Chapter 3: Echoes of the Past

Summary:

A tense tour turns into an emotional battleground as Justin and Josh confront the betrayals and lies that tore them apart. Old wounds resurface when Josh accuses Justin of abandoning love for wealth.

Author's Note:

• This is a JOSHTIN FANFICTION.
• All places, events, and names are purely products of the author's imagination.
• The story contains mature scenes, curse words, and other elements.
• Typographical errors may be present.
• Updates will be slow. 😊 

Justin hesitated, torn between defiance and curiosity. Josh's eyes bore into him, silently conveying a determination that Justin hadn't anticipated. It was clear: Josh wouldn't back down. Fine. If he wanted to prolong our shared misery, so be it. Let's go then.

"Sure, Josh," Justin replied, rising from his chair. He gestured toward the office door. "Let's start with the recording studios, practice rooms, and sound stages. Then we'll explore the photography and film studios before returning here to tour the offices."

The hallway enveloped them in an eerie silence as they walked. Footsteps echoed, amplifying the tension between them. Inside the elevator, Justin studied the button panel, counting the floors they passed.

"So," Josh's voice broke the stillness, "how have you been?"

Justin glanced at him, expecting sarcasm or resentment. But Josh's expression remained neutral, devoid of any emotion. Justin shrugged and focused on the buttons again. "I'm fine."

As the elevator descended to the lobby, Justin led Josh toward the rear doors, where a covered walkway connected the main building to the rest of the complex. Rain had softened to a gentle drizzle, and the wind whispered through the air.

"After college, where did you disappear to?" Josh asked as they approached the recording studios and practice rooms.

"Palawan," Justin replied. "We have offices there, but Sharlene insisted on making Manila our base of operations."

From the corner of his eye, Justin caught Josh's scowl when Sharlene's name surfaced. Anger radiated from Josh, a tempest brewing beneath his calm exterior.

Why? What right does he have to be angry? I wasn't the one who betrayed him. Josh's resentment fueled by my actions.

"So," Justin said coldly, locking eyes with Josh, "how is Stacy... I mean, Mrs. Santos?"

Josh's response caught him off guard. "Annulled. It's been two years."

A strange sensation washed over Justin. He couldn't decide if he should feel relieved that Josh was single again or if the knot of anger he'd harbored since Josh's marriage to Stacy was justified.

Stacy Dee had always been a thorn in his side. Childhood friends turned adversaries, she seemed on a mission to torment him. Beautiful, with dark hair and fair skin, Stacy hailed from a wealthy family. She never lacked attention or material possessions. But to Justin, she was more than that—a relentless force that sought to claim everything he held dear, from toys to grades to friends.

When Stacy discovered Justin's bisexuality, she extended her reach to his boyfriends. Anyone who caught her interest became her target, regardless of their relationship status. Josh had left him, and Justin wasn't surprised to learn it was because of Stacy.

"I see. I'm sorry," Justin murmured insincerely as they reached the entrance of the massive building.

"Don't be," Josh replied, his tone oddly detached. "It was a disaster."

Justin met Josh's emotionless gaze. Forget it. Why do you care? You're no longer involved. But deep down, the echoes of their past still reverberated, haunting him.

As Josh opened the door, Justin stepped forward. "Why do you care?" he chided himself silently. "You don't."

And yet, as they stepped into the studio, Justin wondered if perhaps he did care—more than he dared admit. The storm outside mirrored the turmoil within, and the past threatened to engulf them both once more.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Looking at Justin through narrowed eyes, Josh noticed the stiffness in his posture and the clenched jaw. The tension radiating from Justin had been palpable all afternoon. What's going on? I'm the one who was left behind. Where does he get off acting like the victim?

After introducing Josh to two of the Vice Presidents, Justin led him into a spacious office furnished with a long, polished cherry wood table surrounded by cushioned chairs.

"And this is our conference room," Justin said in his usual cool, distant voice.

"Very nice," Josh commented dryly. Then, he couldn't help himself. "The whole setup is. But then again, it's no more than I expected. We both know you always aim for the best, don't you?"

For the first time today, Justin's mask slipped. He stared at Josh, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Tell me, Justin. Whatever happened to Gelo?"

Justin's blank expression revealed his lack of understanding. "Gelo Rivera? Our junior back in college? I have no idea."

Josh burst into laughter—a pitying laugh that sent shivers down Justin's spine. "Poor Gelo. So he didn't meet your expectations either. Neither of us measured up to your obsession with wealth."

"What exactly are you implying?" Justin's voice trembled with anger.

"All of this!" Josh gestured at the facilities with a sweeping motion. "When you joined the Nase Corporation, you hit the jackpot, didn't you? Money, position, all the finer things in life. My god! Turns out you were just after a sugar mommy! But it worked out perfectly, didn't it? Sharlene Nase died, and she left everything to you. Seems like seducing older women really has its perks."

Justin's slap landed like a gunshot against Josh's cheek. The force snapped his head to the side, and he winced in pain. It took a few seconds before he regained his composure.

The past had resurfaced, raw and unyielding. The storm outside mirrored the tempest within, and Josh wondered if they were destined to keep fighting the same battles—echoes of their shared history refusing to fade away.

