5. And he will be back for more

~VINCENT~

Even the night air blowing through the open windows couldn't wade off the agony in his heart. It only blew his face and his golden hair but deep inside, he remained hollow like a deep dark hole which sunlight and air couldn't enter.

To Vincent, today is a regular occurrence. And to be honest, he had thought that with time, he would get used to feeling like a disappointment. But as time passed, the sting caused by his father continuously escalated and today… just today… it stung him more than he could imagine.

“Men don't cry.”

“Men don't cry.”

He continued to repeat the three words which his father had ingrained into him since he was a young lad like a mantra. Although a week had passed since he learnt of that part of himself, today was when he decided to check it out. Like a coward, he had acted oblivious and when he barely had a taste, even if it's a sinful taste, it just had to be snatched.

A bitter chuckle escaped his lips as he pulled up at the garage of his small apartment and exited the car. With slumped shoulders, he walked to the door of his only haven, the only place where he could bask in his sadness.

He turned the door and stepped inside before falling on his feet and let out a low chuckle, the three words ringing loudly in his head as if to remind him of who had molded him and broke him.

He basked in his misery before switching on the light and dragged his weary soul to his room. And there he sat, the beginning of the second episode of his misery. On impulse, Vincent's hands flew to his face to check if it's dry and he let out a relieved sigh when it turned out dry. But even with that, he thought of the figure sitting on his bed cross-legged as a dream so he ignored it.

He continued to move towards the bed. Maybe, just maybe after he'd slept his sorrow away, the figure will turn out to be a figment of his imagination.

A low dark chuckle reverberated in the room which made Vincent still before his eyes shifted back to the figure which was slowly standing up.

“Missed me?”

Vincent's eyes widened as his eyes snapped to the wall clock. It's 1:34 am.

“I… I… get the fuck off.” He said and continued towards his bed.

Dimitri chuckled. “Sassy. Love it.”

Then, he grabbed Vincent's shoulder causing him to jolt awake.

Vincent's eyes widened and he repeated but with more vigor. “Get. The. Fuck. Off.” And if looks could kill, Dimitri would have turned into ashes.

Dimitri stalked towards Vincent. His eyes widened and for every single step Dimitri took towards him, he took two backwards in return.

Dimitri tilted his head, as if assessing his new prey. “You've lost the excitement in the game?”

He never wanted to feel like a disappointment even if it meant disregarding his desires… his happiness. He couldn't quite believe that the egoistic bastard thought of this as a game. So he replied, “There's no game to begin with, Mr Santini.”

Dimitri clicked his tongue but he didn't stop walking towards him with the grace of a predator.

“Do you know what the basis of a game is, Vince?”

“Vince.” Vincent chuckled just as his back hit the wall. That name, which was supposed to serve as an endearment is a form of slow agonising torture to him and this man, this criminal, had called it in a deliciously dark way.

Dimitri caged him between his hand and repeated his question. “Do you know what the basis of a game is?”

He stared.into his dark orbs, letting him see the defiance in his blue-green eyes. However, his eyes widened as Dimitri leaned in, just enough for their noses to graze. “It starts with two teams, two people, two enemies, two friends.” With each stall, Dimitri rubbed his nose on Vincent's.

“And do you know what's common between the two?” He asked again.

Vincent turned his head to his side, trying to put as much space between them as possible and shook his head slightly.

“Two.” Dimitri answered darkly. “Me… and you.”

“And do you know what we are?”

Vincent stilled, his breath caught in his throat. He knew the answer but wouldn't dare say it.

Dimitri chuckled in dark glee and stepped back from Vincent who looked as red as a tomato. He moved towards the door and turned the knob before turning back to Vincent who still stood in the same position.

“I will be back… for more.”

However, before Dimitri could turn the knob to step out, the door opened and in came Elora, Vincent's girlfriend.