The Emancipation of a Fuckboy - Chapter 61: Chapter 61

Dominic
I was so physically exhausted and emotionally consumed last night that I completely forgot to turn off the alarm clock. As soon as the sun began edging its way into the horizon, it went berserk. I struggled to reach for it, but when my hands finally got ahold of the stupid box, I threw it away so that it will shut up. I quickly tucked myself back inside the blanket, just like a snappy turtle pulling back its head, arms and feet back to its shell. I was just about to get back to sleep when I heard my door open, and my sister showed up, basically killing my desire of going back to sleep. She was forcing me to wake up with her loudmouth, which triggered me to yell at her. I am not in the right mood to deal with her, or anyone, or anything. She didn't even have the chance to tell the reason why she's waking me up this early, and I already began telling her to fuck off. Though I'm glad she's one tough girl, she just stared at me the entire time I was throwing a fit and then by the time I calmed down; she opened her mouth to reveal that Valentine's at the front porch. I almost peed in my bed upon hearing that. I just remembered that I left Valentine to perish last night. I immediately felt like a terrible person. I should've probably helped him and stopped Lyndon from punching him; instead, I ran away.
I quickly propped myself out of bed and staggered downstairs. I still feel rough and drained that I chose to go to the kitchen first and get something to drink.
"Let me guess?" My mom began talking. She was about to wash the dishes that she used for her breakfast. "Lover's quarrel?"
"What?" I choked.
"Your man is at the front porch."
"I know,"
"And he seemed like he's been there for a while."
"What do you mean?"
"Do not ask me. I don't know what happened to you two. Go see him,"
I put the empty glass down and slowly went to peek outside. Valentine's really sleeping at the chair, and I can tell he was here since last night. He was wearing the same suit that he's wearing when we had that dramatic moment, and although I can only see his back, I can also tell he was pretty much beaten up. I let out a heavy sigh, not knowing what to do. I just stared outside for about a minute or two.
"Aren't going to wake him up?" My mom suddenly showed up behind me.
"Jesus. Mom, don't sneak on me like that."
"Sweetie, if he's been there the whole night, you probably need to wake him up and get him inside." My mom said.
"Bu..." I paused. I closed my eyes, and then I just thought of telling my mom the truth, or at least half the truth. "I... I... can't. We just had a big fight last night, and then there's some guy who came to the rescue, and they got into a fistfight."
"What?"
"Mom, I just can't see him right now. Can you please just tell him I'm still out?"
"Sweetie, no. If you two are having a problem, you need to sit down and talk about it, not like this."
"But mom, I don't know what to do."
"No, I'm going to let him inside, and you two talk it out." My mom said. She was about to open the door, but I stopped her.
"Mom, please?" I begged, giving her my best puppy eyes impression that I never liked to do, but it always works.
"Nick," She let out a short sigh. "Okay, but I'm telling you this relationship won't work if you ignore each other after you fight. You need to talk this out soon."
"Okay, mom. Thank you."
My mom opened the door, and as soon as she was out of the house, I closed it and went to position myself to the far window where I can peek without being seen. I immediately saw the stitches on Valentine's face after my mom woke him up. They didn't have much of a long conversation, and judging by the looks of Valentine's disappointed reaction, my mom did tell him that I'm still out. I was kind of worried that she won't tell what I told her to say. There was a short gust of relief that swept over me, but after Valentine had left, the feeling of misery came back to haunt me.
I know everything he said last night was true, and I believe every single one of them, but my ego is bruised, and I'm still in distress. I don't know what to do. I was hurt when I found out he's trying to take his revenge on me, but it's even more painful to know that he's using the same method that I did to destroy him.
He said he made a big mistake, and I believe him. He said he wasn't going to going to continue to destroy me because he loves me, and I believe him. It's just that I felt very much betrayed. He was like pointing a gun behind my back this whole time that I was trying my best to redeem myself.
I ended up going back to my bed, hoping that I could get more hours of sleep. I don't want anything right now other than closing my eyes and resting for the rest of the day and probably tomorrow. I picked up the alarm clock that I just threw and inspected it for some cracks before eventually putting it back to where it used to after finding out it's still working. I sat for a while and basked in jealousy of the alarm clock. I had this since I was in high school, and I've thrown it more times than I could ever remember, yet it's still working pretty damn fine. I always wanted to switch place with this invention, you know, being hurt many times and still working fine.
I was just about to tuck back to bed when my sister came back. I was trying not to yell at her this time, but it's pretty clear that she's here to prevent me from going back to sleep.
"What?" I scowled at her with much irritation.
"Someone's looking for you," She spat.
"Valentine?"
"No, it's someone else."
"F***!" I cursed under my breath and unwillingly propped myself out of bed.
