“Let’s break up.” Warren almost couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Stan announced it during the night before their 3rd anniversary. It was obvious that Stan was not joking. He had a serious look, a serious tone and a serious atmosphere around him.

“Why? Did I do something wrong? I thought everything is going well between us.” Warren sounded desperate. He never thought that this day would come because Stan promised him as long as he needed Stan, his boyfriend would always be there for him. But now, here is Stan telling him to break up.

“You finally got what you wanted. You regained Dylan’s friendship just a few months ago. You’ve been hanging out with him even more than being with me. Then yesterday, he confessed.” Stan ran his fingers through his hair. He’s been doing that lately now that his hair went past by his shoulders. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop or anything. It’s just that when I found you, it was also at the same time Dylan confessed to you. I remained rooted on the spot and got to hear everything. Your reply to him was that you’ll think about it, which means that you were considering breaking up with me to be with him.”

“No, I didn’t mean that. It was just so hard to reject him. I--”

“It was hard to reject him because you certainly still have feelings for him. Your feelings for him probably went away when we started our relationship but now that you’ve regained his friendship, it seems that your feelings for him has revived as well.” Stan was really good at analyzation. It’s because of that analyzation that he got Warren into a relationship with him and it’s also because of that analyzation that he’s going to break up with Warren.

“Okay, I admit that I do have some feelings for him which revived from the past but most of it was just admiration. What I feel for you is much different and much greater than that. I fell for you and I love you too.” Warren felt as if a heavy weight was lifted off his chest. He finally got to say those words, which he never said before.

Stan was actually happy to hear those word but at the same time, he didn’t want to believe it as well. “No, you’re just saying those words because you don’t want us to break up. You just love the idea of us being together because we’re both comfortable with each other. You were secure being with me because you know that the center of my attention is you. Don’t you think you’ve been depending on me too much?” He spat out harshly than he intended to.

Warren was hurt and astounded at those words. Stan never talk to him that way before. But just because Stan is starting now, he won‘t let himself be beaten up with words. He will defend himself. “You don’t believe me? I bet you didn’t love me either. You never told me that you love me. You only did so at the night you confessed to me. Plus, you only said those words in an accidental manner. I bet you never mean it. You’re probably just eating your own words.”

“Let’s just stop arguing and just break up.” Stan heaved out a long sigh. It was all he can do to stop his tears from falling. He felt like stabbing himself by saying those words because the truth is, he doesn’t really want to break up with Warren but Warren is just so confusing. He never really thought that his boyfriend loved him back and he wasn’t going to start thinking of that right now. It may sound selfish but he didn’t want to be in more pain by thinking that he broke up with Warren when Warren was finally returning his feelings.

“NO!! You’re just making excuses. I want to know the real reason why you want to break up with me.” Tears started to fall from Warren’s eyes. “I know that you still love me. Don’t even try to deny it.” He sniffed. “You had other rivals aside Dylan. You think of them as obstacles and challenges. Then you would always come out as a winner so why are you aren’t you even bothering to fight for me now? Why are you giving me up to Dylan? WHY?!”

This time Stan couldn’t control himself seeing that the one he loved the most was hurting because of himself. A few tears managed to escape and roll down his cheeks. “I’m sorry.” He opened his arms which was immediately occupied by Warren. “I’m such a bastard. I’m sorry for hurting you like this.” He whispered on his boyfriend’s ear and rubbed the back soothingly.

They were surrounded by silence for a while. They remained like that as they let their chaotic feelings subside so they can think clearly and talk everything out in a proper manner. “Come on. Let’s talk this over a cup of tea.” Stan suggested when he felt that both of them has calmed down.

“No, I want to stay here in your arms and on the bed.” Warren said stubbornly in a childish tone. Stan merely complied as he led them towards the bed, which is just a couple of steps away. Once they’ve nestled on the bed, Warren suddenly dozed off. He must have been tired from school and the short argument a while ago.

/ We’ve been living in this apartment for almost two years. It feels like a home to me now. / That’s what Stan thought as he observed the small apartment as if seeing it for the first time. After Stan and Warren graduated high school, they moved into an apartment that was just a few blocks away from their chosen University. Although they went to the same University, they had different courses. The reason why they went to the same school was so they could spend their free time together. The chosen school was miles away from their home so they decided to have an apartment instead.

The apartment was small but that was fine with them since they get to be more physically close to each other. Even though they were in a relationship, Stan was being a gentleman and chose to sleep on the coach. Their arrangement used to be like that until the 1st winter they experienced living in the apartment came and the heater broke. Warren offered Stan to sleep with him on the bed so they could share body heat. Since then, they’ve been sleeping together on the bed. Warren is a good cook and would always cook for the both of them while Stan would always tidy up things because he’s an organized person. / I couldn’t just let all of it go. I love this place. I love Warren. I love being here with Warren. / Stan thought of all the good and happy memories they spent in this apartment.

Warren yawned. “Sorry, it seems that I fell asleep as soon as we hit the bed.” He rubbed his eyes and rubbed away the sleepiness. “Um…Stan, are you alright? You seem kinda spaced out.” He asked.

That question brought Stan’s attention back to Warren. “I was just thinking.” Unconsciously, he hugged Warren together and closer to him. He stared at the clock on the bedside table. Then he stared at his cellphone right that was placed right beside the clock. “Any minute now…” He said under his breath.

