Present,
September
Elijah's 18th birthday, Devon's estate
Bitter as he is, Blue is still happy for Elijah and Devon. The two truly deserve to be with each other after everything the couple went through. Blue was not expecting that Devon would propose to Elijah tonight, but it was a sight to behold.
In his imagination, Blue was proposing to Ryzel under the aurora sky, on one knee and was shaking nervously, more nervous than Blue's first mission in Afghanistan. The thing is, Ryzel chose to break Blue's heart and ran away, leaving blue shattered and jaded.
"That's rare; not one drop for the night," Rouge flatly remarked and stood beside Blue. Rouge is not the least bit amused with Blue's drinking habits, and self-care is not even in Blue's list of priorities.
"I don't want to make a mess; this is Elijah's 18th, and he has been so kind to invite me so I couldn't refuse," Blue explained but Rouge was not convinced.
"You have been getting so good at making excuses, Blue. I'm not sure if I should be proud or dismayed."
Blue just rolled his eyes and leaned against the concrete column. "I know what you're going to say, and that's not why I'm here for," Blue defended and frowned.
"Oh, you mean to say that you're not here because you're expecting Ryzel to come, but instead wants to play at those awesome claw machines?" Rouge remarked ironically that irked Blue.
"Shut up, Rouge. I'm not in the mood for your teasing," Blue snapped at Rouge and threw a sharp glare at Rouge.
Rouge held up his hands in surrender and stepped back. "Okay, okay. Chill. Want something to eat instead? It might help tamp down your bitchy attitude-- I'm going. I'm walking away," Rouge yelled and ran as fast as he can, away from Blue who was seconds away from beating Rouge up.
Blue sighed heavily and fixed his gaze at the heavens. It's a good night; the stars are shining brightly, twinkling constantly. We're still looking at the same sky.
Blue was interrupted when his phone vibrated in his pocket. Judging by its vibration, it's an emergency mission, so Blue had to step away from the crowd and answer the call.
Blue took a deep breath and pressed the answer button. "Yes, Madam? What's the emergency?"
"Thank God I was able to contact you, Blue," Amanda sighed in relief and massaged her temples.
"What's wrong, Madam? Do they need reinforcements? I can go there right away--"
"No, no. Everything is going well; no need to get so worked up. I just want to ask you a favor."
"Anything," Blue instantly replied because he would do anything for The Phantom. Trevor and Amanda did not give up on Blue when Blue was in the darkest part of his life, so Blue owes the two a lot.
"Can you tell Eli that Robert and I will be late for his birthday? I have to tie up a few loose ends before--" Blue ended the call and with a blank expression, almost threw his phone away. He was expecting a mission so he has an excuse to go all out and mad in the field, only to get disappointed. Here I was, ready to risk my life for them, but... whatever.
Blue went back to his former position and was about to go to the buffet table when something familiar caught his gaze. It was so achingly familiar that Blue wobbled and stepped back, his head throbbing from the onslaught of emotions, and his heart stopping for a second.
It was Ryzel in the flesh, looking so captivating in a simple shirt and pants, with his long, silver hair flowing and his pale skin glowing. Blue was entranced; everything he rehearsed in his head was gone at the sight of Ryzel.
For a hundred times, Blue pictured how he would confront Ryzel if Blue meets Ryzel again. Blue would let out all of his deep-seated resentments and let Ryzel know how much Ryzel broke Blue.
Blue would hurt Ryzel with words because words cut deeper than a knife. Blue would declare how much he abhors Ryzel and Blue will be satisfied if he saw Ryzel in pain, but when the real opportunity presented itself, all Blue could do was a sarcastic remark.
When Ryzel looked at Blue softly, Blue's broken heart began to beat again. "Blue. I didn't expect to see you here," Ryzel breathed out, his expression that of surprise before he was able to school his features, as he tucked the wayward strands of his hair behind his ear.
Blue was snapped out of his trance and scoffed bitterly. "Of course. You wouldn't come here if you knew firsthand that I will be attending. That's how much you want to get away from me. That's how much I repulse you." Anyone could feel the vibrating tension in the air, all breathless, and no one dared to break the uncomdofrtable atmosphere.
Ryzel gritted his teeth, clenched his fists and kept his calm. He took a deep breath and threw an icy glare at Blue. "That's right. I wouldn't. Had I known, I would've visited Eli after the celebration."
