DINNER

Kalen's heart felt like it was about to come out while he stares at the man dragging him outside of the building like a mother would drag her naughty kid. He felt embarrassed especially when they made it out and people started looking at them, conversing with their malicious eyes perhaps thinking that they were having a lover's dispute and as if waiting for them to make a scene. But with all of it happening, in the back of his mind, he enjoys the warm hand pressed with his own. The intense grasped but soft palm made his heartbeat a bit faster, peering at the unclear aura that surrounds the man pulling him.

We forgot the world for a moment.

He gasped a little when Leo finally lets go of his hand, snapping back to the moment. Both his brows stood up at the sight of the car in front of him, roaming his eyes around the shiny thing and making him look at the reflection of his nervous self.

Leo noticed Kalen was not moving and was just staring blankly at the vehicle so he offered to open the door for him like a gentleman. But, he waited long enough for the man and didn't want to wait for another minute as his patience was growing thin.

He had a choice though not to but, he did.

Leo pushed Kalen's stiff body lightly inside even though he was already annoyed for waiting for so long but tried not to show on his face. He waited for the man to say something but Kalen was still out of it looking at him with shocked eyes just sitting still, not even moving a finger.

He heaved a sigh and stooped down to reach for the seatbelt to put on Kalen when his eyes landed on the man's pretty face, but the other quickly moved his head back and tried not to stare back at him. Kalen pressed his lips and gulped, still trying to look away from Leo's sharp stare when he felt a soft breath hit his cheek. His eyes couldn't take it anymore and changed course to meet Leo's. Their gaze was locked on each other for a while giving enough time for him to scan Leo's impenetrable eyes and extraordinary countenance.

Leo's face lost its stone-cold expression too the moment Kalen settled his adorable almond eyes with his and the man's scent almost took away his consciousness. He felt safeguarded by the man's angelic aura, different from the first time they met and it felt somewhat familiar.

"Mr. Leo..let me..do it.." We whispered, hands trembling and stumbling to find the seat belt while his eyes were still trapped in Leo's enchanting stare.

Leo just gave a soft but kind of a mischievous smile, slowly drifting his eyes away from Kalen and all of his bitterness earlier along with it. He closed the door and walked towards the driver's seat, taking a deep breath before going in. He didn't start the engine right away as he and the man just sat there, both in thought and avoiding every possible eye contact again.

After a few more minutes of silence, Kalen shook his head, shutting his eyes indicating that he already has had enough of Leo's surprises for tonight and this sudden annoyance hit him. Leo, who was unaware of the man's sudden switch of mood began to turn on the engine but Kalen's hand was quick to interrupt him, giving a cold stare instead.

Leo hastily answered it back with his expressionless face. We slowly removed his hand and sighed, trying to be calm but tough at the same time.

"Mr. Leo, I don't know what games you're playing here but, I will tell you now, I don't want to be a part of it."

"Do you like making people wait, Mr. Kalen?"

"Look, Mr. Leo, I didn't confirm to you If I can go. It was your choice to wait so please don't blame me."

"You could've at least texted back."

"Okay, that one is my bad. I was busy so I forgot and I apologize. But, you have no right to just show up and drag me anywhere you, please. I don't like it."

"Then you should've been out of my car then, right?"

The man furrowed out of embarrassment. He hates to admit but Leo has a point. If he didn't like it then he should've protested from the start but he didn't because the truth was, he did like it. He rolled his eyes and looked away.

"Fine. Just tell me where we are going then."

"Apartment."

Kalen couldn't believe his ears and scowled at Leo but the man ignored him and drove away. He had no energy left to argue so he let it go. He rested his head on the window as the only thing he heard was the rough sound of Leo's speeding car so he grabbed his phone and AirPods from his bag and listened to some classics while he stares at the sparkling lights they pass by, not realizing that he was already singing along.

"If I could save time in a bottle..the first thing that I'd like to do..is to save every day till eternity passes away. Just to spend them with you. if I could make days last forever. if words could make wishes come true..I'd save every day like a treasure..and then again, I would spend them with you.."

Pretty lights painted the dull street with red and green hues as Leo trod the way going to his place, smiling while he listened to the faint but deep and angelic voice of the man behind him but Kalen didn't notice.

Minutes pass by and the stillness invaded them, realizing that the singing abruptly ended. He glanced at Kalen and saw him sleeping like a baby, his head still laying in the same position, one hand motionless on his lap while the other holding the phone. Leo let him sleep knowing that it was probably because of exhaustion and they were a bit far anyway.

Later on.

