Rafiq's POV
The sound of birds chirping from a distance awakened me from my deep slumber.
Rays of sunlight peek through the flipped curtains as the brisk wind softly brushed my hair.
I woke on a soft mattress and silky sheets, along with a thick fluffy blanket. I pressed my cheeks deeper onto the soft material that caressed my skin as I closed my eye to cherish the sensation.
Then I remembered what happened last night.
My eyes flung open upon the memories that hit me.
The clock revealed the time, 11:30 PM.
I tried to sit up but as soon as I moved an inch, a tremendous ache surged all over my body. I clenched my jaw tightly whilst the pain resides slowly.
I saw a set of clothes lying at the end of the bed, folded neatly. I just ignored it and wiped the sleep off my eyes first.
My gaze caught a tray of cold breakfast on the night table beside the bed. A plate of blueberries waffles, a glass of orange juice, and a note.
I took the note and unfolded it.
'Eat, get a lot of sleep. I'll come home at 1 in the afternoon. DO NOT GET OUT OF THE ROOM!'
P.S. you drool when you sleep
My gaze stared at the walls absentmindedly. Too preoccupied to think of anything.
Considering his cold attitude, I thought he would ask me to pack up and leave the house as soon as I can.
My stomach grumbled as I glanced back at the waffles.
To distract myself from hunger, I took my half-cracked phone to see if there are any notifications from anyone.
'09 sends you a message.'
Not again.
A heavy sigh escaped from my lips.
I tried to throw my gaze to the window but they darted back to the tray. Instinctively, my hands reached for the tray and devoured its content in seconds since I was starving.
Then, a knock came interrupting from the door.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you awake?" A female voice asked.
Abruptly, my body tensed up and my eyes stared at the door, fearing that it might swing open. I stayed still for quite a while without even making a sound, hoping that she would go away eventually.
My eyes widened and I could literally feel the beads of sweat forming on my forehead.
Despite the tremendous pain throbbing all over me, I quietly made my way to the bathroom since I figured that it will be safer there, just in case that lady decided to open the door.
I pulled out my phone and called Zac.
"Oh, you're awake!" His voice was laced with a hint of surprise.
"Zac, there's a lady outside the door and I don't know what to do!" I half-whisper half-yelled through the phone.
"Did you open the door?"
"No! Do I supposed to?"
"I told Ms. Clarkson about you. She's the head housemaid, you can ask her if you need anything."
"Should I get out of the room?"
"No! The other maids have shockingly a big mouth."
"Then, how am I suppose to 'ask her' if I can't get out of the room?"
"Open the door. She usually stays there for a while and since she knew about you, she's probably still standing in front of the door."
How could Zac let an old woman waiting there outside of the room?
I tottered and opened the door to reveal an old woman, in her fifties, waiting patiently in front of the door.
My eyes caught upon the steel cart by her side.
"Zac ordered me to serve brunch." She politely bowed with her hands on her abdomen.
I widened the door for her so that the cart would fit through and she pushed it into the room.
A heavenly smell wafted across the room, making me salivating even though I just recently ate. I waited patiently without making a sound while she arranged the platters and cutleries on the table.
She also took out the dishes from earlier and made her way out along with the cart.
Once outside, she politely bowed.
"Sorry, but do you happen to have a towel? I can't find any." I rubbed the back of my neck with a sheepish smile.
"I'll bring it to you shortly." She smiled sweetly before scurried away.
I waited in front of the door and she came back with a towel in her hands a few minutes after.
"Thanks," I muttered. She only bowed down and left without saying a word.
Upon hearing the door clicked, I limped to the bathroom and jumped in surprise once I look into the mirror.
I can't even tell it's me or it's a stranger standing right in front of the mirror. I only stared at the mirror for a solid ten minutes.
I looked awful like a dead man went back alive, cuts and bruises on my face along with my disheveled hair and huge bags underneath my eyes.
A drained sigh escaped from my lips before I went for a shower.
