Someone called Soulmate - Part 3
PART 3
Both the boys lay snuggling inside the sleeping bag. They were still naked, enjoying the feel of each other’s skin. With Luke’s head on his chest, Noah could feel his lover’s steady breathing tickling him. His hand was busy playing with Luke’s blonde tousled hair while his head rested over the other.
Noah looked down at him and wondered what Luke was thinking at that moment. He had been gravely quiet and anxiety burned inside Noah because of it. Taking a risk by breaking the silence, he confessed, “I missed you so much, Luke.”
A loud exhale came from the blonde and he sat up immediately. “Not enough to visit me once or even call me all these years.” He sulked.
Noah sat up too and palmed Luke’s shoulders. “I ... I don’t know how to explain it to you. But I guess I was too scared to initiate any contact with you. I mean Lily and Holden called me once every month and even your grandmothers would call me every now and then. But you never called me and it made me wonder if you even missed me.”
“Really Noah? You really thought I wouldn’t miss you at all?” Luke frowned at him and turned his body to face him. “After what we have shared, I wouldn’t doubt we wouldn’t think about each other even once. I mean come on; we were each other’s firsts in every step of our relationship.”
“I know. Believe me, Luke you were on my mind all the time. I used to be sick, worried about you. Every time Lily or Holden called, I used to ask how everyone was but I would mean to ask after you. I hoped you would call me sometime and I would get to hear your voice just once. But you never called me either.” Noah sadly uttered.
That angered Luke. “How can you even expect that? I was grieving Noah. I lost Reid ... I am sorry if I didn’t act thoughtful because my mind was elsewhere. I was left with that new hospital wing to take care of, which kept reminding me of his memories. I was so damn frustrated - angry that I lost him, angry that you went away, angry that you didn’t call.”
“You sent me away Luke. I didn’t even want to go. I wanted to be there for you.” Noah snapped getting irritated. This felt like a déjà-vu moment.
“But you went and look at you now, a full-fledged director you are, while I am still the old, broken Luke who will remain tied up with only all the old memories.”
Noah narrowed his blue eyes at him. “What is this all about? Tied-up wi- what do you even mean by that?” He seriously had no clue.
“If you were sleeping through all this that happened between us, let me remind you - we slept with each other Noah. I had sex with you, not even knowing where we are headed, and tomorrow you will be going back to LA; hanging out with big stars and celebrities, while us - well I guess we go back to ignoring that this ‘we’ thing ever existed between us.” He sardonically snorted. Every word out of his mouth was stinging Noah’s heart.
“Luke ... you know me, you know how much I love you. How can you think that I’d leave you after what we shared tonight? And you better get this straight; I wasn’t ignoring you. I was just afraid to find out whether I still meant the same to you.”
“Then I suppose you found that out today?” Luke wanted to know.
Noah smiled and whispered, “Yes, in your eyes.” A long silence prevailed between them. Those words did bring a calming effect to Luke’s anger. In a split second, his red, angry face softened and the only thing he could do was stare at Noah. It encouraged Noah to continue, “When I saw you today, I could see the happiness in your eyes, that excitement of meeting an old friend, the nervousness of saying the right words, the lust when you were checking out my ass...” He chuckled and Luke looked down to hide the blush forming on his face. But Noah held his chin and made him look up again before he tenderly added, “... and more than that, I saw that love from our past sparkling in your eyes.” Noah slowly leaned in and pressed his lips against Luke’s. The brown eyes staring at him closed in pleasure, and Luke kissed back. This kiss wasn’t anything like the hurried one they shared earlier in the woods. It was more of a tender, light kiss filled with all their love for each other.
Luke looked down breaking the kiss and slowly opened his eyes. “So where do we stand after this?” He simply asked. This time there was no anger, only a hint of anxiety in his eyes.
“We can start where we left off, or start fresh and you can have me fall in love with you all over again.” Noah grinned.
The corner of Luke’s lips did twitch but he didn’t smile - stubborn ass as Noah knew him, really cute but damn stubborn. Luke scanned him and asked, “And how exactly do you think we can do that? I mean you have to go to LA and I have to get back to my life in Oakdale. Seems impossible to me.”
“You can come to LA with me.” Noah shrugged saying it casually. But in actuality, his heart was racing in an unusual speed. He wondered what Luke would say.
Luke scowled, “I can’t, Noah. I told you my life in Oakdale is busier now. Grimaldi Shipping is based in Oakdale, not LA. The hospital wing is in Oakdale, not LA. I can’t abandon it.”
“You never wanted these things, Luke. Running a shipping company is not your dream. You want to be a writer and you can be a successful one living in LA.” Noah tried to make him understand. “And as far as the hospital wing is concerned, there is Bob and Chris to look after it.”
“Easy for you to say ... that wing was Reid’s dream and working there makes me feel closer to him.”
“Of course, but he would never want you to give up your dreams to fulfil his, would he?” Noah explained.
“I don’t know.” Luke looked down at his hands.
