Syzygy

Ethan smiles as Dean fixes his collar. He gave a gentle knock on the door, taking the man's attention."Brother?" Dean smiled and gestured for Ethan to step inside."Just give me two minutes," Dean whispered while combing his hair.Ethan smiles and takes a seat on the bed. "Dean, I've got something to tell you."As he understood the seriousness of the voice, Dean stopped brushing his hair. He gently placed the comb on the table. His gaze lingered on his hands as he gently removed the finger rings. They feel so heavy."Dean," Ethan pats his side. "My brother, do you remember what I had requested of you?"Dean furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head.Ethan smiled. "If you don't remember, that's good. I was worried about nothing."Dean blinks his eyes. "What're you saying, brother?"Ethan shook his head. "I had requested you to stay away from Roman, sir, right?"Dean widens his eyes with realization. He gasped, remembering those words. "I'm sorry, brother. I have forgotten about that. I'll... I'll not go. You go alone."Ethan shook his head. "I was wrong. I thought of unknown things that don't concern us. I overthought everything and forgot to add your happiness."Dean blinks his eyes, unable to reply to anything."Won't you forgive your brother?" Ethan posed this question while playfully holding his left ear.Dean quickly shook his head. "Brother, what are you saying? You said those because you knew at that moment that it was the best decision."Ethan chuckled and ruffled Dean's hair. "When did you grow up?"Dean whined, stomping towards the mirror to fix his hair.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇The man's hand reached up to push back the strands of his fluttering brown hair, a look of frustration crossing his face as the wind continued to play with his unruly locks.His lips, adorned with a faint tint, let out a sigh as his eyes finally met those of the observer.A soft blush colored his cheeks as he glanced down at the steps, the shyness evident in his demeanor."Teacher!" Ayan runs to his teacher with a beaming smile.Roman abruptly returned from his reverie. He averted his gaze, clearing his throat, immediately capturing Calder's attention."What? Is the beauty too much for you to handle?" Calder asked, getting a glare and a smack on his shoulder."Don't sprout nonsense," Roman muttered while looking at his son hugging Dean tightly, earning a smile from Ethan."Nonsense?" Calder crossed his arms. "Dean!"Roman looks at his friend with shock. He knows what he'll say.Calder leans forward to shout as the man is still walking towards them. "Roman lo-mumph—"Just in time.Roman glares at Calder while holding his mouth. The man is surely smirking now.Ethan and Dean look at them with confusion. Ayan is hugging Dean's neck."Uh, he is—is he stupid?" Roman leaves his mouth. However, Calder points to himself with an accusation.Ethan gave an awkward laugh, gesturing for Dean to laugh along. Dean, understanding, forced himself to smile.Roman's ears surely match Ayan's Spider-Man shirt. He bit his lower lip, wishing to disappear.As they sat on the woven mat beneath the sprawling tree, Roman carefully untied the ribbon on the basket of food. With curious anticipation, Calder leaned in and peeked inside, eager to see what delicious treats awaited them."Man, how long will taking a drink from the basket take?" Calder asked, digging his hand inside the basket and earning a smack from his wife."Grow up. You're going to be a father." She shouts, caressing her tummy.Others chuckled at the pouty man.Ayan nestled contentedly on his teacher's lap, glancing around as if anticipating the arrival of a specific person."What happened, dear?" Dean asked, caressing his head. Ayan shook his head and took a sandwich from his dad.The atmosphere was filled with excitement as drinks and snacks were beautifully laid out in front of them. Laughter and joy filled the air as everyone engaged in lively and happy conversations. Calder's humorous antics had everyone in stitches, his wit and charm lighting up the group.Roman's watchful eyes frequently flickered over to Dean, anticipating his needs before he even had the chance to ask. He promptly provided water as soon as Dean finished eating his sandwich, followed by a supply of tissues, and then an orange juice.Ethan and the others smiled to themselves. Calder looked at his wife and nodded, saying that he shouldn't interfere in their lives.They look beautiful together. Ayan is the apple