Unconditional Love

Chapter 3: The Feeling is Mutual

“Okay, class, that is it for today. We will continue with our discussion tomorrow,” their teacher said.

“Goodbye Miss Perez,” the students chorused.

“Goodbye,” she replied and went out of the classroom.

Class dismissal is music to the student’s ears. The sound of the bell is like a harp while angels are singing. Brent hurriedly kept his things and ran as fast as he could to get to Liam. He saw him earlier at the gate with that itchy girl. It had been 10 minutes when he saw Liam when he came from the toilet to pee. When he came back, their teacher is already dismissing the class.

He was running for his life to stop that woman from getting close to his best friend. The sight of her made his eyes bleed and all he could see was red. Marie is at the same grade level as him and Liam. They are schoolmates and since she saw Liam she had done all her best to get his best friend’s attention.

She is willing to strip in front of him. Brent knows from the look in her eyes. She looks at Liam with desire and he can see her mouth watered especially if Liam has a practice of volleyball. He had no idea that Marie was eye r****g him during volleyball practice and Liam was just wearing his sleeveless showing his muscular biceps.

He could not blame Marie and any other girls, even gays, for wooing Liam. He is the literal meaning of perfect, not just his looks but also his IQ. Apart from that, he is also athletic and very good at sports. He chooses volleyball and he nailed every game which made their school a champion.

“Hey bro.” he was just on time.

The discomfort on Liam’s face turned into a bright smile of relief. Brent felt glad that once again he became like a knight in shining armor for Liam, though it was the latter who looked like one. His best friend could pass as prince charming or a damsel in distress rescuer as he is tall, handsome and has a perfectly masculine body. While Brent is slim with low self-esteem, a guy with big eyeglasses and braces. He is the perfect description of a nerd. Though he is also tall, he has the same height as Liam, who is five feet and eleven inches.

“Hi Brent.” Marie’s fake greeting pisses Brent off.

“Hi Marie.” he replied though he wanted to say shut up b*tch.

“I’m really sorry Marie. But we really have to go.” said Liam, and ran off.

“Bye Marie. See you around.” Brent said and also ran to catch up with Liam.

As soon as they got outside the gate, Liam and Brent were laughing so hard. They have been doing it to Marie for six years now. Brent has no idea if it is just a coincidence but he always gets into a situation where Liam was cornered by Marie and he will come to his rescue. Since Liam is a smart guy he can always find a way to get rid of the leech as long as he is around so he can have an excuse.

It is very obvious that Liam doesn’t like her but she got the nerve to continue bothering the poor guy. Brent admires his best friend for being respectful to anyone because he never says ill words to Marie, even though she is really getting on his nerves.

“Thank you so much bro. I really owe you one again today,” Liam said.

“Well, you know what to do,” he replied while wiggling his eyebrows.

“Of course,” Liam laughed.

“Gosh! You really know me bro.” Brent delightfully said.

Liam already knows what to do and knows where to go for his payback. Whenever one is doing a favor to the other, he will give him a prize. That is their agreement and they even put it in writing with their blood sealed to it instead of a signature.

Brent’s smile widened as the path that they were taking was the way to their favorite park where his favorite street food stalls were located. He couldn’t help but feel excited because it had been a while since the two of them got there and ate. These are little and simple things, yet bring a huge and extraordinary joy to Brent.

“Of course, I can even recognize your shadow, that’s how I deeply know you.” Liam said and winked at him.

“I bet you do.” Brent responded, trying to hide that he was affected by the wink.

He was lost for a while because of that sexy wink from Liam. He looked so gorgeous and Brent was doing his best to keep himself from kissing his best friend. In his imagination he was smooching him. He gulped three times because of the malice thought that suddenly crossed his mind.

Brent had been dreaming of intimate scenes with his own best friend and sometimes made him feel an intense guilt. A voice within him says that he was violating Liam for thinking that way. But he can’t help it. Since they were kids he has already felt something towards Liam.

God knows how many times he dreamt of kissing Liam, holding him tight and leaning on his muscular chest. He wants to be wrapped around those strong arms. Brent had been longing to feel his body. But how will that be possible? Even though Liam never had a girlfriend and seemed not interested in anyone of the opposite s*x, he knows that one day, there will come a day that he will find that girl. The worst thing that could ever happen to Brent. He knew that would be the death of him.

