THE CITY OF LOVE ❁ PHAN

quatre

"Okay, do you know any French at all?" Phil asked, taking a bite out of the peach he had resting in his palm, his eyes curiously scanning over me.
I always look absolutely wrecked in the morning, my clothes were always wrinkly and practically falling off of me, my eyes seemed emotionless and felt dry, my lips and skin felt dry as well. It was as if I had gone through a zombie apocalypse and back along with a journey through the Sahara desert. My hair was upturned, as if gravity didn't exist and the previous straight and silky appearance it usually has when I step outside the door vanishes leaving a messy and curly mop.
"Bonjour," I chuckled, sipping the milk off of my spoon before letting it dip back into the lake of cereal.
"Other than bonjour," he rolled his eyes as I spun back and fourth on the breakfast bar stool. I couldn't help it, these things were great.
"Nope," I replied casually, popping the 'p' at the end.
"We can start with numbers, I suppose," he threw away the peach core and came to sit next to me, my eyes never leaving his face as milk dripped down my chin. I quickly wiped it away.
"Okay, so theres une, duex-"
"Jesus, slow down, can we do this later please?" I groaned, my head already hurting.
"Fine, fine," he said before the conversation came to a long pause. It was awkward and tense but Phil was the one to speak up again. I almost wish he hadn't.
"Why did you leave your parents?"
"None of your business," I practically scoffed, but stopped myself.
"Did you even tell them you were leaving?" his irises only depicted worry, which surprised me since he reminded me of a parent lecturing a child.
"No," I bit my lip harshly.
"Daniel!" he exclaimed, "Do you know how worried they could be right now? How careless can you be!"
"I forgot.."
"You forgot to say goodbye to your own family before you completely left the country without a trace?"
The spoon that was previously in my grasp dropped, erupting a pitiful clank in it's place.
"I'm sorry-"
"I'm not the one you should be saying sorry to, if you'll excuse me I have work to be taken care of in my office," he said firmly before sighing, "The phone is on the side table in the living room."
He sat up and left me in the kitchen with confusion and most of all, sorrow.

--

I stared at the house phone determinedly, the smooth silver plastic almost slipping out of my hands as I dialed the familiar number out before pressing the green call button.
I knew Phil wasn't going to forgive me unless I called my mum and dad, he wanted me to do what was right and tell them where I was and why.
Even if I hate my parents, and they probably share the same feelings towards me, they would still wonder where in god's name their son had been for the past two days.
I put the speaker up to my ear and instead of sitting on my knees on the couch, I crossed my legs and rested my back against the couch comfortably. I could get used to living richly, I wonder how a man so young such as Phil could gain as much wealth as to be able to afford a place as grand as this.
"Hello?" my mothers voice chimed in my ear, surprising me a little.
"Hi, mum," I said quietly.
"Daniel! Where the hell have you been, we've been looking all over for you!" she raged, I could hear my father running in from the other room.
"Dan, where are you?" my father suddenly spoke, he must've grabbed the phone from mum.
"I flew to France, I'm fine."
"And why in god's name did you go to France without our permission?" he yelled, anger flooding his words and drowning my ears.
"Because I'm an adult, dad! I can do what I please now and I don't need your goddamn consent for it!" and with that, I dug my finger into the end call button, the line going dead.
I didn't stop myself from crying, I sat on the sofa and let tears of self-pity shed from my eyes without care. I didn't care about my parents anymore, I couldn't, they didn't accept me and they were cruel as it was. I wasn't going to live with that, I deserve better, anyone would.
No one deserves to not be accepted for who they are, it's hardly fair. Everyone's their own person and they should be glad to be who they are, not disregarded and thrown out of their own home.
I heard footsteps coming from the hallway and swiftly wiped my face off and sat up.
"I was thinking maybe we could go out for-" Phil's eyes widened when he saw my appearance, the fingers that were rolling up his sleeve froze in place.
"Your face is all red, are you alright?" the man asked, his gaze swimming with worry as he studied me, my shirt hanging off my shoulder slightly and my eyes felt sore.
"I'm alright, I called my parents," I smiled, meeting his stare determinedly.
"And? What did they say?" Phil made his way over to the kitchen where he began filling something with water.
"They don't care."
"Not even a little?" he sat on the couch next to me and handed me the cup, the cool glass chilling my fingers.
I shook my head and sipped the water, my head immediately clearing and feeling refreshed.
"That's surprising," Phil nibbled on his lip as he looked away from me, only staring at the large window behind us, "Anyway, want to go out for dinner tonight?"
I nodded enthusiastically, I've always loved French cuisine, especially the sweets. Plus, I'd be with Phil for the rest of the night, I wouldn't pass up getting to know him better.
"Tomorrow I can help you find a suitable apartment, if you'd like," the blue eyed man offered, he sat up from the couch and took the glass from my hand and set it in the sink in the kitchen.
"Yeah, I'd like that."