Colliding Rulers

A Fight (3)

Third Person's P.O.V

Saturday came in the blink of an eye. Joshua was nervous. It had been a long time since he went out with the captain. Joshua wasn't worrying about the captain's mom, especially since everything that'd happened. He gave the captain's mom his word that he would never go back to the captain. If he ever was questioned, he already knew what his answer would be.

"You're up and early," Joshua's mother asked, scrubbing their sink to clean. Joshua hugged his mother as a way of asking for courage.

Joshua's sexuality wasn't a secret in his family. Even his younger siblings knew that he was gay and spread awareness inside the family. Of course, Joshua's mother wasn't entirely okay with it because she was worried. They were already picked on since they were poor, and Joshua's sexuality might add to more bullying.

"You think it's my fault that I'm gay? It's not my fault that people have tiny brains." were Joshua's words that made his mother realize. From that day on, Joshua's mother didn't stop him from being open about his sexuality.

"I need to go somewhere," Joshua breathed in.

"Joshuaaa!" a tiny version of Joshua came running down the stairs with his tiny arms spread. Joshua smiled and picked up the little kid, spinning around as he raised the kid with a big smile on Joshua's face.

The kid giggled, laughing.

"Hey there, bud. How was your sleep?"

"It was okaaay!" the kid joyously answered. With some of his front teeth missing, he was deemed adorable.

"Alright, well, I need to go out today so I can't play with you."

The child, at such a young age, understood that they didn't have money. His big brother and his momma needed to go out and make money. He understood that much, that he tried not to cause many tantrums. He was very brave and understanding. Their father had already taken flight and left them to die. If Joshua didn't help with the expenditure of the household, he wouldn't be able to go to school.

"Can I see you tonight?"

There were some jobs that made Joshua work all night. Joshua felt a soft tug on his heart when he saw his little brother's saddened expression. He was thankful to have a little brother and sister so understanding. It made things bearable for Joshua.

"Yes, I'll come home tonight. So wait for me, ey? And leave me some dinner."

Joshua's little sister was still sleeping soundly upstairs. Joshua's little brother giggled and nodded his head. Joshua let him down before kissing his forehead and smiling at his mom.

"Will do!"

"Enjoy your day, honey."

Joshua left the house and wasn't surprised when he saw the captain's car already in front. The captain had already driven him home many times before. He knew the route like the back of his palm. It made the captain reminisce of the good old days. The captain was feeling nervous as well. He wasn't only going to be on a date with the only love of his life, he was also going to reveal something that he had already buried a long time ago.

The captain rolled down the window,

"Get in," he said in the most seductive voice ever.

Joshua bit his lip before reluctantly getting in the car. Joshua's mother saw the car and recognized it immediately. She smiles to herself, cheering for Joshua silently.

"Momma, why are you smiling?" the kid asked in his usual pitched voice.

"Wish your brother luck, baby."

The car drove off and they were silent. Joshua refused to open his mouth, afraid that he might say something unnecessary. He was sure that this day was risky for both of them, especially for the captain, but he wasn't willing to let everything slide. Of course, Joshua knew something was up with Gevia and Alex, but he didn't know to what extent.

He wanted to at least extend a helping hand to Gevia. Since Gevia wasn't willing to say anything to him, he wanted to provide at least the right words.

Both their hearts were beating fast, thinking the same thing.

This feels like before.

"So, no 'how are your bruises?'?" Joshua tensed up.

"How are you?" Joshua asked shyly.

"That's a bit late now, is it?" Joshua laughed.

The captain always knew how to liven up the mood. It was a trait of his that made Joshua fall in love with him in the first place. The ambiance inside the car changed into a romantic one. It wasn't spoken, but it was felt.

"Sorry,"

"How are your little siblings?"

"They're okay. They're good."

"That's great to hear. I have a bunch of gifts for them in the back."

"You don't have to,"

"Just because we stopped dating doesn't mean that I can forget that they existed. They're still people that I hung with in the past. Ruining friendship just because we broke up isn't cut out for me."

"You got me."

They arrived after a short while. They were at a KTV when it was only midday. Joshua looked at the captain, but the captain was determined to go inside, so Joshua went inside as well. There was nothing that he could do to stop the captain. He was being given a chance to listen to what the captain had to say and he wasn't going to let this slide.

For my friend. Joshua repeated, persuading himself that it really was for Gevia.

"Room 305, Sir."

They proceeded to room 305 as instructed. The captain had already called in early to make a reservation and asked for a lot of alcohol in the room ready. There were also snacks there, Joshua's favourites. The captain sat down and Joshua sat on the opposite side. The KTV was spacious. The captain had reserved a room for 15 people with only two of them inside.

"Pick something you want to sing."

The captain started to sing and the captain couldn't sing for s**t. Joshua watched as the captain sang and sang, drinking bottle after bottle. Joshua drank 2 bottles of beer, but the captain drank 9 shots of tequila.

"Hey, that's enough." Joshua told the already tipsy captain.

The captain knew how to hold his liquor and wasn't one to mess with when it came to drinking contests. Joshua was concerned about the captain.

"I need more," his speech was still straight.

He downed a couple of more before he started saying gibberish things. He threw his head back, messing his hair up. Joshua watched the captain. It was a new side of the captain that he hadn't seen yet.

"Hey," Joshua said.

"Alex," the captain started.

Joshua put down his beer and put the volume down of the music.

"What about Alex?"

"Alex can't like Gevia."

"Is it because they're natural enemies?" the captain laughed.

"That's the least of Alex's worries."

Joshua couldn't recognize other possible reasons as to why they couldn't be together. The captain wailed around his arms, shaking off the bitter taste of reality. He took another shot of tequila before extending his left arm to the top of the back of the sofa. He unbuttoned the first three buttons on his white polo. His built chest was popping out, distracting Joshua. Joshua had to avert his eyes to concentrate on the topic at hand.

"Then what is it?"

" That's a reason that we don't know."

"The f**k? Then what's with all the hype?" Joshua threw his hands up in the air, frustrated.

"The only certain thing that we know is that Alejandro would literally kill Gevia if that ever happened."

The world stopped spinning in Joshua's perspective. The seriousness of the topic took Joshua aback. The only friend that he made was going to get killed so easily and by Alejandro at that. The captain's words were considered factual. That had always been the case even before. He never spoke of conspiracies and theories.

"How could he kill Gevia over something like that? Shouldn't he be happy that Alex found someone that they liked?" the captain laughed hysterically. As if what Joshua said was something so impossible.

"Babe, Alejandro doesn't care about anyone else."

"The f**k? Then he's better off dead."

The captain looked to the side. The light from the LED lights provided the needed illumination to enhance the captain's sharp features, bring forth his manliness. Joshua had to look away again, refusing to cave in to temptations. Joshua scratched the side of his head. Awkward movements here and there just to avoid the captain's presence.

"There was this person that he truly cared about though. But this time, I'm not sure if it's true."

"This is unlike you."

"Apparently it's so buried that even my men can't dig it up. But I heard it from my mom."

The captain reached down for a drink. The visible veins on the captain's arms were showing, making him desirable in Joshua's eyes. The lights provided the shadows of the veins, popping them even more.

"That he fell in love with a woman."