Meeting Nicholas

I'll find you Nicholas

I didn't remember falling asleep but when I woke up I'm laying on the couch with a pillow on my head and covered with a blanket, I rubbed my eyes and that's when I noticed the bandage on my hands. I looked around the room half expecting that I'm alone but I was wrong I saw him sleeping on the bed crouched in a fetal position because it's cold, he gave me the blanket I stood up and gave it to him, I'm used to the cold.

The sun is just rising from the horizon I look at Nicholas again, I won the bidding at 11:00 PM last night, I checked at the clock and it's 6:00 AM now. I went near the phone and ordered breakfast, he's already awake when I put the phone down. "I ordered breakfast for us." I simply told him, he looked at me and smiled. "Thank you Fred, I will do my best to pay you. It would take time but I'll do it." I didn't say anything. There's someone knocking on the door now that was quick. I opened the door only to regret it right away. In front of me stands the Gang leaders Son 'Bison', he didn't even spare a glance at me.

He looked directly at Nicholas making it very obvious as he was looking at him up and down; Nicholas felt uncomfortable and wrapped the blanket around him. "Good morning indeed Rouge" Nicholas looked at me because of the name Bison called me. "What are you doing here this early?" I asked him coldly I didn't hide the irritation in my voice. He might be the Son but I'm the second in command. "I heard from the guys last night that you spent $500 for a guy, I didn't believe it at first so I confirmed it with the house owner. I might say based on appearance alone he's worth it." He let out a whistle. I just looked at him not giving him the reaction he wanted "Bison were about to eat breakfast, you should leave." I told him. "We have been raised together like brothers Rouge. Do you mind sharing him with me?" He looked at us with pure malice. "I won't share anything with you Bison." His expression turned dark before leaving slamming the door behind. "Are you okay Nicholas?" He nodded but he looked shaken up. The food arrived, he still ate but not with the same enthusiasm like last night. He was silent the duration of the meal. "Do you want to go outside?" I asked him. He nodded multiple times at me and after that he started to eat happily. "Fred thank you for treating my wounds." I just nodded at him.

After eating he just washed his face and brushed his teeth, we went down together. It's a relief that there's no more people in the brothel we were able to leave the house silently. I took him to a coffee shop, book store, a park and when we got hungry for lunch I brought him to a restaurant, he looked so happy munching on the food I ordered because the taste is 10 better than our food last night, In my case it doesn't matter as long as I can see him eating happily.

After lunch I brought him to a cinema and we watched a horror film together. He might look soft and small but I noticed how he's not that scared of the movie after the movie I took him to a clothes shop and told him he can get 5 pairs of clothes. He ran to me and hugged me, I know that it's because he's thankful to me however that hug makes me want to take care of him more. I carried the clothes he chooses and we are now both in the seaside looking at the sunset.

"I hope my 24 hours with you won't end." He whispered, it warmed my heart. "Me too Nicholas" I told him while looking directly into his eyes. Before we go back I buy him ice cream, he likes anything with chocolate. We went back to the brothel at exactly 7:00 PM and I treated him to dinner before going back. Nobody was talking when we entered the room, we just both stared at the clock, 4 more hours.

"In my 25 years of existence Fred, you made me truly happy today." He confessed, for the whole duration of being together we just know each other's names and likes and hobbies but aside from that nothing. "You also make me feel alive, I haven't felt that for a long time." I sincerely told him.

"Nicholas I would recommend you running away from this place as far as possible, I know that the house owner told you that they will let you go after tonight but they're lying. I know the look on his face, he knew that he could get a lot of money from you based on the reaction of the people last night. You still have 4 hours before they try capturing you again." I couldn't believe what I'm hearing right now. "I don't know anyone aside from my father who sold me." The same exact thing happened to me but it was done by my own mother. She had me while working as a prostitute and I clearly remember the disgusted look on her face every time she looked at me. At the age of 5 she sold me to a fruit vendor, the vendor treated me like a dog, only allowing me to eat rotten fruits. I was taken in by the leader of the Gang I'm with now, when I was 7 as a payment because of the money the fruit vendor owed him. He raised me like a fighting bull and gave me the name Rouge.

My reminiscing stopped when I looked at his eyes, tears formed and threatened to fall. I reached out my hand if last night he hesitated to hold me, now he reached for it right away. "I don't have anywhere to go Fred, I don't have any friends and I can't go back to my father he will just use me again as payment."

I pull out the briefcase that I was hiding under the bed it was locked, I removed my necklace and put in on him. The pendant of the necklace is the key to the briefcase. "I have saved enough you can use this money to start your life."

"Why are you doing this?" He asked me.

"Because you asked for my age and you make me experience living again. To laugh again and to appreciate existing even just for today. It's nice meeting you Nicholas." Tears streaming down on his face, he hugged me again and kissed my lips, It's the first time that somebody kissed my lips. He removed his ring and place it on my pinky finger. "My mom owns that ring Fred even though life is hard that ring will help you survive, I used to always pray at night for heavens to send me an angel and they sent you. You're my savior Fred. I will see you again Fred I know that." For the first time in years I let my tears fall, I cupped his face and kissed him again.

"I will make sure to see you, I'll find you Nicholas, in this lifetime and out next wait for me."

"I will."