The Love of the Sun to his Moon (BL Omegaverse)

Chapter Four: Home

Libulan’s Point of View

I watched him turn towards the next block as I continue to walk forward; following the same old route. I have lived here a few months after Dad has kicked me out of his house. That happened almost a year ago. I have never heard anything from him since then.

I stopped walking when I saw a familiar thing near a pile of boxes. It’s Max, a feral cat that goes around the neighborhood, and rummages through the garbage cans in search of food. I usually see this cat in this part of the alley at especially when it has already gotten dark. The light from the light post makes it easier to see the cat since its fur is a deep shade of black. It’s looking at the pile of boxes near it.

“What is that cat doing?” I asked myself upon looking at the unusual sight. I was about to take a step forward when something from the pile of boxes ran across the other side of the alley. I was caught off-guard, so I almost screamed. I watched Max move quickly and tried to run after a rat. Max almost had it, but the little creature entered through a small hole on an old stone fence. I saw the feral cat inserted its paw through the hall and tried to reach. It didn’t take long when the cat gave up. It stopped and quickly faced me when it felt my presence. Its green eyes are looking at me like it’s staring through my soul and judging me.

“Well, that’s quite unfortunate,” I said. The cat just keeps staring at me. I suddenly remembered the sandwiches Sister Agnes has given me a while ago. I opened up my bag and got the one I took a bite off. I tore a big chunk of it and lowered my body slowly. Max started to hiss at me. “Hey, Max, it’s okay. Oh—” I realized something. “I shouldn’t be calling you that.” I have only given the cat a name only in my mind, and somehow, I want to keep it that way. “Hey, Kitty, Kitty; I have something for you. It’s alright.” I aimed the chunk of bread and it landed in front of the black cat. At first, it was just looking at what I offered. “It’s okay, that’s tuna,” I whispered so gently. I tried to move back as quietly as I can. When I gained space, it’s the only time that the cat approached the food. “Well, then. Enjoy your food.”

I stood up and slowly walked away. It didn’t take long when I reached home. It’s a three-story old building where each floor was divided into a couple of rooms. And yes, just like what I said before; it’s dreary. The only thing that makes the place better than an eyesore is the potted plants in the small yard. Mrs. Potter, the landlady, faithfully attends to her flowers every morning. She speaks to them as they would answer her. Sometimes, she sings them songs, too. Mrs. Potter, like me, lives alone in the old building. I heard from the other tenants that her husband died of a heart attack a long time ago. Her children already left her.

Her hobby of talking a lot to her plants is quite odd, but she is a joy to speak to. I looked around and saw some star-shaped flowers. I approached them and enjoyed looking at them. It’s already Fall yet these flowers seem just starting to bloom.

“They are called asters,” a voice explained. I looked around to see Mrs. Potter is standing on the small patio. The light from a nearby lamppost illuminated her face. I shifted my gaze back at the flowers’ purple petals and bright yellow centers.

“T-they are beautiful,” I said as I look at her once again with a smile. “I never knew some flowers bloom in Autumn.”

“And now you do,’ she replied. “Anyway, what are you doing here? I bet not only just to admire my flowers… or do you?”

“Oh, I just arrived,” I explained. “and these flowers caught my attention.”

“Well, if you would look more at your left; you would see more,” she uttered. I followed what she said. My eyes widened in amazement when I saw a myriad of flowers. “Those are autumn flowers. Some bloom year-round, but they bloom exceptionally beautifully during the Autumn season.”

“Thanks for the quick lesson,” I thanked her. “but I think that’s enough flower talk for me.”

“Oh, alright,” Mrs. Potter agreed. I walked towards the small building’s doorway.

“I just wonder,” I said softly as I refrained from walking. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to breathe some fresh air,’ she replied. “That’s all. Some memories of my kids just accidentally slipped into my mind. And now, I feel the blues. But don’t you worry, I’ll be better in no time.” I watch her wave the teacup she’s holding. I nodded and headed for the doorway. I passed a couple of doors where some of the neighbors live. My place is on the second floor. As I reached the end of the stairs, the door closest to me opened. I saw Jane peeked outside. She and her husband, Earl, are the other Asians in the building. They both came from China and owns a small shop that sells Chinese-made products. Those products that they sell… Uhm, sometimes are a hit, and sometimes a miss. They gave me some to check out. Most worked amazing, and some are just plain gimmicky.

“Oh, Lance; it’s just you,” she said.

“Jane, why are you peeking outside?” I asked. “It’s quite dangerous to do that.”

“I was actually waiting for you,” she explained.

“For me?” I asked, surprised. “What for?”

“Well, Earl and I would like to ask you a favor,” she reluctantly asked.

“What is it this time? Do you want me to in charge of your shop for a couple of hours again?” I foreshadowed. “Or do you want me to take care of Blake?”

These are the only two reasons that I could think of. They either ask me to take care of their shop or take care of their son, Blake.

“The thing is… Earl and I need to go to the port,” she started to explain. “The products we ordered from our hometown would be arriving tomorrow.”

“So, you want me to take care of Blake while you are away, then,” I affirmed. “Well, it’s no big deal to me. I can help.”

I saw her face lighten the moment I said that.

“Thank you very much, Lance,” she thanked me. “I know you won’t let us down.”

“Well, you have been very good to me, too; so, I was just returning the gesture.”

“Come on in!” she invited me; holding my arm. She started to drag me inside; leaving me no choice but to follow. I saw Earl sitting on their old sofa, reading something. ‘Honey, Lance is here.”

He stopped reading and looked at me.

“Lance, my boy!” Earl beamed as he put what he was reading at the table. “I haven’t seen you for a long time.”

“Well, I, uh,” I muttered. “I have been working a lot.”

“We’re about to eat dinner. Please, join us,” Jane said as she starts to prepare.

“Oh, I don’t know if I should.” I politely declined.

“None sense!” Earl moaned. “It has always been a joy having you join us once in a while.”

“He’s right. I know the food is not enough to fill your satisfaction but this is the only way we could repay you for bugging you all the time.”

“Oh, no. That’s not what I meant,” I clarified. “I understand that you’re also in trying times like me.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll get by,” Earl tried to persuade me. He stood up and pinched my shoulder. “You have always been so polite, and that’s why I like you.” He pushed me towards the dining table.

“Jane, call your son,” Earl told her. “So, we can start.”

“Hold on,” Jane replied. “Blake! Come out of your room. It’s dinner time.” We waited for any response, but the place was filled with empty silence. “What is he doing now?” We watched Jane marched away.

“Lance, sit down,” Earl said as he pulls the chair near us and motioned me to sit down.

“Thanks,” I replied, and then, sat down. He sat down on the chair next to me. Earl and Jane are nice people. I guess their age is close to my Mom’s. Earl is like a father to me. More than the one my Mom chose to marry. It’s just less than a year, but I felt how he, and Jane, are concerned about me.

“Were you out at the streets again?” he asked me.

I nodded. “Yeah, I tried to sell my paintings again.”

“So, how was it?”

“I sold three paintings this time,” I replied proudly.

‘Oh, I almost forgot. I have something for you,” he said. I watched him stand up and walked towards the old coffee table. He picked up something under it. He went back and handed me a small rectangular box.

“W-what is this?” I asked, surprised by the random gift.

“A gift, of course,” he answered. “We heard from Mrs. Potter that it was your birthday a few days ago. You should have told us!”

“Oh, I didn’t feel the need to do so,” I said. “It’s just an ordinary day.”

“Hey, don’t say that,” he protested. I smiled and nodded. “Do you want to open your gift already?”

“Uhm, I think it’s better for me to wait for Jane and Blake,” I said.