Feel Comfort In Your Arms

Dean turns around in the quilt and faces the sleeping duo on their bed. For a second, his eyelashes parted and closed again. He frowns when he forces himself to open his eyes and sit on the bed.He rubs his eyes to get over the sleepiness. He is hoping that when he looks down, Roman will be present on the bed. However, the man is missing. His frown deepened, not understanding where he could be. Until his eyes landed on the bathroom door. He slaps his forehead and falls back on the bed.He waited, and he waited for five minutes. But Roman is nowhere to be seen. This was troublesome. Did he go to meet Liam or something? However, he notices that the time is 2 a.m. It's surely not possible. Where could the man have gone in the middle of the night? The market? They bid good night, and he saw Roman lying next to Ayan while telling a story to the boy, which even he heard and fell asleep.The man just vanished. He closed his eyes, not able to think much in his sleepiness. He turns around and lies in a comfortable position. Until he opened his eyes and saw the sliding door of the balcony slightly open, he frowned again, remembering to close it before sleeping.He sat upright and yawned, walking towards the balcony to close it. Until he saw Roman sitting there. He quietly opens the door."What are you doing here?" He asked in a whispered shout, making the man flinch in his shaking.Roman looks startled at Dean and hugs the frame of his wife tightly. "You are doing a part-time job as a ghost now?" He asked, watching the man rub his eyes.Dean looks at Roman with sleepy eyes. He felt the chills of winter, and this man was sitting on the floor without covering himself from the cold. He sighed and walked back to his bed, pulling his duvet out. He dragged it with him and groaned when it stuck on the door frame."What are you doing?" Roman asked, keeping his wife's frame on the side and helping to untangle the duvet.Dean shuts the door and slumps next to Roman. He opened the duvet and covered himself and Roman with it. "You'll catch a cold again." He mumbles in a sleepy voice and shuffles closer to Roman.Roman smiled in amusement. This man was always caring, or what? This sleepyhead is worried about his health again. He wrapped the duvet properly around the sleeping Dean, whose head fell on Roman's shoulder."You should be sleeping on the bed," Roman said with a chuckle. He watched Dean blink his eyes and look at him, head still on his shoulder."Why are you not?" Dean asked, closing his eyes again.Roman looks at the sky and says, "I couldn't..." He looks at the smiling face of his wife in the photo. "I remembered something,""When will you start expressing your thoughts? You know, sometimes it's really hard to understand whether you are emotional or something else." Dean sat upright and looked at Roman. He raised his hand and used his index finger and thumb to stretch Roman's lips on the sides. "You should smile at others too." He giggles, dropping his head back on Roman's chest.Roman chuckled, patting the man's head. Dean looks up again. "What was bothering you?" He again rests his head on the beating heart.Roman took a few seconds and looked at the mop of black hairs and the hand resting on his lap. He knows this man has never judged him. Even now, Dean asks to express his thoughts instead of saying he's a cold man with no emotions."I'm missing my wife," Roman whispered, his hand unconsciously bringing Dean closer to himself. "Yesterday's conversation brought back some memories." His hand hugged Dean tighter. "She didn't see Ayan's first step." He bites his lips. "She didn't hear his first words." He inhaled sharply to stop himself from crying. "She couldn't see Ayan going to school."Dean looks up and cups Roman's face. His sleepiness went from his eyes when he saw the unshed tears of the man. How long was this man holding back tears?"Let it out," Dean said and kneeled on the floor, hugging Roman, who sobbed, curling his arms around his waist."She wanted to see Ayan's first step." Dean bites his lips and nods while holding Roman's face close to his heart."She wished to capture everything." Roman continued to let out his tears and sob loudly. "I saw her lying in the coffin and couldn't do any-anything." He breaks down completely, with tears smearing his face. "I felt so helpless, so useless, so clueless." He stutters, having difficulty uttering each word.He looked up, and Dean immediately wiped his tears. "I lost everything in a day. My world just collapsed the very second I got the news."Dean's eyes welled up with tears too. "Why didn't you pour out your emotions? Why did you lock it up? Holding back things, pain, and sadness doesn't make them go away. Those emotions need to be cured slowly with love and care." He sniffs and roughly wipes his tears. "You should have—""I couldn't..." Roman closed his eyes, basking in the warmth of Dean's hand. He looked so vulnerable and delicate. The strong wall was hiding these delicate emotions."I couldn't say it. I just didn't feel like it." Roman further added, "I can't. I was not able. I had a family to take care of, and I don't know...""I got it. No need to explain." Dean hushed the man. He rubbed his back in soothing circles in an attempt to calm him. He didn't expect Roman to cry like this. How much was this man hiding his pain? Has he never cried in front of anyone? Was Dean the first? Does it mean that Roman trusts