Kalen jolted awake when he felt a slight shake on his shoulder dropping the phone from his hand and grasping the wrist of the man who suddenly snatched his dream away while uttering the name of his long-gone friend; "Damon." He looked at Leo and was confused for a moment until his brain reminded him that he is back in the real world, that he is in his car, and he is still holding the man's wrist firmly. He immediately lets go and went to grab his phone on the mat realizing that the music was still on. We rubbed his eyes wandering them around while taking off the AirPod out from his ears, trying to find out where he was and not even minding Leo who was sitting inches from him.

"We're in the parking area." Said Leo, following Kalen's every movement with his eyes.

He looked at Leo with his still sleepy eyes only to look away again, stretched his stomach out with his hands on his back waist like an old man, and let out a satisfying yawn. Leo was surprised to see Kalen do the same thing as Damon did and furrowed at the memory he had for a second. We looked at his watch and paused, his eyes seemed like they had seen a ghost.

"It's already a quarter past eight and I haven't eaten anything yet. Jie will kill me if she finds out." Kalen sighed in distress and side-eyed Leo. "Mr. Leo, your food better be good." He mumbled.

Leo's brows wrinkled a little, wondering what the other is whispering about. He rolled his eyes and got out of the car, followed by the irritated man, and silently made their way to the elevator. Leo stayed in his cold demeanor, with his hands on his pocket and all while Kalen was dying of the uneasiness between them, but trying to look collected. They finally got to the floor and Leo was the first to get out as he knows that the man had already been to the place, he didn't need to be assisted.

Kalen stood behind Leo looking at his back while the man types the door code. They both got in and Leo switched on the light and as dim as it looks, He remembered the same feeling as the first time he came, depressing.

"You already know where the living room is. Feel comfortable."

"I doubt that," Kalen whispered under his breath, clearing his throat.

He sat down on the couch and proceeded to ask questions, not wanting another weird silence from them both.

"So Mr. Leo, what are you preparing?"

"I already ordered us food. I'm just reheating it then we can eat."

"Oh. What did you order then?"

"The typical."

"Right."

He got tired of the boring conversation, got up, and walked around the living room to explore it. He slowly walked towards the photographs displayed on the table with his hands on his back and examined every one of them. Leo watched as Kalen did so but didn't say anything and returned to plating the food.

His eyes dwindled upon seeing a familiar photo that was not present when he first came. He was confused as to why it was there now and why Leo had it. It was the one he took when they sauntered on a lake park trail with Matt and Damon back when they were in college. He remembers it clearly, birds chittering and the bright sky illuminating in between the swaying leaves of an enormous tree;

"Kal! Kal! Let's go there and have a photo together! The view is great!"

"But Damon...I can't...walk any further. You should've asked...Matt...I'm out of...breath...you go along...I'll wait for you here.."

"Oh no! Are you okay? Do you want to sit down? Where is Matt by the way? I'll stay here with you then. The air is fantastic in this area anyway."

"I'm..okay. Give me the camera I'll take a photo of you."

"But I want a photo with you!"

"Damon, I'm a mess. But you, handsome even if drenched in sweat."

"We're both, Kal."

"Come on..give me that camera and show me that cute smile, Osaka Prince!"

Kalen gasped at the memory of their giggles together, touching his hurting chest again when Leo's voice came into his senses.

"He loved that. Just in case you're wondering why it's there. Dinner?"

"It wasn't here when I first came."

"You wanna sit down first, Mr. Kalen?"

He slightly nodded, putting down the photo, and walked towards the kitchen top as Leo had already sat down, waiting for him. They started chowing down as both were starving.

"Hm. Nice. Typical huh, soup, fish, and veggies."

"You don't like it?"

"I do. I'm close to being a vegetarian you know. I prefer a meal like this, so thanks."

"Oh. That's why you're so slim, Mr. Kalen."

"You could say that."

Then silence again, until Leo decided to start up the conversation Kalen had been wanting to have from him.

"He loved that photo. He already had it even before we met. He said it was you who took it so he treasured it."

Both stopped eating as Kalen looked up at Leo, but Leo kept looking down at his food, fidgeting with his fork.

"It wasn't here when I first came."

"I usually keep it in our room, but I decided to bring it down here."

"For me to see?"

"Hm. You could say that."

Kalen's face went back to being confused and annoyed. He puts down his fork slowly, pressed his lips, and sighed before letting out his issues.

"Why, Mr. Leo? When I said earlier that I'm not up to any of your games, I meant that. You showed up at my work, dragged me to your car, and brought me to your apartment to have dinner, then all of a sudden, you show me that picture. For what? To make me feel bad? To make me look bad? That I wasn't there when Damon pas..."

He stopped in the middle of his interrogation when Leo's fierce eyes struck back at him. The man was not happy with his qualm but so was he.

"He wanted us to meet. He said you're nice and easy to get along with. He would always praise you. But, tell me which one is real? And which one is not?"

