Chapter 84: My world is falling apart.
In an instant, Charles closed his eyes, tilting his head back to grant Augustine deeper access to his lips.
As Charles parted his mouth slightly, Augustine, as if instinctively knowing what to do, slid his tongue forward, teasingly tracing the edge of Charles’s lips before delving inside but before Charles could even reciprocate the gesture, Augustine pull his tongue out.
He cupped Charles’s cheeks, his grip firm yet tender, and once more, his tongue slipped inside Charles mouth, lazily teasing Charles’s tongue with slow, deliberate strokes.
Just as Charles attempted to match Augustine’s rhythm, eager to return the gesture, Augustine suddenly withdrew, leaving him breathless and wanting.
Augustine stepped back, his hands falling away from Charles’s cheeks, yet the warmth of his touch still lingered.
A slow, knowing smile curled at the corner of his lips as he tilted his head slightly. "Do you still want to end things with me?" His voice was low, teasing, yet beneath the playfulness was a quiet plea.
Charles’s lashes fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes, his lips pressing into a thin line before he finally closed his mouth.
A deep frown settled on Charles face, his chest rising and falling. "Why did you stop all of a sudden?" Charles coldly spat.
Augustine scoffed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.
"I don’t want you to have anything to do with a gay person," he muttered, his tone clipped yet heavy.
Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel, his movements tense, and began making his way toward the stairs, his footsteps echoing in the silence.
Charles watched him walk away as he sighed.
’I shouldn’t have allowed him to kiss me.’ Charles mused within himself.
He brushed his index finger over his lips, tracing the spot where Augustine’s mouth had been, his touch lingering as if trying to capture the sensation.
A slow, almost dazed smile crept onto his face.
"What the hell..." he muttered under his breath, his eyes widening as the realization hit—he was savoring the taste of Augustine.
Charles gulped down a mouthful of saliva as he wiped his index finger on the suit he wore. "I need to end my relationship with Augustine before he makes me fall for him." Charles spat in a low voice.
Slowly, he trudged back to the sitting room, head over to the couch and sank into its embrace, his body feeling heavier than before.
’I don’t have any issue with Augustine, but I can’t live the rest of my life like this,’ Charles mused, his thoughts swirling like a storm inside his head.
Letting out a long sigh, he curled himself, tucking his legs close to his chest as he lie down on the couch.
Charles breath came in slow, uneven waves as he shut his eyes, willing his mind to quiet—but no matter how hard he tried, Augustine lingered in the corners of his thoughts.
’Augustine is a kind, gentle soul. I don’t want him to suffer because of my actions,’ Charles reasoned inwardly. ’Augustine father may not be able to protect him from his mother’s schemes, but that’s no reason for me to add to his troubles.’
Charles couldn’t help but berate himself for his earlier choice of words. ’Why did I say "gay" like it was something disgusting?’ he asked himself, his mind swirling with self-recrimination. ’What’s wrong with me?’
Charles sank deeper into his thoughts, frustration twisting in his chest. He hated how the words had come out, how they sounded laced with something he didn’t truly feel.
Charles continued to ponder deep within himself when all of a sudden, a pair of cold hands brushed against his neck.
Slowly, Charles opened his eyes as he averted his gaze towards the side.
There, he saw Augustine squatting beside the couch with a smile on his face.
Charles has been so engrossed in his thoughts that he had no idea when Augustine suddenly showed up.
Augustine was on a white short and a white singlet.
His fingers trace slow, deliberate circles against Charles’s skin.
"You’re always so stubborn," Augustine murmured. "But I know you, Pookie. You’re overthinking everything right now, aren’t you?"
Charles swallowed, his body tensing. "I just... I didn’t mean to—"
"Shhh," Augustine hushed him, leaning in just enough for his breath to fan against Charles’s ear. "I have forgiven you."
Charles frowned, his chest tightening. "Huh? Why are you forgiving me when I didn’t do anything wrong..."
"Hey," Augustine purred, cutting Charles off before he could finish his sentence. "I know you didn’t mean all the words you said earlier," he whispered, leaning in closer as he pressed a warm kiss to Charles’s neck. "I’m still going to be with you, even if your actions hurt me," he added, his breath caressing against Charles’s skin.
Charles pressed his lips together, his eyes rolling upward as a deep red flushed across his cheeks. "I hate that your words make me blush," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.
A scoff escaped Augustine’s lips, his gaze lingering on Charles with amusement.
He slowly rose from his squatting position, withdrawing his hands from Charles’s neck. "I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier," Augustine murmured, his voice softer this time as he took a seat in the small space left on the couch.
Charles sighed, pushing himself up from his lying position.
Sitting upright, he placed his hand gently on Augustine’s thigh, his touch lingering as he met Augustine’s gaze.
Charles drew in a deep breath, his fingers trembling slightly as he lifted his hand to Augustine’s cheek.
’Why does this feel so weird?’ he wondered, his heart pounding as an unfamiliar shyness crept over him.
"Umm... umm." He cleared his throat, hesitating for a moment before lowering his hand back onto Augustine’s thigh, his touch lingering as he tried to compose himself.
Charles’s amber eyes locked onto Augustine’s deep brown ones as he gathered the courage to speak.
"Augustine, I want you to know that I’m sorry for what I said earlier," he admitted, his voice soft but steady. "I was angry about how my life was falling apart, and I took it out on you."
Charles paused, swallowing hard as if trying to push down the weight of his emotions.
"I’m truly sorry," he added, his gaze never wavering.