A Short Fiction Romance Story

The Tilted Cup

A Brief Summer Break was ushering as Howard finished his schoolwork, running towards his best friend’s house, after a hard day’s work to tell him about the Summer vacations, and the plans that followed afterward. This guy was none other than the shy guy, Raymond. Both were the best of pals, as they grew up together; they both were fond of each other. In their neighborhood, they were always classified as besties, bros for life.

The Mates who would do or die for each other, The last summer break was near and Raymond was quaking and anxious about departing for their college and leaving Howard and the lovely life behind their home. All these thoughts were making him extremely anxious, and thus he dreaded the thought of leaving his home, more so his friends, and his lovely companion Howard behind.

Howard, as usual, jumped from his window and spooked Raymond while he was quaking in his boots. They usually used to take a walk during the sunset, together with friends or alone, as they had always done to celebrate another day of friendship and bonding since their childhood laughing and reminiscing.

Howard saw, his worrisome behavior and embraced Raymond, slowly whispering in his ear, “It will be fine, don’t worry much about it all.” Raymond smiled, and Howard told him that even if we are apart, I’ll come to see you as you would do that for me as well. And asked him to change as he was aching to go to the water hole, to celebrate the start of the Summer Break.

Raymond was always fond of Howard’s attitude towards taking a chance and spreading joy and laughter wherever he would reach. These feelings made Raymond anxious more, as he felt a sudden change of thought for Howard as the years grew forward, and now he always felt a very warm sensation when Howard would hold his hands, or even embrace, to the point he would blush.

Though Ray was a shy kid, he was really good at sports, therefore he had managed to get a scholarship very easily. Howie was good at tech, so he was aiming for engineering as his major. Both were like the opposites but who completed one another as twins — or so their mothers always spoke of.

Ray Changed into his shorts and biked their way to the watering hole. Where Howie, as always claimed it as his Kingdom, and Raymond as his Knight in Shining Armor to battle any foe who would dethrone his right as King. Perhaps “Boys will always be Boys”, as Samantha always said. Samantha was the cousin of Raymond and grew up together with both the boys, along with Joseph, Rourke, Jenny, Tammy, and Merkle.

They had a fantastic childhood, together and thus were overjoyed that they would be able to go to college and become full adults. This caused Raymond anxiety, he had never really thought of leaving his homestead. But he took control of the situation by displaying facade of comradery as always, but deep down he was afraid to say goodbye to everyone as he truly loved all of them.

Raymond took a dip in the water, and swam across and came out. He asked, “Where Howard was,” and Jenny Told her he was at the Water Tank. Raymond walked out towards the Water Tank, to his surprise — Howie was standing next to Samantha and talking in sheer joy. This added fuel to the fire, even more as Raymond started to add things together in a very confused manner which made him just angry, and he startled, both Howie and Sam, by uttering, “AHA, I found you” — “So this is where you wanted to be when you said let’s go to the watering hole.” Care to explain” he exclaimed with a furious look in his eyes.

Howie replied calmly,

“It’s not what you think, We were just talking about! I mean I was just talking about our college majors and nothing else! I swear! Please believe me, Ray!”

Ray furiously sniffled at Howie, for a moment and prompted Sam to tell him what they were doing, Sam cunningly taunted Ray that they were just talking about their possible future together, upon listening to this, Ray’s feeble heart couldn’t take it. And He started to cry right there and then punching Howie on the chest, “whyyyyy oh why me, Howie!” You said, “we’d be besties forever!” Howie handling Ray, and embracing, “it’s not what you think, meanwhile looking at Sam, and saying look now what you’ve done!” to which Sam replies grinning, “I couldn’t help it!” Howie, reassures the crying Ray, by picking him up and then hugging and comforting him. Sam tells the boys, she is going back to the watering hole, and she idly walks away.

Meanwhile, Ray asks, Howie whether he would ever, betray the promise they made and Howie, comes closer to Ray, forehead to forehead and tells him, “I would never!”

Howie then tags Ray and starts running, meanwhile, Ray is slowly catching up rubbing away his tears, with a grin on his face asking Howie to Slow Down, and perhaps the moment ends, with Ray holding Howie’s hand as they run towards the peering edge and jump in the watering hole together, with hustling bustling laughter that follows them — with a silent calm as they crash the water beneath them.

— The Scene Ends —