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"Hey, how was the game?" Sonny asked entering Chad's room. "My team won again!" Chad said in a sing-song voice. "Great! What you're doing? Origami, after a long time?" Sonny said. "Yeah. I was wondering what to get when we go to Abigail's place. Just found some leftover color papers and glitter ribbons here. So, thought of making some hanging cranes...What an awkward gift!" Chad chuckled. "Hey, come on, it's nice! She will definitely appreciate it! I'm such an ass. I completely forgot about the gift" Sonny said. Sonny licked his lips and ran his fingers through his hair. "mm…Chad, I need to talk to you about something after dinner…" Sonny said somewhat hesitantly. "Sure!" Chad was curious.

Abigail waved goodbye to some of the volunteers and turned to see Will stacking the plastic chairs. "Need a hand?" "No, thank you. I'm glad that it all went well" Will said. "Yeah, Uncle Eric is quite happy. I hope camp like this is conducted throughout the country. What a pity that the government is unable to provide the basic health screening for all these poor people" Abi sighed. "I know…" Will sighed too. Both sat under the shade of a neem tree. "Chad is interesting and funny and a good company to keep…He's someone who could make you forget all your sorrows…In fact, there was never a day that passed without thinking about dad…but the past two days I didn't think of him for a second. Is that bad?" Abi placed her palm on her cheek and looked at Will. Will gently smiled and nodded "No, not at all." "So, tomorrow morning, Sonny and Chad are attending the church. I'm still thinking about what to cook for dinner. I heard that Chad likes beef steak but it's forbidden here…" Abi said. "Maybe you can make something with lamb and chicken…Sonny likes lemon chicken" Will was randomly drawing on the mud floor with a leaf stem. Abi sadly stared at Will.

The next morning, Will was meddling with his spoon without touching his breakfast. "Will, you don't like it?" Abi asked. "What? No. I love these pancakes…I was just thinking about this bad dream I had early this morning…" Will said. "Oh…you can tell me…that way you'll feel better" Abi was quite concerned. Will gave a faraway look and then, he began…

Will's Dream

I am looking shabby and messy with unruly hair, long beard, in soiled clothes. I am drowning myself in alcohol, like a pathetic loser… And then, Sami, my mom, storms into my room. "Will! Will! What am I hearing?" Sami throws her hands up. I lazily smirk at her and utter with a hiccup "Wh-what mom? That the world is gonna end tonight? I'm so happy" I finish the half-filled glass in one gulp. "You idiot!" Sami slaps my hand, shattering the empty glass. "You are, here, killing yourself…and there he is, Sonny Kiriakis, happily getting married to some guy! If only you had confessed your true feelings to him…" Sami sobs. "What? My Sonny is here in Salem! Mom, please take me to him…please mom!" I stagger and fall at my mom's feet. "Oh my baby, I'm sorry… but I can't take you now…" Sami hugs me. "Please don't say that mom! I need to see Sonny…I need to see my love, once. I promise I won't create any trouble" I cry. My mom takes me to the venue. By that time, the wedding is over…and Sonny happily steps out, holding his partner's hand, amidst loud cheers. "NO!" Like that glass, my heart shatters into million pieces. I forcefully pull my hand away from my mom's hold and start running back. "Will, wait!" Sami yells. With tear flowing like waterfalls, I run like a mad man…stumbling on people…I run so fast that don't even look at the speeding bus coming my way…"

"Oh God, Will!" Abi buried her face in her palms. "Abi, I'm sorry" Will rubbed her shoulder. "But Will…" Abi wiped her tears. "Don't worry, Abi. It won't happen like that. I'm going to talk to Sonny tonight after dinner" Will placed his hand on Abi's and told her about his decision. "Just let Sonny know how you feel" Abi said. "I will. Even if it doesn't work…I will be fine. I promise" Will nodded. "I'm sure it will work out" Abi squeezed Will's palm.

The Sunday mass had begun. Will and Abigail were sitting in the front row and every now and then, Will turned back to see if Sonny was present. Both Chad and Sonny entered the church a little late and sat in the back row as it was quite crowded. After the prayers, with the help of a translator, Father Eric was busy conversing with the attendees and blessing them. Will dreamily looked at Sonny approaching him. "Hey!" Sonny let out a loud breath and smiled a 1000-watt smile. According to Will, it was the brightest smile ever on Sonny's face. Will was a little puzzled as well as worried, because until the previous day morning, after they made love, Sonny seemed quite sad. Maybe Sonny had prepared himself well for the departure…Will thought but he just brushed it off for the moment and gently smiled at his dream guy. "All went well at the camp?" Sonny asked. "Yeah. It was great!" Will said staring straight into Sonny's eyes as though searching for something. "So, all packed to fly to Bangkok after the wedding tomorrow?" Will swallowed a bit. "Ahh…" before Sonny could answer, Father Eric greeted him. Chad and Abi were lost in their own world, chatting at a corner of the chapel such that Will had to pull them to join in the conversation with the priest. "It's an urgent meeting. I'm extremely sorry that I couldn't spend time with you guys. Thank you so much for joining Will and Abigail for dinner at my place. Please enjoy, everybody!" Father Eric smiled and left with some officials. As Will was thinking to spend some alone time with Sonny, maybe wandering around the fields, Chad told him and Abi that he and Sonny had to go back to the wedding house to get ready for the 'reception to the groom' ceremony since the bride, Priya, had requested them to accompany the groom like best men, Indian style. "So, see you at dinner!" Sonny once again gave that brightest smile and left with Chad. Though Will forced a smile, he was quite sad. But, there was a little faith in him…he was indeed going to talk to Sonny that night.

Dinner was ready. The table was neatly set, with a bottle of Chad's favorite vintage wine. Abi and Will had dressed up well. Chad and Sonny arrived in the borrowed car. "Wow!" Abi loved Chad's gift and praised his talent. For the third time, Sonny flashed that smile. Will, once again, made his poker face and smiled. He just wanted to forget dinner and pull Sonny straight into his room to have that important discussion. Abi too was in the same state as Will. Like Sonny, Chad's face beamed like never before. The dinner went smoothly, and all their conversation was about food and the wedding. Abi avoided talking about the guys leaving the next day, for she was afraid that it might spoil Will's agenda, but she was surprised that neither Chad nor Sonny uttered a word about it. As they relaxed on the couch, Will said "Um…Sonny, I need to talk to you…in private." "Actually, I too need to" Sonny said and followed Will to his room.

"What were you gonna say?" Will asked as he closed the door. "I will tell. But you first" Sonny said. "Ok…Sonny, I was thinking… no, actually I have decided something…Since this is gonna be my final semester…there's nothing much to study other than the project…I have already developed several models…they just need to be compiled and executed, which is no big deal. I…I want to come to Bradford after you and Chad return from your Asia tour… There are lot of freelance job offers. So…that way we…we both can be closer to each other" Will rubbed his palms together, as he stood in front of Sonny.

Sonny stared at Will with an expressionless face and firmly nodded his head "No, Will. I don't think it's gonna happen this way." That's it. Like in his recent scary dream, Will was shattered. His thin hope vanished. His legs gave out, and he slid down holding the bed, never shifting his gaze from Sonny.

(to be continued...)