him?"I might be crossing a line by saying this. You may get angry or be upset forever." Dean whispered, holding his face."You should stop looking back." Roman widens his eyes. "You should stop scratching your wound. You can't move on because you subconsciously go back in time and hurt yourself. Remembering your past is never wrong. but never let it affect your present."Dean wiped away his tears and continued, "You're hurting yourself, and you must stop it before a small wound turns to suppuration.""You didn't lose your love. How would you know about the pain?" Roman was quick to push the comforting hands away.Dean inhaled, knowing it wouldn't be easy. He remembers Dr. Jennifer's saying that Roman is still not over Amelia. There might be nothing wrong with dwelling on memories. But it's not good to stay in the past forever either."I did," Dean replied with teary eyes. "I lost someone I loved dearly. I lost the very first man, who I loved and cared for more than myself." He inhaled, trying to stop the tears, as Roman watched him with wide eyes."His name was Nathan. He died in a car accident. And I didn't get the privilege to see him one last time. The family took him away to a foreign land, and I don't even know the place. None does. That's where I lost myself. I became a different version of myself that I regret even now." He punched the white tiles."I should have handled the shock in a better way than taking the wrong route and ruining myself." He punched again. "I should have talked it over with my brother at least. But I didn't do it." He looks away, blinking his tears."I see myself in you, Roman. I see the past Dean trying to cope with life by forgetting others, forgetting his happiness, by remembering only love." Dean leans forward and locks his teary eyes with Roman."I don't want to see another aimless Dean." He shook his head. "You should try to move on. If you continue to forget yourself, you won't be the Roman that your wife loves." He held Roman's cold hands. "I'll be the support. I'm here as long as you want."Roman couldn't stop himself from crying again. He hugged Dean and pressed his face against his chest, letting out all the loneliness, unlove, sorrow, and pain from his heart.Dean embraced the broken man. He caressed his hair. While closing his eyes, he rubbed soothing circles on his back and rested his chin on his head. Somewhere he feels nice about letting Roman break the wall he created after Amelia's death.After a while, "Let's go inside, yeah?" Dean whispered, and his eyes fell on the photo frame of his donor. She is a beautiful lady who left her kind heart in Dean's care.Roman nodded, clearing his throat and avoiding Dean's eyes. Did he just cry like an infant? It's so embarrassing. But he felt light as the pain in his soul decreased.Dean noticed Roman's red ears and thought it must be because he was crying. He cupped Roman's face and urged the man to look at him. "There's nothing wrong with crying. We're all emotionally wounded in some way or another." Roman's eyes looked the same as Ayan's as the man stared back at him. "I am in no position to judge anyone. I'm not perfect enough to give scores to others.""Sometimes it's nice to talk with a stranger. Because their judgment doesn't matter." Dean says, and Roman snorts, looking away with a nod."My words are against me," Roman mumbled.Dean stood up to open the door. But he widens his eyes and uses his strength to slide the door. However, it didn't move. He slaps his forehead, gaining Roman's attention, who has raised his eyebrows."We are stuck here," Dean says with a wide smile. "Open up!" He grits his teeth to push the door. He can't see Ayan properly because of the curtains."It's locked." Roman's words were like cold water on a cold night for Dean, who looks back. "Huh?""You must have slid the door to the end, and it's locked from the inside now," Roman explained while stretching his leg and sitting comfortably on the floor while pulling the duvet over himself.Dean knocks on the door. "Ayan, dear?""He won't wake up even if the world is ending. He sleeps like a log." Roman says and looks at the sky again. He sure is feeling nice now. Dean turns to knock again. "The maximum reaction will be a whine and kicking the duvet or hugging a pillow.""What to do now?" Dean slumps next to Roman with an unconscious pout."Phone?" Roman asked, spreading the duvet."Didn't you know? I sleep with the phone in my hand," Dean said with sarcasm.The whole emotional mood has evaporated into thin air. It left only the chilly wind and the chirping of insects. Dean slaps his arm and scratches it."Mosquitoes!" Dean looks around to see the culprit. "That tiny bloodsucker doesn't know anything better than singing."Roman stiffened a laugh and drew the quilt over Dean. "This will protect you from that singer." He laughs, watching Dean glare at him."Instead of wasting time, think about how to open the door," Dean said and pushed his hair back, which was bothering his eyesight."Break the glass." Roman shrugged while crossing his arms.Dean rolled his eyes. "Very funny. Joke of the year." He applauded Roman's great mind. "Your brain should be kept in a museum." A fake smile was present on Dean's face."Thank you." Roman bows with respect. "This much respect is overwhelming for me." He wipes away his fake tears. "I would like to dedicate this compliment to Mr. Dean Rayden."Dean narrowed his eyes. However, Roman continued speaking. "The