Theory Of The Constant Melody

CHAPTER 15

SNUGGLING UP ON THE BED and the plush velvet blanket covering his body underneath, I heard Acherous groan and waggle his head slowly.

“C-cyan…” he spoke gutturally.

Viewing him for about ten minutes is not too bad since laying my eyes on him makes me in the seventh heaven.

“Cyan… I’m so sorry,” he murmured and held the flat sheet then adjusted it downwards. He may feel unpleasantly warm under the sheet. Maybe it’s maybe the cause of alcohol intake.

I’m happy as a flea in a doghouse hearing those words from his own mouth.

Sitting with knees far apart, I clasped my hands in the air right in front of my chest while elbows relaxed against my knees. Then, I looked through the window, and the serenade of dark sky with the stars regard to be the chorus of a music which its lights are the melody and rhythm. I always need to see the moon—or even just the stars—that brings tranquillity to my within. My ears always need songs, do my eyes also which the more somber the night is more ecstatic the songs.

“Cuddle me… please?” I heard Acherous once again. “Bro…” he added wheezily.

I turned to him and held my shoulders back. I plastered a smile on my face and stood up silently. I padded to the bed and sat down gently. Divesting myself of slippers, I laid down with my feet lifted up to the bed.

Forthwith, Acherous wrapped his arms around my abdomen with a side position.

“Cyan…” he groaned.

The smell of his manly scent blended with the aromatic mint to struggle keeping down his spew was sniffled by my nose.

“Cyan…” he mumbled and rubbed his hand against my flank. Afterwards, he rode up the side vent of hem of my polo shirt.

Looking him straightly in the eyelid, my heart suddenly pounded out of my chest as he opened his eyes to meet my gaze.

“Ache…” I muttered.

With no having full consciousness, I instantly got carried away when he felt me up by rubbing gently his hand against my abdomen.

“Bro…” I said throatily.

Soon after that, he altered his position to supine and looked up to the ceiling. Immediately, he unfastened the buttons of his grey collar shirt, and I saw how the bulky lump in his throat surged.

Next, applying a force with his right arm, he slightly sat up and scrutinized my face. “Cyan…” he whispered.

“Ache…” I murmured and gulped as he parted his lips together then licked those.

After a moment of seconds, he sat up with a haunch and precipitously knelt with his knees laid on the bed adjacent to my waist.

He took off his collar shirt and—

I was roused from my profound sleep when heard a thinly loud thud that seemed to be a book that fell on the floor. My heart suddenly throbbed so fast. I just thought of someone broke in and robbed anything he would see. But I remembered at once that there was nothing valuable than Acherous. I just found myself smiling with the idea.

I rubbed my forehead as if to ward off a headache and slowly opened my eyes only to find out that my eyes immediately fell on Acherous’ naked back.

If my memory serves me well—or just a recall of my dreams—I looked away and chewed on my bottom lip. Next, I moved my right arm down next to my body to turn my back on him. I felt my face burning, and a smile slipped from my lips.

It was just a freaking dream. That was almost.

The line of my sight was beyond his standpoint, but when I heard light treads, I assumed that he’s heading past my bed.

“Did I wake you up?” I heard him ask.

I stared into space and outstretched my arm. “You noticed?”

“Of course. And sorry, the book fell accidentally,” he apologized.

We looked at each other a little too long, and he averted himself shyly.

“Bro, not a big deal.” Before I could reach my phone on the bedside table, I yawned then covered my mouth with a palm.

“By the way…” He directed his gaze to me and hesitantly beamed. “… thank you for bringing me here safely. I was extremely drunk last night,” he expressed.

I nodded and smiled back at him. “Bro, there was nothing to worry about. As I’ve told you last time, I’ve got your back.”

“Always, bro. Always.”

THE FOLLOWING DAYS WERE ARDUOUS, constantly synchronous with misty clouds and heavy rainfall.

And fortunately, things were doing well between me and Acherous. I was excited the past days for he treated me steak every night. He actually got back at me with these things.

I quickened up my pace as the flashing sheets of drops cascading down my skin.

“Cyan…” someone called behind me. “Cyan…” he repeated; his voice became increasingly loud, quite strident.

Walking to a halt, I looked at the back and kept a steady grip of the strap of my bag.

“Don’t you have an umbrella, Cyan?” Acherous inquired shortly after running up to me.

“Uh… I don’t want to unfurl it. It might get sick,” I larked and gave him a half-suppressed laugh.

“Mischievous,” he commented and sniggered.

“Just kidding. Come on. Hurry up. The rain will surely get heavier.”

“Let’s pop in for a coffee across the avenue. I tried there two days ago, and I could say that it was relaxing. My treat,” he invited.

I creased my eyebrows and swung at him but missed. “I still have a duty,” I reasoned out.

“No worries, bro. I texted your boss earlier that you wouldn’t set out for work.”

“What?” I exclaimed. “Dusty doughnuts! Bro, I have to work, especially now that we must pay our rental and fee at school,” I explained.

“Leave everything up to me.”

“What?” I pressed my lips together and let out an exasperating sigh.

“I’ll make it clear when we arrive in the coffee shop, bro. Let’s go.”

I stroked my hand against the nape of my neck and hissed. Besides, there’s nothing I can do but able to cope with his plan. Otherwise, I would be fiddling away in the apartment since I’m already against the clock for my duty. Furthermore, it can be the best time to officially bury the hatchet—with no grime of pique—for the sake of our brotherhood and cordiality.

