Listen To The Compass Of Your Heart

Chapter 8

Before leaving the Village, Jake instructed the Villagers to visit the facility in the military camp at any time regarding health issues. Jake also told them to clean the surroundings the following days with the help of the soldiers.

The residents become fond of Jake and his team. Especially the kids that seem to enjoy receiving a reward after a check-up. Thanks to Doctor Megan who brought tons of candies and chocolates. Of course, Jake didn't forget to remind the children to brush their teeth after eating sweets.

_____

Jakes's team visits the village once every week to instruct the villagers about proper hygiene and how they could prevent common illnesses and diseases from spreading.

Simple remedies that can be found at home and in the surroundings. Enlighten the residents with some herbal medicines that they can plant and grow in their backyards and their usefulness.

Adnan's wound has completely healed and Adnan could freely run like a horse again with the other kids.

Jake is very pleased, he is finally doing what he loves. Serving people that truthfully needed help. Lack of medical attention and its difficult to reach.

after his latest visit, Jake bid Goodbye to the Villagers and told them he couldn't visit often as they were visiting other villages as well.

"Thank you, Doctor Jake, thank you for healing my wound," Adnan spoke in Kurdish.

"You are welcome, buddy." Jake loves ruffling the boy's hair. "Be careful while playing, okay?"

"Yes, Doctor," Adnan smiled and took something from his back. "For you," Adnan gives him a small bouquet of various flowers he plucked somewhere from their garden.

"Flowers?" Jake's brows furrowed, why is Adnan giving him flowers? Jake was more surprised when children line up holding stems of flowers and then give them to everyone including the soldiers.

The soldiers were hesitant but they still accept the flowers and thanked the residents. The village now is cleaner and it's safe for children to play and run around without the dangers of hazardous rusty metals and debris from the explosives.

"Thank you for helping us!" The residents in unison.

***

It's been three months already since Jake's team stepped in Kurdistan; time flies sure so fast.

"Good morning guys, what are you watching there at this hour?" Jake asked, although he already knew the answer. They looked like enjoying the show they were watching.

"Good morning Jake." Greeted back, Nigel, Shena, Tricia, and Ava without sparing him a single glance. Their eyes were rather glued to the things they were watching. Jake followed their eyes and no wonder. Jakes shakes his head. The soldiers were doing their morning routine exercise. Running half-naked with their boyleg short.

"Jake chuckles and left them alone. He wanders inside the camp premises looking for better network signals to call his family and Brent. Jake went to the ruined dwelling and climb to the top.

"Finally, a better network signal," Jake mumbles and calls his sister. They just talk randomly like how's the job doing, how're their parents doing and so on... Amber ended the call after a few minutes since she has to go back on duty. Jake calls Brent after, he misses Brent very, very much. Brent is a bank manager. He could always call Brent anytime if he isn't busy.

"It feels like a decade already, babe." Brent sighed, they were on video calls.

"Babe, It's just three months, I miss you too, so much. But you know, I have to finish my mission here, right?"

"I know that babe, I know. It's just... it feels so cold at night without you." I'm not used to it, babe." Brent Complained

"Well, you can hug my pillow instead, put my clothes on the bolster and think of it as me." Jake chuckles at his naughty suggestion.

"I already did that babe, I even sprayed your favorite cologne. But it's not enough babe, there's no warmth on it and I can't kiss a pillow, you know?" Said Brent, laughing a bit.

"Of course, you can, babe. You can even f**k the pillow if you want." They both laugh at Jake's shenanigans. Brent and Jake talked until Brent's break time was over.

Jake took a selfie and sent it to Brent through messenger. He even took a picture of their camp and sent it to Brent. Jake shares everything with Brent. From the smallest things to the biggest.

They were together for more than 10 years. Brent and Jake met during High School when they were fourteen years old third-year students. They were each other's first love, and last love maybe. That's what they promised to each other.

They were only fifteen years old when they started dating. Brent and Jake had gone through so many difficulties. From getting out of the closet, facing both their family's wrath and society's judgment. Nonetheless, they remain strong and each other strengths.

Later on, their families finally acknowledge their relationship on the condition that they were finished their studies and proved that their relationship won't hinder them from reaching their life goals and dreams.

Jake became a Doctor, just like he's always dreamed of. He became the best surgeon of his age whilst Brent become a bank manager just like he always dreamed of.

It has only been three years ago since they start living together. Brent and Jake are living their dream life together and consider each other as their lifetime confidante. Jake misses Brent so much.

Jake, decided to get back to the post. He rose from sitting at the edge of the ruined dwelling but was startled when he twirled around and Aiden was standing before him with unfathomable facial expressions.

Jake lost his balance and almost fell, but Aiden is fast enough to grab Jake's waist pulling him close to his.

"Be careful!" Said Aiden, Jake feels like the world suddenly stopped revolving. His mind was empty, and a lump in his throat built up. He feels like his heart stopped beating and could only stare at Aiden's enchanting beautiful ocean blue eyes.

"Ahem! Jake," Aiden cleared his throat getting Jake's attention. Jake's soul seems to come back into his body. Heat crawled all over him and spread through his face creating pinkish taints on his cheeks. Jake now realizes their position is a bit intimate.

Their groins were brushing against each other under the garments. They both could feel something heating up down there as their swellings rub against each other, rather hard. Aiden was still holding onto his waistline securely while their free hand was linked.

"Oh, I-"

"Don't move!" Said Aiden as they were still at the edge of the ruin. Jake looked back and suddenly his feet gets chilled. rubble was falling from where he was standing 20 feet above the ground. Aiden lifted him, Jake wrapped his arms around Aiden's neck as Aiden carry him to the safe area before putting him down on his feet.

