Drix sighed as he looked around at his empty apartment. The whole place was a mess; uncleaned, unkept, undone. OJ was always the one to fix things up, after being trained by the ever organized Drix, that is.
He scratched his head guiltily as he sat on the couch. He flung out a few dirty socks and cheese booger wrappings he accidentally sat on. He tried to absorb the silence of the apartment and tried to get used to the tackiness of the place but finally, he couldn’t stand it. He turned the radio on full blast and started cleaning the whole place.
As he cleaned the apartment, flashbacks passed through his mind…
*FLASHBACK*
“Drix! You’re filthy!” OJ exclaimed, disgusted.
“What?”
Drix was eating mucus chips and it was dripping all over the place. OJ glared at him accusingly, his body glowing.
“I can’t help it, Ozzie,” Drix said apologetically. “You did teach me before that I have to eat it before it dries up.”
“Yes, but you can at least fill it in a bowl and not carrying that soggy wrapper all around the place!” OJ complained, getting a cloth to wipe up the drips on the floor.
“I’m sorry. I’ll be careful next time.”
“You always say that, and yet you make another mess again.”
“I mean it, OK?” Drix was beginning to feel exasperated.
“You always mean it! I’m sick of this!” OJ grumbled, throwing the cloth.
“What do you want then? What is it that you want exactly?”
“I just…I don’t want to be treated like a housemaid, OK?” OJ said sadly.
“I never treat you as a housemaid, you know I don’t,” Drix held OJ’s arms as he spoke gently. OJ was doubtful.
“I’m beginning to think that you trained me all these cleaning up habits just to make me clean up after you.”
“No, no, no. I would never do such a thing. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, OK? I’m sorry. I love you.”
“Me too, Drix, me too,” OJ replied, laying his head on Drix’s broad chest, his face still doubtful.
“I’m moving back to my apartment.”
“What? Why?”
OJ was taking out his luggage bags and was stuffing his clothes and other belongings into them, much to Drix’s shock.
“We need some time apart,” OJ replied, “to settle our differences.”
“What differences? Aren’t we living together just fine?” Drix asked as he took out the stuff from OJ’s bag, only to be snatched away again from OJ.
“Ever since we’re together under one roof, we couldn’t stand each other. We always fight. We can’t seem to agree much like we used to when we’re apart. Maybe we’re just not meant to be.”
“Are you suggesting a break-up?” Drix took OJ’s hand. “I won’t allow it! I’m not letting you go!”
“I’m not suggesting anything!” OJ shook his hand free from Drix. “I just think we need some time off from each other. Sure, we’ll be partners as usual, but only at work.”
“Ozzie, don’t do this to me! This is not fair!”
OJ had already finished packing and was going out of the door. He stood there for a second, his back facing Drix, and said, “I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
As the door of Drix’s apartment closed, so did the door of OJ’s heart.
*BACK TO REALITY*
Drix sighed in relief as the last rubbish was cleaned and put outside his front door. Every place was spick and span again, beautifully clean and neat as before. Drix was surprised at how lost his sense of organizing has been. OJ would definitely be proud of him when he comes back.
If he comes back.
Drix couldn’t stand being alone at home anymore. It’s been a month since OJ left. Although they’re still partners at work, conversations among themselves were limited. None of them dared (or were willing) to break the ice. Only a few commands, orders and questions about what to eat were mostly said. Drix’s heart ached when he saw OJ chattering merrily with his colleagues at work or the Chief, but refused to speak more when they’re together.
Drix worried that sooner or later OJ will forget about him and go for another cell. He noticed him pretty close with other he-cells and was particularly intimate with a new cell in the force: Kiaran Oxide. He had to do something to get OJ back into his life before he starts going crazy and depressed.
As his eyes fell upon the ring OJ gave him on his finger, an idea clicked in his head.
Kiaran brought OJ’s hot blood mocha into OJ’s office. OJ was lying on the couch looking lost, forlorn and alone. Drix didn’t come to work today. When he came to fetch him, Drix called from the window that he had some errands to run and won’t be coming down to FPD. OJ was distraught. It was already torturing enough to have limited conversations with Drix to give them some time apart; and now without his presence, he felt even worse.
“Sir, your mocha,” Kiaran said, bringing Drix back to reality.
“Oh, thanks, Kiaran,” OJ said as he reached out for the paper cup. He gulped down the mocha absent-mindedly without caring whether it’s hot or not. He didn’t have to anyway—he’s a walking cell torch, as a matter of fact.
