Chapter 30: Timebomb

Chapter 30

Mickey 'Mike' Hollister

Timebomb

There's a throbbing pain on my head and I groan, clutching the side of it as my eyes open its lid and a dim-lit room greets me. The ceiling is a cream white, and the sight of it makes me roll my eyes. Of course, dim-lit room, eerie silence, not-so-cool bed, I know I'm in a hospital.

The only sound I can hear is my breathing and... Eros'.

He looks so peaceful at thi state, and my eyes well up at the sight of him, remembering the horrible situations that I've been through. I've been shot. There's still this uncomfortable thing at my back, but I think I can manage it. I blink back the tears that threaten to spill out as I watch my man sleep. I was dying. I was in his arms before I was shot, I remember it. And the fact that I was in his arms before God decided to be a jerk and almost took my life I nearly died, has me crying. That's enough for me.

Sighing, I brush off the tears with my hand and brush Eros' hair. As imagine it, it's soft. The feeling of his hair in my palm is ticklish. I keep doing it until I lose track of time, until Eros groans and spoons beside me. Unconsciously, he wraps his arms around and nuzzles. I shiver at the warmth of his body. It's so warm it makes me want to sleep again. I let out a chuckle.

I watch him sleep.

It's creepy yet so romantic. Even though Eros has showed a different side, where his flaws could be seen, I didn't use it against him. It made me want him more. It means that he's ready to show me his bitter side, the unknown part. I know there's much more to see. Even if he shows me the darkest side of him, I'll want him even more. I stop combing his hair, afraid that I might wake him up.

Eros' eyes start to open and I suck in a breath, anticipating that I'll see his beautiful eyes again. He looks up at me and his eyes meet mine, then he jolts out of the bed, staring at me in utter shock.

"You're awake!" He practically screams, his eyes welling up.

"Yes, baby, I'm awake." I say hoarsely.

Eros basically throws himself on me and I let out an oomf, the pain in my back appearing as he practically crushes me with the big body of his. I groan.

"Oh God, Oh God, Oh God," he says, slightly panicking and shaking as he thinks that he has hurt me. "I'm sorry! Mike, I'm sorry!"

I laugh. "Hey, calm down, Eros. I'm fine. Come here, join me." I pat the bed beside me. I scoot a little to the side so he can fully lay down beside me.

Eros sighs and rests down hesitantly beside me and turns to the side to look at me. For a moment, we just look at each other, not speaking as we keep our gaze to each other's eyes. There are so many emotions swimming inside Eros' eyes, and I'm so overwhelm by those that the tears are starting to spill out of my eyes. Eros brushes the tears away with his thumbs, kissing me on my forehead as he guides his hands to my waist, pushing me onto him.

"You're awake, Mike," he whispers, kissing my forehead again. I sink deeper into his chest, wanting to feel the heavenly warmth of his body as I inhale his scent. "You don't know how happy I am. I thought that I was going to lose you. I nearly lost hope. I just wish that this isn't a dream. If it is, I don't want to wake up anymore."

"Believe it or not, Eros. This is reality." I say, kissing his Adam's apple as he gulps inaudibly. "I... I... I miss you."

"I miss you, too." He says, slowly leaning down to give me a soft kiss on the lips. Again, there are fireworks exploding within me and I let out a moan as he tugs my bottom lip. My body begins to set on fire and my lips quiver as he pulls away from the kiss. I pout. "Let's rest, first. Everyone's dying to see you wake."

"Can I have a water, though?" I say, batting my lashes at him. "Because your kiss wasn't enough."

He chuckles. "Asshole,"

+++

Eros and I slept with our arms wrapped around each other. Even though the room's walls are kind of thick, and the windows are closed, I can still hear the soft chattering of the birds on the windowsill. I smile as I feel his hold tighten around me and his lips hover against mine, his breath fanning my face.

Someone enters the room and lets out a gasp and scrambles away. I hear a loud bam of the door and I shut my eyes tightly. Though I open my one eye open just to see Eros doing the same, we have the same thought just by looking at each other's eye. Soon enough, the people start to enter the room and I can feel their murmuring and Eros and I shut our eyes again, pretending to be still fast asleep.

"Do you think he's awake?" Karl's voice echoes around the room. I guess he's referring to me.

"Shh," the voice belongs to Kevin. "If Mike did wake up, then speak in a low tone. You might wake them up!"

