The room was suddenly so quiet. I was all alone. I lay down on the bed, hugged my knees and cried quietly until I’d fallen asleep. For what reason I cried, I wasn’t so sure myself.
6
Lovers or Brothers
(Ethan)
“W
ait, you’re gonna move back to take care of Eth? Why?” Samuel asked Liam when Nathalie drove us back to our apartment, sounding almost unwelcoming. Olivia and Samuel had followed Nathalie and Liam to the hospital to pick me up after Dr. Max had finally approved me to go home that night. Normally, a patient like me wouldn’t get discharged so quickly, but they needed the private room that I was using. I refused to share a room with other patients, so I requested to leave. Dr. Max was okay with it as long as there was someone at home who would be taking care of me.
The three of us guys sat in the back seat and I was forced to sit in between them. They said it was for my good. In case of an accident, they both would be my cushions. I said that was overthinking.
“What do you mean why?” Liam asked Samuel. “I can’t trust you to take care of Eth. Remember why you dumped Daisy? She was a waste of money and time, you said. What if Ethan is a waste of time and money to you?”
“Wait, wait, wait!” Nathalie and I said together. “You broke up with Daisy?”
Samuel tensed up.
Olivia turned her head around from the front seat. Her eyes glowered in suspicion. “When was this? How come we don’t get to know anything about it? How long were you planning to hide? Speak!”
“Right, speak! Before we turn your room upside down. You better tell us everything, Sam, and I do mean everything!” Nathalie demanded.
“What is there to say?” Samuel’s legs were up in the back seat now, like trying to keep himself as far as possible from the girls. “I didn’t plan to hide it. It was after the party. I brought Daisy with me to Nat’s party, remember?”
“I shouldn’t have invited her,” Nathalie realized. “Waste of my time and money.”
“See?” Samuel said.
“Don’t change the topic!” Olivia threw a small pillow that Nathalie always had in her car’s front seat at him. “Tell us everything, Sam!”
“Okay, okay!” Samuel glared at Liam.
Liam was quietly laughing. He was so cute like that, that it made me wanna kiss him. While the rest of us paid attention to whatever Samuel was saying, about what had happened between him and Daisy, Liam was busy texting.
I was curious, so I leaned over to check who he was texting. I half-expected it was Joanna but apparently, it wasn’t. The name wrote: Lucas. Who was Lucas? Since when did we have a friend called Lucas? I knew most of his friends. And although I wasn’t friends with most of my course mates, usually, I was able to remember all, if not most, of their names despite my forgetfulness. None of them were called Lucas. Who the fuck was that?
“Eth? Eth!” Samuel shouted in the car.
“Sam!” Nathalie shouted at him back.
“He’s dreaming again!” Samuel said.
Liam put his phone down and looked at me. He must be thinking that I was dreaming about him again.
“I’m not,” I said and quickly looked away. “I’m just thinking about stuff.”
“If you’re thinking about stuff, then you should really think about how Liam is going to move back to take care of you,” Samuel said.
I looked directly at Samuel now, particularly into his eyes. Part of the reason I did that was because I didn’t want Liam to think that I was always thinking about him. “We’ve been friends for more than a year and it’s so hard for you to take care of me?”
“That’s not the point!” Samuel said.
“Then spit it out, Sam,” Olivia said. “Not everyone is as smart as you.”
“Are you implying that all of us are stupid, Oli?” Nathalie asked her.
Olivia pawed the air once, asking Nathalie to drop the teasing so that Samuel could get the chance to explain. We all shot Samuel a look, waiting for him to clarify what he meant.
“Okay, fine,” Samuel rolled his eyes. “Liam’s old room is taken, okay? Apparently, our landlord has found a new tenant. Liam will have nowhere to sleep.”
“I’ll sleep with Ethan then,” Liam said. “His queen-sized bed is enough for us.”
This time, I looked at him. In the eyes. To see whether if he meant it. “You serious, bro?”
Liam looked back at me the way I looked at him, face-to-face. Then, he hooked his arm around my neck and pulled my face to his, so close that it was kissing distance. His fucking lips were so tempting that it made me wanna taste them immediately. “I trust you, bro,” he said.
