IX-EXHIBITION

Day 9

JOHN

I had plans for today with Evan. He wants to take me to the city for an exhibition. He told me to dress appropriately, so I went with what I thought would look the best since I enjoy dressing in vintage. wearing my coffee-brown pants and vintage shoes, and a button-down polo shirt underneath.

I feel like I've journeyed across time when I look in the mirror because of what I'm wearing. Evan was fixing the buttons on his polo shirt as he passed by behind me. He was dressed in the deepest shade of brown slacks to go with a long-sleeved, coffee-colored polo shirt with the sleeves folded in by three-fourths, the chest undone, and the matching golden watch and vintage shoes.

Because of the way he wears and collects things, I have always known that he shares my appreciation of old items. I went up to him and assisted with the adjustment. I can picture the two of us together. I helped him get ready, and when I was done, he said, "Thanks," and he took his camera.

He then said, "Let's go, we might be late," and we both walked out of the room and went into the elevator. I gazed at it when I suddenly felt something that felt something touching my finger. I grinned and decided to treat him the same way after observing him trying to grab my pinky finger with his.

Thoughts like, It's embarrassing, yet it's exhilarating to know how we feel, kept us from looking at each other while we were both grinning. I want to stay in this moment forever and wish we were like this!

We instantly released our grip and resisted grinning as we exited the elevator when we heard the tone and it opened. He naturally asked me to get in the car first when we both exited the hotel and jumped inside right away. He helped me into the car and sat down next to me after doing so. He is a very kind person.

"Since my friend Lea works with the artist, we are going, and we can enter merely for free," he added. The exhibition will start at 6 p.m.; actually, it is exclusive for VIPs.

I see. Because of his exclusivity, this artist must be very well liked among VIPs.

I questioned, "Are you sure we can enter?" and he gave me a why-not expression.

He said, "Of course, besides the fact that your name is on the list, given that Lea claimed you know the artist and that the artist had seen your most recent post on Instagram while you were at the pub, he must have felt bad for you at that time." I quickly identified the artist as Troye, Allister Dark's husband, so when he said I knew him, I already knew who he was.

I glanced at Evan and said, "Yeah, I guess, because he knows me and he knows what I've been through for the past five years," and he smiled.

He playfully said, "Don't worry, we'll be fine; if something goes wrong, we run," which made me giggle. I eventually started to feel drowsy, so I informed him that since the trip was still far off, I would just take a nap.I told him, "I'll just take a moment; I'm a little sleep deprived; just wake me up when we get there," and he simply nodded. I closed my eyes and laid my head against the windshield, but I felt his hand grasp my head and lean it against his shoulder before taking my hand.

He has been treating me differently than he did before yesterday, after we discussed what transpired at the theme park. I don't want to think that he likes me or has any romantic feelings for me, despite the fact that he is simultaneously very nice and sweet. However, I simply cannot contain my excitement. He might have simply been concerned for me since he was aware of how difficult my experience had been and how it had affected the outcome. He may have been concerned that I might make a mistake again.

When I put the blame for what occurred on Evan, I must admit that I felt a bit bad. Perhaps I just said that out of sheer annoyance and self-blame and didn't mean it that way. I don't know; it could be that I'm jealous. Fuck it, I'm going to go take a nap right now.

EVAN

Doing this to him only makes me feel as though I might desire him more; I can't help but be drawn to him. My preferred way to interact with him is to hold his hand and keep him in my arms. I haven't wanted him to be apart from me since we discussed what occurred at the theme park that day. You can't hold it against me, even though I realize I'm being unnecessarily protective. I'm sad that I didn't succeed in my attempt to make him happy and feel better because I'm really concerned to see him doing such things, especially having sex with a man he doesn't know.

When I have a goal to accomplish, I have the kind of personality that will keep going until I do, regardless of how many times I fail, because our blunders serve as a teaching tool. And since I haven't yet accomplished that, my current objective is to do everything in my power to make John happy and assist him in healing the scars his husband left behind. I glanced at him as I stroked his head and fiddled with his hair. I find myself fixated by him despite the fact that he is still sleeping, especially given his vintage attire. How is it that even while sleeping, he is still so gorgeous in my eyes?

