A Love to Last

A love to Last Ch. 05

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"Jim's brother?" Claudia was confused. She looked at Elena and the woman smiled faintly. "How come? I thought you said you only had one child, Elena. Where did this one come from?"

"Well, err..." Elena was so mad that she knew she was gonna kill him afterwards. "...I only have one son like I told you, Jim. Ben is..."

"Ben is my son!" Jerome said proudly, rising from the chair.

He placed his hand on Ben, getting him out of his reverie. He stared at his father and tried his best to smile but he could feel the prying eyes of the man from the other side of the table. There were lots of questions that he had but he didn't wanna give anything away.

"Ben is my son but not with Elena." He said, not even losing a smile. "His mother died thirteen years ago. He only has me."

Ben felt emotional and tears built in his eyes. He kept staring at his father, anything to try and disrupt his contact with the man.

"Together with Jim, Ben is my pride." He added, making Ben even more emotional. "And when I said I have plans for my sons, I meant both my sons, Mrs. Paola."

"Oh..." That was the only word that came out of Claudia's mouth. She didn't know what to say. "Errr... nice to meet you, young man."

"Nice to meet you too, ma'am." Ben said, slightly bowing his head. He mistakenly connected his eyes with the man that stared like he was frozen and felt his heart hammer in his chest. "But you're all gonna have to excuse me, I really need to rest. I have had quite a long day."

"No!" Jim finally rose, letting go of David's hand. That was when David came back to reality. "Why don't you have dinner with us." He held his hands, rubbing on them sweetly. "I would love for you to be available. Mom just announced some big news. David and I are getting engaged in a few months."

"Wow!" He caressed Jim's cheek. "That's good news. I am so happy for you and I would have loved to join you but I am really tired. Next time."

Before Jim could respond, Ben was already heading out of the dining. He seemed to be in a bit of a hurry to Jim's surprise. And here he had been hoping his brother was gonna be part of his happiness. He took a deep breath and went to sit by his soon to be fiancé's side, holding his hand sweetly.

"I would love to go to the bathroom." David said abruptly. "Can you give me directions?"

"Yeah! I could show you."

"No!" David shook his head. "Just give me directions. I'll find my way."

Jim nodded and gave the man directions. He anxiously got up and rushed out of there, but no one seemed to notice.

Ben reached his room and he took a harsh breath, hitting his forehead. His heart was still racing and he felt like he had just escaped from a predator. So many questions that he needed answers to were dancing in his head as flashbacks of the passionate night he had with the man played back and forth.

"Oh my God!" He gripped his hair as he threw his bag on a chair. "The man I slept with is Jim's boyfriend? How could this be?"

He was still in thought when he suddenly heard the door to his room opening and closing. He quickly turned and found a shocker, the man right behind him, staring at him again with the same look he had at the table. Panic bloomed as his chest constricted and his throat closed.

David on the other hand couldn't describe what he felt. He was staring at the boy, getting closer to him but the boy seemed to be going away from him.

"Who are you?" Ben's voice was filled with fear. "What do you want?"

"It is you." David's voice was barely above a whisper. "I have finally found you. Do you know how long I have been searching for you?" He chuckled nervously with tears in his eyes. "Ben! Such a beautiful name and I had no idea that you were so close to me. Please, can I hold you? I have yearned for this since the night we spent together."

Ben drew a sharp breath. "What are you talking about? Who are you?"

"Ben, come on!" He tried to grab the boy's hand but he quickly moved. "You can't say you don't remember me. That night..."

"Get out of here." He said with alarm. "You're my brother's boyfriend and you're gonna get me into trouble. Please, I don't know who you are."

David felt as if he couldn't breathe. His face contorted as though he was struggling not to cry. Then he burst into laughter but his laughter was filled with lots of sadness.

"Three months ago, I almost ran over someone and I was very upset. But that day, I didn't know that my entire world was about to change when I met this lovely boy. This boy..." He smiled brightly as he narrated the story. "...there was something about him. He instantly caught my attention when I set my eyes on him and I cannot explain what I felt. He was really nice, calm and very handsome. But I was a coward that day and didn't say anything."

