loved by my enemy

16. Logging

Leo ran towards the door. His eyes were filled with tears.” Jayce” he called. But his voice didn’t come out. All he could do was cry. The moment he reached the door he hugged the person in front of him tightly. And cried so hard. “Jayce, I thought you wouldn’t come back. You have no idea how happy I am today. Thank God you finally understood how I feel. I won’t let you leave me again”, he tightened his hug. The person opposite him started patting his back. “Shhhh... Leo, I won’t leave you. Don’t cry... shh”. Leo rested his face on his shoulder. And cried, “Jayce”, Leo called him slowly. And took his head from his shoulder and looked at his face. Leo took his face in both hands, and his face was so close to him that he closed his eyes. The moment he was about to kiss him, James ran towards him. “Leo, what are you doing,” shouted James. Leo opened his eyes. The moment he opened his eyes, he pushed the guy in front of him. “What are you doing here Steve? Where is Jayce?” he started looking everywhere like a mad person. “Jayce” “Jayce” he called Jayce. “Leo listen to me”- James stopped Leo and “there is no Jayce here. You are imagining things. It was Steve from the beginning”. Leo shook his head like a little kid and said “no” he whispered. “NO” he shouted again with all the sounds he has. “You are lying. Jayce was here. I know. I saw him” tears were flowing like waterfalls from his eyes and his eyes were red like blood. “Leo, it was me. Steve. You mistook me for someone else. You have been working so long. You need to rest. I will drop you at your house.” Said Steve calmly. “Sorry Steve, he is so tired. I will drop him. again, sorry buddy”. James apologized seriously on behalf of his friend and Leo was still crying. He dragged Leo out.

Steve’s POV

Everything started when we were in our first year of bachelor’s. I was a shy, introverted, and fuddy-duddy type of guy. And students often bully me because of that. And I was so scared to talk to anyone. Because I thought they might end up bullying me.

It was an afternoon. We didn’t have any class later. So, our class decided to combine with the other class to do the volunteer work like cleaning college and ground. Some of the students from other classes invited me to clean the back of the college. I was so worried about what would happen next but I decided to go with them. Because even if they would call me names, they won’t do any physical harm as they were girls. When we reached there, the girls started leaving one by one. And finally, I was all alone there. Suddenly I heard some footsteps “Hey, fuddy-duddy” I turned back. And saw the famous bullies of the other class. And they started bullying me. Finally, they started beating me up. At that time Leo happened to come that way and saw me. He ran towards us and saved me from the bullies like a movie hero. He fought with them. They ran away like cowards.

After they left, he looked at me. “Hey, Steve, right?”. “yes” I gathered all my courage before talking. “Let’s go somewhere after this, ok?” He was not asking, he was ordering “ok, let’s go” I answered. And after finishing the volunteering work he came straight away. “Steve, did you forget our deal?” “no” I replied shyly “let’s go then”. We end up in a mall. An expensive-looking mall. “Leo, I don’t think I can afford it here,” I said. I was too worried. “You don’t have to think about anything. You just come with me.”. He led the way. After a long 6 hours, we came out of the mall. I was not the same person who entered the mall. He gave me a wild makeover using a celebrity salon. Which was too expensive. And bought myself loads of expensive-looking clothes. And he said “I don’t like people who bully others, and I don’t like letting others be bullied because of their looks. No one will bully you gain. And from now on you are a part of my team.” I was overwhelmed. And that very moment I fall for him. And that day I started working hard to be worthy of him.

It's been a few days since Leo started acting strangely. When I talked to James about it he said Leo is in love with some online friend and they broke up. I was both hurt and happy when I heard this news. I decided to work hard to make him mine. Leo was not coming to our students’ council room, we decided to call him to finish the work which is pending. James said he would drag him. When he came to college, I happened to see him on the veranda, and I was extremely happy to see him again. After the lectures, James and Leo headed toward the student council room.

It was late in the evening, I walked to the student council room. The light was still on. So, knocked. No one opened the door. So, I decided to open it myself. When I opened the door, Leo ran towards me. And hugged me. He was crying. He was saying something like don’t leave me. He hugged me so tight. I was extremely happy. He did hug me for a while. And later he attempted to kiss me. But that James, he stopped Leo. I felt so angry towards him. It was my chance to get a kiss from him. But he didn’t let me have it.

When Leo came back home, he looked dull. Like no life left in him. His mother came out of the house when she heard the sound from outside. She rushed out immediately. “What happened James. Why does he look like this?”. Her face was pale like white paper. “Nothing aunty, I will explain later now let him rest” she started crying and said “Thank you James for bringing him here”

It was 2 in the morning and Leo suddenly woke up from his sleep. “Jayce.” He cried. Suddenly he felt someone was there beside him. He turned his face. It was his mother. By a single look, he could tell that she was crying all the time and slept unintentionally. He felt sad for hurting people around him because of his love. So, he decided “I am going to stop being a fool. I will stop crying now. I am going to come out to reality. He left me. Now I will complete my master’s and then chase him. I will do all means to get him back. Now family and those who love me are important”.

When grace woke up. She could see Leo beside him. She rushed out and called Leo’s name violently and cried. Suddenly she felt some delicious smell coming out of the kitchen and she walked towards the kitchen. She felt relieved after seeing that sight. It was the usual Leo who is listening to music using his favorite headphones and cooking with a rhythm. “Leo” called Grace. “Hey mom, good morning. It’s your birthday today. So, I made something special for you. See.”. Grace felt very happy to see her son normal again, but she could also see the emptiness in his eyes as he had long ago after being separated from his little jayjay. After a few days, this emptiness would also go like before. Then he would be normal again. Thought Grace. And she started eating the dish made by her beloved son.