The Boy on the Other Side

by Aki_kaze

  Keith took the plate and moved over to the bed where Sam lay casually. The spirit didn’t even budge, taking no special interest in the dessert. Perhaps he, too, didn’t like it much. After Keith had took the first bite, he sighed.

  Seeing the reaction, Sam gave a small smile.

  “How’s it?” he asked.

  “I wished you could eat this. So that you could help me with it,” Keith said, “Diane was generally good at dessert. But some menus are really a big no to me. Pumpkin cake is one. Of all the things she can bake, why this?”

  “And to think it’s not even Halloween…” Sam added.

  “You like Halloween?” Keith put another spoonful of cake into his mouth. He started to get used to the taste although he still couldn’t come to like it.

  “I used to when I was younger. This city is uneventful, you see. A festival stirs it to life.” The spirit eyed him before continuing, “but I guess you don’t like it?”

  “I’m fine with it.” He understood what Sam meant. He couldn’t go anywhere during the last Halloween because he was still recovering. How fortunate was he that Diane’s house wasn’t haunted.

  The cake lessened fast without Keith realizing it. Keith tended to finish the food he disliked more quickly. He put the plate on the nightstand and lay down on the bed beside the spirit.

  “I like Diane’s idea.” Sam said out of nowhere.

  “What idea?”

  “Pros and cons,” he replied, “It helps with decision making. Life will get easier if only we can list all the pros and cons of everything.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Sam eyed him like he was expected to understand his words. Keith shrugged.

  “Say, you and me.” Sam gazed upwards. “I can’t go outside with you. We can’t make physical contact. When you’re near me, you feel so cold that you get goosebumps.”

  When Sam brought it up, he did get goosebumps. He rubbed his arms.

  “True. But those are all cons,” Keith said. He went quiet for a while before he resumed. “I like it that you understand me for who I am. I’m comfortable being with you. I don’t feel stressed out or worried around you. You don’t judge me like other people from school. I like it that you are all ears. You give me support. You give out positive vibes. You make me miss you all the time. Oh, the last one’s a minus.”

  “Why?” Sam shot him a question.

  Keith fought a smile.

  “You occupied my thought so much that I can’t focus on anything else. Every time I leave home, I always think of you. I keep asking myself: how are you doing, do you get bored, do you get lonely? Of course, I don’t want to be attached to you all the time like Siamese twins. Still, it would be splendid if you could hang out with me and share moments of happiness. I know it can never happen, though, and I wholeheartedly accept it.”

  Keith turned to meet Sam’s eyes.

  “Sometimes, being with you hurts. But being without you? That’d be the worst.”

  They gazed into each other’s eyes. He saw a tint of sorrow in those two blue eyes which quickly melted away. A smile appeared on the spirit’s face instead. He reached out to touch Keith’s face. The boy closed his eyes, indulged in the offered sensation.

  “I don’t regret loving you.” Keith’s voice was soft like a whisper.

  No response from the spirit. But he could feel a chilling aura on his forehead. Sam, who always voiced his feeling out loud, now chose to express his affection through his action instead.

  Keith contained a smile, listening to the touch which spoke louder than any word.

  Chapter Forty Three

  The Unexpected Visitor

  When October arrived, many stores in the city were ornated with carved pumpkins, decorative skeletons, and a variety of spooky images, welcoming the approaching Halloween. Snacks and candies got discounts. Fancy clothing shops for kids were full of customers.

  The Underwoods and Keith dined out at the city center. After the meal, Diane planned to go shopping. She chose the store which offered a range of clothes for customers of every age and sex, so they all could spend their time there. Each of them went to explore the products of their interest. Diane and Alice went one way. John and Hector headed to the sport outfit zone. Keith walked around looking at the colorful shirts arranged in order on the shelves. They also had rows of leather and jean jackets.

  The boy kept walking until he reached the sleeping clothes zone. The products came in both set and individual piece. He noticed a pair of pajamas with cartoon pattern which he remembered John owned one. He reached out a hand to feel the texture, then moved on to the shoe zone. He found blue sneakers of the same shade as Sam’s sport jacket there. Keith considered it for a moment. He pulled out his phone to snap a photo of it. He decided he would ask for Sam’s opinion later.

