Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend

RUSSEL HENDRICKS

Hey buddy, although we never interact in a real life, I always wanted to know more about you. You have given me a valuable package to restart my life and cupid of my love life. I promise you to love our husband as I love myself. Thank you Nathan for being a bridge between him and me. Now you can rest in peace.

I still can remember clearly every word Eric confessed at Nathan's tomb. It's warm me inside and out. A happiness bubbling inside me when I was letting out all heavy feeling I shouldered alone. This is a correct path for me and the one I loved dearly. I promised myself never hide any important matter from him again.

My heart lightened. A sense of peaceful blanket me. Deep inside I can get a feeling that Nathan was blessing us from the bottom of his heart. This is not a deceiving feeling either. My love stays strong for both of the men even in the afterlife.

I am proud having Eric as my husband. He is all I need right now. He saw how imperfect I was and loved the true me. I agreed with Eric statement. Nathan is a bridge in between Eric and me. As if he had chosen the person for me in his last breath. Thank you, babe. The man you had saved, right now is saving me too.

I caress the soundless man sleeping beside me. His legs entangle with mine, hand on my waist and head against my chest. His bared skin shows clear purplish marks. A mark I imprinted over his skin a moment ago. Until today, we kept commuted in between house and hospital because he rejected the suggestion to stay there. He even threatens to run if I left him there.

The first day check-up, the doctor gave a guarantee that his health not too severe. He just needs enough rest, sleep and free from tension. I decided to let him off from any work until his health revert to normal. He also reluctant to get back into office early.

On the third day, a result is quite good and the heart beating in healthy. There is also no sign of rejection at all. I glad he and the heart can get along now. I cannot lose the second man I loved too. It is enough to go through it one time. If it's happening again, I may as well follow their steps.

Less than two days we would gather at grandfather's house. I am thinking if this is wise to bring him meeting a problematic family of mine. I am afraid he might be feeling a little pressure that's not good for his health. If these idiotic relatives of me daring to touch my man, they can kiss their position in the company.

"Good morning, Russel." I kiss his sleepy eyes.

"Morning Love. If you are sleepy, just sleep a little more." I lean on the headboard, caressing his smooth hair.

"No, I can't pampered my body too much." He stretched the limbs.

"What is our agenda today?" He asked me while yawn.

"I wanted to bring you this place owned by my friend. The place is free from narrow minded human, so we can be a sweet couple we wanted to be." I wink at him. His face color slightly changed.

"What's sweet?" He gets off the bed, only wearing black briefs. I gulped a saliva down the throat, admiring his seducing figure. I know he was feeling giddy inside.

"Please close your mouth and wipe the saliva." He said before running to the bathroom. I laughed alone.

After eating the breakfast, I bring him to my friend sanctuary place for people like us. He also the only child from richest family. He opens up the garden for LGBT society and shutter place for them. In his garden, these people have a freedom to be themselves without need to be afraid people judgement. The place also served as a cupid garden.

My friend's hobby a little weird but many people from LGBT think him as their savior. His parents supported him through and through. They ignored the narrow minded people like swatting the flies. People scorned him but did not dare openly oppose because money influencing.

"Where are we going?" Eric asked when we go through an empty road.

"Sanctuary." I give him a side glimpse.

"Are you sure we didn't lose? I find nothing along the driveway except the tallest tree and empty road." He impatiently asks.

"This is the correct path." I said earning rolled eyes from him.

"Hopefully, no animals eat us first." His finger taps on the window.

"No one except me can eat you, love." I laughed.

"Cheesy." His head leans on my shoulder. He is hymning along the driveway.

Half an hour later, we arrived at the said place. Karl is waiting me at the front door. Presenting the honest smile. I shake a hand and hugs him.

"Who is this gentleman?" Karl throw his attention to Eric.

"Karl, this is Eric. Eric this is one of my childhood friends, Karl Mathew." They are shaking the hand.

"It is my pleasure to meet you. Hmm, are you one of us too?" Karl asked him. I don't like the way he was eyeing my husband.

"Me too. Of course I am one of you." Eric gives a little smile. Karl frown when seeing my hand around Eric's waist.

"He is my husband, Eric Hendricks." I clear the situation.

"What? When?" Karl is shocked, as he know about Nathan and me too.

"Our marriage almost reach two years. It happened in a most unexpected way." The explanation raised a doubt in Karl's eyes.

