What Xavier did was stuck on the pale-skinned boy's head the entire day. Rei was barely able to focus on what his teachers were talking about, he felt like a zombie the entire day as he walked around to go to his next room, and even on his way to work the boy barely had the energy to enthusiastically greet his co-workers and the customers.
"Hey, you okay?" He heard his boss Vincent ask. For Rei, he couldn't find a boss as good as Vincent. Not only does the man regularly check up on both his employees' work, but he also checks up on their well-being. Despite his store being smaller than the other stores in the area, people seem to like visiting the man's store much more often due to the man's kind nature and overall good hospitality.
Rei scratched his neck, embarrassed as he was caught once again with his head up in the clouds. "Yeah, sorry,"
The older man looked at him with concern across his features. Not only is Vincent a good friend to Rei, but he's also somehow become a father figure to the younger boy as well. "You sure, kid? You can take a breather in the back. I'll tell Joanne to take over for a little while."
Rei remembered how he met Joanne a while back when he was recently hired. Vincent introduced her as his niece and that she's a year older than Rei. The two clicked immediately and would talk often about the most random of things.
The boy remembers how his mother was very happy when he told her about Joanne and Vincent. She was elated at how her son had new friends, not knowing his son's lack of university friends was due to the university's population being fans of Rei's sworn enemy, therefore making them his enemies too.
Rei grimaced upon remembering what Xavier did again. He tries not to be suspicious of the boy's actions but knowing how he's very close with Rei's sworn enemy to the point that he almost looks like the girl's slave sometimes makes Rei anxious. What if the witch just wanted to make him fall for her bodyguard's dark blue eyes and messy black hair--
Wait, what the fuck, Rei thinks.
He angrily shook his head, catching his boss's attention. The older man looks at him again, worried. "Are you really sure you're alright?"
"I'm okay," Rei said despite him being the opposite of okay. He did not want to make his boss worry as he's probably got enough to worry about. "Just thinking about my schoolwork. We have a lot of assignments."
His boss laughs. "School definitely is hell. Good thing I'm over it."
Rei shrugged, appearing nonchalant but he was smiling. A talk with his boss is better than dwelling on what happened earlier with the messy-haired boy and his dark blue eyes.
Definitely better than remembering his attractive smirk whenever their eyes met--
Rei groans again.
°
The boy's shift ended around eleven in the evening. Luckily, his boss treated him to a cup of instant noodles which already served as his dinner for the night.
The walk back home was not far. Rei finds myself gazing at the mansions as he passed by. The boy wonders when can he buy one and make his mother proud and happy.
He smiles, reminiscing how he often babbled to his mother before how he would buy her a huge mansion with a lake behind it so the two can go fishing since she loved doing it before she had to get more jobs to support their family. Rei's mother would gleefully listen to him, supporting all of her young son's dreams not only for himself but for her as well.
"One day, mom. One day." The boy whispered as the mansions slowly became smaller due to the distance between them and the boy.
Soon the boy found himself in front of his small apartment. The apartment was not anything grand, but it was his home.
The door creaked loudly as he pushed it open. His messy bed from earlier welcomed him, and of course, the dirty dishes the boy wasn't able to wash since he didn't want to be late.
It didn't take too long for the boy to finish washing his plate and utensils. He checked the small refrigerator and sighed in relief when he still had enough food to microwave for the next three days.
Rei ended up studying for his quizzes for the week. He finished his assignments easily since he already studied the topics it dwelled on earlier. Guess it pays off studying, the boy thinks as he played with the pen he was holding for a while as a form to relax.
The boy checked the time. It was already one am. Just a few hours before school started. He debated whether he should get some sleep or continue studying to ensure a high grade for the quizzes.
Rei ended up waking up with a notebook wet with his saliva.
What a great way of starting the day, he thinks sarcastically, wiping the saliva on his notebook with one of the towels his mother sent him. Friday is going to be a laundry day, he notes to himself.
The boy rubbed his eyes and checked his phone only to realize that he will be late. He immediately ran to the bathroom and washed his face since he had no time to take a full bath. Rei internally cursed as he hoped he would not stink.
His stomach rumbled but the boy had no time to eat the pancakes he made yesterday so he just ignored his stomach's pleas for a good breakfast and ran outside, locking the door before leaving. The boy hoped he could still arrive at the university on time.
Students riding their bicycles and those riding in their fancy cars passed Rei as he ran despite having more difficulty breathing as time passed by. He was exhausted but he had to run even more quickly. Rei simply cannot afford to be late!
To the boy's bewilderment, a suave Porsche started to slow down and as if starting to follow him. What the hell, is he going to be kidnapped in broad daylight?
Despite his lungs and sides begging him to run slowly, the boy ran even quicker. He still had dreams in his life that he has yet to achieve! He can't be kidnapped here and get sold to the black market for his organs--
"Hey,"
The boy ignored the kidnapper. The first rule in mystery/thriller movies is to not talk to one's possible kidnappers!
"Rei,"
How did this kidnapper even know his name? The only person in Rei's mind with the ability (and the money) to send kidnappers to get rid of him is Enya. Has she finally lost her mind and decided to send kidnappers to kidnap and get rid of him due to her pettiness?! Though somehow, the man's voice was quite familiar, the sane but naive part of Rei's mind told him.
"Rei, stop. You'll tire yourself,"
The kidnapper must be getting closer now since Rei could clearly hear the huskiness in the man's voice. The boy noted how the kidnapper's voice was smooth and husky, which was an unusual combination.
He mentally slaps himself. Does he really have the time to admire someone's voice when he's about to be kidnapped and sold to the black market?
Out of anger (and exhaustion), the boy turns to his kidnapper and angrily spat out. "I swear if you don't stop calling out my name--"
A familiar smirk greeted the boy.
Xavier's car window was already down which made Rei look directly at the other boy's dark blue eyes. Xavier's eyes that despite are currently behind his eyeglasses are still enough to make Rei feel like drowning whenever he gazed upon them.
The boy felt his heart race dangerously inside his chest as Xavier cocked his head to the side as if commanding Rei to get inside.
This wicked man, Rei thinks as he looked away.
However, Rei realized that they were already near the university enough for him to see the gate. The boy raised an eyebrow at the boy in the car and pointed at the entrance. Xavier shrugged and motioned the boy that is currently barely breathing to still go inside.
"I don't want a driver!"
Rei heard him laugh just as he ran away from the other boy once again.
To Rei's surprise, Xavier stepped out of his car and ended up following him inside the school. Technically Rei knew how they were heading in the same direction which was to the university but does Xavier really need to literally walk behind him? And why does his bag suddenly feel lighter? Did he forget his books again? Rei swore he double-checked!
Suddenly, the shorter of the two boys realized how people started to notice them and he pushed away the other, conscious of the stares of the other students. Rei did not wait for the latter to say anything as he walked away.
What the hell, what the hell, he thinks.