I can't believe I haven't updated this story since June 2nd, 2016 aka last year. I'm surprised I haven't come back to it. My bad. I'll do better.
As much as Manolo liked spending time with Maria, he didn't at the same time. It wasn't because she was boring or anything of the sort. It was quite the opposite. She was just as entertaining, adventurous, and interesting as before she had left. As a friend, she was alright in that regard. However Maria didn't seem too interested in friendship. She'd touch his arm in intimate ways, wrap her arm around his, send him flirtatious looks and smiles, and giggle a lot. He was afraid she was going to try to kiss him or ask him on an actual date. He wasn't going to pretend to go on a date with her. What if Joaquin saw the two of them and thought Manolo was leaving him for Maria or at least cheating on him? Even if he knew it was just a pretend date, other people would get the wrong idea and think they were together especially Posada. He didn't want the man thinking he was in love with Maria or pursuing her.
'I hope she doesn't like me like I think she is,' He thought as Maria was talking more about her school. 'I don't want to have to turn her down or lie to her.'
"Enough about me though. What about you? How have you been doing?"
"Oh me? Nothing much," He shrugged. "Just practicing bullfighting."
"Do you like it?"
"Not really. I'd rather play the guitar."
"Mind playing some for me?"
"If you'd like," Manolo thought about what song he wanted to play and then began to play his guitar and Maria seemed to enjoy the music. Once he was finished, she touched his arm.
"That was beautiful, Manolo!" she beamed at him. "You were always pretty good at playing guitar. Maybe you should consider making a career out of it."
"I've thought about it, but my father..."He sighed. Bullfighting had never been his thing and had been his father and mother's dream for him ever since he was young. He had thought about it a lot but never felt brave enough to tell his father. Every time he thought about mentioning it, his dad would always bring up how multiple generations of their family had done it or how his mother would be so proud of him. It was as if he read his mind during those moments.
"I see," Maria said with a sympathic look on her face. "Your father expects you to keep up the family traditions."
"Yeah. I want to tell him so bad and then he brings up my mother and how she would be so proud of me."
"Don't feel so bad," she wrapped a comforting arm around him. "I'm sure your mother would be proud of your for whatever you choose to do in life and I know she would love you for who you are."
"Probably."
'Would she really though?' He mentally asked. While he figured she was right about the bullfighting part, what about him loving another man? That was the part Manolo was more worried about. Would she accept his love for Joaquin or would she be horrified and disgust by him liking another man? He was partly glad he wouldn't be able to know the answer as he was scared to know the truth. He knew what his father would think if he told him that he was with a man. While he was already mad about the bullfight, at least he could get over it. It was one match. It wasn't like it was going to kill him. If he told him about loving his best friend who wasn't Maria or any female for that matter, he'd have a heart attack. It would kill him, then he'd come back, kill his son, and then bring Manolo back just so his father could kill him again. He'd for sure disown him and never speak to him again.
"You don't sound so sure."
"Because I'm not," said Manolo. "I want to say she wouldn't care, but you haven't heard my father. All he talks about his how much he and my mother wanted me do certain things. Maybe I don't want to do any of those things."
"And you don't have to if you don't want to. Do whatever makes you happy. If your dad doesn't like it, too bad. If he loves you, he'll respect whatever you decide to do in life and he'll still support you no matter what."
He just nodded but Maria could still see he wasn't sure of himself. She decided to change the subject. "It's getting late. I'd better get home before my dad throws a fit and sends an army after me."
"Right. Good-night, Maria." When he noticed she hadn't left, he realized she wanted to be walked home. "Um do you want me to walk you home?"
"Only if you want to."
"Sure." He walked back with her home with Maria's arm around his.
"It's a beautiful night tonight, isn't it?" She mused.
"Lovely," he said trying to keep up a non-depressed tone but failed. Maria instantly felt bad for bringing up his bullfighting and his family. She squeezed his hand in comfort.
When she got home, she thanked him for the great day. "And cheer up, Manolo. Things will get better. I promise."
"Mm-hm," He mumbled to himself. Maria touched his arm and let her hand linger there for a bit as he looked away from her. She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. His eyes widened at the kiss and touched his cheek. She just kissed him. Any other day in their childhood, he would have fainted and then run off to rub it in Joaquin's face about it.
Maria had turned red and told him good night before running off inside. Manolo wasn't sure if she had done it to snap him out of it or if she actually liked him. Either way, Manolo was glad Joaquin hadn't seen him. He quickly went back home and curled up into bed to go to sleep. The following day, he went to visit Joaquin, the elderly maid let him inside as he was a close friend of Joaquin despite the taller man being gone.
"Where is he?"
"Something about flowers," the old woman said as she began dusting off an expensive vase in her boss's home. "No doubt for some lucky lady. He has some very big plans for tonight. I'm surpised he hadn't told you."
"Oh?" Was Joaquin planning something for him? The more the elderly woman began talking about overhearing her boss muttering about a fancy candlelight dinner, wine, flowers, and making the place look nice, both of them came to the conclusion Joaquin was planning something romantic. The younger man wondered what the occasion was for Joaquin to do this for. Was he planning on something?
