his fists clenching. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Really?” He chuckled bitterly. “Either way, I am not giving Michael to you. I will only give him to his father.”

“Ben, I swear…” He yelled, raising a finger.

“I’ll be waiting to hear from your lawyer if you want.”

With one final look at mother and son, Ben took his bag and left, leaving the two of them standing there like idiots. Jim was so mad that he saw red. There were people that had their phones taking pictures and videos of the scene.

“What the hell are you looking at?” Elena snapped, pointing angrily at them. “What’s there for you to see?”

But the people only laughed which made her madder than she was.

***

Ben stood with a smile on his face and a phone in his hands, capturing the captivating moment. He was in the children’s park with Michael who was running around with a beautiful butterfly kite in his hands, chuckling to himself. It was really beautiful for Ben to see and it got him emotional.

“Ben!”

Ben felt his heart thud when he heard the familiar voice, David calling him. He stood still for a second before he slowly turned to look into the eyes of the man that he had once loved so much. A gentle breeze blew on his face and it felt like it was coming from those eyes.

David on the other hand couldn’t stop staring into those beautiful twinkling eyes, gazing lovingly at Ben.

“David!” Ben gasped. “I am so sorry for causing any trouble but I couldn’t give your husband Michael. The child was scared and my conscience couldn’t let him go.”

“You don’t have to apologize.” He smiled, glancing at the boy that ran around. “Just look how happy he is. I haven’t seen him so happy with anyone else aside from me and my sister, so thank you so much.”

“I hope I didn’t cause any trouble.”

“Not at all. All I care about right now is my son.” He sighed, crossing his arms. “You know, you have this incredible way of making everything seem brighter, more colorful and amazing. I know I have said this before but you really do. And I can tell through the eyes of my child.”

Ben smiled. “You really have a way with your words.”

“I mean every word.” He said lovingly, extending his hand to hold Ben’s. When their hands touched, both couldn’t deny the spark that they felt. “You’re not just beautiful on the outside; it’s your kindness, your intelligence and your passion that truly captivates me. I admire how you care so much for my child despite you losing yours. You’re gonna be an amazing father some day and I’ll continue praying for that day to come soon.”

They shared a moment of comfortable silence, gazing into each other’s eyes. The world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them. Ben felt his heart beat rhythmically, reminding him of the past when they were at the beach. It had been the happiest moment of his life, David holding his hands, staring into his eyes and telling him the most beautiful things.

David on the other hand had a very familiar feeling that he couldn’t put his hands on. It was like de javu but he couldn’t understand it. In that moment, he felt like he was meant to be in that moment and to enjoy it.

“Dad!”

Both of them were brought back to reality when they heard Michael’s voice. They looked to where he was and saw him running towards them.

“Catch!”

Michael threw a ball at them.

“I got it!”

“I got it!”

They both said at the same time. Ben was moving faster and so was David. Due to unfortunate turn of events and a desperate attempt to catch the ball, they collided into each other and the two of them crashed to the floor in a tangle of limbs. Ben hit his back but thanks to the grass, he didn’t feel much pain.

David was on top of Ben with one of Ben’s legs in between his legs, rubbing his crotch. Their faces were close, their noses rubbing on each other.

David, his heart racing and his breaths harsh opened his eyes to look deeply into Ben’s gorgeous eyes, his gaze unwavering. Suddenly, a headache hit him and he found himself in a strangely familiar room with someone beneath him. The face was blurred but in a split second everything had become very clear. It was Ben… but younger than he was looking currently.

He was smiling, his smile captivating but he looked very drunk.

“You’re so beautiful!”

David’s own voice echoed in his head but contrary to what he thought, he actually unconsciously said it and Ben heard it, sending a shiver down his spine. David’s breaths came out harshly and he knew he was gonna make a mistake if he didn’t take things in control.

In his memory, he tried to get up but the boy pulled him back until their lips met. When they connected, he shuddered, a sound tore from the back of his throat, half growl, half moan. Little shivers of pleasure and panic shot through him as his eyes widened.

In reality, David was getting closer, closing the gap in between them. Ben’s eyes widened and fear slowly crept on him. He pressed his hands on David’s chest, trying to push him away but the man was still getting closer.

“David!” He said abruptly, slightly hitting his chest.

David’s eyes opened and he found himself in an awkward position with Ben. His eyes widened and he quickly rose, feeling so ashamed of himself. He couldn’t even look at Ben.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t mean… I…”

“It’s okay.” Ben said softly, slowly rising. “It’s not your fault. Both of us didn’t expect this to happen. I…” he could tell that something was bothering David more than what had happened. “Are you okay?”

He placed his hand on David’s shoulder and the man almost jumped.

“I… I had a flashback just now.” He said softly, slowly turning to face Ben. “I… I saw something that I believe has happened before.”

Ben frowned, raising an eyebrow.

“What did you see?”

David sighed, combing his hair with his fingers. “You!” He said simply, his eyes glittering. “I saw you in my flashback Ben. It’s like what happened here has happened before but…. Ouch!” He cried out as a headache hit him so hard he passed out. “Ow!”

“Are you okay?” Ben rushed to him and held his arm. “Please, take a seat.”

He carefully took the man to a nearby bench and made him sit. He took Michael on his lap but his eyes never left David’s. The man was suffering and he felt so bad for him.

“Is daddy okay?” Michael asked in his tiny voice.

“Of course, baby.” Ben reassured. “Dad just needs to rest for a bit. He’s gonna be just fine. Come here.” He opened his arms wider and the boy hugged him tighter.

He kept on staring at David who was awfully quiet with his eyes on the ground. There was a lot that was going on in his head, so many questions that he didn’t have any answers to. He stayed like that for several minutes.

“This usually happens to me whenever I have a flashback.” He spoke softly. He slowly raised his head and stared into Ben’s eyes. “There is this boy I have been seeing in my flashbacks although I have never been able to see his face. Today was the only time I did and…” He paused and shook his head. “…it was you, Ben.”

