2 | Hiding A Deadly Secret
1245 Words
“Huh?” Jesse pulled himself out of his fantasies. “Did you say somethin’?”
“Umm.” Gray gulped. “You said you’re thinking about going out with boys?”
“Oh, that. I was kidding.” Jesse sunk into his chair to hide his embarrassment. “Hahaha.”
“Oh... Oh. Hahaha.” Gray laughed awkwardly with him. “Yeah, right. Dating boys. You got me.”
“Yeah.” Jesse finished laughing with a sigh. “Nice party, by the way.” He lifted the bottle to take a sip but discovered that it was empty. “Gah! I need a drink.”
“I’ll get it!”
Gray never stood up this fast in his life. He rushed toward the house, pushing through the raving horde. Despite being in a hurry, he didn’t forget his manners. “Excuse me. Excuse me.” When he finally got inside, he passed the bar where he was supposed to get the drinks from. His eyes darted between people who were chatting, drinking, and eating. He moved around as if looking for something... or someone.
He asked a passing guest, “Have you seen my brother?”
“No. Sorry.” She shrugged.
He moved around then asked another guest the same question.
They answered, “No, but you might find him where food is.”
Gray walked a few more steps then stopped. His face lit up.
“Brad!” He raised his hand up high. “Brad!”
Next to the food table, Brad turned around with a sandwich in his hand. The first thing noticeable about him was his size. He was the tallest and sturdiest man in the room, sharing the same brown hair and tan skin with peach shade as Gray’s. A wing design completely covered one of his muscular shoulders.
Brad smiled with a mouth full of food and waved.
When Gray met face to face with him, the first thing that came out of his mouth was, “Jesse wants to date boys.”
Brad stopped chewing and his sandwich slipped from his fingers.
“I-I-I don’t know what to do. What should I do? Help me, Brad. Please.”
“OK. Calm down.” Brad swallowed his food then placed his hands on Gray’s shoulders. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
Gray opened his mouth.
“Tut-tut,” Brad shushed him. “Sloowwwly.”
“All right.” Gray exhaled sharply. “He said he might date boys. Then he stopped talkin’ and stared at... Kai’s body.” He sneered when he pronounced that name. “Then he laughed and said he was kidding.”
Brad opened his brown eyes wide. “Well, what are you waitin’ for? Go ask him out.”
“But he said—”
“He’s lying. Now, go before he hooks up with somebody. You know that boy can’t keep his pants on for two minutes.”
“OK. OK.” Gray turned around then turned back to Brad. “I need to bring some drinks. He wants to drink.”
“Then go, go, go.”
“OK.” Gray was about to leave, but he rotated back to give Brad a hug. “Thanks. You’re the best.”
Brad patted his back then released him. He watched Gray disappear into the crowd, wearing the happiest face ever. Brad’s eyes glistened and his lips pulled into a half-smile. It was adorable watching his little brother panicking over his potentially first date.
He only needed a push, and Brad offered it.
At that point, Gray was panting like he ran a thousand miles and sweating like a pig. The nearing moment was too much for him. His nerves were trembling in every vein. He grabbed the drinks and carefully walked back so he wouldn’t spill them. A timid smile never left his lips.
He reached the seating area where he left Jesse, but he couldn’t find him. He turned around and around until he saw him talking to someone by the pool. His smile grew wider, stretching the old scar on his upper lip.
He approached him, battling the heavy pressure in his chest. That nervous but good feeling that takes one’s breath away. Every step forward made him closer to the moment he has been waiting for.
Gray Montero was about to ask Jesse Calaway out.
When the crowd scattered below the half-moon sky, the person Jesse was talking to became visible. It was none other than Kai, the same boy Jesse was drooling over earlier.
Gray stopped. His smile fell. He almost dropped the two glasses in his hands from the shocking scene that was happening a few feet in front of him.
Jesse was flirting... with a boy... and it wasn’t Gray.
He laughed and swayed, licked his upper lip and rubbed his neck, looked down and moved his leg back and forth, back and forth.
Gray’s hands shook. His blood boiled, transforming those gentle eyes into burning orbs like twin suns. His breathing became difficult and loud. His chest inflated and deflated with disturbing sounds, almost like he was growling.
CRASH!
The glasses shattered in his hands, causing them to bleed. Large shards broke into little pieces when they reached the ground. The sounds attracted a couple of people, not one of them was Jesse.
No. Jesse was too busy flirting with another man.
“Oh, my Lord. You’re hurt.”
This was not anger.
“Hey, you OK?”
This was rage.
“What happened?”
Gray was about to lose control over his body in front of all those innocent people who were trying to help him.
Suddenly, he found his hands covered with a towel. Gray raised his head to see the person who was helping him.
It was Brad. It had always been Brad to the rescue.
Gray was shaking. Completely out of control. He watched the white towel become painted with scarlet red. The tip of his fingers briefly peeked, but instead of fingernails, they turned into claws.
Gray pleaded Brad with teary eyes that translated exactly what was on his mind. Help me. Help me.
“Hel—”
“Close your mouth,” Brad interrupted.
Gray felt his teeth growing into sharp fangs. He bit his lips to shut his mouth tightly.
Brad gave Gray a stern but calm look as if he was telling him, I’ve got you. Everything is under control. He effectively concealed the claws under the towel.
“He’s fine, y’all,” Brad declared. “He’s fine. I got this.” Then he whispered to Gray, “Let’s go to the storage chamber.”
Gray nodded. His shoulders stiffed from the fear of being exposed for what he really was—a werewolf.
His fangs were growing fast. He couldn’t keep his lips sealed anymore. And to make matters worse, there was hair growing on his upper jawline up to his ears. He raised his towel-covered hands to hide his face.
Brad took Gray by the shoulders and rushed him inside the house.
The brothers were never seen for the rest of the night.
- Writer
