Almost Love

Chapter 2

The sunlight peeked through the heavy curtains and fell onto the white blankets. The room was quite and dark, only the sound of clock's can be heard deep within the stillness. Gravin lay across the bed, half naked down to the waist and only a mere boxer to cover up his lower part. His back rose and fell rhythmically as he sound asleep, breathing in and out peacefully like a kid the muscles on his back beautifully moved along with a moment, when a ray of light shone over the flawless flesh, it glistened. It was beautiful potrait to see. He tossed over to his side stretching his arms only to find someone beside him and than last nights encounter flashed in front of his eyes. He tried to open his eyes to see the person laying next to him. Yesterday he was too drunk to remember face of a women with whom he spend the night with. She was in her thirties, a blond women. Someone he never met for sure. The memories of last night was hazy to remember. He looked around the room and sighed. Thankfully it was a spacious hotel room and not some random cheap motel.

"Hey! Handsome you're already awake. Huh?"

"About last night.," Gravin tried to give excuse before things could go intense but he was cut short by the women who got up and sat upright. Her blanket falling off her shoulder dropping on her lap showing of her black lacy laungery barely hiding her breast.

"About last night, it was plaything. Don't worry. I happen to serve you guys and close the bar last night. You were my last customer and I hit on you to be honest." She scoffed scratching the back of her neck and added, "chill! It was just a night fling." She shrugged casually getting up on her feet.

"Right. I like it no strings attached." Gravin clicked his tongue.

"Shall we go then." The women glanced over her shoulder sliding down her top. Gravin simply nodded mindlessly.

Once they both got down in the lobby. Where they bid their bye and was about to leave when Gravin asked, "I hope I didn't caused much trouble yesterday. Thanks for the night." He threw his hand smiling.

"Well I can't say it wasn't trouble. You were too drunk and you were like a little kid. No wonder you can't remember the last night." She laughed gifting Gravin a second hand embarrassment. She firmly shook his hand and added, "you should not get drunk around strangers. They might took advantage and you won't be able to remember." She shrugged and waved over her shoulder as she disappeared in the thick fog of padistrian.

Gravin shook his head over what she just adviced him. There was no way he wants to get drunk around strangers after knowing his memory loss after drinking too much. He refrain himself to do that. But yesterday was exception. He wanted to get drunk and forgot everything. He sighed and swung the jacket on his shoulder as he walked out of the hotel lobby.

He almost chocked in his breath, when he realised the number of calls he had missed from his mother. There were some from his father and his cousin. A message popped up on his screen,

"Call me once you are in your f*****g sense." It read. Gravin couldn't help but laugh as he pressed the call button. It took only two rings before he heard from the other side.

"Gravin! Finally I'm hearing from you." His cousin milo groaned tossing over his bed.

"Man, I'm f****d up. I missed so many calls from mom." Gravin scratched the back of his neck.

"Aunt called me last night, when you were out of reach. Don't worry I told her that you were crashing at ours yesterday night." Milo explained gifting Gravin a sigh in relief.

Milo was Gravin's cousin and more like a friend. Someone who knows him from inside out. From spending their childhood to going out in parties together. They were always stick to each other with carrying their own secrets. According to them it was a big risk to leave either of them alone.

"How was your last night? Man she was so whipped for you. Giving out free drinks and all. I knew it that she had ulterior motive."

"I don't remember anything about yesterday." Gravin spoke casually and added, "it's all hazy and looking at the mood of the room, I don't think we went anymore than one round." He scoafffed pushing the door as the doorbell chimed in response. He stood in the queue.

"Woah! She must be nice huh? Isn't it easy for you to have someone anyday to f**k up?" Milo asked.

"Don't drag it man. They are all just for body and money mostly." Gravin stepped closer smiling at the person who stood at the counter and gave his order.

"Must be nice to have both." Milo pointed.

"As if you don't have." Ve narrowed his eyes only to hear chuckle from the other side.

"Besides they don't go above the three stars in my rating list." Gravin grabbed his veggie delite sandwitch and walked out.

"Gross! You rate something like that? It's kinda cheap behaviour."

"I am cheap. A douch bag to begin with." Gravin laughed making his cousin groaned on his comebacks.

"Hurry back home and remember you stayed at our place last night." Milo reminded him again.

"Yes my knight. I'll treat you something good tomorrow." Gravin smiled before hanging up. The red and orange leaves rustle under the feet as he walked through the main gate. The pin drop silence in the house indicating that no one has woke up and he still have time to get dress and be tidy a little. He swirl on his heels making way to his room. Any other day he would have just layed in the bed not caring to wash up and do anything. But his parents were home and he did not want to hear earful.

"Good morning." He greeted everyone as he took a seat on the breakfast table.

