Marcus smiled slyly to himself as he walked away from Ella’s. Liam was just so adorably cute and he couldn’t help himself. The green-eyed man always popped into the cafe everyday for his usual coffee before going to the university for his classes. Marcus thought about the way the apron was tied to his waist, hugging his figure so alluringly. The way his eyes darted up nervously as they met Marcus’s. The way his lips trembled as he stuttered when he walked into Ella’s.
Shit. I have it bad.
Just then, his phone began to ring in his pocket. Reaching for it, he put both arms through the backpack straps and grabbing his phone from his pocket, he answered without looking at the caller ID.
“Hello?” Marcus answered.
“Hey man.” another male voice replied through the receiver.
“Ben! Hey! What’s happening?” Marcus lit up, smiling.
“Ah, I just thought I’d let you know I’m home for the time being. I finished uni earlier than I thought so I figured I’d come back for now and get my stuff in a few weeks time for the summer,” Ben explained.
“That’s great! So where are you?” Marcus asked, walking into the university library to talk a little bit more. “Are you at home already?”
“Nah bro, I’m at your uni.”
“What?”
“Yeah, look behind you.”
The dark-haired man spun around wildly and there he saw his older brother, waving at him with his phone still by his ear. Hanging up his phone, Marcus ran up and hugged Ben, happy to see him after a long time. He felt his brother smile amusedly as he let go and got a good look at him.
He’d changed after a long time. Ben sported a black beanie and charcoal hair got longer and reached the base of his neck. His complexion was still sun-kissed but he was glowing. Even his cyan eyes shone brighter as he grinned happily, a sight that even Marcus wasn’t used to. He’d gotten slimmer too. Ben’s favourite band t-shirt hugged his frame and Marcus noticed he’d even gotten a tattoo of the triforce from their favourite video-game, ‘The Legend of Zelda' on his right forearm.
“So good to see you, man,” Ben grinned at his younger brother. “So, how’s life been? Last time you were getting ready for university but now, you’re a fully fledged college man!” He teased Marcus. Marcus chuckled sheepishly.
“Well, I’ve grown up a bit,” he said indignantly, giving Ben a playful push as he took another swig of coffee from his cup from earlier. He laughed at Marcus’s sass. “Come on, wanna get some coffee?” Marcus offered. “I’ve still got mine from another place but let’s get you some”.
“Just like you to get coffee first thing. And they have a cafe in a library now?” Ben asked. “Uh, yes?” Marcus answered, confusedly. They chuckled again and walked over to a little university cafe in the corner of the hectic library. Busy students crowded the place but all the same, it felt like home to Marcus. Noisy chatter filled every corner of the little cafe. The scent of cinnamon filled the place and Marcus sighed contentedly. Liam often came in here too when he didn’t have classes or work in the morning.
“Oh yeah, how’s that Liam kid doing?” Ben asked suddenly, as if he read Marcus’s thoughts. The green-eyed man nearly spat out his beverage at the sudden question and tried to answer him calmly.
“Uh, yeah, he’s fine, I think?” Marcus said, clearing his throat a little too aggressively. Ben raised an eyebrow but didn’t voice his thoughts. He ordered his coffee and they both sat at a table near a window.
"Oh yeah?" Ben raised an eyebrow. "What's he up to these days?"
The younger student flushed and averted his eyes quickly before he could get teased again. But Ben wasn't done yet.
“Come to think of it, I don’t know whether you and Liam still hang out together,” Ben commented slyly, sipping his hot beverage and watching his brother’s reaction.
Shit, I don’t know if I can talk about Liam without slipping up!
“Uh, well, Liam’s been busy with work at Ella’s down the street and classes so we haven’t really caught up.” Marcus rubbed the back of his neck nervously, still not looking up.
“Not even when you two have classes?” The blue-eyed man mused. “Mar-cus?” Ben sing-songed. “What’s going on with you and Liam?”
“N-Not much, really.” The dark-haired man stuttered trying not to look flustered. “Aw, is someone in love?” Ben teased.
“Don’t even joke like that, Ben!” Marcus suddenly retorted, snapping up and gazing intensely at his older brother. Ben didn’t know what to say - his brother never usually lost his cool so easily.
He really must be in love…
Putting down his coffee mug, Ben studied him. Marcus’s face was reddened and flushed. He was also avoiding his eyes and then he hid his face in his palms again. If love is what did this to Marcus then maybe this was a good thing. He always did have a habit of taking other people’s love and affection for granted.