of both their eyes. Even though everyone is present, they're in their own world.It's so obvious. Yet, both are stupid.Dean's smile dried away when Ayan hastily stood up and ran towards a lady with a wide smile."Aunty!" Ayan shouts, quickly hugging her. "I missed you." Ayan jutted his lips as Freya smiled at him."I missed you too." Freya smiled and held the boy's hand. "Also, thank you for informing me about this outing."The grandmother was informed about it by her grandson.Ayan beams a smile. "I want to be with Mummy." He held his mouth and looked at his dad."Don't call me that yet. I will surprise Papa." Freya whispered as Ayan nodded, holding her hand again.Ayan looks at his dad, who has Dean on the right and Calder's wife to the left, as the lady is leaning against the tree.Mama should always sit with Papa.Ayan nodded to himself and smiled as he pulled Freya along with him."Teacher, can you sit there?" Ayan points at the space beside Dean."Of course." Dean smiled and attempted to move. However, Roman held his hand."Asking anyone to move even though there's a place." He grips Dean's hand. "It's bad manners."Ayan pouted and nodded his head. He urged Freya to sit next to Dean, and she sat on her lap with a giggle.Calder looks at his friend with questioning eyes. Roman shook his head and looked at Freya with confusion."Sometimes, being away from our daily routine makes us calm, right?" Freya asked, noticing the silence and questioning gaze around her.Dean smiled with a nod. "Absolutely." I looked at Roman with gratitude. "If it wasn't for Roman's thought, maybe I would have stayed at home."The atmosphere is cool. Yet Roman's cheeks flame with shyness. His eyes rather appreciated his lap than the warm gaze of the man.Calder noticed Roman's ear turning rudy as he chuckled, earning the attention of everyone."Cycles?" Ethan blinks his eyes with confusion. He looks back at the group, who are curious too."Yeah, they provide cycles within this ground with a charge," Dean informs with a smile. "Recently, it's started."Ethan frowns. "How do you know this?""When—""I don't know how to cycle. In high school, I traveled by bus, and for shooting, I traveled by car." Freya quickly said this as she glanced at Roman with suggestive eyes.Calder narrowed his eyes and looked at his wife, who narrowed her eyes too.Too much information."Roman, if you don't mind, can you teach me to cycle?" Freya requested with soft eyes.Calder sighed, knowing his best friend very well.He can't deny people's requests.Calder watched his friend help the lady with crossed arms."Can I smack his head against the tree?" Calder asked his wife, who giggled and shook her head."No, he's kind. That's why—""People take advantage of it." Calder completes her words with disappointment. "I don't understand how to make him understand to be selfish sometimes." He looks at Roman balancing the cycle for the lady."In childhood, he lived for his parents. He did everything he could to make his parents happy and proud. During marriage, he lived for his wife and son. He worked hard to earn enough—no more than enough—for his family to live a better life. Now, he's living for his son. He will go to any measure to make his son keep smiling." Calder spoke and looked back at his wife."I know, it's absolutely perfect to prioritize your loved ones over yourself. But it's not wrong to live for yourself, right?" Calder asked his wife. "That man is going to find happiness in others yet again."The lady nodded her head, holding her husband's hand. She held his fingers, which were pulling her closer."If a person says, I hate staying with you, he'll walk away without saying a word. If someone says, I want to be friends with you,"He'll embrace the person in a blink and make sure they are loved and cared for. If someone says, I don't want anything to do with you,"He would just smile and nod along as though it didn't hurt him." Calder let out a sigh and sighed, looking at his friend helping the girl."I have never liked her. Forget about liking; she always gave me an odd feeling." Calder continued while pointing at the lady. "Looking at her, I am getting upset. And my friend is stupid! I wonder how he handles his job. He is helping her, and his lover is far away."He saw his wife giggling and slapping his arms. "Why are you straightforward?"Calder raised his eyebrows. "If I wasn't, you wouldn't be the mother of my kids." She smouched, gaining a gasp from the lady, who quickly looked around with her fingers hovering over her cheek.Calder widens his eyes with ideas filling his brain. "Hey, we should help, right?"She raised her eyebrows and nodded with narrowed eyes. "I wonder what's going on inside your head."