Oz Fiction: Paradise Lost
Chapter 6
The next morning Ryan and Miguel woke feeling like they were on vacation and this was their honeymoon. They made love all morning then slept in, wasting the time away until late at night when they woke up to make love all over again. Twenty four hours felt like twenty four minutes but finally they decided to get out of bed and have a bite to eat. Their bodies were worn out and stomachs too empty to ignore the grumble. Neither one of them couldn’t help the smile that stayed glued to their faces it almost hurt. Life was so perfect this very moment. They were…happy. For the longest time both men finally knew what it was like to feel utter bliss. To have someone who deeply respected and cared for was something both men wanted to hold onto and never let go.
After breakfast, the two lovers started to get dressed. Ryan put his cut-off flannel shorts back on and gathered his binoculars and water bottle while Miguel was putting on a clean, blue sleeveless shirt with his denim shorts and picked up his pocket knife and his own water bottle. Ryan let Miguel walk ahead of him out of the cave entrance. He laughed at the thought of wanting to hold Miguel’s hand that very moment and walk beside him on the beach. They made their way to the shoreline just outside of the jungle. Miguel set his supplies under the shade of a coconut tree and turned to face Ryan.
“Guess its back to work then,” Miguel said not quite sure what his next move was.
“Yeah, looks like. We really do need to restock on food and water.” Ryan turned his head the direction of the sea then looked back to Miguel. “Hey, how about I set up the crab traps, while you scavenger for some fruit.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah we don’t wanna risk you getting stung again.”
“Ryan…”
“I know, I know, but you’re still healing and want you to be one hundred percent better, ok?”
Miguel sighed deeply then finally gave in. There was no use arguing with the man when he’s already made up his mind. “Ok.”
He placed his hands to Ryan’s shoulders. Ryan smiled and leaned in, giving Miguel a bone melting kiss. They stayed in lip lock for the longest time until Miguel finally broke away.
“I better get going otherwise I will never stop myself.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to.” Ryan teased. “I’ll see ya this afternoon.” He gave Miguel one last quick kiss before playfully pushing his face away.
Miguel chuckled. “See ya later.” He walked back to the coconut tree, picked up his supplies and headed into the jungle.
Ryan watched him leave, smiled and shook his head. He checked the traps that were immersed in the sea before dropping them back into the tide. No crabs for dinner yet so he decided he would go back to the cave later to fetch the fishing polls. Ryan picked up his binoculars to attempt his morning round of scanning the ocean. He started at his left then moved along looking at the right when he spotted that same looking red and white speck from days ago. He can see it more clearly now that it was closer. It was in the form of a yacht. Ryan lowered the binoculars, his eyes shine in astonishment, the boat has returned. He brought them back to his face to get a better look of who was on board the yacht. He saw what looked to be a group of men with their heads shaved. Some were taller, others more brawny. One in particular, who Ryan guessed was their leader, was having in argument with a short, scrawny man wearing thick glasses. The smile on Ryan’s face faded away when he saw the small man’s hands up in the air as if he were surrendering the spat. The leader quickly drew his gun and shot the man right in the head. The shaved-headed men then throw his lifeless body overboard.
“My God.” Ryan barely whispered in shock, lowering his binoculars. Unable to move for a moment he tried to find his voice.
“Miguel.” He pulled himself together and tried again to scream for his companion. “Miguel!” Ryan started running quickly into the jungle, never looking back.
He first headed toward the falls, but Miguel’s not there; then he ran back to Miguel’s previous campsite, still he was nowhere to be seen. Ryan was panicking, running his hands through his hair trying to think. He screamed Miguel’s name again and ran back into the jungle to the location of the islands highest peak. He finally spotted Miguel cutting down a bushel of bananas from its tree.
“Miguel!” Ryan ran to him and quickly grabbed his hand, causing Miguel to drop the bananas.
“We have to go hide now!”
“Ryan, what on earth?...”
“I’ll explain later. Hurry!”
Confused, Miguel goes with Ryan. Ryan took Miguel back to the cave in hopes that it would be a safe location. Miguel freed his hand from Ryan’s grip.
“Ryan, What the hell is going on?”
“Remember that boat I spotted a few days ago? Well it’s back.”
Miguel smiled. “Well why didn’t you say so. C’mon, let’s light the flair.”
“NO!” Ryan cried, stopping him.
“Why not?”
“Because I saw a guy get shot right in the head. Then these men threw him into the water. I think they maybe pirates and that ship isn’t really theirs.”