“What are you thinking?” Brent asked.

Liam was so silent and it was unusual for Brent because he was always talkative and has something to say all the time. It was him who is a man of few words.

“Nothing.” Liam replied, but Brent was not convinced.

“Come on, tell me. Is it Marie?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Liam replied.

So he was indeed right. Was he starting to feel something for Marie? Brent was nervous but he continued the topic just to make sure that his assumptions were right. Maybe Liam is starting to fall for her. Any straight guy would. No one could resist Marie’s charms. She is beautiful and sexy even if she is a no-brainer. Physical looks can always mend the lack of brains.

“I can see that she likes you so much,” Brent said, but at the back of his mind he was nervous.

“Obviously,” he agreed.

“Don’t you like her? I mean she is so beautiful and hot. If I were in your shoes, I would court her or should I say, I would say yes to her because it seems like she’s the one courting you.” he wanted to puke from what he was saying.

He could never imagine himself with a woman. He will never be involved with any woman, he only wants to get involved with Liam, which is absolutely impossible. To have Liam is as impossible as reaching for the stars. Liam could never love him more than just a friend. He will never reciprocate his feelings and the truth badly hurts.

“I don’t like her bro.” he said.

Brent saw the look of sadness in his best friend’s eyes. He was not sure because it suddenly shifted to a normal look. But he was so happy with Liam’s answer. So he was wrong. Liam’s feelings for Marie did not change. Well, it was evident earlier. How could he think that he liked her when he was so quick to run away from her?

“Why?” he asked again, since he wanted to make sure.

“I don’t like girls who make the first move. I like someone with dignity, you know, dignified and will not stoop down so low desperately just to get a boyfriend.” His explanation brought Brent to cloud nine.

“Wow, that was really interesting.” Brent was grinning from ear to ear.

“Let’s go home, bro. I’m tired.” Liam said and stood up.

“Oh, okay sure let’s go.” Brent happily said.

Brent noticed that Liam suddenly looked unhappy, he was walking slowly and didn’t pay attention to where he was walking. He wonders what seems to be Liam’s problem. He behaves really weirdly. They were currently crossing the street when Liam was almost hit by a car.

“Bro, watch out!” he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Yet, Liam did not even hear him. He was so lost in his thoughts and, whatever it was that he was thinking, Brent didn’t care about that, all he cared about was to get Liam from danger. Luckily, Brent’s reflexes were so fast that he was able to pull his best friend, which prevented the latter from the possible tragedy.

“What happened?” Liam asked, seeming to wake up from deep slumber.

But Brent did not seem to mind, he was feeling ecstatic at the moment. Due to an adrenaline rush, he pulled Liam with all his might to avoid the car that was about to hit him. After that, he secured him to his body by putting his arm around Liam’s chest. Now that everything is normal, Brent then feels Liam’s warm body close to his for the first time.

It just feels so right, his skin against his, Brent feels he is home, being close to Liam’s body feels home. He wants to close his eyes to feel him and indulge the moment but he knows that it will be strange for Liam and he never wanted to give him a single clue about what he feels for him. He will keep his secret.

“I’m sorry. You almost got hit by that car,” Brent said.

He almost died when he let go and separated his body from Liam’s. He never wanted his heart to scream with so much pain but he had to. It would be more painful if Liam would find out and stay away from him forever.

“Thanks for saving me bro. I owe you my life.” Liam said, which made Brent’s heart swell.

“Don’t mention it bro.” Brent said and smiled. “We really need to get home, you don’t look good.”

“Yeah, I’m not feeling well,” he replied.

“Are you sick?” Brent was worried.

He unconsciously touched Liam’s neck and forehead trying to check if he had a fever.

“No, I’m just tired,” he confirmed.

He nodded and they both continued walking, but this time Brent made sure that Liam would be safe, so he stayed behind him. Brent was somehow relieved that he had no fever but, he was still worried about Liam. Maybe he was just not in the mood.

It was still a big question for Brent until he lay down in bed that night. What makes Liam upset all of a sudden? He might not say it but Brent could tell that he was upset from the look on his face. They grew up together and became friends when they were five years old.

He had no clue that Liam was hurt when he talked about Marie. He misinterpreted Brent’s statement and thought that he liked Marie because Liam felt the same. Liam is secretly loving Brent the way Brent loves him.

=Sarsi=