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇The sound of a wooden stick scraping against the metal rods echoed in the air, roaring against Nathan's ears with jarring intensity. In an attempt to block out the disturbing noise, he tightly closed his eyes and pressed his hands over his ears, hoping to find solace in sleep.Despite the overwhelming weariness weighing down his eyelids, sleep eluded him, leaving him to endure the relentless clamor in restless discomfort."Your dad's here to meet you."Nathan's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the window. He sat up abruptly, his heart racing as he pushed aside his failed attempt to slip into sleep.Leaning forward, he peered out of the window and caught sight of his father striding purposefully toward the prison gates. Nathan's gaze followed his father's every move as he approached the officer standing guard and exchanged a substantial sum of money."These will keep you busy." Mr. Raynot said, watching the desired gaze of the officer, who was not taking his eyes off the currency notes.The officer chuckled. "I'm swamped, sir." He took a bundle of them with a grin. "I didn't see your son meeting anyone."Mr. Raynott nodded and strode toward his younger son. "How are you?"Nathan nodded while holding the railings tightly.Mr. Raynott sighed to himself. "I don't know how to get you out now. Every other advocate is hesitating to take this case."Nathan nodded his head. "It's all because of me. If I could have handled this situation better, I would have touched Dean's heart again. If---"Mr. Raynott grits his teeth. "Shut it! Can't you see that you are standing here because of that boy?"Nathan gave a painful smile. "I know, Dad. I am here because I hurt him."Mr. Raynott shook his head in disbelief. "I can't understand; how can I make you understand now?" she said, sighing. "You are standing here, whereas your so-called love is in a picnic spot with everyone. He is enjoying life while throwing you here. That officer and his wife, also the brother.""Is Roman there too?" Nathan asked with a frown. I hope the man is nowhere near his dean.Mr. Raynott shrugged his shoulders. "Who the hell is that, Roman?"Something clicks in the old man's mind. "Is he someone not close yet important to Dean?"Nathan looks at the dirt under his nail. Ever since Roman entered their lives, he has become the central focus for Dean, drawing all of Dean's attention. Dean seeks comfort, which Roman provides, and Roman has secured a place in Dean's heart. Dean finds solace in Roman's embrace.He is the cause of the destruction in my life."Yes, he is."The old man smiles.Now, I know how to make Dean take the case back.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"Can I just—" Calder slams first against his palm with anger. "He deserves it."Roman is helping Freya, despite knowing Dean is playing with Ayan. His eyes keep glancing at the duo, where Ethan is cycling and Ayan is sitting behind him, holding him tightly. He so badly wants to go to them."Your behavior is disturbing my peace." His wife replied, lying comfortably on the mat with her head resting on Calder's lap."It's clearly showing in his eyes," Calder caressed her hair. "That girl can't see it?"She sighed, feeling comfortable, and wrapped Calder's coat properly on herself. "You throwing fits here isn't helping anywhere. If you have forgotten, you agreed to help Freya and—"Calder cuts her words and caresses her long hair. "Your hair is so gorgeous."The lady smiled with memories in her eyes. "Good, try to change the topic, and that's what you said at our first meeting too."Calder gasped comically. "I just couldn't ignore the long hairs. It's so beautiful, and I had to compliment the person."Watching his wife smiling shyly, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead. "I love you, gorgeous."She giggled with tinted cheeks. "I love you too, dumb head."Calder parted his mouth. "I complimented you, and you're insulting me in the presence of our child?" He looks at the womb. "Baby, don't take your mother seriously. Your dad is handsome."The lady laughs bashfully, holding her husband's hand, who is playfully trying to pull away.Dean saw their laughing faces and how they were in their own world, forgetting everything.As Ethan stood