Chapter Twelve

This is What You’ve Wished For

The wind started to blow that afternoon after the funeral: not the usual wind, though. The weather seemed to have changed in a weird way. The sky became darker and breeze was just weird as hell.

But Travis Becker did not bother that kind of weather threat and insisted to go to Mr. Brent Jones’s apartment for his first day of being a student assistant. He started knocking in without hesitation as he stepped in front of the door. While waiting for the door to be flung open, his thoughts was still glued about that text that he just received along with his friends from a blocked Caller ID with a byline “From your best bud, E.” All he knew was his best bud had already been buried six feet under.

What if Edward texted it to them under the ground? Did he have his cell phone with him when he was buried? Was it his ghost who texted us? That’s impossible. These thoughts circled around Travis’s head.      

Suddenly, the door swung open. “Hey! Come in, Travis. Welcome.”

“Good evening, Mr. Jones.” Travis stared at his teacher: he sure was sparkling. He was definitely stunned by Brent Jones physique. He was wearing a grey muscle shirt and sweatpants, not usual attire that Travis sees all the time. Even though he looked like he just got out from bed, in Travis’s eyes, he looked hot and delicious.

Travis stepped in and looked around. He could smell the scent of raspberry and it definitely lingered in his nose. He thought of smelling a usual man’s sweat but it was different. It seemed that, Brent’s apartment was convenient for him; it has everything that a simple house should have. The walls were painted with two colors. It was divided horizontally: the upper part was painted in cream while the other half was painted in brown. On the left, Travis saw rows of photo frames that were in queue above a long tall table. It looked like it was Brent’s high school days. A flat screen TV sure was the center of the living room and it looked cooler because an aquarium with four goldfish swimming around was placed beside it.

 “Make yourself comfortable,” Brent said as he went to his kitchen.

Travis wandered around. He looked at Brent Jones’s displayed photos. He smiled when he saw how cute Brent was when he was in his teenage years. “So, you were a footballer before?”

“Uh huh,” Brent loudly answered from the kitchen, “I used to be the running back. We were the Cheetahs.”

“Yeah?” Travis was amazed. Seeing how good-looking Brent was during his high school days yet still maintained that handsomeness and developed more. “Why didn’t you pursue Football? Why’d you end up teaching?”

"I don’t know. I think it’s my calling. Football’s fun but for the record, I don’t see my future there.” Brent headed to the living room holding a tray of cookies with a strawberry juice. He placed it on the small round table in front of the couch. “Here, Mr. Becker."

“Oh, you don’t have too, sir,” Travis resisted.

“I have too,” Brent insisted, “by the way, I’m gonna give you your first paper work.” He grabbed the papers from his desk. “These are the papers of my 8th grade students. Here is the correction key as well. Will it be okay?”

“Of course! That’s what I applied for,” Travis widely smiled, “...Mr. Jones.”

“By the way,” Brent grabbed his towel, “don’t call me Mr. Jones. Call me Brent, here. But of course, at school, you have to call me ‘sir’ or ‘mister’.”

“Okay... Brent,” Travis blushed then picked up a quiz paper and examined it.

“I’m gonna take a shower for while,” Brent added, “Please make yourself at home.”

Before Brent entered the bathroom, he stepped on its doorstep and removed his grey t-shirt which made Travis’s mouth dropped. All he could see was perfection of Brent’s muscular arms, chest, and surfboard abs. Travis started to heat up. It was like Brent was glowing.

Then, Brent entered the bathroom. Travis could hear the water sprinkling from the bathroom. He imagined what Brent was doing inside instead of just showering. “Maybe he’s...” quickly, Travis shook his head. “Focus!” He said to himself.

Then, he started to look at one of his student’s paper. “Jonah Michael Lockwood” was written on the top of the paper.

“Lou’s bro,” Travis whispered. He grabbed the correction key and started checking Louis’s brother’s paper. After he finished checking Jonah’s paper, he grabbed his phone to update his status. Then, he thought of something. While Brent was bathing, Travis decided to wander around Brent’s apartment. He put the quiz papers on the table where it came from. Underneath of the table was a vertical box which he accidentally kicked and all the reading materials inside that box slipped.

Travis was shocked. Not because the reading materials strayed on the floor but because of what the reading materials were. They were definitely shocking because it was full of Men’s and Women’s Magazine with nude photos of boys on the cover. There was also photo album during Brent’s days in his adolescent years.

Travis’s brows rose as he wondered why Brent would collect Magazines with hot guys on the cover. He glimpsed at his left where the bathroom was located then he took a peak on the album and was shocked when he saw a photo of Brent in a party kissing another male who were both holding a champagne glass.

Travis silently gasped. He did not conclude anything at first. He quickly turned to some couple of pages. He saw photos of Brent with the same guy as if they were in a relationship because of the intimacy. At first, he thought that the ‘kissing photo’ was just a dare from that party but as soon as he got to see all, he landed on a conclusion that Brent might be gay... too!

The guy whom Brent was kissing sure as handsome. He was also blond with tan skin. At first glance, the boy reminded him of his deceased friend, Edward Lawson.   

Suddenly, Travis heard the squeak of the shower faucet. He heard Brent calling his name. Travis quickly shoved the album and the magazines back to the box and stood up quickly.

Brent exited the comfort room, soaking wet. He was wearing a bathrobe.

Travis was quivering as he was standing in front of the table.

Brent’s eyes widened and spoke. He sounded seductively in Travis’s ears, “are you okay?”

Travis quickly nodded but he was not looking at his eyes, instead, he was looking at Brent’s body. Even though it was covered with a robe, he seemed to see Brent’s insides. Brent’s sexiness sure hypnotized Travis. He even gulped hard and felt quite uncomfortable. Nonetheless, his brain circled some flowery thoughts and all he could think of was the word “Delish”!