You... Keep Your Distance | Renheng

Chapter II

The moment Dan Heng arrived back home, he dropped the plastic bag on the kitchen counter and made a beam line towards his room. Dan Heng ignored Stelle and Caelus staring at him as if he were some lost dog, he ignored March knocking on his bedroom door asking why he brought home ingredients completely different from the recipe she had sent him.

Dan Heng ignored it all.

He brought his hands to his eyes, pressing the palms against closed eyelids until nothing but swirling shapes and patterns of colors filled his senses. Bile builds up in the back of Dan Heng's tongue as his pants stick to his legs.

Why?

Why didn't he do anything?

Dan Heng had multiple opportunities to reach out to anyone on the train to help him. He could've turned his head, grabbed onto a businessman's coat, called out, or even screamed.

Yet, he did nothing. Absolutely nothing but to succumb to the unknown man's onslaught. He gasps, taking in shuddering breaths in an attempt to calm himself down. Too clouded by his lust, Dan Heng didn't even think about how embarrassing and downright shameless it must've been if anyone did manage to see him like that.

Disgusting.

"Yo, Dan Heng. You good in there?" Stelle's voice comes off muffled behind the door. She knocks, twisting the doorknob and pushing her body weight against it. The wooden door shifts, yet it remains closed.

"Yeah, I'm fine." That's a lie. Dan Heng is anything but fine . "I know I need to cook, give me a second I need to shower."

Stelle falls silent on her end. Whispers are exchanged between whoever might be with her.

"Yeah, you better shower, you look like you pissed yourself," Caelus laughs behind the door.

A slap echoes behind the door followed by Stelle's protests. They must be fighting, judging by the sound of them throwing insults at each other and the door shaking with added weight.

"You're fucking gross, Caelus. Dan Heng would never wet himself," Stelle argues.

"Well, would you believe him if he said he dropped something?" Caelus spat. "He peed himself."

"Just let him shower. You're being mad weird to even think of something like that."

Dan Heng pulls his hands away from his face and glances at the door of his room. The silhouette of feet underneath the crack dances as the two siblings continue arguing with each other.

When Dan Heng grabs his towel from the chair inside his room and opens the door, he's immediately greeted by the siblings staring wide-eyed at him.

Caelus narrows his eyes a second later as the black-haired man walks past them. "Dan Heng, if I upset you please let me know–"

"I'm fine. Just let me shower, please."

###

Hot trickles of water spill over Dan Heng's form as he stares at the white tiles beneath his feet. If he still lived with his mother, Dan Heng would take a warm bath. Perhaps play some music as his body is wrapped underneath a blanket of comforting heat.

He vaguely remembers the feeling of long hair sticking to his back whenever he steps out. However, that feeling is gone– Replaced by the feeling of short black clinging onto his nape.

Dan Heng grabs his towel and wraps it around his body. He nearly used the entirety of the body wash that he had bought himself with the money his brother lent him once every few months. Although Dan Heng appreciates the kind gesture from his older sibling, it feels... Odd.