WARNING : This novel may show usage of drugs, foul words, gory scenarios and sexual contents.
A day free of responsibilities, still cozily cooed up in bed even if it's already noon without worrying about tomorrow, have a smutty manga reading marathon all day long and a handsome man to pamper you and cuddle with.
This is the life!
At least that's what Abigail believed until after five days, she's still imprisoned in her own apartment and worse? or better? She can't quite decide, is her recently met-hot gay friend is staying with her!
"I can't believe they're letting me rest for a whole week just because of a freaking hangover!"
She hastily exclaimed while her ruby colored hair loosely falls halfway to the floor as she lies flatly on the bed, her head positioned at it's foot.
The sun is at it's peak and she just woke up.
"Alright I admit, the first three days were like hell! How did that booze got such intense after drunk effect anyway?"
She rolled around, her belly lying on the soft mattress while her silky hair gracefully fall into parted style.
"But letting me off the hook for a long time and coincidentally all of my employers? Isn't this a bit weird?"
Her almond-shaped eyes squinting as she rested her chin at the back of her lapping hands while her arms were crossed.
"Especially in madame's case-the one with the ramen shop, I'm telling you she's a very strict owner! even just a one-day absent from work? She'll nag you faster than eminem once you get back, lecturing about work etiquette, initiative and etcetera. I know because I've always watched Fumi get a taste of it."
She keeps chattering energetically when a disturbing theory crossed her mind making her sat abruptly, eyes wide in terror.
"Wait what if they're really planning to fire me? I can't afford to be jobless, most importantly now!"
She jumped out of bed and started walking to and fro while nervously biting her right hand's thumb.
Her oversized gray shirt swishing at her every move.
"I should have ask for Jia's phone number and Yamato's as well I'm sure he'll-"
A loud clang from the fallen butcher knife on Ares' direction made her flinched.
"Stop worrying."
Pausing from her panic-stricken state, her gaze landed at the gay's brawny back.
His head hanging low as he continued on chopping some vegetables.
At first look, one can't tell that he's into guys because everything about him, from his voice to his gestures is exceedingly manly.
However, for Abigail who had multiple of gay friends back in her homeland and some are just like him, she never had second thoughts about her assumed sexuality of this person.
Maybe it's the remaining millimeter trace of alcohol in her system that her eyes got misty just by watching him.
For the past four days this gay stayed by her side, cooked for her, did her laundry and literally acted like a loving housewife.
She have never been cared like this for such a long time that's why she's being a little emotional.
Being lost in a foreign country she had to be independent but it sure is nice to depend on someone sometimes.
To feel that you're not alone and someone got your back.
Abigail approached his direction and stood on tip-toe as she reached for his hair that stubbornly falls and distracting him.
"Man you're really gigantic."
Her envious ass complained.
She scooped his soft long hair in her left hand, revealing a red dragon under a black lotus tattoo on his nape.
Lifting her head higher as she leaned closer.
"Wow. It's so pretty."
She can't take her eyes off of it that even after he tied his hair, she clung her hands on his shoulders to examine the tattoo longer.
It's detailed and meticulously done just like the ones in his back and arms.
When she first saw it yesterday she had a notion that he's part of some gang or something but he justified that he's just a tattoo artist and so, a fan of tattoos.
She heard tattoo stores specifically in Uptown acquires loaded of money and seeing Ares spend piles of it from the previous days plus the high-end appliances and expensive furnitures in his apartment which happened to be next door, are narrowing down to one thing.
He's a certified living testimony that it's true.
Abigail thought it's a huge help if she also got the talent of an artist, she won't have to juggle jobs and could leave this country much faster because money comes easier.
Unfortunately the only art she could draw is a stick person.
"Who made this Ares? It's really cool."
She grazed her fingertips on his nape and felt his body tensed up so she hurriedly let go.
"What? You hate being touched by a woman that bad? We're literally cuddling to sleep four nights in a row and you still flinched over a single touch? Really now."
She moved from his behind to his side, hands on her hips while watching him cook pork sinigang.
A low growl sounds rambled from her stomach as she inhaled it's aroma.
"No it's not that. Your hand is just warm, it gives me the hots everytime."
He showed off a smug smile.
'How can this gay pull such a suave perverted lines that easily?'
Abigail protested in her inner thoughts.
Her face plastered a grimacing look but her soul was already nosebleeding due to ikemen syndrome.
"Stop with those jokes already, it's unfair. Listen to me attentively."
She faced his side profile who's adding some seasonings on the pot.
Arms crossed and quite annoyed at how her height measures up with his bicep, she puts on a tough act.
"Since we're friends I'll be frank with you. Really, enough already of your horny pick-up lines it's making my soul suffers of hemorrhage. Your charming face is already bad for my heart and I know your mating preferences so I had
to try hard not to molest you on my head, okay? But you saying those stuff tortures me twofold!"
"You think I'm charming?"
"Ofcourse! Dude who would not? Hey it's ready! Come on, come on let's eat. I'm starving!"