“No shit!” Miguel exhaled deeply then looked out the artificial cavern window. “Did they see us?”
Ryan stood beside him, looking outward as well. “I don’t know, but we gotta do something and fast.”
Miguel placed the palms of his hands onto the cavern wall and lowered his head. He looked back out the window and pondered an idea. “There’s gotta be a call radio on that ship right?”Miguel said, facing Ryan.
“I suppose so. What are you thinking?”
“That yacht isn’t too far from this island. I’m thinking we can swim to it, sneak on board, and use the radio to call for help.”
Ryan cocked him an eyeball trying to absorb what was suggested. “Are you insane? Did you not hear what say earlier? They whacked a guy.”
Miguel placed his hands on Ryan’s shoulders trying to get him to grip on to the plan. “Exactly. Ryan, we don’t have any weapons. We’ve got to get on that ship.”
“Alright, but let’s be quick about it.”
Ryan goes outside first only to be shocked to see several large angry men looking down at him.
“Fuck! They spotted us.” he said, behind his breath, as he tried to get away from their grasp.
Ryan punched one in the face, and then tried to kick another. One of the men grabbed Ryan by the arms and forced them behind his back. Miguel was also fighting them off only to be hit hard on the shoulder blade and knocked down to his knees. He saw one of the skin headed men punching Ryan hard in the gut.
“Ryan!” Miguel called to him before he’s knocked out in the head with a blunt object causing everything to go black.
***
Miguel opened his eyes only to wake up sitting in a chair gagged and with his arms tied behind his back in a dark room. Beside him sat Ryan who was also tied up and gagged, but still unconscious. Inside there were two men with guns standing in a cold gray room keeping a watchful eye and a man with dark close cropped hair and piercing black eyes sitting beside a table. In his hands were Miguel’s Swiss army knife and a stone he was using to sharpen the blade. He also had a gun, but with a silencer right beside him on the table. Never taken his eyes off Miguel, he gave him a vicious look. Miguel noticed the men’s tattoos. They each had one the shape of a swastika somewhere on their bodies. Aryans. The door opened and a bald man stepped inside. The men right away stood alert waiting for orders. Miguel instantly knew he was their leader. The man was large with alabaster skin and icy, cold blue eyes that looked like if they stared at a person for long, their flesh would melt right off. The tall, black-eyed man stood up and approached the leader. They started talking and Miguel tried to make out what they were saying.
“Vern, you think Zabitz ratted us out and told these fuckers our location?” the dark haired man asked.
The bald man started lighting a cigarette in his mouth. He deeply inhaled. “I don’t know, but I don’t like this, not one fucking bit. They know something, I can feel it.”
The one called Vern started walking towards Ryan. He took one look at Miguel then back to Ryan and slapped him on the face, waking him up. Ryan quickly came to, shaking his head and tried to speak through the gag.
“Who do you work for?” Vern sneered, removing Ryan’s gag. Ryan coughed hard and tried to speak but nothing came out.
“Zabitz sent you here didn’t he? That asshole was trying to play me and steal what’s rightfully mine.”
Taking a few deep breaths, Ryan finally spoke. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. We don’t know anyone named Zabitz. Our plane crashed weeks ago. We got stranded here and have been trying to get rescued ever since.”
“Liar!” The dark one yelled, and slapped Ryan hard in the face. Vern pushed the angry man back slowly.
“Easy there James.” Vern approached Miguel then lifted his chin. “Perhaps your fuck boy here will corporate with us. He’s a mighty fine looking piece of ass, don’t you agree boys?” The Aryans started to laugh.
“Don’t touch him!” Ryan spat.
“Shut up!” James slapped him again, causing his jaw to throb in pain. “You speak when we tell you to speak.”
Vern proceeded to remove Miguel’s gag. “Your butt buddy here thinks were stupid, but you don’t do you?” He leaned closer into Miguel’s space. “Zabitz paid you to find us and kill us so he can have all the gold for himself. Am I right?”
“What gold?” Miguel asked, trying to hold back his anger.
“Don’t play stupid with me, boy. Everyone knows about Governor Devlin and his rare ancient Japanese coin collection. Devlin was going to donated it to some shitty museum in Japan for political gain. His jet plane crash landed in the pacific about a year ago taking him and all aboard down. They never found his plane until I paid Zabitz to help me look for it. He claims that this exact spot is its location. Right below us somewhere is my treasure.”
Miguel looked at the Nazi and showed no sign of fear. “Yeah, I remember the governor. I heard about what happened to him on the news.”