“Still evading Senior Drixenol?” Kiaran asked, sitting on his office table.
OJ nodded. A wave of guilt swept through his mind when he remembered burning Drix once when he tried to talk to him. OJ had long since adjusted to Thrax’s deadly DNA and he had learnt to alter his body temperature at will, although still unable to regain normal temperature. Drix took his hand to stop him and talk but OJ was so bent on keeping his distance from Drix that he actually increased his body heat drastically high to force him to let go. He could remember the way he glared at him with his haunting yellow eyes he got from assimilating with Thrax’s DNA. OJ was still trying to get over the guilt.
“You know, you can just go back to Senior Drixenol if it hurts you so much to wait,” Kiaran suggested. He heard a lot of gossips between his seniors about the relationship between OJ and Drix, and he was as open-minded as can be, so the fact that his seniors were gays didn’t bother him.
“No! No, I won’t go back! Not until he apologizes to me and says what he was supposed to say 3 years ago!” OJ was obstinate and indignant about the whole thing. Kiaran sighed at his senior’s stubbornness.
“If you don’t start patching things up between him, you both might as well end up as good as gone.”
OJ looked up at his junior in doubt and worry, a you-think-so look written across his face.
“Trust me, Senior Jones. I have experiences, although it’s with 6 she-cells.”
OJ remained silent, gulping down the rest of his mocha.
That evening, after work, OJ took a stroll along Lung Street, where the rich and famous used to hang out. He didn’t know why, but somehow, he had a feeling he was going to come across something bizarre there.
That’s where he noticed something odd on Respiratory Stop, the tallest building of all Frank. He took off his shades and looked up with his yellow eyes. He was in for a shock, for what he saw up on the building with his newly improved eyesight was his love, Drix, standing on the edge of the building, ready to jump.
“Holy spit! Drix! Drix, what in the name of Frank are you doing up there?” OJ yelled in horror, fearing the worst.
“I cannot live without you anymore!” Drix replied from above. “I cannot stand the loneliness without you any longer!”
“Get down here, you son of a paramecium! You’ll get killed!” By then, he was attracting the attention of passers-by. They all looked up to see what was going on and what the commotion was all about.
“That’s exactly what I’m gonna do if you don’t come back to me!” Drix yelled back, his body getting closer to the edge.
“Stop it, Drix! Stop playing games with me! You get your yellow butt down here this instant!” OJ was beginning to become so afraid that he was in the verge of breaking down in tears.
“Not until you say that you’ll come back to me, Ozzie!”
“No! Don’t do this, Drix! Get down!”
“Then you leave me no choice!”
Without warning, Drix jumped. OJ screamed in horror. The passers-by were also shock and terrified. Drix was a huge kind of guy, but this was the tallest building in all Frank. Even a strong pill like Drix can never survive this fall. OJ wanted to find somewhere and something so that he could catch Drix but his whole body went weak, unable to follow orders. He could only stand there and watch Drix falling closer and closer to the ground. In an instant, every memory of his days with Drix shot through his mind, down the last detail: the day they met for the first time with Leah as their witness, the day they fought to the death to destroy Thrax, the day OJ declared Drix as his partner, the times they had together in the immunity force, the day they found out about each other’s feelings, OJ’s confession to Drix, their first kiss, OJ moving into Drix’s apartment, the times they went out on dates after work, their ignorance of their surroundings as they kissed each other in public, their first sort-of sexual contact with each other, their fight and parting, everything. OJ finally could not hold the pain and guilt in his heart and let his tears pouring out like rain.
“DRIX, I LOVE YOU! PLEASE DON’T DO THIS TO ME!!!!”
At OJ’s heartbreaking yell, something wonderful happened. Drix flung something out of his chest box as he fell. It expanded to become a large parachute. Everyone gasped in surprise and wonder as they read the word written bold on the parachute. OJ opened his tear-filled eyes to see what the people were so awed about, and widened his eyes in awe himself at those words:
WILL YOU MARRY ME, JONES?
OJ was speechless. Those were the words he was waiting for for the past 3 years. Everyone laughed in admiration and relief at Drix’s stunt. OJ cupped his mouth, stopping himself from yelling at Drix for giving him such a fright. Drix landed safely in front of OJ and took his hands, smiling from ear to ear. The crowd cheered and clapped the cold pill’s back for such a good performance.
“So, how did I do?” Drix asked, grinning with pride.
“You almost gave me a heart attack,” OJ managed to mutter grudgingly.
