Chapter 5 Secret Place

Once outside, Rhys moved behind me and feel him palmed my shoulder blades.

"This way."

He pushed me in the opposite direction of our house, where the woods located, but I stopped and looked at him dubiously.

"Where are we going?" I asked, but he just gives me his toothy grin and made me face the road again, and started pushing me.

"Stop asking. You'll know it later. And I'm sure you'll love it."

I tried asking him but to no avail he just shakes his head and mouthed 'no' while shrugging his shoulder. I gave up and got along with whatever plan that's inside his mind.

We passed some old and Victorian styled houses along the way. It was almost twenty minutes of walking when I noticed we did a turn to our left, toward a narrow way that lead to the forest.

"Where are we going, Rhys?"

Enormous tree surrounded us. Afraid some perilous animals were living inside this place that might hurt us if we continue to wander inside. I clutched Rhys's hand, tried stopping him when he was about to walk.

"Are we gonna go inside?" I asked.

"Chill, Kyle," he laughed. "I've been here last week and if you're thinking that there're dangerous animals rambling around, no, there's nothing. And we will not enter the heart of the wildwood if that's what you're worried about."

He ruffles my hair and continued to walk while laughing. Hesitantly, I followed him. I watched every step I took, especially when I had seen a heap of leaves.

I remember our teacher in grades school told us about some snakes making a nest using dried leaves to lay their eggs. It mounded and formed into a pyramid-like shape.

I lowered my head and shoulder when we dodged some huge branches that reached the ground. It was when I thought we will not stop at which Rhys faltered his pace. I was thinking he's just taking a rest when he faced me and smiled.

"We're here," he declared, lifting his arms up, gesturing to the surroundings. I let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness."

He offered his hands to me. I looked at him, wondering what he's trying to do, but I accept it. He drew up his shoulder that says *trust me* so I nodded and squeezes his hand.

"Welcome to my favorite place."

I didn't understand him at first because all I saw was some immense trees and haphazard fallen branches around but when he pulled me towards him and then he. moved to my side, I was dumbfounded to the scenery I saw.

A water gushed out in the middle of two vasty rocks that made a small waterfalls. I looked down to where the water descended and found a diminutive creek.

The rocks underwater was visible because of the clean and clear water, neither shallow nor deep.

The sunlit hits the water that added a sparkling effect that made even more magical. This place was perfect for a long relaxing swim.

"This place is wonderful," I astoundingly said.

I didn't knew there was a place like this hidden inside this woods.

"How did you even found this place?"

I can't takes away my eyes from the inviting water. If only I knew we'd be heading here, I would totally brought an extra clothes.

"I found this place when I was nine years old," he said.

His face was crestfallen when he said it. And again, I wanted to asked him but contained myself for doing so, but seems like I don't need to asked him anymore.

"That's when my Dad hit me, for the first time ever. I run out of our house without knowing where to go. I didn't know where I'm going but all I thought was to run, away from him."

He took a deep breath.

"I realized that I entered a forest but that didn't made me stop. I continue to run, thinking to encounter some wild aggressive animals that might kill me. That way, I'll be gone forever. But I stumbled upon this place when I trip and fall over there."

He pointed towards the creek.

"I'm in love the first time I laid my eyes to this picturesque," he said, starring to the water with a smile but I can see sadness in his eyes.

A different kind of emotion I can't name hit me. I drew near him and touched his shoulder. A sympathetic emotion clogged in my throat.

"Why did he hit you?" I said before I can stop myself.

He looked at me and hesitantly, I met his gaze. My heart broke when I saw the sorrow in his eyes. A single tear escaped from his eyes but he quickly wiped it away. He swallowed and took a deep breath.

"I was in fourth grade, when I got home, I told my Dad that I had a boyfriend. Silly me," he laughed forlornly.

Another tear escaped his eyes and I badly wanted to wipe it away but I don't want him to feel any less of himself so I let him do it on his own, I didn't took my hand off his shoulder, though.

I didn't asked him any further 'cause I already had an idea of what happened next.

When I came out to my family, my brother also didn't took it easily-up until now. He almost hit me with his fist, good thing Dad caught his arm, restraining him from smashing my face.

Directly, I looked at my Father and prepared myself from seeing his raging face just like my brother but all I saw was understanding, he understand me. He accepted who I am, same as my Mother.

They hugged and told me they're always there when I needed somebody to talk. I was happy and saddened at the same time.

Seeing your own brother looked at you disgustingly was something I couldn't imagine. Gone was the brother I once adored and looked up.

He changed into something spiteful and virulent. I can't blame him, though. I can't imagine how he felt seeing me turned into something like a person who once molested him when he's still young. A person who he despised.

Since then, everytime he saw me I can always hear homophobic slurs coming from him.

I was hurt, sure, but I got to learn on how to shrugged it off like it's nothing, like he's someone I don't know, someone who's not important.

I was kidding myself when I said it's nothing, of course, it's something. He's my brother and I loved him. It has to be something, right?

Resonating sounds of a running water was the only tone that can be heard. We're silently standing, facing the creek, savoring the tranquility of the moment when he spoke.

"You know what? Let's just swim this sadness away," he said, gone was the mirthless aura he unlooses.

"We don't have any extra clothes, Rhys."

The thick emotion that lingered in the air was now brighten with his smile. Any trace of deplorable feeling awhile ago was carried away by the wind.

"You know this place is hidden, right?"

I did know what he's thinking right now.