“This really is a bad area for planes,” Ryan added, not giving a damn that he was told to be quiet. James quickly punched him in the gut then shoved the gag back into his mouth.
“I warned you, didn’t I?”
“Enough!” Vern yelled.
Suddenly the door opened and one of members of the brotherhood stepped inside. “Sir, we found it!”
Vern stands up straight, his eyes widening. “Well don’t just stand there, you fool! Get down there and bring up my gold!”
The man left quickly and followed pursuit, giving orders for the other men to gather their scuba gear.
“What should we do with these two?” James asked, ready for the kill.
“They’re useless. After the job is done, we’ll kill em.” Vern smirked, leaving the captured men alone with James.
Vern then ordered the guards from inside of the room to secure the outside door.
Throughout the whole incident, Miguel attempted at removing his hands from the ropes binding his wrists behind his chair. He was almost free when James stood in front of him palming his cock through his jeans.
“Since we’re gonna be in here awhile, let’s pass the time by you servicing me. Suck my dick.”
“I don’t think so.” Miguel hissed.
James leaned down to him, almost nose to nose with both of his hands on the chair armrests. “You’ve made a very big mistake.”
“No, you have. You should have tied my legs up, too.”
And then Miguel kneed James hard into the groin. He fell down fast and hard, screaming in pain, holding his crotch. Miguel quickly stood up and pulled the ropes off his hands. Before James had time to reach for his gun, Miguel grabbed the chair he was sitting on and whacked James in the face knocking the man out. The guards hurry into the room and Miguel reached for James’s gun from the table. He pulled the trigger, shooting one of the men right in the chest, the other in the neck. After the men were down, Miguel fished for his Swiss army knife James had stolen, from the man’s back pocket. Then he leaped up and got behind Ryan’s chair cutting his bonds off and removing his gag.
“Damn, Miguel. I didn’t know you had it in you,” Ryan said in amazement.
“I’m full of surprises,” Miguel replied, flashing him a quick grin. “C’mon.”
Miguel stepped out the doorway slowly with the gun in his hand. Making sure the coast was clear; he gave Ryan the signal to move. They creeped through a hallway looking for a way out. Miguel wanted to reach the bridge of the boat in order to use the call radio so they headed toward the outside deck. They stepped outside to see the Aryans busy lifting crates heavy with Devlin’s lost gold from the ocean on board the yacht. They quickly ducked down to hide behind some wooden boxes.
“Now what?” Ryan whispered.
“The bridge is up the stairs. We need to pass those fuckers in order to get up there.” Miguel opened the barrel of his gun. He had only three bullets left. “Fuck, I don’t have enough bullets.” he said in frustration, looking back at the Aryan’s. “There’s too many of them. Even if you had a gun, we won’t have enough ammo.”
Ryan looked around the ship. Behind him, he saw a door with the words “engine room” written in it.
“I may have a solution. I did this in a movie once. One of us goes down to the engine room and smashes the cooler tank of the boiler. The pressure will cause the ship to explode.”
“That just might work.” Miguel grinned. “But first let’s find you a gun.”
They quietly stepped up close to the stairs of the bridge. The two men put their backs to a wall hearing someone coming. As the footsteps came closer toward them, Miguel quickly stepped out and shot a man right in the forehead bringing him down to his death. He quickly grabbed the gun from the lifeless man’s hand and handed it to Ryan. Shots were suddenly fired at them and Miguel and Ryan quickly fired back, running up the stairs trying not to get hit. Miguel kicked the door open, knocking a man out. He’s out of bullets so Miguel started throwing punches at a man from the control panel. Ryan had his back by shooting whoever was trying to come inside the bridge. Ryan then slammed the door shut and turned around to Miguel. An Aryan was on top of Miguel choking the life out of him. In a flash, Ryan is on the Aryan, punching the man in the face, knocking him out cold. He didn’t want to waste any bullets so instead; Ryan tied and gagged the man. Miguel gently rubbed his throat, gasping large breaths of air.
“You alright?” Ryan asked concerned, placing his hand to Miguel’s back.
“I’m fine. Hurry go to the engine, I’ll call for help.”
“Got it.”
Ryan sped out the door back downstairs to the location of the engine room while Miguel found the radio and called for someone to help. He got a transmission from a ship a few miles from them. Miguel spotted a map by the control panel and gave their exact location.