Ryzel's honest words struck Blue so hard that Ryzel felt guilty when indescribable pain crossed Blue's chocolate brown eyes. No. I have to be strong, Ryzel convinced himself but with every second that passes, Ryzel finds himself wanting to hug Blue. Ryzel wants to comfort the man, but he can't. He wants to take back all the things he said, but he can't.
Just then, a dashing man entered. Wearing a black suit, the man went straight to Ryzel. "Sweetheart, how long will you take so I can inform the chauffeur?" The man asked and gently caressed Ryzel's cheek. Devon and Elijah sucked a breath, and extreme betrayal flashed in Blue's eyes. Even Rouge who noticed the entire exchange mirrored Blue's confused expression.
"S-Sweetheart?" Elijah mumbled softly and looked at Ryzel, Elijah's blue eyes full of question.
Ryzel took a deep breath and glanced at Edward before addressing everyone. "This is Edward Collins; my fiancé."
"Son of a bitch!" Blue cursed out loud and walked out, fuming. Blue is so furious. Every fiber of his being is radiating anger and he needs some kind of release, and Blue can only do that through drag racing.
Blue screamed so loud and kicked the wheels of his car out of frustration. "Fuck, fuck, fuck! Argh!" What Ryzel said kept replaying on Blue's mind like a broken record, and each replay was a pierce on Blue's heart. Blue went in his car and using the heel of his palms, squeezed his eyes to stop the tears.
Blue is so tired of crying. Blue's heart is so numb from the pain; that should be the case, but when Ryzel introduced Edward as Ryzel's fiancé, Blue lost it.
"Why not me? What the fuck is wrong with me, Ryzel?! Why not me?! Tell me! Argh!" Blue cried and screamed in frustration as he kept cursing fate for being so unfair. Blue didn't know that he could still get hurt after all this time. Blue didn't expect that Ryzel still had the capability to hurt him.
****
Rouge furrowed his brows. "Fiancé? What the fuck are you talking about, Ryzel? Did you know what Blue went through when you left without a word? When you finally decided to show your face, you have a fucking fiancé?" Rouge couldn't help but express his dissatisfaction at the current turn of events.
Rouge was there when Blue was absolutely devastated because Ryzel left. Rouge was there when Blue would cry to sleep, calling for Ryzel. Rouge was there when Blue kept on blaming himself for Ryzel's disappearance. Rouge witnessed how Blue slowly wrecked himself and almost drank himself to death.
Rouge consoled his mother when Blue had alcohol poisoning and was out for a week. Rouge kept himself together when Blue almost died from an ambush during a risky mission. Rouge witnessed how Blue got his heart shattered to pieces and drowned.
Blue is still drowning; in need of saving. Rouge didn't want to accept that Blue, the perfect prefect, is slowly dying from inside... all because of Ryzel. Rouge didn't expect that a single person can ruin a good man.
Rouge has so much to say but he just shook his head in dismay and left.
Edward wrapped his arms around Ryzel when Ryzel almost dropped to the ground. Edward responded swiftly so Elijah and Devon did not notice what happened.
"Are you okay? Can you still make it to the car?" Edward asked in a whisper and Ryzel nodded weakly. "Okay. I'll help you. Act normal."
Ryzel nodded and inhaled sharply, then waved at Elijah and Devon. "I'll visit soon, Eli. Bye-bye." Elijah nodded and hugged Ryzel.
"Okay, Ryzel. It's a promise."
Ryzel nodded. "Of course!" Ryzel gripped Edward's arm and that was the sign.
"We need to go. We'll visit you next time," Edward promised Elijah and Devon and assisted Ryzel by the waist as they walked back to the car. Edward carefully deposited Ryzel in the backseat. "To the mansion. Quick!"
Edward rummaged through his bag and grabbed an orange pill bottle, then took three pills and had Ryzel swallow them. Edward gave Ryzel bottled water and assisted Ryzel as the latter drank it.
Ryzel squeezed his eyes shut and with shallow breaths, grimaced at the onslaught of pain. Cold sweats pooled on Ryzel's forehead and back.
"We shouldn't have come here," Edward gritted out and gently wiped Ryzel's sweat. "This was not a good idea, Ryzel," Edward admonished Ryzel but Ryzel just weakly smiled, his lavender eyes telling Edward the reason why Ryzel had to come.
Edward just sighed in defeat. "Fine, but this is the last time. For this month," Edward added when Ryzel looked so heartbroken. "We can't risk it, Ryzel. I won't accept any protest. Be good and rest. Please."
"T-Thank you, Ed," Ryzel weakly said and his heavy lids dropped close. I'm so tired.
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