Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“Are you by any chance, named Ashley?” He asked with a curious expression.

“Uh, who’s asking?” I asked him, backing away a bit.

“You don’t remember me? It’s Mark! Mark Travis. We went to the same middle school before.” He said and I really tried my best in remembering him but I came up blank. “You don’t recall me, do you?” He asked and I reluctantly nodded.

“You know Ash, we met at the hospital last year, when I was in chemo.” He shyly said and showed his bald head. “Did your condition perhaps had gotten worse?” He asked with worried face.

Now that I think about it, I remember someone from the hospital when I first found out about my condition, I just can’t put the name and face at it.

“I guess, it hasn’t really been that simple ever—I’m sorry I don’t remember you Mark.” I sadly said and he looked at me, sucking his breath in.

“That’s unfortunate, what did your doctor say?” He asked and I just looked down. I don’t really like recalling how I have an illness. It…It just makes me sad and while I can still function well without having a lot of problems, I want to forget about things and live the rest of my years as normal as it can be. Until everything gets to the worse part, I just want to live normally.

“3 to 4 years, depending on how it progresses.” I said, biting my lip before sucking in a breath and smiling at him. “But it’s okay, I’ll manage and I sort of have done mostly everything in my life. I’m putting together my bucket list this year. How about you, how’s life treating you?” I asked and he shyly looked at me, scratching the back of his head.

“I survived. I got out of surgery 6 months ago and I’m glad to say that I’m cancer free.” He said and I smiled at him. I may not remember this guy but I am genuinely happy that he’s well.

“I’m so happy for you—that’s amazing, wow.” I said and he beamed before hugging me.

“It was all thanks to you, you know.” He said and I patted his back with a smile. “I was about to give up since my brain cancer had practically sucked my life away but you kept telling me for two weeks to not give up and I am glad I didn’t.” Mark said and held my hand. “You saved me and whatever happens, you can always call for my help.”

I merely smiled and pursed my lips. “Thank you, Mark. Listen, can we take a photo so I won’t forget you quickly? I’ve been forgetting a lot of things these days.” I said with a sad smile before whipping my phone out.

“Sure, and I’ll give you my number too so feel free to call me anytime.” The man said and we quickly took a photo before exchanging numbers.

“Darling, I came to get you, you we’re taking so long.” I heard a voice coming from the right—yeah, an annoying voice that belongs to my one and only housemate. “Is this your friend, darling?” Trent asked, wrapping his arms around my waist, replaying what I did when he was flirting with that blonde twink.

“You didn’t told me you got yourself a boyfriend already, Ash.” Mark said with a chuckle. “Hi, I’m Mark Travis, Ashley’s friend.” He introduced himself and they both shook hands.

“Ugh, seriously, Mark he’s not my boyfriend, he’s my—“

“Husband, I’m his husband.” Trent said with a smirk and I mentally shouted as he gave me a smirk. WHAT. AN. ASSHOLE. “I’m Trent Easton, CEO of Potent Club Brewery.” He introduced. Yeah, an asshole and a liar.

“Mr. Easton of PCB—my boyfriend, Storm, works for you in the marketing department. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” Mark said, and I lifted a brow. Mark really believes this bloke.

“Ah, Mr. Lindsey—he seemed to have landed on something precious.” Trent laughed—and he knows his boyfriend, cool. Mark just blushed and chuckled.

“Anyways, I’ll leave you both now—I have to grab some groceries, we can meet sometimes, Ash, just give me a call.” He said before waving goodbye. As soon as he disappeared, Trent laughed and pinched my side.

“Is the ice cream too heavy?” He teased and I pinched him .

“Well at least I wasn’t flirting and you’re an asshole—Mark is my friend and he’s gonna think I’m married now, thanks to you bloke.” I said and gathered the ice cream, before dropping it into the cart, proceeding to check out with Trent behind me.

“Just tell him we are on our way to divorce.” He said and pulled gave the cashier his card before I can even protest.

“Yeah, but I’m not a liar—PCB CEO my ass, you can’t even handle the responsibility of cleaning up.” I said and noticed the cashier lightly chuckling at our conversation.

“Well yeah? Let me take you to the bedroom and I’m gonna show you who’s the boss. My d—“

“La la la la, I’m not hearing it.” I said in a sing song, cutting him off as I bagged the groceries.

“My, what are lovely couple you are.” The cashier said and chuckled making me look up.

“Ah, we’re not—“

“He’s still shy about it.” Trent winked at the cashier and cupped my ass making me shot up and elbow him before smiling at the cashier named Sally. I noticed the small tortoise peeking out from the small container beside her and I instantly remembered my own pet that I kept on forgetting about.

