Stranger Than Fiction

chapter 12

I had a restless nights sleep, I kept dreaming about Trump and the little girl.
I woke early the sun was just coming up, I could feel something on my chest, I lifted my head and saw that Ae was asleep on me, I didn't want to disturb him, he looked so peaceful so I laid back down and just waited.

The good thing about people when they start to wake up is their breathing changes before they are fully awake so you have a bit of a warning sign (if you didn't already know that, you're welcome) I noticed Ae's change so I just laid still, I felt his hand move on my chest, it was just a gentle movement that changed into a little tapping. He lifted his head up (I'm guessing to see what he was touching, I had my eyes closed so I could be wrong)

"Shit!" I heard him exclaim

I didn't move because he sounded shocked, if he knew I was awake he would probably be embarrassed. I waited for him to get out of the bed but he didn't, instead I felt his hand on my chest, I knew my heart was racing I just hoped he didn't feel it.

"What am I doing?" He said, then I felt him get out of the bed, I heard the bathroom door close and opened my eyes.

Ok, so I know what happens between Ae and Pete and I thought I was ready for it, but honestly I wasn't, I couldn't help my reaction to his touch. Maybe in this place I was partly Pete, that would explain it. I needed to find a way to test that theory, but I had no way of working out how I would go about it.

***

I didn't go to university for a few days, I didn't want all the questions about what had happened to me, thankfully Pete's mother was away on business so I didn't have to come up with an excuse.
Our housekeeper on the other hand saw me the minute I walked in.

"Oh my goodness, look at you" she said gently touching the bruises on my cheek.

"It's nothing, honestly I'm fine" I said

"You say that every time this happens" she said, so this has happened to Pete before?

"Why can't people just leave others alone, being gay doesn't give anyone the right to do this to another person......I still remember the first time you came home like this, you were so young and I was so worried, I'm glad you finally told your mother, it was getting harder to keep your secret" she looked so sad

"Uhhh, don't worry I really am ok" I smiled, hoping that would make her feel better. So she'd known Pete was gay for quite a while.

"Go and get cleaned up and I'll make you something to eat"

"Ok" I said and took a step to walk away but she grabbed me and gave me a hug. I wasn't expecting it so I just stood there.

"Sorry" she said as she let go, "off you go" she ruffled my hair and shooed me away.

"Oh would you be able to get me a new phone today please" I asked "I lost mine yesterday"

She looked at me "lost? ...... of course I will"

I was glad that Pete had this support at home, maybe that was how he had coped with this for so long.

***

It took a few days for the visible bruises to fade, the ones on my side and arms would take a lot longer, but they were easy to hide under my clothes.

I was quite restless being stuck at home, I wanted to get back to university. I'd been thinking about Ae a lot, the memory of his touch was so clear in my mind, it made me smile whenever I thought about it. I heard the notification go off on my phone, I looked and it was a message from Ae