Wash 14

The warm evening air, all dried up with their brand new

boba patterned couple pajamas they picked up from

the bored convenience clerk, and fresh from the heated

moment at the conference table,

THIS night is definitely going exactly well for Teddy, and yes for Cliff as well.

Cliff walked beside Teddy,

sipping on boba tea, as his limousine followed them slowly nearby.

Like a predator silently watching for his next prey.

“Teddy, should we go out tomorrow evening?

Maybe a nice dinner.

I know a really good place you’d like,” Cliff said, his voice smooth, almost teasing.

Teddy smirked, stirring his drink with the straw.

“I have to check with my secretary first.”

Cliff laughed. “I forgot—you’re no longer the laundry boy.”

Teddy stopped walking, looking up at him.

“That sounds nice. Just call me and let me know.”

They reached Teddy’s apartment building,

and Cliff’s chauffeur stepped out, carrying Teddy’s seven laundry bags.

Teddy thanked him, just as he was about to enter the building.

Cliff grabbed his wrist. “You’re forgetting something, Teddy.”

Teddy blinked, confused. “Huh?”

Cliff leaned in and kissed him.

It was a very long kiss.

————————————————————————————————————

Teddy climbed the dimly lit stairwell to his apartment,

each step echoing in the silence.

His heart still raced from the evening's unexpected turns.

Including the kiss, just seconds ago.

As he reached his door, he hesitated, feeling an inexplicable unease.​

Pushing the door open, he was greeted by an unsettling stillness.

The usual hum of the television from his mom’s usual drama was absent.

The air felt heavy,

something feels strangely- DIFFERENT.

Laden with the faint scent of lavender from his mother's diffuser,

even the whole room smells peculiarly, weird.

"Mom?" he called out, his voice barely above a whisper.

Silence.​

Frowning, Teddy flicked on the lights,

illuminating the modest living space. Everything seemed in its place: laundry everywhere,

hanging, folded and in various levels of

disarrays. Yet the STRANGE emptiness continous to gnaw at him.​

He dropped the laundry bags by the couch,

the soft thud echoing in the quiet room.

Stripping off the convenience store bought pajamas,

he stood in his white briefs, the cool air prickling his skin.

He sat on the edge of his bed, the events of the night replaying in his mind.

A smile tugged at his lips as he recalled

Cliff's playful antics, the spontaneous joy they shared.​

Folding the boba-themed pajamas neatly,

he placed them on the bed. The quirky design was a testament to the evening's

unexpected delights.

Rising, he grabbed a beer from the fridge,

the cold bottle offering a brief respite

from his swirling thoughts. Taking a long sip, he let the liquid

soothe his parched throat, grounding him momentarily.​

With a resigned sigh, Teddy turned his attention to the laundry.

Sorting through the heaps of clothes,

he created organized piles, each representing a task awaiting completion.

The rhythmic act of sorting offered a semblance of normalcy.​

Across the street, on the building parallel to Teddy’s,

Drew stood by his window,

the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting shadows on his bare torso.

Clad only in his underwear, he watched Teddy intently,

his heart a turbulent mix of emotions.

HE SAW THEM KISSED DOWNSTAIRS.

And he hates it.

The image of Teddy and Cliff's intimate kiss

burned in his mind, fueling a simmering jealousy that he struggled to contain.​

Teddy immersed himself in his routine,

the familiar motions of scrubbing and rinsing offering

a temporary escape from his restless thoughts.

The scent of detergent mingled with the lingering

aroma of lavender, creating a bittersweet concoction that filled the room.​

A sudden flicker of light caught his attention.

He turned sharply, his breath hitching.​

Miguel stood in the doorway,

the flame of his lighter casting fleeting shadows across his face.

A cigarette dangled from his lips, the tip glowing ominously.​

"So," Miguel's voice was a low rumble, "who's the new guy?"​

Teddy's heart pounded in his chest. "Miguel"​

Miguel stepped forward, his presence dominating the small space.

"Your door was unlocked, Teddy. You’re careless tonight, like KISS careless."

He too saw Cliff’s kiss.

His gaze was intense, a storm brewing behind his eyes.​

Teddy took a step back, the cool tile floor sending chills up his spine.

"Miguel, what do you want?"​

Miguel's lips curled into a sardonic smile.

"I've called you several times, but you never picked up.

Too busy with him, I suppose."​

Teddy swallowed hard, the weight of Miguel's words

pressing down on him. "Miguel, it's not what you think."​

Miguel's expression hardened, his frustration evident.

"Then enlighten me, Teddy.

What am I supposed to think?

I was there when no one else was.

I played the silly games with your mom.

For YOU.

I made you feel wanted, and now you're throwing it all away?

For what? For whom? For HIM?"​

Teddy's eyes dropped to the floor.

Miguel took another step closer to Teddy as Teddy takes a step

backwards. “In a fancy car, in a fancy suit, do you think guys like that

truly likes you, will TRULY fall for you? When was the last time you check

the mirror? Teddy, why will someone like that fall for someone like you?”

A tear drop on Teddy’s eyes. Probably from guilt

gnawing at his conscience. Miguel doesn’t know. He don’t understand.

He was not there on the conference table with Cliff.

"We had something, yes. But it wasn't enough.

It never grew into what you wanted."​

Miguel closed the distance between them,

his breath warm against Teddy's face. "Who is he, Teddy?

Is he what- a fucking boyfriend now?"​

Teddy shook his head, his voice barely audible. "He's just a friend."​

Miguel's eyes flashed with anger. "Like me? Just a friend?,

just someone you knew that on a whim, you can just ditch

like next day’s trash?”