"T-Thanks, Aiden," Jake said meekly. he was embarrassed. However, there is something in Aiden's eyes Jake couldn't decipher.

"Why do you have to sit at that dangerous place of all places?!" Said Aiden rather loud. anger evident in his tone. Jake frowned, he doesn't like it.

"That's because you startled me! I was supposed to get back to the post and you suddenly popped up there in front of me! If you didn't show up suddenly then we're not in that kind of possession!" Jake retorted with the same high-pitched tone.

"What?! You're blaming me, now? If I hadn't been here, what if you fell from there?! huh? Just to... just to... And, and– ugh! Damn it!" Aiden couldn't continue his words and instead punched the concrete wall beside Jake. Jake flinched from Aiden's violent action.

"A-Aiden," Jake stuttered

"What!" Aiden yells at him and Jake shivers in fear.

"I-I–" Jake is having a hard time forming his words as his eyes begin to water. Jake ran away leaving Aiden alone. This was the first time Aiden yelled at him and truthfully, Jake was scared of him for the first time.

"What's his problem?" Jake thought. He ran back to his room and covered his face with a pillow.

___

"f**k! You stupid asshole!" Aiden mocked himself and punched the walls again and again before plunging his but on the ground. "Great! You scared him! What now?" Aiden ran his hand through his hair and face. He clenched his fist forming into a ball and hit himself. "Foolish a$$hole!"

Earlier, Aiden saw Jake climbing into the ruined dwelling. He followed Jake and hid behind the wall. He didn't mean to eavesdrop, he was about to tell Jake to get down since the place is dangerous and may collapse at any time. But when he heard Jake talking sweetly with Brent; Aiden stopped approaching him and thought of waiting for Jake until he finished talking with Brent. However, their sweetness is so much for Aiden, Aiden with his hopeless desire. Aiden wishes he was the one in Brent's shoes.

Aiden wishes that he was the one kissing Jake instead of that damn phone screen. Aiden wishes he was the one hugging Jake to sleep instead of that damn photo frame of Brent that was displayed on Jake's nightstand. Aiden is hopelessly in love with Jake, but he doesn't have the guts to confide his feelings toward Jake.

He doesn't want to scare Jake. He just wants to go enjoy being with Jake until their mission is over and eventually Jake will go back to his home country and his boyfriend's arms. Aiden knows his place, he's just a military escort in Jake's heart. Regardless, Aiden can't stop loving the Doctor secretly. And his heart hurts whenever Jake talks lovingly with Brent.

There were times when Aiden was tempted to do something with Jake. Like the last time, he saw Jake sleeping while sitting on his chair and resting his head on the table. Jake's parted lips were so tempting for Aiden. Aiden caresses Jake's hair and without him realizing their faces were just half an inch apart. Aiden retreats immediately before Jake wakes up.

When Jake had a fever last month, Aiden was the one who took care of him when his colleagues were busy attending to patients. He saw Jake hug Brent's photo frame during his sleep and even mumbles his name. Aiden wants to shut Jake's lips with his. But Aiden manages to restrain himself. He couldn't possibly molest a sick man.

All Aiden could do was love him secretly even if it was hurting him.

"I'm sorry," Aiden mumbles in the air hoping it could reach Jake's heart.

***

The rest of the day has been awkward between Jake and Aiden. Jake is avoiding meeting Aiden's eyes. Talks only when it's needed and even avoids skin contact with Aiden. They seem natural in others' eyes but not with Aiden. Aiden isn't comfortable with it and he doesn't like it. The thing he has avoiding to happen is now happening.

"What's up with you two?" Ashlan asked Aiden. They were standing not far from the medical team facility– leaning against the army jeep.

"I pretty f**k up today! He's avoiding me," replied Aiden

"What did you do to him to avoid you like a plague?" Ashlan chuckles at his captain's f**k up face.

"I yelled at him...I scared him, Ash. I made him cry." Aiden tells Ashlan honestly.

"And then?" Ashlan raised one eyebrow.

"What?" Aiden throws him a confused reaction.

"Oh, come on man, have you ever tried talking to him, I mean asking forgiveness?"

"How can I do that if he's avoiding me?" Aiden scoffs and Ashlan chuckles. Aiden's knuckles are covered with bandages. Poor walls. His face has a band-aid stick on it as he punches himself as well after Jake has left.

"Geez, are you a teenager going through puberty?" Ashlan mocked him. "Just a sincere apology, I think that would be enough. Doctor Ellis is a good and understanding man."

"I know, but–"

"No, but, captain." Ashlan snapped at him. "By the way, we're going to the town tomorrow. You might want to bring Doctor Ellis and maybe... You know, show him around, treat him to a nice restaurant, buy him gifs?" Ashlan whispers the last phrases.

"Will he agree?" Aiden asked and Ashlan facepalm himself. "MashAllah!" Ashlan muttered. "Where is the coolest captain Khan? Who is this dumb captain in front of me?" Ashlan grumbled earning a head smack from Aiden.

"What are they talking about?" Jake murmurs as he catches a glimpse of Aiden and Ashlan bantering.

"Did you say something, Doc.?" Asked Doctor Raffa who popped up out of nowhere. Raffa is one of the anesthesiologists on Jake's team.

"Nothing, I'm just hungry," replied Jake and Raffa frowned at him. Raffa followed the direction where Jake was staring earlier.

"Ahem!" Raffa cleared his throat. "Have you and the captain fought?"

"No! absolutely not! What is there to fight about? Who does he think he is?! Hmp!" Jake blabbers

"I see," Raffa raised his brows and bobbed his head.

"You're not good at lying, Doc." Raffa chuckled and patted Jake on the back.