"A date!", Theo pronounced 'date' slowly, like deeyyyyt.
"We're going to watch the sunset. We've been doing that since Pagudpud. It's OUR thing you see." Theo taunted Taylor.
Theo nearly laughed out loud when he saw Taylor's jaw harden at the emphasized 'OUR' so he decided to further provoke Taylor. "It was sunset when we first met. it was also sunset when Rain first told me about the dumbass who broke his heart. It was sunset when we promised each other we will not lose contact. And today, we agreed on a date to watch the sunset."
Rain obviously knows that Theo's purposely making Taylor angry, but he could not care less. He just stood there watching them with his arms crossed over his chest.
Theo leaned towards Taylor and whispered, "It was also sunset when I first saw Rain shirtless while I taught him to..."
Taylor suddenly grabbed Theo's shirt and aggressively pulled Theo towards him using Theo's shirt.
"I dare you to complete that thought!" Taylor snarled at Theo.
Rain reacted quickly by removing Taylor's fist on Theo's shirt and placing Theo behind him. He then reprimanded Taylor.
"I've always thought you're a smart person Taylor. So tell me, what part of 'keep away from me' don't you understand?"
Rain did not wait for Taylor to answer. He grabbed Theo's hand and pulled him towards his car while Theo tauntingly looked back at Taylor with a wide smile.
When they reached the car, Rain grabbed the coffee carrier from Theo and then motioned for Theo to unlock the car. He opened the passenger side door and sat inside. He closed the door and uttered a curt "Drive!" to Theo without sparing a glance at Taylor, not even once.
***
After Theo parked inside an elliptical park at the heart of QC, Theo broke the thick silence by joking. "Your boyfriend's pretty strong. I almost spilled our drink when he grabbed me."
"Don't!.." Rain abruptly stopped talking and inhaled deeply. "I'm sorry it was rude of me to snap at you like that. And he is not my boyfriend.", Rain corrected. "He never was.", Rain added, almost silently
Theo apologized. "I'm sorry. I was being an ass provoking him like that"
"Then why did you?" Rain asked.
"I just couldn't help it. It's like he has a sign on his forehead saying, I was a thoughtless dumbass who hurt the love of my life but now I want him back. Please take a shot at me for being stupid." Theo lengthily explained his weak excuse.
Rain looked at Theo open mouthed, not believing this person is crazier than him.
Theo quickly grabbed Rain's iced coffee and placed the straw on Rain's open mouth. "Here, drink this and cool down before we walk to the fountain."
Rain snatched the drink from Theo's hand with a frown while Theo remained smiling. Rain got out of the car and led the way to the fountain near the monument at the center of the park.
As they near the fountain/monument area, Rain saw the stalls lined up on the right side of the central area.
"Let's go check out the plants for sale over there. I might see something that I can give to Nanay." Rain said as he pulled Theo to walk faster.
Rain thoroughly enjoyed looking at the plants for sale. He even bought a two feet tall dwarf red guava that he is sure his Nanay will love. Rain and his mother share more than their passion for medical service, both of them also loves gardening. Their small garden at the back of their house has several vegetable plants and a couple of small fruit trees. Their maid once informed them that she will be able to cook Pinakbet* using all the produce they harvested from those vegetable at the back garden.
"Can we go sit by the fountain now? The sun's about to set." Theo smilingly teased Rain.
Rain nodded with a smile on his face. Theo's enjoying the break in Rain's usual cold demeanor. Theo never thought that a twiggy plant with maroonish leaves will make Rain smile like a lovesick idiot.
They sat by one of the benches that dotted around the fountain area and watched the setting sun by the tree line.
The glorious colors of burnt orange, pink, and yellow bathed the area above the tree line as the sun finally sets at the back. Rain sighed appreciating the beautiful sight.
Darkness eventually sets in and the lights inside the park turned on.
"How 'bout joining me and my friends for a night out tomorrow?" Theo invited Rain.
"I could go out for some distraction. Can I bring River and maybe a couple more friends?", Rain asked.
Theo noddingly agreed with a smile, "I'll text you the place."
Rain later reached for his coffee and sipped from it. Rain grimaced at the now lukewarm liquid.
"I need a new coffee." Rain declared as he tries to remove the unpleasant taste of lukewarm coffee on his tongue by rubbing it against his lips like a dog sticking out it's tongue repeatedly.
Theo laughed, "You had too much bitterness for the day. What you need is something sweet. How about you call Taylor and have a make out session with him?"
Theo suddenly raised his arms in defense as he exclaimed repeatedly, "I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" because Rain aimed to pour his remaining coffee at Theo.
*Pinakbet – a Filipino vegetable dish with winter squash, string beans, eggplant, bitter gourd and okra stir fried in a shrimp paste.
YOU ARE READING
If I Let You Go
Romance"So, Rain, baby, just let me do this." He then pulled Rain to stand. "I told you, you do not have to do anything, you do not even have to move." Taylor then stepped closer and caressed Rain's face as he observes every detail of Rain's face. "Just st...
