Let me be...

Your hardest goodbye

Mark greets Ohm with a smile, both of them ignorant of the man looking at the scene from a car in the distance.

The hazel-eyed man enters the house and closes the door behind him as he's invited to take a seat in the living room.

He gladly takes the cup of coffee he's offered and takes a sip from it. It had been a while since the last time he had tasted such a good, dark coffee and he points it out to the man who prepared it.

"No problem, man. You haven't been sleeping well, have you?" The American asks, sitting on the couch in front of his guest.

"Not really. I haven't found a job yet. I think I'll have to move out from Ireland." Ohm informs sadly, warming his hands with the heated cup. "What about that little business you once told me about?"

The red-haired man sighs.

"I-It's complicated."

"I listen."

"Ok." Mark clears his throat before continuing. "Do you know about that hotel by the outers of the city?" He waits until his companion answers.

"The one with the whores and stuff?" He asks with curiosity.

"Er-Yes." The other whispers, trying not to feel offended by the brown-haired man used. "I've talked with the owner. He's been trying to sell it since a couple of years ago. But no one wants to buy it due to. . . Exactly what you sad. . . The whores and stuff." He concludes, flinching at his own words.

Ryan scoffs. "Are you telling me that you want to buy it?"

Mark nods, pursing his lips together before explaining himself. "I know, it's a bad idea. But I have the money already. I've just been saving up more for the personnel, some restructuring and what not."

The man opposite from him takes a deep breath. "It's not a bad idea, it's just. . . Very risky. The building is perfectly located, but the locals' opinion will influence outrageously." He admits, drinking a little more of the hot beverage. "Although," He adds, "it might be a better option than trying fate somewhere else."

Ohm's conclusion makes Mark smile. He hadn't even considered getting some help from him, but he's more than gladly to have it.

He has already concluded his business course successfully. However, he still doubts that his skills as a business manager will be enough.

"I'll have a meeting with the owner in three days. It'd be great if you could join."

"Sure." He agrees, stretching his tired arms, his bones cracking with the movement. "Oh God." He chuckles, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Is it true that you give the best massages in Ireland?" He asks with a smile.

Mark scoffs, mentally cursing his best friend before answering.

"I mean, I'm not that good. But yeah, you look miserable."

"Hey!" The taller says mockingly. "But yeah, thank you."

The guest finishes the rest of his coffee in one sip before he's motioned to follow Mark towards a room in the back of the house.

Ohm takes off his coat and shirt, placing them on a table by the entrance.

"Make yourself comfortable." Mark says as he washes his hands.

The Irish nods before laying down on the massaging bed in the middle.

An old, calming song is heard through the speakers of a stereo as the host starts rubbing his back.

"You've been very stressed lately, haven't you?" The American asks, surprised by how tensed the muscles are under his soft touch.

Ohm lets out a bitter laugh. "Absolutely." He sighs, "I was really considering leaving this place and that involved leaving my little Brycey behind. . . It was a completely new beginning and I'm still not sure if it was worth it. I could lose everything."

"I know the feeling."

"Anyways, is this how you've got all that money, if I may ask? Because holy s**t, you're good." He says with a smooth hum afterwards.

Mark's mouth hangs open for a while as he tries to come out with a reasonable lie.

"Not really." He clears his throat. "I got it from a heritage."

"Huh, what a lucky man."

"Yeah. . ." The brown-eyed man mutters, wanting to change the subject as fast as possible. "How did you meet Luke? He never told me."

"At work, I think." He responds questionably. "I took care of some stuff for Leo Mullins and he helped me." Mark's fingers twitch after hearing that name, but he shrugs it off, as Ryan continues with his story. "We then casually found each other at an arcade. I was with Bryce too and we've been playing games together since then."

"Have you met his son?" He asks, pouring a small portion of oil on his hand, attempting to move on to a topic that makes him feel a little happier.

