The Devil's Sweetheart

A palpable tension raised in the room. Jasper and Andrew\'s actions paused as if Leena\'s words came as a bombshell hitting on them. Did she call us Bedroom rodeos? Jasper and Andrew released their grip on each other\'s neck and turned to Leena to confirm if she meant her words.

\'\'Look, Andrew, and Jasper, I didnot mean to expose your dirty little secret in front of everybody.\'\' Leena started, giving a pitying look at the love birds. \'\'But you gave me no choice. In actuality, you love each other, but pretending to hate, is just irking me. Push, and pull games are not healthy in relationships.\'\'

Andrew, and Jasper: \'\' \'\' 

Both stood still; not a word spread out of their mouth. While both were processing Leena\'s words into their brain, everybody in the house started imagining otherwise. Andrew\'s and Jasper\'s quietness filled everybody\'s void puzzles. Reese\'s pain was unbearable every time she took a breath. She guessed the result already, but the reality hit her hard. It was hard to digest. All the hopes that Leena raised have crashed down to crumbles today.

\'\'Andy, and Jasper, we are not ashamed of who you are.\'\' Leon softly said and nudged his friend. As if they were in understanding terms, both approached their son\'s who were dumbstruck, not aware of the hell happening in the room.

\'\'You have the right and the freedom to identify who you are and live as you choose,\'\' Louis said. It\'s hard to digest the truth, but he has no choice except to accept the fact. Nothing is important in front of his son\'s happiness.

Leon patted Andrew\'s shoulder. Taking a deep breath, he started. \'\'I am not blaming you, son. You deserve to experience love fully_\'\'

\'\'What the rubbish are you talking about?\'\' Annoyed, Andrew and Jasper pushed their father\'s hands, keeping a distance.

\'\'You don\'t know, or still pretending?\'\' Leena appeared forward to give a clear explanation. Looking at the two, she exhaled a deep sigh before she started. \'\'I know you both love each other ever since your school days, but at the same time, I know, you are not ready to leave your ego_\'\'

\'"Wait...wait...wait...\'\' Andrew stopped Leena\'s thoughts then, and there. \'\'Y_ou thought we are in l_ove!\'\'

Putting an innocent face, Leena nodded her head. \'\'Yes.\'\'

Jasper, and Andrew: \'\' \'\'

\'\'Who the hell spread this false information?\'\' Jasper roared, his voice tore through everyone\'s ears, causing everybody to flinch. As if snakes crawled around his neck, goosebumps raised on Jasper\'s skin when he looked at everybody\'s brooding stares. What made them think in such a way?

\'\'Nobody, I have witnessed it with my own eyes,\'\' Leena stated. \'\'I have seen it in Seattle.\'\'

What did she see? Andrew and Jasper shuddered, looking at each other if they misbehaved, but nothing such hit their brains.

Clearing his throat, Kurt added. \'\'E_ven I had watched you guys half-naked avatar when I came to visit Andy. Don\'t try to hide anymore. We have discovered your secret relationship.\'\'

\'\'Kurt!\'\' Andrew screamed his name through gritted teeth. His hands were beginning to wring everyone\'s neck, especially Leena, and Kurt, the origin of all misunderstandings. \'\'We fought and ended up splashing water on each other yesterday. Nothing more.\'\'

\'\'So, you are not in a relationship?\'\' Leon asked for confirmation. As if a huge burden is lifted from his heart, he felt eased. But still, he wanted to clarify.

\'\'We.are.not.in.any.relationship.\'\' Jasper enunciated each word, hitting his head. It must be Leena. She must have planted a seed of doubt on everybody\'s brain and brought them here. Her brain will always imagine as if she is floating on boats. What on earth did she witness in Seattle?

 \'\'I am actually, in _\'\' Jasper seized his lips before Harley\'s name slipped out of his mouth. He promised Harley not to reveal their relationship until she is ready.

\'\'Then why do you fight always,\'\' Kurt asked on behalf of everyone. It\'s the answer they have been waiting to know.

Jasper and Andrew kept mum for both don\'t want to share the incident with anyone. Their thoughts transported back to the past when Jasper and Andrew were fifteen years old teenagers.

....

Flashback..

It was lunch-break; Two young boys, having finished their lunch, resting on the lawn, happily chatting with each other.

\'\'Through thick, and thin, like bread, and butter.\'\' Andrew sang softly, looking at his friend with a smile.

\'\'Over the hill, and plain, like fish, and chips, I will always be around you,\'\' Jasper completed the song for him.

\'\'Fish and chips! What a wise pair of words you chose, Jaspee.\'\' Andrew commented.

\'\'Bread and butter choice is also exceptional, Andy.\'\' Jasper retorted.

