Chapter 5

PIERRE POV

“It’s an honor to have another Young Master join us here.” 

Young Master? OOOOOOKAYYYYY?

“I will leave him in your care then.” Mom replied before giving a small nod to the school’s principal who seemed rather overly enticed by the idea of the ‘other young master’ joining Rhodez High. If I were to be brutally honest, the idea of being called the Young Master didn’t really phase me. I have ever only seen them in Asian movies and never thought that they are a real thing and that someone could be literally addressed as the Young Master. Or those overzealous titles. 

“Of course Mrs. Rhodez.” She gave out a huge sigh before turning towards me with the biggest grin. I found myself forcing a smile and giving her an awkward wave, then turned to look at the black Cadilac parked a good foot behind us, ready to leave that place.

“Let’s not waste any more of your time.” Mom said, then started to turn around. I was in front of her in a heartbeat, running away from the buttering words that were surely going to start popping from the principal

s mouth. 

The ‘chauffeur’ quickly opened the door for me and I was thankful for the momentary peace and quiet that followed for a few seconds, right before my mom climbed in after me. After the door was closed, she let out a very loud squeal that had me shrinking in my seat, already shielding myself from the impending assault. 

Of course, my endeavors to flee from her meshuga failed with distinction because, in an instant, I was tugged safely into her embrace, her rocking me back and forth and going on about how proud she was that I have grown into such a fine young man yadah yadah... The list goes on. I decided not to burst her bubble and just let her hold me. Wait, I let her squeeze me to death.

“Do you like your new school?” She asked a second after unwrapping her ever-loving arms from around me. I rolled my shoulders just to ensure that every bone was still in place, then turned to look outside the window as we rolled out of the big school premises. 

To call this a school would be a pure insult to the Rhodez and their ancestors who worked their asses off to make it what it was. Rhodez Empire Academy was exactly how you pictured it. Enormous buildings, and vast campuses with small shuttles roaming around to get you around the whole premises. But what was the killer feature was the fact that it was built right at the feet of the Atlantic, overlooking the Squantum Channel and various neighboring harbors.

The thing deserved to be a freakin' sovereignty and just by looking at it, I understood why there were millions of students who came to register for the school's new session. And no, I am not talking about the high schoolers only...

Even kiddos from preschool were present.

“It's big. Unlike anything I have seen before.” I responded truthfully then looked back at her face. 

“Ncaaaaw. You’re such a hun.” She pulled me back again in her hold and I just sighed. 

“Heeeeeeey.” She pushed me back abruptly before looking at me with a stern face.

“What?” I asked, completely confused.

“Don’t give me that look. I missed my boy and all I want to do is kiss his cheeks and hug him all night.” She said, and her brown eyes told me all there was to be said. She may not be the mom who wore a green apron and packed me cookies for lunch every day, then fetch me from school with the brightest smile the world has ever seen… But truth be told, she was still my mother in all ways I could ever think of. It was the surname that changed. Not the woman in her.

“I missed you too, mom,” I replied, and a lone tear rolled down her unblemished cheek before started laughing. Overwhelmed by the emotions, she decided to throw herself back at me. AGAIN!

“I am so glad you agreed to move here, Pookie.” She said causing me to chuckle.

“Mooooooommm…” I whined pushing her backward. I really hated that name. She let out a hearty laugh before leaning back into the seat. 

“You’re hungry?” She asked, and I gave her a simple nod. Her face split up in the brightest expression before glaring at the front seat to the driver who was rather oblivious to the bubbly her and barked some certain addresses and off we went. It was later that I realized we were going to dine at some world-class restaurant where we were served by 8 waiters. 8 whooping waiters that were just crowding our personal space, waiting on us.

It was crazy, but I guess this was my life now.

~~~

LATER THAT IN THE EVENING, we arrived at the mansion a little before dinner. We piled into the house with more than a ton of shopping bags draped on our arms, my mom screaming like usual and me just agreeing to everything she was saying. It was funny how she always had something to say about… literally everything. And that's what made her unique.

We were just about to climb the stairs that left the lobby to the upper floor of the mansion when the sound of flip-flops against the marble floor filled the space. And before I could prepare myself for the grand reveal, Poseidon popped from behind the corner dressed in nothing, but gray sweats. And by nothing I mean, bare-chested with the gray sweats hanging low on his perfectly chiseled waist. My eyes shamelessly followed the outline of his perfected torso before landing on the V that descended down to his crotch, then trailed back up before landing on his face to find him staring intently at me. Our eyes locked and just like that, I had forgotten all the fundamental basics of respiration and how it is associated with human anatomy. 

My suddenly parched throat moved when I swallowed hard, watching as his eyes dilate for a split second before he masked off the expression that was just on his face a second heartbeat ago. Whatever it was that was used to create this boy, then it had to be fuckin' rare.

“Aaaaah… Big boy. Here you are. Mind taking these…” I have never been so thankful for my mother’s squeals as I was at that particular moment. Poseidon broke his intense gaze and started to walk off to my mother, then revealed pearly teeth as he smiled at her. I took that opportunity to escape to my room, but before I could reach the top stairs, mom called.

“Pookie, have you explored the whole estate?” I opened my mouth to reply to her, tell her I had an eternity to check out the grand estate but she had other plans,

“You can show him around, can you? I am going to try some of the clothes and you boys will find yours in your rooms.” Poseidon’s head rose as he gave me the knowing smirk, then turned to my mom and smiled again,

“Of course.” Great. Just great. Now I was going to be stuck with that one soul that managed to get my mind in the gutters.

“Let’s go, Pookie.” 

And he just called me by that name!!!