Once the warm water flowed across my skin, a sense of relief gushed through me; soothing my aching muscle.
I got dressed in the outfits that Zac had given me.
The scent made me feel so relax like I'm in a tranquil forest. I assumed that these clothes belong to Zac as I can smell his scent on them. The scent itself was cold and fresh, just like his personality.
I think it's the smell of minty pine but I'm not sure. I like its scent; it somehow made me felt so calm and relaxed.
********
What seconds felt like forever, I tried to watch some movies on the television but to no avail, I got bored pretty quickly.
My gaze averted to the huge bookshelf by his bed. It was filled with books from top to bottom.
Eager to know their content, I briefly browsed through several of them.
Most of them were just romance novels and encyclopedias but I took my time once I found an album.
A picture album.
It was dusty and the paperback was slightly yellow tinted.
At first, it was just a normal album. Zac's baby photo, his fourth birthday, and some pictures with him drawing a bow.
Weirdly enough, Zac's face seems very familiar to me.
Maybe he's the one that I've been looking for all these years...?
I didn't realize I was smiling until I felt my cheeks were sore.
I saw a girl and a boy, hugging Zac tightly. The girl looks somewhat similar to Zac so I assumed she was his sister.
But the same cannot be told for the boy. He looks so much different than Zac or the girl.
Intriguingly, Zac was staring at him with a smile on his face.
My finger traced lightly on the picture, wondering who that might be?
Someone who can bring a wide smile to Zac's face.
Mom once told me that pictures can tell a thousand stories where words cannot describe. A tale that one cannot simply express and will forever be unique to them.
The rough idea could be the same but the memories and experience will definitely be different from each other.
But my smile turns into a questioning scowl afterward.
I flipped the page to see a bouquet of flowers; it varies like a brightly colored rainbow.
Rings; like a couple-rings. Each one compliments the other.
And lastly, a polaroid of a sunset near the beach. The bright crimson color hiding behind the warmly lit ocean.
And after that date, no more pictures found in the album.
Some of the last pictures were torn apart and some of them have dull spots on them.
I furrowed my brows together as I saw the date.
It was around two years ago.
The rest of the album was a complete blank. Empty spots that left abandoned.
If the pictures really told thousands of stories, why I get the feeling that these stories are all sad ones?
********
I stretched my back as my body still aching because of all the beatings from the thugs last night.
I slowly set my pace out of the room after a while. Even with all of the pains gripping tightly all over my aching body, I got out of the room because I was going to put the dishes in the kitchen.
Hesitantly, I swung open the door.
I took a glance at the hallway, it was jaw-dropping to mention.
I didn't realize all of these last night as I was too preoccupied and too tired to even look around.
The interior screams expensive and all the lavish furniture were look well maintained and don't appear old and dusty. Everything is just so clean, organized.
The house was designed with a sleek and modern look, making them looked sophisticated and exquisite.
There were many windows, allowing natural light to lit every corner of the house. With a very high ceiling, it made the house look more spacious and lively.
With all my effort, I limped downstairs with the plates and utensils balanced on my other hand.
I walked around the house until my eyes caught something that was very intriguing. It was a picture, hanging on the wall in a mahogany fancy frame.
It was that boy again!
The picture shows a boy with blonde hair hugging Zac, they look about the same age and height.
Wonder who it might be?
Zac looks...happy.
Like a genuinely happy, unlike when I first saw him in the school.
Unexpectedly, I found the kitchen all on my own. Though, the house seems so empty since I found no one along my way here.
I placed the plates in the sink and glanced around.
The shine of the reflecting pool water got into my eyes and I slowly make my way out through the sliding door. As I was standing on the patio, I took all of the beauty of his backyard.
With the green lushes carpet covering the ground, the white and pink flowers decorating the perimeter of the wall. I could see there are some chairs and a table near the pool and there's a house quite a distance away.
Maybe that's the pool house.
I wandered around the vast house and saw Ms. Clarkson when I was in the library. She was dusting off the shelves that were filled with books and statues.
