Running was all I did while I was a kid. Nightmares and sleep deprivation pushed me and cornered me throughout my childhood. I didn't enjoy my childhood like the usual kids would, and I was engrossed in finding an escape from my suffocation. I held on to everything that was helping my situation, but their effects were temporary, not long-lasting. Still, I held on to them like a last resort.
The doctors were no use, and the treatment didn't work on me; the same old shitty tests had no outcome. Mr. Brandon has not given up, still working on my case like an idiot. I wanted to think that he had not given up on my case because of my dad, but no, I was a mystery in his journey of medicine, and he clung to my case. I don't know how to describe him; whether he was intelligent or an idiot was beyond me. He has not divorced that pathetic woman, probably, who still sobs and has not given up on carrying her child in her womb. Please note the sarcasm. Held on to my dad like his anchor, and in my case, he swore to find a solution before dying. I love to wish him good luck. I fucking want a solution for my miserable, pathetic life, but I hate his nagging over new medication and the tests that he makes me go through. It's been a few months since I lashed out at him, and he has not come around, but he will eventually. That guy would just not give up anything that easily. I don't mind the tests and the new medicine, but that guy tends to reveal everything to my dad when he is on edge. You know what I mean. The blood test would reveal everything, especially my consumption of drugs, and my caution to Brandon won't work because my dad knows how to work on Brandon so that he gets what he wants. Both are clearly smitten with each other but are not taking things to the next level; God knows why. Brandon, still childless, treated me as his, but never crossed the boundary. Still now, he has not forgotten to give a gift on my birthdays and always nags, caring too much in his own way.
After giving blood for the test, I came out of the hospital, irritated. Brandon has made the blood test mandatory once a month or at least once every two months. No negotiation in that; he wants to check on my consumption to see whether I was within the limit or crossed it. I hate the guy for keeping track of it, but I couldn't do anything, especially because of my dad. He was also speaking about the new test that he was thinking of trying on me, and I groaned at that, which made him shut up.
I leaned on the seat, tired. I thought I found a solution a long time ago. I had my doubts at the beginning, but I knew he was the answer that I was desperately seeking. I don't know how; no tests were required to prove this, but deep down I knew he was my solution for a lifetime. I had made up my mind that I was about to claim him without his permission. It was not a sudden decision or an impulsive thing to do, but he was the one. My helplessness pushed me, nightmares made me blind, the pain made me insufferable, and the agony of the aftermath of the nightmare turned me blind. I wanted everything to stop at once. I wanted an escape, a permanent solution for my misery, and Rowan was the one. Everything felt in place when he was with me; even the nightmares would vanish for the time being when he was with me.
He was my escape, but I couldn't drag him, flipping his world upside down, not in one step at least. No, I couldn't act. His world is different from mine, and he is too good for anyone, including me. When I bid goodbye to Rowan, completely vanishing from his world, I took an oath that I would wait for the right time. He needs to be prepared for everything, so I should give him time, and I think I have given him sufficient time. He is 25, for God's sake.
I sighed when, once again, I was acting without thinking. My dad has cautioned me about this so many times. How I would destroy him if I acted on my thoughts. I could never go after him, not after everything that happened and not after knowing his sexuality. I could never force him and cage him. My dad would be the first person who would turn against me, and I couldn't afford that. I am suffering enough, and I couldn't drag Rowan. He is my Salvator, that's for sure, but he would be miserable throughout his life because of me. I could make and see anyone miserable except him; even my suffering is ok, but not his, never his. I was not able to even imagine the idea of him suffering, and I am responsible, which would add more ache into my miserable life.
I kept my distance, and now, I am back keeping the same logic in my mind. I don't know how far I will be successful, as I am near Rowan. I really hope I don't find any chance where I would not think twice before throwing my logic into the dustbin. I really, really hope for that. Once again, I murmured to myself. I know nothing could stop me this time, not even my dad. There is a tiny thread that keeps me at bay; if that thread by any chance cuts or is let loose, then God knows what I would do. I would prove every point that my dad poured into me related to Rowan, and I am sure of it. I am fucking tired already; thinking about Rowan always drains my energy. This would never be the case when he is near me. See, I have all the reasons in the world to claim him and make him mine, but still, I am holding back. I chuckled at my gentlemanly behavior, which is rare to see in me and is only dedicated to one person.
