Heartfelt Quintessence

Chapter 6 - Obey Me Or Else

The next morning.

On the bed, the fragile boy lazily opened his eyes. "... Ahhhhhh!" He groaned in frustration. He had a dream that all happened before was a dream. Dang it, the dream betrayed him!
He took his phone under his pillow, scrolling the screen with wide eyes. "Uwaa, 45 missed calls from Asahina and 99 missed calls from Shiori.." They must be worried. About him dissapeared without news.

It was pretty early by the way, and another call instantly appeared from the screen. "Tch." The boy abruptly answered it, "I know! I'm sorry I couldn't tell you anything, so stop calling me damn it!" The caller replied fast, "Oi, oi, I haven't ask you, Uma chan! Shiori urged me to call you right now!"

Haruma covered himself in his blanket, he was glad to hear their voice. "Don't tell me you both skipped the P.E class again.." He could hear the soft voice coming from the phone, it was Shiori after all.

"Uma chan, the homeroom teacher said that you transferred to another school yesterday! You know how shocked we were! How couldddd you!!" Seemed like this girl smacked Asahina's shoulder, Haruma chuckled while imagined it.

"Dude, what happened? You should tell us beforehand, we could at least bid a proper farewell."

The small boy laughed in a somewhat disinterested tone.
"Yeah. Will do that. Sure. Sureeee I will meet you guys, okay? I'm going to hang up. Yes, yes, damn you Asahina I said I will meet you both! Okay. Hm. Bye bye."

The conversation ended with Haruma hanging up. ".. I don't have my charger." Fortunately he got to speak with them until his batteries phone died.

The door of the bedroom opened and the one face he would wish he never would see appeared, Henry marched into the room, drawing the curtains wide open, bringing in new outfit for the boy to put on and a fresh towel for him to wash up in the morning. He stepped to the side of the bed.

"Good morning young master."
He greeted him.
"I hope you slept well, it will be a long day today."
"Breakfast is ready downstairs, or would you like me to bring them in?"

"..." Haruma removed his blanket, sat upright on the bed while stretching his hands. He wasn't in the mood to fight with Henry. Well, he ended up losing anyway. "Morning. And no, thank you. I will eat them downstairs." He walked past Henry and went straight into the bathroom.

"As you wish." The man replied just before the boy slammed the door shut.
Once Haruma stepped out of the bathroom, he can see the butler standing there with the boy's fresh new outfit.

Really, now?

The boy wrapped his towel low around his waist, revealing his fair skinned body. As usual, he didn't bother to wipe off his wet hair that dropping down his face. He took a few steps closer to Henry, showing his right hand. "Thanks. Give me that clothes." Haruma didn't spare any glance of the brunette at all.

Henry did not hand the clothes to the boy, instead he dropped a smaller towel on the boy's head, Haruma could feel the butler light drying the young master's now damp hair. After done doing so, Henry brought the fresh clothes for the boy, he was swift to dress up the boy, sliding the top from one sleeve to another, fingers expert buttoning up Haruma's top. Next, the boy's pants.

Haruma suddenly grabbed the gaijin's hand. ".. I didn't wear anything under this towel. Let me wear it myself." He slowly set his gaze toward Henry. He was quite displeased to be spoiled like that. On top of that, someone he hated the most dressing him up like a doll.

He eyed the boy for a few seconds, before handing Haruma his pants.
"Please head to the dining room once you are done for your breakfast."

What a relief to Haruma, Henry actually left him and walked out the door. In the dining hall, a plethora of food awaits the young master, from sweets to savoury.

The boy went to the dining hall after he completely dressed up. Woah. Too extravagant for a simple breakfast. His eyes wandered around to find Wakana and Waka, but none of them were there. His shoulders dropped when he even saw Henry stood upright next to the chair he sat yesterday evening.

"..." Oh God. It would be better if Wakana or Waka were the one accompanying him here. He screamed inside the back of his mind.

The butler poured him a glass of water.
"Would you like some tea?"
The butler asked. There was a stack of pancakes, waffles with so many assortments and toppings, there's also eggs and bacon, breads, pastries on the table.
"Your class will start today at 10 am sharp. Please be ready in the study room later."

"Yes, thank you." He sat on the chair, placing the napkin on his lap and took a croissant on his plate. "Lead the way for me later. I forgot the path. It takes time to remember this mansion's layout."

He brought the croissant into his mouth, a smile curled at the corner of his pale pink lips. "This croissant is perfect." He mumbled to himself.

"Everything is made fresh, everyday." He mentioned as he poured the boy his tea, those pair of very precise hands in black velvet gloves. "If you wish to have anything specific to eat, or drink, or any necessities you may need, or require my assistance in, please alert me right away." Which would remind the boy of his need of a phone charger.

"Ah. I have a request." The boy responded while taking a plate of pancakes in front of him. "Could you please pack all my belongings at my old apartment? I need my charger too. Ah. Everything in my small room. They aren't too many though. Since I couldn't run away from this place (according to you)."

"I am your butler, not your delivery boy."
Henry commented. "What ever do you need that might be so important from that room?"

Haruma clicked his tongue. "You do it, or I, myself will ask Mitsue to fetch things for me." The truth was, he had kept a small box containing a locket gifted by his foster mother inside the small room. It was well hidden inside his purple bag pack under his bed.

As the tall brunette heard Mitsue's name, the butler made a displeased expression.

"He is incompetent, and you are NOT his responsibility but mine." Henry eyed the boy.
"Whatever it is you needed from there, we can get it here and brand new."

Haruma wiped off the crumbs at his mouth using the napkin, and he replied in a lazy tone. "Well if you were competent and I were supposed to be under your care, obey me then."
He drummed his slim fingers on the table, "or.. I will ask Mitsue to do that in your stead." Sounds like a threat for Henry. Guess the small boy really questioning the gaijin's position as his family's butler.

"That's not NECESSARY." A comical vein popped at the side of his temple. "...you, young master, have a talent of making things complicated."
With utmost reluctance, Henry added, "I will take you there, tomorrow."
"But you will not mention anything of coming back there once we're done."

"Cool." Haruma gave the gaijin a thumbs up. A complete mockery for Henry. The boy took a sip of tea and added with a wry smile, "I will see you at 10 am, come fetch me up at my room." He left his seat and headed toward the stairs up to his room.

"Hmph." The boy was long gone to his room then. Two light knocks given when Henry showed up, escorting the boy to the study room. Throughout the hours of lessons, of course with breaks for lunch and tea time, the butler commits well, what he taught was probably more than what Haru had learned in school, from English, History, Literature and so on. All the lessons end right before dinner time, and Haruma literally spent his whole day with the butler. At night, he ensured the boy was tucked in ready for bed.

"You can go now." Haruma waved his hand, asking the butler to leave him alone. He had a slight throbbing headache, learning all unfamiliar subjects makes him sick. He needs to endure, so that he could run away from this place one day. He couldn't wait to see his old apartment tomorrow for the last time. Hard to say goodbye he guessed.