"Oh... whatever. Anyhow, do you like to bring your husband around the place?" As a smarter person, Karl knows what he should comment or not. I like this part of him.

"Yes, we would love it." Eric answered on my behalf.

"Oh man, I am totally jealous over your men. Why you always get good men out of there. At least left one of the gems for someone like me." He pretended to be sad.

"I hope you will find one soon." I patted his shoulder.

"Wait a minute, I will bring a key shortly." Karl tells us.

"Key? For what?" Eric asked in confused.

"Last year I added another thing in this miniature garden. I built the lodge house for whomever wish to stay here overnight." He gets inside the house.

"Hey, don't say we will stay overnight." Eric said.

"Why not? This place not too bad to spend our precious time together." He eyed the surrounding. Karl is tricky person. From our stand, we won't see anything special about the place.

"Here, you go." Karl appeared and hand me a key.

"Thank you." I say.

"Hey man, if you find this man really annoying and grumpy all the times, you can shift your heart to me." Karl tease Eric.

"Not in a chance, prick." I give him a middle finger, turning my back and hold Eric's hand to the car.

"Why you have a collection of weird friend, dear husband." Eric laughed in the car.

"Maybe these people more trustworthy than normal people." I answered him.

"Damn right." Eric smirk at me.

"I think it is a bad idea, staying here overnight. Tomorrow we need to gather at your grandfather's house. I need some preparation."

"Did you think it as an examination day? Come on, Love. Being yourself is enough to face them." I bring his finger to my lips.

"Okay." He looks dejected.

Once we entered the ground beyond the gate, Eric's eye widened. The lush greenish greet us. I used the map to search the lodge house. Our lodge place far to east. It is beautiful and blend well with the surrounding. Eric reluctantly had turned excitedly. We exit the car and enter the lodge house. The inside is fully furnished.

Eric's eyes widened seeing me bring in a luggage. After that, I take him to stroll around the yard. Using the map as a guide, we have chosen which place we would go first and later. This place almost like miniature town. It has different landscapes such the amazing garden, amusement park, Water Park, jungle trekking and so on.

Honestly, two days not enough for us exploring all the places. That is not a big deal for me as I can lengthen my holiday as I please. I don't think the company would collapse if I take an additional two or three days more. What the most important is seeing my beloved one stay smile and brimming with happiness. That is what I considered as a treasure.

I hold his hand along the path of the garden. He greets people come across us. All of them are same gender couples, freeing walking without reserve. Here we found a total peaceful day being with our loved. Although some countries have legal a same gender marriage and acknowledge our community, that doesn't mean the scorn never exist anymore.

"Your friend is a weird but his idea is the best." Eric says when we are riding the small boat on the calm lake.

"Yeah, he is." I nod.

"If you know any amazing place like this, you should alert me early." He pouted, paddling the boat.

"Why?" I am confused. "If I am telling you early the surprise will lose its meaning."

"I wanted to sketch the place." Eyeing around, a small smile appear on his seducing lips.

"I see... On the next time, I would prepare it in my car, so no more pouting when we arrive at the surprise place." I put my promise.

"Argh, you're the best husband ever." The boat sway left and right, a little unstable when Eric suddenly throwing himself in my embrace.

"Do you want to swim from here to the shore?" I scolded him.

"Nope in the hell..." He smiles mischievously, "Because I already have my own savior right in front my eyes."

"What if I can't swim?"

"Nope, I found your coach license as a swimmer." He winks at me. Our laugh filling the surface of the lake.

From paddling the boat, we went to an amusement park and the list keep going on. Honestly, strolling around with limited time not enough to satiate us. However, I had promised Eric to bring him here again. This time we are only taking a pure strolling around the place.

His happiness is my happiness that is what I am feeling now. Walking side by side with my hand lingered around his waist and he also did the same. I never think I can feel this way again after losing Nathan.

"I love you, Eric." I said when we are in front the big firecracker show.

"I love you too, dear husband." He softly kissed me. We forget the surrounding as I deepened the kiss. We only parted when our lung lack of oxygen. We spent the night outside, exploring all the facility in there. It is almost dawn when we come back to lodge house. After taking a bath, we go to sleep.

Right now, I keep calming Eric as he fidgeted in the seat. He felt everything was wrong. I can feel his hands sweaty.

"Eric, calm down. They won't eat you." I tease him.

"I fear they don't like me."

