No Matter What It Takes (repost)

“Carlos….” Mark repeated. He was not expecting to see him now.

“Hey buddy, it’s just me… and I’m very much alive. You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” Carlos replied an immediately led himself in. Carlos lit a cigarette and sat in the couch. “ How are you doing? How’s the business doing?”

“Okay… everything’s fine… I guess…” Mark said as he closed the door. He was thinking of a better excuse to send Carlos away. He does not want for Carlos and Jeffrey to meet. At least not yet. “Hey, w- why don’t we go out somewhere?” Mark suggested. He is silently praying for Jeffrey not to come out of the bedroom. And before Carlos could even react, “ wait here… I’ll go get dressed. Let’s go clubbing tonight.” Mark said as he went inside his bedroom even before Carlos could reply.

Mark locked the door before him. Jeffrey just went out of the shower.

“Who is it?” Jeffrey asked with curiosity.

“It’s Carlos.” Mark replied as he started to get dressed.

“Oh… Can I go meet him?” Jeffrey asked.

“No.” Mark answered firmly.

“B- but why?”

“J- just… just listen to me baby. Some other time, okay? We will go out. I’m not sure what time I’ll get home. Don’t get out of the room unless we are already out. Lock the doors. Go to sleep early. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Mark explained.

“B- but… I thought we’ll have dinner together…”

“Sudden change of plans, baby…. Just trust me…. I love you.” Mark kissed Jeffrey on the lips before finally leaving him in the room.

Jeffrey waited until he heard a car leaving before finally going out of the room. Rules. They still have rules. He hated these times. He hated it a lot when Mark would keep something from him. He does not understand why Mark would not want for him to meet his business partner. It’s as if he is not proud of him and he has to keep their relationship a secret, especially from Mark’s friends. Sometimes, he wants to think that mark is ashamed of him. But he loves Mark, and he is willing to understand him. They were only together for three months. They are still trying to get to know each other better.


Mark and Carlos arrived in a club. Carlos would not believe how eager Mark is to go to this place, with him. Most of the time, Mark would refuse his invitations. Mainly because he disapproves of Carlos’ habit of taking drugs and fucking around. If Carlos wanted some guy, nothing would stop him from having him. Not even if that guy is committed to someone. There was this one time when they went clubbing together, a guy flatly refused Carlos’ advances even if Carlos offered him money. Mark thought that it will end there. That Carlos would stop knowing that the guy was not a bit interested in him.

The following day, Carlos bragged with Mark as to how he bribed the guy’s boyfriend just to get to him. And that stupid boyfriend agreed because of the money! The boyfriend ended up drugging his own boy just to let Carlos have what he wanted. The guy woke up next to Carlos in the guy’s own room, and Carlos conspired with the boyfriend to some “caught-in-the-act-cheating-drama”. The guy felt so guilty when his boyfriend saw him and Carlos in bed together.

Mark knew Carlos in that area too well. That’s the main reason why he does not want Jeffrey to meet him. In no way will he ever let Carlos get his love.

It was almost two in the morning when Jeffrey felt someone lay next to him. “Mark?..”

“It’s me, baby…. Let’s get some sleep… I’m tired…” Mark said as he hugged his lover close to him.

“Okay…” Jeffrey wanted to ask him a lot of things. But he told himself that those could wait in the morning.

Jeffrey was already in the kitchen when Mark woke up. He was running late so he immediately took a bath and got dressed.

“Hey, baby, I have to go. I’m sorry I can’t wait for you today. I need to be at the office. I’m so late!”

“I- it’s okay.” Jeffrey replied. That’s not what he wanted to hear. He wanted to know why Mark did not introduce him to Carlos. But maybe now is not the time to ask.

“I’ll see you tonight, okay? I might be late so don’t wait for me. Carlos scheduled a meeting today. We might go out for dinner after.” Mark said and kissed him good bye.

Jeffrey went to school feeling lonely. He was already getting used to this relationship. And almost all the time, Mark would drive him to school before going to his own work. Today is different, just because Carlos is now here.

“So, Nelson, is your friend coming to our pad tonight?” Greg asked Nelson. They were eating their lunch at the cafeteria. “Hey, light up, dude! You’ve been frowning all day!” Greg said as he grabbed his friend’s bag just to catch his attention.

“Mark won’t be home early….” Jeffrey said.