I gently squeezed his hand as I was holding it myself. Am I being too blatant in letting this man know how important he is to me? Even though it's only been a few days, it already feels like we've been friends for a while. In addition, I believe I have started to adore John. I simply have a rudimentary understanding of him; I am aware of how he behaves in many situations, such as when he abruptly goes silent and virtually refuses to communicate. I am also aware of how he feels when he is depressed or experiencing a difficult time, and he solely uses smoking to decompress. You won't get weary of bugging and taunting him if he's in the mood, too. He even enjoys eating at midnight, as I am aware of and can relate to. There are still a lot of things about him that I do not know, and I am really excited to get to know them all.

It's been so long since I engaged in activity like this with a person. I never behaved excessively with anyone I liked, not even Jean. I'm terrified because I remember how I felt when I cared too much for someone I loved and ended up devastated and alone. John and I may eventually part ways and become strangers once more, which is another thing I fear. I will never regret spending time with him doing these things; I will never regret making him happy, even for a very brief period of time, despite whatever may transpire between our lives. I had pleasure with him since I gained something too.

Last but not least, I will always remember this journey, the memories, the emotions, and John himself. I said to myself I would never do that. John was awake just in time for us to exit the vehicle when we finally arrived at the show site. My friend Lea welcomed us right away and offered us a VIP-only ID pass as soon as we arrived at the ground floor.

Lea and John shook hands when I naturally introduced them. He thought we were a couple at first, and we both chuckled. John and I, however, acted formally because VIPs were with us as we entered the show. I couldn't help but stare at John as he studied the paintings one at a time while I continued to study the others. He was clearly astonished by what he was seeing, as seen by the look on his face.

"Did you know the book I read is about paintings?" I sighed heavily before continuing.

"The author once went to an art exhibit and was inspired by paintings; as a result, every chapter of his book is based on a painting he saw at the exhibition." I informed him, and his response astonished me.

He replied in a whisper, "Painting is art, as is writing stories and poems."

He leaned over and murmured, "Thank you for bringing me here today," and I smiled back and kept looking at the paintings. We just kept gazing at the images, and I naturally took pictures of John without telling him.

 Actually, I have a lot of images of John on my Instagram. I'm not sure if he's seen those photos. All of them are candid; there are also others where we are both smiling at the camera. Actually, practically all of the photos I've uploaded on Instagram are of John alone or candidly. I simply made him a model without his permission.

JOHN

I was preoccupied staring at the paintings when someone suddenly came up to me, which made me feel a little startled. My eyes were welcomed by Troye's smile, which I had never seen before. I softly cried, "Troye!" He laughed, and we hugged as a result. I said to him when we released the hug, "Oh my god, it's been so long since we last saw each other."

"Yes, and there are a lot of things we should talk about, so I'm really delighted you could make it today," he replied.

He may understand that my current relationship is complex. Before Hanz's family permanently went to the Philippines, Allister Dark and Hanz were the closest of friends. Therefore, Troye must be aware of what Hanz and I are going through.

"I'm saying you were married to Hanz for five years, and in those five years, he cheated on you long before you got married. Thinking about that reminds me of what Allie did the day we got married. I know you've been through a lot lately."

Troye responded by shrugging his shoulders as I stared at him in disbelief. "Being a cheater runs in their family because Hanz is not only Allie's best friend; they are also related by blood, and as the saying goes, Birds of a feather flock together," Troye said laughing. Even though I am aware that Evan and Hanz are cousins, I was nonetheless shocked to learn that Allie had also cheated on Evan.

He pointed behind us and added, "Allie and I are no longer together; we divorced two years ago, and I got remarried with that man over there." I looked at the red-headed man Evan was speaking to.

He smiled and continued, "That's my husband, Jonas, my best friend since I was a kid." He put his hands in his pockets, trying to break the uneasy pause between us, "So how are you feeling now?"

I stated as I took a close look at Troye's artwork, "Well, I feel fine and happy."

Troye asked a question, and I noticed him gazing at Evan. "I can see that, and it seems like someone helped you with that, if I am not mistaken?"

I grinned and replied, "Yeah, I'm so glad to meet him; if it wasn't for him, I might just have been moping in the hotel room for the entire seventeen days of my vacation."

"Hey, promise me you'll be fine, okay?" He said it in the kindest, most concerned manner, and I simply nodded and said, "I promise."

We had a conversation the entire time I was touring the exhibit. We had a lot of conversations, and he helped me realize that I belonged with someone who could take care of me. I must defend myself at all costs because I don't deserve to be in this much pain.