AUTHOR POV:
There will be consequences for every act. Irrespective of whether the act was intentional or not, the most important question is: who will bear the consequences? The person himself?
It was the middle of the night. Both Joshua and Gray were exhausted and had drifted to sleep a few minutes ago. Their hunger for each other successfully drained their energy. Whenever they were in bed, it would always be exhausting, but the carving for each other would never get drained. Something always sparks between them; neither of them questions themselves. Joshua was in pure denial of everything.
Every act will push us to question ourselves. Give us so many hints, but only if we are open to it, rather than ignoring it.
Guns continuously firing could be heard from the hall to get the attention of the sleeping ones. It was non-stop for a few seconds, and both Joshua and Gray were startled. By wearing only pants, they ran outside. Both were in shock when they faced Ed, who was sitting on the couch with a bitter smile running down his face. Both Joshua and Gray's steps were halted on the stairs. Joshua started scanning the surroundings; his men were on the ground. Ed men were everywhere with weapons, and a doctor and a nurse were both shivering.
Joshua was confused by everything, and so was Gray. Joshua, for the first time, was too blank to come up with something. "No smart move, Josh, and this time I mean it. Please come down before my patience reaches its peak. Trust me, I am barely controlling myself. Both of you come down now." "I will. I don't think Gray should be involved. Let him stay in the room." "Trust me, everything revolves around him right now. From the beginning, it was because of him, right? I need him, Josh." By tapping the gun on his head. "Come down." That came at a high pitch, which roared all over the mansion.
Josh was stopping Gray, but Gray knew he had to face this, and he didn't have a chance to hide now. They both started receding the steps. Gray was captured by Ed's men, and Ed stopped Josh from moving from the spot. Joshua had to control the situation, but he was not getting it, how? One thing he knew was that he needed to be calm. One wrong move, and the effect will be on Gray. Joshua was calming himself. Once again, he felt things were out of control.
Ed was facing Gray. "For sure, you had a hell of a night. Hickeys all over are screaming of the same. A sad smile was playing on Ed's face. He doesn't like taking or giving hickeys, and again, everything changes when he is with you. Like every fucking thing." Ed was doing his best to control his emotions, couldn't see Gray's face, and made his way once again to the couch. He took his place, and he was facing the floor. There were so many emotions surging, which he was trying his best to control. Still, he couldn't stop the tears, which started to flow.
"That was a hell of a show at the party, Josh. Your PDA reached the next level." The more he remembered the romance between Josh and Gray, the more ache he felt. I am not sure how to react, you know after I witnessed your PDA. Words started to flow shakily along with tears. Trust me, I tried to utilize the break that you had given me. I tried my best. When you brought him by pointing toward Gray to the mansion and you both were living together, I really didn't know how to take that development. You don't like to be in a relationship, so you didn't give a dam about how I felt; at least you didn't even try. 14 years Josh, 14 years I was mad about you, and still, I am, and the result, as you can see. "Ed, listen to me. Let's talk, please." "Let me complete Josh, please. I have bottled up for so many years; let me explode at least now when the situation came to this level; maybe later I may not get any chance." "What are you thinking to do, Ed? We can talk please." "Let me complete." With that, he again fired randomly. As I was saying, yeah, when you started living together with him, trust me, I suppressed everything. I didn't want to create any problems. When I was making up my mind once again, you started playing with that young dude. I found hope. Even if I had a cent percent chance with you, I wanted to try, and again, you gave in. Now, I am confused. What are you trying to prove, Josh? By playing and by giving hope. You don't like relationships, but you are still staying with him in the same room. You have not stopped having sex with others. I am not bothered by that. I am really bothered by him, pointing toward Gray. When he comes into the picture, everything fucking changes around you. You don't like showing off your romance, especially outside, always between four walls. What the hell will happen to you when you are fucking with him? Ed made his way toward Gray, totally enraged, pointing a gun toward him. Josh started running toward Gray but was stopped by guards. What the hell happens to you when you are with him?" "Ed, please stop this nonsense." "Nonsense. My feelings are nonsense to you." "I didn't mean that, Ed. We can talk." "I tried that so many times, and I remember you always choosing to close the topic by stating your view." "Ed, my view has not changed; I still don't like relationships." "What was that yesterday, Josh? You were acting like a possessive bastard. What was that showing off?"
