Ninth Chapter

Rain was the second member of the Tetra household to see the insides of my apartment. After stopping at a pharmacy for some painkillers I wasn't going to use, then stopping at a restaurant for some take out, it was almost dark out when I got home. When he drove me home, he helped me up the stairs, slowly and cautiously like when we were climbing down the mountain. I was getting sick of walking painstakingly slowly when I could walk just fine, but it was the price I had to pay for lying my way out of hiking with him.

Eventually, we got to my apartment. The familiar broken walls, chipped wooden floors and poorly furnished apartment of the place that I called my home welcomed me. A part of me was ashamed to even let Rain in but I knew there was no chance he was going to drop me off by the front door, and leave like a delivery guy.

“Chair or bed?"

I heard him ask after he shut the door behind us. His hand rested firmly around my waist the whole time, while mine went across his back. I had stopped letting out fake quiet winces, tired of my act, but he was so engrossed in walking carefully, he didn't notice the bored expression on my face.

“Chair." I whispered.

The only chair in the room that doubled as my bedroom. The same bed his father sat on when my towel dropped to the ground. I didn't care for remembering the events of that day but it casually seeped into my thoughts once in a while. It didn't fail to repulse me each time.

As gentle as ever, Rain lowered me onto the creaky, single, couch-like chair. I assumed it to be like a thousand years old. It's an exaggeration but that's because it came with the apartment and the entire apartment building was very very old, almost falling apart.

When he let go of me, he strolled into the small kitchen. His head turned every which way, inspecting the deadbeat place. “Do you have anything you could eat?"

"Yes,”

The correct answer was in fact, a no. The only thing I had left was half a box of corn cereal. He did not take my word for it and began searching the cabinets with broken hinges and drawers threatening to fall out.

“Where is it?" His deep voice came from behind the door of an open cabinet. “Where is the food?" he asked again, closing the cabinet door.

“I have a box of cereal there somewhere."

"Half a box, Raya”

His disappointed tone backed up by an equally disappointed gaze told me I was busted. The first of my lies he detected successfully. I began to think of convincing words I was going to tell him so he would leave.

“Well,” I began, his intense penetrating stare mounting pressure in my brain.

“It's just for tonight," I mumbled, forcing a smile. “I already have the take out from the restaurant,” I pointed to the paper bag on the small kitchen counter. "By morning, I'll be back to the mansion for a proper breakfast.” I quickly added when I noticed he opened his mouth to retort.

He fell silent. I kept a smile plastered on my face, hoping he wasn't going to be a pain in the ass about it. I honestly wanted him to just leave so I could breathe. The internal struggle of trying to keep away from him was suffocating. I hated how I wanted him but I couldn't have him.

“Alright," he said with a sigh, running his fingers through his hair with his other hand on his waist. “Just make sure you're back at the mansion very early."

His eyes and tone became serious again.“I promise." I replied joyfully.

"I mean it, Raya,” he continued. "Be back at the mansion early or else I'll come get you."

I started to chuckle under my breath. “I just promised, Rain," his eyes didn't leave me for even a second. "I'll be there.”

I could see the reluctance in his eyes, but he nodded. "Alright,” he whispered.

"Take good care of yourself, Raya," he started to walk towards me. “I still don't understand why you want to be left alone," he murmured as he bent down when he got close. “But I'll respect your wishes."

He was now staring deeply into my eyes. He didn't want to leave, I could see it. I didn't want him to leave, but I needed to think and with him around me, I wasn't able to do so successfully. “Thank you." I whispered with a smile.

He placed both hands on each arm of the chair and leaned closer to me. I could feel his warm steady breathing on my lips. His eyes glared at my lips, as if noticing every pattern on it. He stayed that way for minutes, not moving, building up tension. Finally, his eyes returned to mine. He then came in for what I had been waiting for. His kiss. The heavenly feeling of his lips on mine. It was slow, it was passionate, it was all it was supposed to be and more. With every nibbling, he took a part of me with him. He didn't know it, but he was owning me with each kiss. The slower they were, the harder I fell.

After minutes of steady mouth action, he pulled away. It wasn't the type of kiss that left you breathless. It was the type that left you unsatisfied. His blue eyes danced in their sockets as he held my gaze. “Good night, Raya."

I wanted to pull him closer, give him the pleasure of taking my clothes off and having me right there in the room. “Good night, Rain.” I mumbled instead.

He let go of the couch, making his way to the door. With one last look at me, he smiled before letting himself out. I instantly let out a loud sigh, slumming into the chair as I did so. It felt like a heaviness was taken from me. I felt freer, even lighter.

“Finally,"

I sighed, taking slow breaths to commemorate my freedom. I hurried towards the door, bolting it in case he changed his mind and decided to come back. If he did, I wasn't going to open up. I would pretend to be asleep. Since I was already up, I walked to the kitchen counter. I couldn't resist the aroma emanating from the small brown paper bag.

I wasn't going for much so I ordered pieces of chicken with fries on the side. Rain said it wasn't a proper meal, but it was what I wanted so his thoughts didn't matter at all. He also ordered me a banana chocolate milkshake with bits of marshmallows on top. I could barely wait any longer as I took the plates out of the bag.

I sprinted to the bed, plunging myself on it with my legs crossed. I placed the plate of chicken beside the plate of fries and the milkshake on the floor, you know, so it wouldn't spill. I slowly took a bite out of the chicken. My eyes voluntarily closed. My jaw moved in slow motion, savouring the burst of flavors that came with each chew. It was maybe the best fried chicken I have ever tasted. I took another bite, then another bite, then a few more, but it still tasted beautiful every single time.

After finishing a few pieces, I started on the fries, occasionally taking sips of the milkshake. I took out my phone to watch a movie. I was determined to enjoy my alone time with good food. I was too poor to afford N*****x so I used YouTube when I wanted to see a movie. The only good thing my apartment had going for it was the working wifi. I searched for my favorite animated series, SpongeBob. A young adult, but a child at heart you could say.

I was twenty minutes into the first episode and halfway through my food when I heard a knock on my door. “Coming," I yelled.

Licking my fingers and walking towards the door, I suddenly realized it could be Rain. I immediately froze. The plan of acting like I was asleep was flushed down the toilet when I answered seconds ago. My brain was running a thousand thoughts, all of which didn't make sense, when I heard the knock again.

“Open up, Raya. It's me."

A familiar voice called out to me. It didn't sound like Rain. It was a little deeper than his. My feet finally moved, steadily heading towards the door. When I got there, I regretted not having one of those little holes on the door that you could see through. I started to unlock the door like I didn't want to, because I actually didn't want to. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for whoever was on the other side. Maybe I'm just panicking, I thought.

I pulled the door open. My eyes widened in horror, my mouth dried up, my heart sank into my stomach.

His name unknowingly escaped my lips. “David?"