Ben felt a shiver go down his spine at those words. A cold breeze brew on his face and he felt his heart rum hard against his rib cage. Everything became so quiet that one would have heard a pin drop. His hands shook but only he could feel them.

“Maybe you’re thinking I am going crazy.” He chuckled softly, sniveling. “But this started the first time I saw you at the restaurant. I have been having constant flashbacks ever since. They give me these really severe headaches.”

David moved closer and stared at Ben with a serious expression.

“Ben, did we know each other more than five years ago?” He asked, slowly taking Ben’s hands in his. “And if so, what kind of relationship did you and I have?”

Ben felt his heart begin to race at David’s question. He froze, muscles locked in momentarily paralysis, surprise momentarily rendering him immobile.

“Ben please!” David pleaded. “Help me!”

“David, I…” his voice caught in his throat, words halted in mid-sentence. “…I… I haven’t been in this country in a long time. We might have met at a party or so but…” He paused and shook his head. “…that was it. I never had any relationship with you or your family.”

To say David was disappointed by that answer would be an understatement. He was more than disappointed because he was kinda hoping that he had been close to Ben in the past.

“Then what about…”

“Without realizing it, our minds can play tricks on us.” Ben said softly. “We may not even realize it. You said you couldn’t see who the boy was and you only saw his face right now. It is possible that you only saw what your mind wanted you to see. I am so sorry, David, but it’s not me.”

David didn’t know where the pain he felt came from.

“Oh, but what…”

Before he could finish his sentence, his phone began ringing loudly ruining the moment. He got it out! It was from his sister.

“Hello!”

He listened for a second before he quickly rose, his eyes widening.

“I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

He quickly turned and got Michael from Ben’s arms.

“I am so sorry, I need to go.” He said abruptly. “My mother just passed out and I don’t know why. Thank you so much for taking care of my son. I’ll talk to you later.”

Before Ben could reply, David was already rushing out of there. He remained standing there, watching as father and son went away until he couldn’t see them anymore. Michael kept on waving at him and it filled him with this emptiness that he couldn’t explain.

He sat on the bench and couldn’t stop the tears that started flowing.

“I am so sorry, David, I know you’re going through pain, but it’s nothing compared to the pain that I feel each and every day.” He said softly, trying to rub his tears off. “The pain that you caused me. You used me and didn’t even wait for my death before you ran after my brother.”

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

“People say that time may change everything, but your feelings and your memories will remain the same.” He thought as he rubbed his tears. “Maybe you can leave your past behind but not your memories.”

He sat there, lost in deep thought, reliving his painful memories about the loss of his daughter.

***

Elena arrived at her home, throwing the bag on the table furiously. She was still mad from the incidence earlier and she wanted her pound of flesh. But, she couldn’t think of any painful way to get him back at without involving blood.

“Shit!” She cursed, pacing about the living room like something was after her.

“Welcome back!” She heard her husband chuckle. “I am surprised that you actually came early. Was thinking you were gonna make more headlines.”

“What now?” She snapped, angrily staring at him. “Why can’t you just talk to me nowadays without bringing me any trouble?”

“I give you trouble?” Jerome laughed, shaking his head. “Funny how you don’t see how much trouble you bring to yourself. Do you want me to remind you?”

He went closer to her and showed her his tablet where a clip started playing of her slapping Ben so hard on the face then Ben retaliating and she finding herself on the floor. Seeing that video, her fists clenched and her breaths came out harshly.

“Who uploaded that video?” She yelled. “I need you to get it off social media right now.”

“For what?” Jerome shrugged. “Everyone has obviously seen it but that’s not the point of this. Why were harassing Ben?” He was no longer smiling. He had a stern look on his face. “Why did you slap him?”

“Excuse me?” She raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you see him slapping me? What have you got to say about your bastard child embarrassing me in public like that.”

Jerome shrugged. “I must say I am proud of him. I am so glad that he was able to give you that slap.”

To say Elena was surprised would be an understatement. She stood there frozen, staring at her husband like he’d grown another head while her heart caught fire. Her face contorted into a mask of rage, her gaze burning with an intensity that could scorch the earth.

“For the first time since you’ve been abusing that boy, he was able to stand up for himself.” He chuckled, angering her more. “I might be a coward for not doing much for him but I am so glad that he didn’t turn out like me, Elena.”

“How dare you say that to me!” Her voice hardened ruthlessly. “That brut had the nerve to lay his hand on me and you’re here cheering for him? Don’t forget that I am your wife and my wellbeing should be your priority.”

“I am also Ben’s father and that’s why this time I am warning you.” He raised his finger, pointing at her. “If you ever lay your hand on Ben again, I am gonna do something that both of us are gonna regret.”

With those words, he stormed up the stairs leaving her standing like a statue. Elena had never felt as much pain as she felt at that time. Not even the slap she had received compared to the pain that she felt.

Her hands trembled with repressed fury, fingers curling into tight fists, nails digging into her palm.

“Ben, you’ve done it this time and you better be prepared for what’s coming next.”

She angrily took the phone from her bag and dialed a number. It wasn’t long before a man answered.

“I need to meet you as soon as possible!” She said demandingly. “I have some work for you.”

Cutting the call, she picked her bag and stormed out of the house to meet the mystery man.

What was she up to?

***

“Mom!”

David rushed inside the room as soon as he saw her in bed, with some pillows behind her, taking some drugs. She seemed okay except for the fact that her hair was a mess which got him worried. He rushed to her, sat at the edge of the bed and kissed her forehead.

“Mom, what happened?”

“Stress!” Isaac responded with a raised eyebrow. “She’s been overworking herself the last couple of days and now her body is failing to go on with the stress.”

“I am fine!” She sighed, putting up a smile. “Don’t listen to Isaac. He just wants me to stay in bed for the next couple of days and I told him I cannot do that. I am a very busy woman and…”

“You’re not getting out of that bed, aunt!” Isaac commanded, not masking the seriousness in his voice. “Who is the doctor among the two of us?”