She smiled as soon as she noticed my presence.
"Is there anything you need?" She asked while approaching me.
"N-no! Thank you."
"You suppose to be in your room. Zac told me to keep you in there." She insisted with a smile.
I was about to reply but her eyes averted to my side and my eyes followed her trail.
"I told you to stay in the room!" A voice approach from the inside of the house. I turned around to see Zac glaring at me in disbelief.
"Z-zac, wait. I can explain it." My voice began to stutter.
He clenched his jaw tightly along with his eyes fuming with anger. I could literally hear my heart beating rapidly and the beads of sweat forming on my skin.
He took a deep breath with his eyes closed.
"Ms. Clarkson, can you tell all the other maids to take a break in their quarters?"
She only nodded in reply and swiftly disappeared.
Zac gestured with his head and we sat face-to-face on the soft couch in the library.
I took this moment to pleasure my eyes with his amazing features. His silver-blue eyes behind his cute glasses, straight jawline and smooth glistened skin.
His two fingers touched my chin and shift my face left to right while he carefully analyzing my face.
If my loneliness is a garden, then he can be the flowers blooming inside me.
If my happiness is the snow, then he can be the winds caressing beside me.
If my life is the ocean, then he can be waves that forever with me.
As my hands were tied behind my past, he came into my life bringing a new future in his hands.
How can someone be this beautiful?
I was so immersed in his eyes.
I saw a glimpse of a thunderstorm in them but I found no recognition of anything moving, it was like the clouds were unhinged but decided no to shift.
Suddenly, he looked me dead in the eye.
"You might wanna breathe." Only then, I realized that I was holding my breath. Panting as he told me so, begging for oxygen. I was so drifted off as he caressed my cuts and bruises.
"So, what happened last night?" He narrowed his eyes while he leaned on the couch.
I could feel my body tensing up.
Gosh, for a small guy he is intimidating.
I looked down at my feet, avoiding any eye contact with him.
I don't know what to reply.
Do I need to lie?
What will his reaction be if I told him the truth?
"I got mugged."I simply answered. I bit my cheeks as guilt engulfed me.
"Did you lost anything?" His voice sounded stern yet soft and gentle.
"A few bucks but that's it." He eyed me.
He seems unconvinced but decided not to pry further.
"Anyway, I've set up an appointment for you at a medical center. You need a medical checkup just to see if there's anything broken."
The reply was almost instantaneous. "No! Absolutely not."
He raised a hand. "Relax, it's a private facility. Plus, I knew the doctor."
"I'm not going." I insisted.
He clenched his jaw tightly as he glared at me.
Frankly enough, I didn't found this view intimidating but rather pleasurable. I found him quite attractive when he's angry.
"Why not?!" He raised his voice.
"I just can't!"
"Fine! As if I care!" He retorted.
He was about to get up and leave me but I stopped him midway by calling out his name.
He instantaneously froze.
"I'm sorry." I gently took his hand. I tried to keep my voice soft and soothing.
He kept glaring at me but after some time, his expression softened a little.
"Anyway, how did you get mugged?"
"I don't know. They just came charging at me all of a sudden."
"And you just gave in?" His tone laced with suspicion.
"They're armed and I was outnumbered if you haven't noticed," I argued with a slight hint of sarcasm.
"Why are you there in the first place?"
"I was working overtime since I needed the money."
"For what?"
"Sorry?" I asked for clarification.
"Why did you need the money? Our school was funded and as I remember, athletes got scholarships."
"It's not enough."
He silently nodded.
"Not enough?" He snorted. The way he expressed it as if he's mocking someone but it's not me.
"Yeah, sort of." I lowered my head down. I guess he noticed so he decided not to pry it further.
Did I lie?
No, it's really wasn't enough and I really needed the money.
Did I tell the truth?
Not really...
"Come on, follow me," he stood up, holding my arms as he did so.
We strolled back to his room while he's supporting me with one of my arms draped around his shoulder.