He furiously rubbed the tear that went down his cheek.

"I saw this boy at my welcome party again but I missed my chance. Ever since, I had very little moments of seeing him but I never gave up. I always wanted to look for him, to talk to him and tell him what was in my heart, my feelings for him. Until that night..."

Ben's heart missed a beat as the man told his story. He was so scared that he had to hide his shaky hands.

"I met him at the bar by coincidence, he was drunk and in so much pain. I took him home, one thing led to another and we made love. That was one of the happiest moments of my life and I knew that I had found him, finally. But little did I know that when I wake that morning, he'd be gone. Two months...." He showed with his fingers. "For two months, I searched and searched but luck was not on my side. I never stopped looking."

Ben felt a wave of sadness.

"And after so long, I have finally found you. You left me in bed without saying a word, no trace and no name. Just wonderboy! Do you remember that?"

Ben slightly closed his eyes but a million tears decorated his face. He didn't even realize it.

"You have me mistaken for someone else." He said brokenly. "I don't know you. This is the first time I am meeting you. Please, leave!"

He tried to walk past David but the man pulled him back and before his mind could process it, he was pinned to the wall with the man's face so close to him he could feel his harsh breaths on his face. Ben got weak and scared but he couldn't move.

"No!" He shook his head. "You expect me to believe that you're not the one. This face has been on my mind since the very day I had set my eyes on you. It's impossible to forget such a beautiful face, your voice, your beautiful gray eyes and your lovely skin. And after that night, you've been on my mind and you've refused to leave..." He paused and got closer, almost touching the boy's lips. "...it was your first time, wasn't it? You were a virgin but I don't understand why you left. I thought we connected that night."

"I don't know you."

"I don't believe you." He slowly raised his hand and caressed the boy's cheek, yearning to just lean and kiss him. Ben couldn't control his emotions. His tears came flowing involuntarily. "Because your eyes tell me a different thing, those tears and your fears. The shock on your face when your saw me at the table tonight. There's just no way you can forget me, Ben, not after what happened between us. It was special."

Ben felt layers of unsettling emotions. The man was so sweet to him but...

"Please, just go away." He managed a word. "I beg of you to just go away."

"Why? After searching for so long, I have finally found you." He shook his head. "You think I will let this go just like that? No, I will hold your hand so tight that you won't ever wanna let go. I believe that you are the one for me."

Ben glanced urgently at the man, eyes wide, sweat beading on his lip. His heart was thundering as those words played at the back of his mind, 'you are the one for me.' He pushed the man away from him, staring at him like he'd said something abominable.

"What do you mean I am the one for you?" His mouth was shivering. "Last time I checked, you're my brother's soon to be fiancé and after that, husband. Everyone is waiting for you downstairs and you're here chasing someone you don't know? Is this the kind of man that you are." He gasped, feeling a little angry.

"And what kind of man is that?" David asked.

"You were holding hands with my brother downstairs." He took a hot, impatient breath. "The next moment, you're following me and telling me things I don't even understand. What do you want?"

"Responsibility!" David said, a little harshly which he regretted later. He took a sigh. "I want to take responsibility for what I did that night, for taking your virginity."

"Well, you've got the wrong person." He said, trying to make himself strong. "I don't remember sleeping with you or anybody else. So I suggest you go back to your family and your fiancé downstairs. They're waiting for you."

He tried to move but David blocked him.

"I am still taking responsibility for what happened. I am not giving up."

"Leave my way."

"No, not until you listen to me."

"What do you want me to listen to?" He snapped, suddenly being overtaken by anger. "I have told you I am not the one."

"You are the one. I remember your face clearly, your voice, the feel of your naked body on mine." Dread crawled up Ben's spine. "The feel of your lips as we kissed and the passionate lovemaking we had. In case you don't remember, let me remind you. That night..."

"Forget about that night! It was only a one-night stand!" He barked.

He only realized what he had done after he had said it. He stood there, staring at the guy with sweat dripping down his face which was now pale as if blood had been drained from it. He didn't even dare to move.

