Liminal

We might have heard that happiness doesn't last long. Is it true?Dean sits on a chair in his room while correcting his students' test papers. So much work was pending, and Daniel had a hard time handling both classes, even for a week.His eyes focused on the tiny stars he created under the score. He keeps that aside and takes another one."Dean." The said male heard a knock along with it.Glancing at the door with a smile, Dean replied. "You don't have to knock, brother." He looks back at the paper and starts evaluating it."Dean," Ethan calls again while stepping inside. He sighed, taking a seat on the bed.Dean heard the sigh with a frown. He keeps the pen down and turns his chair to look at his brother."What's troubling you?" He drags the chair closer, noticing Ethan's silence, and it's not fitting well in his mind."You can share it with me." Dean tried again. "I promise, I'll listen to you carefully."Ethan looks at his younger brother, who is encouraging him to share his thoughts."Dean, our presence shouldn't bring trouble to others, right?" Ethan asked, watching Dean furrow his eyebrows."I don't understand from where you are getting this question. Kindly elaborate, brother."Ethan sighs, licking his lips. "Look, Dean," he isn't getting the heart to tell what's in his mind. "I should be honest then."Dean nodded his head, looking at Ethan with curiousity."Today I heard people badmouthing you." Ethan paused, noticing Dean's eyes going wide.With a hitched breath, Dean quickly says: "I didn't do anything, brother. I just did my shoot. I worked as they all told me. I didn't misbehave or anything. Moreover, Roman was also present; you can-""Dean, calm down." Ethan held Dean's shoulder, who was looking around with a panicked mind, trying to remember if he said anything offensive to anyone. He can't recall behaving badly."I know. I know my brother more than anyone else. I trust you." Ethan's words pull Dean from his thoughts, and he quickly nods his head."What I am worried about is my senior. Roman sir may not like the rumors going around the office."Dean narrowed his eyes. "What rumours?"Ethan looked away and whispered. "They believe you are gay and..." He closed his eyes. "You are..." He can't say it.He looks back at Dean. "Please try to stay away from Roman, sir."Dean's shoulders slump as he looks at Ethan with empty eyes. He doesn't know why his heart went cold."Stay away from him. I don't care what people say about you." Ethan looks down. "But I don't want Roman sir's image to be ruined.""Because of me." Dean whispered more to himself.Dean quickly pulls an assuring smile. "Don't worry, brother. I will stay away from them." He looks down, fiddling with his fingers. "I didn't think my actions would trouble others." He looks up and blinks with confusion. "Uhm, can I know which action from my end made that rumor?" He stutters while fisting his pants."You were hugging, sir, and a few ladies saw you two and..." Ethan whispered, trying to read Dean's eyes, which looked very calm."I got it. I caused this. So, I shall correct it." Dean said this and stood up. He looks at the watch. "It's getting late, brother. You should rest now."Ethan's throat dried as he couldn't utter anything. He looked at Dean and nodded.Dean smiled at his brother and blinked his eyes with assurance. He watched Ethan step out of the room, and he was quick to lock it.His eyes were glancing at everything present in the room, and his eyes fell on an A3 sheet kept safely on his study table next to the test papers.His feet worked on their own, and he pulled a drawer, taking double tape from it. He stood over his single bed and pasted the A3 sheet on the wall above the header board. He looked behind him at the door and smiled, knowing that whenever he entered this room, he would first see this.The paper was gifted to him by his class. They all scribbled good wishes for him with help from Daniel about the spellings and proper words.Dean's eyes tear up while looking at the tiny drawings on the sheet. His eyes fell on Ayan's wish.I know I can meet teachers whenever I want. I will bring a gift for Teacher Dream!