“Listen to him!” David was still worried. “We don’t want this to happen again. Amber and I will manage everything that needs to be managed at the company. And your job is to rest, for us and for your grandson.”

When she heard Michael’s name, she couldn’t help but smile. She glanced at the entrance and saw him standing there with Amber. He looked concerned.

“Hey baby, don’t worry, I am fine.” She said with a reassuring smile.

She opened her arms lovingly. “Would you like to accompany me in bed? I will feel much better faster.”

Michael didn’t waste any time. He ran into the bed and got comfy in Claudia’s arms. David couldn’t help but smile. He knew the bond that Michael and her had was out of this world. She was a hard headed woman sometimes but with Michael, she was always soft.

“I missed you so much, my baby.” She spoke softly, kissing his cheek. “You went away and forgot about granny.”

“Sorry!” Michael held his ears. “I was with Ben… he is so nice. I like being with Ben.”

Claudia smiled sheepishly, glancing at an obviously mad Jim.

“But you’re with me right now. It will just be you and I. We’re gonna watch all your favorite cartoons the whole day.”

“Yeah!” Michael giggled, making everyone laugh except for Jim.

“Alright, can I go and freshen up?” David asked. “I will come and join you both later. I’ll bring snacks.”

He kissed both of them before he got out of the room. He had barely walked far from the room when a voice suddenly stopped him.

“I really hope you’re happy with what happened?” Jim said in annoyance. “That guy not only insulted me and my mother, but he also refused to give me our son.”

David sighed, slowly turning. “Can you please let this go, Jim? Michael is already back home safe.”

“Let it go?” He chuckled bitterly, raising an eye brow. “How are you taking this lightly, huh? I just told you I went to get our son and that bitch refused to. Does that mean anything to you? Michael is my son and no one has a right to him more than me.”

“No one is disputing that fact. There’s already a lot going on and I cannot deal with this.”

He started going to his room when suddenly he was blocked. Jim was staring at him with murderous eyes, breathing like he was in labor.

“David…”

“What?” David snapped, his voice and disapprovingly. “What else do you want me to say to you?”

Jim was shocked. He stood there, wide eyed, staring at a suddenly angry David.

“I have already apologized but you keep bringing up the same issue. Mom is in there not feeling well but you do not care at all.” He added. “Michael is back home and he doesn’t even wanna be with you. Do you know why? Because you have always scared that boy ever since he was young. No one is disputing the fact that you’re his father but have you asked yourself why he’d prefer being with someone he doesn’t know that well over his own father?”

He shook his head, feeling himself suddenly possessed by anger.

“So, don’t ask me why Ben refused to give you our son.” He said, shaking his head. “You know the answer to that question. And if you want this to continue, then continue being the same kind of person to our son. You’ll eventually lose him.”

“How could you say that to me?” Jim said with tears in his eyes. “You know how much I love Michael. I would do anything for him. You and him are my life.”

“Perhaps!” David said simply, shrugging his shoulders. “But there’s a difference between saying you love someone and actually showing it.”

With those words, he turned and headed to his room, leaving Jim all alone. The pain Jim felt couldn’t be explained. It was out of this world… like someone was stabbing him right in the heart. Everything had been going so well and now this was the second time David had snapped at him because of Ben. He couldn’t allow it to continue happening. What was he gonna do?

***

Ben was coming out of the mall with a small plastic that had some things he had bought. He had a smile on his face as he talked on the phone…

“Did you get the chocolates I sent you?” He asked.

‘Yes, yummy!’ Little Michael answered on the other end. ‘I love them. Are you going to come see me?’

“Oh, baby, I am so sorry.” He apologized, taking a sigh. “I am kinda occupied with work today and I won’t make it. But I promise that I will call you again later in the day and we’re gonna talk as much as you want.”

‘Promise!’ He asked.

“Yes!” Ben nodded, chuckling.

‘I love you!”

Ben felt a wave of emotions sweep over him and he stood still, feeling like something had gripped his heart and filled it with coldness. His eyes glistened and his heart began racing. That word, it made him feel like… he couldn’t even explain the feeling.

“I love you too, baby.”

It didn’t take long before he heard David’s voice on the other end.

“Thank you so much, Ben.” He said happily. “You have no idea how happy I’ve seen my son these past few days and it’s all because of you. You’re amazing and you’re all he keeps talking about. So, thanks.”

“It’s okay.” Ben blushed and he didn’t even realize. “Take care of him.”

“You know I will.”

With those words, he cut the call and rushed to his big car. The moment he opened the door to get inside, something happened.

“Ben!” A very familiar voice called his name.

He made a quick turn to find the surprise of his life, his father staring right at him with a stern look. He wore a white shirt that was tucked in a light blue designer trousers, making him look young and handsome. But he didn’t care about that.

“Son…”

“What are you doing here?” Ben gasped, his eyes widening. “Did you follow me here? Until when will you leave me alone? What do you want from me?”

“Ben, listen to me, my son.” Jerome put his hands together. “You never know exactly what a father goes through and I understand how upset you must be with me. I abandoned you during the time when you needed me the most and I paid for that mistake and still paying for it.”

“You think?” He chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. “You think you’ve suffered? It’s funny how we always tell people we love them but are too quick to judge when things go sour. You already have your idea family so I don’t understand why you keep following me.”

“Can you just listen to me.” He held his hand sweetly but Ben retaliated.

“For what?” He shrugged. “More lies? More deception? More promises?”

“I just wanna be a father to you, Ben.” Jerome pleaded, putting his hands together. “Don’t deny me of this, my son.”

“In case you haven’t gotten up to date, I am no longer a child.” He said with a serious tone. “You missed those moments six years ago when you broke your ties with me.” He didn’t wanna get emotional. “If you excuse me, I have a business to run and many clients to meet.”