\'\'Indeed.\'\' Andrew nodded his head and smiled. \'\'Do you know, our friends are jealous because we are very close to each other, especially Kurt and Wilbur.\'\'

\'\'Bless their delusional heart,\'\' Jasper added. \'\'And you, call me brother-in-law.\'\' Jasper corrected, to which Andrew nodded timidly. His friend has found about his feelings for Reese, and he was scared Jasper would disagree, but he actually encouraged him. It was a huge relief to Andrew.

\'\'When are you going to tell my sister about your feelings?\'\' Jasper teased. His best friend, turning into a brother-in-law, is something he is looking for in the future.

\'\'I am scared, Jazz.\'\' Andrew exhaled a deep breath. \'\'What if she doesn\'t like me? What if she has a boyfriend?\'\'

\'\'You don\'t need to worry about it,\'\' Merrily, Jasper replied. \'\'Reese is studying in an all-girls boarding school. You know how strict the school is. She doesn\'t have time except for studying. No one would come between us to become in-laws. Brother-in-law\'s place is reserved for you alone.\'\' Jasper grabbed Andrew\'s hand and promised him.

\'\'You are the best, Jaspee.\'\' Andrew\'s eyes sparkled in happiness, already thinking ahead of his future with Reese.

As both were engrossed, Jasper caught a whim of a girl approaching in his direction. In a flash, Jasper\'s eyes glinted with humor. \'\'Andy, can you go into the class. I will come in a while.\'\'

\'\'Why?\'\'

\'\'Just go. I will tell you later.\'\' Jasper nudged, but Andrew didnot move an inch.

\'\'You are hiding something from me?\'\' Andrew questioned with suspicion.

\'\'I am not hiding_\'\'

\'\'Then what is it?\'\' Andrew suspended Jasper\'s thoughts.

\'\'Rachel is coming to meet me,\'\' Jasper whispered, and immediately Andrew\'s eyes snapped in all the directions to look at her, and there she was. The fake beauty was walking towards them with a plastic smile. What did his friend see in that plastic beauty?

\'\'Are you_\'\'

\'\'Yes, you are right. We are dating.\'\' Jasper unveiled.

\'\'When did it happen?\'\' Andrew turned to his friend in pure horror. \'\'Why didn\'t you tell me?\'\'

\'\'Stop with your drama, Andy,\'\' Jasper hushed his friend. \'\'It\'s not a big deal. I asked her out yesterday, and she said yes. As for not telling you, I have a reason.\'\'

\'\'What is it?\'\'

\'\'Until now, I have dated around nine girls, and I had to break up with everyone for some reason,\'\' Jasper answered without keeping a secret from Andrew. On the first day or the second day, something odd would happen to him, and they break-up. So, he decided not to reveal his tenth girlfriend to any of his friends. But Jasper cannot hold his secrets from Andrew for a long time. His mouth would automatically follow his words with Andrew around. \'\'I feel someone is deliberately planning it. What do you think?\'\'

Andrew swallowed hard, his muscles stiffened. Forcing a smile, he turned to his friend. \'\'I_I don\'t think it is. A_lright, Jazz...I will go into the class. Come back, fast.\'\'

Just when Andrew stood up, Jasper stopped him. \'\'Take a look over that skinny Lillie\'s classroom. I heard she is talking with that scum Jaxon.\'\' Jasper said. Despite his warnings, she is not listening to his words. It\'s time to teach her lesson.

\'\'I will.\'\' Andrew fastly slipped away the moment Rachel arrived.

\'\'Hey, Jasper.\'\' Settling next to him, Rachel sweetly smiled at him, presenting a chocolate cookie box in front of him. \'\'I have baked it myself.\'\'

\'\'That\'s so sweet of you, my dear Rachie.\'\' Jasper playfully teased, taking the box from her hands. While doing so, he brushed his hands over Rachel\'s. The girl blushed, turning scarlet red.

\'\'I_I hope you eat them all,\'\' Rachel whispered, a bashful smile on her face.

\'\'I will.\'\' Without breaking eye contact, Jasper muttered, enjoying the reactions of Rachel. He is not fond of chocolates, but he knows someone would go crazy over them. He will give it to her after school. Their chatting was moving merrily, without knowing someone was fuming in ferocity on the other end.

....

Having finished school, Andrew went home and freshened up. Just he settled on his bed and opened the play station to play video games, a teenage girl stormed into his room. As Andrew expected, she is on time. But he is not going to give in to her wishes today. \'\'I can\'t do this anymore_\'\'

A stack of dollar bills and along with it, a play station was thrown on the bed. The unboxed PlayStation looked tempting, and it instantly shut Andrew\'s mouth for any protest.

\'\'As usual, ruin it..\'\' The girl said.