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Andrew heard a loud band while he’s practicing his writing with Antonio. They did it. The bomb has been detonated! He could hear the sound of patients screaming and running amuck followed by doctors and guards telling them to stop and tried to catch them. He excused himself and got up from the chair to peek from the door. It was chaos. The once tidy hallway is now littered with broken things, food, and even pillows. That red thing… Is it ketchup or is it-
“Andy,” Antonio calls him with his pet names. Something that Andrew have come to love after being together with him as a doctor and patient for years, “Come here.” The patient turn around to see his caregiver patting the chair beside him.
Andrew closes the door shut and walks towards him, “What is it Antonio?” When he sit down on the chair Antonio's hand reaches out towards him and gently caresses the side of his face. The warmness his hand radiates makes him close his eyes and leans into the touch. It makes him feel safe and forgot everything that’s happening outside of his room. How could someone be able to make him feel this way with just a touch of a hand… Surely Antonio isn’t a human. Perhaps he is an angel in disguise.
“I have a surprise for you.” Andrew opened his eyes, his face riddled with confusion and surprise.
“A surprise?” Antonio would always give him something as a surprise gift from time to time. But to be giving him something in this kind of situation… “But outside everything is in chaos. Are you sure?”
Antonio smiled and nodded, “This will be my last surprise for you as your caregiver.” The warm hand leaves the side of his face only to hold on to his gloved hand. “You once rejected my feeling out of fear of people finding it out and fired me right?” Indeed. Antonio is a nice man. He know how hard it is to find a job and for Antonio who has worked here for a long time to get fired because of him is something he doesn’t want to happen, “Do you remember our promise?” Andrew nodded, "Can you say it for me?"
Andrew blushes a little but compiles, “When we are able to escape we will finally become lovers.” Everyone in the hospital knows that Andrew is just a regular man with no mental illness nor disabilities. He was just the scapegoat used by the church. All just because of prejudice they people have towards others who have albinism.
Now that he thinks about it… Antonio promised him that he’ll take him to a place where they can be safe. A beautiful place in the countryside, a home where the path is decorated by the welcoming paddy fields, surrounded by wheat fields that makes their house a treasure among gold, in short a perfect life and a perfect home. But he never said anything about the people near where they will reside… What if this time he'll drag Antonio into the pain and suffering that he experienced before… He gave him all the good things in life and yet…
"What's wrong, Andy?" The doctor caress the back of his gloved hand with his thumb to calm him down, "Is something bothering you?"
Andrew bit his lips and looked away. He does want to be lovers with Antonio but all the time in the hospital with him has made him forget about the reality outside. He would be something worse than a devil if he were to repay Antonio kindness with, "Andy look at me." Ah… The sight of Antonio's worried face only makes him feel even more guilty. He surely must be a sinful man. To whisk someone away from a bright life and pull him into the dark together with him. He must be the world's most selfish man…
While he was overthinking things it happened. A kiss on the cheek. Right on top of the scar on his face that Antonio always loves to caress. “Just believe in me Andrew,” Antonio pulls him into a hug. A warm and loving hug. Being in his embrace reminds him of how his mom used to protect him from the world with her embrace. “Nothing bad will ever happen to us. I can promise you that.” His long slender fingers began stroking his head. “Do you trust me Andrew?”
There’s many things he’s worried about. Can he really just trust Antonio? Won’t he just suffer along with people's prejudice against him just like his mother? He doesn't know… He really doesn't… But… It’s been a very long time since he last felt safe. It might just be a blind leap forward, he might just drag the man he loves into endless pain, he might just grow becoming too selfish… But the promise that Antonio has told him… Andrew warped his hand around Antonio’s back and held on to the back of his uniform. He buries his face onto his chest, “I do,” he really does
Antonio's gentle hand once again returns to frame his face as he lifts his gaze to look into the pair of basel pupils, “Can you say it again?” he leaned forward and kissed his crown, “Please my love.”
“I trust you Antonio. Even though in the past all my life have been only full of pain and suffering. Even when the only person who truly loves me is gone because she protected me from others…” his voice began to waver, “I am afraid... I’m afraid of what’s going to happen to you.” he could feel his eyes waters up, “I really do want to trust you but won’t I just be selfish… You always treat me with kindness and yet I can’t give you anything…”
“Listen to me Andy,” Antonio led him until his ear rested right beside his chest. He could hear the loud and beating heart, “This is what you do to me ever since we first meet one another. You are the only one who can make me become like this, the only one who can make me happy.” Antonio held him tighter. It… It felt right… “I love you Andrew.”