"Perhaps he'll tell you later when he comes back. It's probably for the fair Miss Posada. She's a very beautiful woman and I've seen the way he looks at her."
"Oh really?" The way he looks at her, huh? He didn't like the sound of that. Joaquin better not be getting any ideas and he had better be just looking. The maid babbled on to say that the young man would often look at her with this lustful gleam in his eyes. She went on to say that he might have some feelings towards her and he was likely to be asking her out. "I see."
He could hear Joaquin come into the house. He went to the door to greet him. The taller male was surprised to see him there. "Oh! Manolo, there you are. I was looking for you."
"Mm-hm," Manolo said. "Can I speak to you somewhere else?"
"Yeah sure. Come up to my office."
When they had gotten inside of his upstairs office, Manolo locked the door behind him. Joaquin hopped on the couch and Manolo sat beside him inside of sitting on his lap like his boyfriend clearly wanted. "Joaquin, you know I love you right?"
"And I love you too."
"You're not...you're not into Maria still are you?" He asked nervously. He hoped his boyfriend wouldn't lie to him especially in his face.
"Maria? What the hell kind of question is that?" He said with an offended look on his face. "I'm here with you, aren't I?"
"I mean yes but..."
"But what?"
"I...I...I just...I see the way you look at her and I just feel like you would rather be with her than me," He fiddled with his fingers as he looked away from his boyfriend. "I know you used to like her and maybe there's something still there."
Joaquin held his smaller hands inside of his own larger ones. "Manolo, I don't love her. She's just a nice piece of ass, that's all."
He slapped him. "I'm being serious!"
"It was just a joke, calm down!"
"Don't joke about something like that when I'm terrified of losing you, dumb ass!" he snapped.
"I'm sorry, Manny," He wrapped his arms around him. "Maria is just a friend and any love I have towards her is platonic. You're the only person I love, okay? Nobody will ever come between us."
"I hope you're right."
"I know I am." He kissed his they sat there together, Manolo still had that bit of doubt in the back of his mind. Lustful looks were one thing, but what if looks turned into sex?
Manolo hadn't given into sex so far and maybe the taller man would use that as an excuse to cheat on him with Maria. If his boyfriend did that, he wouldn't know what to do. The man he loved sleeping with a woman would be devastating especially a girl the two of them had feelings for years ago. He said he was over her, but that was before they saw her again. Even after she came back, neither had discussed the possibility of lingering romantic feelings towards her. The brunette couldn't find a reason to ask before. Now he had to keep an eye on the guy. Just to be sure. It hadn't been the first time he thought about the possibility that the taller man might leave him. There were women in town that were smitten with Joaquin that were very lovely and would often flirt with him. Joaquin had his fair share himself, but overall the real focus in any female in the town's eyes were on Joaquin, who was with Manolo.
"If you ever left me, I don't know what I would do," He whispered.
"Same here," He rubbed his back. "I love you, Manolo. If I didn't, something would be seriously wrong with me."
Joaquin pulled away from him. "I have a surprise for you."
"What kind?"
"Just come back tonight. You'll love it." Manolo could have told him that Joaquin that he knew already, but he didn't want to ruin Joaquin's plans. Besides, there may be something more to their dinner plans tonight so he kept quiet. He told him that he'd see him later that night for sure. After he stayed to talk with him, Manolo listening intensely about Joaquin training soldiers and Posada's urging him to get married. "Actually more like pestering now that I think about it."
"He's been doing that for a while, hasn't he?"
"When I was younger, he'd mention it. He's been really pushing it now." He confessed.
"You've told me."
"No I mean he's been really pushing it. It used to be once or twice. Now he's been going at it like crazy these past few days. I'm thinking about leaving here just to get away from hearing it."
"Where are you thinking of going?"
"Still thinking on it...and I was thinking of taking you," He grinned at him.
"Me?"
"Why not? It can be a little vacation for the two of us," He pressed him closer to where his ear was. "Maybe a little time alone to fuck each other's brains out in the process."
"J-joaquin!" He turned bright red as his boyfriend smirked at his expression. "You know how I feel about that kind of thing!"
"I know," He purred. "I just like the look on your face when I say it. Besides, are you sure you aren't ready or are you just scared?"
"Scared?"
"Yeah...that my dick will be too big for you and might tear something."
"How do I know you're not exaggerating? For all we know, I could be much bigger than you myself."
"We'll just have to see don't we? Do you want me to pull it out for you?"
"Heck no! Don't say things like that."
"Hey we may as well get it over with, don't we?" He went for his belt. Manolo stopped him. "I was just kidding. It isn't like you could handle the sight of it anyways."
"Keep telling yourself that," He rolled his eyes. After talking for a bit more, the two of the parted ways with Joaquin staying in the house for his boyfriend's surprise. He couldn't wait for the other man to see what he had for him that night. Now to get everything right before it was time for Manolo to come over.