It's adorable to watch as he was much smaller than me in comparison.
My eyes gaze a little deeper on him. His silver eyes, with a dark silver outer ring and some oceanic blue lines in his eyes. High cheekbone and a strong jawline, smooth skin as well as his soft thin lips.
I chuckled for no apparent reason.
All these years, I've been looking for that one person. A strange soul but with a very kind heart that found me, in the middle of the night. A time when I was at my most fragile spot.
Maybe I found him.
********
"Your room looks nice," I mentioned after being silent for a while.
We decided to do the assigned project together on the balcony of his room.
"Finish your essay and then we can talk about my room." He sternly said without taking his eyes off his laptop.
Sometimes, here and there, I caught him staring at me. When our eyes met, he quickly averted his gaze back while smiling and blushing.
The wind blew his hair and still, it looks perfect. It's like the world doesn't want him to look bad.
Somehow, at the back of my mind, I took a liking to him.
Maybe it was his smile or maybe it was his eyes...
"I was wondering..." He trailed off as he pushes his glasses to his nose bridge.
He closed his laptop and averted his eyes to me while lifting a questioning eyebrow.
"You can choose not to answer this question..." He stopped and I assumed that was my cue to reply.
I only hummed softly.
"What happened to your family?" He continued.
The twitching feeling in my mind came strangling me. It felt hot and dark.
Is it safe to tell him?
Will he be safe if I told him?
I closed my eyes.
"Sorry, I can't tell you" I shook my head profusely.
He looked down to the floor as he nodded in understanding.
"Can I ask why?" He pressed.
I took a deep breath.
"Because you're too important to me," I whispered.
When I opened my eyes, there was this glint of sky blue in his. A color I have never seen in anyone.
He leaned in closer, narrowing our distance. He stared at me, longingly and contently. I got lost in those spiraling thunderstorm while he was trapping my mind in his lights.
At that moment, the clock seems to freeze and the world began to hold its breath.
The only one that I saw was him and that was the only thing that matters. He kept staring into my eyes, as I drifted further into his.
Maybe in my eyes, there's only a void of sorrow and a whisper of disdain.
Maybe he thought all of that can be changed.
Since I met him, he tried to raise me from drowning in my own breath.
He tried to reveal me.
But...
He's the light that shines upon me.
And everywhere there's light, there would be shadows.
Drowning me in my own breaths.
"Someone I knew, once said exactly that." He lowered his voice. He got me captivated as I gawked in awe of the angelic face.
I blinked a couple of times in confusion. I gulped the dryness in my throat.
At that moment, that second, my heart beats quicker, going against its nature. My hands felt clammy, my forehead was sweating and my throat felt dry.
He took my hand in his, wrapping me in a warmth that I never felt before.
"Why do get the feeling that's also the same for me?" His voice came almost like a whisper.
He leaned even more closer, to the point that his breath brushed my cheeks. My eyes darted to his lips.
Imagine being able to kiss those lips...
Instinctively, I craned my neck to get closer.
He closed his eyes and I followed suit.
But before anything could happen, there was a knock on the door causing us to simultaneously jumped in opposite directions.
I cleared my throat and leaned back on the railing.
He got up and went for the door.
I heard some muffled conversation and he bowed down slightly with a surprised expression on his face.
He waved in my direction, but I still can't see the person he's talking with since the door blocked my vision.
At last, he widened the door to reveal a man that I never expect to see.
His eyes widened once he saw me. His brows furrowed in confusion but he kept his shocked expression brief as Zac greeted him respectfully.
They walked right up at me and I instinctively stood up.
Every step he took, echoed loudly in my ears. Ringing sharply, deepened the swelling feeling in my chest.
Despite his bewilderment, he still smiled at me.
"Ry, this is my dad." He waved his hands between us.
His words seem crushing down onto my whole world.
The man stared at me for a while. His eyes also showed perplexion and confusion.
Finally, he calmly holds out his hand.
"Christian Starr." He introduced himself with a masculine voice.
Why him?!