I lazily staggered back downstairs, only to find Lyndon waiting outside. Just a while ago, Valentine was here, and now this guy is here. I stood frozen behind the door for a moment. I wondered what is he even doing here? Of course, I'm pretty much aware that the blame is all on me. I also left him last night, and even until now, I didn't want to deal with him.
"Hey," I said, giving him a fraudulent smile.
"Hi," He smiled back.
"What are you doing here?" I immediately asked.
"I came here to tell you something," He started. "May I come in so...."
"Sure, sure. No problem." I lied, but it seemed like I have no other choice but to have an unwanted conversation with him.
I let him inside, and we both sat on the couch.
"So, what do you want to tell me?" I asked.
"Before that, I just want to ask who was that guy from last night?"
"Uhm... he's just an old friend."
"I'm sorry. I may have got him really bad." He said as he was hiding his right hand, which was covered in bandages.
"That's fine. I'll get in touch with him soon." I lied—a blatant lie. I don't think I'll be getting in touch with Valentine for a long while. I felt so bad that this had to happen all because of me, and if this were someone else, I would've probably walked out of the door and look for someplace to breathe, but I just had to get my shit together.
There was a short pause after that. I looked at Lyndon, and he seemed like rehearsing what he is going to say to me inside his head.
"Uhm, what..."
"You have to get tested," Lyndon blurted out. That phrase alone was pretty much comprehensible.
"What do you mean I have to get tested?" I asked. I know what it is; everyone knows what it is. I just can't believe the fact that this is happening to me right now in the middle of this fricking situation.
"I..." Lyndon looked down and paused again for a while before eventually looking back at me. "I tested positive for the virus."
"What?" Is this really happening?
"You know, the virus."
"I know that." I spat, almost getting heated.
"I just got my results the other day, and that's also the reason why I invited you to go out last night. I wanted to be honest with you." Lyndon explained.
"Get out of my house," I spat, making the words seem respectful as possible.
"Dominic. I'm sorry."
"Just... leave. I need some time to think."
"Okay," Lyndon uttered and walked towards the door. "If anything goes wrong, just, I'm just one call away." He added, subsequently opening the door and eventually walking out.
"F***!" I slapped myself. This is too much, and I can't take any of it all at once.
I sat on the couch for a while longer. I was trying to think of reasons as to why I won't be testing positive if I get tested. I know it's been a long while since Lyndon and I had real wild sex, and I thought that might be enough reason for me to be hopeful. But then the negative part of my brain thought that even though it's been a long while, he might have gotten the virus far before he got tested.
I went to the clinic after a few hours of dilemma. I just wanted a good rest, but I just thought this is a very important matter, and it can never wait. I got to the clinic, and there were also many patients, mostly gay couples, and they were holding each other's hand. For the last time, I felt so alone. I felt like the world is conspiring with everyone to bury me down to rock bottom. While waiting for my turn, my guts and nerves were killing me. Even my thoughts are joining in.
The test was the longest that I've ever had in my entire medical history. Not because it was really that long, but it was because I'm nervous, and my thoughts kept on getting negative as time ticks. As the doctor speaks, I almost felt like I was spasming from the inside out, and all of the words coming out of his mouth were just a buzzing sound.
After getting tested, I didn't go home. I went for a short walk at the park, pretty much trying to make sense of everything. I was watching everyone walk their dogs and cats and have a typical day while I was crying internally. I aimlessly trudged towards the fountain and stared at the flowing water for a while until I eventually thought of going back to Singapore. There's still a job offer for me there. Maybe I should just get away from this place for a while.
By the time I got home, my mom was just cooking for dinner. She keeps on getting better and better at this, and I wish I just could say that to her vocally. I went and hugged her as tight as I could. She was astronomically confused until she turned around, looked at me with an understanding smile and hugged me back. She rubbed my back, and even though it didn't solve the problem, it made me feel so much better. I told her I needed to go back to Singapore, and she was okay with it. She tried to get me to talk, but I just told her I'd be telling her everything as soon as I feel better.
I went to bed after eating dinner and started fixing my things, not that I'll be leaving the next day, but I wanted to get things done as soon as possible. This is a hard decision for me to make, but my supportive mom made it bearable, to say the least. She doesn't know all the details, but she knows this is going to help me, and she even said she'll book the flight tonight. I was just finishing my things when my mom went to my room and told me my flight is in three days.
The next day Valentine came back, and I had to tell my sister to lie to him. I had to pay her a hundred just to get her to lie. The following day Valentine came back again, and my sister just earned another hundred for just lying. She's also getting the good stuff that Valentine brought just to make me feel better. Flowers, chocolates and even a ticket to a Shawn Mendes concert. I didn't know my sister's a fan of Shawn, but she can have it. I'll be flying soon anyway.
The time has finally come for me to board the plane. I looked behind one last time and thought maybe this is the best thing that I will do for Valentine and me. God knows I truly loved him, but I'm finally going to let him go.