Story of Alexander

“When someone is crying, of course, the noble thing to do is to comfort them. But if someone is trying to hide their tears, it may also be noble to pretend you do not notice them.” -Lemony Snicket

Finally! I'm going to learn the truth. I sat on the couch at the far corner of the living room and watched Xavier pacing in front of me. I closed my eyes when the nervousness started to freak me out. "Xavier! Will you stop pacing? You're making me nervous." I said and rubbed my neck subconsciously.

Suddenly he lifted his gaze to me and said, "Fine! I'll tell you everything but in turn you have to promise me that you'll keep your mouth shut and won't utter a single word to anyone about this." He negotiated.

"Why would I say anything to anyone? I want to listen to the truth. So, start speaking, it's already past eight in the evening!" I said whilst glancing at the watch on his wrist. Now that I noticed, for a rich person, he only wore one watch. I shook my head and brought my thoughts back to the present.

With a long sigh, Xavier began, "You know I can choose not to tell you and maybe I shouldn't, but unlike you I know the difference between right and wrong, so I think you deserve to know the truth." He sighed again. Xavier looked at me and began walking towards me, I tried to hold all my emotions inside me, at least until he finished.

"No matter what, just remember that-" Xavier stopped mid-sentence. "Alex means a lot to me." He continued, although I had a hunch that he was going to say that, but I let it slide. Xavier walked towards the window and with his back facing me, he began telling me the truth.

"Marcus and I, we have known each other since high school but I only knew him as a common friend back then." Xavier chuckled. "After graduating from high school, my dad announced that we'll be moving to New York forever. I've attended a business school here in NY and met your brother. We became best buddies during the course." He paused to breathe. I know from here the actual story would be beginning.

Wait, I didn't know they knew each other since high school.

"You the rest, how we met and everything. The day you left; I had a huge fight with your brother accusing him for the downfall of our marriage. He kept telling me to be patient but that was the day I had lost it completely; I couldn't just look at the person whose sister betrayed me." He sighed.

"We fought from dusk to dawn, more like I was yelling, and he was listening. His girlfriend Kiara came in the morning, she was eight months pregnant with Marcus' first child. She asked us to stop fighting like minors and solve the situation like every adult does. I was too busy drowning myself in the pain that I hadn't paid any attention when Marcus and Kiara left."

"After that, I realized what a big mistake I made. It wasn't Marcus' fault in the first place and yet I accused him, abused our friendship. I was about to leave for your house when my phone rang and that was the worst news I've heard in the longest time. The caller said that Marcus and Kiara met with an accident, both were in serious condition."

"I left my house in a hurry and reached the hospital to see that Marcus was in a coma and Kiara was in the ICU operation wing. That night I wasn't able to sleep and that entire night I cried out loud."

"In the morning, Kiara's doctor informed me that she had given birth to a baby boy and her condition was still critical. But she requested the doctor to allow her to see me. When I entered the room, I saw a small boy sleeping in the crib that was placed beside his mother's bed...... Nurse brought the baby over and gingerly placed him in my arms. The first time I got to hold Alexander, I just can't tell you the feeling, that kid was so calm. The moment he opened his eyes and looked at me I was tongue-tied as I saw the most familiar eyes…. Your eyes, the beautiful brown-green speckled eyes."

"But, besides one good news, the entire day was painful. I can't comprehend what Kiara was feeling, she had given him the name Alexander, and asked me to be his godfather to which I immediately agreed. In the evening, Kiara's condition worsened and after one hour the doctors informed me that she died due to blood loss. She left her son and the man she loved behind." I saw a tear rolling down his cheek.

"After a year Marcus gained consciousness and that's when I got to know that he remembered everything but his pregnant girlfriend Kiara. When I asked his doctor for answers, he said that Marcus lost his memories of a year. Which meant he remembered everything until our engagement, and his doctor said to keep him away from any mental stress. So, I adopted Alexander and became a single parent. Even though Alexander was not my son, he was still my responsibility. As time passed, he became my son from my responsibility. We don't share blood, but we do share a bond."

"Five years passed, and Alexander is the only one person who kept me alive." Xavier finished.

He was silent after that, and I too didn't make any attempt to break the silence. I was aware of the throbbing pain in the back of my mind, but I was too busy processing all the information.

Five years. I spent five years of my life in darkness, the years I could have used to keep my family together. I wished to know about Alexander but never in my imagination I thought the truth to be revealed like this.

If I hadn't left Xavier, none of this would have happened. Kiara would still be alive, living happily with her boyfriend and son. Marcus wouldn't have forgotten about his girlfriend and child.

"Everything…. Whatever happened was because of...?" I trailed off, unable to for the sentence. Xavier sighed again and slowly turned to look at me. He stared into my brown eyes and shook his head.

"No, it's not your fault." He said, something resembling pity flashed in his eyes.

"How is he?" I asked, my eyes mentioned at his mention.

"Marcus is fine." He replied. "Uh… do you want to see him?"

I nodded, lowering my face so that he wouldn't see my tears.

Seeing my action, he walked towards me, "Here." He said and sat down on the couch beside me.

Blinking hard to clear the tears, I watched him as he opened the gallery of his phone which was full of Alex' photos. "That's when we met last time." He said, showing me a selfie of both of them in Marc' favorite restaurant in California.

Both pairs of eyes were smiling at the camera. Marc looked like he had aged a lot in the last five years. There was no shine in his eyes, they looked hollow.

I didn't realize how much I was crying until I felt Xavier's fingers dab my cheeks lightly. "You should meet him once." He spoke.

"I can't, " I said as tears burst out of my eyes. "He would never forgive me." Small whimpers left my mouth and as much as I tried to control them, they just kept on streaming.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see Xavier struggling to figure out what to do.

"Hey…" He tried to silence me by patting my back, but I didn't stop. The picture brought back so many memories that I have been trying to forget.

After a moment, he pulled the phone from my hands and enveloped me in a hug. At first, I resisted but then, the comfort of his arms won me over as I wrapped my arms around him.

"It's okay." Said Xavier, rubbing my back gently into his masculine chest, letting his strong scent comfort me.

Once my tears stopped, the hug grew awkward. Both of us were waiting for the other to pull away first. His hold around me felt really good and if it was up to me, I would have stayed longer. But it was wrong to use my tears to keep him close as I broke the hug and stood up to check on Alex.

"Thanks." I said and looked again at his face, which was brimming with an inexplicable emotion.