Beautiful Dreamer

28. Seduce

Ari awoke to a loud silence in his apartment. He hadn't realised he'd become so accustomed to having Mun and Ned around that he felt uncomfortable listening to his thoughts.

There was no denying sleep wasn't forthcoming, and neither would tossing in bed back and forth tire him enough to slumber again. It was time to wake up, even though he'd only slept four hours.

'Mun must have left early without breakfast.'

In truth, what had caused him discomfort and made him insomniac were Mun's words the previous day. His friend was undoubtedly correct, for he had never fathomed being intimate with a woman, so to challenge him in that perspective struck him.

Ari remembered girls being brought over by his foster parents with the hope that his peculiar tendencies would be cured as if there were any tendencies to be treated in the first place. Instead, one of the girls had developed a liking towards him, and upon receiving her confession, Ari had thought of a more excellent way to turn her down, but the fact that he knew why his foster parents had brought her over drove him to rebellion. He'd been point black with the girl, whose face turned pale the moment he'd declared preference to the girl's brother instead. That remark landed him a punishment that had him isolated for weeks in hospital with a recommended treatment to turn him back to the popular choice or, as his parents called it, normal.

That had become the beginning of his plotting a way out. The rumour of his unusual orientation spread like wildfire. Soon enough, everyone began distancing themselves from him, including some of his peers who had also discreetly confessed to being gay. Seeing whatever he'd endured openly, they chose silence, begging Ari not to reveal the secret they'd shared in confidence.

Ari reflected on those memories whilst in the shower and only realised he'd stayed longer than he should when his tummy rumbled.

"Time to eat." He spoke to himself and opened his bedroom door, heading towards the kitchen.

'I wonder why Mun shut my door this time. He always leaves it open to get on my nerves... Or perhaps he didn't come to bid me farewell this time. Strange. He's been following that maddening routine like some morning ritual.' He wondered. Reaching for his phone, he checked for any messages from Ned, but there had been none. He'd expected this; after all, Ned had mentioned being heavily preoccupied in the coming weeks.

Smiling at himself, a part of him felt relieved that everything was going well in his relationship. Judging from their compatibility, he and Ned might soon be on their trip, galavanting as a couple abroad once Ned's schedule cleared up a bit.

Sizzling an omelette, Ari vowed to settle matters with Rey immediately. But, the truth is, he didn't want to meet Rey because he was furious; instead, he felt ashamed of how he had been explored to the brim by someone younger and inexperienced in his field.

"Don't turn." Whispered a voice behind him. There was no mistaking who it belonged to. Ari was startled to believe it so until two large hands trapped him on either side, slowly pressing on the kitchen counter and him in between.

"If I don't do this, you might run away."

Ari's ears flushed from the feeling of a hot breath brushing the nape of his neck. Rey was here!

But why...? When...?'Mun that prick!'

Rey smiled and leaned closer as if he could read through Ari's false demeanour. "As I see it, and feel it, standing this close has proven something that bothered me for a long time." Rey sighed, then concluded, "I believe I'm attracted to you."

'W-What...' "H-How did you get in here?"

"You might want to switch off the stove before..."

"You startled me," Ari spoke in action, cutting Rey mid-sentence.