“That’s a cute tortoise.” I commented.

“Thanks. Gushers is just a few weeks, he’s a red foot.” He said and proceeded to swipe Trent’s card.

“I have a Sulccata back home named Popcorn.” I commented and she held Gushers’ container up so I can pet him.

“Popcorn is a Sulccata?” Trent asked making me look at him. “How old is he?”

“About 21 years old, why?”

“Uh, nothing… I just remembered someone having the same thing—it’s nothing, probably just a coincidence.” Trent dismissed yet I couldn’t miss how his eyes darken a bit—with sadness, anger? I don’t know. It was gone before I could see clearly.

Well, that’s weird.

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Trent’s POV

This whole house mate thing is great—no, it’s fantastic and I’m not talking about how I can antagonize this sweet honeysuckle house mate I have but because for once, I am eating homemade food—healthy homemade food, mind you. I also have my house clean and I thoroughly enjoy the company of Ashley—who has the same name of the person I have been looking for the past 20 years. How weird is that? He even have the same tortoise named Popcorn.

I know this is too weird to be just a coincidence but I have proofs on how my Ashley and this Ashley isn’t the same. First, Ashley’s last name isn’t Johanssen, its Wilson. What if his parents got a divorce? I’ve thought of that but no.

Second, my Ash has light brown hair while Ashley have a dark blonde one and there’s this thing that I remember about my Ashley, he can sense auras and shit while this one calls me the devil—I’m pretty sure it’s because of how he’s stuck with washing my underwear.

He isn’t my Ashley. My Ashley would remember me. We promised each other that no matter what happens, we’ll find each other and once we do, I will fucking wait for him no matter how long it gets.

Ashley Maverick Wilson was the reason I am here in the world, surviving. I had given up everything to find him and by I mean everything, I mean it. My own soul, my humanity—I have given up my whole life to see him again—but I was tricked.

“I-I I’m willing to give everything up to see him again!” the ten year old me had mustered the courage to try and bargain with the supernatural creatures so I could get to see him again. So I could get to see Ashley again. The past three years of my life isn’t the same as when I had my best friend with me.

A pillow of thick black smoke had appeared in front of the pentagram I had created before revealing a very gorgeous creature with snowy white hair, leathery black wings and pearly white fangs—a demon, based on the horns sitting atop his head.

“What is it that you desire most, young one?” The demons started. “Money? Fame? Power? All the things in the world could be yours.”

“My best friend.” I said. “I want Ashley! I want to see him again.” I said with resolve etched into my soul.

The demon raised his eye brows at that with a smirk. “You could have everything in the world yet you yearn for such simple thing?”

“No. I want my best friend.” I said in a steady voice despite of the rapid beat in my chest.

“Then what are you willing to give me for that wish boy?” The demon looked around my singly bedroom before his eyes landed on me. “You have nothing but clothes on your back and your resolve. What makes you think I will bargain with you when you don’t have anything to pay me? There is no such thing as free lunch, my boy.”

“My soul.” I said without hesitation. “Take it. Take everything you need as long as I get to see him again.”

“Then your soul it is.” He said and pushed me down and as soon as he did, my body convulsed and I watched the demon through my eyes, glowing and writhing in pain before he fell down the floor, he looked like he’s having a seizure before his eyes grew wide and he looked at me.

“Y-you…” He stuttered. “Who are you?” He asked. “I-It doesn’t work. I have made you a demon instead.” He said and showed me my reflection. I have freaking horns, small curled horns.

“What the hell?” I looked at myself in disbelief. “What about Ashley!?”

“I can’t! He has a charge—an angel looking after him! He is also tied to the fates so I can’t touch him!” The demon said, looking like he was about to panic. “This isn’t supposed to happen. You are coming with me to hell—

To say that he just dragged me to hell with an unfulfilled promise was really a scary experience to a 10 year old boy who was thinking hard on ‘Is this really worth it?’ I remember just looking back and thinking if Ashley gives a fuck if he sees me or not but then again, I don’t care.

I want Ashley back and I still want him. The bargain was still unfulfilled but somehow I know that Leviathan—yes, that’s why he’s still sticking with me is because he have the payment, my soul, and he still haven’t done shit yet.

Part of why I accepted Ashley as my house mate was also because he has the same name as my Ash and a bunch of other things. Of course, he wouldn’t replace my Ash but that ass though—wicked. I don’t mind tapping.

Damn I really wouldn’t.