6. Sweet

"Father told the neighbors that Raymond is our cousin who has come to stay, so they don't need to ask any more questions when they see Raymond," Father said after taking a sip of water.

Ravi glanced at Raymond, who was devouring his pasta in front of him as if he hadn't eaten in a long time. It was as if he didn't care that people were discussing him in the middle of the dining table.

Ravi shifted his gaze to the plate of Scotch egg in front of him, with just one piece left and a smear of tomato sauce on top of it. He sliced it and took a bite, savoring the combination of minced meat and boiled egg in his mouth. Ravi wiped the sauce off his lips with a napkin. "Father, I will clean the empty room upstairs."

Father nodded, but his mother responded after arranging the plates on the shelf. "Daniel can help Ravi, right?"

"Sure, Mother," Daniel replied, sitting next to Ravi, who had just finished his meal.

"No need, Daniel. This morning you said you wanted to check the restaurant this evening," Ravi declined because he could handle it on his own. It was just cleaning here and there.

Daniel nodded his head. "Yes, you're right. But I can't leave Ravi with -"

"Go, Daniel," his father cut him off firmly without looking at Daniel.

"Yes, Father," Daniel acquiesced and continued with his meal. Ravi got up, took his plate to the sink, and washed it.

"Raymond, would you like more pasta?" his father asked, looking at Raymond, who had just pushed his empty plate forward.

Raymond raised his face, his mouth still full of pasta sauce. Ravi wanted to rush over and hand him a tissue, but Daniel beat him to it and muttered, "Like a child."

"No, Uncle. I'm full. Thank you," Raymond replied to Father.

"Father, Mother, Daniel. I'm going upstairs. If you need anything, just call me, as usual."

His mother laughed at what Ravi had just said. "Usually, it takes more than five times for Ravi to come down and help me."

Ravi just smiled and started to climb the wooden stairs. He could smell the fresh rain and the faint scent of chocolate trailing behind him. Ravi knew that Raymond was following him, and he didn't mind. It might feel awkward for Ravi to have a stranger in his own home, but he would get used to it.

After opening the door to the empty room in front of his own, Ravi immediately slid open the window to let in some fresh air into the long-unused room. Ravi turned around and saw Raymond still standing in the doorway. "What is it?"

"Why didn't you sleep with me, Ravi?" Raymond asked directly.

Ravi coughed softly at Raymond's sudden question, who was already standing beside him, gently patting Ravi's back, making Ravi quickly step away. This was strange; Ravi shouldn't be acting like this. "Don't touch me, and I never sleep with anyone else in the same room, and I'm not used to it."

"Why, Ravi? Raymond wants to protect you," he said, twirling the end of his black shirt while looking at Arghi with pleading eyes.

"Yes, but I'm not in danger now. What needs to be protected? I'm fine. Don't be overly protective," Ravi said to Raymond while looking up at him.

Raymond shook his head, and his messy black hair danced gently in the breeze coming from the window. "I want to be with Ravi."

"Your room is here, Raymond," Ravi said, dismissing Raymond's recent statement.

"Yes, Ravi," he replied, standing as if he still couldn't accept Ravi's decision.

"I want to ask something," Ravi said, taking some pillows from the closet and placing them on the neatly made bed.

"Ask away, Ravi."

"Why are your wing feathers sharp?"

"Sharp? Does Ravi touch them? They shouldn't be sharp to you," said Raymond, starting to panic and watching Ravi's fingers clutching the end of a pillow.

"No, not me, but Daniel. When I touched them, they were very soft, and there shouldn't be anything wrong with them."

Raymond let out a relieved breath while rubbing his chest. "Those feathers won't hurt Ravi or Ray himself. For others, they would be sharp when they touch the skin."

Ravi furrowed his brows. "Why is that?"

"It's a form of self-defense, Ravi, to protect you and myself."

Ravi nodded gently. He looked at Raymond for a while before carefully asking, "Why did you reject that girl?"

Ravi observed the change in Raymond's expression after he asked this question. Raymond shook his head and replied, "I would hurt her because there is not enough space that can be filled here for her." Raymond pointed to his chest and continued, "Because everything is full of Ravi and Ravi owns me completely. It's never been on my mind to be with anyone else for years."

Ravi snorted at the last statement. "You're not an object. You can do whatever you want."

"But that's how I am, Ravi. Lower than an object. More than that is not in my mind," he whispered while looking down at his fidgeting fingers moving restlessly.

This time, Ravi's curiosity about Raymond from before he came here suddenly surged in his chest. The question was on the tip of his tongue, but Ravi had to swallow it back when he saw a few tears fall to the floor from Raymond. Was he reminiscing about his past?

"What's wrong, Raymond? Can you tell me?" Ravi approached Raymond.

Raymond shook his head. "Not yet, Ravi. I'm not ready."

Alright, Ravi wouldn't push him. He patted Raymond's back gently and smiled faintly. "Wait here for a moment; I'll get something from my room. I won't be long."

Raymond raised his face and nodded, but he was still reluctant to see Ravi leaving him alone there, so Ravi promptly left and returned quickly. Raymond's facial expression changed rapidly when Ravi returned to his side, and Raymond's body leaned slightly toward Ravi.

Ravi's Adam's apple moved up and down. It shouldn't mean anything, but his heart suddenly started racing. Ravi reached for Raymond's wrist, which was larger than his own, and handed him a bar of chocolate.

"What is this, Ravi?" Raymond's eyebrows furrowed with question marks.

"Chocolate," Ravi said lightly. He knew that Raymond wasn't feeling well before, and Ravi hoped that the chocolate he gave him would make him feel better.

"For me?" Raymond looked back and forth between the chocolate in his hand and Ravi, then back to the chocolate.

Ravi nodded, but when he noticed Raymond wasn't looking, he said, "Yes, Raymond."

Ravi noticed Raymond's cheeks turning slightly pink, spreading from his neck to his cheeks instantly, making Ravi fidget. "Give it to me, I'll open it for you."

Raymond carelessly handed it over to himself, and Ravi immediately opened the chocolate and gave it to Raymond, who Ravi noticed was watching him.

"Ravi, do you want some too?"

"No, it's for you."

Raymond blinked only once, his eyes becoming brighter as they were hit by the late afternoon light from the window. Raymond's eyes looked down again, paying attention to the floor. He slowly nibbled on the end of his chocolate, with an expression as if he had never tasted it before.

Ravi knew he wasn't eating the chocolate bar now, but he could smell the intense aroma of chocolate enveloping him, as if it were tightly wrapping around Ravi and floating in the air, making Ravi involuntarily take a deep breath because he suddenly liked it very much.

"Ravi, the chocolate is sweet. Just like Ravi."