-Ayan (⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)Dean pressed his palm over his lips as he fell on the bed. He inhaled deeply while blinking his eyes.There I go again, troubling another soul. First, my care caused trouble for Nathan. Now, Roman falls into this loop.He closed his eyes tightly and curled his body on the bed.Nathan fell and is getting hurt even now. Now, Ayan will get hurt too. That tiny angel likes me so much. My selfishness will bring tears to his eyes.Dean shook his head and whispered. "N-no, calm down. Dean...shush..."But hushing will not change the fact that, yet again, I'm causing pain to others.He hugged himself tighter and sniffed.Nathan always called me his angel. He believes I'm an angel. But, in reality, I'm a siren.Dean shook his head, hiding his face more in the pillow. The shivering hands were not moving to wipe his tears. His negative thoughts are not ready to leave him tonight.I have Amelia's heart and am causing trouble for her husband. Shame on me!After a long time, these thoughts returned home. Perhaps they'll not leave any time soon.Dean curls himself up with a hiccup. Worst self-loathing thoughts invaded his mind, leading to memories of the very day they made place in his mind.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇[PAST]Dean waits patiently for Nathan to reach college. Holding daisies, he waits for the boy, making him blush with the sole thought of his smile. While gazing at his hand, he remembers how Nathan kissed his palm, which melted his soul with the softness of his eyes.Never did Dean think to find love in college in the form of Nathan, who loves him so dearly. His eyes say everything whenever he stares at Dean.Unconsciously, he placed his fingers over his lips with the thought of getting a peck from the boy. He giggles while playing with the petals.His wrist was adorned with a turquoise stone bracelet. The same one, in which Nathan whispered his love with a contact of his lips.Yesterday, Nathan gifted it.As soon as he saw Dean, He wrapped the bracelet before Dean could even question it. "I know, you'll say it's expensive." Nathan held his hand close to his lips. "But nothing is expensive for me. I can get anything for you." Placing a tender peck on a knuckle.Dean sighed, taking his phone to see if there was any message from Nathan, as it's almost time for class."Dean!"The said male looks up. His eyes filled with confusion as he knew the boy was Nathan's best friend."Alfie?" Dean whispered as he watched the boy run towards him, almost huffing to breathe."Dean," Alfie said, holding Dean's shoulder.Dean doesn't know why his blood is running cold. His eyes flickered over Alfie's face.Catching his breath with teary eyes, Alfie looks at Dean."Dean, stay calm, ok? You need to stay strong, yeah?"Dean didn't mutter anything. He is waiting for the boy to say it and get over it.Nathan must be on the way. He needs to give these flowers to him. He wants to show how important Nathan is to him. He wants to see Nathan's smile as he holds the flowers close to his heart."Nathan," Alfie whispered, looking away while blinking his eyes. He inhaled and looked into the curious eyes of Dean. His eyes brimmed with tears when he noticed the flowers. He knows to whom it's bought."Dean, Nathan is no more."The ground slipped from Dean's feet as he stumbled back. His back hit the locker.Alfie closed his eyes tightly and clenched his fist. "Nathan, he had an accident yesterday."Dean smiles, looking around. "Nathan, I got it. You pranked me. You want to see how I'll-"Alfie jerks, Dean. "Get a hold of yourself! What I'm saying is true!"Dean removes Alfie's hand and hugs the flower, looking around for the boy. "Now, this is too much. I'm not liking this. Please come out. I brought flowers for you." He waits for the boy to emerge with a loud laugh. "Will you keep me waiting like this?"He met with silence."Dean, Nathan is truly no more. His family took his body for burial to their motherland."As the stems of daisies slowly slip from his fingers, so does his soul.He leaps to run. However, Alfie held him tight."I want to see him." Dean trashed to get the grip loosened. However, Alfie held him tighter."He isn't in this country!" Alfie shouts, gaining the attention of the students. "He's far away now. You can never reach him."Dean fell limp in his arms as he lost consciousness. Immediate medical care was provided. But the same Dean couldn't be recovered. He lost his soul and doesn't know how to continue living with the pain of losing someone who loves him dearly and who kissed his soul too.The next day, dragging himself from the bed has never been so difficult. He felt a tug on his wrist. He pulls his hand harshly, and the fabric shrinks, creating a string line.His eyes gazed at a thread struck on the hook of the bracelet. The blue diamonds shine in the sunlight as Dean hugs his wrist close to his heart.How can someone make a place in your heart so easily