"Gotcha!" David smiled. "You cannot hide from me, Ben. Your destiny and mine are already intertwined. You and I are already one. That night, you and I became one. Listen, I am not a man that runs away from responsibilities."

"What do you want from me?" Ben sighed, furiously rubbing his eyes.

"I wanna be with you."

David moved and held his hands, rubbing on them. "No one has ever made me feel the way you make me feel, Ben. All I am asking for is an opportunity to get to know you and for you to know me. I swear, you're not gonna regret it and if you're scared of being hurt, I will never do that."

"Hurt?" He chuckled nervously. "You're someone's boyfriend, my brother. And you're asking me to be with you? I can never do that to my brother because he's been through a lot. He doesn't deserve this." He furiously released his hand. "So, I am telling you for the last time, what we had was just a one-night stand and it was in my vulnerable state. I have never even thought of it." He lied. "Whatever impression I gave you that night, forget about it. You have a very handsome boyfriend who loves you so much. What more do you want?"

David lost the smile on his face. He wasn't gonna lose this fight.

"My relationship with Jim is very complicated and I made it clear with him." He sighed. "My mother has a huge part to play in this. And you're right, Jim is a very good guy. He doesn't deserve this and that's why, I am gonna come clean to him. I am gonna tell him the truth before this goes anywhere far."

Fear crawled over Ben's body, prickling his skin. He looked at the man that immediately held his hand and started moving towards the door. Ben resisted and pulled the man away.

"What do you think you want to do?"

"I will show you that I am not playing games." He said with a stern face. "I will tell everyone that you're the one I have been looking for and they will understand."

"You don't know what you want to do. Do you want to cause trouble for me?"

"Then what do you want me to do?"

"Do the right thing. Don't ruin your relationship with Jim because of a stranger. What..."

But before Ben could finish his sentence, he heard the door knob moving and his heart dropped to the floor. His knees became so weak that he almost fell if not for the handsome man that quickly held him. His breaths came out harsher than before and he felt like there was poison running through his veins. Luckily, he realized that the door was locked.

"Ben!" Elena said impatiently from the outside, trying to force the door open. "What are you doing in there? Why the hell have you locked the door?"

"My step-mother!" He didn't even realize how scared he was. He looked at the man that equally looked at him. "You've got to hide."

"I am doing no such thing." David argued, shaking his head. "Let them find out. I will tell them our history."

"Please!" He took his hand and let him into the bathroom. "Stay here until she leaves. If what you say is true, you'll do as I say. Let me handle this."

"But..."

Ben closed the door before David could say anything. He fixed himself up, calmed his nerves and opened the door. Elena came rushing in like a mad woman, looking around.

"Why were you delaying to open the door? Do you have to make me wait in my own house?"

"I am sorry. I was in the bathroom."

Elena crossed her arms on her chest, staring at him like he was trash. "What games are you playing?"

"I... I don't understand." He stuttered, trying to look confident.

"Don't play coy with me, boy." She raised her finger. Her voice was thick with anger. "What did I tell you this morning? Didn't I specifically tell you to meet a client tonight? Why the fuck are you back?"

"I did what you asked me to do. I called the client and he told me he was already here for some important work." He said with confidence. "I scheduled a meeting with him and we met. As we talk right now, he already chose his designs. You can call him to confirm."

"You think you're so smart, huh?" She chuckled bitterly and started circling him. "But I can assure you that I am smarter. I know what you were up to. You wanted to come for the dinner and ruin everything as usual. When will you learn that on such important events, your face is not needed because society does not accept you as a true Henandez."

Ben slightly closed his eyes. "I didn't wanna be part of it. I already got what you said this morning and what you've been saying every other day."

"Well, I am glad you do." She caressed his cheek, wearing an evil grin. "You're learning just like a dog obeys its master. Perhaps, one day I might give you a treat. And let me warn you...." She chuckled maniacally. "...let what you're telling me about the deal be true. Otherwise, I will kill you with my bear hands."

He simply nodded.

"You have a good night, son of a whore!"

She turned and cat-walked out of there. He could hear her voice even outside his door. Ben looked away as his face turned red. He told himself he wasn't gonna cry but every time she said something, she made him so weak. He sat on the bed with his arms wrapped around himself. He just wanted to be shielded from her.