"They are not important and their approval meant nothing in my marriage life." I ensure him. "Don't worry, I won't let them hurt you." I kissed his knuckle.

"Okay." He has taken a deep breathe.

Many of the cars already parked there, meaning we might be the last one. Among them, I spotted my parents car. It is considered as a rare since we rarely meet in the same gathering for years. Our relationship has a big cracked since the day I announced myself as a gay.

Calming myself, I lead Eric into the house. The butler gives me a warm smile and guide us to the dining room. The room turned mute when I stepped inside. They eyed Eric and me curiously. Some of the quick witted type has already guessed our relationship.

"Hey, why you take the secretary here? This is a family gathering." Rosaline shout from opposite corner.

"Yeah, why are you taking him here?" Mother's protest. "Aren't he already resigned from the company?"

"I have no obliged to answer you. Grandfather already gave his approval for him to attend this gathering." I take the empty seat, opposite my parents chairs.

The chair always belongs to mine since nobody dared sit in that place. A place near to head household chair. Less than two minutes, grandfather enters the room. I smirk when seeing Eric precious reaction.

"Hey Eric, we meet again. Do you find the fate is strange?" Grandfather sits on the head chair.

"Yeah, I guess so." He sheepishly answered.

"Have you introduced him to our family?" Grandfather asked me.

"Not yet. Hey everyone this is Eric, my husband." I reluctantly introduced him to them.

"What?" Half of them shocked by the fact. Mother glares at me with a red shade face.

"Hi everyone, nice to meet you." Eric greets them. Some nods and some clearly shows disgusted stares.

"Okay, let's eat now. We can socialize later. Eric please treat this place as your home. After eating I wanted to show you my precious collection." Grandfather broke the awkward.

"Okay." Eric answer.

Unfortunately, some still dared to throw insults and gossips like I am not being here. The old habit sure hard to eliminate although the owner of this empire had shifted. These foolish think they can get leeway by grandfather presence. Actually, they are wrong about one matter.

Grandfather already forgave and accepted my sexuality. He also rather fond to Eric. I am just waiting them to press a wrong button.

"Condolence, uncle. It seems you won't have grandchildren forever." One of my cousin fuel up the tense between my parents and me.

"Don't worry aunt. You can treat my child as your own children." Lisa interfered with a sneering smile. I take my fork and knife, cutting the steak.

"Hey Russel, do you still not learnt from the past experience. You had angered God by falling into forbidden love. That's why God has taken your previous husband in painful death. Unfortunately, you never learnt and now parade another faggot. Did it really delicious to have anal sex?" George insult me. I faced Eric when spotted his hand slightly shaking by the tense environment.

"Be calm, Love." I whispered. Taking his hand in mine under the table.

"They are too much. Horrible." He replied me.

"Yes, anal sex better than woman hole." I retort the bastard.

"Ew, I can't imagine how gross it is. Having a dick coat with shit." George smirks.

"Hey, stop it." Rowan said. I feel Eric's hand slip away from my grip. Next, a scream coming from George's mouth. A juice water dripped down from George's head.

"Why you treat him like a trash? Do you think he had no heart when he chosen to be silent? Aren't you shame insulting the person that saved you from being a beggar? Just because we can't love the opposite gender, you think we as a freak. You treated us worse than animal. I never find any family worse than you guys. You have everything, power and money but you lack a crucial part as human. A heart." He paused. Glaring in the wet face of George.

"What the fuck with your attitude, faggot."

"The wrong is your mind. If he just ignores when you was in a dire situation, you think you can continue being arrogant like this. You never take note of his sacrifices. You never appreciate his effort. Actually, some of you were glad he is gay, right? That way your children have a chance to take over the company. First, I don't want to interfere in your life but when you kept insulting him, I can't keep my head down. He is my husband. It's my duty to protect him too, including from the rotten mouth like you."

"Why? Why you treat him worse? He relates to you by blood. If outsiders can accept him for whom he was, why you can't? I am not going to allow you treat him like a trash. I won't let you take him for granted." He was shaking like a leaf. His whole body quivered with an uncontrollable rage.

"It's enough, Love. I had numb with their outdated insults." I hugged Eric from behind.

"You never bad mouthing them. You never regard them as a trash. You gave them an opportunity to atone their mistake. In the end, what you get? You get nothing. These people didn't deserve your help." Eric eyed still glued on these bunch of fool.

