Jin and Flint were outside on the front porch of the house. It was awkward quiet for a while in that no one spoke a word.
Confused, Jin peered over at Flint. Flint's stance today seemed a little amiss to him. He stood with his arms dangling at his sides such that he looked far from his usual arrogant self.
The way he stood was akin to a person who had just drunk alcohol.
This bothered him. There was a subtle energy to Flint's presence today that lingered in the books of the inexplicable. This wasn't Flint.
"Are you okay? Why'd you pull me outside and away from the others?" questioned Jin, a subtle grimace on his face meshed with worry.
Flint heaved, still not looking at Jin. It was still unclear why he acted this way on Jin's part. He wasn't the person to struggle maintaining eye-contact.
The silence was slaughtered when he uttered, "In case you're wondering, the assault team has recovered. We suffered a few injuries. We overly underestimated those guys—that's one thing for sure."
"No one told me you guys got hurt…" blurted Jin; perplexity altering his countenance.
"Don't worry about it. We're all fine now. Krod's the only one who's still a little wounded, but I'm sure he'll recover as well."
Silence. Then he started again.
He frowned, "I wasn't able to come here until now because something came up. But I'm here now."
Slowly, he turned to face Jin, looking down at him with a countenance alluding his sorrow. "Jin, I felt broken. Broken when I heard you were severely injured. Injured because I wasn't there. I couldn't forgive myself." wry evinced on his face.
"I couldn't forgive myself for getting you into this."
"So, I did what I shouldn't have done to those cops." he ran a hand through his hair.
Silence again.
He stood there, fighting to maintain eye-contact.
'What's he saying? That can't be why he's a little off today, can it?'
Flint's words then quickened. "I've only met you a few days ago, Jin. Yet you're already like the little brother I never had. You're like a little brother to me. And such as, I'll ensure no one … and I mean no one hurts you—for as long as my heart thumps in this wretched world."
'Where's all this coming from?'
"As long as I'm alive, I'll cherish you, Jin. I can see that you're okay now," he shook his head, "Yet I don't feel satisfied. I don't feel satisfied at all." his voice, jarringly desperate.
Silence, then his lips parted. He stared Jin in the eyes in a way he couldn't delineate. Then, he looked down at the floor. "Jin," he tossed his pupils to Jin, "can I exhibit … my … love for you?"
Jin felt as if his heart had exploded. What was happening? His breaths quickened as he averted his eyes. He jammed his hands into his pockets.
Again, silence.
Having realized that Jin had not responded, Flint reiterated, "Can I exhibit my love for you?" impatience in his tone.
Jin reddened, "I don't understand what you mean by that…"
Flint; eyes that alluded intensity, suddenly began to inch closer to him. As he drew closer, Jin's heart throbbed faster.
He then uttered, "Then let me show you…" he wrapped his arms around Jin, and inched so close to him until their chests collided.
Jin's eyes widened; his lips separated from each other, showing teeth. He was at a loss for words.
Silence.
He placed his head on Jin's shoulder. He felt Flint's loving warmth. A warmth that delivered contradicting feelings. Fear, confusion, and serenity.
Flint released him from the embrace, and averted his eyes. "I'm glad you let me embrace you, Jin. I needed that. I'm sorry you have to see this … I really am…"
Jin sighed, "What was that?"
Flint smiled softly at him, his cheeks faintly flushed. "That is what I feel about you. A brotherly love that I can't explain for nothing."
"Brotherly?"
"Yeah, of course it's just brotherly. It's platonic."
'I sure hope it is…' Jin averted his eyes.
"Again, I'm very sorry about that…"
"It's okay."
"I have something I wanna show you soon as well. Can I show something to you that I should've long ago? I wanna show it to your friends too. You must see it."
"Sure, but what is it?" Jin raised a brow.
"You already know that it doesn't work like that with me. I know I got you in trouble last time, but I swear it's not gonna happen again. I'm here for you now."
"Consider this the last time I decided to drag you into something I didn't tell you about. Deal? I promise it's nothing that'll hurt you this time. Pinky promise?" he raised a pinky finger.
Jin heaved, "Fine. But it better be the last time for real…" he raised a pinky.
They then edged closer to each other, and their fingers entangled. "Pinky promise, " they uttered in unison while peering at each other in the eyes.
Their fingers remained bound to each other.
Flint then said, "Jin, just make sure your friends tag along as well. I'll be back in five days from now. Be ready, okay?"
Jin nodded his head, "Okay."
Their fingers were no longer intertwined. They separated, withdrawing from each other.
Flint gave Jin a crooked smile. Jin simply smiled back, knowing that he had made a great friend.
What was unbeknown to him was the fact that Flint surreptitiously had his other arm at his side, his fingers tightly crossed.