Of Love and Sacrifices

“I said enough! Stop whining, Orlando! I would never allow you to get back to Viggo and be hurt again!” Sean shouted back. He is already getting furious. Orlando still would not sleep in bed next to him despite how he tried to convince him.

“Sean, please… I want to be with my family… please…” Orlando was already crying.

“Okay… Okay…. I know you’re tired. Come here now and I promise we will talk about this again in the morning.” Sean finally said as he stood up to go near the younger man.

Sean is right, Orlando felt so tired. After the events that had happened, all he wanted to do is curl in bed and sleep. He knew there is nothing else that would convince Sean to let him go now. But he just can’t imagine himself sleeping in bed with Sean. “ I… I will sleep down here… on the floor… Please… please don’t make me sleep there with you…”

“Oh… No… The bed is huge for both of us. I promise I won’t try anything that you would not want… I could never hurt you in the way that you think… baby…. Please believe me…” Sean tried to convince Orlando again.

“I- I’m not your baby…. J-just give me a pillow… I.. I will be alright here on the floor…”

“Okay, Okay… you win… I will sleep on the floor….” Sean said and picked a pillow.

After seeing Sean leave the bed, Orlando silently went towards the bed. Tiredness is consuming him right now and all he wanted to do is sleep. He needed the energy to think.

It didn’t took a while for him to fall asleep. Sean also went to sleep on the floor.


After some time, Sean noticed that Orlando was becoming restless in his sleep.
He then decided to go to Orlando and lie next to him. To calm him down.

“You would not believe me right now… but I will do everything to gain your love and respect… I love you so much to just let you go… Viggo had his chance… but he just spoiled it. He does not deserve you… He can’t even protect you from those men… and Simon…. But I can…. And I always will… No more pain…I can promise you that….” Sean said as he ran his fingers through Orlando’s smooth hair.

“ You deserve all the happiness in this world…. And I am willing to give you everything… if you will just allow me… I long to kiss you…. I long to touch you…. But I can wait…. I can wait for you to love me… no matter how long it takes….” Sean held Orlando close to him and also drifted off to sleep.

xxxx

Orlando woke up the following morning feeling another warm body next to him. “ Get off me!” He shouted, waking Sean up. Orlando moved towards the other side of the bed.

“Orli… baby… it’s okay…. I’m sorry…. It’s just that… you were tossing and turning last night so I decided to lie next to you to calm you down.”

Orlando could not remember but he can see the sincerity in Sean’s eyes. And if Sean really thought of taking advantage of him… he could have done it already. They were together in the bedroom the whole night. But Sean didn’t try anything.

“Okay… I… I believe you…” Orlando finally said.

“Thank you…” Sean smiled. Orlando is finally starting to loosen up a bit. “Hey, why don’t you have your bath… I will return for some special breakfast in bed…”

Orlando can feel that he is starving. He didn’t eat much last night and he really wanted some real food right now. “Okay….”

Sean gladly went out to prepare something. He looked for something to cook in the kitchen and started preparing. He was singing when Arthur saw him.

“Hey, cousin…feeling good today?” Arthur asked.

“Never better, Arthur… he wanted to have some breakfast so I am preparing only the best for him.”

“Hey… don’t tell me… don’t tell me you had your way with him last night?!”

“No!…. Of course not…. I can wait… I could never do that to the man I love! He’s loosing up a bit and in no time, he will come to me, willingly…”

“You’re not giving him a choice, Sean…. You are still keeping him prisoner here… And I don’t want to get involved in your stuff! He’s married and he’s got a kid!”

“You listen to me, Arthur… try anything and I swear, I will kill you! Worse…. If I could not convince him now… and I would have no other options left, I might consider doing what you fear worst! You know me, Arthur!!! I’ve done this before… and I can do this again!!!” There was seriousness in Sean’s voice which made Arthur so afraid.

The memories of the past came back to him. Yeah… Sean has changed now…. Compared to what he was before…. And he dreads for the moment that it would happen again…. He was there…. And he knew his cousin fully well….

They were just teenagers and everything was just for fun. Sean had a big crush on Arthur’s classmate and best friend, Matthew. Matthew certainly knew this, he was seeing Sean, because Sean gives him anything he wanted. Sean was rich, no question with that. But Matthew had a boyfriend whom Sean didn’t know. He thought Matthew was also in love with him.

For Matthew, it was pure friendship. But for Sean it was already something else. He became obsessed with Matthew and when the other boy started to feel this, he tried to avoid him, telling Sean that he already had a boyfriend. When Sean learned this, he was furious and he felt so betrayed. Sean asked help from Arthur. He told him he just wanted to talk to Matthew and sort things out but since Matthew is already avoiding him, Matthew would never come if he knew that it was Sean who was asking to see him.

It was not supposed to happen. Matthew agreed to come. Arthur brought him to one of the Bean’s villas. Told him that it was his birthday and he is invited. But when they arrived, there was no party, only Sean. Arthur convinced Matthew to talk to Sean to settle everything. Matthew only agreed because of him. He just wanted to help his cousin. That’s all. Sean told him to give them some space. So Arthur went out to buy something.

They were just supposed to talk. That was what Sean told him. But he got the biggest surprise of his life when he found Matthew in bed, naked, bleeding and crying. Sean raped his best friend. His cousin betrayed his trust and Matthew’s.

