While the contestants were sound asleep in their shared bedroom, one of them was conspicuously absent. Upstairs, on the second floor, Kyle carried on with his daily routine. At precisely 1:30 am, he woke up to relieve himself and couldn't fall back asleep. Mindful not to disturb anyone, he neatly made the bed. Following his usual pattern, he brushed his teeth, took a shower, and then headed to the reading room for some quiet reading time. Kyle was a creature of habit, always predictable.
As he immersed himself in the book, his thoughts wandered to the events of the previous day. However, it was evident from his gaze that he wasn't pondering over past actions to learn from them or because he had any particular attachment to those memories. His mind drifted to the new arrival who had entered the house recently. The presence of that person reminded Kyle of the consequences of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, making him feel trapped within the walls of the house.
The abrupt ringing of the alarm clock jolted him back to reality, signaling the time to switch to another book. Just like that, Kyle resumed his day, picking up another book and enjoying a cup of coffee while preparing himself mentally for the day ahead. Downstairs in the bedroom, one of the housemates was teetering on the edge of waking up, preoccupied with thoughts of rushing through the day's chores. But Kyle wasn't burdened with such thoughts. He had already completed his tasks for the day—sweeping the kitchen, scrubbing unwashed bowls, and tidying up stray items, returning them to their proper places.
A knock on the door shook him to the core, reverberating in his ears. Or perhaps it was his anxious heartbeat; he wasn't sure. Slowly lifting his eyes from the book, he anxiously awaited the entrance of the new arrival through the open door.
"Darling," the man murmured, raising an eyebrow suggestively. It was the same person who had arrived the previous day.
"Absolutely not. This was evident back then, and it remains true now—there is no place for you in my life, Saint," Kyle reprimanded, maintaining a composed expression that Saint appeared to accept, yet I could detect the underlying fear simmering beneath the surface.
"We need to have a conversation. You're aware that it's necessary," Saint said with increased resolve.
"Has anyone spotted you?"
"No." A slight, malevolent grin appeared on Saint's face. "I woke up about twenty minutes ago. I was surprised not to find you in your bed. I assumed you would be here, given your love for reading."
"You and I have nothing in common. Don't speak of me so familiarly."
"Kyle, must we engage in this conversation at a louder volume, attracting the attention of our inquisitive housemates as they witness the development of our relationship? Or will you permit me to take a seat?"
Reluctantly, Kyle fell silent as he watched the other man sit down.
"How dare you show up in this place?" Kyle began, whispering with a hiss.
"My dear, we have a shared past and a common goal—to bury our secrets. You understand just as well as I do that the most effective way to hide the darkest aspects of yourself is by wearing a smile and protecting them at all costs," he said, exposing a wide, menacing smile that deeply affected Kyle.
"You can't take a hint, can you? The lukewarm reception I gave you yesterday should have made it clear."
In reality, a couple of hours prior, Kyle had received Saint with even less warmth. As anticipated, upon Saint's arrival at the house, Kyle promptly retreated to the washroom. However, as the evening progressed, Kyle exhibited a level of courage that surpassed anything I had witnessed from him since he arrived at the house. He confronted Saint in a secluded corner, issuing a warning, "You are unwelcome in this place."
"Kyle, I am here merely due to 'daddy's' kindness. You know it's nothing personal," Saint calmly responded, not missing a beat. Like me, Saint knew the right strategies to get under Kyle's skin.
"How dare you?"
"Come now, you wouldn't want to make a scene in front of the whole house, would you? I'm sure things won't be much different from what I expect." Saint witnessed Kyle's determination crumble in the face of the appetizing aromas wafting from the prepared food. Kyle didn't want a confrontation, nor did he want prying questions.
"Fine," Kyle said .
"Why don't you come inside with me? I'm sure it won't be long before the other housemates notice your absence."
As planned by Saint, Kyle obediently followed him into the living room. And as if Saint knew I was observing, he purposefully grazed the tip of a pen on my cherished oak table, leaving a mark.
Now, as Saint sat in Kyle's presence, he again watched his plan unfold exactly as he had anticipated.
"What caused the delay?" Kyle asked, frustrated, dropping his pretense.
"I was exhausted. Yesterday was a long day, you know?" Saint replied.
Kyle stared at the tall, smirking man with dark skin.
"I came as soon as I woke up," Saint said, his tone less playful. "Didn't want to attract attention, right?"
"Sure," Kyle responded curtly.
And that was the last word Kyle managed to say before Saint's lips forcefully met his own.
Kyle tightly grasped his pajama top with both hands, pulling Saint closer as they kissed passionately.
"What time is it?" Saint quickly asked when they finally broke apart to catch their breath.
"3:46," Kyle replied.
"Damn," Saint muttered. He kissed Kyle again, with urgency and desire. He needed this, despite it being a messed-up situation.
"You taste like coffee," Saint remarked.
"And you taste like that awful toothpaste you always use," Kyle retorted.
"I use it to keep my breath fresh!"
"Fuck off."
They wrestled and maneuvered until they ended up on the floor, with Kyle forcefully pinning Saint down. They continued kissing, familiar with the taste and texture of each other. Kyle's tongue brushed against Saint's golden tooth.
Kyle desired much more, but time was limited. Saint took control, pushing Kyle down on the floor. Kyle watched as Saint discarded his pajama pants and pulled his shirt off, revealing a crooked thread chain with a single Cowry resting above a peculiar tattoo of a Forked tongue snake on his right breast. Kyle would play with it later. In that moment, Kyle could only observe as Saint removed his clothes, only later realizing that he should have been undressing himself as well.
They both stripped completely, and Saint fell on top of Kyle, kissing him and reaching down to grip his already embarrassingly hard erection. Kyle arched his back, emitting foolish, desperate sounds of pleasure.
"Don't worry, Kyle," Saint whispered, his closely trimmed beard grazing Kyle's ear. "I'm going to pleasure you thoroughly, alright?"
"Alright." As Kyle breathed out, he experienced a blend of relief and embarrassment flooding through him.
Saint proceeded to explore Kyle's body, planting kisses, employing suction, and using his tongue until he reached Kyle's fully aroused organ. Without delaying the anticipation, he swiftly took action. He took Kyle into his mouth, causing Kyle to cover his own mouth to stifle the moan that escaped.
Kyle raised his upper body using his elbows to observe the scene. A small part of him wished to recline, shut his eyes, and fantasize about someone other than Saint being the source of this delightful pleasure. However, the majority of him yearned to witness the exact identity of the person responsible for granting him such an extraordinary sensation.