  Diane left the shop with one shopping bag in her hand. She turned to Keith and asked if he found something interesting. He shook his head as an answer. They continued shopping at the mall. Keith wanted to buy something, but he didn’t know what. One reason he wanted to come here was that tomorrow was Sam’s birthday. He knew it didn’t make any sense to give a birthday gift to a spirit because there’d be no use of it. Still, he would like to give something to the other.

  They walked past a coffee shop, so they stopped by to get themselves some refreshments. Alice decided on mint-caramel ice cream; John, fruit smoothie; and Keith, chocolate frappe. Diane and Hector chose to share a cup of coffee. As Keith was waiting for his order, he noticed a retail store. He told Diane he’d go inside and left for it.

  Inside stood many rows of goods, above each hung the sign to tell which type of merchandise was held. He cut through the furniture zone and arrived at the decorative stuff one. He picked up a photo frame. Many photos he had taken, yet none of them had Sam and him together. Not to mention that if he chose to display their photo in the room, a battalion of questions would ensue. He put the frame down and moved on. But a moment later he returned to that spot and picked the frame up again. There was that one self-portrait he took in front of the full-size mirror. With the frame in his hand, he went to the cashier.

  The last store they visited sold frozen food. Diane purchased many of its products. She bought 3 cartons of ice cream for the kids because they each preferred different flavors.

  They arrived home after sunset. Hector helped Diane carry their shopping goods. John rushed to his video game in the living room. Alice followed close, complaining at him as she wanted to watch a TV drama.

  “Keith.”

  The calling from his cousin stopped him from taking another step upstairs. He turned back and walked into the living room. John held out a joystick, inviting his cousin to join him.

  Keith was amazed.

  “Why don’t you invite me, too?!” Alice protested.

  “Girls can’t play video games.” John told her then turned to Keith who was at the room entrance, still hesitated. John’s expression was clear that the offer wouldn’t stand for so long.

  Keith moved over and took a seat on the sofa, accepting the joystick from the other’s hand. Alice was still displeased at the discrimination but didn’t go anywhere. She sat down on the couch and watched them play.

  John chose the shooting game. The screen was divided into two. They were on the same team and were assigned a mission to complete. The score table after the first round turned John’s eyes towards Keith.

  “You’re good at it. How come you’re good at it?” John said, his face incredulous.

  “I used to play it with my friends.” It was Gareth and Josh. The three of them usually hanged out at the arcade. Sometimes, they’d go to Garett’s.

  John made an impressed sound before beginning a new round.

  “You have to move over there,” Keith suggested.

  “I’m going. Can’t you see it?” John retorted.

  They talked as if they were having a quarrel, but, in fact, that was just normal part of cooperation game. If their tea
m won, John would turn to high-five Keith. If not, one of them would start the blame the game.

  They both were so engrossed in the game that they lost track of time. They didn’t even notice Alice had left. Now, the living room was the only room with lights on.

  Diane leaned into the room.

  “It’s getting late. You two should go to bed.”

  “Last game,” they answered in unison, not even looking up from the screen.

  A small smile played across the woman’s face. She shook her head and left.

  Their truly last game arrived around 40 minutes later. Keith helped the other put the game console and other accessories away.

  “You can play it if you want. I’ll keep it here,” John said, “but don’t let Alice come near it. She might break it.”

  “She isn’t a child,” he opposed.

  “But some games are rated R15+. She can’t play them.”

  Keith said nothing. He didn’t know since when John cared about the game rating, seeing that the other boy got an R18 horror game, too.

  They both left for their rooms. When he entered his, he searched for the light switch and called for Sam. The other was absent. Keith took this opportunity to prepare the other the present. His choice was a bit self-centric. But at least it wasn’t something peculiar since it had to be put up in a room and noticeable to everyone who came in.

  After he’d taken a shower and got changed, Sam still didn’t return. The boy sat on the bed, waiting. He didn’t know if he should go find the other. When he put his feet down on the floor, however, the spirit walked through the door into the room. Keith smiled broadly.

  “I thought you wouldn’t come.”

  “How could I not? Someone might be unable to fall asleep,” Sam teased, but the boy was in a very good mood and didn’t retort.

  “I’d played the video game with John just now.” Keith moved his body so that the other could lie down beside him. “John told me I can play it again if I want. Next time we’re home alone, let’s play it together. He only said that Alice isn’t allowed. That means you’re fine.”