With those words, he turned to open the door to his car but…

“Who is Leah?”

A great sense of weariness swept over him, sucking his energy with it at the mention of that name. His hands twitched spastically as adrenaline burst through his veins to prepare him for fight or flight. His heart began pounding but… he slowly turned and looked at the man, wearing a confident smile.

“Are you seriously asking me that question?” He chuckled bitterly. “How more pathetic can you be?”

“Ben…”

“Well, since you wanna hear it, I’ll tell you.” He moved closer and wore a very bitter look. “Leah was the woman you deceived, made to believe you were a good person and cheated on your wife with 23 years ago!” He snapped, breathing harshly. “Leah was the woman you had this bastard son with and who apparently has been paying for your sins for a very long time.”

Jerome felt tears build in his eyes at his son’s tone that was filled with so much pain. That wasn’t the Ben he knew.

“Do you wanna hear more?”

“Yes! But I am not talking about your mother.” Jerome said softly. “I am talking about the grave you’ve been visiting more often than not.”

Ben’s heart sank. His pulse throbbed in his ears, a relentless drumbeat that drowned out all other sounds. Then his face contorted into a mask of rage, brows furrowed and fists clenched.

“Have you been following me?” His voice was raw with rage.

“That grave was made not more than a few years ago.” He added, raising his hands like he was surrendering. “That grave is for a child that was born 6 years ago. It’s not for your mother and whenever you are there, you always cry, Ben.”

A tear rushed down Ben’s cheek that he didn’t even bother wiping.

“You’re pathetic.”

“That child bears your name, Ben and I just wanted to know why you get hurt so much…”

“Shut up!” He snapped, raising his finger at his father. His body trembled in anger. “You have no right whatsoever to follow me, most especially there. A man like you has no right to be anywhere near that place because believe me…. If you wanna see the other side of me, I dare you to follow me. And you have no right whatsoever to ask me about the relations I have with the owner of that grave. Let this be the first and last time you approach me.”

With a hiss, he furiously turned, rubbing his tears. A lot happened in a second that he couldn’t even understand it himself. One moment, he was about to open the door and the next moment Jerome pulled on his arm so hard twirling him and now he was staring into his eyes right before a sudden burst of gunfire shattered the silence.

Ben stood there, wide eyed, staring into Jerome’s smiling face. He was so confused that he didn’t know what was going on. His heart raced and his body shook from fear. Jerome smiled but ended up coughing terribly, letting go of Ben.

Jerome staggered backward, clutching his abdomen. The world around him blurred as pain radiated from the pain he felt in his back. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and he sank to his knees. The metallic tang of blood filled his nostrils, and the world seemed to spin.

Ben on the other hand didn’t know what was going on. A billion tears flooded his face as he came to reality and realized what was going on. He rushed to his father and knelt before him, holding him tightly. His hands were instantly covered in blood.

“Ben…” Jerome gasped as each breath seemed to take him closer to his death. “…I… I…”

“Don’t speak!” Ben shook his head, looking around. He couldn’t see anyone, probably people had dispersed after the gunshot. “Help!” He screamed. “Somebody help us.”

“For-forgive!” Jerome’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I couldn’t… be… the… father… you… deserved.”

With those words, he dropped his head and became flaccid.

“No!” Ben cried. “No, please get up. Papa…” He shook him but the man wasn’t working up. “Dad… I am so sorry…” He wailed. “…I didn’t mean any of the words, please get up. I forgive you and… and I won’t say anything bad. Get up!”

But the man didn’t even move. Ben held him in his arms tightly as he cried at the top of his voice, feeling every wound he’d ever had reopen. The pain he felt was something he couldn’t explain. He was very scared of the outcome.

Was this it for Jerome?

***

David and Michael entered the beautiful store, scanning the entire area. He had his son on his shoulders, holding him tightly while the boy smiled. The both of them were so happy that nothing could ruin that day for them.

“Alright, buddy, we’re on a mission here.” David announced, glancing up at his son. “What do you want?”

“A toy!” Michael said excitedly. “A super toy.”

“Super toy, huh?” He chuckled. “Well then, we better head to the toy’s section.”

David and his son browsed through the store, checking each aisle for what they could like. They came to the toys section and he knew from the gasp he got from his son that he loved what he saw.

“Look at that papa!” Michael squeaked. “I want that one.”

David chuckled and let his son down. He barely put him down and the boy was already running. He reached a big beautiful action figure and grabbed it, holding it like he didn’t wanna part with it.

“Captain laser!” Michael said happily. “I want him!”

“Alright, we’ll get him.” David said with a raised eyebrow. “But first…” He paused and got a toy from the shelf. “…let’s have a space war and see if captain laser will win.”

Michael chuckled and started running around as his father chased him. It was so much fun that people that saw them couldn’t help but smile at the expression of happiness between father and son. They moved around until they were both tired and sweaty. After what felt like hours, David gave up and sat on the floor with his son on his lap, breathing like a man in a race.

“Fine!” He said, trying to catch his breath. “Captain laser it is. We’ll get him. He’s the best.”

“Yeah!” Michael screamed, making David.

“Now, let’s go get him.”

David got up from the floor and held his son’s hands. They had only taken a few steps when ‘Envolver’ by Anita began playing. At the same time, David felt like something had entered him, taking control of his body. His vision blurred and he closed his eyes, massaging his temple from the headache that had started preying on him. When he opened them, he was welcomed by images that felt familiar. It was Ben and they were in a room. He seemed drunk and David was following him around. But both of them were younger than they were at that time. It was vivid.

“Oooooh!” Ben screamed, almost like he was shocked. “How did you know I love this song.”

He started singing along drunkenly. When the chorus started, the boy wrapped his arms around David’s neck and pulled him closer, their lips almost meeting.

“Dance with me.” He demanded as he slowly wined his waist sexily. “Come on!”