Love. Loving him. Someone beloved. “I love you too Antonio,” to be thrown into this prison and to find someone who loves him for who he truly is. His past might have been only full of pain but perhaps this is the time where the wheel of fate has turned around. Perhaps this is the time where he will receive everything that has been taken away.
Andrew pushes away from the embrace as he pulls Antonio into a kiss. Well it was not as romantic as he imagined. It feels just like he just smashed his lips on to Antonio’s lips. “Sorry… I’ll do better next time…”
Antonio looked at him with eyes wide open. His lips start to quiver before he finally chuckles and laugh. “It’s okay Andy,” he slowly rose up from the chair, “We can do it many more times later. For now I want you to close your eyes. Can you do that for me?” Andrew nodded and closed his eyes. He could feel Antonio walk behind him and warp something to cover his eyes,”Just some precautions,” Antonio then held on to each of his hands and leaned in, “Now walk forward. Don’t worry about falling down. I’ll be here for you.”
He doesn't know where Antonio is leading him. One time they are walking the next is climbing down steps of stairs. If it weren’t for Antonio blindfolding him, he’s sure that he will open his eyes out of curiosity. Every once in a while Antonio would ask him how he feels, is he tired, is he afraid, is he worried, and many more. He would reply that he’s alright and Antonio would kiss him whether on the back of his hand, his crown, or even his cheek, followed by him saying that it’s just a little bit more.
It feels like forever before Antonio finally told him to stop and unties the blindfold. It’s bright…? Cautiously Andrew opens his eyes.
They are outside.
He looked back and saw they are quite a distance from the hospital. He turned around and saw Antonio smiling brightly at him. Almost as the bright sun that’s blocked by the leaves on the trees. “Surprise.”
Turns out Antoino have recently discovered the secret pathway they took. He explains to him that thanks to the ‘mess’ that everyone makes, the path that was usually heavily guarded is now free for them to take. A path where the sun won’t reach, a path so well hidden that even Aesop, Tracy, and Eli are unable to find it. It sounds as if the path was created especially for him. Antonio held his hand and cut off his train of thought, “For now we have to keep on walking. The trees here cover the sunlight quite well so you don’t need to worry about the sun harming you.”
Andrew nods and holds on to the warm loving hand as Antonio guides him through the forest. They took breaks once in a while and Antonio will ask how he is feeling as the journey might be too much for him. While indeed it hurts his legs a little it’s far better than being lobotomized. Hearing that answer makes Antonio chuckles.
Now that they are officially a lover, Andrew notices a few things about Antonio that changed. While they were in the hospital Antonio always held back on certain acts of affection but now the man keep on showering him with small kisses and calls his name in a more affectionate tone, something that he thought wouldn’t even be possible. It’s not a bad change. But now every affection that Antonio gave for him feels more intimate, it makes his heart skip and beat with joy. He once asked his mother what love is. Now that he recalls her answer it fits perfectly. Perhaps he too should stop holding back…
Their journey finally came to a rest as they saw the small town. The day is about to come to an end as the orange sky welcomes the moon and her stars. There's still a lot of people roaming around the street. Families going out to have dinner, lovers having their date, children running back to their home, and vendors calling out passersby to look at their goods. It’s been a long time since he last saw the outside world. However the sight of the crowd that used to remind him of the horrible past didn't come to haunt him. Maybe it's because of the hand that's holding him full of love…
Antonio hand guided him to step into the crowded road. Lots of people minding their own business, moving pass by them and accidentally brushing against them. As they bump into one another for the countless times Antonio decides to just pull Andrew into a side hug as he rests his hand on Andrew’s side. It made Andrew let out a chuckle and lean into Antonio.
The pair stop in front of a clothing store, "Our journey will take a few days, perhaps weeks if the weather isn't on our side. You can't go around wearing that all the time so let's get you new ones." The raven haired man didn't wait for his reply as he dragged him inside. He chats with the shopkeeper and she guides them to the long sleeved section. Andrew tries out many different clothes that Antonio shovels to him in the fitting room, there's formal wear, casual wear, and sleep wear. At the end of their shopping spree Andrew ends up with more clothes that he has when living alone. To avoid suspicion Antonio suggests that they immediately change into their new clothes which is right, the news will spread so they have to be careful.
Andrew stepped out of the fitting room wearing a white long sleeved button up, a grey waistcoat, a black trousers with suspenders, and finally a newsboy to help protect him from the sun. Not long after he stepped out of the fitting room Antonio’s door swung open. Andrew is glad that he took a seat as he waits for his lover. Antonio steps out with a breathtaking look, from the corner of his eyes he can spot the clerk blushed a little. He’s wearing a three piece suit consisting of a black tailcoat and vest along with a dark red button up, on the right side of the tailcoat chest is a purple iris pin similar to the one Antonio always gave to him. His long night like hair even being tied into a low ponytail, making his face more visible than usual. The dashing man smiled at him and kneels down to kiss the back of Andrew’s hand before walking up to the clerk and paying for their clothes.