"Which one do you think?"

Leo didn't answer back, looking down again at his food, not because he was backing down but because he thought that it was not worth it to argue anymore. They both paused for a moment, and Kalen thought that it was over but he was wrong. Just then, Leo surprised him again.

"I want you to feel comfortable here, Mr. Kalen. I didn't put it there to insult you or anything, but because this was his home once and I want you to see that even though you weren't together at the time, he still cared about you and thought about you often. He wanted you to come here and meet me personally but it didn't happen and I don't blame you. I know you know why he did what he did, and I don't blame you for that either, so let's try and get along for his sake. That's what he would've wanted."

For the first time since they've met, Leo spoke the longest phrase to him which he thought that he wasn't capable of. He felt bad for opening his mouth first not knowing the real reason behind it but at the same time, he felt his spirit suddenly leave his body when Leo uttered the words; "I know you know why he did what he did, but I don't blame you for that either." Does he know? He thought.

"What he..did?"

Leo's eyes narrowed by the question, vexed by the sudden loss of the man's memory but tried to hide it away.

"He tried to kill himself. I guess you forgot."

"Oh, uhm. Sorry I uhh. I thought."

Leo let down his head and continued on his food, trying to erase the thing he reminded himself of again, the thing he tried so hard for 2 years to forget while Kalen kept his eyes on him, guilty and still surprised by the man's sudden declaration.

"It's okay. What happened to you during those days is none of my business. I don't have to know now."

Kalen's eyes became mellow and his face apologetic, remembering the day he got a phone call from Damon's Mother telling him that Damon tried to commit suicide. He was at Chongqing that day, holding his phone with a shaking hand doubting everything that was transpiring at that moment, and then, Damon's request echoed in his mind.

"I'm sorry." was all he can say, clenching his fists as tight as he could but Leo just smiled like he was already anticipating it to happen.

"Stop apologizing. Like I said, let's try and get along from now on for him. Let's continue dinner? Before everything gets cold again."

"Hm. Yeah."

After an anxiously painful talk, the two continued on the night more civil with each other, asking a bit about each other and particularly about business matters. As time passes by, Kalen's resentment towards the past and Leo's uncertainty about the future temporarily went away as the chat between them came to be an ample one. Quite surprisingly, they both agreed in their minds that it was what they needed as the uncomfortable feeling slowly vanished into thin air.

Kalen stood up from his seat to get his water container and medicine from his bag as he was already behind his usual drinking time while Leo quietly peered as he clears the table.

"Can I use your bathroom?"

"Are you okay, Mr. Kalen?"

"Yes."

"Upstairs, just straight from your left."

"Thank you."

He quietly got up the stairs staring at the medicine in his hand and the many secrets behind it, walking gradually in the direction Leo instructed him. Minutes passed by, the man waiting for the other downstairs wondered what was taking the man so long and went up to check, skipping a step.

He got in front of the bathroom door and knocked softly for Kalen.

"Everything okay?"

The door suddenly unlocked and the two met each other's eyes again.

"Oh, Mr. Leo. Yes, everything's okay. Thank you for checking. I think I have to go now, it's late and I have work tomorrow."

"Hm. I'll give you a ride. I can't let you go home alone."

"No, it's okay thanks. I'll take a cab. I can manage."

"Okay, then."

The two walked side by side as they went downstairs. Kalen then started to get his things ready and Leo just stared at him when suddenly, a thought came to his mind and went to the console table to grab something. Kalen who was no idea that Leo was walking toward him, flinched a little when the man touched his shoulder.

"Here. Take this. This photo belongs to you, not here anymore."

Kalen knew right away what he meant and extended his hand to reach for the photo, smiling gently at Leo without saying a word, and carefully putting it in his bag.

"Let me walk you to the door."

"Thank you."

Hs exited Leo's door and faced the man again with his tired but pleased face while Leo stared at his lovely visual thinking of words to say before saying goodbye to him.

"Thank you for the dinner."

"Thank you for your time and I'm sorry for dragging you here, Mr. Kalen."

"Kalen. Call me, Kalen, or Kal. Damon used to call me Kal. You could call me that too if you want. Whatever you like."

Leo's eyes widened as happiness invaded his core because of those unexpected words.

"Kalen, thank you for your time. Bye and Good Night."

"Good Night."

As Kalen turned around to leave, a sudden clutch on his wrist stopped him. He turned to Leo, his lips departed as he watched and feels his warm fingers around his.

"Call me by my name too. Leo. Call me Leo from now on."

His eyes blinked at least thrice when he heard it making his heart jumps happily and gladly inside.

"Good night, Leo."

He whispered as Leo slowly comes forward, getting closer and closer.

And, then..

TO BE CONTINUED.