There was silence between Zayd and Lewis. The only thing breaking the stillness was their heavy breathing.

Zayd is still trying to understand what Lewis said while they stare at each other.

Zee, I once felt the same towards you.

It's as if time slowed down after Lewis uttered those words.

"You mean to say... you mean to say you like me too?" Zayd asked the first question.

He was finally able to open his mouth, at least, and say something. It was as if they were waiting for either one of them to say something first.

Lewis shook his head.

"I'm confused, sorry," Zayd asked again when he saw Lewis shaking his head.

He could hear Lewis taking a deep breath.

"I've always liked you, Zee. I always did. I might have even loved you - from a distance. I wanted to be with you, too, always. But as you see, life had been rough for me after your family left."

"I had to start from scratch - you know about my situation, Zayd."

Lewis's heart was beating crazy as he continued telling Zayd everything. He never prepared for this moment because he never thought he'd see Zayd again.

"I had been busy and preoccupied with trying to survive on my own. And I guess during the process, I have learned to forget you and the feelings I once had for you."

"I have lost all hopes that I will ever see you again, so what was the point in loving someone who, back then, I thought, never loved me back."

"I've learned to let go because, let's be honest, it's just sad and stupid keeping someone when they were not even yours in the first place."

"Never in my wildest fantasies did I expect that you would one day show up at my door," Lewis said softly.

Zayd could see in Lewis's face that he was speaking of the truth. And he can't blame him.

"But Zee, don't you dare think for a second that I care less for you. You are my best friend, and you will always be," Lewis added.

"It's just that..."

"... I don't think I'll be able to return the love you have for me now," Lewis said as he turned around and went straight to his bedroom, leaving Zayd alone.

***

A scrambled egg and toast. Just the usual, classic breakfast his mom would always cook for him before. He finished making coffee and brought his food to the living room.

It's been a while since Hervy has stayed up in the morning. He's not sure what to do to pass the time, of course, aside from writing.

He put the food down on the table and tried to think of something else to do while eating.

He tried checking if his TV was still working. He was always asleep in the morning; he barely had the time to watch the local news at least.

Luckily for him, it was still working. He turned the volume up and looked for an excellent program to watch.

He tried and tried until he got a show that looked familiar.

The scene showed two guys in a laundry area. The first guy's hair was brunette and slicked back. He wore a tank top that showed his muscular body. The other guy had short blonde hair and wore an oversized shirt. They appear to be having a good conversation.

Then he remembered.

Latter Days

The B-Movie he and Nyle always liked to watch. He remembered they even bought a copy of the film. He's unsure where he last placed it, but he knows it's just inside the house somewhere. It was the movie they would always watch when they needed to relax their brains from writing. It was their stress reliever.

He remembered how they would talk and sometimes sleep through the whole movie. They watched it a million times that they knew the lines by heart. If only they wouldn't be hit by copyright and plagiarism, one of them might have written a book with a similar plot.

Hervy smiled. This movie brings back many memories, good memories of him and Nyle.

He took a sip of coffee and started munching on the toast he made.

He looked at the wall clock; it was barely a minute after 10 AM.

"Oh boy, this is going to be a long day," Hervy said to himself.

***

Lewis didn't bother looking back at Zayd when he left him on the couch. He was afraid his actions would betray him and eventually oppose everything he just said to Zayd.

He had convinced himself that he no longer loved Zayd, but a part of his mind wanted to grab Zayd and hug him tightly, again.

He laid flat on his bed.

It's just so messed up how he thought he had already moved on from Zayd, but now that he confessed, everything's coming back to him. And he knows he should not feel that way.

Lewis convinced himself it was smart to tell Zayd that he no longer liked him. Even if it meant he might leave again.

He liked Hervy very much, even if he's not sure Hervy feels the same for him or if he crosses Hervy's mind at all. None of it matters to him.

At least not today.

He got up. He felt terrible for leaving Zayd outside of the room, all by himself. Now that he thought of it, the poor guy went all the way from abroad to see him.

Have some decency Lewie, he told himself.

He quickly opened the door and sprinted to the living area. He was not there.

"Zayd?" he called out.

He tried the kitchen and checked if he was there. Nope, he was not there.

He went back to the couch and saw a small note from Zayd.

"Out for a walk - Z."

Lewis felt terrible for what he said. One thing about Zayd is he always wanted to be alone if he didn't feel too good, and he's sure that's the reason why Zayd's out.

***

Zayd kept walking, appreciating the whole place while trying to remember the street names. He obviously needs to be familiar with the streets, or else he won't be able to go back to Lewis's apartment later.

He admits it. What Lewis told him earlier was a revelation... and it hurt him as well.

To think they both felt the same when they were younger, none of them attempted to say something.

Blame it on the teenage hormones, I guess, Zayd told himself.

He was hurt not when Lewis said he no longer felt the same for him. What hurt him was the fact that all he ever wanted was just under his nose, and he was too blind to notice.

Either that or Lewis was just good at hiding his feelings as well.

And he hates this feeling.

Very much.

He decided to take a walk. It was his form of easing out stress. Lewis knew that as well, but he didn't want the other guy to worry about where he might be, so he left a note on the couch.

A few more turns, and he found himself approaching a children's park. It was a cloudy day, not too hot, so he decided to stroll around the park. It was a ten-something AM, so there were not many people in the park, just a group of two or three kids here and there.

The park was not really that big but walking around was enough for a grown man like Zayd to be exhausted after a few rounds.

He decided to go back to the park entrance and sit on one of the benches, under the shade of the big trees.

When he was about to sit down, he saw a guy he thought looked familiar.

