An entirely new prologue just for all of you. Thank you so much for still supporting me in this journey. For those existing readers, thank you for the patience. The entire book will be done in no time (as I'm actually secretly in the middle of rewriting it). For those of you who are new, this was a book called "Double Pen***tion" and I hope you enjoy it. 

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prologue

The drip of sweat in their chests glistened as the sun shines above them with a bliss of optimism and warmth. Much to the boys' innocence as they ran carefree beside the lake, no one was expecting the storm that was about to come.

Twelve year old Daniel never felt so happy. To have two best friends who are brothers, it almost made him feel that he's finally a part of something; a family. Contrary to what he thinks, Daniel actually has a pretty nuclear family but he's an only child which meant that his parents' attention was all on him. Everything he does and everything he wants to be, it was observed and supervised by his parents, especially his dad.

Today, Daniel never looked so happy. It seems like he actually found his true brothers... Jayden and Kayden.

The three boys giggled as they splashed each other fresh water from the lake. Kayden, who was always the most adventurous and the most deviant placed his hands on his hips and gave Daniel a daring look. "Hey Daniel, I dare you to climb that tree and jump from the branch towards the lake."

The naive and excited Daniel smiled and threw a playful punch on one of Kayden's arms. "What's in it for me?" He asks, always the smart and cunning one. Daniel never obeyed Kayden's dares unless there's something in return that will benefit him.

"If you do it, I will lend you my favorite pair of socks." Kayden winked.

Daniel felt more excited from the idea. He had always been nudging Kayden about his pair of socks. The piece of garment was colorful and vibrant and most importantly, it has a signature of their favorite basketball player from the Lakers. One night, the three of them together with Jayden and Kayden's father went to a basketball game and Kayden, being always the lucky one, brought a sock from the souvenir shop and got a star player to sign it from a random encounter.

"Better have that pair of socks!" He screamed as he ran, pushing Kayden away, towards the tree that he pointed at. Jayden, who was always behind the footsteps of his brother, just watched Daniel with an amused expression as he climbed the tree with blissful joy.

"Here goes nothing!" Daniel screamed from above and closed his eyes. He counted one to three in his mind and finally hopped from the branch as soon as he counted three. As he fell, adrenaline coursed through his body however, to his demise, he fell straight to a shallow part of the lake.

This caused him to instantly panic which led to a desperate yelling and flailing of his limbs. I'm drowning! He thought.

"Help!" He yelled at the top of his lungs as he gasps for air. He tried to swim up but something down below felt like it was pulling him down. It didn't take long until he passed out from the panic and from the lack of air inside his lungs and the last thing he heard was the splashing of water in the lake.

A few minutes later, Daniel finally regained consciousness. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Kayden's worried eyes beaming down at him. Kayden successfully woke him up just by shaking him vigorously, regretting the stupid dare he made Daniel do.

"Thank God you finally woke up! I was scared that we're about to call our parents for you." Kayden cried, his lips full purple from the nervousness he felt when Daniel fell unconscious.

"Did I drown?" Asked Daniel, who was clueless about what just happened. It all happened so fast that it took him a while to absorb everything. He looked at his side and he saw Jayden his right hand to his cheeks, sobbing from what just happened.

This made Daniel giggle. Jayden had always been the cry baby and the softest among the three, but what he lacks in toughness he makes up for in affection and love. He definitely glues the group together.

"I don't think so, you just had a panic attack and collapsed. I was already holding your hand when you started flailing." Kayden tried to brush off his moment of panic and went back to his tough demeanor.

Daniel sighed, sitting up from his position. "You stupid idiot!" He playfully flicked Kayden to the head, causing Kayden to groan in pain.

"I guess I deserve that for putting your life in danger."

"Don't worry, I went with it which made me the more stupid one." He smiled. "But you promised me the sock. I want it." The three of them laughed and hugged it out, continuing their swimming at the lake, carefully looking out for that shallow gap so that they wouldn't fall again.

When the sun was about to go down, the three of them went back to Daniel's backyard and giggled their way to this one big tent that they have built together. It was summer and all the kids in town built their inflatable swimming pools and whatnot. The three of them opted for a tent and insisted their parents to have a little camping outside the yard.

"So..." Daniel was the first one to speak. "Who's gonna join me for the tryouts for the younger basketball league this upcoming school year? I'm so hyped for the next game!"

Jayden enthusiastically raised his hands. "I do! I love basketball and you bet your ten bucks that I will be the next captain ball of the team! I want to see the look on Rafael's face when the coach finally decides that I'm the captain ball!" Jayden said, a conviction noticeable in his tone.