"It's better to stop dreaming to get his wealth. I won't let it happen. All his wealth belongs to his child. I promise you, one day you will get a news about his heir." Eric laugh but the threat is real. I feel a cold chill seeping into my skin when he mention about the child.

"What? Do you think, you're able to give him an heir?" Lisa snorted.

"No, I can't give him any heir. Nevertheless, every problem has its own solution. With current technology and specialist, it is not hard for him to get an heir." Eric said, linking our fingers together. A sinister smile appeared on his face.

Taking a deep breath, Eric apologizes to grandfather, "Grandpa, I am sorry for causing a trouble here. I did not meant it but their word is so much to bear. If you wanted to meet us again, please excluded them in the meeting. Thank you for inviting us here. It is time for us taking the leave." Eric led me out.

"Love, thank you for getting angry on my behalf." I hugged him again once we stepped out from the front door. The frustrate tears rolling down his face.

"Why you kept quiet? You need to defend yourself too." He is facing me.

"I had numb with their insults. This is not the first nor the last time too. Tonight their insults can be considered as a mild. I don't care what they are going to say. I am damn tired with their immature thinking. If I raise my tone, aren't I just the same level as they? The best way is keeping silence and ignoring their presence. Yes, it hurt when taking the insulting word."

"Love, I don't need them. What I need now is you." I wiped his tears. "You're the source of my happiness and strength."

"You're right. I am a silly wanting their approval." He leans against me. His hand encircled my waist.

"Yeah, like I said earlier their approval mean nothing. The one I yearned for approval already gave it to me." I cupped his face.

"Your grandfather?"

"Yeah, correct." A smile blossom from his lips. "I think the approval coming from the way he socialized with you outside the house."

"I don't know. Let us go home, please. " I nod.

"Hey wait!" Grandfather shouted from the door. He walked fast in our direction.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I wanted to show him my collection." He glare at me. "Eric, I am sorry for these uncalled attitudes of my family. I promise to punish them later."

"Don't worry, grandpa. It is okay." Eric looked down at his feet. A signal he still upset with earlier situation.

"No, I won't let them this time." He pauses. "Grandson, you really get a fierce lion this time. And, I am waiting a great grandchild as your husband said earlier." He laughed.

"Grandfather, he only joke to defend me."

"Nope... you need to realize the idea. If you successful proof it, they wouldn't dare to take him lightly anymore."

"But..."

"No 'but' in this case. Eric is different from Nathan. He knows when to defend himself and you in front of these ridiculous people. He never cares about the image and the effect of his word. He is truly the man of himself. I love the way he acts, the way he defends you like no other. Finally, you are free from battling alone." Grandfather patted Eric shoulder.

"Eric, I know I am not the best grandfather to Russel. I was the main causes he acted this way. He respects me despite the rebellious self, thus letting these people stomp his pride. I know it. I failed to support when he announced his sexual preference. Because the stupid self of me, I missed his marriage two times. So Eric, please promise me to always and always guide him to the right path as a true human. Please covered the holes in his heart with your warm love. I entrust him in your hand, grandson."

"Yeah, I will do my best to shower him with love." Eric smile.

"Russel, don't misunderstand. I don't intend to compare both of your lovers in a bad way. Nathan was not the bad match for you. He just a little obedient and taking all into his consideration. Thus, unable him to protect himself and you from these bad mouthing people. I prefer someone wild like Eric because the route you choose is quite thorny. But, if Nathan still alive now, I would accept him like how I approved your relation right now. Your life is yours to decide. So, stay away from any bad scandals and pursue happiness in all ways. You'd chosen an amazing person to spend a lifetime with. Please remember, a heart is fragile like a crystal. Although it seems solid, once fallen it will not look like a normal back. The crack still visible no matter how expensive the glue you used to solidifying it." A complicated feeling surged in me. The feeling I had right now is beyond the word.

"I promise, grandfather." I whispered to him.

"Me too." Eric added.

After that, we get back to home. A contentment and peaceful enter my being. Because the man name Eric, everything begins taking the right place. He is a miracle in my life. Grandfather is correct. From now on, I can stop battling alone. I have a lifetime savior, backing me up from a blind spot.

A/N,

I hope that you will enjoy this chapter as well. As a head up, the next chapter might not come out on time. I have a big project to settle this weekday and a compulsory conference to attend. Anyway, thank you for voting & comment on previous chapters. See you on the next chapter. Adios.