The room was eerily quiet. Two young bodies were locked in a passionate embrace. The couple were afraid to let go of each other, thinking once they let go, the chance to be intimate would not come again in their lifetime. It was unclear how long the two bodies were entwined with each other. Though, at some point, they did let go.
The boy with a spiky black hair and brown complexion heaved a deep sigh. His gaze fell on his partner. He sighed again. He couldn’t help but to admire the beauty in front of him.
The boy’s mouth opened, but, he was too hesitant to speak. He saw his partner smiled at him lovingly. The boy’s heart beamed with unspeakable joy. The hesitation to speak vanished. He held his partner’s hand.
The boy said, “We are not doing anything wrong, are we?”
His partner, a boy with pale complexion and a face with incomparable beauty replied, “What’s wrong with loving someone? Is it because we are of the same gender?”
The boy with a spiky hair smiled. “I love you and I was the one who chased you regardless of your gender. Love, ah, it’s a wonderful thing! Who would’ve thought that we would end up together?”
His beautiful partner’s face showed inexplicable happiness. “Best friends turned lovers—it’s like in the movies—but, we’re both boys! What a plot twist.” A cheerful laugh soon came after.
The boy’s heart was yet again captivated by his partner. He lovingly muttered, “And just like those movies, ours would also be a happy ending, don’t you think?”
His partner cupped his face. He mouthed the words “I love you” and their face grew closer.
The two was about to experience their first kiss. They were both scared but excited at the same time. When their lips finally met, a magnificent feeling bloomed and wrapped them in a magical moment.
However, the magic came into an abrupt end when the door of the room flung open. A shock, angry, and a high-pitched voice exploded.
“What the fuck?! What is the meaning of this?”
They immediately let go of each other. The boy with a spiky black hair stood up from the bed. He looked at his partner with evident fear in his eyes. Then, he started to explain with a stuttering voice to the intruder. He justified their action with mediocre words that was obviously lacking of the so called love he proclaimed for his partner minutes ago.
The pale boy’s heart was filled with gloom. A bad feeling from the pit of his stomach rose up and clouded his being with an inevitable doom…
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
*****
“Mgjc, tbcfs, ktja’r kgbcu? Gbc’a sbe ilxf atf obbv?”
Mgjc ibbxfv ja atf kbwjc rlaalcu jmgbrr tlw. Ktf kbwjc’r ojmf kjr oeii bo mbcmfgc. Lf lwwfvljafis qeiifv tlr rtla abufatfg jcv ujnf atf kbwjc j rwlif. Ktfc, tf rjlv: “Ktfgf’r cbatlcu kgbcu, wbw. Ktf obbv’r ugfja—jr jikjsr. P kjr pera atlcxlcu jybea rbwfatlcu firf. Vbggs, P rtbeiv tjnf obmerfv bc fjalcu ygfjxojra. Zs yjv.”
His mother eyed him with so much affection. “Fran, honey, mom wants to know what’s bothering you. Tell me, sweetie. You know that mom is always here for you. I am always ready to listen. To protect you. No one’s going to hurt you—”
Fran interrupted his mother. “I know, mom. I know. But, nothing’s been bothering me these days. I was just thinking about going to the bookstore later. Really, mom. Be at ease. Nothing’s going to hurt me anymore. I am not a pretty little fragile thing.”
Fran saw his mother got teary-eyed. She leaned forward, held his hand, and squeezed it tight. Fran showed his mother another smile. That did the trick. His mother went back to eating breakfast with a smile of ease on her face.
Fran heaved a sigh of relief. He also went back to eating.
“Ah, by the way, there’s still a month before you start going to university. Why don’t we go on a trip? I am thinking it’s nice to do some island hopping. What do you think?”
Fran shook his head. “Sorry, mom. I prefer reading books more than doing some outdoor activities. Why don’t you go on a trip with Aunt Angie?”
“Actually, your aunt is pestering me to go with her…”
Fran gave his mom the thumbs up sign. “It’s settled then. Don’t worry about me, mom.”
“Fran…”
Fran laughed and said, “I’m already nineteen years old, mom. It would not hurt to leave me alone for a couple of weeks or so. I can manage by myself. Don’t worry, just enjoy.”
It took a little bit more of coaxing on Fran’s part before he convinced his mother that it was really all right for her to go on a trip. After breakfast, his mother immediately called his aunt. The two talked on the phone for almost an hour.
