THE DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE

CHAPTER 3.3 MAY WE MEET AGAIN

George carried him out of the lake so preciously, Sam could barely feel his weight, and George held him so gently, like he was holding something so priceless. He was held for like a minute, but it felt like forever. Leaving behind a beautiful memory. To Sam, romantic attraction was a new, unexplored ground, and in his tiny mind, he believed he was ready to explore. He wanted to explore. Sam wanted to feel more of what he’d felt that day. He believed it was love.

The following day, when the sun was almost at midday, he crept back to the lake looking for the handsome stranger he had met the day before. He was anxiously waiting for mid-noon, the whole morning, the exact same time he had met him. Sam arrived early and did not expect that George would be right behind him, watching his creepy moves.

As usual, George was walking towards his secret spot after a hard morning's training when he saw a small figure acting suspiciously. As he got near, he recognized the boy and walked right up to him. Sam was so engrossed in getting a glimpse of the man that he did not notice the figure approaching right behind him.

''What are you doing?'' George asked loudly, his deep voice cutting the silent afternoon like thunder, shocking Sam out of his wits. He had not intended to sound so loud and scary, but it just came out that way. His deep voice couldn't be manipulated. He felt a little sorry for the boy's panicked look. He needed to learn to control his voice, especially if he went back to the palace, where everyone was naturally trained to scheme.

Sam had not expected George to appear from behind him. He got startled, tripped on the reeds, and fell butt down, releasing a hissing sound from pain, and prompting a smile, then a giggle out of George.

''Come on, get up.'' He said and leaned in, stretching his hand out to help Sam stand up. Sam looked up and came face to face with George's gorgeous face smiling at him, and he couldn't help but smile back. Sam kept smiling at him sweetly, which made George curious.

''Is there something on my face?'' George asked, raising his eyebrows questioningly.

"You have a beautiful smile," Sam uttered almost immediately, childishly. Like he was just waiting to be asked. ''You should smile more.''

''Ooh, really?'' George scoffed sarcastically and turned his face away. He couldn't let Sam know how pleased he felt. He wasn’t accustomed to receiving such pleasant compliments.

Only then did George realize that his walls were down. He realized he was smiling. He had forgotten the last time he smiled genuinely. The young boy had unleashed something within him. He couldn't explain, but it was beautiful. Sam was charming his way into his heart.

''You do understand you are not allowed to be here?'' he said, gazing at Sam.

''What? 'Really, why?'' Sam asked innocently, totally clueless about the ban.

"This area is restricted. You will get into trouble. "You really shouldn’t be here'' George explained, but Sam was not having it. Too spoiled and stubborn. He answered brazenly.

''Me? No way there is no place I can’t enter.'' Sam brags openly. Showing off his little power.

''If this place is restricted, why are you here? ''Curious, Sam suddenly asked.

George looked at Sam, amazed by his pure and innocent personality, then felt a little reluctant to push him away. His companionship was not that bad, and he didn’t feel the need to be on guard against him.

He held his hand against his mouth, leaned down to match Sam's height, and whispered to Sam. "I also sneaked in. If we get caught, we both get into trouble.''

Sam giggled at that and then suddenly held George’s hand and pulled him towards the lake. ''Before we get caught, let's have fun,'' Sam suggested, happily pulling him along like a fellow friend, completely ignoring his body size and George's mature appearance, let alone the difference in their age gap

The sudden touch bewildered George, but he embraced it and just went along with the boy, his gaze directed at the boy. His cold and unapproachable aura kept many away from him, but not the boy who acted all familiar with him, like they already knew each other.

As days went by, they sat by the lake under the umbrella tree and talked about their favorite things. And when the heat got extreme, they swam in the lake together. They had intimate conversations, mostly just Sam talking and George being curious as to how Sam’s life was so different from his; he listened. George was lured in by Sam’s teasing voice and how his eyes lit up when he was trying to make a point. The innocence he was robbed of.

Sometimes they just held hands and admired the lake together. The lake had beautiful, romantic scenery. At exactly midday, the mountain would shadow the sunlight, giving shade and a cool breeze beside the lake. Then was the time they enjoyed each other's company the most. They lay on their backs, feeling the gentle breeze, and tried to identify the sounds they heard. Making beautiful memories.

“You know I am better at this than you,” George teased. He was indeed better at identifying sounds; he had years of experience and training, but Sam would not believe it.

"No, I am better." Sam bragged, beating out his small chest.

George smiled at how cute Sam was and said, "Okay, listen, tell me what you hear."

"Okay,” Sam listened, but all he could hear were birds chirping.

"Just that," George mocked, smug with himself. "I can hear a car driving into the hotel, exactly ten soldiers on the field, and two hikers are coming up the mountain. They are carrying something heavy."

"You can identify all that," Sam asked, astonished at his talent.

"Will you teach me?" he asked, excitement filling his tone. He stretched out his left hand and held George's right hand.

George turned to his side, smiling back at Sam, and whispered in his ear. "Yes, I will teach you everything that I know."

Sam’s first approach to holding hands with George was an innocent and warm act that George welcomed eagerly, craving connection.

''My family is very different from yours. I haven’t been home in a very long time.'' He said, feeling empty, staring out far into the distance with a pained expression, his voice rough with emotion. “And I have no plans of going back anytime soon.”

George didn’t like to remember or talk about his family. The topic was like a blank, white sheet of paper, and he lacked the words to write on it. He was envious of Sam’s tight family relations, even though he seemed to come from an equally powerful family.

Sam had shyly and very sweetly asked if they could hold hands, which in time eventually turned into a habit. They held hands at every opportunity they got. The hours spent apart dragged cruelly slower than when they were together.

Sam did not have a close friend like George, so he assumed that was how it felt to have a best friend. He didn't understand what was happening to him; it was more than that. The feelings he was having were more than just friendly emotions, but one thing was clear: he did not want to share George with anyone or get separated from him. George belonged to him. He’d thought they would be together forever. They were so engrossed in each other that they didn’t notice how fast the days had moved on. And time was no longer on their side.

The lake area, being a restricted ground, kept unwanted guests away, and it became their secret hideout. They always met by the lake when the sun was at its highest every day. The feelings between them got so strong that they would sometimes communicate with each other by just gazing into each other's eyes. What's even more amazing is that they never gave a thought to inquire about each other's identity. Sam was so happy he’d forgotten that there was an end to everything.

A day before his departure, George arrived early at their secret spot and organized a picnic date.

To Sam, it might have just been a picnic, but George knew it was more than that; he wanted it to be special. He was leaving, and not knowing when he would get a chance to come back to the country, he wanted to share a special memory with Sam and also tell him his identity. He was so excited, he’d never been so close to anyone, and when Sam came along, he became ecstatic. He could finally connect with someone. Comparing Sam to a rare exotic creature.

The very moment he was born, he was titled the crown prince and then separated from his mother. They assumed the bond between the mother and son would turn him soft. At age five, he was already reading and writing. At age twelve, he was shipped to a special training facility where he trained day and night and carried out dangerous missions for his kingdom.