Bounded by Secrets

"Underneath the Armor"

The next morning, sunlight poured through Jack's window, illuminating the room and landing squarely on the disheveled boy sprawled across his bed. His usual baggy clothes hung loosely on him, and his hair glistened with oil Rimmy had forcefully applied the night before. His soft, childlike face seemed to glow in the morning light, giving him an innocent appearance that belied his usual sharp demeanor. The faint scent of spilled milkshake wafted from his pillows, adding to the oddly endearing scene.

At his bedside, Rimmy sat, her patience running dangerously thin. A bowl of soup sat in her lap as she tried, once again, to convince Jack to eat.

"Jack, you've barely eaten in days," she said, her voice laced with exasperation. "You need to get something in your system, or you'll just end up fainting again."

Jack groaned, turning his face into the pillow and mumbling, "Not hungry."

Rimmy sighed, staring at the boy who was being more stubborn than ever. Frustrated but determined, she pulled out her phone and tapped the screen. Within seconds, Kevin's face appeared on a video call.

"Rimmy, what is it?" Kevin asked, his expression immediately sharpening as he saw her distressed look.

"It's Jack," Rimmy said, shifting the camera to show Jack lying stubbornly in bed. "He won't eat, and he's been acting like a spoiled child all morning. I can't handle this anymore."

Kevin's eyes narrowed, and his authoritative tone cut through the call. "Jack."

At the sound of his father's voice, Jack peeked out from under his blanket, his eyes narrowing at Rimmy for calling reinforcements. "Really, Rimmy? A video call?"

Kevin's voice rose slightly. "Don't give me that attitude, Jack. Rimmy's right. You've been acting like a brat. Sit up and eat whatever she's giving you-now."

"I'm not a kid," Jack muttered, glaring at the screen. "Stop treating me like one."

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "Then stop acting like one. You're making this harder than it needs to be. Do I need to come over there myself?"

Seeing Jack's reluctant expression, Rimmy seized her chance. She lifted a spoonful of soup to his lips. "Come on, Jack. Just one bite."

Under Kevin's watchful gaze, Jack finally opened his mouth and took the bite, though his sulky expression remained. Rimmy couldn't help but smirk in triumph.

"There we go," she said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Jack mumbled something inaudible, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Before he could retort, the door creaked open, and in walked Ren. He stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze sweeping over the scene-Jack with his shiny, oiled hair and a petulant pout, Rimmy holding a bowl like she was feeding a toddler, and Kevin's scolding voice coming from the phone screen.

"What," Ren began, his voice dripping with mock disbelief, "is going on here?"

Jack groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Ren, not you too."

Ren's lips twitched, barely holding back a laugh. "Oh, this is rich. Jack, our fearless leader, being spoon-fed like a baby? And your hair-what happened? Did Rimmy decide to turn you into a model for a hair oil commercial?"

Jack shot him a glare, but Ren wasn't done. He leaned against the doorframe, smirking. "Bad boy Jack refusing to eat? Crying for Rimmy last night during CPR? What's next? Should we get you a pacifier?"

Kevin, still on the video call, chuckled faintly. "Ren, don't encourage him."

"Oh, I'm not encouraging him," Ren said, still grinning. "I'm just enjoying this rare moment of Jack being... human."