"I just wish he did wake up," now the voice belongs to my Dad.

Dad. He went home just to check on me. I know that he should be having fun with his friends. Instead, he went back here. I'm glad that he is my father.

"That, or Eros just being a bastard and laid beside Mike. Advantages," I recognize the voice. It's Noah's. I open an eye slowly, and I see Brad looking at me with those curious eyes that look like Eros'. His smile grows wider as I give him a wink, telling him to keep his lips sealed and he nods furiously.

"Hey, why are you nodding, kid?" Noah asks Brad. Brad doesn't say anything, and I don't know what face he's making.

They all chatter in the room. I resist the urge to snap at them for being so noisy and for interrupting Eros and I's moment.

Then, all of a sudden, a small body climbs up onto us and nobody says anything. It's Brad! He pushes his body forcefully between Eros and I and Brad pokes my cheek. He keeps poking it until I open my eyes and see him grinning at me. I make a face at him and he giggles. Eros, aware that Brad is in between us, wraps his arms around us, sandwiching Brad, which makes an oomf sound. We feel like family.

"Hey, kid, what are you doing there?" Noah says in an exasperated tone.

Deciding to break the news, I speak, "Leave the kid alone, Noah."

"Yeah, leave my kid alone, Noah." Eros joins in.

The room goes silent as I open my eyes and they are staring at me wide eyes, mouth agape, like they can't believe I just spoke. I smirk at them and Dad gives me a grin and everyone huffs except Noah, who's still staring at me it's starting to scare me.

"You," Noah says as he takes a step forward, holding a newspaper.

"Me?" I say innocently, raising a brow at him. "What about me, mate?"

Then Noah begins his mini tantrums. He launches himself and hits me with the newspaper. Every hit makes me laugh. Noah keeps hitting me. Everyone laughs as they watch Noah hit me with the newspaper.

"How dare you scare us like that," Noah continues, still hitting me with the paper. "You freak! How dare you, how dare you, how dare you! I hope you rot in... in..."

"Watch the language, Noah." Eros says as he glares at Noah playfully. Noah glares back. "My son's here and I don't want you to influence him. Brad, don't look at the beast." Brad giggles.

"Noah the Beast?" Everyone laughs at Brad, throwing their heads back.

"Noah the Beast," Eros agrees at Brad's statement.

"Will you stop hitting me?" I say at Noah pleadingly, pouting at him, shielding myself with my hand. "I just woke up from the long sleep and this is how you treat your best friend who just nearly died? How kind of you."

Noah rolls his eyes dramatically and gives me a hug. I hug him back.

"Hey, son," Dad greets me, holding my hand. "Um, Eros? Can you back off my son a little because it's kind of awkward?" They all snigger and I smile. Eros must have told him about us. Eros grumbles and rolls of the bed against his will, scoops Brad and they seat on the couch facing the bed, along with the jocks. "How are you feeling, son?"

"I'm fine, Dad." I assure him, giving him a genuine smile, telling him that I am really okay. "My head hurts a little and there's an uncomfortable feeling behind my back, but still fine."

"Just want to let you know your mum paid a visit," Dad says, brushing my hair like he used to do when I was a kid. My body tenses but relaxes immediately as Dad massages my scalp. He gives me a smile. "She wanted to talk to you about something. I told her you hadn't woken up yet and she could visit anytime as soon as you wake up. You guys need to talk. Especially about the whole situation."

I know what Dad means.

I know that this day would come and I have to talk to mum that Eros is mine. I know she found him first, but I was the one who captured his heart first. That's what matters. Eros and I love each other. Though I haven't told him yet. But I know deep in my heart the he knows I love him more than anything.

I nod at that. "Ring her and tell her to visit. I'll talk to her."

"She has a good news though, that, I don't know." Dad says, ruffling my hair, making it messy. I pout at him. "You're still my kid,"

+++

Dr. Zuta, my doctor, checks my vital signs and he says everything is fine. But still, I need a little rest for my body to recover. He says that he did a surgery to me, that's why I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable behind my back and that's normal. I ask him when I'd be discharge and he says soon. Very. I roll my eyes at him and he just laughs softly. He says patience is a virtue and I scrunch my nose up in disgust at the quote. Patience is not my virtue.

Because believe it or not.

Eros is my virtue.