15

"My name's Richard, what's your name?", Richard asked politely. He looked into his eyes, it was a reflection of his emotions, the pain, the agony, everything.



"My name's Luke", Luke replied as he shook his hands with Richard.



Richard could see the pain in his eyes, obviously his cheeks were burning, his jaw and his head was aching and his body hurt him badly, but he tried keeping a smiley face



"Come on! Let's go get some treatment for your face", Richard said.



Luke couldn't walk on his own accord, he obviously needed help to leave the woods and Richard held his hands, slowly taking him out of the woods



"How did you do that?", Luke asked. He puzzled over the fact that another boy of bus age was able to beat up two big bullies and scare the last one away.



This was something worth knowing.



"How did I do what?", Richard asked him. Quite certain, he didn't really understand the question he was being asked



"How were you able to beat those two guys up all on your own?", Luke asked finally hitting the nail on the head



Truly he was puzzling on how he did it, especially the wood he held in his hands.



He couldn't deny the fact that the wood looked very heavy and even if he wanted to carry it, it would bring him down, but there was Richard, swinging it like it was some light broomstick.



"Oh that?", Richard uttered out.



"My dad taught me how to defend myself, but I didn't stop there. I went as far as to know how to fight. Plus I hate bullies", Richard continued.



"So that's how he was able to do that?", Like pondered.



If only his father would have done the same thing, no one would be able to laugh at his feeble stature or even take advantage of his weakness.



But all his father could do was to drink his life away, making him feel so frustrated and making his mother turning the bread winner of the family.



At this point, he blamed his father for his callous attitude which had resulted to him being bullied and beaten up badly.



"Would you teach me?", Luke asked with a shy tone.



He wished above all things that Richard would be able to teach him some moves, at least even though he won't or may not be able to fight back, but some simple defense tricks would be good enough for him.



"To fight?", Richard asked looking at Luke.



His face was seeming shy but he understood what he felt inside and then spoke out again, "Of course. I will. I mean... We're friends now"



"Friends?", He thought deeply. Friends? So quickly? He knew Richard save me his life from possible death but now Richard just called him his friend



He couldn't contain his emotions. It was bittersweet, he cried and at the same time, he laughed at the thoughts of finally having a friend, not just any friend, but one who could teach him how to fight.



Two decades later, both Luke and Richard kept on being Friends, not just friends, but best of friends



They never left each other's side, both of them being a force no one could reckon with, he became Richard's beta, going to war with him and conquering with each other by Richard's side.



But he still had something from all this years which passed, something he held onto and cherished so much.



He still had that pendant worn around his neck, looking more shiny than ever.



That was the foundation of their friendship, the thing that brought their relationship into existence.

"Luke! Just in time", Richard stood up from the table and walked over to greet him, he hugged Luke like he hadn't seen him for millennium of years and so did Luke.



"Welcome!" Richard greeted him as he looked at him scornfully and both of them laughed.



"Vanessa!!!", Emily called out to the woman who came with Luke. She was Luke's mate and a good description of the word "beauty"



She hugged her tightly and then held her hands, jumping and screaming like some teenage high school girls.



The screams were quite loud and they drew attention to themselves.



"Come sit. Join us for breakfast", Richard gestured for them to sit on the table and get served



"Agatha! Would you mind serving my guests", Richard turned his gaze to her, looking at her and his looks were interpreted in a question as "why are my guests not still served"



Quickly, as if her life depended on it, she took some plates and began to serve both Vanessa and Luke.



They broke into small parts, while Luke was having a conversation with Richard, Vanessa was seen giggling and discussing with Emily.



"I heard it was twins", Vanessa said as she held Emily's hands and chuckled at the thought of it.



"Yeah! Oh goodness. I couldn't believe it too", Emily said as she burst into laughter.



She kept talking with Vanessa but her unsteady eyes never stopped peeping at Richard who sat at the other end of the table.



Richard who sat at the other end of the table was listening to Luke and at the same time, was looking at Emily seductively.



It seemed as though there was something magical about the way she looked that morning and Richard couldn't solace his hands in it, but for sure, he knew one thing, he loved it, every bit of it.



"My lady?", Another maid who emerged out of the house came to the garden where Emily sat to eta her breakfast.



"Layla's done with the bath my lady. You can come feed them now", the maid said as she gestured politely.



That was like the spoiler of the moment. In as much as Richard's unsteady eyes couldn't leave her or let her be, she enjoyed the way he winked at her or stared at her.



It gave her a sense of specialness, she felt on top of the world, but now, motherhood duties beckoned on her and she had no choice than to follow the call.



"Alright!", Emily said politely.



She turned her attention towards Vanessa and said to her, "Would you love to come see the babies?"



"Of course", Vanessa replied happily. Just as Luke and Richard had been friends and so close to each other, so was Vanessa and Emily, they were best of friends too.