Beautiful Dreamer

60. Salt And Vinegar

"Your father sent a message. It looks like some copy-and-paste message from a motivational site."

"He is still texting you?"

"It has been going on for a while now." Ari sighed. "Though one-sided."

"If you tell me what you two discussed, I can help you eliminate him."

"Why are you still adamant about wanting to know?"

"Why are you adamant on hiding what you two discussed."

Ari placed his phone on the couch and looked at Rey, seeming inflamed. "He wanted to know when he'll be meeting my foster parents."

"Why I'm not surprised," Rey asked rhetorically.

"I had to tell him I wasn't on good terms with them, and he could decipher why. He then further inquired about my upbringing."

"You didn't tell him everything did you?" Rey asked, fearing the knowledge of her false accusation coming to light, 'But then, she is a nimble-witted individual.'

"Constantly being bullied at the orphanage, apathy, contempt and hazing from my siblings and neighbours, not forgetting the pointless and unnecessary pity from those spectating my life and not lifting a finger to help out. I kept it in summary, only giving out information that would dissuade him from meeting my foster family. Your dad sure knows how to make someone talk though. I was suspicious of his inquisitiveness at first, but he seems to be intrigued by swaying a guarded and always skeptical me into being meek and trustworthy."

Ari's response was so casual that Rey was beginning to feel concerned. It worried him that Ari had grown accustomed and dull to mistreatment. But that didn't waiver off her hurt. 'It's no wonder she remained calm to my insults.'

Even so, Ari had changed since their return. She was eating well and no longer on edge around him, and that gladdened Rey.

"Oh, he texted again!" Rey hadn't realized that Ari was already back on her phone.

"You don't even reply to their messages, so why bother reading?"

"I do not want to give them false hope, or rather myself. They are your family so would be a bit too much if I got too close to them."

'A bit too much?' Rey wondered, then leaned closer to her for a sneak-peek at what she was reading so intently. "They are asking if you ate?" Rey asked, pleasantly surprised. "I see why you consider it a bit too much."

"Your father was concerned about my malnourished physique. His words, not mine." Ari giggled. "Perhaps I've been overworking myself."

"You think?"

"Ow shut it!" Ari smiled and side-glanced Rey. "This is the first time someone parental is interested in my welfare so let me bask in the sun."

"Really?" Rey seemed baffled. "Doesn't Manager Mun not care fro your wellbeing?"

"Have you met him?"

Rey cleared his throat, perceiving the sarcasm in Ari's words. "You're right. He is a peculiar kind of human."

"He has his priorities twisted, alright." Ari mocked and continued to scroll through her phone, which seemed to vex Rey.

"If you like talking to my parents so much, respond to their messages. They like you from my point of view and not once have they concern themselves with my welfare since we left."

"Oh please, stop sulking." Ari hesitated briefly. "They will become tired eventually, and the texting will stop."

"Ari..." Rey grabbed the cell phone from her and placed it away from her reach. "My parents are not your parents. You can trust that they genuinely care for you."