Bare-chested, Rey looked at his hammered thorax in the mirror. He hissed, not out of pain but anger. He knew what he was getting himself to when he confronted his subduers. To think they had been taking money from him every month, and not once did they inform him that ownership of his debt had been transferred.
'You need to work on your temperament, kiddo. Remember how your beautiful girlfriend zapped out of this world? Now scram and be appreciative of your benefactor.'
That remark had triggered him, and he zoned out from reality. With his fists flying about, he reached its target several times until a painful strike on his side startled him to confusion.
'Damn them! They made sure to hit me where no one could see. But, with this throbbing pain, I can't go to work in this state.'
"Rey!" Esy called from behind, scampered towards her brother and stopped midway. She gasped aloud, horrified by the sight in front of her. Her expression may have read panic or painful agitation; Rey couldn't tell, for his strength had failed him, followed by his vision. He'd struggled, used the remainder of his power to reach his apartment, and with the help of Ari's brother, initial aid was offered. However, as it seems none of those meds could keep him conscious for long.
A loud thud on the floor confirmed his loss of consciousness.
"Esy, you came faster than I had thought." Ari's brother appeared, his eyes drifting to the floor. "How unfortunate."
"He passed out!" Esy exclaimed frighteningly.
"Not to worry." Placing his hand under Rey's arms, Ari's brother huffed under Rey's heavy load. He lifted him, then stopped midway. "Esy, would you be so kind as to help me move him to a comfortable place?"
Esy nodded, and the two, with much effort taxed, dragged Rey towards his bed. Afterwards, Esy sat beside where her brother lay; her eyes fixated on the bruises that spread close to his abdomen.
"I had wanted him to have a painkiller first before passing out..."
"Why did he have to get involved again?" Esy cut in, plagued by anxiety. "He never listens to me."
"Esy..." Ari's brother extended an arm towards Rey's sister, allowing her to weep on his shoulders. "I should never have told him anything from the beginning. This is all my fault."
"I think we should let him rest." Ari's brother suggested, and they proceeded to the living room, locking the door behind them. "You must have come straight from work."
"Yes." Esy's response was void of hope.
Ari's brother studied her for a while as she kept fidgeting on the sofa and offered her a glass of water, hoping to calm her nerves. In truth, Ari's brother had known that that day, Rey would return in such a state. He had warned Rey of it, but he wouldn't listen.
'Let it go. Losing your temper only demerits you and not those who wronged you.'
'You do not know how much I have lost.'
'I know of your debt, Mr Rey. The few nights you had hosted me, I stumbled on the receipts from a loan shark while looking for a phone charger. Your sister had sent me to your room for it. I had no intention of prying, of course, but the eyes can waver to unexpected sights, especially ones containing numerous amount of zeros.'
'Esy is careless. I warned her not to allow you in my room.'
'She was rushing to work, and my cellphone was out. As you recall, I was doing my best to make amends with my sister, Ari.'
YOU ARE READING
Beautiful Dreamer
RandomBeing diagnosed a dominant at birth brought praises to men but shunned women, Ari being one of them. She were considered defective, a threat to the male ego. And the fact that her existence was very rare crippled her in trepidation, especially when...
