Heart's Remedy

13: Cakes

"Trust me"

Zee's words rung on Nunew's head as he stares at the man's dark eyes, his hand tightly held by him. 

Nunew gulped even though his mouth felt so dry. 

"I... I-"

Nunew looked away from Zee's gaze.

"You dont have to tell me the whole story."

Zee's soft voice tells Nunew. His thumb still caressing the younger one's skin.

"I just want to know why you bolted out. Why you panicked. I want to know what causes it so I can avoid them. I...."

Zee's hand tightened even more.

"I dont want you to feel scared, to feel uncomfortable specially around me and Lizzie."

Zee bit his lip.

"I wanted to help you. But I dont know how. I dont know what to do Nunew."

Nunew looked up as he hears the slight change in Zee's voice. It sounded desperate, almost pleading. And when he met his gaze, Nunew's heart ached. Not because of him thinking about of his horrible past, but because a man such as Zee has been patiently knocking at the walls he worked so hard to build.

"I want you to trust me. I want you to teach me how to help you"

Zee sighed.

Zee then saw how conflicted Nunew is. He then felt guilty.

Maybe Im doing this wrong. Maybe Im pushing him too much. Maybe Im putting more burden on him

Zee says in his head.

He sighed once more.

"Nunew Im sorry. I shouldnt have asked. Im really sorry for pushing this"

Zee was about to let go of Nunew's hand when he felt him held on to his tight, as if he's afraid that Zee would go.

"I... Im"

Nunew pulled Zee's hand towards him. 

Zee waited for Nunew to continue. He put his other hand on top of the table and opened his palm for Nunew to take.

“You don’t have to tell me. Im sorry for putting you on the spot. I should have known better Nunew. My worries got the best of me, forgive me”

Zee sadly said as he rubs his thumb at the back of Nunew’s hand.

Nunew then slowly reached for Zee’s other hand that’s on the table. He shakily held it and laced their fingers together.

“I…. I want to tell you Hia”

Nunew’s soft voice said almost like a whisper. His eyes still refusing to meet Zee's so he stared at their hands instead. Nunew let out a big breath as he tries to think about how to say things.

“Have I done something that triggered you?”

Zee asked and Nunew shook his head.

"Im..."

Nunew tried to start again.

"I dont like plums"

Nunew finally said.

“Plums”

Zee repeated and Nunew let out a shaky breath.

“He….. He used to call me plum cheeks. He would say that its because my cheeks are as round as a plum, but that’s on a good day”

Nunew slowly revealed

“And on a bad day?”

Zee asked.