Debauve

18: Escape

[AN: Previous chapter: Max had blackmailed Mew. Gulf had caught Mew cheating? Please read the AN at the end of this chapter.]

18: Escape

Mew heard his door open and thought Gulf had arrived.

But it wasn't him.

It was like seeing a ghost.

The visitor smiled at him longingly and didn't waste any time. He ran to Mew and hugged him tight.

"I miss you." He said. "I miss you Mew."

"How the heck did you get in, Kaonah?"

As far as he knew, disposed VVIP hosts cannot step foot inside ever again. That is their law. What had he done in Clove that all kinds of taboo keep following him these days?

He tried to push him away. It felt very familiar all of a sudden. He had forgotten how Kaonah smelled of lemon flowers and felt like a fragile thing on his arms.

Kaonah is not letting go. He had gone through Clove's flaming pits the day that he left Mew. It was torture, but at that time, he was feeling suffocated.

"Kao!" Mew warned, successfully pushing him away. He felt like air. Mew noticed he had become so thin. The loose shirt he was wearing revealed a bit of his neck and shoulders which has hints of bruises and wounds.

He has a vague idea of why he has those.

"That... Did they -?"

Kao covered his neck, at the same time a tear fell down.

"What did they do to you?" Mew asked.

"You don't have to know." Kaonah tried to say bravely, but his voice shook as he reminisced. "You're all I need Mew. I'll never let go again."

"No. You chose to leave. I have nothing to do with you anymore." Mew replied firmly.

Kaonah lifted his shirt revealing more bruises. "They did this. And this." He rolled up his sleeve, trying to win some sympathy from his ex despite his earlier statement. Kaonah knows that Mew doesn't want anybody hurt.

And it seemed to work. He saw how he hesitated so he decided to push through.

"I know I was wrong, Mew. I shouldn't have left you. I only needed space." Legit tears fell. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

Unconsciously, Mew wiped it with his thumb. He hates tears. He doesn't like seeing people he cares for become weak. At one point in his life, he loved Kaonah. The guy had been sweet and supportive of him. He was smitten when he first saw him back in the VIP that he persuaded him to be a VVIP.

"Stop crying." He pitied how Kaonah looks right now. The fate of hosts who leave Clove VVIP is terrible and is solely upon the decision of the owner. Those who were dumped have better paths.

"I'm sorry, Mew. Please, forgive me. I didn't stop loving you. I always think of you." Kaonah cupped his cheeks, amazed at the feeling of warmth on his palms. "You're the only one."