💋

     "No more lies, no more secrets...Who are you Julien?" I seriously asked.

     Julien looked scared and speechless. He was trying to say something but words just couldn't come out of his mouth.

     He looks at me and slowly sat up.

     "Rome..." he calls out, like he was begging me not to tell him.

     I knew I was asking too much, but I had to know. In order for me to protect him, I have to know whom I'm protecting and whom I'm dealing with.

     Everything...is for him.

     "I know you're scared", I say as I looked at him.

     I slowly reached out to touch the tattoo on his face and continued, "But whatever you were, or whatever you are now...I won't get mad, and I definitely won't hate you. You're the most significant person to me, and I would die if something bad happens to you again without me knowing about it."

     Julien looks at me, his eyes suddenly teary. Then, he looks away and wipes the tears that might have already fallen from his eyes.

     "Black Angel..." he started.

     I unknowingly gulped as I impatiently waited for Julien to tell me the whole story about that name.

     Without looking at me, he continued, "Beautiful to look at but too dangerous to touch. I was the most feared man in Korea. Handled different groups, raided poor towns, and even killed people who got in the way."

     He must have expected me to react when he said the word kill. But luckily for him, killing was something I have already gotten used to ever since I was a child, so the word didn't even faze me.

     "I was part of the richest and the most feared gang in Asia. I did everything I wanted and no one was able to touch me", he says, and then he finally looks back at me to continue.

     "But I made a stupid mistake, and I had to leave everything behind because of it. I had more enemies than friends and I didn't mind, no one cared about me anyway, even my family", Julien explained, his eyes teary again.

     "Especially my family", he continued, pain now visible in his eyes.

     My heart ached for him.

     No wonder he knew the pain I felt when I met up with Diana. Families can either make you, or break you. Apparently in our case, they broke us both.

     I reached out and wiped the tears off his eyes as I said, "I won't ask you anything else but this. Your tattoo...what does it mean?"

    Julien looks at me, and without hesitation, he answered, "Dark Saints. It's a mark that you're a member of the Dark Saints."

     D a r k S a i n t s.

     How come that name sounds familiar?

     "Thank you for telling me", I say as I put my hand down. I then leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead, "I've strained you. Now go and rest", I said as I helped him lay back down on the bed.

     I tucked him again and stood up, "From now on, you'll be staying here with me. So don't worry about anything and just rest."

     I walked towards the light switch and turned off the lights. I was about to leave the room when Julien suddenly called out for me.

     "Rome", he softly says.

     I was mid-way from grabbing the doorknob but stopped to turn around and look at Julien.

     The room was now dark, and the only thing that was keeping the room lit was the light outside my house.

     "What is it?" I asked.

     "Sleep beside me", he suddenly said. And after everything he told me today, that was the one thing that made me flinch.

      I stared at him but nodded my head anyway, "Okay", I say as I slowly walked towards him.

     Julien moved a little so he could give me space. I gulped since the space was too little and if I lay down I'd be too close to Julien's body.

     Thinking about it suddenly made me uncomfortable.

     I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

     "Fuck it", I told myself.

     When I opened my eyes back, I quickly removed my necktie and coat, and then I removed two buttons on my polo, slightly giving Julien a glimpse of my chest.

     I decided to leave my gloves on as I removed my shoes.

     As I was now ready for bed, I slowly sat beside Julien. I gulped again and finally lay beside him.

     His shoulder touched mine, and the warmth felt...new to me.

     I slowly turned around so I could face Julien.

     "You're doing great", he whispered. His face only a few inches away from mine.

     "It's strange but...it feels nice. I like it", I honestly say, my cheeks suddenly burning, like I was embarrassed by saying those things so shamelessly.

    "I'm sorry if I left you the other day. I should have at least said something before I left", he says.

     I moved a little closer and touched his cheeks, "It's okay. I should be the one apologizing since I'm the one who chickened out that night."

    "Chickened out?" Julien asked with a chuckle.

    "You get what I mean", I say with a smile.

     Julien moved closer too until he was able to lean his head on my chest.

    The action made my whole body stiff for a couple of seconds. But after taking it all in, I slowly snaked my hand on his waist and hugged him.

    Julien flinched when he felt my hand around him, but he doesn't say anything.

    "Does it still hurt?" I asked.

     I thought Julien was going to lie and tell me he was fine for my sake, but he nods his head instead, his face slightly buried to my chest.

     I leaned forward and kissed Julien's head, "I'll make sure they pay for what they did to you Julien. I'll definitely make sure."

     "I know", I heard Julien whisper.

     I hugged him tighter as my eyes were slowly closing on its own. I was finally feeling tired after everything that happened today.

    "Good night", I say, but Julien doesn't answer me anymore.

     As I closed my eyes, I whispered, "Black Angel...should I be scared of you?"

     I thought Julien wasn't going to answer me again, but then I heard him say, "No...but I think I should be scared of you instead."

     "Don't worry, there's nothing for you to be scared about", I say as I hugged him tighter, "But the people who hurt you...has to tremble in fear by just hearing my name."

*****

     I slowly opened my eyes, the sunlight from outside the room directly hitting my face.

     I felt something heavy on my chest, immediately making me open my eyes wider.

     When my vision was now clearer, I saw Julien sleeping while leaning his head on my chest.

     My heart suddenly raced and my face burnt up.

     "We slept like this", I thought, to remind myself that I slept beside the man I fucking like so much without even feeling uncomfortable about it.

     A lot of things happened the past few days. But this may be the one thing that will stick with me for the rest of my goddamn life.

