Part 25: Finally Found

On Sunday...

Zayden woke up from his deep sleep. He looked at Nathan who was in his arms. Nathan is still sleeping soundly. Before getting out of the bed, Zayden kissed Nathan's forehead gently. Then, he got out of bed and reached for his bath towel.

Zayden took 15 minutes to be in the bathroom. After finishing getting dressed, he then walked towards the kitchen. he wanted to prepare breakfast for him and Nathan. Today he will cook special congee for Nathan.

Suddenly someone is calling him. He take his phone on the table. It was his grandma.

Zayden: Hello, grandma.

Grandma: Hello, Zayden. Where are you right now?

Zayden: I'm at my condo.

Grandma: Nathan with you, right?

Zayden: Yes, grandma.

Grandma: How was him? Is he okay?

Zayden: He's okay, grandma. Don't worry.

Grandma: Please take care of him, Zayden. Remembered this is his late mother's will. Take care of him as much as you take care of yourself.

Zayden: Alright, grandma.

Grandma: If you need anything, just tell me or your father.

Zayden: Alright, grandma.

Zayden then ended the call. He continued his cooking. He prepared the breakfast for an hour. After finishing, he walked towards his bedroom. He saw that Nathan was still on the bed. he approached Nathan with a smile. He sat on the bed next to Nathan.

Zayden: Ian... (While he touched Nathan's shoulder gently)

Nathan still sleeping. He try again to wake him up.

Zayden: Ian...wake up...

Nathan moved his body a little while opening both eyes. He turned his body towards Zayden. he smiled as soon as he saw the face of his boyfriend at that time.

Nathan: Hia...

Zayden: Good morning, Ian. How was your sleep?

Nathan: It's good.

Zayden smiled to his boyfriend then he kiss Nathan's forehead.

Zayden: Get up, Ian. After that, take a bath. I'll waiting for you at the kitchen. (Zayden smile)

Nathan: Can you give me 10 minutes, Hia?

Zayden: No, you can't.

Nathan: Then, 5 minutes?

Zayden: Ian...

Nathan: Hia...I still want to sleep.

Zayden: Ian, get up. If not, I'll eat you instead of the breakfast.

Nathan: If you dare to do it. (Nathan smirk)

Zayden: Oho...seems like you didn't know me yet, Ian.

Zayden climbed on the bed and he sat on top of Nathan. He held both of Nathan's hands while smirking. His eyes looked at Nathan's face.

Nathan: Hia...what are you trying to do?

Zayden start to kiss Nathan's neck. He kiss Nathan's neck so many times, make Nathan giggles.

Nathan: Hia...stop it.

Zayden stop and he look at Nathan's eyes. They make eye contact for a while. Suddenly, Zayden's face move closer towards Nathan's face until their lips meet. Zayden kiss Nathan's lip and Nathan replied. He didn't know why but he just response to Zayden's kiss. Their kisses become more aggressive as Zayden's hand pull Nathan's shirt from his body. He kiss Nathan's chest then up to Nathan's neck. He licks Nathan's neck.

Nathan: Hia... (Nathan moan a little bit as his neck is his sensitive part)

Zayden: Yes, Ian? (While kissing Nathan's chest)

Nathan: Stop it, Hia. I can't take this anymore. (Nathan try to gasping for the air)

Zayden: That's why I told you to take a bath earlier, Ian. (He bites Nathan's earlobe)

Nathan: Hia...

Zayden stop and he look at Nathan. He kissed Nathan's bare shoulder gently.

Zayden: Take a bath, Ian. I already take off the shirt for you. (Zayden smile)

Nathan: Hia ! You are teasing me !

Nathan get up from the bed and he immediately take his towel. The, he enter the bathroom.

Zayden: Ian...do you want Hia to help you take off the pants too?

Nathan: Hia ! I will kill you..

Zayden just laughing with his boyfriend's threat. His boyfriend is just too cute. He can't handle himself.

At the temple...

