Beautiful Dreamer

60. Salt And Vinegar

"Your father texted me again. 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 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. My pride was hurt, of course, but then he further inquired about my upbringing."

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

"Constantly being bullied at the orphanage, apathy, contempt and hazing from my siblings and neighbours, and 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 his hurt. 'It's no wonder he remained calm to my insults.'

Even so, Ari had changed since their return. He was eating well, usually sleeping without tossing and turning, he was no longer on edge, and that gladdened Rey.

"Oh, he texted again!" Rey hadn't realized that Ari was already back on his 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, after all, and I also think it would be a bit too much if I got too close to them."

'A bit too much?' Rey wondered, then leaned closer to Ari for a sneak-peek at what he 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. "I hadn't realized I'd lost so much weight until that day. Perhaps I've been overworking myself lately."

"You think?"

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

"Really?" Rey seemed baffled. "What about Manager Mun."

"Have you met him?"

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

"He has his priorities twisted, alright." Ari mocked and continued to scroll through his 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."