Falling | Mxm (Completed) Chapter 15

Edited ✔️

“Look what I found! A giant bunny plushie! It looks like you. I’m gonna buy it.”

“What do you even want a plushie for?!” Aiden asked while laughing at the enthusiastic person in front of him.

“Someone has to keep me company while you’re gone.” He frowned, but then hid it behind another wide smile. “I’m gonna name it Dennybunny.”

Aiden felt like his heart was in someone’s fist, getting smashed. It hurt so much, but there was nothing he could do about it.

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He was currently staring at a little girl’s rabbit toy in the hallway. He didn’t even know what that little girl was doing there in the middle of a mental hospital. Just yesterday, someone attempted to kill a ghost with a knife. A KNIFE. I mean, salt would be a better choice but a knife?!?! Aiden sighed to himself. Just because of some addiction, he had to be here. Well, it wasn’t ‘just’ for addiction. He did have awful nightmares and breakdowns and he did attempt to end everything, although he told everyone he just miscalculated and they somehow believed it, but still, he felt like he didn’t need to be kept in there. He wanted to dance, wanted to be in his studio, eat ramen there, and sleep on his favorite couch in the corner. The one he bought for Aiden.

‘If you don’t have enough time to drive home, at least you should have something decent to sleep on instead of that neck-breaking chair.’ He had said.

He should have made the time. It didn’t matter if he had to postpone the release date of his album, making millions of fans angry, he just should have made the time for him.

He hadn’t been able to see Lili for days now. Edwin said she had a breakdown and she didn’t want to see anyone. Well, except for Kurt, apparently. He had visited a couple of times and spent a few hours with Lili in her room. So the night conversations were non-existent unless Edwin was on a shift. Aiden had grown quite fond of the young doctor. They would talk about this and that, but he always loved it when Edwin told him memories of when he was a kid. One time Aiden asked about how long they knew each other, Kurt, and the siblings. Edwin said from childhood. They had been neighbors from the very beginning. He said Kurt took care of them like a big brother and then fell in love with Lili at a very young age.

A tap on his shoulder ripped him out of his thoughts.

“Come on, you have visitors waiting for you in Edwin’s office.” Lucas said. Aiden nodded and smiled in response, making his way to the room.

Upon opening the door, he was met with his little brother Max and his two friends Finn and Brad.

They all hugged him, one after the other, asking him how he is.

“So? I heard you’re working on some songs. That Luis guy is really something else for making you work even in here!” Brad said.

“Ah yeah, he can be quite intimidating, but OH my god! I could never complain as far as I get to keep him as my manager!” Aiden was excited like a kid, smiling stupidly wide. His friends laughed at him so hard. It was nice seeing a little life in him again.

“Have you finished anything so far? Can we listen?” Finn asked.

Aiden hesitated. “… Not really. I’m working on a few songs, but they’re all super emotional and sad, and definitely not good enough to have an audience.” He added, “Yet.”

“Oooooh, sassy Aiden back at it again. I live for the confidence you have in your music.” Finn teased him.

They all became quiet for a long moment. Aiden was fiddling with his fingers, looking down all of a sudden.

“Have you talked to him recently?” He asked no one in particular.

Brad was the one who answered carefully. “Of course we have, we are his friends too…”

Aiden nodded in understanding. “How is he? I mean… has he recovered completely?” He asked, raising his head, looking back and forth at his 2 friends.

“He is fine, Aiden. Shouldn’t you be more worried about yourself? I mean, look where they’re keeping you!” Finn frowned at him. “It’s time to move on. You know it pains me so much, having to see my good friends being apart, but it’s just how it is. You should just accept it and move the fuck on.”

Aiden didn’t reply. Dead silent. Then he mumbled, “It was all my fault.” No one heard, or if they did, they didn’t react. To freshen the mood, he faced his brother, who had been quiet the whole time. “Why so quiet, Max? Poor grades got you down again?” He tried to cheer up his little bro, but he only frowned at him.

“Do you know how it is at home? Mom doesn’t eat much. Dad has to comfort her. And I can’t focus on my studies cos all I think about is what if some maniac tried to kill you in your sleep with a knife or something.”

Upon hearing the last sentence, Aiden burst out laughing. Holding his stomach, he managed to let some words out between all the laughter. “This place is not as bad as y’all think.” Trying to sit straight again and not laugh anymore he said, “It’s funny you mentioned the knife cos someone DID try to kill some invisible ghost by a knife today, but it’s mostly a quiet place in here. I mean, the rooms are on the second floor and the crazy doesn’t go up to there. The very ill ones are kept on the first floor, so you guys really don’t have to worry about anything. Tell the parents that too.”

“The parents? You mean YOUR parents?” Max snapped at him.

Aiden just looked at him without a word.

“So what? Then I must be ‘the brother’ as well instead of your brother, ha?”

“Max, don’t do this. You know I love you.” He tried to grab the younger’s hand, but he just didn’t let him.

