Unexpectedly

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Bran was sitting in the living room while facing his phone. He chuckled and glared playfully at the screen. "No, of course not! I can pick you up. Promise." He told the person he was talking to through a video call. It was Justin.

"I didn't want to impose. That's all." The other eighteen year old  humbly replied with a smile. "By the way, I'm bringing a lot of stuff so you might want to not--

"I won't ride my bike, dummy. I'll borrow my brother's car." Bran, though had been offered a car by both Teddy and Seb, refused politely. He said that the car will just end up unused, so it would be a waste.

When he turned sixteen and was allowed to drive, he took a test and got his motorcycle license. Since then, Bran had only been using his black motorcycle Tee got him on his sixteenth birthday. It was economical, faster and easier for him to use. It's practical, he said. But then when rainy season comes, for brief silent moments, he wishes he has his own four wheels.

"Thanks, Brannie. It means a lot." Justin smiled widely showing his perfect teeth. "Anyway, I know you've had a long week and you have dinner plans tonight, so I'll let you go."

"Thanks." Bran returned. "Call me when you land. I will be there, but just in case."

"Will do. I'll see you then?"

"Okay. Bye, Justin."

With a wink from his best friend, Bran ended the call. He sighed and closed his eyes then let his body slither on its own in the couch. A small smile curved on his lips imagining how his college life will be now that his best friend is coming back.

A roar of the familiar car in the driveway broke Bran from his reverie. He silently groaned as his chest began to tighten and beat erratically. He hated it. It's the kind of beat that makes him anxious and want to hide himself somewhere.

Bran got off the couch quickly and headed upstairs to his room. He didn't want to come face to face with the owner of the vehicle that rarely comes home but still makes him nervous.

Once inside his bedroom, Bran went to his balcony and just sat there on the chaise lounge while looking at the lake. He's always loved the view since he was a kid and it would calm him down seeing the body of water, beautiful and still.

"At least you're not going anywhere..." Bran murmured while staring at Aspen Lake.

***

The house was quiet when Bran woke up from his nap. He had fallen asleep while lounging outside in his balcony. He slowly got up with a stretch and sighed as he let go of a breath. Looking at his wristwatch while sitting down, he saw it was past five in the afternoon.

Bran headed to use his bathroom before battling himself whether to go downstairs or not. He needed something to drink but he didn't want to run into someone. He went to his bed and slip off his slippers as he sat down. He felt the dryness in his throat, annoyed, he got up again.

"Dang it." He cursed under his breath as he slipped back on his slippers before walking towards the door and stepping out of his room. He sighed when he found the hallway empty. Shaking his head from his silly paranoia, he proceeded down the hall and climbed down the steps to get to the first floor. The heavy ears of his puppy slippers bounced lightly as he made his way down the stairs.

Bran halted on his heels as he turned to the corner that leads to the living room. The sound of that familiar voice made him stop and it was too late to avert his eyes off him when their gaze met.

Finnegan was talking on his phone while standing in the middle of the living room. Though there was no sound coming from the stairs, he felt that familiar presence and the scent of strawberry. He turned around and his eyes met those beautiful soft brown ones.

"Are you still there? Finn?" The voice on the other line asked the momentarily frozen twenty two year old.

"Y-Yeah. Yeah, I'm still here." Finn replied. He gritted his teeth then took a painful sigh when the one he was looking at turned the other way and headed to the other side of the house where the kitchen is. He walked a few steps to follow the figure and tilted his head seeing the footwear Bran was wearing.

"So?" The female voice on the other end on the line continued. "Are you coming to the bar or not?"

"I'm not going." Finn responded.

There was an irritated groan from the other line followed by the usual complaining. "You always say that whenever I ask you. For old time's sake, please come."

"Like I said, Sheila. I'm not coming. That's final." Finn was growing impatient by the second.

Sheila Estelle was his high school brief fling. He was young and he needed to prove to himself he could date. And at sixteen, at the peak of his rebellious teenage life, he went out with his classmate and got tangled into the wrong group she hung out with. They were rich kids with nothing in mind but spend their parents' money in their vices, some of which were dangerous.

Finnegan had his first alcohol at that age. He even tried smoking cigarettes. He hated it. He began talking back to his father, and he felt guilty after that. As he got older, he soon realized how much of a pain he was to his father and stepdad. And of course, how could he forget how much he hurt the one he promised to protect and love like his own baby brother.

"I have to go." Finn ended the call and cursed under breath. He took a mental note of changing his phone number again. Somehow his ex-girlfriend always found a way to get his new one.

Theodore and Sebastian were very happy to see Finnegan come home. They were surprised to see him that evening they arrived from work.

"You said you won't be back soon to take care of your credentials. I did tell you can get them later." Seb told his stepson. Since Finn is entering his father's company, he wanted everything done right, properly. With his credentials, no one would bat an eye on his ability and skills. He deserves to be in Kasen Industries, a family to the CEO or not. Just like his dads, he graduated top of his class, too.

Finn smiled while seated on one of the sofas in the living room. "I got it done quickly, P'Seb. So I came home. Even my stuff will arrive at my new apartment the day after tomorrow."

"Then you better stay here till then." Theodore said. "By the way, we have a dinner reservation at your Uncle Kyle's new restaurant. Come with us. We're celebrating Bran's graduation." Finn gave a small nod. He actually knew about it because his uncle Kyle called him about it.

"Let's go, baby." Teddy pulled his husband off the couch to get him upstairs. Seb got up weakly, tired from work but still gave his husband a soft sweet smile. "Be ready in half an hour, son. Dress casual." Theodore told his son without looking his way, his arm rounded now on Seb's back.

"Yes, dad." The twenty two year old sighed and leaned back to his seat in the couch. The chuckles from his two dads left a thin smile on Finn's lips. He loves how the two never cease to amaze him with their relationship.

He had seen them argue once in a while back when he was still living in his father's house. But Theodore and Sebastian never ended their day upset with each other. They settle their problems, it doesn't matter who softened up first. So the next morning, Finn would just shake his head seeing the two being sweet when at times they were sulking the night before.

After musing on his own, Finnegan climbed the stairs to get to his room to get ready for the dinner. He smiled to himself as he walked the hallway past the bedroom before his.

'He was wearing the puppy slippers...'

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