Beautiful Dreamer

30. Do Not Come Back

"Why did you just stand by and let them insult you?"

Ari sighed, his mood sunken with no energy left to argue with Rey. Instead, he pointed at the remainder of his belongings and asked Rey to help him put them inside the car boot.

"No." Rey crossed his hands on his chest in defiance.

"Listen, I want to get out of this place as fast as I can. We are already late as it is, and the last train will depart by 10:00 pm, so put a sock in it and help me lift my belongings or get inside the taxi and call the driver out to help me in your stead."

"I refuse to let this slide Manager Ari, that was embarrassing and depressing to watch!"

Ari stared at Rey blankly. As it seems, his family put Rey in this livid state, and as much as he wanted a reaction out of Rey, this hadn't been the one. His earlier intention was to show Rey the similarity he'd shared with his family, prejudicing against his sexual preference; however, things had gone overboard. His conclusion, he'd been set up.

"You know what I'm saying is true." Rey finally spoke, unable to endure Ari's nonchalance.

"I'm used to being insulted by them therefore, don't read too much into my actions."

"You invited me over to see you being ridiculed and bashed?"

"Which apparently was a waste of both our time," Ari swore under his breath. "You were equally insulted for being around me and for that, I apologize on behalf of my family."

"What they said was true."

'Wait...' "What?"

"That girl and his brother are equally not saints as they appear to be. Yes, they jumped to your rescue. Nevertheless, they seemed like a couple of rich snobs wishing to make a reputation for having gay friends."

"I know."

"Then why didn't you point it out?"

"Because not every fight deserves your time and strength, Rey! There's a reward in silent wisdom! Besides, fighting is exhausting..." Ari cut himself off, his body stiffening at seeing his parents' vehicle driving in.

"Who are they?"

"My son! You came!" A rather elderly-looking lady rushed to embrace Ari. "I had thought you weren't going to come."

"Good evening, Mother... Father."

"Who is this young man next to you?" Ari's father asked, unamused.

"My work colleague."

"Well, that's a relief. I was led to believe by the butler he may be one of the lost men." Ari's father replied, then gestured for them to get inside the house. "I'm curious to know why you haven't aged in the last twelve years."

"Actually, I was just about to leave."

"Nonsense, child!" Ari's mother exclaimed dismissively. "Inviting you to come for your belongings was a trick to get you here otherwise you'd never come."

"Tsk." Ari's father grouched. "Do you know your mother has been unwell for years?"

"I-I wasn't aware..."

"Still stammering like a fool whenever nervous." Ari's mother teased. Turning to Rey, she insisted that he convince Ari to stay behind for dinner but was stunned by his blatant refusal.

"Ack! Please forgive him...!" Ari bowed immediately, trying to save the situation, and judging from the shocked expression his parents wore, things were bound to go south if he didn't take charge. "M-My coworker and I are a little fatigued from our trip, having not slept much before." Then, looking at Rey suggestively, Ari asked, "Isn't that right?"

"No. We can't stay because we were insulted by your own..."

"Rey, please... Stop. This is not the day nor the place." Ari whispered, pulling him down to apologize, but Rey didn't budge.

Ari's parents studied the appearance of their timid son, then back to a confident Rey, his face tout, his eyes unwavering. Finally, after much forceful pestering, Rey submitted.

"Mother, father...I-I apologize for his forwardness. He meant no disrespect but replied without thinking."

A prolonged uncomfortable silence followed, Rey's father being the first to end it. "Did you give him the gay?"

"W-What...?" Ari asked, feeling a familiar discomfort at the pit of his stomach. He stood upright, and so did Rey.

"Did you sleep with him just as you did the neighbour's son?"

When Ari didn't respond, his father reminded him of how much it had cost to pay for damages when the neighbours had sued them because of him, one after another. "You always ruined the life of anyone around you despite our tireless efforts to make you rectify your peculiar abnormality."

"Your brother was frantic, informing us of his derelict engagement." Ari's mother jumped in a bid to prevent her husband's anger from escalating further. "Do you have anything to say about that, son?"

"It was my fault," Ari spoke, his voice weak, and his confidence shattered. "I sincerely apologize..."

"How shameless." Ari's father commented, averting his eyes to Rey and then the taxi driver, who pretended not to have witnessed the scene. "Making us have this conversation just for any passerby to eavesdrop is typical for those of your calibre."

"Leave him alone."

"Rey, stop."

"Manager Ari is a good person. None of you deserves the restrain he is forcing himself to endure..."

"Rey, please..."

"So what if he is gay? You don't have to treat him any less of a human being. As his family could any of you at least pretend to care for his wellbeing?"

"Did you bring him here to insult us on your behalf?" Ari's mother asked. "Have you not shamed us enough?"

"I'm s-sorry...s-so sorry.." Ari stuttered, regretting having brought Rey over. This is not how he'd hoped things would turn. He'd assumed it would be easy, picking up his pieces of luggage then leaving, with Rey too stunned and filled with regret by the similarity in discriminatory treatment of him to that of his family; a little revenge or closure. Afterwards, they'd return to the city, each of them going their separate ways, then when Mun would come from work, they'd laugh about it and forget it after a couple of days, weeks... Maybe months.

But that wasn't the case. Instead, he should have foreseen Rey for who he had always been, outspoken, stubborn and opinionated. Or perhaps he didn't know how to read a situation and keep his mouth shut. "I'm sorry, m-mother...I'm s-sorry, Father."

"I have nothing to be sorry for." Rey remained unbowed. "You two sure make being an orphan a luxury."

The sound of a smack filled the air as Ari's mother landed her palm on Rey's cheek. Suddenly, the atmosphere changed from grim to utter shock from Ari and the spectating taxi driver. However, Rey appeared not to care. With his head tilted to one side, he turned to look back at Rey's parents as if he felt no pain at all.

"Who is this bloody fool, Ari?" Ari's mother demanded, her body shaking from utter rage.

"I'm his boyfriend," Rey replied instead, then shamelessly grabbed Ari for a kiss, his eyes wide opened and fixated on his target, who had their jaws dropped, utterly bereft of speech.

"Flagrant abomination!" Ari's father exclaimed, pulling the two apart. "How dare you parade your pervetism in front of my house?"

The question was left unanswered by a too-stunned Ari, dazed from shock and confusion, while the other appeared brazen and barefaced, standing his ground as he pulled a half-lifeless Ari closer.

"It seems that our investment failed, my dear husband." Ari's mother appeared to have relinquished her initial motive for calling Ari over. "Despite those expensive treatments and therapy sessions, our son incessantly remains a disgrace to us."

"You should have thrown his belongings as I asked you to." Ari's father replied, then looked at Ari, ignoring his stunned state. "This time, when you leave, do not come back."