●Cricket Oneshots● [Love & Romance] Multi Couples

Kept you

I will forgive you a hundred and one time, If you even kill me for hundred times.

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Late nights have become a best friend of Tom since last year. He couldn't count sleepless nights since Archer left. Maybe he did save him for walking next paths of his beloved life. But the only thing he couldn't save was time.

'Are you still coming over here?' The last text from him before days, still finding hope for him. He can save it for later. But physical fitness only shows the healthier life ahead. He gotta go. Maybe for today, he can take a step ahead before Archer does. He got ready and went to the glossary to buy some fresh fruits, breads, cakes and biscuits for him. He took a bouquet of flowers, too. Doesn't know if it was for consolation. After getting out of his car, first, he feels hesitant. Second, he gets some courage from himself. Third, he was about to escape after pressing the calling bell. "Tom." He heard the voice from behind. The cold deep voice, maybe now becomes unfamiliar. But his mind recognises. His heart pumps up. He didn't turn back. Only he was hiding his tears.

Years ago, when Archer left Tom alone just for some misunderstanding and his miserable past, Tom didn't find a way to give spaces to himself. Neither he could fight back, nor did he react, how the way tortured him back. He fades his smiles and makes his face like a stone. The stone, Archer shaped. No smiles, just rudeness.

Tom was all alone thinking, 'If my past was the problem, why did you choose me? If I WAS THE PROBLEM, why did you love me? If they- if they were right, why did you care about me? If they were the last way, you're going to choose over me, WHY DID YOU SHOW ME HOPES? W-why Archer? WHY?' Crying the way back then. Heated over his ownself, why couldn't he tell all those? Why was he just watching Archer depart his way back and he was alone standing there with a smiley, crying face? Yes, he accepted all of the things Archer gave him. If it's pain, it is pain. He doesn't care.

Now, Archer is injured. He has back and elbow injury. It's the 360th day since his injury and out of cricket. He somehow feels some uncouth pains deep in his heart, too. Missing Tom inch by inch. Maybe it increased a lot more pain than he usually had with the injuries. He holds his tears in the corner of his eyes. He can't see. He can not see his surroundings without Tom. He feels the fault, the mistake he made. But he is not even able to stand. How can he run to Tom, kneel down, hold his hands and tell a warm heart, sorry? He can't. Only he is watching the ceiling, with his chin up, missing Tom, who always holds his jaw and moves his face to Tom. Saying, 'What are you looking at? I'm here.' He smiles, thinking the memory, what he lets to become a MEMORY.

He doesn't know. Somehow, he remembered the day when some English players came to look over him and Tom was with them. He still can't forget the formalities Tom showed that day. He took it positively before other players. But he can't take it positively more. It was enough for him. It was taugh for him. He couldn't sleep after then. Seeing Tom forgetting him and showing formalities over emotion killed Archer. He can count the sleepless nights without him. Without cuddling him. Without holding him between his dead arms. Yeah, he killed Tom, too. He killed them, too.

Now, somehow, he felt the brave to send him a message. Maybe he is missing formalities. He sent it as, 'Tom, would you mind coming over here and checking on me?' Felt feasibility but sent. After two days, when he found no reply, he again texts, 'Are you still coming over here?' That the thing, didn't let Tom sleep for a few nights. Maybe somehow, Archer turned his sleepless nights into desired ones. Unknowingly, unusually.

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Turned back slowly to face the reason he kept himself away since last year. He exhales deeply before facing it. Knowing, how tough it feels all time to face reality! He doesn't care either. He again gets his formalities back and goes like, "Archer, are you doing good?" Archer feels the hinding tone under his throat. It's not familiar for Archer, too. Where were all those unsaid lines when he was leaving his path all alone? Can Tom answer it? No. Thinking the painful truth, Archer gestures him to come in. He did. As the formality starts...

In the middle of their conversation, Archer spoke up. "Tom, can I tell you one thing?" He asked it after he could not take all those conversations more. Cuts him off. Cause all Tom was asking- how are you? How's your health? The time you're coming back on nets. Did you miss your family... bla bla bla. Whatever, Tom nods while doubting him. Doubting the way, whether Archer is gonna insult him or tell him the words he can't take. He nods sadly. Archer can see fear on his face clearly. How can he even let that happen? Kept it on his mind. The blame, Tom never imagined. "I know it will sound horrible if I say, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry for the things I've done, Tom. [Tears come quickly] I'm- I'm sorry to change you like before. I don't feel good nowadays, Tom. I miss you every time. And- and I can't spend more days without now. Can you forgive me? A-and I will never put anyone over you, Tom. I promise. Can you tr-trust me?" Cried out loud and rests his head on Tom's shoulder. Tom wipes his own tears. Doesn't know what to do now. Can he go like that- 'Enough, Archer. You think I'm a fool! You will keep yelling your beautiful lies and I will keep listening to it. How can you even think the nonsensical thing that it's gonna be so easy to lose me and to achieve me again? No, it's not the same joke you altime make. It's you, Archer. Yourself.' He closes his eyes, after thinking, he can never tell him all those. He knows that Archer didn't take all those steps by his own wish. Maybe he didn't understand, maybe he didn't realise. But here he is, dedicating half of him to Tom. Maybe he will trust later. But at that moment, all he can say is- Yes. He smiles painfully. Holds Archer's jaw and wiped his tears. "Hey. Look at me. I can't let you cry. What do you expect? Am I gonna say, I wish I could?" Archer looks directly at him. The way Tom didn't feel hesitant to ping Archer with all the mistakes he made knowingly. Archer watches the pain floating over Tom's face. It was like- if Archer tears Tom off, he will be smiling while taking it. Tom holds his jaw again, looks down, then up on his face. "I will forgive you a hundred and one time, If you even kill me for hundred times, Archer. And that's not what lover does?" He is looking like an innocent kid. Begging for his own pardon. Yeah, Archer knows he killed him. Yeah, Archer knows he has no right to take him back. He will make a mistake again. Mistake of choosing himself for Tom. He cries again. And Tom hugs him. Archer holds him back. Holds, like it is the last pain Archer is ever giving him. Can't he beg for pardon? "You love me, still." Archer asks in a crying tone. "Certainly, Archer." Tom answers. "Promise me you'll never leave me like I did?" He again asks. "I do." Tom promised. He again wiped the tears off from Archer's face. Archer is nothing but watching Tom in that close after years. "You miss me?" Archer says, quitely. "I don't miss you. I kept you. I kept you in my deep heart where I felt pain and love at the same time. I was just confused, smiling and crying at the same time. Forget it." Archer was just holding him, noticing how he could hurt that person. He holds him again. Again, the tears come. Tom quitely smiles and holds him back. Maybe Archer will remain unchanged for the rest of the night. Maybe he will remain changed for the rest of their life.

Cause deep down, he kept Tom, too.

......