Teddy met Miguel's gaze,

his own eyes filled with sorrow.

"Miguel, I can't give you what you want. Love can't be forced.

You can’t pull it out of me, because it’s just not there."​

Miguel's face contorted with pain,

his emotions a volatile mix of anger and heartbreak.

Of a dangerous cocktail of pain and longing

"Love can’t be force?

Are you sure about that?"​

Without warning, he grabbed Teddy's wrist,

pulling him close, his lips crashing onto Teddy's in a desperate kiss.

Teddy struggled, pushing against Miguel's chest, but Miguel's grip was unyielding.​

In the struggle, Teddy's foot slipped on the wet floor,

sending him crashing into a laundry bucket.

Water splashed everywhere, soaking them both.

The cold liquid shocked Teddy's system, heightening his sense of vulnerability.​

Miguel’s voice came out hoarse, almost broken.

“So if you can’t give me love, Teddy, then what else can you give?”

A bitter smirk twisted his lips. “Probably this.”

Before Teddy could react, Miguel’s fingers

hooked into the waistband of his underwear.

Rip.

The fabric slid down his thighs in one swift motion, pooling

at his feet like discarded trash.

Teddy gasped, scrambling to cover himself. “Miguel—stop!”

But Miguel wasn’t listening.

His grip was firm, fingers wrapping possessively around him,

yanking him forward. His other hand shot up, threading into Teddy’s damp hair,

forcing his head back as his mouth crashed against

Teddy’s lips in a desperate, consuming kiss.

Teddy thrashed against him, shoving at Miguel’s chest

with everything he had.

His heartbeat pounded in his ears,

but Miguel’s hold was unyielding. He was stronger. He was determined.

He wanted Teddy. He wanted everything.

And this time, he didn’t give a damn whether

Teddy gave it willingly or not.

He came here tonight to TAKE.

Teddy’s breath came out in short,

panicked gasps as Miguel’s grip on him tightened.

Teddy closed his eyes when he felt Miguel.

He did not ask. He just took it.

Everything felt numb.

He felt the splash of his poison inside him.

It was warm.

It was acid that burns through his flesh.

He stared at Miguel’s face above him.

It was not love. It was not even lust.

It was DESPERATION.

But then—

SLAM.

A fist collided with Miguel’s jaw with a sickening crack.

The force sent him sprawling against the floor, his back slam next to Teddy

who crawled to his side.

For fear. To cover whatever dignity was left.

Another punch landed on Miguel, sharp and brutal

It was DREW.

Drew stood over him, chest heaving, eyes ablaze with fury.

Who saw everything by his window.

He bolted out his door and ran straight to Teddy’s apartment.

Those steps took him to this moment.

He grabbed Miguel by the collar, and trash him back to the floor,

Miguel groaned, coughing,

his body crumpling against the hallway floor.

“Get. The fuck. Out.” Drew’s voice was low and lethal.

Miguel wiped his bloody lip, as Drew threw his clothes at him.

Eyes flicking between Drew and Teddy.

What happened to his fucking lighter?

Whatever fire had fueled him moments ago was gone now,

replaced with something else—something broken, something lost.

What’s going on? He’s fucking the guy in suit,

and now- this puncher?

What’s wrong with people these days?

What do they see in Teddy?

You fuck Teddy because nobody will.

You fuck him because you feel sorry for him.

He’s nothing but a pity fuck.

Fuck Teddy.

And fuck his laundry.

Miguel didn’t fight back.

Gave a finger to Drew and

he left.

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving silence in his wake.

Teddy sat frozen on the wet floor, shivering,

water dripping down his bare skin. His hands trembled

as he tried to cover himself, curling into himself like a wounded animal.

Blood on the wet tiles. Teddy’s.

That sight—

That sight broke Drew.

His throat tightened as he watched Teddy shrink into himself,

his body shaking from more than just the cold.

Without a word, Drew peeled off his jacket and crouched down,

wrapping it around Teddy’s shoulders with careful, steady hands.

“Are you okay, Teddy?”

Teddy looked up then, and for the first time, he saw him.

Not through a window.

Not from across a building.

But here. Right here.

Drew was real.

He was warm. And he was looking at Teddy like he mattered.

Teddy swallowed thickly. “I…” He hesitated, his voice catching. “Yeah.”

But Drew wasn’t convinced.

“Come on,” he said gently. “Let’s go to my place. You’ll be safe there.”

Teddy nodded, his movements sluggish,

as if his body hadn’t caught up with the whirlwind of emotions inside him.

He stood on unsteady feet, and

Drew—without a second thought—placed a hand on

the small of his back, guiding him toward the dresser.

Teddy fumbled for a fresh pair of shorts and a shirt.

As he slipped them on, Drew turned his back,

giving him the privacy he needed.

It was such a simple gesture.

But it made something in Teddy’s chest stir.

He buttoned up his shirt, his fingers still shaking slightly.

His mind was a mess, heart pounding from a cocktail

of fear, relief, and something else—something unfamiliar.

Then Drew spoke.

“I like you, Teddy.”

Teddy’s fingers froze mid-button.

His breath caught. His stomach flipped.

Drew exhaled, running a hand through his damp curls.

“But tonight… this isn’t about that. This isn’t about me.”

He turned then, facing Teddy fully, his expression raw, open, real.

“This is about keeping you safe. About protecting you.”

Teddy’s heart clenched.

Something warm—something terrifying—

spread through his chest like wildfire.

He stared at Drew, and for the first time, he felt… nervous.

But not the kind of nervous that came with fear.

This was something deeper.

Something dangerous.

Something dangerously close to love.