Josh was silent and did not know how to respond to that. Till now, he hasn't given any meaning to yesterday's act; in fact, he doesn't know why he acted that way. Now, Josh's mind was blank, and this was not the time to find any hidden meaning in his act.
"Fourteen years, Josh, fourteen years. How can these many years have no effect on you while pretending to be with him for a few years has? Not to forget, at the same time, you were with me fucking. Tears were dropping from Ed's eyes, and he was wiping them harshly. Since the time you guys left the party, I have been trying to find answers to so many questions. My feelings for you never changed a bit, but still, I couldn't find any place in your heart. Where do I go wrong? Only if this bastard didn't enter your life would anything change, right? There was rage running all over his body. His suppressed feelings for many years and constant rejection were turning him into a blind man. "Ed, look at me." Ed was facing Josh with the same teary eyes. "Inform your guards to let go of me and Gray. Let's talk, please." "What left to talk, Josh? I don't think I have any more patience left within me. Nothing can be sought out by talking now, Josh, nothing." Ed started hiccupping, and by seeing Ed this way, Josh felt a pang in his heart. Ed has a special place in Josh's heart because of their bonding from childhood. Josh felt even more miserable when he was responsible for Ed's pain.
Both Ed and Josh were facing each other. Gray was silent for many reasons and revelations. He was not sure whether to be frightened or feel pity for both Ed's and his situation. Ed cried his heart out. He had done this before only in his room, so no one should be aware of what he was going through. He had hidden everything until today. His suffering, misery, and anger were witnessed by the four walls of his room and other things, and not even a single soul was aware of what he was going through.
After a few minutes, Ed gave a break to his tears as they almost drained and were replaced by his anger, which was not diverted toward Josh. "If only that bastard didn't enter once again in your life, or if you didn't show him any pity or sympathy, these things would never happen. Josh, your act sometimes made me question whether it was really a pity or if you only had sympathy for him. Whenever I question these things within me, I feel dread of finding the answer, and your actions these days were only making everything worse."
An ironic chuckle escapes from Ed by taking a long breath. "I have taken of your both shit and not anymore. I will pay for my act, and I care less. He, by pointing toward Gray, deserves every shitty thing he had gone through for his dad's doing and what he had done to your family. He is fucking not eligible for any fucking sympathy from anyone, especially not from you. I don't deserve any of this, not at least because of him." By saying that Ed shot two bullets toward Gray, and blood started oozing the next second he was on the floor.
Everything went silent; if a needle dropped that sound could be heard. Josh loosened his grip on the guards and ran toward Gray, crying and shouting his name on top of his lungs. Once again, a bitter smile left Ed's mouth. Josh was too blank to react to anything. Hastily he was wiping his tears and he saw the doctor who had not moved an inch from the place. He shouted at the doctor. "Treat him, treat him." Still both the doctor and nurse were glued to their spot shivering. He started yelling at the doctor. Josh's voice made him come to reality, and they started running toward Gray.
By handing over Gray to the doctor, Josh made his way toward where Ed stood, holding his collar. "What the fuck was your problem? We were clear about everything when we entered. Why the hell did you involve, Gray? Why the fucking you shot him?" "Because of you and your act. By constantly giving hope, you don't want any relationship still living together and fucking not giving a chance to me. Don't I deserve a fucking chance for all those years? A chance is all I asked you in the past. You were so against that. How the hell did things end this way? You are fucking all over each other everywhere. I was ok to be your fuck buddy for the second time until yesterday's show. Just for falling for you do I need to face all these things? And do you think after this I am going stay alive? By saying that, Ed pushed Josh, who ended up on the ground and shot himself two times.