I tried to calm myself down, taking deep breaths. The car suddenly felt so suffocating. So hot. “Okay,” was the only word I managed to say.
Liam removed his arm from me. I wished we could have stayed like that longer. “See? No problem. I’ve slept with him almost every week anyway. What’s there to worry about sleeping with him for a few days in a row?”
“Okay,” Samuel shrugged. “If you say so.”
“Hey, Sam,” Nathalie called him then.
“Yeah?”
“Is that guy handsome? Is he single? Wait, is he even straight? I tend to be a gay magnet. I attract lots of gay guys. Theo, Duncan, and Ethan are perfect examples. I’m like you, you know. I don’t want him to be a waste of my time and money. I don’t wanna invest on him if he’s into someone else’s penis and not my boobs and vagina.”
“Eeeeee, Nat!” Olivia shivered. “Too explicit!”
“You ask him yourself,” Samuel said. “I’m not interested.”
Nathalie scowled.
When we got back to Swan Hills, Nathalie and Olivia didn’t return to their own apartment. Instead, they came to ours. They were both curious and interested in meeting our new housemate. Liam carefully helped me out of the car. Samuel got out from the other side and took out the pair of crutches Dr. Max gave me from the car boot.
“No, I can walk,” I insisted when Samuel brought me the crutches. Dr. Max had seen me walk when I was still in the hospital. I didn’t know why he still gave me those crutches. I could walk fine.
“You can walk but you’re fragile as shit right now, Eth,” Liam said. “Even a breeze can take you down.”
“I don’t like those crutches, Liam,” I said as I looked at them in disgust. “I’ll feel like a handicapped person.”
“You are handicapped,” Liam reminded me and suddenly pushed my arm away from his neck.
I almost fell.
He caught me in time and put my arm back on his neck. “See? Stop being so stubborn.”
“I’m not—” I wanted to argue because he just took me by surprise. But I stopped when I saw him doing something odd.
He removed my arm from him again and moved in front of me, placing my hand on his shoulder. His butt hit my dick. Fuck. My dick instantly transformed into an iron cock. It suddenly throbbed so much I felt it leaked precum. My face was fiery hot. Fortunately, Liam didn’t have to see it. What the fuck was he doing? Then, without a word, his free hand came to my other arm. He reached it and placed my other hand on his other shoulder. Without a word again, he grabbed my legs and shoved me upwards, forcing me to climb on his back.
Fuck. Shit. No. Argh! My cock humped against him. I almost moaned out loud. I quickly pressed my lips together to disallow any sound from coming out. Please. Please. Liam couldn’t notice this. He mustn't notice or feel my cock. He began walking, and he seemed to be completely unaware of my erected cock against his back.
“You’ll hurt your back, Liam,” Nathalie worried. Oh, shut the fuck up, Nat.
“He hurt his back for me,” Liam said back in a tone almost like he was looking for a fight. “It’s okay. This is nothing compared to his.”
As we passed by, I saw Olivia grinning at me.
I laughed a little, acknowledging her.
When we were in the elevator, Liam bounced once, adjusting me on his ba
ck. My hard cock rammed his back again and I could feel more precum between my dickhead and my briefs. Fuck. I wished he would stop doing that. Else, I wouldn’t be able to control myself any longer. It was the first time my dick was this close to him ever, after secretly loving him for five years. Little Ethan below wanted to eat his ass right now. Okay, fuck it, Ethan. Liam was just a brother. He was a best friend. Nothing more—I tried convincing myself.
Liam put me down only when we reached the front door. I shifted a little so that my dick faced away from him. I didn’t even dare to look at him.
Liam noticed. “What are you doing?”
“Opening the door, duh?” Samuel answered.
Liam took my arm without warning and hung it on his neck again.
I hissed at the pain. “Gentler!”
“Big baby,” Liam said.
I glared at him. Didn’t like that.
When we got inside the house, the entire place smelled like something burnt. All of us coughed.
“Jerry?” Samuel tried.