They danced together until they dropped to the floor and kissed. David could have sworn he felt that kiss in the present, like it was happening right there.

He saw vivid images of Ben’s hands rubbing on his crotch and him pulling away from the kiss.

“You’re drunk.” David said with passion in his voice. “We need to cool off, don’t you think?”

But Ben shook his head. “I need to forget my troubles. Help me forget.”

“No!” David shook his head. “You’re not in your right frame of mind. I don’t want to take advantage of you in this state.”

“Help me forget. I… I know what I am doing. This is what I want.”

David was reluctant and he was scared.

“Please…” The boy said with tears rolling.

“Don’t!” He said as he traced the boy’s tears, slowly kissing his forehead. “I can’t bear to see you in tears.”

“Then help me forget. Even for tonight.”

And make love did they. It was intense, it was amazing and it was passionate. By the time David was coming back to reality, he was seated on the floor, sweating profusely and breathing harshly with his heart threatening to break through his chest. He could hear someone crying and he only got to realize it was his son when he looked at him.

“Michael!” He rose from the floor and rushed to him. “Are you okay?”

“Are you okay, papa?” Michael asked, still crying.

Before David could answer, a low hum resonated in his ears, a dissonant symphony that only fueled the pounding ache at his temples. He closed his eyes, hoping to shut out the dizziness and pain he was suddenly feeling but he never let go of his son’s hand.

“Hey!” He felt someone hold his arm. “Are you alright?”

“Headache!” He managed a word. “Ouch!”

“It’s okay.” The woman that seemed nice said. “Can you come with me, please? I will help you.”

“My son…”

“It’s okay.” She said softly. “I got him.”

David followed the woman to a room where she helped him with some painkillers, water and a bed to rest on while she took care of his son. It took time but he eventually felt better. The only question on his mind was, ‘what was that all about?’

***

Ben was seated on the bench that was just right in front of the big E.R sign, showing its bright red color. Somehow, seeing that bright red color made him feel so nervous, he couldn’t think straight. He took a shaky breath and his eyes landed on his bloody hands. They were dry but somehow, seeing all that blood on his hands made him so scared. The air felt heavy with unspoken sorrow and the weight of his emotions pressed against his chest, making it difficult.

‘I am sorry!’ Those words echoed in his head, making tears roll down his cheeks.

“I can’t lose you!” He whispered. “You have to fight, dad.”

***

10 years ago

*

Ben was seated in the kitchen at the counter, holding on tightly to his teddy bear. There was so much going on in his tiny little head. It was thanksgiving and he wasn’t with the rest of his family. In fact, Elena didn’t even give him any food. He could hear the laughter that was going on in the living room from other family members and everyone they had invited.

“Hey there, bud!” He heard a familiar voice.

Raising his head, he found Jerome staring at him with a smile on his face. The man was dressed in an expensive suit, looking like the king of the world. Seeing him, Ben smiled sheepishly, trying to hide his sorrows.

“What are you doing here?” He asked as he got closer to him. “Why aren’t you with the rest of the family?”

Ben shook his head without saying a word.

“Oh!” That was the only word that came out of his mouth. “I am so sorry, my love. I didn’t know that, otherwise, I wouldn’t have let this happen.”

“It’s okay, papa.” Ben said softly. “I just want aunt Elena to be happy so that she doesn’t shout at me anymore. She’s waiting for you, papa. Even Jim is waiting for you.”

“Come here!” Jerome wrapped his arms around Ben, holding him tightly. “I am not going to leave you here alone. What kind of father am I gonna be if I enjoy myself out there while my son is sad?”

Ben raised his head and glanced at his father. “But aunt Elena…”

“Forget about her. And you know what, you and I are gonna have our own fun.” He said excitedly, ruffling little Ben’s hair. “We’ll have our own thanksgiving, just the two of us. If you’re not going, I am not going.”

Ben smiled, tears welling in his eyes.

“I love you so much, papa.”

“I love you too.”

And fun did they have. They went to fancy restaurant, ordered some good food then after they went to watch a movie at the cinema. By the time they were done with everything, it was already early morning and man was Elena pissed when she came back. But Jerome handled her. She didn’t even lay any finger on Ben.

*

“Wow!” Elena squealed, her eyes widening as she stared at the paper. “I am so proud of you right now. 7^th in class.”

She took her son in her arms and spun him around.

“I am the proudest mother ever and you know what, I knew that this was gonna happen. That’s why I prepared for this moment.”

She put him down and rushed out of there. When she came back, she was holding a huge gift that Jim didn’t even take time unwrapping. It was a ps4 and from the screams, Jim was so excited that he hugged his mother so tight.

“Thank you so much, mommy.” He squealed, gripping her tightly. “I love you so much, I love you.”

“Anything for my wonderful son.” She said, eyeing Ben with an evil grin. “You can ask me anything and if you maintain this, I’ll buy you a car after you graduate from high school.”

“Really?” Jim jumped.

“Yes!”

Mother and son kept on hugging each other. Ben took a sigh and was about to head to his room when he heard a voice.

“Hey there, tiger.” Jerome said excitedly. “Whatcha holding there?”

Ben glanced at his father and gave a slight smile. “My results, papa.”

“Oh wow!” He knelt in front of his son with a hand on his shoulder. “Let me see what my precious son got.”

“It’s nothing serious, papa.” He smiled. “Jim passed and he needs you, papa.”

“I know, and I’ll get him something later. Right now, I wanna see what you got.” He held out his hand. Ben sighed and handed the script he was holding.

Jerome opened it and when he did, the smile from his face faded. It was replaced with tears in his eyes as he stared at his son. Then he smiled, not minding the tears that rolled down his face. He was really emotional.

“First in class, baby.” He said excitedly. “And you called this nothing? Do you know how excited I am right now? You’ve never seized to amaze me, Ben. You really are my blood. Do you know that, the Henandez men have been known to be very intelligent? We’re born with so much intelligence and wisdom that we conquer whatever project we get involved in. I am so proud of you, Ben. In fact, I will get for you the best gift I can find out there.”

