Beautiful Dreamer

29. Why Are You Here?

Ari had been awake the entire ride; however, Rey slumbered as soon as they boarded the train. Frequently, his head would fall back from dozing off, prompting Ari to offer his shoulder for him to rest his head. Thinking back, Ari remembered Rey appearing exhausted earlier.

'If memory serves me right, Mun did a background check on Rey, claiming he shouldered three jobs. Perhaps that explained why he'd often work overtime, the same job that probably paid him more. It's a conflict of interest but no longer concerns me.'

Reaching for his phone, he still anticipated a text message from Ned and a confirmation from the people he was to meet, but there was still none. Looking back at a wholly passed-out Rey, he smiled, unable to contain his excitement at how the reception would be. Still, after almost twelve years of not meeting them, he'd hoped their hearts had softened a little, their spite for him less acidic.

'I guess I was going to be a coward to the very end, unable to take this trip alone. Mun is the best company, but he is a trickster. He'd have made this trip more enjoyable. Ned, on the other hand, is unfit for this task. Apart from standing out, I might tarnish his reputation. Good thing I have this guy who constantly reminds me of my reality, lest I slack off and become complaisant.'

Ari sighed, his head falling back, then nudged Rey to wake up. An automated announcement played for them to leave the train upon reaching their final stop. To his relief, Rey followed him obediently.

The drive to his foster parents' home took about fifteen minutes, and Ari contemplated turning back for a moment, but his pride to put an end to living in shame and fear pushed him out of the car.

"Where is this place?"

"My parents'."

"You brought me to your...?"

"Don't get any weird ideas. I need a helping hand transferring my belongings. That is all."

"What do they do?" Rey asked, his eyes roaming about the affluent neighbourhood. 'You must be raised with a silver spoon."

'Yea, right. They only afforded to adopt me, that's all.' Ari thought to himself and reached for the doorknob, but before he could touch it, it flew wide open, and a rather frail-looking man appeared. He didn't say a word but scanned Ari and Rey from head to toe, then moved aside, gesturing for them to come in. Ari greeted him with a brief bow, and Rey followed suit respectfully.

"Is anyone else home? The house does seem empty..."

"Your luggage items are packed in the guest room." The man cut in abruptly, and Rey noticed a rather cold shoulder coming off of him; however, as it seemed, Ari was utterly blind to it or was playing blind. "Your parents said there is no need for you to meet up with them, for they will be running late."

"What about my brothers?"

"They are at the back on a friendly match with the neighbours." The man hesitated before adding. "You are not permitted to meet with them, for they are unfamiliar with the gays."

'The what?' Rey quickly shot Ari a surprised look but was even more baffled to observe him continue conversing with the old gentleman. Something didn't feel right.

"Okay then," Ari said and advised Rey to take a seat as he proceeded in an unknown direction, leaving him with the old man staring daggers at him.

"I'd be dammed. Did he dare to bring one of his kind to his parent's house?"

"Pardon?"

"You are one of the gays, aren't you? A fine young man such as yourself must have caught it from him, and judging by your features; you seem much younger than that wretched boy. Ari has no shame at all."