The elder nodded in understanding, "yeah, if you don't mind staying in my humble home then you can stay with us, my wife wouldn't mind feeding another mouth"
Josh lifted an arm cheering for himself, mouth stuffed with some rice and salad almost as if agreeing to it with his action rather than words.
Teo played with his fork when he was done eating, cheeks puffed out in concern, looking down, avoiding to stare at Josh who asked for another dish after being done with his.
The elder spoke once he served his second dish at Josh, "I'll pack up some stuff so once you're done we get going."
Josh answered with a half chewed fish in his mouth, the sight which Teo found hilarious, "I'll help you out, just gimme some minutes," the younger covered his mouth to not laugh at how cute the ravenette looked whilst he rushed to finish his meal.
The elder finished packing his stuff and folding wooden chairs by the time Josh was done with his meal, rushing on his feet to help the elder to pick his stuff.
Teo did the same, but his silence was a bit disturbing.
He picked up the umbrellas and buckets whilst Josh crossed the cooler on his back and the chairs on his shoulders as they walked to the elder's place.
Soon they reached a humble house, not so big, still comfy enough to offer the warmth a home does.
As soon as they set foot inside the house, an elder and kind woman came out from a room to greet them, wearing loose pants and a big sweater, her grays showing off behind her small purple colored knitted beret.
She guided them into the small house with her husband following closely, smiling cordially to make the two young males feel welcome in their house.
The elder took it upon himself to inform his wife of their visitors' reasoning to stay in his own way, "Darling, they are going to stay for the night, well, the slender Captain might prolong his stay a little longer tho, could you prepare something warm for them to eat? I'll make sure to get the guest's room ready filled with supplies so they can go and rest" he asked his wife, kindly.
The elderly humble lady pecked his cheek softly, her eyes gentle, "Sure, love, just be careful to not break your back when you fetch the blankets," a teasing tone marred in her voice as she vanished into, what one might tell is, the kitchen.
The elder man shook his head going in the opposite direction, chuckling at her wife's statement, which he might really consider as the wise woman was barely wrong.
Teo witnessed their exchange, stunned, "WOW," that was all he could say as his big puppy eyes found endearing how they didn't seem to lose that youthful glow deep into their age and how they seem to understand each other.
On the contrary, Josh was absorbed with the pictures decorating the walls, "What surprised you?" However the younger's voice caught his attention, looking away from the wall.
Teo stared at him as if he had two heads, "Didn't you see that?" He aimed for the, now empty place, where the elders were standing not long ago.
However Josh glanced behind that point at the wall, where a huge tuna fish was caught on a picture, "Hell Yeah, I didn't know one could a tuna that big" walking towards it as if he needed to engrave it in his mind.
Teo's face fell, narrowing his eyes to the dark haired who moved like under a spell, not understanding what he meant.
He stood up, frustrated as the man was more distracted than himself, "Seriously? What were you looking at? A fish?" Deception is clear in his deep low voice.
Josh was confused, so he aimed at the wall with a broad variety of fish on display, and even a price on the old shelf
Teo couldn't hide his indignation anymore so he looked at him deadpan, "Tell me you're kidding, you can't possibly be serious, man"
The ravennete squinted his eyes, not really understanding why the young one was offended, "I don't know what part of me admiring these fish hurt you, pal. I absolutely mean it. Just look at the size of that fish! It's almost as big as Mr. Rivera's torso. You gotta agree he's not short either which means it's a big tuna," he was just stating his point, yet it itched Teo in an even worse way.
Teo rubbed his eyes refraining from snapping at the older, so done with him for totally ignoring, what he considered, the most endearing moment an old couple who had lived through the good and bad in life could do.
His voice was calm with a slight edge, "Don't you have a romantic bone in your whole body?" It was a rhetorical question to validate his point yet he didn't expect an answer.
Josh replied as if it were the most natural thing he should do, "I'm a romantic man, dude. What are you on about?," he stated bluntly, yet he kept staring at the pictures.