When Fran went back to his room, he couldn’t help but sigh. It was really fine on his part to be left alone by his mother. But, it was also understandable why it was so hard to convince his mom to leave him alone. It was not because he was too young in his mother’s eyes, but, it was because his mother still thought of him as the fragile kid who was so messed up just like a couple of years ago.
Fran lay down on his bed. He closed his eyes and a tiny portion of the past came back to him.
Fran’s family was living in the province until two years ago. He was born and raised in a place less noisy, less busy, and safer than the current city he was living in. When Fran was five years old, his father flew to Canada to work as an accountant. Fran’s father would go back in the country every three years. The last time he saw his father was also two years ago–the time when they decided to move out from the province to M city—the country’s capital. Fran just finished 10th grade at that time. His father was thinking of migrating to Canada with them for good. However, Fran’s mother was reluctant to the idea of them living in a foreign land; so, the plan was put off temporarily. His father went back to Canada while Fran and his mother settled in M city.
Truth be told, Fran’s mom was actually from M City. She just settled in the province with his father when they got married. They thought it was a good idea to build a family there. Away from the business and noise of big cities—they wanted a quiet and peaceful life in the province.
Though, something happened that made Fran’s family to move out of the province. That issue was long been forgotten by Fran, however, it left a painful scar not only to him but also to his parents.
Fran opened his eyes. It was not good for him to dwell on the past. He should live in the present and look forward to the future. Fran would start his first year in university come September. He should feel excited.
Fran rose from the bed. He took off his clothes and changed into something appropriate for outdoors. From a simple white T-shirt and cotton shorts, Fran changed into a blue checkered shirt and black pants. He was really planning to go to the bookstore.
Fran’s hobbies only consist of two things—sleeping and reading books. If he was not sleeping, he was busy reading books—if he was not reading books, Fran surely was dozing off.
Fran got a huge collection of books in his room. From classic literature, modern fantasy, young adult, even scientific and business books. Fran was a voracious reader. If only he could spend all of his waking hours just to read—he would be exceptionally glad. No time for other things—things that could hurt and things that did not really matter in his life.
Fran did not bother to comb nor style his hair. He grabbed his phone and his backpack (where he would put his book haul later) and went out of his room. He saw his mother and kissed her goodbye.
Before he left out of the door, Fran’s mother asked, “Are you going to take the car?”
Fran shook his head and replied, “No. I’ll just take a cab. It would be too hard for me to search for a parking space because the bookstore does not have one.”
“How about money? Do you still have enough?”
“Yes. Don’t worry, mom.” Fran got his own savings. His father was a very generous man. He would indulge Fran’s love for books by allocating a separate budget for it each month. Also, Fran liked to save his money from his school allowance.
His mother understood immediately. “Okay, sweetie. Enjoy. Just make sure you will come home before lunchtime. I’ll be cooking your favorite dish.”
Fran nodded. “Thanks, mom. I’ll be back soon.”
His mother smiled. “Take care and enjoy!”
When Fran stepped out of the house, he was greeted by his neighbour—a middle school girl by the name of Carlie.
The girl smiled at him sweetly. “Good morning, Fran! It’s nice to see you this early.”
He just noded. “Good morning…”
Carlie crossed the distance between them in an unbelievable speed. It was too late for Fran to avoid her.
“Where are you going, Fran? You look…nice. No, you look beautiful…as always.”
Fran saw how the girl’s eyes twinkled while looking at him. He sighed. “I’m going to the bookstore.”
Carlie did not say anything. She just kept on looking at his face with dreamy eyes. Fran did not have a choice but to leave. It was not the first time Carlie did something like that. Fran was already used to the girl’s behavior towards him.
It was not also the first time Fran heard the word “beautiful” just to describe him. Though, the adjective did not fit his assigned gender, people still tend to use that word whenever they see him.
Well, whatever. Fran did not care at all. He started to walk away. He heard Carlie called his name. He did not even bother to look back. Instead, he walked faster to reach the direction where it was allowed to hail a cab.
A couple of minutes later, Fran was inside a cab, unaware of a magnificent encounter he would have with a stranger that might change his peaceful life…
ahhhh I’m sad for Fran but excited for the future encounter!
thanks for the chapter <3
Poor Fran <3
Thank you for the chapter!
Здравствуйте, меня зовут Елена, могу я перевести ваш роман “А вот и ты” на русский язык?
What an interesting character – close to his mother, prefers reading over traveling, and the girl next door calls him beautiful!