Noah moved closer and hesitantly put his hand around him. “You already gave a meaning to his dreams, Luke. And wherever he is right now, he will be looking at you feeling proud for what you have done to make his dreams come true even after he died. But your work is done; you have to let it go. You have to let go of the hospital wing, and you have to let go of the pain his memories bring to you.”
Luke shrugged off Noah’s hands from his body and looked at him with disappointment. “You would never understand what his memories mean to me because he pricked your eyes when he was alive.”
Noah exhaled. “Yes, I didn’t like him because he took you away from me.”
“He didn’t do anything Noah.” Luke yelled. “When will you understand? We fell apart because you pushed me away, you didn’t believe me when I said I wanted to help you through your blindness. You never respected my decision. You would just dismiss my touch when I wanted to hold your hand.”
“I-I wasn’t in my right senses. You should understand what I was going through thinking that my blindness could be a permanent thing.”
“And what about me? Do you think it was easy for me to see you in so much pain?” The agony of memories was hurting Luke too much to hold back the tear that left his eye when he said, “I wanted to be there for you. I could have made you feel better; you could have at least believed me on that.” He paused and pursed his lips trying to control his emotions. “But you didn’t believe me and just broke up with me.”
“You said you wanted more from me. And honestly, I wasn’t sure I could be any better for you at that time.”
“Who the hell gave you the right to think if you are better for me or not? I was capable of deciding it myself.” Luke’s voice rose in anger. “But no, you took that decision yourself and left me alone mid-way. I couldn’t bear that pain you were causing me. And Reid was there, Noah. He was there when my heart was broken into pieces. He lifted me from the hell of sadness and showed me love again.”
The rumbling of rain clouds screamed outside and the disturbed climate seemed to match the tension rising between them. Noah didn’t know what else to say. Actually, he knew what to say. He wanted to apologize, to get on his knees and beg for forgiveness. Luke was right; he did cause excessive pain to the only man he loved the most in his life.
Some commotion outside fell on his ears but the two were too occupied with their own thoughts. Suddenly Noah heard his name being called by a familiar voice, and they both broke eye contact. He quickly put on his still sodden clothes, passing up the other pair to Luke and yelled for the person outside to hold on. Once they were dressed and decent, he unzipped the opening of his tent and saw his fellow crewmate standing outside with an umbrella. Others were there too, pulling down their tents hurriedly and moving all their belongings away. The rainfall was still at its peak.
“What’s wrong, Brandon?” Noah asked letting him in. The short, red-haired man entered and the tent seemed crowded all of a sudden. Luke moved making some room for Brandon to sit.
“Pack up all your stuff’ we are moving.” Brandon said, his face showing the panic he was experiencing.
Luke exchanged a worried look with Noah. The brunette looked at him and then faced Brandon again. “Why? We still have a couple of hours left.”
“No, this place is being cleared. Caddo is flooding like shit and the area is beginning to get water logged. All the campers are being evacuated to some dry land they are saying. We have to move too.” Brandon told them.
“Wait, my family is camping by the river.” Luke freaked out. “Shit I must go and warn them to get them out of there too.”
“You can’t go there. The water has risen way above the lower ground. It is not safe to go back there.” The man warned him.
Luke was too worried to think straight though. “But I can’t just sit here when my family needs my help.” He said feeling helpless. Then remembering about Aaron and the girls, he asked. “What about my brother, sisters and my brother’s fiancé? They were partying down there with you right?”
“They were gone pretty soon. I guess they thought you went back to your camper, so they left too.”
“Fuck! I feel so stupid for leaving them like that over there.” Luke began to get up telling Noah, “I’m going to go and see if they are all okay.”
Noah called behind him but Luke was already out of the tent and ready to leave. The brunette came out too following him, and held him by his hand stopping him. “Luke, wait. You heard Brandon, it is dangerous. I can’t let you go down there.” Their bodies that had dried out by then, were now wet again as they stood unprotected from the heavy rains.
“And I can’t leave my family just like that Noah. What if they are stuck down there and couldn’t get out?” Luke gasped in fear of losing his family. “Fuck! It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come up here in the first place.”
“Don’t say that, Luke. I am glad you are here now. At least I know you are safe.” Noah hugged him protectively. “And as far as your family is concerned, I am sure they are safe too. Didn’t you hear? Everyone is being taken to some safer place, I’m sure they already left.”
Luke glanced up at Noah with a hopeful look and relief showed on his face. “Yes... oh God yes, they could be safe. They have to be safe.”
“I am sure they are.” Noah smiled sadly.
“You’re right. They must be on their way, but I still have to go and see them.” Luke said thinking about it and nodded to himself. “Yes, I have to go. They must be worried about me too; I should go.”
He began to turn but Noah stopped him again, “Don’t be silly, Luke. We have to get out of the trouble, not into it.”
“Noah, my parents, my brothers, sisters and Jess are down there. They need me and I am going.” Luke stubbornly said.