"Where were you last night?" Came a reply from his mother who paused on spreading orange marmalade on her bread Nd surveyed him.

Gravin opened his mouth to say something but he was cut short by his father, "how many times do I have to say no chatters when we are on the breakfast table." He shot a glance all over the table.

"Well I was just asking." His mother shrugged.

"And you forgot to add dinner table too." His sister Samantha copied their mother's action and munched on her pancakes.

Once they were done with breakfast he knew he wouldn't get a chance to escape quickly. So he sat there ready to take the concequences of his action.

"You haven't answered me yet?" His mother was first to broke the silence. She was someone who will see through you when you are making up the stories. Someone who will double check just to be sure that you are saying the truth.

"I was at Milo's. He asked me to stay over and my phone was out of the battery." Gravin shrugged as he prepared to leave. Being a someone who has strict parents and someone who will always be checked upon. It was natural for him to make up a lie and go against them sometimes. According to Gravin it is all good if your parents will not find out.

"When is your new semester starting again?" His father leaned back titling his head to meet Gravin's eyes. He felt as if he was too little in front of him. Someone maybe who doesn't have any worth. "Tomorrow." Was all he could manage to say. He wanted to leave. He wanted them out of his sight.

"Come to my study. I have something I want to discuss." And that's was all. The short family meeting was dismissed once Mr. Hayda walked out of the sight Gravin following him behind.

Mr. Hayda took a seat legged crossed as he leaned back on the button tugged leather chair piles of files scattered on the big dark stained wood desk waiting for him. He shot a quick glance as Gravin walked through the door.

Gravin hesitantly took a step ahead as he walked in his father's study room. He looked around noticing the details and changes since he last came. He remembered naming this area as "danger zone" as no one was allowed to enter except his father. Well its same now as well. Gravin hardly remember when was the last time he came here. Was it last year when he ditched the meeting his father wanted to attend with him for his tournament? Or was it the last month when his father catch him kissing some random women in the hotel corridor?

He was always curious to see what's inside but now that he was here. The strange aura made him feel sick in his stomach. The kind of feeling you feel before something bad about you happen. He stepped closer feeling the soft brush of red oriental rug under his feet. The large wood panelled walls stood by side, the chandelier complimenting the vintage look.

"Your new semester will be starting from tomorrow. Do you have any plans?" His father asked keeping the files aside turning the lost boy's attention to him.

"Well, I have not given thought about it." Gravin shrugged sliding his hands in his pant pockets.

"What do you mean? Do you want to spend the last year of your graduation doing nothing?"

"It's not like I will be studying diligently." Gravin scoffed.

His father threw some documents before him and added, "so you want me to cover up your mess everytime? While you go around partying and playing that stupid sports of yours?" Gravin flinched as his voice echoed in the silent room. He hesitantly picked up the photos that fell on his feet. It was the pictures of him coming out of the hotel rooms with random women and girls. It was not somthing new for him. He came across many more photos and videos of him every now and then.

The rumours about him always going around. But it wasn't something Gravin payed attention to. It was something he purposely do and did. It was not for the attention he wanted but the purpose of it was to get on his parents nerve. He crumbled the photos in his hand stepping close to the desk. He leaned forward and added, "I never asked you to cover for me. I didn't choose to live like that, did I? You guys made me like this." He scoffed backing up and added, "so take the responsibility."

"Gravin you better behave or else.," His father was cut shorted by the loud voice, "or else what will you do? I really want to see. What else you can do to me." The evil laugh escaped from his mouth.

"This is the last chance of yours. If you won't do well in this semester than unfortunately I will have to take your credit card and all the freedom you have been given. After that I will not be responsible for anything you do in your life." His father simply shrugged owning the victorious smile as the boy in front of him stood speach less.

"Was there even a point to talk to someone who's not ready to listen to you?" Gravin thought and walked out leaving his father screaming behind.

He layed in bed the whole evening not wanting to do anything. Since it was the last day of his break he had planned to stay out and have fun. Well he would have done the same even if there was college to attend. He was never good in studies. He hardly got pass in every academics. Thanks to his father he always got marked barely pass. But this year he knew, he had this feeling that this year would gonna be different. He could care less about the changes now.

He tossed out the credit card which defines as his freedom to him and sighed, "The big problem now is securing this Aladin's lamp." Gravin mumbled to himself closing his eyes.

It has been a day since Eric moved to his new apartment. He hadn't bothered to unpack anything since then. He didn't wish to doing it anytime soo. For him cleaning is bothersome. For him the biggest problem now was to find a job. He tried some place randomly but none of them wants a student to work for them. The heavy sigh escaped from his mouth as Mia placed their order on the table and took a seat across him silently reading him.

"You can have this cake and cheer up buddy." Mia said giving him the cheesecake she bought for herself.