The blonde took a deep breath to not cry out, giving him a piece of his mind, "I mean, didn't you see how Mr. Rivera's wife was so kind and understanding with the whole situation? Haven't you ever dreamed about growing older with someone you love? Someone who understands you and stands by your side supporting you even if it's far from civilization?" His sky blue eyes brimmed with concealed tears as he expressed how he has always dreamt his life would be if love were to ever knock at his door.
Josh noticed his glossy eyes, resembling the waves hitting the shore, with the blue sea at the back barely refrained by his lower eyelid, "Do I need to? I mean, I've never thought that deep into it."
Without any restriction left the blonde snapped at the ravenette, "So you've never considered having a family or so? You're older than me yet you act like—"
Josh didn't mean to be harsh but he had to let him know he hadn't considered getting so serious about anyone in his life before, "Listen, I'm married with my career. She's a tough wife to please so I've given her my everything not thinking so far ahead into the future. However, if I were to meet the right person I'll think about it, as of now, that's not within my plans. Hope this be enough of an answer" truth be told, he wanted to taste the flavour of freedom before getting hitched.
Teo looked down, not knowing why it hurt, maybe he thought he felt lonely so he tried to help him to see the wonders of a life as a couple, "Isn't that a bit sad? Like all you do is: work, work, work. Where is the fun? Do you really consider it more important than seeking your happiness"
Josh did his best to explain himself, noticing how conflicted the blonde's look was, "I love my job, let's start there. It has its moments so it's fun too, not everything is work 24/7 without a break." Teo nodded as he spoke.
He continued, as the topic swirled around what intrigued Teo he lifted up his head, "Regarding marriage," he did a small pause as those big puppy eyes centered on him, "We all have different points of views. I don't consider myself mature enough to assume such a responsibility, the last thing I want is ruining anyone's lives, nor my own, for an impulsive decision, or the fear of ending up alone."
Teo nodded, as the man made his point clear, maybe more than he should, so he looked up to the roof hoping his brimming eyes dry off on its own.
If he must be honest, he always thought there was someone out there for each person, like their other half so the thought of being alone wasn't an option, not for him at least.
Josh spoke again as Teo was too quiet and seeing him so down kinda pained him a little, "If the right person for me is out there I'll meet them and I'll give them my everything, but if not that's fine too, I just wanna enjoy my life. Like right now I'm setting up a new goal for myself so I would love to enjoy this moment first."
The blonde blinked a few times, facing him again, this time his eyes completely dry, "Wouldn't it be better to share a valuable moment in your life like this next to someone who supports you along the road?"
He muttered, a bit salty, as the man disrupted his idea of growing older with a beloved one, "My guess you've never fallen in love before. That's why you say that"
This little phrase hit a nerve, so the ravenette replied with his piece of mind, "I did, I got my heart broken until there was nothing left for myself. I'd have given anything they ask of me just to make them happy."
The corner of his left eyes spilled a single tear whilst he made it clear he wasn't as heartless as the younger thought, or that's what he thought he did, "However I was used, seen as a tool, just a toy for them to play with at their convenience." Teo's eyes brimmed with tears again, sensing the pain through his words, feeling like a stab in his chest if he were to experience something as cruel as that.
The next second Josh was smiling, patting his head, feeling bad for being so blunt, yet he wanted to let him know he wasn't as hurt as when the whole situation unfolded, "I just had to heal and learn. That was a life lesson so I can be more careful who I give my heart to. I know I deserve to be loved. But if no one can't do it then I have to be the one to do it. I gotta love me."
Teo grabbed the hand on his head, sniffling, "I'm not a puppy."
Josh chuckled as no more tears popped within those clear blue eyes anymore, "Says the one who was sulking like a kicked pu–"
Their soft banter got interrupted when the elder woman spoke, "Dinner is ready, children" no sooner than that she walked out the kitchen, holding a tray with steaming bowls on it.
Josh whispered into the blonde's ear as to not cause a scene, "We'll keep talking later, let's enjoy dinner in peace, shall we?" he walked towards the dining table
"No need to, you just made your point clear, dude."
.....