Jerry came out of the kitchen. He was a tall person and had black thick hair with a fringe. His face looked like those stars in most Korean dramas; white, smooth and clean, which was very much not my type. Nathalie would definitely like him, though. She was into fair-skinned guys. “Oh, hi,” he greeted and waved with a warm smile. “I didn’t expect a big bunch. I’m making dinner, you guys want any?”
“Dinner? This hour?” Olivia blinked twice.
“What’s with the smell?” Samuel sniffed the air. He ended up coughing again.
“Oh,” Jerry looked behind him for a second like to check on his food. He laughed and scratched the back of his head. “I actually tried to make some eggs, but it didn’t turn out well...”
“You burned eggs?” Liam said in disbelief. “More of the reason why I should be here,” he muttered to himself.
“Be polite, Liam,” Nathalie complained. “You’re becoming like Ethan. At least, he’s trying to learn, okay?”
I sniggered at Nathalie. Her eyes were sparkling at the sight of the new guy. I shook my head. “Let’s go, Liam, I’m tired.”
Liam sniggered at me. “I’m the one who’s helping you all the time. You’re just there being helped. Aren’t I supposed to be the one who’s tired, huh?” he said and raised an eyebrow.
I smacked his chest. “I’ll take care of you after I’m well, okay?”
“I will want that, Eth.” Liam continued to help me walk into my room.
When we got in, Liam locked the door behind us. Carefully, he helped me sit on the bed. “Did the nurse help you shower?”
I shook my head.
Liam didn’t ask further. He knew me too well to know that I wouldn’t simply let anyone touch me. “Alright, I’ll help you then,” he said. “Take off your shirt.”
“W-what?” Did I hear him wrong?
“I said take off your shirt. Let me help.”
“No,” I refused, taking off my shirt. “I can do it myself. You go get your stuff. I’ll be fine here.”
“No, you won’t,” Liam said. “Let me help you, okay?”
Liam began to annoy me now. He went too far this time. I wouldn’t mind if he was my boyfriend. It would be sweet. But right now, he wasn’t. As sad as it was to admit, he was just my best friend. When I thought of how all of this would mean nothing to him but everything to me, it felt like a one-sided dream. I was the only one dreaming it. Not him. Never him. I didn’t like it. I was afraid I would get hurt deeply.
“I can do it myself, Liam,” I said, stood up and went into the bathroom.
“Okay, at least let me come in,” he said and tried to follow me in.
I stopped him at the door, a hand on his chest. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t want you to slip and fall and hurt yourself even more,” Liam said.
I sighed. I couldn’t be mad at him. He was just concerned about me. “Look, I get it, okay? You’re worried about me. But I’ll be fine. It’s really not a good idea for you to come in. You’re…” It hurt me so much to say this more than ever. “Just a friend.” I shut the door on him. I hoped that made things clear for him.
I sighed again behind the door. What have I just done? But I was sure I did the right thing. I didn’t know if I could control myself anymore if I was alone with him here in such as small private space. There was no reply from Liam. I wondered if I had hurt him. Silly me. Why would that even hurt him? We were just friends and at most, brothers. Nothing more.
I shook my head and showered. When I was relaxed by the hot water, I couldn’t help thinking of what had happened earlier. In fact, I couldn’t believe what had just happened. My hard cock against his back? Whoa… and fuck, Liam was going to stay with me! I mean, sleep with me!
I suddenly pictured him in the bathroom with me now, in front of me, my cock trying to penetrate his virgin tight ass. Fuck. The thought of it had me so hot. So horny. I grabbed my own shaft, wrapping it with my entire hand and pulled and pulled. At the same time, I imagined my cock impaled inside Liam once, and then twice, and then thrice.
And then my imagination went wild. I reimagined us back in the parking lot, my cock against his back again. But only this time, I couldn’t hold it back any longer. I shoved him back into the car. My other friends were suddenly non-existent and I fucked him inside. I thrust into his ass rapidly, my hands grabbing his thighs and pulling him towards me. I fucked him like a hungry wolf. He was no one else but mine.