“Aargh Luke! Can’t you stop being so adamant at a time like this?” Luke’s face didn’t budge from the determination he had come to. Finally, Noah exhaled in defeat. “Fine! But you are not going. I will go and find them. You go with my crew members. They will take you to a safe place. I will find Lily and Holden and the others and meet you up there, okay?”
Luke shook his head vigorously, “I can’t let you do that.”
“And I can’t let you do it either.”
Luke cupped his cheek and said calmly, “Noah ... Noah please listen to me. It is better if I go and look for them. If you go, I will be worried about you too and I can’t live with that.”
Noah stared at him for a moment and then uttered, “Then there’s just one thing we can do ... we both go.” Luke began to say ‘no’ but Noah interrupted him and continued, “Your family is as important to me as you are, Luke. So please let me do this with you, okay? We can face whatever comes our way together. Agreed?”
Luke looked at him not knowing what to do. Noah watched him immersed in thoughts. He could tell his consciences were fighting within him but at the end, although reluctantly, he saw the blond head nodding in agreement.
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=
As they walked down the path that led them closer to the river, they got deeper and deeper into the logged water. They were now by the area named as Area B which was quite higher, away from the river. Still it was filled with knee-length water. Luke and Noah both struggled to keep going against the flow of water, firmly holding onto each other by their hands.
The whole unit from Noah’s crew had left for the safe house that was arranged for the campers. He had asked Brandon to take away his things also while he went with Luke. The kind man had tried to talk them out of it, but in vain.
On their way down, they saw many campers hurriedly moving for their lives. Their faces showed horror and worry for their families and friends who were along with them. It broke Noah’s heart. This calamity had brought ruthless consequences to everyone’s lives. He saw Luke and he could see the same fret surfacing on his normally pretty face.
Noah bit the inside of his cheek and gathering some courage and he blurted, “I’m sorry.”
The blonde, bewildered, looked at him. “What?” Luke asked.
“I said I’m sorry.” He repeated and looked down feeling each of his steps as he walked. He feared he would trip on something or slip. He didn’t want that to happen. Luke relied on him.
“For what?” Luke said looking ahead.
Noah scrutinized his head as he walked a bit behind him. He wondered if he really didn’t know what he was talking about. “For everything... I shouldn’t have blamed you for my blindness, but I did, I shouldn’t have pushed you away, but I did. I shouldn’t have let you go ... but I did. And I am sorry for that.”
Luke was quiet for some time and then he laughed sardonically, “It still doesn’t help to alleviate the pain you gave me.”
The brunette stopped walking and held Luke from going further too. He didn’t turn back nor did he say a thing. “I know and I don’t expect you to forget it that easily. But I think I can expect for you to forgive me?” He said quietly and sighed. “Luke, look at me please.” He begged and gave a pull to their held hands. Luke’s shoulder rose and fell and Noah watched him turn around at a snail’s pace. When he had the eye contact he continued, “When I went to LA, I had that film to co-produce and I knew my career life was starting. Things kept getting better and better and I ended up signing a contract for directing my first film too. But every second I lived this success, I regretted one thing Luke, and that was you not being in my life.” Luke’s eyes showed the lover’s sparkle in them once again and it melted Noah’s heart. “Of course I dreamt to be a successful director all my life, but that one day you walked into my life, that dream had changed. I began to dream of my success with you beside me.” His tender look changed to a serious one in a second. “But I had lost you; making mistake after mistake and believe me, losing you like that was the only regret I carried for the past five years.”
“Regrets aren’t good.” Luke whispered and moved closer. Noah felt the giddiness as Luke’s face neared and he closed his eyes feeling Luke’s breath.
However, just as they were about to kiss, they heard an agonizing scream coming from behind them. They both jumped at that, and Noah turned around to look. An older man came flowing by kinetically with the flow of water. The water had risen above their thighs now; almost to their waist. So it was deep. The man was trying to swim but he wasn’t able to. He was yelling for help as he would be swept down into the water and then come back up again.
As he was flown by the force of water, he happened to flow by Noah’s side. The brunette quickly went to his rescue. “Noah no!” Luke yelled in shock.
The man was still quite far from where they stood, however Noah managed to get a hold of the man’s hand. But in the process, he lost his balance and would have flown along with the man, had Luke not grabbed him in time. “Noah!” Luke yelled for his attention, “Let him go or you will be flown away too. The force of water is rising.”
“We can’t leave him, Luke. He is going to die.” Noah looked horrified.
Luke’s face showed sorrow and he said regretfully, “it’s too late; we can’t do anything. Let him go Noah.”
The brunette turned to look at the man. He had stopped screaming and struggling too. His eyes were shut tight and his face pale. Shocked, Noah let go of his hand looking wide-eyed and the motionless body that was floating over the water. The body now went smoothly down. Luke stepped closer to Noah and hugged him sideways while all Noah could do was stare in the direction the body had drifted.
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=
Continued ==> PART 4