Warren thought that Stan was acting weird. “Stan, are you really okay?” He asked in a concern tone. Suddenly, Stan’s cellphone was ringing. It continued to ring as it was left alone. Actually, it was more of vibrating than ringing since it was in a silent mode. “Aren’t you going to answer it? Shall I answer it for you?”

Stan didn’t reply to Warren. Instead, he took a deep breath and reached his arm to answer the cellphone. He made sure to look at the name of the caller although he was pretty sure who it was calling around this time. He flipped open his cellphone. “Hello?”

The room was so silent because of the silence, Warren could hear the voice over the phone. It was Stan’s father. “Where are you, young man?!” It was an angry tone. “We’re at the airport already. I called you many times already but you seem to not answer or reject it every time. Come here already! The plane will be living in half an hour. Hopefully, it would be delayed for you.”

“You managed to convince me, father but in the end, my resolve was broken. I’m sorry to disappoint you. I’m not going. Have a safe trip.” Stan didn’t wait for his father’s reply. He just immediately turned off his cellphone and placed it back on the bedside table. While at it, he also gave out a sigh of relief.

“From the sound of it, your father seems to be very angry. What is he angry about this time?” Warren asked out of curiosity. He also concluded that. “From what I heard, I believe both of you are suppose to be going somewhere else.”

Stan released Warren from the hug as he sat up. He didn‘t look at Warren as he started to explain. “It’s not just my father and I but my whole family is migrating to my mother’s homeland. That’s the reason why I wanted to break up with you. You know that father accepted our relationship although he doesn’t exactly approve it. When I told him that you became my boyfriend, he immediately knew that you didn’t love me. He said that you still acted the same, just an ordinary friend. He used that to convince me to go with them in migrating to mother’s homeland. Over there, we could start a new life. He told me that I just can’t wait forever for you. He also mentioned something about Dylan having feelings for you and from the looks of it, you love Dylan back. So yeah, I was pretty convinced so I wanted to go with them and break up with you.”

Warren sat up as well. “But just now…you said that you’re not going…” He shocked himself as he realized how important that statement was. “You chose me over your family?” He covered his mouth as tears started to well up on his eyes again.

“Oi, oi, don’t cry. You don’t want to show up to Dylan tomorrow with red, puffy eyes that obviously says that you cried tonight.” Stan offered a small smile as he patted Warren’s head.

FLASHBACK

A week ago…

“Warren, I’m such an idiot for not realizing this sooner. I love you.” Dylan confessed to Warren. “I know that you already have a boyfriend but I was just wondering if you could consider and give me a chance.”

Warren couldn’t understand how felt. It was mixed emotions. He didn’t want to accept it but he didn’t want to completely reject Dylan as well. “I’ll think about it.” He offered an answer, which he thought was a safe answer. He didn’t think that the answer could lead to other thoughts. Not to mention, his boyfriend was actually listening to their conversation while being hidden from the view.

“Well…what about having a date on Saturday at the usual movie theater we meet? If you show up, then it means I have a chance on being your boyfriend and will pursue flirting with you.” Dylan wiggled his eyebrows suggestively which caused for Warren to chuckle. “And if you don’t show up, I’ll stop flirting and give up on you. We’ll remain friends, of course.”

END OF FLASHBACK

Warren laughed as tears started to fall again from his eyes. “You sure are pretty convinced that Dylan and I love each other.” He wrapped his arms around Stan’s neck and moved closer with their foreheads touching. “I’ll cry as much as I want to. I’m not seeing Dylan tomorrow. I’ll spend all day with you tomorrow. Advance happy anniversary. I love you.” He said softly as he brushed his lips against Stan’s before placing more pressure and love in that kiss.

Stan buried his fingers in Warren’s hair as he returned the kiss. He was happy that Warren chose their anniversary instead of just going out of a date with Dylan. He was happy that Warren chose him over Dylan. Well, he wasn’t sure of that yet so he had to clear things up after the kiss. “Hey Warren, if tomorrow didn’t happen to be our anniversary and if I didn’t happen to suggest that we break up, would you show up to Dylan?”

Warren shook his head from left to right. That means… “Nope. In fact, I already planned on what we will do for our anniversary tomorrow. I thought that telling him that I would think about it was a safe answer but I guess I was wrong. I was only thinking about myself. I didn’t think what that answer would mean to him or you. It’s just that at that time I had mixed emotions so I didn’t want him to give out any clear answer either. After thinking about my feelings, I realized that I was happy that he finally loved me but it was a pity because he was late. He was too late because I moved on and fell in love with you.”

Stan was glad to hear this. He was glad that Warren chose him over Dylan. He was glad that Warren loves him back but he’s wondering just how much Warren loves him. “I’m happy to know that but I just want to know one more thing. If you were at my situation, what would you do?”

Warren smiled as his hands started to caress Stan’s cheek and neck. Then his fingers went to work by unbuttoning Stan’s blouse. “I’ll choose you over them anytime. We’re family too, ya know and this…” He gestured towards their surrounding, the apartment to be exact. “…is our home.”

“Your confession is the greatest anniversary gift that you’ve given to me.” Stan stated as he shrugged off his shirt over his shoulders so now he was topless. He kissed Warren as his fingers went inside the shirt to explore familiar body. They played with each other’s bodies before but they never really went all the way. That night was their first time to make love and they went through at it until dawn.

THE END

AN: Whoa!! For this part, I finished it in two days!! O.O Well, more like nights actually. Heh…Midterms must be my inspiration. Please read and review!