Ander had been pushing him away. Omar knew it, but that didn't make it hurt less. Ander was dealing with a lot on his own, Omar knew that too. It still didn't help.

Omar loved Ander, all of him, in sickness and in health, or whatever the vow was. Yes, they probably would never take that particular vow, given that neither really believed in the Almighty, but Omar had always known in his heart of hearts that Ander was it. He was The One. But knowing that did little to ease the pain.

Omar stepped out onto the curb and started walking.

"If you wanna fuck other dudes, I won't mind"

"I barely know you and now you are in my house!"

"Don't need your pity"

"What are you staying around for?"

"Get lost"

Ander's voice kept coming back to him, as Omar struggled to keep his vision clear. He failed miserably at that and settled for wiping his face with the sleeve of his hoodie, every 10 seconds.

He kept walking, not knowing what to do or where to go. He didn't want to get back to the house. He would have to face Ander and he couldn't do it. Not now, not like this. Omar knew that when Ander told him to get lost, it was out of anger and misery. When Ander told him that he was dating Alexis, it was to wound him so he would leave. But Omar kept coming back. So today, when Ander finally broke and told him that he didn't want him in the house, Omar knew for once he was letting out his true feelings. Ander kept bottling everything up inside him and finally it had all come tumbling out. He wanted Omar gone from his life.

Maybe for now... or maybe forever, but definitely gone.

Omar had taken up a space in his life that he was scared to fill, and with everything that had happened, with Polo, with chemo etc, Ander was overwhelmed. Beyond overwhelmed, really.
Omar was just trying to be there, but had ended up driving Ander away instead. Now, all the pieces suddenly fell into place: the distant behaviour, the irritation that Omar seemed to cause, the pain. All of it made sense. If only Omar had seen it earlier. Maybe he'd have taken a step back and they would still have a chance.

Omar silently wiped his face again, as he continued walking. He rounded the corner and paused. His muddled brain threw up options for him to consider.

Where could he go?

Samuel's? No, he had enough shit to deal with. Omar didn't need to burden the poor boy more.

Guzman? No way. He would not go to Ander's best friend because it would only end up worrying Guzman even more. Then Guzman would try to intervene and talk to Ander and that would not go well. Omar didn't want to start that chain of reactions.

Omar shook his head, trying to see clearly through his tears and sniffled. His heart quietly threw up one last option, Home?

Omar stood quietly for a moment, ignoring the people around staring at the crying boy.
He could go home. Except, he wasn't sure what home was anymore. The Shaana residence would not allow him to be the person that he was. And the Munoz residence... well, that's what he was walking away from.

Ander had been polite, had given him time. "Move out whenever it suits you" he had said, "But go".

Omar just wanted to stay away long enough for Ander to go to bed. It would take a few days for Omar to figure out where to go, but those few days, he would make himself scarce around the house, seeing as little of Ander as possible. Omar didn't think he would be able to keep himself from breaking down if he got close to Ander again. The pain inside was already growing, consuming him. Every time he felt he had his emotions under control, a new surge of pain would wash over his heart, making his entire being ache. Omar sighed. He would just have to walk around for a few hours, he decided. He started walking ahead, towards the intersection.

He didn't see the light change to green.

He didn't see the car until it was too late.

Ander lay on his bed, curled into a tight ball, sobbing into the pillow. He hated what he had to do, what he had become. But he needed to let Omar go. Omar didn't deserve this, didn't deserve him. He was a mess, and Omar deserved so much better than that.

If he left now, he would not have to be there when the last stage came about. Omar would be spared the horrors of the slow death. He would be able to move on now, with the memories of the Ander who would move about, could walk and talk and joke. Ander didn't want to be remembered as the sick, decrepit, immobile cancer patient he knew he was going to become. The disease would weaken him inside out, and the cure would leave him even more vulnerable that what he was now. It was only a matter of months. He wanted to spare Omar the pain. But from the way the last conversation had turned out, it didn't feel like Omar had been spared from anything.

"Why are you trying to shut me out? It's me Ander. I'm a fucking boomerang. I'll keep coming right back!"

"Oh, yeah? Ever thought to consider that was the problem? You keep coming back. You are everywhere Omar! Every corner I turn, it's you! I can't seem to breathe! It's suffocating me!"

Omar looked like he had just been slapped across the face. Ander felt a deep pang of guilt in his heart, but he knew that his bottled up feelings and frustrations would help drive home his point so he continued. He used all the venom that he had locked inside of him, to throw more words at Omar. It didn't matter that the hate he was throwing at the boy, didn't belong there. But Ander knew that if Omar was to leave him, he would need to give Omar a really good reason to.

"We were matched on a dating site because we were within a designated radius, not because we were meant to be. It was not romance, or destiny. It was a hook up, and we both got carried away. And now, you are suddenly living in my house, taking care of my health, living with me. It's too much dude! I can't take this anymore. I can't seem to get away from you even for a second! Please Omar! I have a lot to deal with right now, and I cannot deal with you anymore. Please go from here."

Omar stayed quiet. Ander finally looked at his face and saw tears running down his cheeks. Immediately, Ander regretted it, but he held his ground. Omar needs to hear this, Ander told himself.

Omar backed away a little, sniffling and then tried to calm his voice down before saying the next sentence.

"So, you want me gone from here?"

Ander's heart skipped a beat.

"Yes."

Omar hung his head low. Ander knew it was to stop him from seeing the tears.

"When?"

Ander cleared his throat, trying to steady himself and stop his own voice from quivering.

"Move out whenever it suits you. But go."

Omar sniffled, but nodded. Then he turned around and left, leaving Ander to sit down the bed, finally letting out his first sob.