It happened a long time ago. Matthew’s parents accepted a big amount of money from Sean’s father. They took Matthew away, and Sean was kept in an institution for one year for psychological care. When Sean went out, he was reformed and so he decided to finish his studies. Everything in the past was long forgotten. Sean moved away and though they were very close as cousins, they didn’t communicate often, except for now.

Arthur pitied Sean so much. Sean is a good person and he deserves someone who would love and take good care of him. But it seems that fate is harsh on his cousin. Now Sean brought another one with him. All he knows right now is that would not allow what happened before to happen now. But he wants to be careful this time. He has to protect Orlando. But knowing Sean, he knew he needs to calculate his moves. So all he can do right now is to make sure that Sean won’t do try anything with Orlando. As a matter of fact, he stayed awake all night to be sure that Sean isn’t doing something more than to talk to the young man. He knows his cousin. Sean is patient. He won’t succumb to something unimaginable unless he thinks that there is no more other possible way.

As the way things are going, Arthur knew that Orlando is still safe. So he has to find a way fast. He wants to help Orlando, but he wants to help his cousin as well. There has to be another way. One which would not do more harm to Sean.

“Okay…. Okay, I’m sorry…. I- I’m with you…. J- just… just promise me you won’t hurt him…”

“ I promise… This time it would be different… if you would just give me this one chance… if he would just give me this one chance…. If everybody will just give me this one chance…. “ Sean said with hope in his eyes. “ He already cares for me… Even if it’s not love… all I need is time… time to convince him that I am the one he needs… and I am the one he ever wanted….”

“Yeah…. Y- you’re right….” That was all Arthur could say.

xxxx

“How is he?! C- can I see him now?.... C- can I talk to him already?! Viggo asked the doctor. A day has passed and he is not yet allowed to talk to Simon. Every second counts. He could not sleep. All he could ever think of was Orlando.

“H- he’s awake… B- but I don’t think he can answer your questions. He is still disoriented and could not even recognize people.” The doctor explained.

“Please… I beg you…. M- my husband is still missing… for all we know he is in danger right now! Please… just let me talk to him!”

“Okay, Mr. Mortensen….I will give you ten minutes to talk to him “ Viggo didn’t wait for the doctor to finish and went directly inside.

“Simon! Please… you have to tell me where Orlando is!” Viggo said as he neared the bed.

“Orlando…. Orlando… Sean….” Simon replied. That was all he could say. He was having trouble speaking.

“S- Sean?! W- what has Sean got to do with this?! Where’s my husband?! Where did you keep him?!” Viggo shouted.

“Sean… Sean…”

”Simon, please….I can’t understand…. I need you to tell me where my husband is!”

“Mr. Mortensen! You are stressing him… It won’t be good for him!” The doctor said as he approached Viggo to subdue him.

“B- but he’s trying to tell me something more! Please doctor….”

“No! You are endangering his heath and I could no longer allow that!”

“Endanger his health?! But what about my husband?! What if he is in grave danger right now?! Simon is responsible for his disappearance!!!” Viggo shouted back.

“This getting too far, Mr. Mortensen… I understand your concerns… But I also have to protect6 my patient. I’m sorry…. It’s either you get out of this room silently or I will have the guards escort you outside.”

Viggo was left with no choice but to leave. He was met by Leila outside.

“Viggo…”

“Leila…. I don’t know what to do anymore…. I failed him again…. Leila…. W- what if… what if Simon killed him?! What if my baby’s already dead?! Or… Or he could be suffering somewhere?!” Viggo can’t help but shiver at the thought.

“Shh…. Viggo please… don’t ever think of that… Orlando is okay… he will be… Wherever he is, I know he knows that you need him… that Little Micky needs him… and that he needs to be strong for you….” Leila said as she offered comfort to her brother.

“I really wish that what you said is true…I can’t live without him… I… I just can’t!”

xxxx


“Special delivery… for my angel….” Sean said as he entered the bedroom carrying breakfast for Orlando. Orlando was standing near the window, looking outside.

Sean placed the tray on the table near the bed and went near Orlando.

“Hey… let’s have breakfast together….” Sean said as he lifted Orlando’s chin to face him.

“I.. I will eat breakfast… I- if you promise you would not lock me in here. Sean… I want to go out… T- this room is slowly killing me…” Orlando said. He knew now how persistent Sean is. He would not let him go no matter what. Resisting Sean would not do him any good. But if he would just abide with Sean’s wishes for some time… he could find a way to escape him. The sooner he could convince Sean that he loves him, the sooner he could find a way to escape.

“Of course… Of course, just eat… and we can watch a movie in the living room after this….” Sean was smiling as he led Orlando to sit on the bed, next to the small table where the food was placed.

Both of them ate breakfast. Sean was so happy. Things are getting along as planned. In no time, Orlando would be his and his world would be complete. “I- I’m so glad you’re finally loosening up to me…angel…”


xxxx

“Sean, c- can I get some water in the kitchen?... I- I’m thirsty….” Orlando asked Sean. They were both sitting on the sofa watching a movie.

“Okay, angel.” Sean replied.

Orlando immediately stood up to go to the kitchen. His plan was not to get some water. He knew that there’s a back door in the kitchen where he can go out. He also knew that Sean’s car is outside. He just needs to slip out unnoticed and get in the car. Sean was not able to notice that Sean took his car keys from his pants which was left in the bathroom the other night.

Orlando’s heart was pounding fast as he carefully opened the back door. All he knew was that he needed to get out from that place. Away from Sean, and unto the nearest phone booth.


TBC