HIS MOTHER MIGHT SENSE IT

Fluke’s breathing was heavy like his thoughts. He could literally feel as if his heart would just pop out. He clutched his fists and gritted his teeth. He decided to close eyes. He wanted to avoid him and the situation. He tightly closed his eyes as his body cringed.

He could feel Max’s hot breathe on his cheeks. His brain wasn’t braining at all. Nothing came to his mind. He only concentrated on his lips. ‘What if he plants a kiss on me? What if he wants more? What if?’

“Sniff! Mochi! Sniff! Mochi!” Fluke heard Max’s voice amidst his chaotic thoughts.

Fluke gulped.

“Sniff! Sniff!” Max’s breathing was now faster.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! CRANKKKKKKKK!!!!!

They heard the door opening. At an instant, Max jumped away and landed a few inches away from Fluke while Fluke was still processing what just happened.

“Hey Maxi!” A middle aged lady stood near the entrance door.

“Mmm...Mom....Mom!” Max stammered.

“Good evening!” His mother was glaring at him. Her tone wasn’t sounding sweet.

“ Goo...good....eeee...eve...eve...ning mo...mom!” Max stood up like an obedient kid.

“Where are your manners Maxi?” Her eyes were still glaring at his face.

“Soo...sorry mo...mom!” He bent his head. I could see his frightful face turning pale.

“Hello aunt! I’m Fluke Hedge, Max’s classmate.”Fluke stood up and greeted himself to lessen the tension between them.

She closed the door and came in. “Oh Hello! You are a pretty looking boy.” She spoke approaching near us. Atleast this time she had a smile on her face.

She looked at Max and spoke, “Maxi! You never told about this friend of yours.” By now, her smiled dropped again.

“Mo...mom! I...I...” Fluke could see Max’s trembling hands.

So he decided to help. “Aunt! I’m here for a group study. I was lacking behind in some subjects so I asked for his help. Is it alright if he guides me?” Fluke asked Max’s mother. Then he turned towards Max and blinked his eyes signing Max to calm down.

“Oh sure! He can. But Maxi! I don’t want to see your score getting affected. Do you get that?” Her eyes were really furious.

“Ye...yes...” He lowered his head.

“You kids carry on! I’ve a jet lag so I’ll be in my room.” Saying this, she patted on his shoulder and went away. Fluke could clearly see an eerie atmosphere around her as she descended.

“HUGH!” Max sighed and sat on the couch. He was breathing heavily looking aimlessly in front.

“Mocha! Mo...Max! Max!” Fluke called his name a few more times. But he was in deep thoughts. Fluke slowly walked towards him and called again, “Max!”

“Hugh!” He snapped out. “Fluke! I...I...”

“Are you ok?” Fluke pats him on his shoulder.

“Ya...Ya! Let me bring my maths book.” He was about to stand up when Fluke grabbed his hand and made him sit again. “I think I should go now. I’ll see you in the school tomorrow. Bye.”

“But....Fluke...”

“Bye!” Fluke grabbed his bag and directly came out of his apartment.

As he walked down the pavement, hi mind was still not understanding what went wrong. Why was his mother so indifferent? Why did he panic so much seeing his own mother?? Was it because he was there?

“HUGH!!” Fluke sighed.

He reached home and had some more thoughts run down his mind as he rested on his bed. Soon he was drowsy and closed his eyes.

He opened his eyes when he heard something knocking on his window pane. ‘Hugh! It was Mike.’ He thought.

Rubbing his eyes, he went near the window and shouted, “Five minutes Mike!”

He changed himself and taking his bag, rushed out.

In the school, Max was early as usual. He was sitting in the empty class busy rustling some papers.

“Fluke! I think we are early today.” Mike said keeping his bag.

“Ya maybe!”

“Shall we move out and walk before the bell rings?” Mike asked.

“I...” Fluke looked at Max. “I...I’ll wait here. You can go out.”

“Fine!” Saying this, Mike ran out.

Fluke directly went to Max and asked, “Max! Are you ok?”

Without even looking at him, Max nodded.

“Did you mother.....?” Fluke paused. He sensed that Max was in a bad mood.

“It’s all good.” He stood up and smiled at him. “Fluke! I’m sorry. Yesterday mom came to my apartment all of a sudden. She said she had a meeting nearby so she dropped by.”

“Ooo!”

“But she went to Japan today morning for another business trip.”He held Fluke’s hands this time and continued, “Will you come today?” He looked into his eyes.

Max’s hands brushed Fluke’s hands. Max’s fingertips gently rubbed Fluke’s palm. It was getting difficult for Fluke to concentrate.

“Umm.....” Fluke’s brain wasn’t braining.

“Will you?” Max whispered again.

“Ya...I can ...come...” Fluke gulped.

Max got his answer but was still holding Fluke’s hands. Fluke’s nervousness and anxiety made him clumsy. He was swaying his body and looked aimlessly here and there.

“Are you nervous?” Max whispered as Fluke acted abnormal.

“-----“

“Shy?” Max was teasing him.

“-----“Fluke rolled his eyes pouting his lips.

“You are so adorable Mochi!” Max whispered again coming closer to him.

“-----“ Fluke blushed.

Suddenly they heard the footsteps of someone approaching to their classroom. And the next moment, Max threw Fluke’s hands at once and inserted his hands under his trouser’s pockets. But Fluke looked shocked at his behaviour.

“Let’s meet near the gate after school.” Max whispered for the last time before going back to his place. He calmly sat down on his place and rested his head on the table.

But Fluke’s heart was shaking. Before leaving, Max smirked and also winked at him. This was new. . He knows what makes Fluke blush. Fluke was biting his lips in nervousness. To ease himself, Fluke rushed out of the room.

Later, as the last bell of the school rang, I hurriedly packed my bag.

“Fluke! I was thinking that we’ll go to have some ice-cream that sells strawberry flavour near the school.” Mike approached.

“But...I’m not...I mean...” No excuse came to his mind.

“What? Are you busy?”

“Ya...I’ve to go to the market with mom. Let’s plan this tomorrow for sure. Ok?” He lied. Obviously, he had plans with his boyfriend. How can he go with his friend?

“Sure!”

Fluke grabbed his bag hurriedly and ran to the main gate so that Max won’t have to wait for long. ‘He usually misses the last classes for the practice. So today also he’ll directly meet me after practice.’ Fluke whispered to himself.

Huffing and puffing, as he ran to the main gate, he saw Max with his jersey waiting for him under the sun. As he approached, he could clearly see Max’s sweaty face glittering under the sun rays.

“Hey! Did you wait for long?” Fluke huffed.

“No! I just arrived. Let’s go.”

“Ok!”

 They started walking beside each other carefully, making sure that their fingers or any part of their hand doesn’t touch each others. Fluke saw Max’s eyes peeking at his hands as he swayed them. Later, Fluke composed himself and made sure not to make any movement.

They moved along the pavement until it got diverged. Max was supposed to move right for his home but he suddenly turned left.

“Max! This side!” Shockingly Fluke asked.

“Let me take you somewhere.” He continued walking.

“But aren’t we going to your apartment?” Fluke was curious.

“Of course!”

“But this way is not where your apartment is, right?” Fluke asked again.

“Come fast! We are already there.” Saying this, Max speed-up his steps and started running.

Fluke too followed him without thinking much.