Meanwhile, Ryan was shooting at the Aryans from the main deck. They fired back without hesitation, forcing Ryan to dodge bullets. He hid behind a wall for cover then turned to fire back. He fired a few shots in the air, distracting the men as he quickly opened the door of the engine room. He ran down the stairs to see the yachts large engines. He walked farther to the end of the engines and found the boiler. Ryan scanned the area and saw a stack of metal bars nearby and picked one up. Just when he was about to swing the bar to aim for the cooling tank, he gets hit hard in the head causing him to fall. It was Vern. He followed him downstairs.
“You think you can get away with this. Huh, you fucker?” Vern gloated, kicking Ryan in the stomach.
Ryan rolled his body away and got back on his feet. He grabbed the metal rod again and started striking at Vern. Vern picked up a metal rod of his own from the stack and swung it right back. The two men kept swinging at each other hitting metal against metal. Ryan was quick, but he couldn’t swing at Vern for much longer. He tried to aim for Vern’s leg, but Vern whacked him hard in the left arm, causing it to break. Ryan fell to the ground again, screaming in pain, holding his injured arm. Vern continued his assaults, kicking all over Ryan’s body. Vern then took the medal rod in his hands and raised it over his head.
“You think you can take my gold and blow us all away? Think again, you Mick!”
Just as Vern was about the smash Ryan’s face in he quickly froze and dropped to the floor dead. Ryan looked over Vern’s body then looked up. Miguel was standing a few feet away. He threw his Swiss army knife right into the Nazi fuckers back. Miguel quickly crouched down by Ryan’s side helping him up.
“You’re hurt,” Miguel said, concerned.
“I’ll be alright.” Ryan replied, as he stood up with determination. “Let’s finish this.”
Miguel grabbed the metal bar from Vern’s hands then looked to Ryan for where on the boiler to hit. Ryan nodded to an area and Miguel started smashing the cooling tank. Moving his uninjured arm, Ryan grabbed hold of his own metal rod and started hitting the gauge dials. Air pressure escaped the boiler making strong whistling noises and Miguel and Ryan hurry back up the stairs to the deck as quickly as possible. James spotted them running out of the engine room and ordered the rest of the Aryans to shot them. Miguel started shooting back with his reloaded gun. Bringing them down, Miguel lead Ryan to a motorized raft he found behind the yacht. Furious, James ran after them shooting his gun. The two companions ducked their heads and ran even faster to the raft. Miguel fired his last bullet at James, hitting him right in the kneecap. He fell face down on the deck and tried to fire back, but it was too late. He ran out of bullets, too. Miguel helped Ryan step down into the raft and pulled the string of the motor starting it up. He steered the raft quickly away from the yacht when all of the sudden, a huge explosion erupted. The yacht was blown away and what was left of it sank into the dark depths of the ocean. Miguel and Ryan observe the fireworks display before them, then turned to look at each other. There were no words needed so Miguel kept steering the raft far away from the yacht wreckage and leaving behind their island home for good.
The small motor of the raft ran out of gas about 30 minutes later and all they could do was wait. Ryan laid his head on Miguel’s lap still holding his broken arm. Miguel gently ran his hand through Ryan’s reddish hair; his other hand was on his shoulder. Miguel murmured comforting words into his ear assuring him that help would come. Both men closed their eyes and tried to fall asleep. An hour passed and a blasting sound of a horn startled the men awake. Looking up, Ryan and Miguel see a large cargo ship before their eyes. Miguel lifted himself to his knees and started waving his arms in the air.
“Hey! Down here!” he yelled. A man from the ship tossed down a rope ladder to them.
Miguel climbed up with speed but Ryan was having difficulty with his broken arm, so the crewmen pulled the rope up with Ryan holding on. Ryan and Miguel were happy to find out that the ship they boarded was an import/export ship on its way to Honolulu. They received Miguel’s distress call for help. Finally they were going home.
Chapter 7
Days later, they made it to Hawaii with nothing but greetings from people they didn’t know and the press asking endless questions. Miguel stayed behind to explain everything that had happened to them while Ryan was taking to the local hospital for his injuries. Miguel told the authorities what details he could remember the night of the plane crash. He also explained about the Aryans and the location of Devlin’s sunken gold. He finally got a break from all the chaos to rush to the hospital to see Ryan. He was shown to Ryan’s room and stepped inside to see him laying in a hospital bed with his arm in a cast. Ending a conversation with a reporter, he saw Miguel in the background and grinned.
“Hey.”
Miguel walked closer to Ryan, grinning back. “Hey. How are you feeling?”