"Why would she talk to you like that?"

He heard a man's voice near him and it was filled with a lot of anger. He had forgotten that David had been in the bathroom. He didn't wanna look at him so he hid his eyes from him so that he didn't see how vulnerable he was.

"Is this what you've been going through?" He slowly moved towards the boy. "Could she be the trouble you were talking about the night we met?"

Ben finally looked at the man. "I don't know what happened that night or what I said to you, but I don't wanna do anything with you, Mr. Paola. I have so many problems as it is. Please, don't add to them because I don't know if I can handle anymore."

"Ben!"

"Go back to the dinning room. People are waiting for you." He pleaded. "I don't want any trouble. Forget about what happened or whatever you think we have. Jim is a very good person, please, don't hurt him for something that's impossible."

David nodded. "Okay." His voice was barely above a whisper. "I will grant your wish, but I will not give up on us, Ben. Now that I have found you, letting you go again is out of question."

With one look at the boy, he rushed out of the room. God knows how much he was yearning for him, how much he wanted to hold and kiss him, how much he wanted to hold his hand and tell him it was okay. But he was being pushed away.

On the other hand, tears raced down Ben's cheeks and he began crying. His lips trembled as he cried. He didn't know where the pain came from. He hadn't planned on seeing the man ever again, but now that he had seen him, he realized that there was a connection with him that he couldn't understand. But why did it have to be his brother's boyfriend. It was painful.

***

"David!" Claudia called angrily. "David, hold it right there."

David stopped in his tracks without turning. She came in front of him with a stern look on her face.

"What was the meaning of what you just did back there?" She seethed, trying to bring her breathing under control. "Do you know how embarrassing that was?"

David shrugged. "I wasn't feeling well. I had to excuse myself and come back home."

"You don't look sick to me." She argued. "That was very rude of you."

David had said he wanted to go back home as soon as he'd returned from Ben's room. He knew he was bound to make a mistake. Against the wishes of Elena and insistence of Claudia, he had still left. Now Claudia was annoyed because she knew her son very well.

"What do you want from me, mom?" He sighed in frustration. "Honestly, what do you want?"

"Your happiness." She answered rudely. "Isn't that the wish of every mother?"

"Apparently not." He shook his head, making Claudia gasp in shock. "Because I don't see how you can set my engagement without consulting me. You know very well that I didn't wanna get into this relationship in the first place. I told you that..."

"Oh, so this is what that nonsense you did was all about." She chuckled bitterly. "You should be thanking me for fixing an engagement with someone as good as Jim."

"Mom, sometimes you surprise me." He said, hitting his head in frustration. "You're not the one to decide that and you don't have any right. I don't need to remind you that I am an adult and I can make my own decisions. But it seems like you and Jim's mother have had all this thing figured out that I am starting to think you planned my relationship with her. 2 weeks I have known this boy and yet I am getting engaged to him. Do you know how crazy that is?"

"I am not going to have this conversation with you again, David." She warned. "What's there for me to discuss with you? Don't you like Jim?"

"I am sorry, mom..." Amber chimed in, standing by her brother's side. "I think you're taking this a little too far. Don't you think the decision of when they want to get engaged rests on them? I love Jim but I don't think I like the pace this is going at."

Claudia laughed. "And what pace is that? You're not a mother so I don't expect you to understand. You'll understand when you have kids."

"I don't think I will." She shook her head. "What you're doing is wrong and...."

"Look I don't need both your opinions on this." She snapped, stamping her foot on the ground. "I have said what I said and it will go as planned. I am your mother and you're gonna do as I say."

With those words, she stormed out of there, leaving the two of them.

"Are you okay?" Amber placed her hand on her brother's shoulder. "You don't seem to be yourself. You know you can tell me anything, right?"

David nodded although his emotions were going crazy. "I will be fine. Maybe I just need to rest."

"I know you, David." She said with concern. "You're my brother and I can tell something is on your mind. You know you can tell me anything and I can help."

David gave a gloomy sigh. "It's just that while at Jim's place..."

'I have so much trouble as it is, please, don't add to them.'