and leave without a trace?He closed his eyes tightly, allowing his sorrow to weep in the memories of his lover.Yet, a tear of pain, a tear of loneliness, a tear of memory, a tear of sorrow, and a tear of emptiness glide over his cheek in an attempt to lessen the coldness of his heart.Ethan noticed the puffy face with red eyes when Dean reached the dining table."Are you worried about exams or something?" Ethan asked as the parents looked at Dean.Mr. Rayden kept the newspaper aside and looked at Dean with worried eyes."Don't worry about exams, yeah?" Mr. Rayden spoke. "Whatever it is, You should learn how to handle your emotions."Dean looked at his father and asked. "How do we do that?"Mr. Rayden looks at the newspaper. "Situations will teach you. Whenever something happens, you must make decisions through emotions, not emotions taking your decision."He takes a glass of water. "When you can remain calm in any situation, you get many solutions for a single problem."Dean bites to swallow his words.How do I handle the emotions of my heart? I want to tell you that I'm... But I do not want to see disappointment in your eyes. Maybe there is some other solution to forget Nathan?⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"Good morning, brother." Dean greets, taking a seat at the dining table. He flips his plate and takes an apple from the fruit basket.Nathan's bracelet dangling on his wrist complimented his white shirt. The sleeves folded to his elbow."Good morning, Dean." Ethan whispered in an attempt to see any distress in his younger brother."Do you want one, brother?" Dean showed the apple with a soft smile.Seeing Dean being normal and shy made Ethan smile back. "No, I ate just now."Dean looks around. "Where's dad?"Ethan points at the kitchen room. "Today's chef is dad."Dean looks at the kitchen with wide eyes and whispers. "No way." Followed by a giggle.Ethan's eyes follow the blue bracelet, and he can't help but ask. "When did you buy that bracelet?"Dean looks down at his bracelet, still holding the shine of memories. "I had it for a long time." He looks at Ethan. "I will not remove it any time soon."Ethan frowns. "Why so? You had it for a long time, and I never saw it."Dean smiles. "Yes, it was resting in my cupboard. I had it since college time."Ethan looks at the bracelet with curious eyes. "Since college time, it's held its shine till today." Looking back at Dean. "Are they real diamonds?"Dean's blood ran cold. He forgot about their value. They're real diamonds, and he must return them to the owner.Ethan slaps his forehead. "Of course not, right? Like seriously, if you have diamonds, we wouldn't be knocking on the doors of every person we know for your medical expenses." He chuckled. "As if we can afford diamonds," he said, pointing at the bracelet. "That too, so many of them."Dean forced himself to smile as he looked at his wrist again."Special breakfast, anyone?" Mr. Rayden shouts while stepping towards the dining table with a container.Dean and Ethan look at each other and shout. "Yes, please!"Mrs. Rayden playfully glares at the males. "Even neighbors can hear you guys."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"Thank you," Roman said to the delivery man. The man nodded, closing the zip on his huge bag.Roman turns around, holding a brown box fit in his right hand, as he reads the bill for the order."Papa, let's open." Ayan said this while looking at the pack with curious eyes.Roman smiles and sits on the floor while keeping the box on the tea table. He took a pen from his pocket as he was ready to go to work.Ayan sat next to him and placed his shoes on his left side.Roman tears the tape with his pen and opens the box. He carefully picks up a box placed inside, delicately rips the tape, and unwraps the wrappers.Roman smiles at Ayan, who looks at the item with parted lips."Will teacher like it?" Ayan asked as Roman pulled the item up.A sweet, tranquil melody resonates in their home through the wind chime."Pretty." Ayan looks at it and chimes with happiness.A lovely hummingbird floats among the flowers on this colorful design in circular glass. It has a suncatcher glass top, aluminum chimes, and wood accents."Your teacher will love it." Roman whispered with a thought of the surprised face of the man."You can give it on Saturday. I will pick you up from school. You can come to the company and give it," Roman said to Ayan, who is playing with the chimes.If you like it so much, I'll buy another one. But this was the last piece. We can wait for now."Ok, papa."