“Really papa?”

“Yes!” He nodded, holding his son tightly. “That’s a promise because you deserve it and you’re my son.”

“Wow!” Elena’s angry voice interrupted them. “You never seize to amaze me, Jerome. All that speech about the Henandez men, did you stop to think about how your son would feel? You’re here comforting your illegitimate son instead of being with your legitimate one. What kind of father are you, huh?”

“Elena, what’s your problem.” Jerome couldn’t mask the shock in his voice.

“My problem is that your son just passed his exams and you’re there comforting someone else?”

“What do you mean someone else? Ben is as much my blood as Jim. What problem is there?”

“Oh!” She chuckled bitterly. “Did you hear him, Jim? He doesn’t even care about you anymore but only about that boy. Why didn’t you reach out to our son first? Why didn’t you tell him all those things you’re telling that boy?”

Boy looked at Jim and he saw the bitterness in his eyes.

“Ever since you brought him home, he’s all you care about. It’s unfair, Jerome, very unfair. And one day, you’re gonna realize that you lost the moon while counting the stars. And as for you…” she warned, pointing at Ben angrily.

Ben dropped his eyes to the floor.

“I will make you regret this moment.”

With those words, she held her son’s hands and stormed out of the room. As they left, Ben didn’t miss the hatred in his brother’s eyes. He got scared because it was the first time, he had seen Jim look at him like that.

“Papa…”

“No, Ben!” He shook his head. “You’re not gonna say anything to me. I promised to get you the present and I will fulfill it. Both of you are my sons and I will not be unfair to either of you.”

“I really don’t want anything, dad.” He said softly. “Having you as a father is the best gift I could ever as for. You’re the best dad in the whole wide world.”

Jerome smiled and held his son in his arms. It was an amazing moment and true to his word, Jerome got Ben a very wonderful present. He got him an Asus gaming laptop with the best specs. But to apologize to Jim and make him happy, Ben had to give it to him and got nothing in the end. But he didn’t complain. He still had his father around and his brother was happy. He couldn’t have asked for anything.

***

Present day…

*

Ben got up from the bench and started pacing about, staring at the red light. The sound of the gunshot kept on repeating. The air was thick with fear, and a sense of impending doom hang in the stillness. As he was pacing in fear, his eyes caught something that got his attention. It was a small statue of Jesus that was placed on the wall with candles placed on a small table.

He slowly walked to it, his hands clasped tightly together. His voice quivered as he began to utter a prayer, his eyes never leaving the statue.

“Oh, merciful and protective God, in this hour of darkness, I come to you with a heart heavy with fear.” He said softly, tears trickling down his face. “So many years ago, I lost my mother and I had no say in it. I didn’t even get the chance to plead for more time. Same thing happened to my daughter six years ago. I lost them without a clue I would lose them.

Today it is my father and I am scared of losing him. I know I said I didn’t want to do anything with him but I didn’t want him to die.” He sniveled, shaking his head. “I was in so much pain and I just wanted him to suffer the way I did but not like this.

I cannot lose him.” He said, feeling a lamp in his throat. “I cannot lose the only person that I have left, my blood. I beg you…” He said in between sobs. “I beg you to save him from this and I promise I will forever be indebted to you. Save him from the hands of death because I still need more time with him. I cannot lose him.”

As he uttered each word, Ben’s desperation deepened. He closed his eyes, clasped his hands tighter and prayed even more. He didn’t know how many minutes passed but all he wanted to do was pray until his father got out of the E.R. Suddenly, before he finished his prayer, he felt someone grip his arm painfully and pull him.

Opening his eyes, he just looked into the eyes of the angry woman that stared at him like she wanted to kill him. The air was suddenly thick with tension, palpable like an electric charge. Elena’s eyes, cold and mad, met Ben’s with unwavering intensity. A moment of charged silence hung between them before Elena finally spoke, her voice loud and angry.

“What are you doing here? You came to make sure that Jerome died? Making a prayer that he doesn’t make it out of that room?” She snapped. “What the fuck? Get the hell out of here and…”

“I don’t owe you an explanation as to why I am here, Elena.” Ben said, his voice a low growl. He furiously released his arm from her grip.

“Oh, you don’t.” Elena chuckled bitterly, glancing at her son. “First of all, you get my husband shot and you’re here playing a saint? You won’t go away until you hurt each and every one of us, will you?”

Ben chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. “Hurt? That bullet was meant for me and dad took it for me. If I had wanted to hurt him, I wouldn’t have brought him here.”

“Ooooh!” Jim visibly shook, chirping at Ben. “We’re supposed to thank you? The only reason dad got hurt is because of you. You think you can waltz in here, playing the hero, and save the day? I can see through your little bitchy self.”

To say Ben was surprised would be an understatement. He looked at Jim with his mouth open and failed to say a word to him.

“There are times when we can argue and right now is not the time.” He said simply, taking a deep breath. “Right now, dad is in there fighting for his life and we can put our differences aside and pray for…”

“My father is in there.” Jim argued, furiously pointing at the E.R. “I am the one that is supposed to be praying for his health and not the one who wants to harm him.”

He furiously gripped Ben’s arm and started dragging him out of there. Ben angrily released his arm from Jim’s grip and stood a distance, staring at him. He couldn’t believe that the both of them had chosen such a moment to cause trouble.

 

Before he could say a thing, the red light switched off, getting their attention. They all rushed there just as the doctor was coming out.

“How’s my husband, doctor?” Elena asked, her voice cutting. “Please, tell me that he is alright because I cannot afford to lose him.”

The doctor sighed, staring at all of them. “Let’s just say your husband is a fighter. There were moments when we thought we were gonna lose him but eventually, we managed to remove the bullet and save his life.”