"We will share this one or better just order one more okay!" The frustrated guy snapped.

"Off topic question!" Mia raised her eyebrow and Eric knew what was coming. She always do this asking random questions sometimes very personal that he couldn't dodge but end up answering her truthfully.

"Oh please I don't wanna play games right now. Cut it out." Eric chidded srunching his nose in disagreement.

"Just one alright? I won't ask any further besides I'll buy one more pastries for you."

"Shoot." He shrugged.

Mia adjusted in her seat leaning forward as she asked, "so you really don't have any plan for dating?"

Eric paused for a moment thinking of a reasonable answer he could give. But none came in his mind and he added, "not yet. I don't like the very idea of dating. How can I suppose to date in my given situation. I don't have a decent living and space to top it of the luxury and time." He shook his head and further added,"if I date someone they must be having some expectations,which I don't think I can meet right now."

"But you can meet someone right?"

"Mmhh." He hummed taking the bite of his extra pastries which Mia ordered for him.

"Why you asking?" His eyes met hers it was than he realised that he was already caught in her trap. "Don't tell me?" He asked almost dropping his fork on the floor.

"Right! There was this guy I met last night and I think he is your type. So I arranged meeting with you. Sorry." She raised her hands as in surrender when she saw his best friends pissed expression.

"What the f**k! You should have said it earlier and please stop acting like a mom." Eric scrunched his nose in annoyance and added,"When are we meeting?"

"Now."

"Now? Like right now?" He asked dumbfounded.

"Yes I got his message and he is on his way." Mia stood up and knelt by his side taking his hand in hers and added, "I know you hate this all but know that I'm just worries for you. Just meet him once and than decide on your own. Hmm?" She gave a gentle squeeze before letting his hand go.

Eric sighed he was loss of word. He wanted to refuse her request but the look in her eyes held him back. "But I'm not even dressed properly." He complained. He was wearing plain white half sleeves shirt his bicep popping out showing the well built muscles pairing with denim shorts. He was wearing flip flop that the look of runaway guy.

"Don't worry, you're looking umm..,"

Mia paused before glancing him once more and added, "you're looking decent at least. Just one second." She fished around for something in her bag and said, "here apply this. Your lips are all chapped." She hand out the chap stick to him.

"Hey, I'm not late right?" They both heard an unfamiliar voice. Eric looked up to see who it was. There stood a guy dressing perfectly in a casual attire, his hair neatly done.

"Hey, no you're on time. I didn't recognise you for a second." Mia laughed nervously.

"So Eric he is.," She was cut short, when they heard,"I'm Jean. Nice to meet you."

"Oh hello, I'm Eric." Eric said nervously.

"Okay than you guys continue. I have an appointment so I'll take my leave." Said Mia before hurried out of their sight. She did not give Eric a chance to say goodbye. It was an unusual of her.

"Don't mess with your date and give me the details later." She messaged adding some wink emoticons to show her excitement but to Eric it was annoying and he replied,"go away traitor."

"Umm you can order whatever you want."

"So you're business major?"

"Yeah last year!" Eric paused scratching the back of his neck and added, "can you tell me about you. You see my friend told me about at the very last moment so I don't know what to talk."

"Well I'm working as a lab assistant. I joiner right after my graduation and I live alone." Said Jean swirling around his coffee as he emphasized the sentence 'i live alone.'

"Was there any meaning to it." Eric thought to himself.

"I live alone too or to say I recently moved." Eric replied sheepishly. He didn't know how to bring their conversation to life. Generally he would not talk to any stranger let alone leave making conversation. He always avoid people. For him people 'gives him headache.' they are bad for his coping mechanism. Maybe that's the reason why he did not have any friends except Mia.

"That's great." Jean leaned forward glancing him from top to bottom as he kept his hand on Eric's tapping it slowly and added, "Eric I wanna know more about you. You are just my type." He whispered the last sentence making the nervous guy pulled his hand away flustered by the sudden boldness.

Eric felt something off about the guy in front of him. He seems bold making those comments to someone whom he just met. But he chose not to say anything and end their meeting soon. After about half and hour or past they stood up and walked out of the cafe. In this little tume he got to know that Jean sure was someone who talks a lot. Being a person who have the personality to converse only when it was necessary, he felt exhausted. Looking down at his wrist watch he realised that there was still hours for the interview of some part time job he had prepared himself for.

"Okay than it was nice meeting you." Eric forced a smile.

"What you're already partin ways? Yeah I understand that it was surprise for you but," Jean scratched his temple trying to find right words to end his sentence and added,"still this is something kinda date for us you know?" While Eric looked at him confused. He couldn't understand what the guy was trying to say.

When Jean didn't hear any response from the confuse boy. He sighed helplessly and said, "well I really don't want our date to end like this. Hmm?"