She get plates and utensils from a cupboard and arranged it in the nearby round dining table which Ares bought for her.
"And I'm messing up with your head?"
She answered him while scooping rice and stew one at a time.
"Obviously! Just think of it, imagine yourself being stuck with a breathtaking guy, that's how I feel! I'm psychologically conscious of your ikemen vibe.
And I'm really sorry if I hold such inappropriate thoughts like, I wanna grab your butt-they look squishy by the way, or I wanna bite your biceps and everything."
She carried the bowl of rice and dish one by one and set it on the table before sitting down across him but he held his plate, stood and dragged his chair beside her then sat comfortably.
"I'm really sorry okay? I'll retrieve my lost moral and erase these lewd fantasies. But to be honest? Your body definitely hit my standard. Not too bulky and not too skinny, just the right amount of muscle."
She continued talking while clasping her hands.
"Thank you for the meal."
Her eyes gleams at the sight of smoking hot pork sinigang. Since Ares stayed to take care of her when her hangover was still too much to bear, he cooks filipino dishes.
He told her how he likes to learn other country's culture and studied filipino cuisine before.
Thinking about it, her luck seemed to hit the jackpot after she met him and Abigail heartily dig in.
"Hmmm. So you're mentally harassing me. Though you don't look that self-conscious like you said."
She followed his gaze from her braless bosom underneath her shirt to her exposed thighs.
"What? Ofcourse. I know your gay and it's impossible for you to be sexually attracted to me that's why I'm comfortable being like this. In fact, I'm like this all the time my gay besties and I were sleeping over. Hey, I'm aware of your situation okay? It's the 21st century already, no judging here."
She shove another mouthful of rice topped with pork.
"Do you think I'll be all touchy feely with you if you happened to be straight? No way. No matter how attractive a man can be, being flirty with them without commitment is not my forte.
Unless..."
She froze for a moment.
"Are you telling me I've misunderstood you or something and you're straight?"
"No. I'm gay since birth."
He blurted with concrete resolve, making Abigail's pale face filled with color again.
"But you sure do talk dirty a lot for an inexperienced girl."
"Hmmm? Because I'm not."
The sound of her every gulp as she drink a glass of water after she uttered those words, resonates at the room's atmosphere.
She noticed how Ares stood and bended to move his chair closer before sitting back down. So close that they're knees are hitting each other.
Pushing his unfinished food aside, he rested his arms on the table.
Hands clutching together as he tilted his head sideways, Abigail subconsciously flinched at the menacing look on his face.
He's smiling yet it's evident that it's not a happy one but a devilish grin.
"What do you mean?"
His usual gentle voice sounds eery this time. The hazel brown eyes glowers viciously paired with his creepy smile.
He looks psychotic.
She tried to comprehend what's with this sudden change of atmosphere and despite of her shivering spine she replied, unfazed.
"What? I had exes you know and it's only a one time experience with my recent ex boyfriend. I was reluctant back then but I like him so much I became hopelessly stupid. Turns out he's a complete two-timing piece of shit so I ditched him."
"What's his name?"
"Do you seriously need to kn-"
"What's his full name?"
She wants to protest but his domineering demeanor and ominous expression dried up her throat.
After she stated his ex's name, Abigail thought he'll drop this disturbing aura but to her disappointment, he grew more terrifying.
His eyes are wide open as if his eyeballs are about to pop out while plastering a sinister broad smile.
"Abigail. How about you just drop your job?
Let's stay here everyday lock up from the tiring world outside, together. Just you and me. I'll do everything for you. I'll give anything you want."
Her suppressed fear bursts in her head all at once.
The idea of being locked, triggered her memories about when she was trapped inside the small corners of a crate box.
'What is he talking about? Why is he acting this way?'
Cold sweats suddenly formed on her forehead, her hands began to tingle uncontrollably as her heart races in an abnormal speed, it feels like pumping too much blood straight to her brain making her lightheaded and unable to breathe.
She wants to speak and walk to get her inhaler, which she bought days ago but her body was paralyzed.
Her eyes began to water as she keeps gasping for air, only then did Ares' expression softens.
He caresses her face as he gently speak.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
He stood then stride towards her cabinet, while rummaging through the things at it's third drawer he grabbed the inhaler.
Walking back, he positioned himself in front of her, standing still as he shook the inhaler then bowed slightly before placing it in her mouth.
The nauseous feeling finally subsides little by little and she starts to relax while he wipes her sweaty face with the hem of his shirt.
"I'm sorry. I really am. I lost my cool, sorry."
He keeps apologizing, his voice as tender as his touch while he strokes her hair.
Her face was buried in his clothed abdomen and he rested his large rough hand at the back of her head, lightly pushing it closer as if gesturing her to lean and calm down.
Abigail gradually recovered from the panic attack and as soon as she did, a question surfaced on her mind.
'Wait....how did he knew about my inhaler? I've never mentioned or used it before infront of him and to find it at once? What's happening...'
[End of Chapter 9]