“I should go for stunt-acting, don’t you think?”
“I think you should go for suicidal therapy.”
“That’s not nice! I thought all night and I begged many people to come up with this idea. They said it’s romantic and memory-lasting,” Drix had his hand on his hips, pretending to be annoyed as he knew OJ would react that way.
“Yeah, and death-inviting,” OJ pouted.
Drix opened his chest box and revealed a small box. It opened up automatically and again revealed a priceless looking ring. The crowd awed at them. OJ was both touched and dignity conscious.
“So? Will you marry me or what?”
OJ didn’t need to be asked twice. He flung his arms across Drix’s shoulders and gave him a deep, passionate kiss. Drix was quite taken aback at first, but then slowly he returned OJ’s kiss. The crowd clapped their hands and cheered like mad at this wonderful occasion.
“I love you, Drix…” OJ whispered tenderly.
“And I you,” Drix whispered back as he caressed his handsome white blood cell. Needless to say, it was the most memorable day of their lives.
Wedding bells rang as the guests entered the Red Chapel in Heart Land, one of Frank’s famous wedding spots. Everyone was there, including the Chief, the men of FPD, OJ’s relatives, OJ’s junior Kiaran Oxide (as Drix’s best man) and of course, the Mayor Tom Colonick. It wasn’t easy to let OJ’s relatives accept the fact that OJ was going to marry Drix, but they did, eventually, after getting to know Drix. Besides, who could stop OJ anyway? He’s as rebellious and stubborn as his late grandfather.
Drix shuffled nervously, tugging at his black tux collar once in a while. Kiaran noticed and whispered, “Everything’s gonna be fine, Senior Drixenol. You’ll see.”
“Easy for you to say!” Drix hissed back, his heart full of doubt.
Soon, the wedding march started to play. Everyone stood up, facing the entrance of the hall. Drix turned abruptly, obviously nervous about the whole matter. He didn’t whether to run and hide or stay rooted on the floor and get it over with. Slowly, OJ revealed himself. Everyone oohed as the ‘bride’ walked down the aisle, accompanied by his father. Drix was stunned. OJ was wearing a feminine looking white tux, with a golden crown for a tiara. He had in his left hand a bouquet of plasma blossoms, both reddish-pink and bluish-silver in colour. All of a sudden, Drix’s uneasiness went away. He was ready to face anything with OJ by his side.
OJ’s father brought his son to Drix’s side. He gave the cold pill a warning whisper, “You take good care of my son, or else!”
“Papa!” OJ hissed, embarrassed.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Jones. I assure you, he’s in good hands,” Drix winked at OJ’s father. Mr. Jones nodded in satisfaction as he took his seat beside OJ’s aunt.
“We are gathered here today,” the priest started the ceremony, “to witness the joining of our fellow citizens of Frank, Mr. Osmosis Jones and Mr. Drixo-Benzo-Methamphedamine. It is a glorious day today for…”
The priest droned on and on for about a few long minutes. Some of the guests were beginning to yawn. Drix cursed himself. He never should’ve listened to the Chief and chose this chapel. OJ noticed Drix’s self-blaming face and squeezed Drix’s arm, assuring him that everything is going to be fine.
“Mr. Drixo-Benzo-Methamphedamine,” these were the words the guests were all waiting for. They were all wide awake. “Do you take Osmosis Jones as your lawful wedded cell, love him and care for him, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Drix replied without hesitation.
“And do you, Mr. Osmosis Jones, take Drixo-Benzo-Methamphedamine as your lawful wedded pill, obey him and live for him, through sickness and through health, till death do you part?”
OJ took a glance at Drix. The Drix that he loved was standing just right beside him. If he were to make the decision, it’ll change both of their lives forever. But, of course, that’s what he wanted.
“I do.”
“With the power invested in me by Frank, I pronounce you couples. You may kiss the cell, Mr. Drixenol.”
All of a sudden, Drix swept OJ off his feet and placed his lips on OJ’s, kissing him deeply and passionately. OJ returned his kiss almost immediately, wrapping his arms around Drix’s neck. Everyone cheered and clapped their hands like mad, almost bringing the chapel down. The priest didn’t even bother to announce the couples anymore. Drix carried OJ all the way down the aisle and out of the chapel to their car. As they drove off to their new home at Arm Lane, they kissed passionately again.
The next day, the headlines read, ‘GLORIOUS WEDDING BETWEEN 2 UNLIKELY COUPLES’.
No comments:
Post a Comment