Ryan sat up on his bed. “Can’t complain.” he shrugged. “The people are friendly, the foods not too bad. It’s almost like staying at a resort.”
Miguel snorted in amusement. “Right. Did you ever get a hold of your family?”
“Yeah, they’re on the next flight over here to see me as we speak. You should have heard my mom on the phone. She was crying all hysterically happy.”
“I’m so glad. How’s the arm?” Miguel asked looking at Ryan’s cast.
Ryan also took a glance at his plastered arm. “A clean break, but the doctor says my days of being my own stunt man are over.” Ryan answered, sounding sad.
“Oh Ryan, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s ok. It doesn’t mean I still can’t be an actor,” Ryan said. He decided to lighten the mood by changing the subject. “So did ya tell the Feds about the crash, the gold, and Vern?”
“All of the above. There’s still an ongoing investigation about what happened on our plane to make the engines blow up like that. They think it might have something to do with mislabeled fuel, but definitely not a terrorist attack. Oh and I gave the Feds the coordinates to the shipwrecked yacht. They found Devlin’s gold and I’m happy to say that it’s on its way to Japan as intended to collect dust in some museum.”
“Thank fucking God. I hope to never see that gold again for as long as I live.” Ryan smirked and Miguel started laughing.
“Amen to that.”
After their laughter died down, Miguel looked at Ryan with wonder at a question that was weighing heavily on his mind.
“Ryan. There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
He pulled up a chair and sat facing Ryan, placing his hand on the bed.
“What we had on that island, was it real or just two people trying to find comfort in each other?”
Miguel then lowered his head almost afraid to know the answer. Ryan placed his right hand on top of Miguel’s, entwining them together.
“No. It was real.” He said huskily.
Miguel looked up and smiled. Ryan smiled back. Just as they were about to both lean in for a kiss, someone stepped into the room and they quickly broke apart.
“Ryan! Oh there you are! I’m so happy to see you safe.” It was Shannon.
“Shannon! You’re here! You came all this way from New York to see me?” Ryan asked, in shock.
“Of course I came. Baby I missed you.” She was at Ryan’s side and hugged him hard making it difficult for him to breathe.
Miguel quickly stood up out of the way, the blood drained from his face. He almost forgot all about the fact that Ryan was already taken and his heart started to break, shattering into a million pieces.
Ryan saw the look on his face and pushed Shannon off gently.
“Miguel, I would like you to meet my fiancée, Shannon McCullough. Shannon, this is Miguel Alvarez, the man who saved my life.”
Miguel tentatively reached out to shake her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Thank you so much for bringing my fiancé back home to me.”
“It was no trouble at all ma’am. Listen Ryan, I gotta go. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
Miguel was ready to run out of there. He didn’t want Ryan to see the pain on his face.
“Wait Miguel, don’t go. Please stay.” Ryan pleated.
Miguel could barely look him in the eyes. “No I have to. Dino’s waiting for me downstairs and my flight home leaves in an hour. I’ll see ya.”
Fighting tears, he fled the room and out of Ryan’s life. Ryan filtered the noise of Shannon’s voice going on about their wedding plans and prayed for Miguel to return. He felt small and angry with himself. Here Miguel was pouring his heart out. Miguel was the only man who ever gave a damn about him, who really could see through his exterior and he hurts him yet again in the worst way possible. He looked at the door and waited for Miguel to return. He waited still.
***
4 years later…
Finishing his morning jog through central park, Ryan stopped at a newspaper stand to buy the morning paper. He had his day full with movie rehearsals and party invitations to RSVP. Last year he won an Oscar for best actor in a dramatic movie. He tended to stay away from the dramatic roles, but he took a leap of faith and agreed to star in it. All his hard work finally paid off. He was now an A-list celebrity. Ryan should be happy, but he wasn’t. His life was missing something and that something was Miguel. Life felt so empty without him. He wondered if Miguel was happy, if he finished nursing school. As much as he hated the thought, he also wondered if he had found someone else. If Miguel ever got married and decided to have a family of his own. Ryan stepped into his brownstone apartment home and headed for the kitchen. He sat at the breakfast nook and waited for the maid to pour him a cup of coffee. Thanking her, he looked out the window blowing on the hot liquid from his mug and took a sip. He then set the coffee down on the table and unfolded his newspaper. He turned to page three then opened his mouth like a fish. The headlines read: Recent top of his class college graduate accepts nurse managing job at local hospital. It was Miguel! He was now working in a hospital just outside of Manhattan. He had to see it for himself. In a flash, Ryan hurried to shower and dress. He called his assistant to clear his schedule and headed downstairs outside flagging down a cab.