“Heh, all I’m saying is that it’s not a bad thing to be in love with your best friend,” Ben smiled as Marcus looked up once again, a kind of hope forming in his expression. “Huh?” he managed to say hesitantly.
“Of course.” Ben assured him. “You know I'm in love with Noah right?” he gazed out of the window as he said that.
Of course he did. Marcus was the one who accidentally got the two together when Ben was questioning whether to tell Noah his true feelings. Luckily, Noah felt the same way and they even went as far as introducing each other to family. Noah had a younger brother called Robin, a few years older than he and Liam but they still had a good time together when they did find time to get together.
He’d never seen Ben look so torn up about love before back then.
“What about that?”
“Well, if I never got that lecture from you all those years ago about being true to yourself then I never would’ve gotten Noah, would I?” Ben pointed out, gazing at the sun-lit greenery around the campus grounds.
“That was different.” Marcus said. “That-”
“It’s not different, it’s the same.” Ben sighed exasperatedly. “Just like how I was desperately pining for Noah, you’re doing the same thing to Liam and what’s bad is that you’ve never even noticed!”
A moment of silence passed between them and the tension was visible in the air. This never usually happened between the brothers and Marcus was taken aback. Ben was kind and gentle and never the one to shout but he was surprised to do it now. Even when he did lose it, it was for a good reason, so maybe he had a point about him and Liam?
I’ve been pining for Liam the whole time?
Blinking and taking in this new set of information, Marcus looked at Ben like a puppy who’d been kicked.
“Honestly.” Ben groaned, face-palming. “You’re really good at helping people and being kind but you’re so dense when it comes to love.”
I can actually feel daggers coming from him!
“So, should I just tell Liam?” he asked Ben. Ben took another sip of coffee and set it down on the table with an audible bang.
“Of course!” he retorted. “There’s no point in loving someone unless you tell them. And who cares if he doesn’t return your feelings or loves someone else, it’s always better to love someone than not know the feeling at all!” he said in a passionate speech.
“But if he does say no for whatever reason, I’m the one who’s going to hurt in the end, aren’t I?” Marcus said in a low voice. Ben went quiet for a minute, pondering over his answer.
“Yeah, you may get turned down, but just think - what if you aren’t?” Ben asked him. Marcus’s breath hitched. He dreamed about the day he’d finally tell Liam how he really felt towards him and that they’d live happily together, cuddling, eating, sleeping, all of it sounded so good to him.
He pictured Liam’s smiling face when he told him, how he’d hold him so tenderly and they’d kiss and make love in a passionate yet meaningful way. How they’d end up so happy and Marcus even dreamed of the day he’d marry Liam in a beautifully simple ceremony, where his honey-brown eyes would glimmer with tears as he slipped a gold wedding ring on his finger and-
“MARCUS!” Ben exclaimed.
“What? What is it?!” Marcus shouted. Other students and the baristas stared at them weirdly, the chattering ceasing and weird looks passed around. “Uh, sorry!” Ben called out sheepishly. No-one cared enough anyway though as they went back to their usual noisy conversations.
“Man, you can’t space out like that in the middle of nowhere!” Ben shook his head disapprovingly. “I tried to snap you out of it but you were muttering about some wedding and-”
“Uh, sorry about that!” Marcus quickly cut in, deciding it better not to tell Ben of his daydreams.
“But, you know, you’re right.”
“About what?”
“About being facing Liam and myself.”
“Does this mean you’ll do it?” Ben smiled at Marcus. He nodded in response and Ben threw his arms around him in the biggest hug he could. “H-Hey, Ben!” Marcus groaned as he felt his body squeeze a little too tightly.
“Ah, sorry. It’s just that you reminded me of me back then when it came to Noah and I.” Ben grinned at his little brother.
He has a point. I’m totally being Ben from six years ago.
“Well, I’m glad I helped out.” The cyan-eyed man smiled slyly at Marcus, ruffling his hair. “Man, aren’t you glad you have a wise older brother?”
“Well, you nearly did the same thing I could’ve done today,” Marcus raised an eyebrow at him amusedly. “Besides, I got you together with Noah, didn’t I?”
“No way man, that was all me in the end!” Ben shot back with a frown. Marcus couldn’t help it and laughed at his brother’s antics.
Ben smirked at the green-eyed college man and slapped his back in approval. Wincing from the slight pain, Marcus pulled back a little. But he could never forget the happiness in his brother’s smile when he grinned at him just then.
It was the same smile he had when Noah kissed him for the first time.