My cell started ringing, and I groaned when it was Eddie. I disconnected the call, and once again, it started ringing, and it was my dad. I have to attend, or else that man would not stop with his lecture for an hour. I swiped to answer the call. "Where are you? Come home immediately." And the call was disconnected. Well, I was going there. I hope there is nothing negative that came out of the blood test.
As I stepped into my mansion, I saw my dad was pacing around while fuming in anger. I really hope Brandon has not called my dad to report any negative remarks about my blood report. I was always cautious of what I took in, dosage too. I snorted when I saw my dad was gritting his teeth while pacing. I am not the reason for his agitation, that's for sure. I was amused watching him this way; beside me, someone could rile him up too. That's rare; it never happened, and now I was curious.
My dad glared when he saw me; his anger doubled in the process. By taking a brisk step, he was in front of me. For a few seconds, we stared at each other; his gaze was intense and furious, like he wanted to do so much but was painfully holding back. "You are dating him after I said not to so many fucking times." He fumed, and his whole body vibrated in anger. "How could you? Out of all the guys, why him?" I was confused but not shocked over the news because this has become normal for me over the period. My dating or any other bullshit news never affected my dad; he was never this riled up before, and now, I was damn curious. Who was he talking about? Who enraged my dad this much? "He is our rival for God's sake, Dante." Well, we were surrounded by them, so who was he talking about?
He once again started pacing, clenching his fist in the process. I couldn't comprehend anything or play a guessing game at the moment. My eyes fell on Mr. Thomason, who rolled his eyes with a smirk. I slowly approached him, without cautioning my dad about my moment, but never approached him. He huffed and took out his cell. "I kept a close tab on you till today; nothing was out of place. I am hellishly confused about how and when the hell things began between you two. " My dad was still enraged, glaring at something. "He is bold enough to give the statement to the media live." He shouted those words, and I flinched at his voice. I was surprised, really surprised, that someone gave a statement about 'us,' being 'us' strange. That's a hell of a bold and daring move.
Thomason showed me a picture where Rowan was sitting in a room glaring at something or someone. I was frozen on the spot, and my heart flipped. My eyes were wide; I couldn't believe my eyes. What the hell? My mouth was opening and closing; I wanted to ask so many things of Thomas, but I couldn't because of my dad. I met Thomas's eyes to confirm my assumption, and he just shrugged in return. I grinned at that, and he rolled his eyes with a small smile on his face. He shook his head when he saw me. "I am calling the press, and you are clearing this shit today itself. I don't want to drag this any more than it is." My dad spoke with the same authoritative tone, which never worked on me.
"No," I told him, meeting his gaze. "What?" He shouted with a bewildered look on his face. "I have kept tabs on you, Dante. Do you think under my watch I could let something like this happen?" I chuckled at that. "I am not 12 or 15, Dad. Stop thinking you have hold of my whereabouts," I spoke in a calm, confident tone. That's true; he doesn't have a hold on the entire thing about me. He was in his bubble thinking that way, so I let him. His eyes twitched at that, and he started sending daggers at me. "Whatever, you are clearing this shit." I sighed pitifully at him. He doesn't know, or probably knows, what this means to me. So, I get the way he was reacting to whatever news is circulating everywhere. "As I said, I am not 12, and I am handling this matter. I don't want you interfering in this." I spoke in the same calm tone; internally, I was bursting with whatever this was. I couldn't wait to know this whole thing. "Dante, are you going to, or shall I? Don't force me; I mean it. You are clearing this shit out today itself." "You are not going to be involved in this, and I mean it," I told him in a firm tone. I am not letting him ruin it even before knowing what the hell was going on. "Do you think you could stop me?" He smirks while watching me, and I match him when I speak. "I hate to involve Brandon." He was perplexed at that, and when he got the message, he glared at me. "I have collected some videos. " I further added. "You are threatening your own dad over a fucking rival?" "You are asking for it; stay out of it, Dad, and I mean it," I informed him as politely as I could, but I was seething at his behavior. "I always prayed you would open that goddamn mouth; now, I wish you would shut it forever." He barked those words, enraged. I scoffed in annoyance. He nodded at me when he saw that I was not backing off from this. "Alright," he added, finally.
