Beautiful Dreamer

32. Scratching My Back

"Agh! My back!"

"You're not supposed to lift the heavy ones by yourself, Manager Ari. Let me help you."

"No, I'm fine! These items of luggage are my responsibility." Brushing Rey's hand away from the boxes, Ari warned him against meddling. "You've helped enough."

Rey let out a low laugh. "For someone getting flustered so easily, your warning does sound weak."

"Boy, haven't you become courageously mannerless," Ari grunted, then took in a deep breath and bent a little lower as if she were about to do a deadlift. It was a struggle with gravity, but she managed to lift one heavy box containing her belongings, and waddle walked to her room. Rey watched her on and chuckled. 'She may have slept through her hurt, but there was no doubt her patience was hanging by a thin thread.'

"I promise not to touch you," Rey said after being caught carrying another box towards Ari's room. "I'm aware of how faithful you wish to remain to partner, so please let me help."

"It must be snowing in summer for you to admit that two dominants can be lovers aloud."

Rey simply smiled and walked past Ari. "It's your private affair, and I have no say in it."

"So you do know how to keep off other people's businesses, don't you?"

Rey smirked but didn't respond. Seeing that the mood was lighter, Ari finally accepted a helping hand, not that she had any say in it with Rey's stubbornness. Besides, them being back to her home was a significant contributor to her lifted spirits; therefore, she felt no need to stay on guard around Rey. After all, what else had Rey not seen about her? From her naked body to having sex and being bashed by her family. 'Come to think of it, Mun has never met them, yet he is the only person that knows me well and the longest.'

Thoughts of waking up beside Rey that morning brought blood rising to her cheeks from embarrassment. Luckily, Rey hadn't heard her escape towards the washroom.

Earlier on that morning, Ari speculated Rey had a point to prove, for he'd been adamant about checking out after having breakfast. Whilst clearing their bill, he'd loudly claimed having shared a single room together with his grieving dominant female lover. It was almost laughable when the receptionist's jaw dropped as he openly pointed towards Ari shamelessly. Afterwards, requests to get assistance in carrying their pieces of luggage outside were met with a cold shoulder from the staff, and neither was any one of them maintaining eye contact with them.

"You know, I can never tell with you. It feels as if you are hanging in the middle." Ari spoke, a smile creeping in at the corner of her mouth. "If you continue to stick around me, you'll end up with more dominant friends." 

"I'm not sleeping with another dominant."

"I'm being serious."

"Last time I checked, Manager Mun was beta."

"So it seems." Ari sighed in surrender. 'There was no winning with this one.' "Anyway, thank you for your help today and yesterday. You may leave now to your so-called manager. Off with you."

"Are you kicking me out?" Rey seemed adamant about leaving. "At least offer me a glass of water before I go."

"Get you one outside by the kiosk."

"Then let me take a shower first. Your boxes were not exactly light, and I've equally assisted you in unpacking almost everything."

"You can have one when you reach your apartment."

"Can't I just stay until Manager Mun gets back?"

"Rey, I'm too old to be going back and forth with you. My back hurts, and your nagging gives me a migraine."