Forbidden Fruit

Chapter 2

I tentatively sat down across from my father, brother and the other man with them. Mr. mysterious stranger sat right next to me. He was so close that our legs brushed against each other making me blush. I tried to subtly move my chair further away so that I don't make him uncomfortable but he just pulled my chair back even closer, smirking as our bodies were now squished together. He draped an arm across the  back of my chair and gave me a reassuring smile that released some of the tension that was building within me. With a deep breath, I turned my attention back to the people I once called family and the American beauty beside them. 

They all looked at me with cold eyes. Their gaze caused me to look down at my fiddling hands, unable to look them in the eye any longer. The silence was agonizing as no one said a word. They just stared at me with no emotion. I began to pick at my nails when a big hand encased them halting me. "Don't do that, il mio coniglietto, you are hurting yourself." I stared at my mysterious stranger as he brought our interlocked hands to his lips and kissed where I picked at the skin. I stared in shock as heat burned my cheeks and the tips of my ears. I was brought out of our little display by the clearing of a throat. I immediately snapped my attention back to the others, just to see my father and brother glaring at my mysterious stranger while Mr. American beauty has attempting to hid a smile behind his hand. 

"Kyren, I am very happy to see you again. I have missed you so much my son. You have grown up so much." My father stated with a small smile playing on his lips. " Baby brother, it is so good to see you again." My brother, Keon , happily said with a smile plastered on his lips. "This is Theo, my boyfriend," Keon sang, pointing to Mr. American beauty, who smiled and waved at me. " And this is Kage, who you have already met." Keon said, slightly more annoyed, while he pointed to my mystery stranger. Kage, so his name is Kage. I like it, it suits him. "My son, I am sorry for not contacting you for so long. It was never my intention to hurt or abandon you Ky. I hope that one day would can forgive both me and your brother. In the meantime, I hope that you will allow us to visit you now, talk to you, get to know you." My dad practically pleaded with me. " Please let us back into you life Ky. I want to get to know my baby brother again. I want us to be a family again. Please baby brother." Keon pleaded as well. Both of them had glossy eyes, staring at me with hopeful expressions. Theo held and squeezed Keon's hand reassuringly, bringing a smile to my brother's face. I looked down at my own hands which were still intertwined with Kage's and contemplated what they said.

 I did not trust them one bit. The people I once knew were not the people sitting infront of me. The people who left my child self, crying, screaming, begging them to stay were not here anymore. Replacing them were people who changed from cold and emotionless, to caring in the blink of an eye. Their mood changes scared me because I don't know if this caring attitude is just a facade. I don't know the strangers infront of me and I don't know if to let them back in. What if they leave again? What if this is all a facade and they mock me for thinking they wanted me back? I cannot take them leaving a second time. Not again. I began to tremble. My worries attempting to swallow me whole. But Kage would not let them. He pulled me into his strong chest, letting me hear his heartbeat. " Il mio coniglietto, I am right here. Nothing is going to happen. I know you are overwhelmed and probably have a million questions for your father and brother. You can ask them anything and I am sure they will answer. Please give them a chance il mio coniglietto. If not for them, try doing it for you to have a complete family again." Kage whispered in my ear soothingly as he stroked the back of my head. His deep voice anchoring me once again. Maybe he was right. If not for them, I could do this for myself, even if I am terrified. I may not trust them but for some reason I trust Kage. Even though I just met him, I feel like I could trust him more than my own family. I pulled out of his embrace and looked at my father.

"I will answer anything you want my son. Anything. Just please let me be apart of your life again." my father whispered in a voice than did not match him. He sounded utterly defeated. Each word filled with immense sorrow. I nodded my head at him that we could try this. His face brightened a bit at this but stilled looked a little defeated. "Can you please talk to us baby brother? It could be anything. You can even yell at us just please talk to us." Keon pleaded, his sorrow bleeding into every word. That sorrow burned into me, searing me from the inside out. I wanted to but I couldn't. I tried many times but I couldn't. Not since then. Not after them. I began to tear up, his sorrow fueling mine. Fueling my insecurities. Fueling my failure of something so simple. I looked down at the table. Shame and sadness flowing through me like ice. 

A finger under my chin gently raised it to meet Kage's concerned gaze. "What is wrong  il mio coniglietto?" He asked, thumb wiping at tears that now flowed freely down my cheeks. I opened my mouth in hopes of explaining. In hopes of making any word come out. Any sound. Just one syllable would of been enough. But silence met my ears. My mouth physically working but only silence escaping. I was so frustrated at myself. My inability. My uselessness. I began to sob as Kage pulled me onto his lap, strong arms wrapping around my back. My head buried in his neck, tears staining his shirt. "Il mio coniglietto, it's okay. There is nothing wrong with that sweetheart. It's fine that you cannot speak. There is nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with you. Calm down  il mio coniglietto. I am here." Kage whispered reassuringly, rubbing up and down my back. After a few minutes more of gentle whispers, my sobs quieted to sniffles. I twisted my head to look up at him and only found sincerity in his eyes. "Do you know sign language il mio coniglietto?" Kage asked, gaze never leaving me. I nodded my head. Kage smiled and guided me back so I was face to face with him, still sitting on his lap. He wiped my tears, smiling at me making me give him a small, shy smile in return. "Great, I know it too. Anything you want to say I will translate it for you il mio coniglietto. Anytime you want." Kage said happily. This is the first time someone accepted my muteness. The first time someone didn't beat me for it. Did not berate me for it. Did not yell at me for it. The first time someone made me feel human and not alien for my disability. It made me feel something warm inside that made my smile even more genuine.

Hey guys what did you all think of the new chapter, comment and let me know!! See you on the next chapter of Forbidden Fruit!!