Promise

Through the dark night, a car was moving on the deserted streets heading in the direction of the hospital in haste. Flashes of lightening and loud roar of thunder accompanied the heavy rain. The driver seated inside the car had a gloomy face stained with tears. He was occasionally wiping off the salty water on his sleeves while still continuing to drive.

Few hours before

A young lad with a pretty face and beautiful features hurriedly rushed out of his house when he saw the arrival of mailman. His face was lit up with smile and the excitement was clearly visible in his eyes. He rushed past the living room where his mother and brother were seated. He skipped few steps on the way and soon he was out to greet the mailman.

“Mr Pete… There’s a letter for you.” The mailman said handing him the letter. He recognized the familiar writing and envelope. “Thank you!!” he said with cheerful tone while heading back inside the house. He tore the cover up and pulled out the letter.

He was more than excited to read the reply for his earlier letter. As he read, his smile slowly disappeared and the happy expression was replaced with a gloomy ones. He slowed down in his tracks and slowly tears began to roll down his cheeks.

He let out a loud cry while holding the letter close to his heart. Hearing the unusual sound, the two people seated inside the house immediately rushed out only to see the boy breaking down in tears. “Pete!! What happened my dear?” the mother inquired as she rushed towards the boy and wrapped her arms around him.

“He is leaving me mae… He is leaving….” The boy replied between his sobs. The brother grabbed the letter that had slipped from the hands of Pete and began to read it. The letter was written on behalf of the person who always wrote to Pete. This small piece was responsible for everything that happened.

“Mae, he is dying. His last wish is to see Pete. He has sent the address to the hospital and said that he is waiting to see Pete.” The brother explained. The mother couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.

“I need to go mae…. He is waiting for me… This is the one and only chance I have to see him before he leaves this world. Please let me go.” Pete begged. The two understood the situation and decided to let the boy go and see the person for last time. “Sure my son…. But take care of yourself.” The mother said.

Pete didn’t wait any longer and immediately rushed inside the house to grab the car keys. He hastily grabbed the keys and ran out of the house. “Stop right there!!!” the loud sound echoed in the house making Pete stop in his tracks and freeze in place.

“Where are you headed to?” the person inquired. Pete turned around with the tear stained face to look at the person. “Por, please let me go. This is the only chance I have before he dies.” Pete begged. Those words hurting him as he let them out. “That’s something to celebrate. Isn’t it? I told you that God will never approve of this and see, I was right. He is dying because this relation was wrong in first place. Now at least open your eyes and see what you are getting yourself into.” The father said. His face or tone didn’t even held a little sympathy for the dying soul.

“Por!!! He didn’t do anything wrong. Loving someone is not wrong.” Pete retaliated. “Loving someone is not wrong but loving the person from same gender is. I will never accept it.” The father was firm in his decision.

“Honey, let him go. This is last chance he has. He will listen to everything you say but let him go this time.” The mother begged to the man. “I will not allow him to leave.” The father shouted, his voice booming through the walls.

“This is my one and only chance to see him. He is dying.” Pete said in between sobs. Only he knew how much it was hurting him right now to say those words out loud. The mere thought that the person he loves is slowly losing the time he has left was killing him.

He didn’t wait anymore and began to walk out of the house while wiping the tears off his face. “If you leave now, don’t even dare to return back. If you step out of the house, I will disown you. I will have only one son and you never existed for me! I will never consider you as my son ever again!!” the father threatened.

“You never considered me as your son por. You never…. But I cannot ruin this one and only chance of mine to see him. I am leaving.” Pete said while taking in a deep breath and walking out of the house. “You faggot!! Don’t you dare return back home. You are dead for me!” the father shouted. “I am sorry that I am your son but please be assured that I will never return back home ever again.” Pete said as he stormed out of the house heading towards the car. He was filled with rage but more with sadness and heartbreak.

“Pete!!! Pete!!! My son!! Your por didn’t mean it.” The mother tried to convince. Her heart breaking at the sight of her son leaving. Somewhere deep inside she felt that this will be the last time she will see her son.

Pete started the engine and pulled out of the premises. The mother broke down in tears as she saw the car disappear from her sight. “I love you my son… I love you a lot… I can only pray that God grunts your wish and you be happy forever.” She whispered.

The sunny day soon turned cloudy and then the heavy downpour started along with lightening and thunder. Pete cried as he drove through the streets to meet the love of his life. The person with whom he felt in love with only through the letters that they had exchanged. This piece of papers were their only means to convey their emotions. They never met, never talked face to face, never heard each other’s voice and never saw each other but still, their words alone weaved their hearts together.