I moaned out loud as I came. My legs suddenly went numb. I staggered backward at the sudden loss of strength. My back hit the wall. I hissed when my bruises ached. When I saw my cum was splattered all over the wall in front, all pain was gone. Because I was thinking, all that cum was inside Liam’s ass. I grinned.
I continued my shower. When I was done, thankfully, I got out of the bathroom with a towel around my waist. Because Liam was still there. He stood leaning against the wall beside the bathroom’s door with his arms crossed.
Shit. Did he hear me moan in there? “Why are you still here?” I asked.
“What took you so long?” he said. “I was getting worried. You’re not done yet even after I’ve come back with my stuff. I would have barged in if you hadn’t come out a few seconds later.”
I looked at the bed. He didn’t lie to me. On the bed were two duffel bags that I recalled him using as luggage bags. There was also his laptop bag beside them.
“Sorry,” I said. “I just got too comfortable.” I went over to my wardrobe to grab my briefs. “Have you bathed yet? You can shower if you want.”
“It’s okay,” Liam said and took his bags on the bed to me.
“What are you doing?”
“Putting my stuff with yours,” Liam said. “Don’t tell me to just put it on the floor. You know I hate mess.”
“Okay, okay.” I watched him place his bags into my wardrobe as I put on my pants.
“Wait,” he suddenly said. “You’re still keeping this?” In my wardrobe, he took out two neatly-folded black capes. He looked at them happily as he recalled what they were. They were our Halloween costumes. “This was five years ago, when we first met,” he remembered.
“Yup.” I nodded. “Probably won’t fit us now,” I said. “I still have the teeth too.” There were a few drawers in my wardrobe. I pulled the middle one out and took out the fake fangs. I’d always known where they were because I’d polished them every now and then. They were my treasure. “Remember, this?” I grinned.
He didn’t pay attention to me. He already had his shirt stripped off. He wore the cape now with his chest bared. The cape, which was supposed to be touching the floor five years ago, was now somewhere around his ankles. Without a word, he cast the cape over me and tied the knot around my neck.
“There you go,” Liam beamed happily. “Wouldn’t fit us my ass. I think they fit us even better now. It was so long last time that I stepped over and fell, remember?” He snatched one of the two fake fangs in my hand.
“This should fit too, right? If it could fit then, then it should fit now,” he said and put the fangs on. He looked so cute like that, just like the way when I first met him.
It was five years ago when I first met him, during our high school’s Halloween party. It was held in our high school’s multi-purpose hall. Nathalie had dressed up as a vampire girl but the kind of vampire she wanted to be, it was the glittering kind. The vampires from Twilight. I think it was pretty famous back then and she literally had put glitter on her entire body. She had wanted me to play as her partner, but I wasn’t into sparkling vampires. I had preferred something more monstrous, like a demon. But making wings just for one event was troublesome I had felt. I was lazy. So I just bought a pair of capes and fangs instead. The other one was for Nathalie. But Nathalie didn’t want them, saying that she looked more original, like in the movies, without the cape and fangs. I didn’t know her kind of vampire had no fangs.
During the Halloween night, I had worn only the cape and my pants. I was shirtless because I had thought it would be cool to look like the so-called werewolves and at the same time be a vampire. At that time, I had already started working out a little. I had achieved some progress—little muscles—so I was dying to show off.
In the middle of the party, I found Liam alone in the middle of the hall, looking confused. He was the only person in street clothes, as in, not in a Halloween costume. Everyone else in the hall was in their Halloween costumes. He looked very uncomfortable. In fact, he looked completely forced to be at the event. At that time, I didn’t know what was up with me because I usually wouldn’t approach anyone, let alone, a stranger. I approached him. Without even thinking if he was with anyone.
“Rawr!” I remembered I greeted him like that. I raised my arms, dragging the cape I was wearing up with them like a bat. I flashed my fangs.
Liam didn’t even get startled. He just laughed. “Nice costume. I like it.”
I laughed too, nervously. “Really? Thanks. Yours?”
Liam had to process a little while to figure out what I meant. “I have no idea what’s nice to wear. So I ended up not dressing up.”
A Monster's Love Page 9