Chapter 103 Joyful tears
Alex said, “Not really,” his voice still thick with sleep. “You woke me with your movement.”
Lucas let out a soft laugh and lifted his head from Alex’s chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. Good morning, honey.”
Alex’s eyes opened blinking away the last traces of sleep. His gaze dropped to Lucas, and for a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
They simply looked at each other, both remembering the storm of emotions from the night before, the confessions, the tears, the relief that had followed.
Slowly, Alex raised his hand and brushed a few strands of hair away from Lucas’s forehead, his touch gentle and careful, as though Lucas might still break.
“How are you feeling?” he asked quietly.
Lucas didn’t answer immediately. He waited slightly, thinking about it, searching himself.
“Lighter,” he finally admitted. “Still a bit nervous, but lighter.”
Alex nodded slowly, his thumb absentmindedly stroking Lucas’s temple.
“That’s progress,” he said softly. “And don’t be scared of anything, okay? Not anymore. We’ll face whatever it is together.”
Lucas hesitated, the reassurance warming him, then nodded in agreement. But something still lingered in his expression.
“There’s something I didn’t tell you last night,” he said carefully.
Alex’s brow lifted slightly, curiosity replacing the softness in his eyes.
“Oh?”
Lucas shifted, sitting up a little and pulling the blanket around his waist. The morning light filtering through the curtains fell across his face, making the nervousness there more obvious.
“The doctor who was aware of my case when I was younger, the one I saw last,” he said slowly, choosing each word carefully. “He still practices.”
Alex straightened a little against the headboard, instantly attentive.
“You’ve stayed in contact with him?”
Lucas nodded. “Hmm… not exactly. It’s been about three years since I saw him last.” He paused, glancing down at his hands before looking back at Alex. “But he knows everything about my condition. Everything, from my birth to the last examination I had.”
Alex’s expression turned thoughtful. “What’s his name?”
Lucas took a small breath before answering. “Doctor Peters.”
The room fell quiet for a moment as Alex processed the information.
“Doctor Peters?” Alex pushed himself up completely on the bed beside him, the sleep now completely gone from his eyes. “Could it be the same Doctor Peters I know? From Kornelly Hospital?”
Lucas looked at him in surprise. “Yes… That’s him.”
Alex blinked once, clearly processing it. “That’s the same doctor that…” He stopped himself midway, his sentence hanging unfinished.
Lucas immediately noticed the hesitation. His fingers tightened slightly around the blanket as he watched Alex carefully.
“Alex…” he said almost in a whisper. “Is he… not a good doctor anymore?”
Alex turned to him at once. “Of course, he is a good doctor.”
Relief flickered across Lucas’s face.
Alex leaned back against the headboard, rubbing the back of his neck thoughtfully. “Actually… this is supposed to be a family secret.” He glanced at Lucas. “But I trust you.”
Lucas shook his head quickly. “No, you don’t have to…”
“Tell you?” Alex cut in gently.
He tilted Lucas’s chin up so their eyes met. “Come on, sweetheart. Are you saying I shouldn’t trust you to keep something between us?” His voice softened. “You carried your own secret for years. And yours was a heavy burden. Mine isn’t like that… the person involved is living a perfectly normal life.”
His fingers brushed Lucas’s cheek affectionately. “So,” Alex continued with a warm smile, “shouldn’t I trust you, my love?”
Lucas looked at him for a moment, moved by the sincerity in his eyes. Then he smiled softly and nodded.
“You can trust me,” he said. “I promise to keep your family secret as my secret.”
Alex’s expression brightened.
“The truth is,” he began, “Doctor Peters handled my sister’s case.”
Lucas blinked.
“My younger sister Annie,” Alex continued. “She’s a hermaphrodite too. She has a female body, but strong male hormones and organs. It confused everyone when she was younger, but she’s completely okay with it now. She’s happy… living her life normally.”
Lucas stared at him in disbelief.
“Seriously? Your sister?”
“Yes, baby, my sister.” Alex chuckled softly, clearly amused by Lucas’s shock.
Then his gaze softened again as he studied Lucas’s face. “Now I know why you’re so beautiful,” he said playfully.
Lucas frowned slightly. “What?”
Alex grinned. “It’s because of your nature. You’re special.” He ran his fingers slowly through Lucas’s hair.
The tension that had been sitting in Lucas’s chest all morning seemed to melt away. His shoulders relaxed, and the worry in his eyes faded.
Alex watched him for a moment, then asked gently, “Do you know why you came out with a special nature like this?”
Lucas nodded slightly. “Yes. The doctors said it was due to some misformation while I was in my mom’s womb.”
Alex shook his head dramatically.
“Wrong, baby.”
Lucas looked at him, confused but curious.
Alex smiled mischievously and stroked his cheek. “That’s science talking. Should I tell you the real reason?”
Lucas’s eyes lit up with interest. “Okay. Tell me, honey.”
Alex leaned closer, lowering his voice as if he was about to reveal the biggest secret in the world.
“The truth is that when your creator was arranging the pieces to mold you,” Alex began with playful seriousness. “Some angel somewhere started making noise and caused a big distraction.”
Lucas was already smiling.
“So your creator turned away to settle the angels’ quarrel,” Alex continued. “But when he came back, he forgot he had already dropped one genital earlier, so he dropped another one again.”
Lucas burst out laughing.
“And that,” Alex finished proudly, “is how your mother gave birth to you, with two genitals and extra beauty.”
Lucas laughed so hard he had to hold Alex’s arm for balance.
“Oh Alex… you’re so…” He trailed off, suddenly short of words.
Alex leaned closer with a teasing smile. “So what, baby? Complete that sentence.”
Lucas’s voice cracked softly.
“You’re so sweet.”
A tear slid down his cheek before he could stop it.
Before Alex could react, Lucas threw his arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “You make me feel so special,” he whispered.
Alex held him for a moment, rubbing his back gently. Then he pulled back slightly to look at his face.
“You’re tearing up because you’re happy, right?” he asked softly.
Lucas lowered his eyes and nodded.
Alex smiled, wiped the tear from his cheek with his thumb, and said,
“Looking at you now, I think your creator originally planned to make you a girl… but those noisy angels changed the plan.”
Lucas chuckled quietly.
“So instead,” Alex continued, “he made you a sweeter guy.”
“Alex…” Lucas murmured shyly.
Alex winked playfully. “Maybe a kiss will shut my mouth.”
To his surprise, Lucas leaned forward immediately and kissed him, as if he had been waiting for permission all along.
Alex blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Wow,” he murmured with a grin as he pulled Lucas closer. “Baby… do that again.”
Lucas didn’t hesitate. Smiling now, he leaned in once more, his hand gently sliding up around Alex’s neck as he kissed him again, warmly.