3. Family dinner

~VINCENT~

He knew he should have ran. He should have ran like the stripper did. But, fear is a bastard after all, it crippled him, and turned his brain into mayonnaise; mushy and soft, until he couldn't think for himself again. And as he stared back at himself in the mirror, his breath caught in his throat.

“I… I…” He tried to say to no one in particular before sighing in defeat as he ran his hands through his golden blonde hair. His blue-green eyes stared back at him with equal intensity. A shiver ran down his spine when his thought ran back to what Dimitri had mouthed that morning. And right at that moment, Vincent knew he's doomed.

Ever since that incident a week ago when he had a man's cock in his mouth for the first time, when he had a man rub his cock for the first time, he just knew it, he didn't need someone to tell him that. Vincent had acted oblivious to his feelings for so long but not until Dimitri breached his walls like a thief breaching a house.

He gave himself a last glance before hurrying out of his private attached bathroom and back into his room. He rushed to his working table and drew his laptop, determined to find anything, anything at all, that will make the growing attraction he's starting to feel for Dimitri wane, just anything. Yes, like a last stand… his last stand.

As a twenty eight year old young judge, Vincent knew the damage being him could cause if he was to be discovered and he was determined to nullify that, even if it meant disregarding his own desires, afterall, what's the worst that can happen…

With a flourish, he lifted the lid of his laptop and drew it closer to himself. The light from the laptop illuminated his pale skin as his eyes scanned the screen. Today, he decided to browse the dark web again but now, for a different reason… Dimitri.

He unlocked the laptop and did just that. As if waiting for him to type the name, articles popped up all about Dimitri.

“Wow, he has quite the reputation.” He whispered, a small smile playing on his lips. And just as fast as it came, he willed himself to be stoic again, as if smiling for someone like Dimitri is forbidden.

“Dimitri Santini’s charity donations marred by allegations of strong-arming.” He read, his eyes widening.

“That bastard.”

His fingers hovering over the keyboard clenched as he clicked his tongue in distaste before he shook his head and leaned back on his chair.

“Charity donations marred by allegations of strong-arming.” He whispered slowly as his mouth parts in realization before he burst out laughing. “The bastard actually pressured others to contribute too.”

Right at that moment, his phone let out a shrill beep tone, cutting off his laughter session. He stood in panic, his eyes scanning the room for where he had dropped it before he finally saw it on his bed. Before he reached it though, it'd stopped ringing.

He sat on the bed which is covered with black and white checkered sheets, stretched, and grabbed his phone. He checked the caller, and his face dropped. It was Elora, his girlfriend who'd told him that she would end things with him if he failed to react to him. And now, he knew that it will never be possible for he's lost, and couldn't find his beacon anymore… not that he could even see it before.

As he contemplated on what to do next, his phone rang again and he inhaled deeply before picking it.

"Hey, Vince," Elora's voice sounded strained on the other side.

"I've been trying to reach you all day. Your parents are getting worried."

Vincent's lips parted a little as his brows shot up in worry. His grip on his phone tightened. "What's going on, Elora?"

"There's a family dinner tonight. Your parents want you to come home. I'll be there too."

Vincent's mind raced. He hadn't spoken to his parents in weeks, avoiding their questions about his relationship with Elora. He brought the phone to his face as he hurriedly swiped the navigation bar to check the date and he hissed.

“Shit.”

"Vincent, I need to see you," Elora's tone softened. "We need to talk about… us."

Vincent hesitated, unsure how to respond. His feelings for Dimitri had changed everything. And he knew he would never be the same. Elora had been his childhood friend before she confessed her feelings for him and he had decided to give it a trial but he knew it's a façade and he would never be the same. At least not after the trauma he suffered at the orphanage.

"Elora, I... I don't know if I can make it tonight," Vincent stalled.

"Vince, please. Your parents are expecting you. And I need to see you," Elora said, her voice tinged with desperation.

And at the mention of his parents, Vincent's shoulder slumped in defeat. They had saved him from the orphanage, clothed him, given him life, and he had become a judge at such a young age due to their connection… and his hardwork of course but still…

He sighed, feeling trapped. "Fine, I'll be there."

And as he hung up, he knew he was living a lie, the phone's silence screaming the truth he dared not to speak. Was it cowardice or self preservation? Infact, he didn't know which was worse: the lie he lived or the truth he feared.

Nonetheless, he stood up and walked sluggishly to his wardrobe to grab a change of clothes. He knew it's a dinner not a stroll and if he dressed like that, his parents would think he's really suffering just because he lives alone.