Josh's throat completely went dry; hardly anything was coming from his mouth, and he was numb. Josh was watching Ed without blinking his eyes, and his mind was completely blank for a few seconds. Immediately he scooted toward Ed and took him in his lap, and the word that left Josh's mouth was without his knowledge. "Treat him, save him." That came in a low voice when no response didn't come from the doctor or the nurse. He shouted, which echoed throughout the whole mansion. "Leave him; come and treat him; save him now." Both the doctor and nurse left Grayson abruptly on the ground and made their way toward Ed.
Ed was still conscious and couldn't believe his ears. A satisfying smile formed on Ed's face, followed by tears. If he died also, he wouldn't care anymore, but strangely, he felt like he needed to live now.
When Ed witnessed the show at the party, so many emotions started flowing within him. He wanted to kill himself. When he started rewinding everything, he held Gray responsible for everything. He didn't bother to deal with the pros and cons. Josh's hookup gave Ed hope, and like before, Ed wanted to be his fuck buddy. Josh gives in. Once again, his dream collapses at the open PDA at the party. Ed wanted to end his life, but before that, he wanted to confirm something.
Before the attack, Ed had planned everything, including gunshots. He had researched and selected two spots to shoot Gray so that he would be less affected. He didn't think of applying the same formula to himself because he didn't want to live anymore and wanted to give up on his life in front of Josh. Ed wanted to know whether his life mattered to Josh or not. He wanted to know whether fourteen years together meant anything to him. He wanted to know if the misery and suffering of these years over a person were worth it. He wanted to know whom Josh was going to choose in the death race. Everything was painful before he shot himself; he didn't know where he shot, but still, he was smiling after hearing Joshua's words. He was wiping tears from Joshua's eyes, and Joshua was not able to stop any bit of it. Finally, Ed got his answer and won.
Gray was on the cold floor, lying in a pool of blood, unconscious. But everything that was going on, he could grasp. When words left Joshua's mouth, his whole body felt numb, not because of the bullet. Ache all over, not from the blood oozing. Pain surged not from the bullet but from the sharp words that still lingered in his ears, word by word. When those words left Joshua's mouth, tears dropped from Gray's eyes, and no one noticed.
Gray lost his battle against his parents, his sister, his friends, and now against his childhood, fuck buddy, best friend whatsoever. He lost his final battle.
When everything collapsed in his life in the past, he never thought of ending his life, not even once. After everything, he was leading his life, whether he accepted it or not, with a hidden agenda that maybe someday he would come across Joshua once again in his life. That was the only motive he had in his life for crossing his path once again with Joshua.
Now, he wanted to give up everything, including his life. He left with no energy to continue his battle anymore. He doesn't have anyone anymore, and finally, he is left alone. The idea of leaving alone was good, but not again. Gray's breath was shaky; so many emotions were engulfing him all over, but he didn't have the stamina to deal with them. He didn't want to.
While shooting Gray, Ed is completely overtaken by his venom against Gray, so he shoots him randomly, not as per his plan.
Joshua didn't think before shouting those words. He could have dealt with the situation if he had given it some thought, but he didn't because his priority was saving Ed. That's it. This was always the case with Joshua. Never thinks or acts. If he had questioned every act of his towards Gray, then things would never get complicated like they already are. If he had taken the time and thought about every act, then everything could have been stopped. Public display, giving in to Ed, and playing around—everything bears consequences, and it was not born by Josh.
Now, at present, his complete attention was on Ed leaving Gray on the cold floor.
Every act would be tested, and this was the second time, and it was Gray who lost both times.
What if Joshua questioned himself rather than suppressing or ignoring? What if he questioned his behavior around Gray? What if he didn't feel resentful of the way Gray led his life and tried to divert his attention? What if he didn't give in once again to Ed, which led to his hopes up?
There were so many what-if moments that were ignored by Joshua, and now things have reached the level where his questioning is not worth it.
His successful career, his pride, his ego, and his power had turned him into a blind eye. Only if he tried to deal with everything by not throwing money but emotions.
Thomas, when he entered the mansion, was shocked by everything. His only son was lying in the pool of blood, and on the other side was Gray. He didn't waste any more seconds and acted immediately.
In one car, Ed was lying on Josh's lap with his dad, and in another, Gray was alone with guards.