“Oh….” Greg saw sadness in his friend’s eyes.

“I will be alone later… until he arrives…while you guys will be having fun all night. “ Jeffrey can’t help think about the times when he is still staying with his friends. There were a lot of happy times indeed. Nelson and Greg can support their education thru their family’s help, so only Jeffrey worked as a waiter to support his education. But his two friends were very supportive of him. They do not let him pay the rent and other expenses in the house. Jeffrey met Nelson in a summer camp and they became friends instantly. When Jeffrey had no place to go, Nelson asked him to stay with him and his friend Greg. There was no problem with the two. After learning what happened, they just could not let Jeffrey live in the streets. Up to now, Jeffrey’s mom does not know where he is. Or maybe, she did not even bother to look for him. It was also through Greg’s dad’s help that Jeffrey was able to get a scholarship. Greg’s dad is a professor in the university where the three were studying.

The three were inseparable ever since. They were together for three years and they are in their senior year in college. When Jeffrey told them about Mark, the two were hesitant to let Jeffrey live with him at first. But they saw how happy he is with Mark. So Jeffrey was able to convince them that it would be alright to stay with Mark.

It has only been a week since Jeffrey left to stay with Mark. Never did they hear their friend complain. Not until now.

“H- hey, you want to stay in our house tonight? Mark can pick you up if he’s done with his appointments.” Nelson suggested.

“Yeah, that would be a great idea. We can keep you company.” Greg agreed.

“I… I don’t know… I’ll ask Mark first….” Jeffrey said as he dialed Mark’s number. It was ringing but no one’s answering.

“Why don’t you try to call him in his office instead?” Greg suggested after several failed attempts.

H- he told me not to call him there…. Especially now that Carlos is around…” Jeffrey explained.

“But why? What’s with that Carlos guy anyway?” Nelson asked getting a bit irritated.

“I… I don’t know… we haven’t really talked about it yet….”

“Okay, just leave a message in his cell phone. Tell him to pick you up at our house later. We won’t allow you to go home and be lonely while we are having fun.” Nelson said.

Jeffrey thought it would be a great idea. After all, he haven’t been in their place for a week now. He missed his friends and he missed their pad. He surely would not want to miss the fun that they will be having tonight.

Jeffrey became to excited that he forgot to leave Mark a message.

Nelson and Greg invited some new acquaintances, Jillian, Andrew and Patrick. The two are just eager to find their special someone. Unlike Jeffrey, the two just can’t maintain a relationship.

The group were sitting in the living room having some wine and laughing.


Greg can’t help but have a glance at his friend who was just listening to Nelson’s stories. When they were younger, Greg wanted Jeffrey. He had this huge crush on him. But Jeffrey does not want anything but friendship from anybody that time. Greg accepted defeat a long time ago. But he never truly stopped caring for Jeffrey. He said to himself that it would be better this way rather than losing Jeffrey completely. He was really envious when Jeffrey told him that he liked Mark. He was at a dilemma as to whether he would compete with Mark. But what he saw was pure happiness in his friend’s eyes. In that point, he knew that he could never win. But he swore to himself that if Mark would hurt Jeffrey, considering what he has gone through, there would be hell to pay.

The group was having a great time that Jeffrey lost track of time. He left his cell phone in his bag and he never heard it ringing. It seemed like ages since he was with a group his age and he really missed times like this. He was drinking carefree and he didn’t realize that he has gotten himself too drunk.

It was Nelson who noticed his friend’s phone ringing. He is also drunk himself but not as drunk as Jeffrey is. He and Greg helped Jeffrey lay in bed before he took the phone to Jeffrey.

“Hey, who’s this?” Jeffrey asked in a drunken voice.

“Jeffrey, where are you?! I’ve been calling your phone!” Mark replied. Relieved to hear from his lover. “I’m home and you are not here.”

“Oh. Me?.... I… I’m… I’m at Nelson’s… yeah…. Nelson’s place…”

“Y- you’re drunk!” Mark was furious. Jeffrey never told him he will be going there.

“Yes! I am…. Yeah… Baby…. I love you! Gotta sleep….” Jeffrey said before putting the phone off. He was just feeling funny. He wants to sleep badly.

Nelson and Greg just looked at each other. Even if they are drunk, they knew they are in big trouble.

TBC