Love is a profound emotion that can make one's heart flutter with joy. It's a feeling that takes over one's mind and body, causing them to smile uncontrollably at the mere thought of their loved one. When we see that special person, even unconsciously, our hearts fill with warmth and happiness.It's an emotion that can be difficult to describe, but it's a feeling that's shared by people all around the world. The feeling of love is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, bringing warmth and happiness to our lives.When love is reciprocated, it's an incredible feeling. It makes us feel special, cherished and appreciated. Knowing that someone loves us back can give us the confidence to face any challenge that comes our way.In conclusion, love is a beautiful emotion that brings joy and warmth to our lives. It's something that we should cherish and hold on to, as it can make the world a brighter and happier place.Reciprocation is a rare and precious gift that is not granted to everyone. When two people match together, it feels like the universe has conspired to bring them together and help them find love. The initial formation of a bond may seem effortless, but the true challenge lies in maintaining that connection over time.But why is Nathan's love not getting any attention?After forcefully feeding Dean food and medicine, He left the room. He doesn't want to make Dean more uncomfortable. He knows the path to Dean may sound bad to others.Nathan plops on the bed and watches the fluttering curtain. His eyes reflect the memories of them. From the first day to giving a bracelet, watching the shyness in his eyes.Unconsciously, Nathan smiles. He looked at his hands and fisted them, recalling how Dean didn't hesitate to punch him. His eyes filled with pain, realizing perhaps Dean had moved on.But what about him? What about his love?What was his mistake here? What did he do wrong to be wronged or be a villain here?He slammed his phone on the floor and kicked his shoes. Fisting his hair, he yells out, falling to the floor. He quickly takes a book off the nightstand. He flips through the book, searching for something.His eyes were widening, and he was breathing heavily. He threw the book away. He kneels in front of the drawers. I opened all of them, looking through the content. He can't see it. His eyes brim with tears. He needs that paper.A letter from Dean.While hastily closing the drawers, his fingers jammed among them. Hissing with pain and not bothering to acknowledge it. He stood on his toes, watching around the room.Stumbling over the carpet, he goes near the bed, pulling the pillows away. Often, he keeps it under his pillow.Reading the laminated paper often heals his mind and calms his soul.Someone loves him.Someone loves him with all their heart.Someone wishes to be with him without his wealth.Someone makes him feel happy about himself.Someone makes him smile with just their thoughts.Flipping the mattress, he saw the paper. His smile held relief, calming his rash breathing.With a smile and a shaky hand. He picked it up and dropped himself on the carpet.Dear frioveYesterday, you gave me a precious bracelet. It's still adoring my wrist as I write this to you.I have never been in love. But, writing this, my heart is thumping so harshly.
Gosh! I'm gone, right?
I never thought I'd fall in love with a boy who is my friend.
Life is full of uncertainty.
Don't make fun of my handwriting, ok? My hands are shaky with giddiness.When will the night end, and I'll meet you?Just now, I watched a romantic movie where the main lead sneaks inside the protagonist's house.
You better don't do those things and worry me.
I won't write anymore, as I'll meet you and say everything to you. I can't afford expensive gifts. However, I wrote a song for you.-Yours,Dean."I wasn't blessed to hear your song." Nathan chuckled at his painful past."When you were waiting for me, I was far away from you." Nathan pressed the letter close to his chest."If Alfie hadn't picked this letter and flowers, They wouldn't have reached me." He looks at the rectangular flower resin kept on the nightstand."My angel brought flowers for me. I couldn't thank him and kiss his forehead." A tear glides down his cheek when he remembers Alfie narrating the incident after he woke up in his motherland.Alfie mentioned every detail of how Dean went into shock and fainted."I made him who he is now. It's all my fault." He closed his eyes as sorrow glided over his cheeks."But, what was my fault?"⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Roman glanced at the time on his laptop. He turns behind to see his assistant. However, his seat is empty without any notice.Watching the phone, he mumbled. "He didn't drop any message about being on leave."While looking through an Excel sheet, he calls the man.[Go-good morning, sir.]Ethan quickly wipes away his tears. He attempts to look around the school area for a CCTV camera.Roman narrowed his eyes. "Are you okay? Did you catch a cold or something?"Gulping to cool his nerves, he whispered, [I'm fine, sir. Just...] He bites his lips.Roman looks at the clock again. "Is everything alright? You don't sound good."Ethan got a call from his father. He quickly wipes away his tears.[Sir, I'll be on leave this week. From today. Please grant it. I will return and finish the work.]Roman looks at the end of the call. Ethan didn't even wait for Roman's reply."I hope everything is fine." He quickly skips through the contact."Shit, I don't have Dean's number." He whispered and marched towards the HR department to request his number.He slaps his forehead and returns to his seat. "We went on a trip. Obviously, his number is present in the group chat."He found the number and quickly saved it in Dean's name.Dialing the number, he placed it in his ear and opened his laptop. Since Ethan is going to be absent, He will handle his part of the work too.Eyebrows furrowed into a frown when Dean didn't pick up the call.