After their short trip to the boutique they visit the market to buy luggage for their clothes and supplies for their journey. There are many fascinating things in the market that catch his eye but their exploration in the market comes to an end as both of their stomachs sing out their protest.
At first Antonio brought him to an expensive looking restaurant, the inside looked so bright that it hurt, the food on the table looked like a piece of art, and the customer looked like the noble types. Andrew pulls Antonio away from the entrance door, “What’s wrong Andy?”
If he said he’s uncomfortable he might upset Antonio who really just wanted to make him happy. Andrew looked around and found a small restaurant that doesn’t have many people in it. From the looks of it the food might not be from around here, “Let’s try eating there.” Andrew points at the restaurant.
Antonio lift his brow and then smiled as he pinches Andrew’s nose teasingly, “If you are uncomfortable you should have just said it,”
He always knows. It’s a mystery on how he always knows what he’s thinking. That’s why Andrew always thought that Antonio was his angel. “I thought you would be upset…”
“I will never be upset with you Andy,” he leans in to give him a warm kiss on the side of his face, “Well then let’s have dinner. A date wouldn’t be complete without a dinner together after all.” he sings.
"A- A date?? Aren't we just getting things for our journey?"
Antonio tuts, "As a lover it's normal to have dates. Is there something wrong with treating someone I love with the best I can?" His silence only makes the taller man smile, "I have been wanting to have a date with you for a long time, Andy. Be honest with me. Is there something you don't like?"
Rather than something he dislikes it more toward something he worries about. "I think you shouldn't spend too much on me… You have already paid for my hospital bills and now this… I… Once we have found a permanent residence I will find a job! I will surely pay you back!"
"Andy," In an instant he could feel Antonio's lips against him. It's different from how he did it. This feels like a real kiss. The warmth spreads from his lips to his entire body. "If that's what you are worried about then how about you can pay me back with kisses?"
"But," Antonio finger on his lips shushed him from protesting.
"If it’s about money I can get them all back from working and I still have a safe amount in my savings. But kisses?” the man chuckles, “I can’t get it by using money. I can only get it from you.”he smiled mischievously at the end of the sentence.
Antonio might be a kind and gentle person but at certain times he will become completely stubborn. He was like that on their first meeting. No matter how many times he pushed him away, no matter how rude his words were towards him, no matter how much he tried to distance himself away from him, Antonio would always smile as he tried to get closer to him. If it were not for his stubbornness he would never let his defense down and come out of his shell and then fall in love with him…
Dinner was filled with new experiences. Turns out the restaurant he had chosen randomly was a seafood focused restaurant. The warm waiter seems to notice his confusion and asks him what he likes so he can help recommend a dish for him. In the end they ordered garlicky shrimp alfredo bake for Andrew and a salmon steak for Antonio. When the food arrives Andrew marvels at the way the cheese stretches as he spoons it. Antonio also spoon fed him a few bites of his salmon steak and it was delicious. As he keeps on eating he doesn’t notice how Antonio would stop eating a few times and just watch him eat with a smile. The long haired man wanted to just pinch his food filled cheek but he held himself back so as to not disturb him.
After their lovely dinner together the moon is out shining brightly on the night sky with stars scattered everywhere. They make their way to the inn and book a room for them to sleep for the night. As Andrew opens the door he blinks and closes the door and opens it again. There’s only one bed. Antonio heads inside and sits on the couch as he calmly places their luggage beside the sofa, “All the rooms with two beds have been booked,” he explains with a smile. If that’s the case then there’s nothing he can do about it.
The two of them take turns in taking a bath and when Antonio comes out from the bathroom he realizes something. They are wearing matching pajamas. “Antonio are you doing this on purpose?”
“Hmm? I wonder what you are talking about?” Lies. He definitely knows about it. Andrew’s pouts and it only makes Antonio chuckles as he walks over to the light switch, “We are going to have a long journey ahead. Let’s go to sleep now,”
That’s right… Andrew nods and lay his head to the pillows. A few seconds later after the lights have been switched off he could feel the bed dipped to the side, indicating that Antonio has joined him on the bed. “Good night Antonio,”
“Good night Andrew,”
Andrew closes his eyes and tries to sleep. He fails to do that after they have bid one another good night almost half an hour ago. Is it because of the comfortable bed? The excitement for tomorrow? Or is it because of the presence of the man he loved beside him?