We stood there in a tense atmosphere. "What are you going to do?" Get information about whatever happened, I guess, but I didn't dare to voice it. "I am going to handle it." "That's not what I meant, Dante; don't be smart." He snapped. "How are you going to handle this?" He doesn't let this go, for sure. I am not going to trust his curiosity. "In my way." He glared at that, and I met his glare without flinching. "I wish you would never open that mouth of yours." I rolled my eyes at that. I don't know why. I could have mocked in return but wisely kept quiet. His eyes fell on Thomas, who averted them immediately. "I don't like either of you." He said while pointing at both of us. "Always being sneaky, with bloody secrets. I hate your fucking bond." He shouted, glaring at Thomas. Whenever he can't win me, he diverts to Thomas. "He was never this secretive when he was with me." By pointing toward Thomas, he spoke. "I hate the day when I assigned him to you. I should have fucking appointed a new guy for you. " He fumed. I think he is losing his mind over whatever happened, and I am not adding more by not being cooperative. "Well, do whatever the hell you want. I am done with you." By saying that he stormed out of the mansion, I sighed in relief.
I marched my steps toward Thomas, whose smirk deepened, and I huffed at that. "You pissed him too much." I sighed at that. "As you know, our day never ends without an argument." He nodded at that. "How did you tolerate him when you were working with him?" He chuckled at that. "He is not that bad; we hit it off. "Of course, that's still strange to me. "He doesn't have any friends apart from you. I think he never considered or gave anyone a chance." My dad is opposite to me, too friendly and welcoming, and I don't know why nothing clicked with anyone other than Thomas. "He is like you. He is welcoming, and you are cold, but the outcome is the same. You guys are too picky, I guess." I scoffed at that; we never trust anyone so easily.
We stood in silence, and thinking about Rowan was eating me. "Have things escalated too much with Rowan?" He chuckled when he heard my question. "As if you don't know anything that's happening in his life?" He gave me a pointed look at that, and I grimaced when he stated the obvious. "I know, I kept tab, but as you know, I couldn't dig deeper because of my dad." He sighed and nodded at that. "Things may have escalated when he took a huge step." "What happened? I was preoccupied with something, and meanwhile, I missed a huge part of Rowan's life." "You should check it out yourself." I nodded at that. "Your dad is going to watch you more closely from now on. "I chuckled at that. "As I said, I am not 12 anymore." He scoffed at that. "Be careful. The fish may have fallen in your net; don't push it too much. You may suffocate it, and the fish might die." I nodded in understanding, underlining everything in bold letters and registering strongly in my mind.
"Your actions have consequences, Dante," Thomas added slowly. "At some point, certain things will come to bite you back." He further added. Certain memories flashed back, which weren't fond, but I couldn't help myself. "I hope you know what you are doing, and you need to be prepared for everything." He further noted. I sighed, a little terrified at that. "You have time, and you can back off if you want." Once again, a sigh left at that. "I have already backed off.""But the situation is going to pull you in." And I want to know where exactly I got pulled in. I scratched my chin, not knowing what was waiting for me. "This is about Rowan, and I want to analyze everything from every perspective. I am getting involved; if it's necessary, I won't hold back this time." My voice was firm, to which Thomas nodded his head solemnly. He is against this, and I could go against anyone for Rowan. "You should go and check the news," Thomas instructed, and I didn't waste any more seconds.