Zayden stopped his car in front of a temple. Nathan was confused why Zayden brought him there. He look at Zayden.

Nathan: Hia...why are we here?

Zayden: I haven't make any merits this year. 2022 is going to end but I haven't doing any merits. That's why I bring you here so that we can doing merits together.

Nathan smile and he opened the car's door, Hia too. Then, they entered the temple together while carrying gifts for the monks later. They entered and gave the fruit to the monk. Next, they are being blessed by the monk. People say, if two couples come together to the temple, their relationship will be blessed and they will stay together forever.

Suddenly a monk in the temple came up to the two of them who were sitting together at that time. The monk sat in front of the two of them. Zayden and Nathan bow a little to the monk.

Monk: Both of you are couple?

Zayden and Nathan nodded slowly.

Monk: That's why I can feel your love from a far. Your love between each other are strong and full of sincerity. Both of you have the same sense of loss, being abandoned by a loved one. However, the two of you are able to overcome it because of the love between you. Love is what makes you strong and help each other.

The monk look at Zayden and Nathan then he took their hands. He put Zayden's hand Nathan's hand together.

Monk: Don't let go of this hand. Keep holding each other's hand forever. It's your destiny.

After that, both of them listen to the sermon. They listen to rhyme chanting in the main hall together. The sermon ceremony takes around 30 until 45 minutes.

Nathan: Hia...

Zayden: Hmm?

Nathan: I hope next year we can do merits together again.

Zayden: Of course, Ian ! We will doing the merits together even after 1o years.

At the condo...

Zayden just finished showering. After putting on his clothes, he immediately searched for Nathan. He walked towards the living room and he was surprised to see the situation in the living room. It was dim.

Zayden: Ian ! Where are you? Don't make me worry.

He continued to walk in the darkness. suddenly his steps stopped when he bumped into something. It is a balloon. There is writing on the balloon. Zayden switches on the flashlight on his phone. He read the writing.

Zayden: Hi, Hia...I am your boyfriend, Nathan Ian.

Then, Zayden searching for another balloon. He took the blue one.

Zayden: You are Zayden Evander, right? My beloved boyfriend.

Another balloon again.

Zayden: I love you, Hia.

Another balloon.

Zayden: I love you so much, Hia.

He took another balloon.

Zayden: Do you love me, Hia?

Then another balloon again.

Zayden: If you love me, can you closed your eyes? When you hear a guitar is being played, then you can opened your eyes.

Zayden's still confused but he just follow the instruction. He closed both of his eyes.

Nathan: Hia...

Nathan started to play the guitar and Zayden slowly opened his eyes. He try to searching for Nathan in that dim night.

Nathan: I'm here, Hia. Can you find me?

Zayden turn his back as soon as he heard Nathan's voice. He was very surprised when he saw Nathan on the chair while playing a guitar.

Nathan: Hi, Hia. (Nathan look at Zayden's eyes)

Nathan: Do you want to know something, Hia?

Zayden: ....

Nathan: I don't know why but my eyes never stop looking at your face even though there are millions of beautiful stars in the night sky. Is it because your eyes are too beautiful? I'm always attracted to your sweet smile because when you smile, your eyes smile too. It was the most beautiful view for me. When I see your smile, I'm happy.

Zayden take a step closer to Nathan without breaking their eyes contact.

Nathan: 2 years ago, I never thought to approach you because I was afraid. I'm afraid if my love is being rejected. However, who would have thought that everything has changed since I approached you? I managed to make you fall in love with me. Day by day, my love go deepens.

Zayden: ...

Nathan: I can't even believe when you said you love me too. It was like a dream for me. That time, I was the happiest person in the world. Sometimes, I thought about it. I think I've found the one who have my heart. It's you, Hia. You are the owner of my heart.

Zayden: ...

Nathan: I have something for you, Hia. I've been wanting to sing this song for you for a long time but I always don't have the chance. I wrote this song since the first time I saw your face in the campus garden 2 years ago but at that time, the lyrics were not finished yet. It is still not perfect.