Back to present.

Pete arrived at the said hospital and parked his car outside and stepped out in haste. He hurried towards the entrance. He can feel the vein pulsating in his head and he was gasping for breath, but none of it could stop him. He rushed towards the receptionist and inquired, “May I know where Ae is admitted?”

The receptionist looked at the figure that was soaked in rain water and panting heavily and then moved to check the register. After going through it for a while, she replied, “I am sorry sir. But there is no one with such name.”

“No!! This can’t be, he is here. He will not lie!” Pete protested. A person who had just walked in from outside heard the name – Ae and approached the desk. “What is the matter?” he inquired with the receptionist.

“This young man is asking for Ae but there is no person with such name admitted in this place.” The receptionist replied. The person’s facial expression changed after hearing the words and then he looked at the young lad and asked, “Pete?”

Hearing his name from a stranger, Pete looked at him while blinking his eyes. “Do you know me?” Pete questioned. “I know Ae…. Come, I’ll take you to him.” He said while gesturing Pete to follow. Pete immediately thanked the guy and followed him as he led him towards the ICU. He opened the door revealing a person lying on bed with various IVs connected to him. It was clear that the person was trying really hard to breathe and was still fighting to stay alive.

“That’s him!! You can go and speak to him. He is waiting for you.” The person said while nudging Pete to go ahead. Pete took careful step in the direction of the person who was lying on bed and still fighting for his life. He stepped closer and then looked at the tired yet handsome and beautiful face of the person. How he wished that he would have seen him under different circumstances and he was able to see the bright and lively person that always wrote to him.

“Ae…..” he called with his trembling and low tone. The person on bed opened his eyes and looked at the owner of the voice. He smiled but his eyes looked all tired. Tired from waiting, from staying awake but they still had the spark as he looked at the only person he was longing for. “Pete….” He called through his heavy breathing.

That voice was enough to break Pete down. He moved closed and then gently placed his hand on the cheek of the person who was lying on the bed. “Ae… Ae….” He couldn’t say anything else as he broke down in tears. The pain and agony pouring out. “Y-You are b-beautiful…” Ae tried to speak through his hard breath. He lifted his hand to touch the person who was now looking at him with tear stained face. He placed his hand on the cheek of the other person and then said, “and soft….” He smiled even though it looked kind of painful but he still did.

“I a-am sorry f-for leaving you halfway… B-but I promise to return back and f-fulfill….. fulfill each and e-every promise I made… I-I will t-take you to t-that place for sure.” Ae said, his breathing getting uneven, his voice breaking, everything indicating that the clock was ticking off.

“A-Ae… Please stay… Don’t leave me alone… I cannot leave without you…” Pete begged. He tried to hold Ae’s hand thinking that he could hold him back from leaving. He cannot let this person go. “P-Pete… I am s-sorry na… I d-don’t have enough time…. But I will come b-back…. F-for you…….. only you.” Ae promised, even though he was weak, his words came out firm and he meant each one of it.

“If you are leaving, please take me with you...” Pete begged. This was the first and only conversation he was going to have with the person he loved the most and he wanted to treasure each and every second of it. The mere thought of living his life without Ae was killing him. “I… Ae… Intouch…. Promise you P-Pete, t-that I will come back a-and fulfill each and e-every promise I made. I will l-love you and only y-you… Forever and e-ever…. In next life, I-I will spent my whole l-life with you… I-I will marry you…. T-Those d-dreams which w-we have seen t-together, I will fulfill t-them.” Ae said while slowly tangling their little fingers. “I will wait for you Ae….” Pete promised.

He looked up at the person who was looking at him with lot of affection. He can see the pain the person was trying to mask but with each passing second he can see the person was slowly losing the battle of his life.

Ae then squeezed his fingers asking him to come close. Pete scooted closer and Ae slowly removed the oxygen mask. He didn’t have much strength left so whatever he had, he gathered it all and gestured Pete to come very close. Just when their faces were centimeters away, Ae came closer and pressed his lips to Pete. He closed his eyes as he felt the sweet taste. This was his first kiss and last too. Pete closed his eyes as he let the tear fell from his eye. This moment was going to be the only memory he would have of his love.

Ae pulled away after a while breathing heavily. Pete grabbed the oxygen mask and tried to fix it. But nothing could help the soul that was desperately trying to escape. Pete held onto Ae’s hand crying out loud for help. But it was too late. Slowly, the spark in the eyes of the person faded and the person closed his eyes.

The constant beeping of heart rate monitor changed it’s pace and finally there appeared a line indicating the soul had left the body. Pete cried out loud when he realized that the love of his life was gone forever…..