“No, I don’t! no one knows cos you’re always busy doing your thing. First, it was the obsession with programming and dancing. Then it became dancing to an unhealthy level. And then when we thought you’re finally done, you said you wanted to be a singer and locked yourself in the studio. What did mom ever do to you to make you want to be away from home all the time?”

Aiden wasn’t surprised by his brother’s outburst. He had experienced it before. People yelling at him to be around more was what he was used to. He inhaled harshly.

“So if I studied something for at least 4 years to get a stupid 9 to 5 job at some office and then went back home after having achieved nothing, would all of you be happy? I need to be productive. I get tired of doing the same thing. I’m sorry, but I only get to live once. I won’t live it by other people’s rules.”

“Family wanting you to spend some time with them is not a rule, asshole. It’s an expectation.”

“That’s why I always tell you not to have those. Expectations can only hurt you in the end.”

“Like you hurt him in the end?” Max said, and Aiden froze, unable to move and gaze fixated only on his brother. He didn’t know whether to be sad or angry or did he even have the right to feel those?

“Max! I told you not to come if you wanted to pick a fight.” Brad’s voice was strict.

“I’m not saying anything untrue here. It’s all facts.”

“Enough! Go wait in the car.” Brad threw him his car keys and gestured for him to leave. Max looked at his brother for a moment, huffed, and then left. Aiden couldn’t help the lump in his throat.

“Don’t listen to him. He’s still a kid.” Brad said.

“Is he right, tho?” Aiden looked at his friends with pleading eyes. “Is wanting to live a full life that wrong? I did all I could, well maybe not all, but I did everything I could think of for him. I know it wasn’t enough, but…” he couldn’t continue anymore. He just hung his head low.

“Hey! Not every relationship is meant to last. It doesn’t matter how many years two people are together, when it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. That’s why I’m telling you to move on already.” Finn tried to calm him. “And if it helps, he’s already seeing someone.”

Aiden raised his head at the speed of light. His eyes wide and not believing what he heard. “Who?” was the only thing he could say. “Who the fuck is he seeing?” He was yelling to get some answers.

“Woah, chill! I forgot his name cos he only saw him like twice, but he is from the analysis department of the company.”

Aiden buried his face in his hands and whined. Finn’s phone rang, and he went out of the room to answer it. A moment later, Edwin came in. “Is everything okay? I heard shouting.”

“Just peachy.” Aiden mumbled into his palms.

“Brad? What are the odds! How are you?!” Edwin sounded so excited.

Aiden lifted his head and looked at the 2 hugging figures with their smiley faces.

“You two know each other?”

“Yeah! He was my dance teacher in school.” Edwin replied.

“You DANCE?! Why the fuck haven’t I been told?” Aiden felt attacked.

“It just never came up. Why be so salty about it!” Edwin just answered nonchalantly. Aiden groaned in annoyance and just hid his face in his palms again.

“How have you been, Eddie? I didn’t believe it when they said you quit the school.”

“Yeah… I had a change of heart.”

“Your passion was nothing that could change that easily, though.” Brad paused. “So you’re a psychiatrist now? Who would’ve thought!”

“Yeah, well!” Edwin gestured towards his white gown.

“Out of the legendary trio, only one of you continued the path. The other brat followed that caved voice dude’s tail in his company as well. Do you guys hang out still?” Brad asked.

“Who? Brian?” Edwin laughed out. “If you’re talking about Brian, then yes, we do hang out sometimes. But if you’re talking about Harry, no. I haven’t really heard from him. I just come upon his videos from time to time.”

Brad hummed, but before he could say anything, Finn hurried back into the room. “We should go. They need me at the restaurant.”

Brad nodded and put his hand on Aiden’s shoulder, squeezing a bit. “Don’t let Max’s words get to you and get well soon. We miss you out there going wild and stripping on the stage.”

Aiden chuckled. Hugging them goodbye, he sat back down looking at the doctor who was walking to his desk.

Catching the older’s stare, Edwin raised his eyebrow. “What?” He asked calmly.

“Why didn’t you tell me you’re a dancer?”

“I just told you, it never came up.” Edwin was going through some papers, looking for something.

“Don’t try to turn me around the subject, Edwin! We talked about my dance moves many times, so it did come up.”

Edwin didn’t answer, just kept looking for some unknown object. Aiden looked at him closely. The doctor was uncomfortable, and it was written all over his face. He stood up from his seat and made his way to the boy’s desk. Grabbing his hand with his, he put the index finger of his free hand under Edwin’s chin. Making him look up, he said, “It’s okay. You don’t have to abuse your hands going through all these papers just to escape answering.” They kept staring for a few more seconds when Aiden let go of him and stretched his arms above his head, “Aaaah I’m so tired. I’ll go sleep now. I hope my pillow Vincent will be there.” He giggled and left the room without looking back. Something felt weird. And Edwin’s hand was so very soft.