5. Never Rejecting You

"I will die."

The sentence felt like dozens of needles piercing right into Ravi's chest, making it hard for him to even look at Raymond for now. Ravi made a choked sound deep in his throat, never expecting those words to come from Raymond. But in less than a day of knowing Raymond, he felt the pain and heaviness in the way those words came out of this man's lips.

Ravi remained silent, keeping his mouth tightly shut. He swallowed every word he wanted to say to Raymond. They stayed silent until the quiet was broken by Raymond's hoarse voice. "But Ravi, it's the best choice. I'm a bad elf, if you want to refuse, do it now, Ravi. I don't want to go back there."

"Where do you live?" Ravi cautiously asked, not wanting to inadvertently trigger painful memories for Raymond.

Raymond replied weakly, "My house is quite spacious, filled with many horses, but it can sometimes smell."

Ravi's chest tightened, his eyes growing warm as he heard that, Raymond had touched a sensitive spot this time. What kind of people lived with Raymond? How was Raymond treated before? "Where is that?"

"The Middle World. I don't want to go back there, whatever decision you make, Ravi. So, that's the best," he said almost in a whisper. The Middle World? Ravi wanted to inquire further, but seeing the sadness on Raymond's face, he decided to save his questions for later.

"Raymond, it's not easy for me and my family to trust you," Ravi said, trying to make Raymond understand. "All of this is so sudden for us. My life was always normal before."

Raymond looked at Ravi with curiosity, but Ravi could see the desolate expression on his face. Then Raymond said, "How can I prove that I'm telling the truth, that I'm not lying, Ravi? I've never lied to you."

Raymond's eyes were melancholic as he gazed at Ravi, one of his eyes that initially shone now remained dim, like the sadness that was etched there. Raymond continued, "I swear, Ravi, that I'm not lying. I have no malicious intentions towards your family or even you. You have me entirely, and you can stop or do anything to me."

Ravi sighed heavily; in the end, he had to make a decision. He didn't want Raymond to disappear, and the potential consequences he might face if Raymond returned. Ravi took a risk without knowing what the future would hold. He trusted Raymond, or maybe, as Raymond had just said, he possessed Raymond completely, creating a bond of trust that was now attached to Ravi. "Listen, Raymond, I might not say this twice."

Raymond stared at Ravi in confusion, making Ravi's heart race.

"I will never reject you. Never," Ravi said firmly, though he was a little embarrassed by his own words. He hoped that his decision was the right one, even though Ravi hadn't discussed this with his parents yet.

"Let's go out, you and I haven't had lunch yet," Ravi said as he stood up. Ravi didn't want to see or hear Raymond's response to his previous statement, but the return of that scent of melted chocolate was enough for Ravi as an answer.

"Thank you, Ravi," he said softly, almost like a gentle breeze, and then Raymond followed Ravi as they walked out together.

"Hungry?" Ravi was so surprised that he stepped back and bumped into Raymond's body. Ravi's cheeks turned pink, spreading across his face, and he quickly stepped forward again. He hoped that Daniel hadn't heard what Ravi and Raymond had just discussed inside.

"Daniel, I'm surprised. Since when have you been here?" Ravi raised an eyebrow, looking at Daniel, who was still standing in the way of the door.

"Since a while ago. I can't leave my little brother alone with a stranger." Daniel's eyes sparkled towards Raymond, who looked back at Daniel with confusion.

"Daniel, that's my function in martial arts, right? Raymond hasn't done anything. We were just talking; besides, we want to go to the kitchen and eat something." Ravi nudged Daniel to the side of the door blocking their way.

"Ravi, he's not human. We don't know where he comes from, and his true intentions," Daniel said.

Ravi noticed Raymond's head immediately bowing from the corner of his eye. "Daniel, don't talk as if Raymond isn't here."

Daniel rolled his eyes and once again glared at Raymond, who didn't catch the gaze because he was busy studying the floor at the tip of his shoes. "I just don't want anything to happen to you, Dad, or Mom."

Ravi sighed. "I know," he whispered and walked away, with Raymond following beside him.

"The result of sin came before me," Daniel murmured, and Ravi could still hear it. He immediately turned to face Daniel.

"Daniel, what were you talking about just now?" Ravi asked, tilting his head to look at his older brother.

"What? Talk about what?" Daniel responded with a similar question, his face showing no knowledge of anything. Ravi was sure Daniel was talking about the consequences that came. But what did that mean?