man, whom I judged wrong on our first meeting, I also thought was creating unnecessary space in my son's life."Dean shook his head and parted his lips to object. But Roman pressed his finger on Dean's lips. "But he proved me wrong with his thoughts on the non-living plants. Damn, I still remember every word. If he could think so deeply about a thing, then how much would he care for a living being? I started noticing many things about him."Roman retrieved his finger. "Like, he would do almost anything to make someone else happy. like messing with all his clothes to find the right outfit. Like, forgetting his earphones and sulking like a puppy. Like, loving and caring for my son. like putting others' comfort over his own. And many more."Dean felt overwhelmed by his words. He never thought that someone would notice so much in such a short period of time. Surely Roman is an observer.Roman further added, "Like understanding me and not judging. Thank you so much for being here and wiping my tears. You gave me a shoulder when you needed yourself.""Stop making me cry in the middle of the night." Dean blinks his tears. After a long time, he feels good about himself. His negative thoughts didn't bother him. The amount of honesty Roman had in each word He doesn't know what effect it has on Dean, who is constantly trying to rectify his past."Hey, I was being thankful." Roman gives Dean a bear hug. However, Dean clutched his shoulder and breathed heavily."You don't know how much your words mean to me," Dean mumbled, hugging Roman tightly.Roman felt this hug was similar to the one when Dean cried in his arms. If he had known, he would have become like this again. He would probably never say it."Let me just keep hugging you." Dean insisted, looking back at Roman with his arms curled around his shoulders.Roman blinks softly and says, "I don't mind." He placed his hand on Dean's waist. "Since I don't have anything better to do." Dean grins and rests his head again on Roman's shoulder. where the man hugged him back and closed his eyes.Surely they both need someone to hug them and assure them that they're here for each other when they don't know whom to approach in the future.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇The sun's rays pierced through the white cloud, reaching the pair sleeping comfortably on the floor with the quilt wrapped around them like a cocoon.Dean was sleeping on Roman's right arm, which was stretched, and his other arm was encasing Dean close to him. Their legs tangled like Roman's leg resting over Dean's and his back hugging him.He turns around, disturbing Roman's sleep, who has raised his left arm, allowing the body to turn around and snuggle close to him. He keeps his arm back again on the waist and snores softly. The birds chirp in the background, with vehicles moving around.The sun's rays disturbed Roman's eyes, and he groaned and squeezed them tightly. His right hand was numb. He tried moving it and heard a whine. "Sorry, sorry." He whispered, lying still and yawning.He blinks his eyes and turns, facing the ceiling. He frowned when he saw a half-roof and the clear sky. He tried to sit up, but the arms around his torso tightened. Even his head was hurting from lying on the hard, cold floor.He sighed, turning around to greet his son on a usual morning. But he froze when he saw Dean sleeping next to him.Then, everything crashed in his mind like a meteoroid. He inhaled, trying to unwrap Dean's arms, and sat upright. He heard a groan because Dean's head hit the floor, and something comfortable vanished behind his head. He snickered, turning back and watching Dean curling himself.He looks at the duvet on his lap and turns around to wrap it around the man, who immediately snuggles in to seek warmth. He smiled, looking closely at a sleeping Dean.His hand reached Dean's cheek and caressed it softly, remembering how he had broken down in tears and how this man was trying to join the scattered him. Surely he found a good friend, just like Calder, his dearest friend.Dean's eyes narrowed as he felt the ticklish sensation on his cheek. He flutters his eyes, looking at Roman with confusion. He blinks his eyes and his brain, still having trouble rebooting his memory."Good morning," Roman whispered ever so softly as he says to his son."Morning," Dean mumbled, rubbing his eyes. He took some time to process and sat upright with a yelp. Roman blinked, watching the man, scanning around hastily."Did you throw me out?" Dean asked, looking at the sliding door.Roman raised his right eyebrow. "That's a big accusation." He crossed his arms. "For your information, you locked us out. I should be the one complaining." He looks down, having deep thoughts. "Why am I not complaining?""Huh?" Dean peeks at Roman, trying to understand what the man mumbled. His eyes still felt heavy from being awake. "What's the time?""You didn't know, I stayed the late night outside with a clock, lamp, and quilt.""Ok, ok. I remember how I shoot my foot with sleepiness." Dean yawns. "Is Ayan awake? Please see..."Roman sighed and looked at the still-glowing sun. It's probably 5 in the morning, and most people are still sleeping. "Ayan won't wake up until he tries to hug a pillow, which he might have kicked.""Papa!"Roman turns his head and quickly knocks on the glass. "Ayan? Baby, try to open this door." He knocks again. "Ayan?"The curtains flutter with Ayan's hair in all directions. His eyes