Jennie left the place some minutes ago. Fluke stood there trying to figure out the scene. Max once told fluke that he never allowed anyone to visit his apartment but he experienced something else now. Moreover she knows his door's new code. This was something that wasn't digested by Fluke. Suddenly a thin layer of suspicion and uncertainty filled the room. The sudden realization that he was not the only special one in Max's heart made Fluke's heart cringe.
"Mochi!"
"-----"
"Mochi!"
"------"
"Mochi!"
"Ya...what? what?"Fluke snapped out.
"What are you thinking?" Max asked patting him on his shoulder.
"What? No...nothing." Fluke was still lost. He was not in a good state of mind for sure.
"Tired?" Max asked him looking at Fluke's gloomy face. Unaware of his boyfriend's changed behaviour, Max was in loss of words.
TRING! TRING! TRING! His home phone rang. Max went near the phone and picked it up.
"Hello! ...Yes sir! I'm sorry I forgot...I'm really sorry I got mixed up....Sorry sir....Please don't inform mom....Yes...I promise...I'll sir...Thank you so much sir, bye." The call ended and Max came back to where Fluke was standing with his head stooping low.
"Is everything alright?" Fluke asked looking at Max's now gloomy face.
"Yes! Everything is good." He answered with a low tone.
"Mocha! You fart when you lie." Fluke gathered some courage and grabbed Max's hand. "I can sense something is not right. You know you can't lie with this face. Tell me!"
Silence filled the room until Max spoke "Actually...I was skipping my tuition classes these days so my teacher called to warn me."
"But you said it starts from 9pm onwards." Fluke was confused.
"I lied."
"What about these books? Did you really finish them all?" Fluke was now suspicious.
"-----" His silence told the answer.
"Why?" Fluke raised his eye brows.
"Because I wanted to look cool. Because I wanted to spend some time with you. In the school when I was elected for the vice-president, I was happy but now I can't even get closer to you. I don't want to be the vice-president anymore. I can't even look directly into your eyes for long in class. I couldn't touch your hand for long that day because of the football match. I think I'll leave the team soon."
"Mocha! These are the things you always liked." Fluke felt bad. He never imagined that Max was over thinking so much. The idea to resign from his vice-president position and to leave the football team just to spend some time with him, made Fluke imagine that it was his entire fault.
"You see, I want you to feel special. I like you and so I care." He gazed at Fluke with his wet eyes.
"Hugh!" Fluke sighed. "This is so wrong...so very wrong." Fluke was disheartened. The entire scene was a reflection of his words. Just because he told Max that he wants to spend a good time with him, Max altered his whole life and his likings. This was not processing into his mind. Fluke's legs gave up and he collapsed on the floor.
"Mochi!" Max screamed and ran to grab him but Fluke already settled on the floor.
"Beginning is so easy but continuing is so hard. I still remember the day I realized my feelings for you. I gathered up my courage and called for you. But the moment you appeared, I was blank. Still I managed to somehow deliver what I felt for you. I'm really grateful that you reciprocated my feelings. I was on cloud nine when you accepted to be my boyfriend."
Max squat near him and spoke, "I too liked you but being an introvert, never had the courage to speak up. I'm grateful that you came to me or else I'd still be peeking at you during the class hours." He giggled.
"I love you." Fluke grabbed his hands tightly.
"I love you too." Max intertwined thier fingers.
"But...I think this is not what I picturised about us." Fluke added.
"What...what do you mean?"
"Love can't be this difficult. If you have to leave out so many things in your life just to be with me, then I'm not fine with it." A tear rolled down on Fluke's cheek.
"NO! NO! It's just that I..." He panicked. He grabbed Fluke's hands more tightly now.
"Mocha! When two persons like each other, they should complement each other instead of being a shackle. And now I'm being a one for you."
"Mochi! Don't say like this. I'm happy with you. I need you." His grip tightened.
"Mocha! I love you and I'm not going to break up with you." Fluke assured him looking straight into his eyes.
"Then why are you saying like this? I'm scared now. I am trying to do everything for you." His eyes were red and wet.
"See, this is what I want to say. You can't keep trying. You too very well know that soon you'll get tired of this trying. How much will you push yourself?"
"No! I've a lot more energy to do everything and also to be with you. I promise I won't leave my vice-president post nor the football team." He was persistent.
"Yesterday your mother came and told you to devote yourself in your studies. What will she think if she learns that you bunked classes? I know that you love football and I clearly saw that in the last match. Why should you stop playing? Because of me? Why?"
"I...I don't get enough time after the practice as I directly have my classes later. It's ...it's difficult." Max looked dark.
"What if I say that I've a solution? Will you accept it?" Fluke asked him.
"Ok I'll...if it's not about break up." Max was serious.
"Hugh!" Fluke sighed. "I want you to focus on your studies and the things you like. I'll too do the same. Let's focus on our career first. This is what is important now. And about our relationship, let's postpone it for the time being."
"Postpone? What is there to postpone?" Max looked confused at the selection of word. 'Postpone' was a new word for him.
"I mean let's not continue this now. Look, we can't even open up in the school. We'll always have that fear of getting caught in school. What if we think about this relation after we get into the university?" Fluke was looking hopefully at him.
"University? It's still two long years. How is it going to happen?" He pulled off his hands and stood up. He seemed frustrated at Fluke's suggestion.
"Yes, only two more years." Fluke too stood up.
"Fine! If you want this, I'll do it."
"During this time, you can figure out about your choices." Fluke added.
"What choices?" Max asked directly.
"Mocha! I think I got a hint about this earlier. You also have a liking for girls right?" Fluke asked looking straight into his eyes.
"-----" He was unprepared for this. Although Max felt the same but he was in denial.
"You're not gay right?" Fluke asked again.
"Mochi! I..I'm sorry. I just feel some unfamiliar feelings towards Jennie. I don't really know if it's emotional, romantic or sexual attraction. But I don't fantasize about her just like I do for you. I swear!" He pinched the area near his adam's apple to swear.
Although it was just for a fraction of a second, but Fluke flushed hearing that.
"I love you and it's something I cannot compare with anyone. But I too have a soft spot for Jennie. It might also be because we knew each other for quite a long time. She's like a family to me. I'm not sure if I'm a...bi....I'm confused." Max was frustrated with his own words. He pushed back some strands of hair falling on his temple with a sigh.
"I think it'll be great if you can open up about this and proudly accept who you are. Don't worry! I'll be with you. But I don't want that when I clearly accept you, you shouldn't be unclear about your preference. So for that, let's step back a little...give each other some space and get back when we can handle situations better." Fluke delivered what he felt.
"Mochi! I don't know what to say. I'm surprised you know me so well. But if we are not couples then what are we now?" He asked Fluke with his curious eyes.
"Friends. We don't need to cut off from each other's lives. Let's graduate soon and think of a better future, Mocha!"
"Mochi!" He nodded his head.
"Let's end this. I think I should leave. It's getting dark now." Fluke tried to pat dry the tear that rolled on his cheeks some time ago but it already evaporated.
"Thank God you didn't cry or else I would have gone crazy. Mochi! Can't you stay for long? I wanted to show you my other rooms. I prepared so much to show you today."
"Later Max!" He grabbed his bag. "Bye Max Camaron!"
"Bye Fluke Hedge! I'll wait these two long years. Hope you don't find anyone else."
"You can be assured. I've patience and lot of tolerance." Fluke smiled and walked away.
And he came back home. He was not dejected, nor was he feeling vulnerable. He felt proud at what he did. 'I can wait for him. It's better to wait than regret later.' He wisely advised himself.