We passed by the Lomitas Avenue on-board a cab after deciding upon due to the sudden poured down of harsh raindrops with a succession of loud roar of thunder.

Meanwhile, the driver pulled over the car down the alley.

I looked out the window only to discover that we’re in the recently opened coffee shop with its intriguing façade.

“Bro, how much?” I asked for the fare after giving him an once-over.

He gesticulated his hand to stop me drawing out cash. “No, I’ll treat you to this.”

Attempting to refuse doesn’t work; hence, I signalled Acherous that I’d better drop before him.

I pushed the door outwardly and ran fast in order not to get soaked then hung on in a jiff at the threshold.

Immediately, he got off the cab, and his feet pounded the tarmac as he scudded with hands clasping on his head.

“Let’s get in, bro.” He led the way and pushed inwardly the hinged single glass door.

Setting feet on the entrance, the floral scent got stuck in my nose as the smell was evocative. I sized up everyone here before riveting my sight to the transparent stone, flower pattern bar counter.

Then, I examined every corner of the place just to determine the beauty of gothic-themed with its architectural woods designed on the wall. It’s way too wide than the average occupancy of the shop.

Furthermore, the neo-classical elliptical tables are properly designated around the space with wingback chairs.

Afterwards, I had a gander at Acherous.

“Any comment about this place?” he asked when peeped at me then drew his sight to the uppermost part of the area. “Get a load off that,” he added.

When I took a glance of it, I saw a loop shaped like a rainbow with pastel dusts inside. The splashing of it gives the most splendid view of the blended hues.

“That’s the reason why I’d very like you to be my company, bro. Aside from the ambiance is relaxing, I believe that raining is your favorite weather,” he resumed talking and slung his arm around my shoulder.

Then, he pulled me closer that created tremendous palpitation in my heart, as well as the… butterflies in my stomach which was unusual to occur.

“Bro, let’s catch up on everything we had missed all the while. And… I owe you an apology,” he uttered and genuinely smiled at me.

“You’ve apologized a million times. Like really, bro? And without asking me an apology, I always forgive you… every single sin you do. And besides, you owe me a treat for days now.”

“Right,” he replied and painted a winsome smile.

I quickly tousled his hair that made him groan in dissatisfaction. I grinned and nodded.

“Stop messing my hair, it’s disgusting.”

We just laughed and queued in line.

STIRRING MY ESPRESSO with the spoon, I gazed at Acherous who’s looking out the glass fence of the shop.

“Bro, I really doubt if you meant to say that you sent a message to—”

“Yes, I did.” He stared at me and pinched his nose due to onset of colds. “And…” he paused and uncertainly plastered a smile on his face.

“And?” I inquired, snapping my eyebrows together.

“Don’t get it serious and personal, but I all paid the rental for the fourth quarter of the apartment and… our fees at school.” He couldn’t maintain making eye contact with me, and his expression dulled.

My forehead crumpled. “Dusty doughnuts…” I murmured with emphasis.

“Don’t get offended, bro. It’s my mom who told—”

“Bro, you know from the start that I am working for all my needs…” I grimaced and let out an irritating sigh.

“My mom already misses you even Maricris. They wanted to talk you, but we were not in good terms that time. I just said that you’re busy. That’s why my mom transferred money to my bank account to pay all our fees and bills,” he elaborated.

Slumping my shoulders, I drifted down my palm across my face and gnashed my teeth.

Honestly, I don’t like to feel this way, but I was driven to belittlement of myself.

“Bro, you could have refused. Not being practical, but I felt humiliated by injuring my capability to… pay.”

“I’m sorry, bro. Mom actually forced me to do so. I know you. You’re a type of person who could be strategic just to earn money. I am so sorry.” He jutted out his lips and bowed his head down.

I hissed due to his abrupt action; hence, I hit him in the head and gave him a dirty look. “Bro, act your age. So childish.”

He stared at me and nibbled on his bottom lip and therewith, a smile escaped from his lips.

“So, are we now okay?” he asked.

“I’ll just see your mom real soon. She told me last time she would visit us. I just wanna thank her.”

Without further time intervening us, my heart beat so rapidly, and I couldn’t contain the joyfulness playing in my heart.

“Okay… let me call on Acherous Miller to come over here for an intermission number together with his best friend right right there,” a feminine voice announced.

I creased my eyebrows and looked at Acherous who’s beaming and meanwhile, he stood up and signalled me to do the same thing.

“Let’s just sing, bro,” he spoke. “I’ve sung last time here. Besides, you’re great at singing, aren’t you?”

“No,” I replied.

“I don’t give you damn options.” He turned his back from me and walked past by the tables ahead of us. As he reached the counter, he mouthed to me, “Please.”

I left with no choice but to go after him.

As I stood up, I caught everyone’s attention settled on me. I edged toward him as he got a guitar and microphone from the crew.

Upon reaching, Acherous handed over the blue wireless microphone and smiled at me.

I faced the crowd, and without inquiring him what to sing, I familiarized the melody at once.

“If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea… I’ll sail the world to find you… if you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can’t see… I’ll be the light to guide you…” I sang.

“Find out what we’re made of… when we are called to help our friends in need…”

“You can count on me like one two three… I’ll be there… and I know when I need it I can count on you like four three two… you’ll be there…” people sang along with me.

I looked at Acherous who’s watching me while strumming the guitar emotionally.

“Cause that’s what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah…” we sang.

Friendship… the constant melody. Nothing more, nothing else. Just best friend, and this hurts.