in the field, noticing the couple.They were deeply engrossed in conversation, and their laughter filled the air with warmth. Ethan found himself yearning for a connection as beautiful as theirs. He longed to find someone with whom he could share love, make them feel cherished, and be the cause of their happiness. At that moment, he fervently wished to encounter such a person soon.Until he saw a man approaching with fidgeting fingers, he blinked his eyes when the man stood in front of him with a bowed head."Chris?" Ethan whispered, not understanding why he was there. Why is he standing in front of him? What did he do now?"H-hi," Christopher awkwardly waves at Ethan and clears his throat.Looking around to find a good reason to see the man. "I was just passing by and saw you—Dean."Christopher smiled at the mentioned male, who smiled back with a nod."How are you, Dean?" Christopher asked, shoving his hands in his pocket. His fidgeting toes are noticed by the chief officer."What is Chris doing here?" Calder looks at his wife falling asleep. He can't disturb her now.I told him to keep an eye on senior Raynott. Did he find something?Dean smiled, "I'm doing fine. Thank you."Roman snaps his gaze at the duo. His eyes narrowed at the unwanted guest."Freya, try to balance yourself. I will help later."Roman didn't wait for any reply and took long strides towards the group."Hello, myself, Roman." Roman introduced himself.Chris's eyes widened as he nodded. "Nice to meet you, myself, Christopher. Ethan's friend and junior of Chief."Ethan snaps his neck so fast that they hear a crack. "What? When did that happen?"Chris avoided his gaze and looked down. "I—" His gaze went to Dean, who quickly understood and pushed Roman to walk."Does Ayan want ice cream?" Dean asked Ayan, who was sitting on the bicycle held by Ethan."Yes, teacher." Ayan nodded his head with a beaming smile."What ice cream? It's cloudy." Roman said while Dean playfully smacked his shoulder."Why don't you read the atmosphere?" Dean sighed, noticing Roman's furrowed eyebrows. "Are you foolish? He wants—"Roman cuts his words. "I understood. What about you? Did you forget you got hurt? Your foot is injured."As Dean stood there, he was completely taken aback by the sudden and unexpected words that were directed at him. Their impact hit him like a ton of bricks, leaving him momentarily stunned and at a loss for words.His mind was so preoccupied with his habit of suppressing his own emotional pain that he couldn't fully process the weight of the new verbal blow.In the midst of his internal turmoil, he failed to fully register the significance of this fresh wound.Reading Dean's face, Roman sighed. "You forgot, right?" Gaining a nod from Dean. "Which means you didn't dress it either." Roman continued, which got a nod again. "You don't care about yourself?"Dean nodded and realized the words as he quickly shook his head. "I care about myself."Roman looked at Dean's shoes and whispered, "Wait here."Dean looks at his shoes, trying to understand what Roman was seeing.Chris looks at Ethan with an apologetic gaze, hoping the man will understand and forgive him. Yet instead of a smile and nod, he saw Ethan's confused gaze."What are you trying to say?" Ethan's question forced Chris to slap his forehead."I am sorry for whatever, I said without knowing you. I have judged you and thought you're the same as others." Chris looks down. "Can we be friends?"Ethan's breath hitched with eyes not daring to blink. Is this man who rejected indirectly asking to be friends? Is he dreaming?"It must be a dream.""No, it's not." Chrsh whisperyelled with red-tinted cheeks.Chris forwards a yellow rose. "Accept this." He continued, waiting for the man to react normally and not stand frozen in his place.Ethan's cheek heated with shyness. He took the flower with a tender smile. "This is the first time someone gave me a flower."Chris widens his eyes.Shit! I should have bought a bouquet.He gripped his lower lip with his teeth, a determined expression on his face as he resolved to buy a beautiful bouquet the next chance he got. As he ran his hand through his hair, he felt something delicate slip above his ear.Turning to look at Ethan with wide eyes, he reached up to touch his earlobe, feeling the cool, smooth petals of the flower. His expression turned crestfallen as he sensed his gesture being rejected.Ethan showed his palm, which had three petals of yellow rose. "The rose didn't look beautiful alone. Now, it looks