He was a big guy - no, a tall guy of at least six feet. He walked towards the bench next to Zayd, holding a small notebook and a pen. His long curly hair danced along with the wind in a relatively slow motion.

Then he remembered who it was.

He didn't know if he should go talk to him or not. He's not even sure the guy knows him in the first place. He just spent the next several minutes at the unsuspecting guy seated next to his bench.

***

Hervy decided to take a stroll. He brought his notebook and pen if he needs to write something again - it's been happening a lot lately.

Right after he finished eating, he took a shower and headed out. It was a cloudy day, not too hot, so he decided another pullover would do him fine.

He went straight to the park.

Luckily for him, his usual spot was not taken. He slowed down when the wind suddenly blew, sending his long hair dancing in the wind. This was one of the times he wished his hair was tame and not very unruly.

Hervy sat down.

 He enjoyed the view of the people passing by the sidewalk as well as the cars rushing by.

"HERVY, right?"

He got interrupted by a voice from his left side.

He turned his gaze to the left to see who it was.

It was the black-haired, brown-eyed guy he saw yesterday hanging out with Lewis. It was Zayd if he could remember the name correctly.

"It's me, Zayd, the guy from last night, at Lewis's," the guy explained. Now Hervy's sure the name is Zayd.

"Uhm... Hi?" Hervy answered back. He's not sure how he should talk to this guy.

"Where's Lewis?" he added.

"He's back home," Zayd answered.

"Would you mind if I sit beside you?" he added.

Hervy's not sure why Zayd would want to sit beside him, but he raised his thumb in approval, "Yep, sure you can."

He moved to the other end of the bench as Zayd quickly got up from the other bench and sat next to him.

The two guys just sat quietly for a few minutes, thinking whether or not one of them should start talking.

Hervy, eager to know more about Zayd, decided to initiate the conversation.

"I heard from Lewis that you're his best friend and you're visiting him," he started. "Where are you from exactly?" he added.

"Well, a couple of places, actually. It's back and forth between Pakistan and Ireland. We have houses in both countries. We just want to spend a lot of time with my Mum and Dad's family. But to answer where I came from this year, Pakistan," Zayd answered.

Hervy just nodded. Now that Zayd answered his only question, he doesn't know what to say next.

Thankfully, the other guy caught on to Hervy's dilemma and decided to continue the conversation.

"You're such a lucky guy," said Zayd. He did not look at Hervy but rather at the busy sidewalk.

"Lucky for what?" Hervy asked, puzzled. He's not sure what Zayd is trying to point out.

"Lewis likes you. It's even more than just a casual liking. He's head over heels for you; he's just too polite to tell you about it," Zayd answered.

"I've known that guy for quite some time now, and all I can say is he is very selfless. He deserves someone who'll be able to reciprocate the feelings he is willing to give out," he added.

Hervy is no stranger to this type of conversation as he often writes scenes like this in his books. He can sense the pain behind Zayd's words.

"Do you like Lewis?" he asked Zayd.

Zayd turned his head to the right and faced Hervy.

"Yes. And that guy means the world to me." Zayd's face was earnest. He's trying to assert how important Lewis is to him.

"I told him I liked him, but his response was not what I expected. I am not dumb; he was just too polite to say to me that his feelings for you are much stronger than my feelings for him."

"Now, let me circle the question back to you, Hervy," Zayd's expression was even more serious than earlier.

"Do you like Lewis?"

Hervy was caught off-guard by Zayd's question.

He didn't pay much attention to what he felt towards Lewis. All he knows is Lewis is such a great guy to be around.

Zayd took notice of the fact that Hervy was not able to answer his questions right away.

"Do you know one more thing, Hervy? Lewis told me just earlier that he liked me once before when we were younger. Actually, no, 'he liked me' is too weak a description; it won't do justice to how Lewis felt back then."

"The more fitting term is loved me. Lewis once loved me is the more appropriate term, I should say," Zayd continued.

Hervy's expression changed, and again, Zayd being the conscious one, was quick to notice.

He immediately interjected. "Now don't get that wrong. Lewis only loved me from a distance, and I was recently made aware of that. Lewis and I never had any form of relationship aside from being best friends." 

"I'm sure he's made that clear to you last night," Zayd added, raising his eyebrows. 

"Now let me ask you once again. Do you like him?"

Hervy honestly did not know how to answer. Though he has to admit what Zayd said was a major eye-opener for him.

He was not sure whether he liked Lewis, or he just wanted the guy's company. He was torn between losing Lewis and forgetting Nyle.

With Zayd around, he feels jealous whenever he sees them together.

On the other hand, he loved every single moment he spent alone with Lewis, though he can't help but think of Nyle as well.

"I don't want the poor guy to suffer because of your indecisiveness, Hervy. If I'm being selfish, you'll never get to see Lewis again. I would gladly bring him over to Ireland, and I mean right now," Zayd said. His voice was firm, and his eyes were sizing him up.

"Fortunately for you, I want Lewis to be happy, even if that means Lewis will not end up with me. Make up your mind curly. You don't want to wake up one day and realize that you've made a big mistake." 

"Don't make me think that Lewis going after you is fool's gold, Hervy. Even if I'm not here in the country, I will fly from wherever I am to get to you and punch you in the nose. I'd do that once I learn that Lewis is crying because of you."

"I don't think you'd be that cruel, Hervy, are you?" Zayd taunted.

He then got up and started walking away from Hervy.

He was already at a good distance from Hervy when he looked back at him one last time and shouted. "Make up your mind Hervy, make up your mind."

He walked away, leaving Hervy speechless. Hervy couldn't do anything but stare as Zayd disappeared into the crowd.

That guy meant business.

He slowly touched his nose, though he was more worried about losing Lewis than getting punched in the nose.