Burning Coldness

|SEEING HIM|

Andrew was happily getting ready for the new day at school. He sighed excitedly and couldn’t stop smiling. Bridget eyed him suspiciously, Andrew was never this chirp in the morning. As far as she knows, he’d been waking up in a wrong bed. Shouting was his routine.

“You seem different this morning.” Bridget exclaimed eyeing Andrew who was getting dressed.

“I just feel good this morning.” He smiled as a sign of assurance. He won’t let her know about his plan even if that means not trusting her. He doesn’t trust anyone about keeping secrets.

“I know there is something running through your mind.” Bridget stared, checking out every inch of him.

“Loosen up a bit and stop thinking about things. You’ll get more wrinkles.” Andrew said. “What has gotten into you? When did you started intruding my business?” He added, his smile never faltered. “Have you cooked my breakfast already?” He switched the topic.

Andrew ate his breakfast quickly thinking of new ways to tease Nathaniel today. I just can’t wait to see him blushing and squirming. He is just cute. Did I just think he’s cute? Cut the crap! I have to focus on destroying him, but his cuteness distracts him. Andrew shook his head at his conflicting thoughts.

He picked up his stuff and left for school. His plan was progressing well, Nathaniel was giving more and more each day. He just needed more of a push and he will be at his mercy. Andrew figured he would seduce him and then, throw it all in Nathaniel’s face. He wasn’t sure of how to do that yet, but he was happy that the first part of his plan was advancing quite well.

However, despite Andrew convincing himself he was doing this just to get back at him, his revenge was becoming less of each day. He would catch himself thinking about Nathaniel’s blushing and how he steals glances at him when he thinks Andrew’s not looking. It made his heart swell with some unknown emotions, he just wanted to make him smile and blush every single day.

He didn’t like Nathaniel’s girlfriend, that bitchy Allyssa, stealing Nathaniel’s attention away from him yesterday. He was just in the midst of teasing him, and then she interrupted.

Andrew got to school in no time, since Nathaniel consumed him every awake moment now. He smiled happily again at the thought of seeing the handsome blonde. His hear started racing faster than a bullet train as he approached the history classroom. He wiped his smile forcefully off his face, and his indifferent mask in place. He didn’t want Nathaniel to notice how excited he was to see him. He scanned the room, but Nathaniel was nowhere to be seen. He’s probably just late, Andrew sat in their desk, trying to keep him cool.

However, he was fidgeting nervously with his pen, not able to calm his heartbeat. The class started, and he still wasn’t here. Andrew sighed in disappointment, his heartbeat gradually regaining its usual rhythm.

Where is he? Andrew wondered, loosing every interest in the class. He didn’t see Nathaniel the entire day. He was looking for him everywhere, and every flash of blonde hair made his heart race, and then hurt in disappointment when it wasn’t him.

Andrew couldn’t question his feelings, he couldn’t, and instead he convinced himself it was just so he can make his revenge on the right track. His wrapped logic didn’t make any sense, not even to him, and he knew it somewhere deep down, but he could never let his conscious self-admit that.

***

Nathaniel was moping around for two days. He lied into his parents saying that he wasn’t feeling well. He couldn’t bear to see anyone, not Allyssa and not even Andrew. He needed more time to think without any distractions and decides what to do. It was Friday in the afternoon, today was the day he was supposed to let Andrew about his decision.

What is Andrew thinking now? Is the deal on the table, maybe he was too pissed at me for not showing my face at school for two days, isn’t he? Nathaniel mused himself as he was getting dressed. He made his final decision.

After that initial shock of realizing that he was in love with Andrew, he thought about everything carefully. He was head over heels for his enemy, that was certain, but he wondered what Andrew wanted from him. What did he feel towards him? Nathaniel knew this was risky, but he had to find out, he wanted to find out.

Why is he pursuing me forcefully? He has to feel something for me, too. Nathaniel pondered as he waited to hail a cab. He knew he was putting himself out there, he will be vulnerable, bare in front of Andrew but he wanted this, he wanted Andrew. He wanted to strip off all of his covers, his defensive icy mask and discover the guy beneath. He has seen tiny flashes of that brunet and he wanted more. He wanted to know his inside out, his every desire, every travail, every felicity, he wanted all of him.

He had to believe that there is something more to Andrew than being clamant, he had to believe that his essence is as beautiful as his exterior. Otherwise, all of this, all off his love would be for nothing, life would be playing a cruel joke on him, and that was completely unacceptable.

He took a deep breathe, wiped his clammy hands on his pants and pressed the doorbell. He heard footsteps approaching.

This is it Nathaniel, his heart was threatening to jump out his chest as the door creaked open.

“Yes? How I can help you?” A lady in the midst of 30’s with heavy Spanish accent stood at the doorway.

“Hello.” He said in his American accent.

“Could I speak with Andrew, please?” He managed to smile at the lady who was judging by his uniform. Andrew’s maid. Affluent clans, Nathaniel thought to himself.

“Come inside, I will go get Andrew.” The maid led him to the spacious living room. Nathaniel looked at the love seat, memories washing over him, causing blush to creep him up.

“Nathaniel, there you are!” Low, tentative voice uttered behind him.

He turned around to see Andrew standing at the edge of the handrail. He looked surprised and bit sad. Nathaniel’s heart started beating faster at the sight. He smiled softly at Andrew, glad that he wasn’t telling him to get lost yet.

“I didn’t know you were sleeping. I shouldn’t have come here.” Nathaniel softy while walking towards him timidly. He stood in front of him, invading his personal space, leaving just couple of inches between them. He wanted to kiss him right there, but he was scared of his reaction and also, he didn’t want to do it in there for his maid was still around and might see them.

“What brings you here?” Andrew asked him, little frown on his face, as if he was surprised of his sudden appearance.

Nathaniel reached his cheek, caressing slightly, “You know the reasons.” He whispered to him, not being able to suppress a smile as he noticed Andrew shivering under his touch.

Andrew smiled then, it seemed like a genuine smile, not the faked ones he would give to everyone, and it warmed Nathaniel’s heart. He leaned to kiss him, he couldn’t wait any longer. No matter what happens from now on, he will try to melt Andrew’s heart and claim it as him.

He came. He wants me. Andrew beamed at Nathaniel not believing this was happening. He accepted defeat already. He was mad at Nathaniel for rejecting him again, and he took it out on everyone else. He wanted to scream and destroy, but most of all he wanted to cry, and Andrew Harriet never cried no matter how heavy the situation is.

But now, that he was here, Andrew felt like he could breathe again. Nathaniel seemed happy too, and he looked at him in a really weird way, not completely lustful, his eyes were warm and gentle, and it caused flutter inside Andrew’s chest. Nathaniel leaned in to kiss him, and Andrew almost let it happen when he remembers Bridget. He didn’t want her to see and caught us in the act.

“Stay put.” He said to Nathaniel and went to find his maid.

“Bridget, you can take the rest of the day off. I will be fine.” He said to his maid, not able to suppress a smile.

Bridget eyed him suspiciously again, surprised at the drastic change of his mood, considering Andrew was in a hellish mood just moments ago. However not wanting to pry too much, and seeing his young master happy again, he accepted the dismissal without further any ado and questions.