"He's the cutest person I know. . . Besides Bryce, of course." Ohm says with a chuckle. "Talking about the devil." He adds as his phone goes off, correctly guessing who is the one calling him. "Sorry."

"It's ok." Mark reassures him as he excuses himself out of the room.

Terell leans back on the table next to the sink and looks up at the ceiling before smiling.

He's so close to reach that goal he set a while ago and he finds that unbelievably exciting and frightening at the same time.

He feels more relieved now that Ohm has offered his support. However, he's still insecure as to how that will influence his current, weird relationship.

"Man, I'm really sorry, but something came up." The taller apologizes once again, stepping in the room and grabbing his stuff. "I have to go."

Mark, after being snapped out of his thoughts, takes a towel and quickly cleans his friend's back. "No worries. Hope it's nothing bad."

Ohm sighs deeply. "Thank you, Mark. I'll pay you later, ok?" He says, not really expecting an answer as he's too hurried to wait for one.

The Irish walks to the front door, still fixing the collar of his white shirt as he steps outside.

Terell would have normally offered to take him to wherever he needed to go, but he has something else to do.

As Ryan runs down the street, the red-haired man gets ready for his date tonight.

After he's taken a shower and put on clean clothes, he looks at the mirror in his bedroom. He didn't sleep last night and it's noticeable.

With a sigh, he steps back from the cold surface and focuses his attention on his phone that has been going off for a couple of seconds.

"Whenever you're ready ;)"

–Corey

Mark smiles, saving the device in the back pocket of his jeans and looking around to check that he isn't missing anything.

His wingless angel is already waiting outside, making him wonder for how long he has been parked right outside his house.

He puts those thoughts aside nonetheless, just to kiss the blond in the cheek after entering the vehicle. "How are you doing today?" The older asks with concern, feeling relief when his companion smiles slightly.

"I'm doing good." Corey says, starting the engine right after.

As they get to the same place they had their first date at, silence makes the American anxious.

It all looks good at the moment.

Good music on the radio, Wallcox sings along every once in a while, the sunlight peeks through some clouds and the streets aren't as empty as usual.

His present is cheerful, but the darkness of his past makes him feel terrified of the future.

They exit the car once it's parked again.

Corey puts his hands in the pockets of his jeans and Mark notices it immediately.

With a void in his chest and an empty smile, the red-haired man opens the door to the cafe, holding it for his boyfriend.

"Thank you." The Irish says with a chuckle, stepping in the building and walking towards the farthest table from the front door.

Mark follows him shortly, sitting down in front of him.

He's worried to death, but he doesn't say a word about it until the nervousness gets unbearable.

He sighs heavily and turns around.

Their date has ended successfully with a questionably happy Corey and an anxious Mark, who will finally let out some of the thoughts that have been raining over him like an individual cloud all day long.

"Tell me about it." He finally says, taking his boyfriend's hand in his.

Corey's smile drops in the moment he hears those words. "What do you mean?" He asks, knowing perfectly what the other male is talking about.

The brown-eyed man takes a step forward and reaches to cup Corey's face softly.

However, the shorter steps back at the touch, looking at the floor right after.

"That. You've been avoiding my touch all day." Mark says as calmly as possible.

The teacher sighs, turning around and rubbing his face with his palms, wishing in silence that the weather suddenly changed so the tears that are about to fall from his eyes could be easily mistaken by raindrops.

But it doesn't happen that way.

The sun keeps shining, just as brightly as the light of the one he loves.

"I can't do this." He says, his voice muffled by his own hands. He is pacing on the sidewalk now, not wanting to leave the place but feeling the need to escape at the same time.

He's finally forced to stay as his will to run is taken away by a simple look in his eyes. "We can do this together."

The weight on his shoulders is heavier now and he knew this was going to happen. He knew that he would mess things up because he always does.

And even though he has to make a decision right now, his thoughts are too blurry to let him take the best option.

"No, we can't."