  The spirit chuckled.

  “So, you two have become close.”

  Keith lay on his back, gazing upwards. His mind raced back to those early days of their encounter when Keith intended to completely ignore the spirit. How things had come this far.

  “People can change. John isn’t a bad person,” he said, “if I were him, I’d feel the same when a stranger came into my family and received all the care and attention.”

  “You’re scared they’ll replace you?”

  Keith turned to look at Sam and asked,

  “If someone else beside me enters your life, will you fall in love with that person?”

  The spirit stared back, his face stern.

  “I’m with you now.” Sam leaned his face forward and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. “You’re my last.”

  The listener’s face flushed hot.

  “You’re my first and my last.” Keith gave him a smile then closed his eyes.

  The blue orbs peered at the boy’s face. He brushed the other’s hair bang aside before looking at his own palm.

  Keith knew he’d woken up but was too lazy to open his eyes. Today was Sunday. He flipped to the other side.

  “Sleepyhead.” A whisper by his ear made his eyes fly open and his heart drop. When he learnt that it was just Sam, he breathed out a long sigh of relief.

  “Don’t come up like that. I was shocked.”

  “Why? There’s no one else beside me who can do that.”

  The boy shrugged and closed his eyes again. But when he realized what day that day was, he sprang up fast. This time, the spirit was astonished.

  “What?” Sam asked.

  “Umm, nothing.” Keith gave him a smile before leaving to the bathroom. He changed into casual clothes.

  Sam sat on the bed, eying him in wonder.

  “Do you know what day today is?” Keith asked aloud.

  “Sunday,” Sam answered matter-of-factly.

  The boy rolled his eyes at that. He then moved to the desk and opened the drawer. Inside lay a wrapped present he had made last night.

  “Today is October 14.”

  “Oh…”

  Sam’s reaction drew Keith’s attention. He didn’t seem like he was excited or glad. His expression was expressionless, like today was just another day of the week.

  “I prepared you a present.” Keith’s voice wasn’t as eager as before. If anything, it hinted with guilt. Hearing that, the spirit got out of bed and moved over to him.

  “What is it?”

  “This’s stupid,” Keith said, his hands holding the present, “perhaps it isn’t a worthy present. You might even dislike it.”

  He turned around to put the gift back, but Sam’s hand stopped him.

  “I want to see it,” the spirit said, “although I can’t use it, it makes me happy enough you got something for me.”

  “It’s really stupid,” the boy said. His hand delicately unwrapped the paper, revealing the white photo frame inside at last. “You have to stay in this house while I can go outside. So, I think, maybe, if there’s my picture in this room…”

  Keith look down at his feet, his face burning with embarrassment. To frame his own picture as a gift was a good idea. But to give it to someone was a different story.

  “Thanks,” Sam said, reaching out to touch the photo frame in Keith’s hand.

  “Don’t you find it weird?” The boy said as he looked up at the other.

  Sam looked at him with loving gaze. His mouth gradually curved into a smile. He leaned forward, but the boy ducked his head. The kiss then was placed on his forehead instead.

  “Why are you dodging it?” Sam teased, his voice affectionate. He took the present from Keith’s hand and put it on the desk. He took a few steps back, his eyes still focusing on it. “Will it make me miss you any less? Or will it make me want to see you in person even more?”

  The boy walked to Sam’s side, looking at the photo, too.

  “The latter, then. That will make us even.” Keith beamed and turned to Sam. “Happy birthday.”

  Sam closed his eyes before nodding. He looked like he was about to cry, but there was no tear shed. Seeing that, Keith continued.

  “See? I can do cool stuff, too.”

  Sam laughed softly and opened his eyes.

  “You still have a long way to go, Derringer.”

  “Well, I have plenty of time to go a long way,” Keith replied casually before leaving the room to find something to eat.

  As he was walking downstairs, he heard a conversation at the house door. He couldn’t see it clearly from where he was. But he could make it out that Diane was talking to someone. The visitor’s voice he didn’t recognize. Before he got a chance to view the visitor’s face, Diane closed the door.

  “Who came so early?” Keith mumbled. He turned to Sam who’d followed him down the stairs. The other though remained still at the top of the staircase. Keith was about to ask what happened, but Diane approached him. He then turned to ask his aunt instead. “Who was that?”