     Shit...

     I'm fucking happy.

     "Master Val?" a maid suddenly called out from outside the room.

     How did she know I was here?

     "Yes?" I asked instead, trying my best not to move too much so I wouldn't wake Julien up.

     "Master Val, breakfast is ready. Mr. Johnson is already waiting for you downstairs", the maid said.

     "Alright, I'll be right there", I answered.

     I looked back at Julien and was surprised to see that he was slowly opening his eyes now as well.

     I suddenly felt nervous for some reason when he looked at me. I didn't know what to tell him since I never really woke up beside someone before.

     When he was now fully awake, he genuinely smiles at me and whispered, "Good morning Mr. Ego."

     I couldn't help but smile as I said back, "Good morning."

     Julien gently pushes me so he could sit up. He then looks at me with a teasing smile.

     I chuckled and sat up as well, "What?" I asked.

     Julien cutely pouts and suddenly says, "I'm hungry daddy."

     My face burnt up again, making Julien laugh hysterically.

     I looked at him and grabbed his arm, then I pinned him down and went on top of him, "You really like teasing your boss don't you?" I asked with a smirk.

     Julien finally stopped laughing and looks at me, he then looks at me and sticks his tongue out like a kid.

    I laughed and leaned closer to him, "You're making me hungry for something else now too", I tell him, quickly erasing the grin on Julien's face.

     It was my time to laugh as I finally stood up. I reached out for Julien's hand and helped him stand up as well.

     "Let's go", I say as I went out of the room with Julien.

     When Julien and I got to the dinning room, Johnson quickly puts his cup down and looks at us.

     "Julien, you shouldn't be moving too much", Johnson worriedly said.

     "Good morning to you too Johnson", Julien says instead. He then goes to him and suddenly kisses him on the cheek, "Thank you...for what you did yesterday."

     Johnson suddenly blushed. He cleared his throat and said, "I-It's okay. You shouldn't worry about that."

     I rolled my eyes and pulled Julien towards me, "Was the kiss really necessary?"

     "Looks like someone's jealous", Julien teasingly says as I made him sit beside the chair where I usually sit.

      I sat down as well and answered him, "Not jealous, just pissed off."

     "Yup, he's jealous", Julien and Johnson suddenly said in unison. Seconds later both of them laughed.

     At times like these, I'd be angry, but somehow, I felt happy instead. I never really felt the warmth of my family. But being with these two made me feel like they're the only family that I need.

     I looked at Julien and realized something.

     He wasn't just a man I like.

     Julien...he's family now too. And if both of our families abandoned us, then it's better if we just started a family on our own. A family like this, the one that makes you feel light hearted, the one that makes you whole even when you're broken and in pieces.

     A family that won't leave you...

     This family.

*****

     "I can go to work Rome. I really feel better now", Julien persistently says as I was now outside the house while Johnson waited for me inside the car.

    "No, you stay here and rest. You don't have to go to work today, and that's final", I say, and Julien finally gives up and nods his head in defeat.

     "Then promise me you'll be back early", Julien suddenly tells me with an innocent look, making me gulp for some reason.

     How can such a small gesture make me feel hot all of a sudden?

     "If you look at me like that I might not go to work now too", I tell myself but dared not to say it out loud for Julien to hear.

     "I will", I say instead as I looked at him. And believe me when I say that I had to gather all my strength to not tell him that I wanted to stay here with him instead.

     Julien gently touches my chest, then, he moves closer and leans his head on it, "Thank you...for everything", Julien suddenly whispered.

     I was about to say something when Johnson suddenly honked the car, making Julien and I flinch.

     "That's enough love birds!" Johnson suddenly shouted as he looks out the window.

      Julien and I both laughed as I looked at Johnson and showed him my middle finger.

     "Well I need to go", I say as I quickly leaned forward to give Julien a kiss in the forehead.

     Before he could even react, I immediately ran towards the car and got in.

    Johnson smirks as he looks at me through the rearview mirror. I don't say anything and just looked out the window to hide my embarrassed expression.

     Johnson chuckles, then he starts driving off.

     "You look happy Romeo. Actually, I haven't seen you smile and laugh like that for the past decade", Johnson says as his eyes were still glued to the road.

     "That's because I am", I honestly answered him.

     "It feels nice doesn't it? Having someone beside you", Johnson suddenly says. I was about to answer him but then I remembered that Johnson has also been alone ever since I was young.

     I don't remember him having a family, and because of me, he never got married or had a family on his own.

     "Do you regret it Johnson?" I asked as I looked at him through the rearview mirror.

     "Regret what?" he asked.

     "Regret wasting your life protecting me since I was little. You could have just left, you could have made a family of your own and just lived happily", I honestly say.

     Johnson doesn't answer until he stops at a red light. He then turned around to look at me.

     "I had you Romeo. You were my family, and I was happy about it. I watched you grow into a man that you are now, and seeing you transform does not mean I wasted my life. So there's nothing for me to regret, because I was definitely happy to have you", Johnson suddenly answered, making me feel emotional all of a sudden.

     I quickly looked away and looked out the window so Johnson wouldn't be able to see my almost crying face. 

     "You always knew what to say old man", I jokily said, making Johnson chuckle.

     I gulped and tried my best not to cry as I continued, "But thank you for everything Johnson...I don't think I've told you that before."

     Johnson suddenly reached out and patted my leg. I slowly looked back at him as he genuinely smiled and said, "You have Romeo...A thousand times already."

- END -