The relief that everyone felt when they heard that. Ben’s heart was still pounding deep into his chest but he couldn’t have been happier than he was at that time. Tears rolled down his cheeks and he smiled.

“The bullet didn’t hit any vital organs but he’s gonna need some assistance walking for some time.” He added.

“No problem.” Elena enthused, rubbing her tears of joy. “I will be by his side always.”

“Alright.” The doctor smiled. “The nurses are just cleaning him up. We should transfer him to a room where you can see him.”

With those words, the doctor left. Ben stood there, smiling and lost deep in thought. He was gotten out when he heard Elena’s voice.

“Even your evil plans are running away from you.” She said with an evil grin on her face. “Now you can get out of here and stop pretending. And I don’t ever wanna see you anywhere near my husband or my family again.”

Ben chuckled softly and without saying a word, he simply turned and left. God knows he wanted to see his father and talk to him. But he knew that after undergoing such a long operation, he didn’t need any more drama. He had to go away.

Jim and Elena looked at each other and worry registered on their faces. What were they up to?

***

David paced the living room, thoughts racing through his mind like a tempest, and a lot of scenarios played at the back of his mind. He was having a terrible headache but could care less about it. As he was busy pacing about, he saw his friend entering the living room and didn’t waste time rushing to him.

“Isaac!” He gripped his shirt, pulling him closer. “You’re my friend, aren’t you? Why do you want me to suffer so much?”

Isaac frowned, wondering what David was talking about.

“David, are you feeling alright?”

“Am I feeling alright?” He snapped, breathing like a warrior heading to war. “You have been there with me ever since we were young. You know exactly what I know and there’s no way you can tell me you don’t know what happened in the years I have lost my memories.”

“Calm down!” Isaac raised his hands like he was surrendering. “You don’t seem to be doing fine. Let’s just settle down and talk about what’s wrong.”

“What’s wrong is that I am going crazy.” He let go of Isaac, breathing harshly. He gripped his own hair furiously and started pacing about. “I keep having these vivid flashbacks that don’t make sense and they all involve Ben. Now you tell me, Isaac, how can I have such vivid flashbacks if I didn’t even know who he was? There is something everyone of you is not telling me.”

Isaac remained quiet and stared at David without uttering a single word.

“Who is Ben?” David asked in frustration, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. “How is he connected to me because I can’t deal with this anymore.”

“David like we…”

“Bullshit!” He snapped, stamping his foot on the floor angrily. “You cannot tell me that because I believe my flashbacks ain’t nothing.”

He moved closer, staring into Isaac’s eyes.

“Today there was a song playing while I was at the mall with Michael.” He said angrily. He began narrating what had happened to Isaac and the man knew that event very well.

“So, tell me, how could I not know him.” He asked. “His kisses… his touch… the way we made love… the way he hugged me. It felt too real to be a fantasy and I know I am not crazy. It’s too much of a coincidence not to be true.”

“David…”

“Who is Ben to me? How is he connected to my past?”

There was a silence between them. It was so quiet one would have heard a pin drop.

“Isaac…”

“I’ll tell you.” A voice spoke.

David felt a shiver run down his spine when he looked in the direction of the voice and saw Jim standing there looking vulnerable. David’s pulse throbbed in his ears when he saw Jim and his breath came in jagged, uneven gasps, as if his lungs struggled to draw in air amidst the suffocating grip of fear.

“Jim, I…”

“No, David!” A tear went down Jim’s cheek which he furiously rubbed. “You’re right, we need to tell you the truth. We owe that to you.”

He slowly walked towards his husband, each step feeling like he was gonna die. Jim had so much emotion inside him that he felt he was burst. Anger… resentment… pain… evil… it all wanted to come out at that point. He went and stood in front of David, staring into his eyes. Jim’s eyes were red and David could tell he had been crying.

“I am so sorry.” Jim apologized, putting his hands together. “I thought I could protect you from the truth and spare you from the pain, knowing how much it made you suffer.”

David was so confused. He frowned. “What-what are you talking about?”

Jim took a deep breath and slowly rubbed his tears. “Ben… Ben is my… my step-brother.” He stuttered.

The room fell into a stunned silence as the truth unfolded before David’s eyes. His hands trembled, his eyes widening with disbelief.

“What?” David’s voice was barely above a whisper. “H-how?”

Jim nodded, sniveling softly. “Yes! We have the same father, although he was born out of an unfair my father had with his mother. We were living together ever since he was 7 until 6 years ago when… when….” He couldn’t even complete the sentence as he burst into tears.

He took a deep breath, staring into David’s eyes.

“6 years ago, you cheated on me with him.”

David’s eyes widened, pupils dilating at Jim’s words. A gasp escaped his lips, a sharp intake of air as if the revelation had stolen the very breath from his lungs. The room seemed to spin, and he staggered backward, desperately seeking something to steady himself against. His fingers found the edge of a table, gripping it with a white-knuckled intensity.

“W-what?” He stammered.

“Yes!” Jim sobbed softly. “We met 7 years ago and we were so much in love, so, so much, David. We were very happy… we had so many plans for the future. We planned how we were gonna get married and where we were gonna get married.” He chuckled in his tears. “We were happy until…” He paused and his face got stern. “…until you met him during an event when our families met for the first time.”

He furiously rubbed his tears but David could see just how much pain he was in.

“He became so obsessed with you and at first, I thought he was only joking but behind my back, he was stalking you, following you everywhere and trying to get you to leave me.”

He paused and got nearer, his breaths sharp.

“You started acting strange towards me. You became cold and stopped doing the things we used to do as a couple.” He said softly. He was in pain and David could see that. “I found out that you had… had…” He paused and took another deep breath. “…that you had been sleeping with him. You said… said you were leaving me for him.” He sobbed uncontrollably. “You said you didn’t wanna do anything with me anymore.”

The shock manifested in the way David’s heart pounded against his chest, a chaotic drumbeat echoing the tumult in his mind. Tears welled up in his eyes and a lump formed in his throat, making it almost impossible to articulate the questions swirling in his mind.