Eric debated to go any further than this with the chatty boy who didn't know when to shut up. It was annoying for him. But he remembered that he still have free hours to spend. Which he doesn't wanna spend at home. He was planning to go to any nearby library to relax himself until Mia interrupted his plan. Now he didn't want to sound like some boring person to someone and he didn't see any harm to spend some of his time with him. He took a deep breath,

"well I have my interview in an hour so," he was cut short when Jean interrupted, "in that case do you wanna come to my workplace?"

"What for?" Was the question Eric asked back and regretted it in an instant.

He should have guessed this was coming when Jean referred him as his type but Eric didn't thought Jean would make his moves this quick. He paused and ponder for a moment. It was not a bad deal for either of them. It had been long since he slept with anyone anyway and it was not bad to give and get something in return at the same time for both of them.

"But maybe it's too hasty decision?" He thought to himself.

"Okay since I'm going to stroll my time doing nothing anyway." He shrugged making any excuse.

The moment the words came out, he felt he was being dragged by the delighted guy before him. Eric didn't feel offended usually when someone try to be nice to him for their own benifit,he hated it. But this guy did not seems like a bad one.

"Maybe it's his speciality to mix with anyone too fast?" He thought out loud.

"You can say that. My outgoing personality gives a lot of trade you know." Jean chuckled making the embarrassed guy flushed by his statement.

They walked passed by the street that looked foreign to Eric. It was a place he hardly recognise. It was only been a year since he moved in Austin and he was still unfamiliar with many place. He gulped down the unsettled feeling and tried to focus his surroundings for better remembering.

"Don't worry. I'm not taking you to any wrong place." Jean cleared when he felt Eric's stiff muscles on his hand. They were still holding hands and added, "it's just my workplace." He gave a gentle squeeze to his tensed palm. "The lab?" Eric titled his head in confusion.

"Mmhh.," Jean hummed in response.

"My place is bit far and we have very little time to spend together anyway." He added rummaging in his pocket. Moment later he unlocked the door and let him in. The room he was calling his lab was anything like he often reads in books. He glance over the dead plant in the corner.

"Maybe it was an act of carelessness or maybe some kind of reasearch?" Eric thought to himself.

"Where are the others? I thought your lab would be packed with crazy people." He chuckled on his own question.

"Hmm they went home first. I've some work left." He heard Jean saying.

Eric turned to look Jean who was leaning against the table hands crossed on his chest. Jean had a good built, something like a dream guy of every women. He was tall and we'll built, he had Italian good look that probably went well with villa and car.

"Do you wanna give it a try?" He asked raising his eyebrow. Eric paused what give it a try? It had been long since he touched anyone or the vise versa. He watched as Jean slowly took of his jacket and folding his sleeves just above his elbow. His veins and muscles showing of his forearms. He ran his hand over his blonde hair sighing. He took a step forward slowly reaching to Eric, who was standing in the middle dumbfounded. Eric gulped down his nervousness.

"Now that he had came this far should give it a go as well." He wondered.

Jean gripped his shoulder leaning against his ear as he whispered,"you know that I told you you're my type, right?" Making Eric flinched under him. His thumbs slowly caressing the outlines of his lips.

"We need to create the mood before doing anything." Jean mumbled his hand slowly running of Eric's neck. A faint gasp escaped from his lips. Jean chuckled.

"Shut up. You talk too much." Eric groaned in annoyance pulling blondie from his collar crashing his lips on him. He slowly licked the soft pink skin which tasted sweet waiting for the other guy to let him in. Jean chuckled and pulled Eric even more closer opening his mouth to give him entry. Their tongues dancing rythemically on the beats of their heart as their lungs fall short of breath. They pulled away from each other for a moment inhaling the air before continuing to kiss each other again. The room started to feel hot as his head starts to spin. Jeans hand running into Eric's hair and back. The other guys hand fumbling with the big guys shirt, he halted in his movements the moment he realised the bulging thing in his pants.

"He got hard with just kissing?" Eric thought realising that it was not the case for him. He was not aroused by the guy standing infront of him. Maybe he took the initiative out of curiosity.

"May I?" Eric asked meeting the eyes of a guy who was panting and flushed with embarrassment.

"Are you sure?" Jean asked and all Eric could do was nod in agreement.

Everything went so fast that Eric couldn't remember how he left the lab. He couldn't believe he gave blowjob to the person he met few hours ago. Was he sexually frustrated? Did he wanted to go all the way with that guy? Or was he just simply attracted towards him? He couldn't point a single reason all alone. He took a deep breath clutching his phone which was buzzing in his hand.

"Interview Eric! Interview!" He reminded himself patting his cheeks to come out of the never ending overthinking cycle of his.