-=-=-=-=-=-

The fury emanating from Josh would have sent most people—men and women alike—cowering in fear. But Justin stood his ground. His face drained of color, his body trembling with rage, he glared up at Josh.

"Is that what you think? That I married an old woman for money?!" His voice quivered with the force of his emotions. He laughed bitterly. "Sharlene Nase? Old? Follow me. I want to show you something."

Without waiting to see if Josh would comply, Justin stormed out of the conference room and down the hallway. He flung open the oak door bearing his name in discreet gold letters and strode inside, heading straight for the dark oak desk before the glass wall.

Josh followed, closing the door behind him. His anger still simmered, but curiosity now mingled with it. He approached Justin, watching as he retrieved a framed photograph from the desk.

Justin whirled around, his face a mask of determination. His lips pressed into a rigid line. He practically thrust the frame at Josh. "Here. This is the 'old' woman I married. It's Sharlene's last picture, taken three months before she died. It was her birthday. She had just turned twenty-nine. Younger than Pablo. Younger than you. Is that what you consider old?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

The photograph revealed a vibrant Sharlene, her eyes sparkling with life. Josh studied her delicate features—the curve of her smile, the warmth in her eyes. She was anything but old. And in that moment, he realized how little he truly knew about Justin's past.

The storm outside raged on, mirroring the tempest within. Josh's anger collided with confusion, and the echoes of their shared history refused to fade away.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Staring at the photograph, Josh's chest tightened. The woman in the frame smiled back at him—a stunning beauty with long, sexily styled black hair and eyes that twinkled mischievously. Her sensuous lips beckoned, and Josh's anger surged anew. How many times had Justin looked at Sharlene Nase like this?

He pushed the picture back into Justin's hands. "Fine. She's not old. But she's still wealthy. Can you deny that you left Gelo because you found someone richer? Just as you chose Gelo over me?"

Justin's wide-eyed, gaping expression fueled Josh's frustration. "Are you insane? I never dated Gelo. Don't you dare shift the blame for our breakup onto me! If you recall, you're the one who replaced me!"

"Oh, come on, Justin! It won't work. I was waiting in the student lounge the night you returned from your vacation with Gelo. I saw him carrying your suitcase." Josh's voice crackled with accusation.

The past collided with the present, and the storm outside mirrored the tempest within. Their unresolved history loomed large, threatening to consume them both once more.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Justin's protest died on his lips as a memory resurfaced. It had been a Sunday night—the eve before he discovered Josh's affair with Stacy.

"Do you remember now?" Josh's voice sliced through the air.

The memory triggered a fresh wave of pain and anger within Justin. The bitterness cut deep, and part of that anger was directed at himself. Why did it still hurt after all these years?

Summoning every ounce of self-control, Justin raised his chin, locking eyes with Josh. "Yes. I remember. As far as I recall, we had an argument, and I decided to visit my father in Tagaytay. I thought giving you the weekend would help us cool off."

"Of course. And then what? Did you just decide to bring Gelo along for company?"

"As I was returning on Sunday night, my car broke down near Pasig," Justin continued in a monotone, brushing off Josh's comment as if it hadn't been uttered. "I called your cellphone first to ask if you could pick me up. When there was no answer, I tried the student lounge. Stacy answered. She said her friend would come to fetch me. Gelo was the one who arrived."

The past collided with the present, and the storm outside mirrored the turmoil within. Their unresolved history loomed large, threatening to consume them both once more.

-=-=-=-=-=-

The anger drained from Josh, leaving him pale and shaken. "But... I was with Stacy in the lounge that night. She would have told me if you called."

Josh's protest lacked conviction. He remembered Stacy excusing herself to answer the phone. He recalled her returning to the lounge, her expression one of concern as she comforted him over Justin's betrayal.

The sickening sensation intensified when Justin raised an eyebrow and leveled a pointed look at him. Josh had no choice but to bow his head, consumed by regret.

"My god," he whispered, his voice agonized. "Stacy told me you brought Gelo for a weekend getaway."

"And you believed her?"

Justin's soft, accusing question struck Josh like a whip. His eyes snapped open. "When I saw you and Gelo entering the lounge together, him carrying your suitcase, I..."

"You readily believed everything Stacy said," Justin finished the sentence for him. "Why? Tell me why. Why would you trust the conniving, hateful words of someone like Stacy without giving me the benefit of doubt?"

Josh felt like he was suffocating. For so long, he had clung to his anger toward Justin, convinced of his betrayal. Now, to discover Justin's innocence, to realize that it had all been Stacy's scheme—it was the most devastating revelation he'd ever faced. All that time wasted, fueled by anger over an innocent question.

Desperation filled Josh's eyes as he looked at Justin. "Jah, you have to understand. I nearly died from the pain when I thought you were involved with Gelo. I was hurting so badly I didn't know what to do."

"Josh, you could have talked to me. Trusted me and our love." Justin's chin lifted, his expression hard. "But what did you do? You spent that very night with Stacy."

Justin's laughter echoed, surprising Josh. "Oh, yes, I knew about that. You see, I went to your apartment the next morning. I wanted to talk to you. Stacy answered the door, wearing your shirt. Only. Your. Shirt. The one I gave you on our anniversary." The words hung heavy in the air, revealing a truth that cut deeper than any wound.