beautiful with the beautiful flower."Chris widens his eyes when he understands the meaning. "Are you saying..." He points to himself.Ethan nodded. "Of course, you are the beautiful flower."Chris stood there, a blush slowly spreading across his cheeks, as a smile played at the corners of his lips, refusing to be suppressed. His heart raced in his chest, thudding so loudly he was sure it could be heard.Nervously, he bit his lower lip, the rush of emotions overwhelming him. Just as he moved to leave, Ethan's strong grip on his wrist stopped him in his tracks, pulling him back.Ethan placed his lips above the rose, his chin touching Chris's ear as the man held his breath."Where is my flower going?" He paused, eyes locking with Chris. "After spreading its fragrance in my soul?"Chris looked away with eyes pressed tightly. He thought Ethan would kiss his neck now."Hmm," Ethan hummed. "I have to agree on first thought though."Chris looked at Ethan with confused eyes. Ethan smiled, holding his hand and placing it over his other hand while he hugged Chris from back."About falling in love at first sight." Ethan continued, earning a shy smile."Probably, I fell for you too," Chris confessed, resting his head on Ethan's neck.He proves all my assumptions wrong. Even now, he got the chance to kiss me. Yet he is hugging me. This makes me even happier. I found the one for me."Though I can't hear anything. But the hug says everything." Calder whispered, looking at the duo. "Can't Roman and Dean be the same?"His wife smacked his shoulder. "Everybody's story is different."Calder rubbed his shoulder. "I got it. I'm not a child, and why did you hit me?"The lady shrugged, "You disturbed my sleep.""Where is Ayan?" Calder asked with a panicked gaze, looking around the area."He is with his favorite teacher."Calder narrowed his eyes. "Where's Freya then?"⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"Sit down," Roman instructs while kneeling in front of Dean.Dean was quick to shake his head. "No, it's alright. I'll--"With a single, intense glare from Roman, Dean obediently settled onto the worn wooden bench next to Ayan.Ayan's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he gazed up at his father, trying to understand the unspoken tension in the air.Roman carefully reaches into the paper bag, feeling the crinkled texture of the packaging. His fingers wrap around the edge and he carefully pulls out the bandage, feeling the slight tug as it comes free. Next, he retrieves the antiseptic cream, its smooth tube cool to the touch."Papa, what are you doing?"Roman opens the cap of the cream. "Your teacher doesn't care about himself. So, someone has to do it."Dean looked at Ayan and shook his head. "Your dad--""I'm not lying. Don't believe your teacher." Roman quickly cuts his words and removes Dean's socks before the man can do it.Dean looks at Roman, who placed Dean's foot on his knee. "Let me know if it hurts."As Roman carefully unwrapped the bandage, he gingerly cradled his foot, taking great care not to cause any further discomfort.#Our hearts, like melody, echo in feeling,A symphony of longing, solace in you.#Gently, he blew on the wound to ease the pain, before carefully applying a layer of soothing cream. Dean could feel his throat becoming increasingly dry, causing him to gulp reflexively. As he braced himself, he clutched the edge of the bench tightly for support.#With every pulse, a promise made in me,In this rhythm, I find you. #Why is my heart beating so fast?Dean looks at Roman's hand, carefully applying the cream.#Moonbeams dance upon our skin,As if the universe itself conspires.#This... this feeling is...Dean shook his head. I can't...can't be feeling this emotion again.#Your heartbeat, my heartbeat, draws us,Guiding us through lives.#I met him for a reason. I can't take more than I deserve. I can't spoil Roman's life because of this.#In whispered eyes, our souls confide,A language known only to me and you. #As Roman gazed at Dean, he searched his eyes for any signs of pain or harshness. Dean gently shook his head, conveying reassurance. This made Roman smile, feeling a sense of accomplishment, as he carefully returned his foot to the ground.#Two Hearts, a duet song tide,Love's crescendo—between U and I. #"Every wound heals with time. So, give it a chance to heal and cure itself." Roman whispered, removing his casual slippers. "But, sometimes, you should let it heal with help." He took Dean's foot and placed it over his slipper.