A Love Story with a Prisoner of War - 18. A Devilish Smile

‘Why are you two here?’ Andy asked, puzzlement on his face.

Knowing this question would be asked sooner or later, I had scripted a list of response in my mind beforehand.

‘Otto let us in last night. My mum… she…she threw us out.’ I said, feeling tongue-tied despite my mental rehearsal.

‘What?! Why?’ Andy asked as his face twisted in angst and surprise.

‘You don’t want to know. Please… Please let us stay with you for the time being.’ I pleaded.

‘You have to tell me why she did that to you. I’m not letting you stay without knowing the reason. I believe your mother would not throw you out unless you have committed a felony or something close to that. You need to tell me the reason, son. If she’s wrong, I will go and talk to her.’ Andy said, confusion and sympathy in his voice.

‘Andy… You will throw us out once you know the reason.’ I said, tears welling up in my eyes. ‘Please. Let us stay. We have nowhere to go.’ I had hardly finished the sentence when beads of tear began rolling down my cheeks. ‘Please. Please Andy. Let us stay. The Arctic conditions these days will freeze us to death. Please. We… we really have nowhere to go. Please Andy.’ I pleaded as tears cascaded down my face like Niagara Falls.

Mentioning the freezing weather seemed to have swayed Andy and made him understand our plight. Andy stood there, speechless, letting my words sink in. Then, Andy stepped forward, closing the distance between us. He held out his hand and unexpectedly, wiped away the tears on my face with his bare hand.

‘Okay. I’ll let you two stay. Tell me your reason when you feel comfortable.’ Andy said tenderly as he wrapped me up in his strong arms. ‘You will have to tell me the reason, the sooner the better, so that I can help you two sort the problem out.’ Andy continued. ‘You two can stay for the time being. Don’t cry son.’

Andy resembled my father in a myriad of respects – more or less the same age, the same built and similarly fatherly. Being wrapped up by Andy reminded me how much I missed my old man who had lost the battle against blood cancer a few years ago. My dad and I were not very close because he was a very reserved man – whenever he said something, he said it laconically. Despite that, I still missed him in my life – Since his death, I felt like I’d lost a role model to follow. But well, it might be a ‘good’ thing that he had passed away because I didn’t dare to imagine his reaction if he was the one who caught Axel and I with our pants down.

‘I believe your mum will soon forget about the whole thing, she will soon let you go back. For now, you are more than welcome to stay with us.’ Andy said gently.

‘Thanks Andy. We really don’t mean to bother you, but here is our only shelter we can go on planet earth. We are very very thankful for your help.’ I said gracefully as my tears began to dry.

‘You are welcome. Oh, by the way, where is Jake? Is he with your mum?’ Andy asked.

‘Yes he is with my mum.’ I replied matter-of-factly.

‘So only you two were banished?’ Andy asked, suspicion in his voice.

‘Yes. Because only Axel and I did something… em… em… stupid… but I swear in the name of Jesus Christ that it’s not bad to anybody… and… it’s not really bad.’ I said, hoping Andy would not push on.

‘Well. Since I have known you since the day you were born, I am very well aware of the fact that you are a good kid. I am letting you stay on the ground that you have just done something preposterous that has enraged your mum. I suppose this is temporary, right?’

‘Em…Em…’ Knowing it was definitely not a short-term thing, I had no other option but lied, ‘I think so.’

‘All right. I guess your mum will be picking you up in a day or two. She loves you.’

Not going to happen – I thought.

‘You two must be hungry. Let me fix some breakfast for us all.’ Andy said as he disappeared into the kitchen.

Axel had been standing next to me. Though he could not decipher the entire conversation, he could tell from my expression and Andy’s non-vigorous reaction that we could stay at the Williams’ at the moment. Axel and I let out a sigh of relief, wildly glad that we would not die in the snow tonight or tomorrow. We strode into Otto’s room in delight, feeling the anxiety within us ebbing away.

‘Andy let us stay for the time being!’ I said to Otto, grinning, unable to hide my relief and happiness.

‘Good.’ Otto smiled. ‘Andy is good man. You tell him about you two?’

‘Not yet. I am afraid he will react the same way as my mum did. I don’t want to take any risk.’ I said, sorrow rushing in my veins.

‘What is your plan?’ Otto asked.

‘Axel and I will be staying here as much as Andy and Stephen allow. But I’m sure it won’t be long. My mum will probably spread the news or the Williams will soon find us an unnecessary burden to them.’ I said. ‘As long as my mum doesn’t spread the news to the Williams, I think we can stay here for a few weeks. One entire month is the maximum, I guess. I don’t know where we could go if the Williams want to get rid of us.’

‘Ok. Stay first. We work all out later.’ Otto said, smiling at me.

Then, Axel and Otto had a chat in German as I stood there absently listening to their Martian conversation.

At the breakfast table, Andy announced the news to Stephen and their wives [Andy and Stephen were brothers. They were both married and the four of them shared the big house. Stephen and his wife had a twin (Nick and Jordan).] I had known them since I was born, so they had no objection to our stay, but judging by their suspicious expression, they all looked rattled and baffled. Their suspicion did not matter as long as Axel and I were granted ‘the right of abode’. All that mattered was a shelter for Axel and I.

I promised the Williams that Axel and I would do all the housework in order to ‘repay’ them. I also hinted that my mum would not forgive us in the foreseeable future, hoping they would understand that our stay might be longer than they had expected.

* * *

In the remaining of the day, Axel and I did a lot of housework so as to impress the adults and to show that we were neither leeches nor burden to the household. We washed the dirty clothes; we did the dishes after each meal; we cleaned the entire house, from the ceiling to the floor. The adults seemed pretty amazed at our efficiency and our attitude by the end of the day. I hoped they would find our existence useful and worthwhile.

We were exhausted to the bones after all the cleaning and washing, and never had I imagined housework could be as tough as farm work. At about 10, everyone, Axel and I inclusive, went to our respective bedrooms, calling it a day. Once Axel and I got into Nick’s bedroom, which was now our bedroom, we locked the door and began our long-awaited kissing and touching.

Axel’s lips and touch were magic; they could make me forget the plight that we were in and send me straight into heaven. Without them, my life would be nothing but a piece of crap.

We didn’t dare to make love since we were worried about our moans of pleasure that came out naturally from our throats would wake the whole town up, putting us in greater trouble. So, that night, we just masturbated and fellated each other.

We were both lost in paradise as I heard a soft knock on the door. Alarmed and astounded, I quickly put my clothes back on. I walked slowly to the door while my heart was thumping in anxiety and fear. Though it was cold in the room, my palms were sweating.

I opened the door slowly, and a familiar figure came into view – it was Otto.

It was dark, but I could see Otto smiling devilishly at me.

‘What are you two doing?’ Otto said, smiling on...