Devan continued to swing his legs even though his steps seemed to be stumbling. His breathing was erratic, his hands clenched tightly against the pain in his stomach. His stomach acid rose to the point where it made his mouth taste bitter and he almost threw up his food this morning. The cold night air made his body tremble even more. He did not know where to go and had no destination. It was getting late and the streets were getting quieter. He was scared now.
"Looks like your prayers have been answered right, Lis?! I'm in so much pain that I want to die," Devan whispered with tears slowly rolling down his thin cheeks. The sobs slowly sounded as the pain could no longer be endured. His body grew limp until he swayed and fell on the cold asphalt road. His hands were now pounding his head to vent the anger that was so mounting. Suddenly a big problem hit him. His peaceful life turned upside down. To be honest he wasn't ready, not ready to bear this heavy burden behind his weak mentality.
"Hey, kid! You're not in a trance, are you?!"
The teenager faintly heard the baritone voice behind his sobs. His head slowly lifted by wiping away the tears using the hem of his shirt. In front of him now towered the figure of a man wearing a faded black shirt combined with jeans that looked torn in several parts. His left arm looks full of tattoos which makes Devan shudder a little in horror. "He's not a bad person, is he?" Devan thought with a worried look on his face.
"A boy?"
The grown man chuckled softly at the boy who was innocently wiping the snot on his shirt collar so that clear water splattered around his nose. The face of fear at a glance was also seen by the adult man.
A frown appeared on the teenager's forehead. Boy, he said? He stood up with all his strength but it seemed that his energy was so drained that it made him giddy. He was preparing to feel the hard asphalt of the road until a hand grabbed his slender waist. His eyes slowly opened and were directly faced with a broad chest that for some reason looked so tempting to be a place to lean on.
"Sorry," he said hoarsely from dehydration. He slowly moved away from the man's embrace after waking up from his delusion.
"Ekhem! Why is a brat like you hanging around in the middle of the night like this?" asked the grown man. He suddenly felt concerned about the face of the boy who looked tired with tear marks that left a red trail on his eyes and the tip of his pointed nose.
"I'm not a kid, I'm 17 years old!" Devan replied in a rather fierce tone, not accepting being considered a child.
"Is that true? Even so, it's not good to wander around alone in the middle of the night, right? Can't you see this place is lonely and dark?" The man's advice made Devan roll his eyes in annoyance. What's the difference with that man, both of them have grown up. Pretending to advise, but he acted just as guilty! A name for such a person, what fits?
"Ain't got no purpose," Devan finally said. He wasn't in the mood for small talk behind his head to think about a temporary place to sleep tonight.
"Ran away from home? Trust me, you'll be in more trouble if you hang around at night like this, so go home!" said the tattooed man doubtfully. Somehow the evil intentions that were planned just a moment ago disappeared when the sad gaze crossed his sharp eyes. His heart seemed to be racing strangely, but he knew it was so soothing.
"I can't," replied Devan with a languid bow, his lips pursed playfully. Devan who was originally acting brave became weak when he heard the word 'come home. Go home, he will never use that word again!
His behavior never left the adult man's gaze, unconsciously he smiled broadly when he felt excited about the teenager in front of him, regardless of the snot or traces of tears. He tried to hold his naughty hands that wanted to get rid of the bangs that almost covered the sad eyes that stared at him pitifully. Overall the boy looks so sweet and innocent.
"You just don't know nightlife like this is dangerous for you. And before they destroy you!" The man said silently continuing his last words. His heart seemed unwilling if the little man in front of him was hurt. "Shit! Why does he look so gay?!" he thought.
"Seems like you ask a lot of questions huh, uncle? Damn!" cursed the teenager when the pain in his body got worse. And for the second time, he was embraced by the tall man.
"Ckck! It's no good swearing, boy!" he warned with a hand that had initiatively moved seductively stroking the teenager's slender waist. The man was so enjoying the comfort in the arms of the short teenager who only reached the limit of his neck. A sweet scent wafted as the night air brushed against her fine hair.
"I love you, Dev," the clear hum of a voice replayed in his memory. The big hand tightly entrapped her small body. The breath that was so roaring looked fixedly at him. The image is now getting clearer to make the teenager's body instantly trapped in two different dimensions.
"Fuck! I don't need your help, go away!" he made it worse by slapping a big hand that was presumptuous of touching him. He was scared, his body was shaking even more violently. The shadow of the man's touch felt the same as this stranger in front of him. He didn't want bad things to happen again, he had to get away.
"So where are you going?" hold the grown man by squeezing Devan's hand. It could be terrible if this boy was tainted by delinquents unfortunately he was one of them.
"None of your business uncle!" replied the petite man trying to unlink the hand that was unlucky so tightly gripped it.
"I don't think I'm that old. But I sincerely warn you, this is a dangerous area. You've been spied on by a bunch of drunks there," he said, pointing to a group of young men who were drinking liquor. Devan shivered in horror when he realized the gazes of the group of drunks were directed at him. The giggling laughter that was audible even though they were quite far away made his hands clench in the alert.
"Talk to yourself?" Devan replied sarcastically. How not, talking badly about other people while he brought a bottle of drink which he believed to be alcohol. They're the same right?
"Oh? Even so, I'm different. You don't see how handsome I am, I'm even equated with a street drunk like that," he defended with an awkward grin. His hand threw away the bottle that was still left by a quarter of it. The glass bottle shattered and the alcohol ran down the street.
"It's up to you what you want to say, but I'm not in the mood to argue with strangers like you."
"Just trust me... They're jerks, you'll get hurt later." And for the second time, the tattooed man cursed himself. Could it be that he is attracted to this innocent man in front of him?!
"I'm also a man, what should I be afraid of?"
"You are so innocent, aren't you? Can they think clearly if they are drunk? after all your body…. Like a woman. So beautiful," said the tall man shamelessly along Devan's tiny body from head to toe. A strange swish now trapped his body, the night air that slowly infiltrated his sensitive area made it even worse. It's because of the alcohol, right? Yes, definitely because of the alcohol!
"What are you saying? You think I-"
"Mike!"
Devan's voice stopped when another voice interrupted him. Footsteps that sounded alternately approaching them with steps that seemed to be staggering.
"Mike? Is that your name? You're their mob, and are you going to do me bad?" the petite man could not move anymore. Especially with the big hands that now unconsciously wrap around his arm roughly.
"You can run?"
"Uh? You mean…"
"Ah… you're sick. Get on my back now!"
It happened so fast that without realizing it, Devan was now perched on his back straight with his hands in between the curves of his legs. His hand instinctively went around the stranger's neck. Devan didn't want to think anymore about why this man wanted to help him so much. His eyes were now even closed, his head bowed comfortably on the straight shoulder in front of him. His breathing is now audible. Let him be a fool for now. Which drunk people can be trusted? But he couldn't deny, that the manly scent plus the grip of the hand that felt so protective made him close his eyes. Comfortable.
"Mike! Why did you take him away? That's our share now, Mike!" faint screams echoed behind him. Even Devan felt his body shake, the wind that hit his face grew stronger. Amid his thinning consciousness, Devan began to think, "Where will I be taken?"