It was about a 30 minute drive to the hospital, but the city traffic took the cab driver longer to get there. Once inside, Ryan asked the receptionist which floor Miguel was on. He took the elevator to the 7th floor. He stepped off and walked down the long hallway. He paused to see before him Miguel dressed in scrubs with a white overcoat, stethoscope around his neck, and clipboard in his hand. He was busy talking to another nurse giving instructions on a patient. Ryan’s eyes shone at the sight. Miguel’s wish had come true. He really did make it through school and was a nurse just like his mother. Ryan’s grin slowly subsided when he saw Miguel talking and laughing at a conversation going on with his fellow co-workers. Miguel looked so happy.
“This was a mistake. I shouldn’t be here.”
Just as Ryan was about to leave, Miguel turned his head and spotted him. He smiled bright and excused himself from the other nurses.
“Ryan? Is that you?”
Ryan gave him a small smile back feeling very awkward. “Uh...yeah. Hi Miguel.”
Miguel greeted him with a big hug. “It’s so good to see you. How are you?”
“I’m good.” Breaking away from the hug, Ryan tried his best not to fidget.
Miguel looked at him in wonder. “I am surprised to see you. How did you know where I worked?”
“It was in this morning’s paper.”
“Oh how silly of me.” Miguel replied dumbstruck. “Hey, my break is in five minutes, do you have time to talk for awhile?”
“Um sure. Where at?”
“There’s a small garden area up on the roof. Will you meet me there?”
“Yeah. See ya in abit.”
So Ryan headed back to the elevator going up the top floor to the roof. On the roof was a small garden of potted plants and flowers with a few benches scattered around. In the corner were some picnic tables that looked to be the staff’s break area. He walked toward the railing of the roof looked outward from the edge of the balcony taken in the view of the city. He heard footsteps from behind him and turned to see Miguel walking to the railing. Miguel stood beside Ryan also taking an eyeful of the beautiful view.
“So, how are things?” Miguel asked, looking at Ryan.
“Pretty good.” Ryan answered, looking back. “Work is good, family is great. We’re a lot closer now than before. It’s still taking me some time to adjust to it.”
“I’m so happy to hear that, really I am. I’ve seen some of your new movies and your Oscar win on T.V. Congratulations!” Miguel beamed, patted him on the back. Ryan felt the heat of Miguel’s hand which sent an electrical tingle throughout his body.
“Thanks. How are you liking your new job?”
“I love it! Everyone has been so nice. The chairman of the board says he’s been getting great feedback from my co-workers. I guess I’m doing very well as a manager.”
“I just knew you make it as a nurse. There was never any doubt in my mind.” Ryan grinned. “So um…Are you married? Have any kids?”
Miguel’s face almost cringed at the question so he just raised an eyebrow. “No, I’m not married. No kids either. I’ve been too busy with school and now work.”
“I hear ya.”
“Oh? So you and Shannon…”
“I couldn’t marry Shannon.”
“How come?”
Ryan was about to answer when the hospital intercom announced for Miguel to return to the 7th floor.
“Oh, I’ve got to go. It was nice seeing you again Ryan.” Miguel walked to the doors leading back to the elevator and turned his head back to Ryan. “If you’re ever up this way again, please stop by. Maybe we can meet up for lunch.” he said and started walking again.
“I love you.” Ryan almost shouted.
Miguel suddenly stopped and slowly turned his head. His ears must be deceiving him. He turned his body around looking at Ryan with wide open eyes full of emotion.
“That’s why I couldn’t marry Shannon. I’m in love with you. I always have been. I’m not afraid anymore.”
In an instant, Miguel quickly ran to Ryan, giving him a long passionate kiss. They kissed like they’ve never kissed before, not giving a damn if someone walked by. Miguel wrapped his arms tightly around Ryan refusing to let go. Ryan held on just as tightly before breaking away for air.
“So what happens now?” Ryan asked echoing the same question Miguel asked that special night in the cave.
“I don’t know, but we will do it together.” Miguel uttered the same answer Ryan gave him.
They stayed locked into the embrace. Neither one of them believed in true happiness till now. They have been through so much in their lives before and after they met. The road before them would be a difficult journey and people in their lives won’t open up right away to their newfound love. The reality of life would intrude on them again, but together they could conquer anything.
The End