MILE
I can feel his eyes on me.
They've been on me since we joined the others half an hour ago and every time I look at him, they shoot away.
I don't know why I acted the way I did earlier. Perhaps I could blame it on my long day. My day was filled with one meeting after the other. As much as I am an actor, I also have a lot of businesses I handle that I like to keep from the media. I am a very busy man but despite that, I am cautious of every thing I do. Of everything I say.
There is no excusing what I did earlier and by the curious gaze Barcode keeps throwing my way, I can tell my words have piqued his interests.
"So Jeff, do you miss us?" Apo speaks, drawing my attention to him.
There is a groan from everyone and by the twinkle in Apo's eyes, I can tell that was the reaction he was hoping for. When Jeff left the company and moved to his own studio, we were all supportive. Hell, we even threw him a party and barely anything changed as we all remained friends who hang out occasionally.
"Yes, Apo. I miss working with you guys but I am content in working in my Studio. Hopefully none of you hold any grudge against me for leaving."
There are noises from everyone assuring him that he did the right thing. Well, almost everyone.
There is a frown on Barcode's face as he stares at Jeff and when his eyes shift to me, I notice the quick flush of color on his cheeks. For a while now, I have sensed that the boy has something of a teenage crush on Jeff but never really cared to think on it.
It's obvious to me and even to Barcode himself that Jeff will never think of him as anything more than a younger brother. The man is already head over heels for Bible.
The sad kicked puppy face on Barcode stays for the rest of the evening but slaps on a smile when everyone starts leaving until there are like five of us left.
"Hey Apo, who's got Barcode tonight? We both live in the opposite direction but one of us has to drop him home," Jeff asks, slipping his hand into Bible's. Bible's focus is on his phone but I notice the small smile from Jeff's move.
"I'm a little drunk, I don't think I can drive tonight," Apo tells Jeff. "I'll probably have to call him a taxi."
"No, we can't let him leave alone, Apo. That's not a good idea."
"You are right. I guess I'll call for a taxi and have it drop him home and then bring me..."
I watch with amusement as Apo and Jeff try to figure out how to get Barcode home. It seems that both of have forgotten that he is is no longer the seventeen year old teen they met a year ago.
"I'll drive him home," I speak, forcing everyone's gaze on me. I chuckle at the surprised looks on their faces but I am even more surprised by my words.
After what happened tonight, I should stay as far away as I can from Barcode. We have a thirteen year age difference between us and while that has never been an issue before. It is now.
I haven't looked at him like I did tonight.
Before today, I never bothered to look at the slight pout of his mouth of his large innocent brown eyes.
I should stay away.
"Are you sure, Mile?" Apo asks, his brows drawing in a frown. "I'm sure you've had a long day..."
"I'll drive him home," I say firmly and Apo nods, turning to Jeff who also nods at me.
We all part ways and Barcode silently follows me to my car. I didn't drink tonight because I wanted to drive home and not have to call for someone to chauffeur and now I can't tell whether or not that was a bad idea on my part.
Either way, Barcode is silent as he climbs into my car and it's not until that I pull out of park that he turns to me.
"I'm eighteen," he says.
"I know," I respond with a sigh
"In most cases, that is considered an adult."
"I know."
"Then why is everyone talking to me and about me like I am some child?"
"Because you are younger than everyone else."
"I know but... I don't want everyone to treat me like this anymore," he says with a sigh before turning to face me. "You don't treat me like that."
"I figure you already have enough people babying you. You don't need one more doing so but make no mistake, I will not be serving you alcohol either."
"I don't want that anymore. Earlier you said I could get the same kind of pleasure from elsewhere," he says, his voice dropping to a few octaves even though we are alone in the car. "What did you mean by that?"
"Nothing!"
That was a lapse in judgment and I will not be making it again any time soon.
"Did you mean sex?"
My fingers close tightly against the sterling wheel and I let out a sigh. I brought this on myself.
Earlier, I could have walked away after a simple hi. I should have stared at him with a blank face when he mentioned he wanted alcohol. Hell, I should not have offered to give him a ride tonight.
"P'Mile," he whispers, dropping his hand to my thigh and my entire body tenses up. "Tell me please."
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"I don't like girls."
The silence in the car is loud as I wait for him to take his words back but he doesn't. "How did you come to that conclusion?"
"When I realized that I had a crush on P'Jeff."
"Jeff is ten years older than you, Barcode."
"I know and... don't call me that."
"Call you what? Barcode? It's your name or do you prefer me to call you by your government name?"
He is silent that I turn to look at him once I stop in traffic. There is something in his eyes I can't discern and I am very good at reading people.
"I... I want you to call me what you called me earlier."
My brows draw in confusion before it slowly dawns to me. "Kitten?"
"Yeah. I like it. Don't ask me why. I don't know either."
"Hmm," I hum at his words and focus back to the road when the traffic starts moving. Tonight we opened a can of worms and I know I should shut it before things get even more complicated. I am the older one between us.
I should know better.
"I don't like girls and... I don't think I like guys my age either."
I stay silent, eyes focused on the road ahead as I process his words. It's a dangerous territory we are headed and yet, I seem to only dig a deeper hole for us.
"Do you want my advice on what to do?"
"Are you going to tell me it's wrong for me to want an older man? That I am a kid who can't decide what they want?"
"If P'Jeff is who you want then..."
"He treats me like a child and besides, he is already with Bible. I won't get in the way of that but P'Mile..."
"Don't say it!"
"You don't treat me like that. I want..."
"Stop!"
"No," he whispers petulantly, tugging at my jacket. "I want to talk about this. No one will talk to me about sex because they think I am still a child but I am not! Even Apo won't listen to me and... I just need someone to listen to me, please."
I let out a sigh and drop my head against the headrest when I realize there is no getting out of this. I brought it on myself and now I have to deal with it.
"Fine, what is it you want?"
"A daddy."