He had been training hard for this together with Daniel and Kayden. However, Daniel seemed to be surprisingly talented and skilled with whatever he does, like the excellent student that he is, and Kayden was the more agile and stronger which made Jayden's chances slimmer as the other two were more fitted to be the leader than him. But Jayden's spirit and positivity gives him an edge compared to the rest.

"Sadly... I won't." Kayden said with disappointment lingering on his voice. The two caught Kayden's sadness flash in his eyes and instantly went to caressing his back to give Kayden comfort.

The three of them need not to speak about the current situation Kayden and Jayden's family were going through. They just knew in their heads that this is as sad for Kayden as it was sad for them.

"You're... going?" Jayden eyes widened, surprised from the sudden revelation Kayden just mentioned.

"I-uh... I know it's hard, especially for you, Jayden... but I have to."

"But... " Jayden's vision darkened. "It doesn't mean that you can, doesn't mean that you should..."

"We're almost at the verge of becoming homeless, Jayden..." Kayden reasoned out, hoping that his brother could see the bigger picture. Their family was scammed by an accountant and took all of their savings away, leaving the family insolvent at the moment. The person who was liable was not yet found and his divorced parents are oblivious about it, of course.

One solution that his father suggested is to go back to Canada with Kayden, leaving Jayden and his mother here in the US. In that way, both of the divorced parents could split the expenses for the brothers and give them a good life.

Unfortunately for the siblings, this will mean that the two of them will be separated... And Jayden is not happy about it.

"But how about me?" Jayden cried, clearly not seeing the bigger picture. But Kayden understands this because both of them are still young and Jayden is clearly the more immature and juvenile one compared to him.

"I'll call you... and Daniel, everyday." Kayden cupped his hands on Jayden's cheeks, wiping the budding tear that was about to fall on his eyes.

"This is so unfair..." Jayden looked down, sadness hovering his whole posture.

"Life is unfair, Jayden. This hurts for me too but... I want to help our parents get back to their feet and once everything starts going back to normal, I promise we'll see each other again."

"But what if that doesn't happen?" Daniel interrupted, a confused look on his face. "What if... we don't ever get to see you. I don't get to see you again?"

"You will see me... especially you, Daniel. You're my best friend forever. And you Jayden, you're always going to be a part of me. We're always going to be brothers."

Unsure of his thoughts, Daniel decided to act on his feelings and not on his mind and attacked Kayden with a hug. Kayden was surprised but seemed pleased about it and hugged him back. The two of them, Daniel and Kayden, know to each other that what they had was more than friendship... they just don't know what to describe it and how to act upon it.

Kayden knew that it wasn't just friendship and he knew that Daniel is aware of that as well. He was anticipating what the future brings for them but sadly, it had to be cut short because he's moving to Canada.

However, even if Daniel is aware, his feelings aren't as fully realized as Kayden's feelings for him. He just always thought that Kayden was just a phase and that for a twelve year old boy to get attracted to another boy was just something he would grow out of.

Obviously Jayden wasn't aware that all of this was happening behind him because he's too juvenile to see the clearer picture and to read behind the lines.

"I'm gonna miss you." Kayden whispered to Daniel's ear as Daniel buried himself to his neck. "Take care of Jayden while I'm away."

"I will." Daniel answered.

Jayden let out a soft sob and joined the hug. And together, the three musketeers felt invincible.

Neither of them felt anger but deep inside Daniel's heart, he wished that Kayden wouldn't act so mature for his age and follow what his heart truly wants. He wished that for once, he listened to his guts. But he also knew Kayden wouldn't do such a thing. Just like the big brother that he is, Kayden will always give way, even if that means to lose the two great people in his life.

It felt surreal for Daniel and Jayden; to grow up without Kayden. Kayden will miss out on a lot of things just as Daniel and Jayden will miss a lot of things for Kayden.

But like he said, he will call.

A few weeks have passed and it was finally time for Kayden and his father to leave and go to Canada. Daniel didn't show up to give his last goodbye. He was too heartbroken and he's afraid that he won't bear the sight of Kayden leaving so instead, he nuzzled on Kayden's pair of socks that Kayden soaked with his cologne; it was to remind Daniel that Kayden will always be there, especially when it's time to sleep.

He will miss Kayden. He doesn't think that this shallow portion of his heart will ever be filled by someone else. It was too early to assume but right now, that's what his heart was screaming. It will take time for him to get over it and he knows it. He might even hold grudges but... one thing he knows for sure, he loved Kayden differently than others.

God knows when he will come back but hopefully, by the time he does, both of them are in a good place and better versions of themselves.