“He is in love with you,” Anne said. “Will you do nothing as a pastor?”
Anton breathed out. “Before I was a pastor, he was my friend-my childhood friend. It isn’t something I can erase in two seconds without a cause.”
“What do you mean without a cause? He is gay. He is a homosexual,” she yelled. “It’s a sin and they deserve to die.”
“Your father deserves to die then. You and I deserve to die. He’s an adulterer. Who condemned him? You and I laid together before marriage. Who condemned us?” Anton shouts back.
“Let’s not do this, Annie. I don’t like that my best friend likes men. I don’t like it. I can pray for him. However, it is not my place to judge and criticize Mel. He's always going to be my best friend.”
“You agree with him. You both are going in hell, ” she scoffed. “Are you also gay?”
Anton laughed. “Now I see why a lot of non-believers hate us, Christians. Yeah, I am gay. Kill me!”
***
Anton didn't understand why his wife and everyone else couldn't get him. They understood and heard him. They chose to turn and twist the meaning of his words.
***
“Is there anyone you're seeing right now?” Anton asked Mel.
Mel bit his lips. “I don't know if I should talk to you about this. I don't want to make you uncomfortable.”
“How should I put it? We were both raised differently. You're an atheist and I am a pastor. My belief doesn't permit me to agree with your sexual preference but that's between you and God. I don't have a right to judge you.”
“I am sorry. I am not going to openly welcome your partner and act as if I am okay with it. You are Mel, and that's not going to change.”
“I wish you could accept all of me,” Mel teared up.
“Mel, try to understand me too. Why can't you accept my belief? In life, we can't always agree with everything.”
“I don't hate you.”
Mel nodded. “I know. I just wish things wouldn't be so complicated.”
“Me too...Watch, ” Anton pushed Mel out of the way, taking the bullet instead. The sound of gun firing could be heard in the underground parking lot. “Mel, are you okay?”
Little did he know. Mel had also been shot, trying to save him.
“Anton,” Mel whispered as they both collapsed on the ground. “Why would you take a bullet for me?”
“You’re my best friend. It's my fault. I gave her the wrong idea that I-you shouldn't die because of me,” Anton answered faintly. “I am sorry about my wife.”
“Anton,” Anne yelled his name and ran to him. “Answer me! Why would you do that?”
“What did he do, Annie? The person I love the most in this world is you. How could you not know it?”
“Anton. I am sorry.”
“How’s Mel?”
“Mel!” She shook him. “Mel. What have I done?”
Blood gushing out of Anton’s abdomen as she tried to apply pressure. “My eyes are heavy. Is Mel safe?”
“That’s good. I am sure your father will get you out of this,” his eyes closed. “I love you.”
***
Mel had died two minutes after being shot. There was so much he had to say to Anton, his mother, and Marc.
“What did you do, Marc?” A friend of Mel’s who worked at the police station asked.
“Fuck! It was not supposed to be him.”
“And that makes it better? You really did not deserve him. Today, he was going...” the friend’s voice broke. “He was officially going to ask you to be his boyfriend.”
“What! He was still in love...”
“Was. You got what you wanted. Both of you.”
***
“How could you and Anne killed people who genuinely loved you. All they wanted was to be friends. Who are you guys to criticize and condemn them? All of you here are the cause of their deaths. Their faith and salvation aren’t in your hands. Is this what you wanted?”