fell on Dean, and he was quick to turn around and fix his hair.Roman raised his eyebrows and glanced at Dean, who was controlling his chuckle. He sighed and knocked again. "Take a stool and open the lock."Ayan nodded and ran towards a stool, pushing it all the way to the door with a wide smile. He got the feeling of pushing a cart in the supermarket.Roman hopes the neighbors are not disturbed in the morning. Because of these two great people's stunts, One closed the door and another opened the door.Ayan's tiny hand had difficulty unlocking and opening the door. Somehow he managed with his tongue poking out and a lot of concentration.Finally, the door opened, with Roman widened it and picked up his son, showering kisses on his face. Ayan shirked with shyness. Dean smiles at the duo, and his eyes fall on the photo frame. Surely, the lady is missing out on many things in life. But he looks up at the sky. She is in a better place now.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"Stop." A man wearing a formal, expensive suit asked his driver.The driver is terrified because there is no parking and the area is congested. If the traffic police see them, they'll cut a challan."I apologize, sir. It's not possible. There's no parking zone."The man at the back sighed and threw his laptop to the side. He glanced at the side mirror of the car and watched the fading poster of Dean. He got a glimpse of the perfume brand with narrowed eyes.He picked up his phone and called his secretary. "Make sure to send more brands to collaborate with La Scenté."[Sir, as you asked, the clothing branch is already on it.]He hums, "Send the accessory one too."[Sure sir.]He gave it some thought. "Fix a meeting with La Scenté's CEO. I would like to have a few words with them. Also, make sure that during this shooting, the faces of the company don't face any problems. By any problem, I mean that even a tiny one should not be neglected."[Ok, sir. I'll take an update on the team present there and let you know.]He ends the call and closes his eyes. "Inform me when we reach the company."The driver nodded. "Ok, sir."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇[PAST]"Dean Rayden, Dean, Dean." Nathan was chanting and reading through the names of the portraits, not even interested in seeing them. His eyes would search the artist's name and walk to the next one.He held on to his guitar case and ran to search for the next one. The college was crowded with students from other universities too. Random food stalls here and there with people chatting about their lives and bragging, in which half of it would be lies.He didn't realize when he was in the middle of college that he saw Dean's name on a large portrait. He could see himself being the one.Dean drew a faceless man sitting in the center with a guitar on a black background. The left hand on the string and a tune have been drawn in such a way that it looks like a garden of daisies in the lines of the note.In the misty darkness of discrimination of gender, caste, upper class, rich, and poor. Music doesn't discriminate its tune by the user. The same could be said for the artist who created it. It shows that hope lies within us, as it represents the guitar, and the guitarist is the mind, which would know what type of rhythm must be played, like what is right and wrong.Nathan blinks his eyes and looks around. He saw many people stopping by just to see the portrait. Their eyes had an aww and a wide mouths. They posted the picture only with credit to the college's name."You made it, Dean," Nathan whispered, quickly taking his phone from his pocket.He quickly dials Dean's number and congratulates the man, of whom he hadn't gotten a glimpse till now. assuming he must be busy with work. He pressed the phone to his ear."Hey, man." Nathan's friends tapped his shoulder, gaining the attention of the man who pulled the phone away."Did you just disappear from our lives or something?" The first friend said, resting hands on his hips."We couldn't catch you. What are you doing here? Don't we have class now?" The second friend said, glancing at his watch and panting lightly."I was busy," Nathan replied, keeping the phone down."Busy with what?" The first friend's eyes fell on the portrait. "Oh," he smirked, looking back at Nathan. "Still didn't get his ass?"Nathan narrowed his eyes. "What are you saying? Mind your language too."The second friend snickered and said. "Oh, you're protective too. Don't forget we bully others, and he was bound to get insulted and disregarded.""Can't we just stop all these?" Nathan's question sounded so funny to them. They couldn't control their laughter for a few seconds."Why? Got a soft spot for the puppy?" The first friend asked, laughing along with his friend.Nathan's phone vibrated, which Dean picked up. "Yeah, he is someone who is good and a very humble person." He walked away from them.The duo gritted their teeth. Nathan never spoke to them in this manner. He never agreed to bully. But I didn't disagree either. This is the first time he's disagreed with them, and this isn't sitting quietly in their minds."Your portrayal is truly amazing. I have never seen something like this ever."[Just say you've never attended any art exhibitions.]Nathan chuckled, looking back at it. "Would you like to sell it to me?"[What! It's a college project.]"I mean, after everything is done and you no longer need it."__________________________________