“Can’t sleep my love?” Oh?
“You are still awake as well?” Andrew switches the night lights on and turns around to face Antonio who is indeed still wide awake.
“I thought I could fall asleep quickly with you besides me but turns out it’s not,” Antonio bashful smile is something refreshing to witness. “What about you Andy?”
Andrew let out a dry laugh, “I thought I was the only one,”
Antonio chuckles and pulls him into a tight embrace as he buries his face onto his white locks. He sighs and kisses his crown, “To be spending the rest of my life with you next to me is the greatest gift I have received.”
Andrew laughed, “What’s up with that?” Antonio really knows how to calm him down from any kind of situation. “Are you proposing to me?”
There was silence as Antonio sat up and reached out for the drawer in the bedside table.
“Wait, Antonio, I was only,” “I am,”
On his hand is a small box with the world A embroidered into it beautifully. “I have been preparing this for a long time.” Antonio opens the box to reveal a beautiful silver ring with a purple gem, the same color as the flowers he always gave to him. “The day I opened your door was the day I was born anew. Something I thought was gone for a long time have come back to life. I love you Andrew.”
His heart is beating too fast. He could feel himself faint a little, good thing they are on the bed, “An- Antonio isn’t it too fast!? Don’t people usually propose after a year of being together or more?”
“With the things that have happened to us, I think it’s okay for us to get engaged this fast. Or perhaps you are thinking about breaking up with me later?”
“I wouldn’t do that!”
Antonio laughed, “I’m just teasing you my dear angel.” the man with hair that reminds him of the night sky took his hand. “So will you mary me Andrew?”
Andrew is lost. He’s too stunned. His mouth can’t seem to produce any kind of words. The future is something that no one can predict. They might be happy together or they might suffer together. No one knows how everything will turn out. However ever since Antonio have barge into his life with a smile, the future he imagine gradually become better. He love him. He can’t think of what will happen if they were ever to be separated...
“I… I do,” The way Antonio smiled at his answer might become something he’ll become addicted to oneday....
Antonio took his hand and chasted a kiss on to his ring finger before he finally slid the ring into his finger. It fits perfectly. He wonders how Antonio knows his finger size. He really does know anything about him.
Before he even able to say anything Andrew was pushed back onto the bed as Antonio lunge forward and embrace him. His joyful laughter is so infectious. Andrew can’t help but to laugh along with him.
After a few minutes the laughter died down and Antonio release him from the embrace only to prop himself on top of Andrew. “Well then my beloved fiancee, it’s time for us to sleep.”
“How can I sleep when I’m this happy?”
“Oh? Then I know just the right thing for you.” There was no warning as Antonio began to showers him with kisses. On his forehead, his nose, his lips, his cheek, everywhere. Ever touch feels warm and ticklish, making him giggles. But soon the sound start to died down as Andrew could feel his eyes becoming more and more heavy. In no time Andrew really did fall asleep while receiving kisses from Antonio.
Antonio smiled as the sight of Andrew sleeping with a smile fills his view. Just looking at his sleeping figure is enough to recharge all the energy he has used today. He promised that he will make Andrew live a happy life after they make it out of the hospital. The moment they step into the town he has been using his power non stop until this moment. The town they have stepped in is no different than the town Andrew has lived in. In order to let him enjoy his freedom Antonio created an illusion. All the townsfolk saw is not Andrew the man with albinism but instead what they saw is Andrew with a dark hair, a slightly tanner skin just like his, and his ruby red eyes changed into an emerald green. Using his power for this long while maintaining his human physical self is not an easy task but if it can make Andrew smile he will willingly do it.
They will continue their journey in the morning to the place where he doesn’t need to use his power to create an illusion for Andrew to be happy. The place is far away and not as modern as the town they currently in but it doesn’t matter. Andrew is a simple man that matches his beautiful soul. A quiet and peaceful life is enough to make him happy. Antonio too wanted to spend every moment of that life with Andrew until his time had come.
How will Andrew react when he knows the truth of his identity? There’s so many possibilities and many of them involve a heartbroken Andrew. After all he has deceived Andrew into making a deal with him unknowingly just to make him as his. He wants to keep the secret a little bit longer thus why he created the ring. A ring infused with his power so that Andrew can live longer. When the do finally come…
They will have all eternity to clear out any kind of misunderstanding before they are able to continue to love one another again.
Antonio leans in and kisses Andrew’s lips softly to not awake him. All he can do for the unavoidable future for now is just to cherish him. He doesn't know what will happen when the time comes so at least if it were to go south he can recall the memory of them loving one another.