WILD

Traditions and beliefs are so deeply rooted in the society that most of us are comfortable with embracing them as they are. But some decide to bend them, twist them and create something extraordinary out of the ordinary. For them the world is nothing but challenging. However, it cannot be helped when feelings surpass tradition not to create something magical.

Troye, being the shy little boy, had never been daring enough to kiss a girl or much less, get close to one. He had never needed anyone beyond his best friend, Matthew, a truth he realized that was to remain forever. It was not as if these feelings came easy to accept but it was not easy to forget how Matthew's laughter echoed, even in his dreams.

Childhood crushes were not easy to grow out of, even when they remained on the verge of disapproval. It was particularly hard when it was your best friend. No matter what others said was right, Matthew couldn't quite forget how captivating those blue eyes were. The very first thing he had fallen in love with.

Neither of them had the slightest idea as to when it all changed; when everything took a sharp turn into a world beyond friendship. They were walking along the shore, drunk in laughter and bathed in the setting sunlight, not caring about the oncoming dusk. Then in all of a sudden Troye noticed something new about Matthew.

"Did you change your earring Matty boy?" he asked.

"I did in fact," Matthew twirled his earring, "Do you like it?"

"Let me see it first", Troye reached up to get a closer look, "The last one was better," he said, a tad-bit disappointed.

Matthew was suddenly aware of how close Troye's face was to his. He turned his face and his stormy grey eyes were looking down at brilliant blue ones. Matthew gently placed a hand on Troye's cheek.

"M- Matt...," out came a whisper from Troye.

"I don't know what's happening," Matthew uttered breathlessly.

"Do we have to know each and everything?," Troye asked softly as his lips moved across to meet Matthew's awaiting ones as the rest of the world melted away to nothingness.

There were countless kisses, after that, up on fences and up on walls. Nothing else mattered when they were in each other's arms, it was all the comfort and safety they needed. Troye couldn't help but smile as he walked home, after yet another evening spent on the sand. Matthew's eyes promising another adventure the day after, as they always had. The new arrangements he had made with Matthew were certainly alluring. But it was a long wait before he saw Matthew again. He ran a hand through his messy hair grinning stupidly, resisting the urge to laugh. Everything looked so different now...that he was in love? Not that he was sure. But nothing had ever driven him so wild. It was his secret. Their secret. A secret that could not be exposed. After all, they were living in a blue neighbourhood.

FOOLS

Matthew was dazed. It was only seconds after Troye left, the only person he had ever felt comfortable with. He was always there, even if he had a thousand other things to do rather than comforting a friend. That was what he was doing, what was it? Hours ago? He didn't care to remember. Troye's long arms had felt like heaven. They were only hugging, but one thing always led to another. Just like their first kiss did. It was slow, a silent promise of always being there for each other. The memory brought a smile to Matthew's lips, which quickly faded away as his father entered into his room. A father that was supposed to be away for a couple more hours. One look at his face and he knew something was out of place.

"You're early, dad", Matthew said softly, not wanting to anger his father.

"I saw you", His dad spat. "Waited till I went out didn't you?"

Matthew gulped. The day he had been anticipating had come. "Saw what dad? You're not making any sense", he managed to utter at last.

"Don't you dare play a fool with me!" his dad shouted and grabbed the front of his shirt, hauling him up into a standing position. "I saw you locking lips with that faggot"

"His name is Troye, not faggot. And I love him", he knew they were the wrong words to say, the second they were out.

"Come again Matthew", his dad pushed him back onto his bed. "What did you say?"

"I said-I said, I love him", Matthew whispered. He knew that his father had strong hands. Just not exactly how strong. So he did not know what to expect as his father's hand came sailing at his face.

"I won't have a faggot for my son. And if that boy ever comes back again, I'll kill both of you. Do you understand me?", when Matthew said nothing he shouted again. "DO YOU?"

Matthew managed a weak nod. It was going to be a long day.

Matthew's father regretted what he did. Nonetheless, he had been right. All those long telephone calls, his son sneaking to his room later than usual and all those visits to that boy's house; they had all been leading up to something. He only wished he could have seen it sooner. He did not want to hit his son but all that anger HAD to go somewhere. No, he had done the right thing. He definitely did not want a faggot for his son.

Matthew cried himself to sleep that night. He did not want to face his father the day after, yet he had to. His father wanted him to come along with him to his work place. Which, Matthew took as his father's way of making up. But he was broken. Most of all, he did not want to face Troye. So when he came visiting, it was not pleasant, not at all.

Troye came around midday. Matthew pretended not to see him. But his father was not so reluctant to let go of the chance he had to end whatever relationship they had. So Matthew had to go and face one of his worst fears. Troye, his hair ruffled, was looking at him expectantly. Now Matthew had to go and destroy all that hopes. And so he did.

Troye was unnerved when Matthew flinched away from his touch at first. Then his words hit him quite hard. The way he pushed Troye when he tried to cup his cheek was unsettling too. But the words were the hard part. They always are, aren't they? Whereas sweet, innocent promises had been made were now transformed into harsh, hateful orders. Ordering him to never come back, to never lay a finger on him. Troye stood frozen as Matthew walked away and into his father's arms who embraced him and patted him a well done. Then he slowly turned around, still unbelieving, still quite sure that this was some cruel joke but Matthew never did come back and hugged him as he had done countless times before. So he dragged himself home with a sinking feeling that it was all over and done. His forever was a lot shorter than he had expected.

Matthew watched as Troye walked away without looking back once. He couldn't be blamed for that, could he? He watched and watched as their unspoken promises, their laughter, their safety and their happiness ceased away into a dull echo in his heart.

Troye sauntered, aimlessly, along a pathway that had once been not so lifeless to him. He stared at a couple walking towards him. One was a girl from the house next door and the other was his, no, not his any longer, Matthew laughing and chattering, completely oblivious to the world. As they had been, not so long ago. Their intertwined hands reminded him of other memories. Memories where two boys ran together laughing along a different pathway. Another when the same two held onto each other on his bed, so tightly like they would not see each other again. Memories where the other boy's lips had been so close to his, that he could smell his fresh scent. The other boy, who had belonged to him once, but no longer. No longer. How could he ever get rid of those memories, when they were the only thing keeping him alive? Even when a once familiar face had become so strange and lifeless to him? Had he been such a fool to fall in love so easily?