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Ethan sat in the police car along with his crying parents."Please co-operate. Don't make a fuss in the hospital."Those words from the constable reached Ethan's ear. Yet, he doesn't have the energy to reply. Hearing his own heartbeat with his mom crying her heart out. His father was wiping his silent tears with pain inside his heart while trying to calm the distressed mother.As he gazed intently through the windshield, a flood of memories washed over him. He reminisced about their shared moments of goofiness, the enjoyable walks they took to school together, and the countless projects they worked on side by side.Every detail of their experiences together was etched in his mind, and he found solace in reliving those cherished memories.Heaving a breath never felt so heavy. He pressed his lips together and fisted his wrist. His nails dug into the skin in an attempt to not cry and break down. Yet his eyes fill with pain at feeling helpless again.This feeling is so similar to those days when Dean was hospitalized. He tried his best to be a shield for him. Nevertheless, he failed to protect his younger brother.He still remembers the smile when baby Dean giggled looking at him.As he recalls, when Dean was feeling guilty for his actions, his big eyes were filled with sorrow. He seemed to be struggling with the weight of his guilt, and for a moment, it appeared that he might need therapy to overcome it. However, Dean proved to himself and others that he was strong enough to face his problems head-on and take care of himself.It was admirable to see him work through his emotions and come out stronger on the other side.Ethan blinks his eyes when his phone starts vibrating. Looking at the name of his senior. He pressed the phone to his ear."Sir?"[Ethan, Dean is not picking up my call. Probably because my number is unknown to him. Is he with you?]"Is it related to the project, sir?"[Uh, no-yeah. Can you please give your phone to him?]Ethan closed his eyes tightly. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Sir, we should find a new face for the company."[Ethan, you're talking weirdly about our past conversation. Can you just tell me what's troubling you?]"Sir," Ethan pressed his palm over his lips, glancing at his parents. "Sir, Dean was kidnapped and..." Taking a quick breath. "Police found a body." His voice changed. "We are going to the hospital to ch-check." A sob slips past his lips. "To check whether it's Dean."Ethan met with silence as he wiped his eyes harshly and sniffled.[Wh-which hospital?]⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"How is my baby doing?" Nathan steps inside after wearing his suit and styling his hair.Dean is lying peacefully in bed. Nathan felt happy about it. He smiles while sitting on the edge of the bed."We should freshen up, angel." Nathan gently held Dean to untangle the rope.Nathan's eyes widened when his fingers felt Dean's burning skin. He swiftly placed his fingers over Dean's neck, noticing the shallow breathing of his love.He quickly dials the doctor's number. "Hello, doc. Dean has a fever, and his temperature is very high."[Sir, keep a cool compress over his forehead. Try to keep the temperature from increasing.]"Ok, ok. Reach here ASAP!"Nathan removes his coat and brings a towel drenched with water. He keeps it on Dean's forehead. He removed the handcuffs and kissed his wrist.He left the room and returned with a big bowl of ice filled with water.He continued the process with a curious mind, wondering why Dean had a fever."It must be because of a change in the environment, and he's stressing himself. Please see to it that he takes enough rest and doesn't stress. It's not good for his heart." The doctor instructs, while injecting, the man to fall asleep.Nathan sighed and took a glass of water from the nightstand. While keeping the glass down. He saw something like a pillow thrown into the corner of the room.He picked it up and remembers giving it to Dean."He didn't take this pill." He grits his teeth.I should have shoved it down his throat like the soup."Doc, can he get a fever because he is not taking medicine related to his heart?"The doctor, who was writing a new prescription for the patient, paused, looking at Nathan's back."It's not possible to get a fever. But he might get chest pain, weakness, and fatigue; through those, he might get a fever." The doctor looks back at sleeping, Dean."Did he mention feeling any pain or something?" The doctor asked and swiftly held Dean's wrist again, checking his blood pressure."No, doc." Nathan threw the pill out of the window. "Everything will be fine now." He looks back at the doctor. "How is he now?""His fever will go down in a few minutes as he will start sweating. Please make sure his body remains inside the duvet. It'll be better."Nathan nodded, gesturing for the doctor to follow him out.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Loud sobs are left from the mother's mouth, she falls to the floor. The father tried his best not to cry. However, he couldn't stop himself from seeing his son's dead body."Sir," Mr. Rayden says, looking at the officer who brought a transparent bag filled with a wallet and a bracelet."It's Dean's!" Ethan shouts, taking the pouch, and noticing the same bracelet as Dean wore."These are Dean's!" The brother exclaimed with a gasp. His eyes brim with tears as he looks at the body lying on a stretcher draped with a white sheet."No!" The father shook his head, not agreeing with his elder son's words. "It's not my dean. My child is safe and didn't leave us behind."Mother's sob added fuel to the father's distress.Mr. Rayden pulls his hair harshly and forwards his hand to the doctor. "Please do the DNA test or something." Looking back at the body. "It's not my son."Mr. Rayden steps towards the stretcher in an attempt to remove the white sheet.The doctor quickly held his hand. "Please, you won't be able to bear it. His face is completely burned and unrecognizable."Mr. Rayden didn't get the same courage to see the face again. How will he be able to see a face that is not his son's happy one?Despite his own pain as a father, the husband left his grief aside and went to his wife to comfort her. He held her tightly, knowing that her tears were the only way to release the unbearable pain they were both feeling.The mother felt too weak to reciprocate the embrace, but she found solace in her husband's warm and secure chest, where she could let all her emotions flow freely."We will continue with the procedure and give you the death certificate too." The doctor said, looking at Ethan, that he was the only one looking composed.Roman reached the mortuary with a confused gaze. He is still unable to accept it. This feeling gives him a Deja Vu.As he approached the door, the cold metal beneath his palm sent shivers down his spine. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door as slowly as he could, hoping not to startle anyone inside.The room was dimly lit, but he could make out the figures of three people huddled together on the floor, their arms wrapped tightly around each other. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he recognized Ethan among them, his face etched with pain and sorrow.The sound of a woman's loud, guttural sobs filled the room, echoing off the bare walls and sending a chill through him. It was clear that they were all in the throes of grief, and he realized that he needed to tread carefully in this fragile moment.Carefully whispers, "Ethan?"Roman caught the attention of every living being in the room.Ethan's eyes fill with tears. He blinked at them and gestured for Roman to come outside with him.Roman looks at Ethan with confusion. "Dean? Where's Dean?"Ethan gulps, holding Roman's arm, gesturing for the man to follow him out. But Roman is not ready to go out.Sighing with defeat, Ethan points towards Dean's body without looking at it.Roman's breath hitched when he understood what had happened. He looks back at Ethan. "You sure it's him?"Ethan nodded his head. "The officer has belongings that Dean used to have."Mr. Rayden holds his wife and looks at Roman. "Are you Roman?"Roman nodded his head. He doesn't know why his throat is feeling too dry.Mr. Rayden nodded, helping the weeping lady to step out of the room.Roman looks back at Ethan. "There are many people who will own those. It doesn't justify that it's... it's Dean."Ethan nodded and gestured for Roman to step out of the room. Roman reached out to pull the cover off his face.Justin spoke while holding Roman's hand. "It's not recognizable. You won't be able to"Roman narrowed his eyes. "I can, and I will. You can't stop a family from seeing their loved one."The face was completely dark with burnt flesh."Where did you find him?" Roman asked, draping the cloth carefully."May I know who you are?" Justin asked, looking at Roman from the tip of his hair to his black shoe."I'm his colleague and well-wisher. We are very good friends." Looking at the stretcher. "He's very important to me." Turning his gaze back to Justin. "Please do answer. Where did you find him?""We found him in a forest area. Actually, a man was driving through the road and stopped for nature's call. There he saw him and immediately called us."Roman nodded. "You will further investigate, right?"Justin quickly nodded. "Absolutely. We are here to give justice.""You don't do justice. Plaintiff does that work."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"It looks like your family accepted your death," Nathan said as he showed his phone to Dean.A reporter broadcasted his death, with police explaining the situation. The camera moved closer and entered the hospital."Alfie, go to his family," Nathan instructs, and he hears a quick yes from the phone.As he blinks, his vision blurs, and he watches helplessly as his mother's tears flow down her face, her sobs filling the room and echoing in his ears. His brother stands by her side, doing his best to console her in this moment of grief.Despite the overwhelming sadness that lingers in the air, he remains still, observing the scene with a heavy heart.Sorry brother...As he stared at their picture, a single tear trickled down his cheek. Gently, he traced his finger over their faces, his heart heavy with emotion. His lips quivered as he felt their absence keenly, the pain palpable even after all this time.I'm sorry...The camera focuses on the father's side profile, who is talking with a person. He bites his lips, seeing Roman among his family.He fought back the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes, his nostrils flaring as he struggled to control his emotions.I miss your hugs. I need it very much now.As Nathan's eyes locked onto Roman's face, he knew he had to act fast. Without a moment's hesitation, he lunged forward and snatched the phone from the man's grip.Dean was left stunned, his fingers still curled as if holding onto the device for dear life."Enough. Now rest. We'll talk at night." Nathan ordered it and walked out after locking the door.Dean held onto a soft, fluffy pillow and pressed it against his chest as if seeking comfort in its embrace. His body trembled with emotion, and as he lay on his bed, he buried his face in the pillow, taking deep breaths to calm himself down.A single tear slid down his nose, leaving a wet trail behind it, as he struggled to contain his feelings. Despite the stillness of the room, the sound of his breathing was ragged and uneven.What I have sown in the past has crept up as a creeper.He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. The weight of his memories was almost too much to bear, but he couldn't help but recall the time when Roman, his closest friend, had hugged him tightly. It was a moment of pure comfort and understanding, one that he would never forget.He remembered the way Roman's arms had wrapped around him, the way his body had felt against his. It was as if all the pain and worries of the world had melted away, leaving only the two of them in that moment. And even now, he could still feel the warmth of that embrace, soothing his troubled soul.I felt so peaceful being with you.Dean buried his face in the soft, fluffy pillow and let out a deep, gut-wrenching sigh. He clutched the pillow tightly to his chest, feeling the fabric compress under his grip. As he cried, his entire body shook with each sob that was muffled by the pillow, and he could feel his heart pounding in his chest.