Obsession

Secret: Chapter 15

"Julian, you need to put some ointment on it," Rebecca scolded following her stubborn-headed older brother out of his room and down to the kitchen where Gabriel sat munching on some chips.

With Julian and Bryant dismissed from practice earlier than the other hockey players, and the former wishing to be anywhere else but on the college campus, the three had returned to Shaw.

The dispute was settled, and the last Julian had seen of Bryant and Heather, his teammate was speaking with – more like reprimanding – his sister about her behaviour. Julian was thankful that, at least, his teammate saw sense, but he disliked that it took revealing something so personal – that shouldn't be required in the first place – to clear his name.

"Becca," he drawled, as his sister followed him, adamant he take better care of himself. "I'm fine. It'll heal on its own." Julian paused next to Gabriel and greeted him with a kiss to the cheek, snuggling his face into the latter's shoulder.

Rebecca, on the other hand, was reaching her limit for tolerating her brother's stubbornness. She made a soft cry in exasperation and slid the small container of ointment used for abrasions, bruises, and swelling over the kitchen's island counter. It stopped right where Gabriel was, and he turned to look at her.

Rebecca smirked cheekily. "Maybe if you try, he'll listen to you."

Julian scoffed in mock offence. "I can't believe you're using him against me like this. That's low, sis."

"Put on the ointment, Julian. I'm not going to sit around listening to you moan and groan about how much your face hurts," she retorted, flipped her hair over her shoulder and then left the kitchen, leaving the two boys alone.

"So," Gabriel started, dusting his hands off and then getting up to wash them at the sink. "You're the type to refuse treatment even though you're an athlete and that should be a number one priority, but you also can't tolerate pain." He dried his hands off on a kitchen towelette.

"No, that's not it," Julian replied cheekily. "I just don't see a point of fussing over something this small – Ow!" Julian swatted Gabriel's finger away as the boy had quickly crossed the small distance between them and poked at Julian's cheek, on the side where Bryant had punched him.

"It doesn't hurt, huh?"

"I never said that," Julian retorted, "but it'll stop on its own."

"So," Gabriel started with a teasing tone, "you'll be okay to grimace each time this happens?" He made a move to poke Julian's injured cheek again and the latter ducked out of the way, shooting him a disapproving glare. Gabriel went over to the kitchen island counter and picked up the small bottle of ointment and wriggled it.

He crooked his finger, beckoning Julian to come closer and the latter rolled his eyes, but complied anyway, taking a seat on the chair that Gabriel had previously occupied. Gabriel's face flushed and he bit his lip as Julian pulled him closer, slipping his arms around Gabriel's waist, leaving little room between them.

He did his best to focus on the task at hand, keeping his gaze on the bruise marring the left side of Julian's face, but the latter had other ideas. Gabriel felt Julian's eyes on him the entire time, and there was a contented smile on his face.

Julian couldn't think of being anywhere else at the moment, and he was quite content on having Gabriel take care of him and his injuries.

"I'm all done," Gabriel announced, capping the ointment, and returning it to the island counter. "You can let go now."