“My parents … when they found out were shocked. They tried to reason with him but to no avail. I was so hurt because… because this was someone I loved and accepted as my brother.” He cried softly. “I couldn’t eat or talk. It was so bad that my father had to disown him. We all thought it was over but even when he was leaving, you… left with him and we didn’t hear from you for several months.”

“I did… that?” His voice was so low.

“Yes! I didn’t give up on us… I kept on looking for you and praying you come back to me.” He nodded. “There wasn’t a day when I didn’t look for you. I never gave up until one day, you returned to us. We were so happy that you had come back. You felt so bad until you told us what you found out. Ben had cancer… and it was during that time you found out that he was using black magic on you. He was in the hospital and couldn’t keep up with it.

You returned to us and after realizing what you had done, abandoning me and your family, you felt so bad that you didn’t know how to look us in the eyes anymore without remembering how bad you had treated us.”

“No, no, this can’t be real.” He shook his head, whispering to himself. He couldn’t believe it. “No!” He gripped his hair, shaking his head.

“It’s true!” He nodded, staring at his husband. “You didn’t know what to do. You asked me to marry you and we got married. But you couldn’t forget what happened. You were no longer happy despite having been forgiven. You were filled with so much guilt.

I thought maybe starting a family would be a good idea but… it was too much for you. You always told me how you felt you couldn’t be a good father and husband. It was heartbreaking seeing you so devastated and sad. One day… we received some news that you were involved in an accident while on a business trip.

You were in a coma for several months but I never gave up on you. When you eventually woke up, you couldn’t remember what had happened the last three years. It was a moment of trial for me because you couldn’t remember who I was and when we got married. We tried to get your memory back but after a while, we realized maybe it was for the best. After a while, we saw you smile and we thought it was good if you didn’t remember.”

The truth hung in the air, a bitter taste that clung to the back of his tongue. The shocked etched across his face was a silent scream, a canvas painted with raw intensity of his shattered reality. In that moment, everything that he thought he knew crumbled, leaving only the harsh reality of the unexpected truth.

“I did… that?” He sobbed. He couldn’t even look straight in Jim’s eyes. “Oh God… I can’t believe this. How could… I couldn’t have, please, tell me that it isn’t true. I am not that kind of person that would abandon people… especially my family.”

“I know, baby.”

David’s heart missed a beat when he heard his mother’s voice. She stood at the staircase, slowly coming down while staring at him. He shook his head when he saw her.

“I know you can’t hurt anyone, but Jim is telling the truth.” She nodded. “You left this house for several months without a trace of where you went. In fact, before you left this house, you pointed a gun at me and you threatened to shoot. That was how bad it was.”

“No!” He wailed, dropping to his knees. “I couldn’t have, mom, no… it’s a lie. I couldn’t have done all those things.”

“You couldn’t have.” She rushed to him, knelt before him and held his hands. “You didn’t know what you were doing then because you were not under your control. We didn’t know what was going on until we eventually found out. But I am a mother after all, baby…” She held his cheek, smiling brightly at him. “… despite everything, I never stopped loving you or did anything wrong. I was there always, hoping that you would return to me and you did.” She rubbed his tears.

“But Jim, it was too much for him.” She glanced at Jim who was trying to hide his pain. “I have never seen anyone love someone so much before. He suffered in those months you weren’t around and he tried to commit suicide several times. But your love…” She chuckled. “…it kept him going. And that love brought you back to him and broke whatever spell that boy had cast on you. That boy…” She pointed at Jim. “…that boy loves you so much, son.”

David looked up at Jim and felt a pain in his heart slowly emerge. For the first time in so long, he couldn’t find his voice. He couldn’t even imagine the pain that Jim had gone through all those times and what he might have been going through at that time.

He took a deep breath, rising from the floor, summoning the courage to break the silence between them.

“Jim,” He began, his voice a gentle whisper, “I was a fool and I know I can’t remember what transpired between us, but I was a fool for what I did… for cheating on you. I know I hurt you with my actions and I can’t even imagine what you went through… what you’ve been going through seeing me working with him. I now realize just how much you love me and how much you’ve been trying to protect me from this pain.”

Jim met his gaze, his eyes reflecting a blend of pain and a flicker of hope.

“David, I won’t lie, it was so hard for me. I never imagined that would happen to me or that my own brother would betray me like that. Seeing you with him killed me and it still hurts me so much. But what could I have done…” He sobbed. “…I love you too much and the last thing I want is to cause you any pain, even at the expense of mine.”

Taking a step closer, David cupped Jim’s face in his hands, his touch tender and apologetic. “I want to make things right, Jim. I want to make you happy just as much as you’ve made me happy. I want to rebuild what we had, erase all those sad memories.”

A tear escaped Jim’s eyes, trailing down his cheek. Hearing those words, he felt a shiver go down his spine. “I want that too, David, more than anything. But how can we do that when the reminder is still around us? It triggers those memories.”

“I will make things right, baby.” He nodded, a silent promise in his eyes. “I am willing to do whatever it takes, Jim. I will make you happy, us happy and we’ll be together. That is my promise.”

“Really?” Jim couldn’t contain his tears. “I love you so much, David, and I don’t wanna lose you.”

“You won’t lose me. I love you too.”

In that moment, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them. Jim couldn’t believe it… everything was falling into place. He had David exactly where he wanted him to be. Nothing was gonna come between them after that moment and he was gonna make sure of it.

Grasping the back of David’s head, Jim closed the remaining distance between them. The kiss that followed was a tender reconciliation, a promise to fix all the problems that were in their lives and a promise to be together forever, or at least Jim thought that. The flame had been rekindled and it was gonna stay that way.

‘I have you where I want you, David.’ Jim thought. ‘Now we’ll see how you’ll stray away from me. The only thing remaining is to get rid of Ben, forever.’

To be continued….