Rheostat

5. Butterscotch Ribbon

"Why didn't you say anything?" Stephenzo asked in a confused manner. "Why even consider putting your life in danger like that?"

Kai and Ezra had already left the room, hopefully, to finish their dinner.

"I-I thought y-you were punishing me." I stuttered, hating how pathetic I sounded.

He seemed taken aback at my response.

"Why would I punish you?"

Was he asking me to admit the mistakes I made? My teachers did that sometimes.

"I talked during dinner," I stated remorsefully. "But-but I promise, Mr. Black, I won't make the same mistake again," I added hurriedly so he knew I was reflecting.

He looked at me as if trying to decipher my thoughts as to why I would think like that.

"Aylin, I would never punish you like that," Stephenzo spoke slowly like he was talking to a toddler.

Does he mean he will punish me in other ways?

"Will you starve me, then?" I asked hesitantly. I couldn't exactly blame him for that, I made far too many mistakes than I could count tonight.

"What–" He looked at me as if he couldn't fathom why I would even ask something like that. "No, never."

Was that too easy of a punishment?

"Then are you going to lock me in a dark room," I asked with fear chilling my bones.

Not that, anything but that!

"Why would you say something like that?" Stephenzo thought aloud. Until realization seeped in.

Taking a deep breath, he stood up from his chair and approached my trembling self. Grabbing my shoulders lightly he lead me to seat on the couch and joined beside me.

"I will not do anything of that sort," he emphasized. "Neither did you do any mistake to deserve any punishment. Even if you did something to make me angry, I will not punish you like that." The last words came out coated in disgust.

"Thank you, Mr.Black." I was truly grateful for his kindness.

"Don't call me that," He commanded, almost angry.

Not call him Mr Black?

"Yes, I understand, sir."

"Don't call me that either."

"What should I address y-you t-then?"I stuttered in panic when he started getting frustrated.

"Why don't you try calling me Enzo or Stephen?" He said softly noticing my panic.

"Why do you even insist on addressing me as Mr. Black? I'm your brother for God's sake!" A frown marred his face as he ran his hand through his hair.

"I thought you would want that. We are not close enough to be on first name basis." I rushed to explain. Was I wrong to think that?

"I see." I could clearly hear the anger in his words. But it didn't feel like it was directed towards me.

"You thought wrong. Now try calling me by my name." He ordered.

"Stephen," I called out. The name felt foreign in my mouth.

"Yes, Aylin." He seemed somewhat pleased.

"Are you sure I can call you that?" I gave him a chance to take back his words.

"Absolutely sure." Instead, he passed me a rare smile.

... ... ... 

After Stephen excused me, I went back to the dining hall to find Ezra
sitting there, silently eating his meal.

I felt much better knowing they had come back to eat.

"Are you feeling alright?" He asked once he noticed me standing in the doorway.

"Yep!" I nodded enthusiastically, glad to know his kindness hadn't expired yet. "Just a slight headache."

"Get some sleep." He frowned, concern edging his features.

I nodded before finding my way back to my room.

I heard a knock at my door. After which, Ezra walked in with a tray.

"Here, it will ease the headache." He handed me a painkiller.

I gratefully accepted it.

"Don't ever do something that will cause harm to your health, you hear me?" Ezra reprimanded me in a strict tone.

"Okay." Relieved at my answer he pointed at the other materials in the tray.

"Are you hungry? I brought you ice cream." His warm smile was back.

I saw that he had indeed brought different flavours of ice cream. I counted at least nine there.

"Well, I didn't know your favourite flavour so I brought many options," Ezra scratched his ear as his cheeks turned red in embarrassment.

There were so many flavours. I recognized a few while most were unknown to me.

I was not very keen on trying new stuff. But I managed to try them all with Ezra. He told me eating so much ice cream at once was extremely unhealthy and he was only giving me a free pass for just today.

"It tastes like heaven," I moaned as the mint chocolate chip ice cream assaulted my taste buds.

Laughing at my childishness, Ezra placed another scoop of delicious ice cream in my cup.

"Try this, it's called butterscotch ribbon."

How the fuck had I been alive for 17 years and not once tried this heaven on earth?

"It's official. The butterscotch ribbon is from now on my favourite." I announced in all seriousness.

"You can finish the rest of it," He started to collect all the now-empty ice cream containers and put them in the tray.

"It felt so good eating ice cream after ages! They didn't allow any junk food back into my school. They were so strict, you won't believe it."

"Do you know, a girl in my class once sneaked in doughnuts? They found out and punished her by not letting her eat for two days! They didn't even allow her water the first day." I rambled while eating spoonfuls of the delight placed on my lap.

I had gotten quite comfortable with Ezra. I could almost feel a bond forming between us. And the sugar rush gave me a newfound confidence.

I looked up from the cup placed on my lap to see the shock-stricken face of Ezra.

"Were you ever punished as well?" Ezra asked in a small voice almost as if he was too scared to hear the answer.

"Yeah, tons of time. But they stopped punishing me as much once I became good at following the rules." I recounted back.

"Promise me you will keep bringing me ice cream." I grabbed both his hands, my eyes sparkling with hope.

Freeing his hands, he abruptly brought my head to his chest and pressed it against it. I could hear his heartbeat as he wrapped his arms around me.

"I promise."