Chapter 5

Walking into the house he had just left barely hours ago cursing and vowing never to return felt like a joke. Reece was not in the mood to talk or have small talk with the man before him; he was quick to head for the bedroom, not giving Ayan time to say a word. 

He stripped off his clothes, heading for the bathroom. He was still in so much pain, and having a proper bath did not come easily. 

Reece walks out of the bathroom, steam still coming off his body. He looks over to the bed where he had left his dirty clothes, and none were there. 

He carefully looked around the room, and still, there was no sign of them. He did not want to go about searching Ayan’s closet, but staying in a towel was not the best idea either.

 “Reece… Reece, wake up.” Ayan gently taps Reece's shoulders, waking the cute baby from his little slumber. Reece stirred in his sleep, throwing his legs apart.

 “Hey, you're naked!!! Wear something,” Ayan urges him, holding the fragile boy up.

 “Can't I sleep like this?” He whined even more in his sleep. Ayan stares at the boy for a while, a thousand emotions passing through him.

 “No, you can't,” he replies sternly, putting a black t-shirt over his head. Soon the warm protection over Reece’s body was snatched away, making him curl up in a ball shape. 

“Hey!” he screamed while sitting up.

 “Wear this.' Ayan tossed a pair of white sweatpants to him before turning his back, giving the boy some privacy. 

“As if you've not seen it all.” Reece snarls, quickly putting the pants on.

He did not like the chosen color; white was good, but with someone like him with wounds and medication to be applied up his ass, he did not find the color sorting appealing for the circumstance, but he dared not complain.

“Food is ready,” Ayan announced, walking out of the room. He was shocked Ayan had not only helped him into a clean shirt but also helped him apply his medication.

 The cold-faced devil did not look like the type to make food for them, much less call on them. 

Reece was rather more comfortable with settling on the option of not eating, but the constant rumbling of his stomach wouldn't let him. 

He sluggishly drags himself out the door, heading for the kitchen. He did not need to be shown around or worry about losing his way, at least not when the food smelled so good.

 “Have a seat.” Ayan pulls out a chair for him. Reece sits down without another word, a delicious plate of creamy chicken orzo. 

Reece quickly took out his fork, digging into the delicious delicacy, but as he ate, something was off with the food. He drops his fork to the table, staring at Aryan, who follows his eyes.

 “Any problem? Is the food that bad?” Ayan asks questions, but not a word comes from Reece. Ayan quickly takes a spoon, scooping a portion of Reece’s food and munching into it.

 “It tastes okay to me,” he mumbles.

 “At home, this usually comes with peas,” Reece suddenly said. 

“And?” Ayan questions back, not sure where the cute boy was driving. 

“But this one doesn't have peas,” Reece says, tucking more into his food trying to find any available peas. 

“Stop doing that… It has none.” Reece turns to the man before him with a thousand questions. 

“Why?” he managed to ask. “You don't eat it, do you?” Ayan replies, but Reece has his head bent and is fully concentrated on his meal.

 “I'm done.” Before Ayan could say another word, Reece disappeared within the walls. 

He rushed to the bedroom, slamming the door behind him as he slumped to the floor, tears streaming down his eyes. He holds his hands over his mouth, trying hard to submerge his sobs. 

18 years of his life, and for the very first time, someone took the initiative to give him what he likes and not what everyone else likes.

 Reece did not want to go home, at least not when Mark Logan was there snooping around his room waiting for the perfect opportunity to make a move on him. 

Reece has never had it easy, not when he had the perfect elder brother who did no wrong in the eyes of their parents, yet he was the only one at fault for being just too

 “Pretty for a boy,” as they will say all the time. Reece did not know how much time had gone by, but there was still no sign of Ayan. He knew what was coming and patiently waited.

 He quickly got to the bed wearing nothing but his boxers. If he was going to have him again, there was no need to fight, not when he would hurt more when he did. 

Soon after the door opens, Ayan walks in, heading straight for the bathroom. He takes a quick shower and soon comes out in gray sweatpants and no shirt, ready for bed. 

Reece scoots over, trying to avoid being as close as possible, which goes with being noticed by Ayan. 

“Are you okay?” Ayan asks, but Reece keeps quiet and holds on hard to the duvet.

 “Hey,” Ayan scoots over, engulfing him in a tight hug.

 “I won't do anything to hurt you, Reece… I know I was wrong, and I won't touch you without your permission. Just don't push me away.” His words sounded so sincere. Reece leaned in, sobbing quietly into his arms.

How was he to tell him he was scared out of his wits? How was he to open up to the man who raped him? How was he not to feel a spark in his heart towards the only person aside from his friends who considered his wants and needs? 

“Can I hug you?” Reece murmurs barely audibly, but Ayan hears him loud and clear. Moving forward, he holds on tight to the fragile boy in his arms, vowing to keep him safe from any danger.