You All Over Me [BxB]

Thirty-Six

"Here, drink some water," Jacob says, placing a glass of cold water on the center table before sitting beside Theodore. He rests his fingers on the back of Theodore's head, ruffling his hair.

Theodore takes a sip, his eyes swollen, the capillaries tinting the whites a deep shade of red.

"I did want to move in with you, but not like this. Sorry. I didn't have anywhere else to go."

"You don't have to apologize. I'm happy I'm the first person you run to. You know you're welcome here." He opens his arms wide in an inviting gesture. "Come."

Theodore doesn't waver and hurries over to Jacob, sinking his nose into his chest. Jacob lands a soft kiss on the top of his head.

"So? Care to tell me what happened?"

Theodore's shoulders sag, and he begins to recount, "They basically manipulated me into coming to the firm so I could get a feel of corporate and all the other litigation work. Because they want me to take over at some point. I should've known that was their plan. Anyway, I told them I didn't want to, so... here I am."

"Is corporate law really so bad, Theo?"

Theodore sighs, "I know, I know. You like it. Mom said so. But it's not for me, Jake. I want to... I want to go into a different field."

"Human rights."

"Yes, human rights."

Jacob's breathing slows down. "I'll be honest with you, Theo. I'm worried, too. Human rights law can be dangerous. When you fight for the poor, you will often find yourself pitted against the powerful. And those people can be ruthless."

"It's not fighting for them, Jake. It's fighting with them," Theodore replies. "I understand what you're saying, but this is my dream. Ever since..."

"Ever since what?"

Theodore clutches Jacob's shirt even tighter.

"You don't have to tell me."

Theodore shakes his head. "At least one person should know. And if I'm going to choose my person, it'll undoubtedly be you."

Jacob takes Theodore's hand and gently flips it over. He kisses Theodore's palm. "Okay."

"I told you I had a yaya, didn't I?"

"You did."

"She was someone I truly cared for. She raised me," he mutters. "But one day, her son was arrested. He was accused of theft. My yaya asked for help from my parents, and they did help her find a pro bono defense lawyer. But he was still sent to jail."

"Was he innocent?"

"He was. The evidence was all circumstantial. But the victim was a powerful landlord in the rural areas. He owned hectares and hectares of land. And my yaya's son was a tenant farmer. Can you imagine that? Tilling land that isn't yours... and a chunk of your harvest going to the landlord who does nothing but live an extravagant life," Theodore says through clenched teeth. "Anyway, I knew all about his case because my parents explained it to me. As a child, I was already interested in the law."

Jacob pictures Theodore in elementary school, the first time they met. He was eleven, and Theodore ten. Bubbly and well-liked, he was the first kid Jacob noticed at that party.

Until he realized his father was paying attention to him, too.

His dad smiled at Theodore so easily. Something he rarely did with Jacob after the hospital accident—the one that had led him to put down the scalpel for good. No matter what Jacob did, whether it was winning swim competitions or improving his grades, it wasn't enough.