Zayden: ...

Nathan: But luckily I was able to finish the lyrics since we always spend time together. This song is sincere from my heart. I specially created this song for you. Let me start, Hia. This song called Finally Found.

Nathan started playing the guitar. The melody is so beautiful. That time, Zayden can't never take his eyes away from Nathan. Nathan started to sing while looking at Zayden.

Why thousands of stars in the sky

Can't take my eyes off your lovely eyes

in this sweetest night

Why beautiful sounds of all joy

Can't drown out the sound of your voice

Wanna hear you say it moreI've been wondering of who would be my last dream come true

Oh right here, it's you the only one that I would say "I do"You're my missing part

The other half

and all my heart

I finally found you

Till the end of time

the rest of my life belongs to you

I finally found love is true

Nathan walked to Zayden as soon as he finished his singing. He look at Zayden's eyes. Then, he lifted up his hands and he wipes Zayden's tears.

Nathan: I love you, Hia. I love you so much. I want to say that I love you every second, every minutes, every hours, everyday, and forever.

Nathan caressing Zayden's cheek while he wipes Zayden's tears. Zayden can't take his eyes off from looking at Nathan. He can't control himself when he heard Nathan's voice just now. He's so moved by the lyrics.

Nathan: I love you, Hia. (He kiss Zayden's right cheek)

Zayden: ....

Nathan: I love you yesterday. (He kiss Zayden's left cheek)

Zayden: ...

Nathan: I love you today. (He kiss Zayden's forehead)

Zayden: ....

Nathan: I love you tomorrow. (He kissed on tip of Zayden's nose)

Zayden: ...

Nathan then locked his eyes towards Zayden's eyes.

Nathan: I love you everyday, Hia. (He kissed Zayden's lips)

Zayden was tearing up as soon as Nathan finished his word.

Zayden: Ian...

Nathan: Hmmm?

Zayden: Can I have your hug?

Nathan nodded his head and he said, "Come here, Hia."

Zayden immediately come into Nathan's hug. He hugs Nathan's body tightly. Then, he put his chin on Nathan's right shoulder.

Nathan: Just tell me if you need my hug. This hug always for you. (While caressing Zayden's back)

Zayden: I love you, Ian.

Nathan: I know, Hia. I know that you love me even you didn't say it to me directly.

Zayden: I really love you, Ian.

Nathan: Yes, I know it, Hia.

Then, they let go of each other's hug. Zayden look into Nathan's eyes and he smiled to him. He give Nathan the most beautiful smile.

Nathan: Why did you cry, Hia?

Zayden: ....

Nathan: Hmmm?

Zayden: I just remembered the first day when I saw your face. That time you was bumping into me and you was smiling to me. You said sorry to me with your soft voice. And...did you remember the first day you came to my house?

Nathan: Yes, Hia.

Zayden: That night, you comfort me and you hugs me. That time, honestly I had butterfly in my stomach and I tried to hide it. That night was a very beautiful night for me. The way you hug me, the way you talked, the way you look into my eyes...it felt so good. From that night, I knew right then and there you were the one.

Zayden stop for a while and he kiss Nathan's lip as he put his hand on Nathan's waist.

Zayden: I know that you love me because you told me so. I know that you love me because you show your feelings. When you stares at me, I can tell that you care about me. I can see that your love is so deep.

Zayden then kiss Nathan's lips again.

Zayden: And when your eyes look at me, your brown eyes tell me your soul, Ian.

Nathan: ....

Zayden: I'm so happy that you are in my life and now you're part of me. You've shown me the meaning of true love.

Zayden grab Nathan's chin. Then, he look into Nathan's eyes and he smile. He placed his lips on Nathan's lips. Nathan replied as he put his arms around Zayden's neck. They start to kiss each other gently.

Zayden: Even though the whole world goes against our love. I believe that true love won't lose to anything. Now, I've finally found my true love and it was you, Nathan Ian.