Seeing Theodore's ID brought back the guilt he had partially forgotten in the midst of worrying about Hayden's whereabouts.
'Let's have dinner together, what do you say?' Theodore voice came through the phone
'I don't think I can make it today, maybe tomorrow' Malik said
'Why?'
'A friend of mine ran away from home so I'm in the midst of searching for him' Theodore felt for some reason he couldn't pinpoint but he didn't let it show in his voice.
'What about if I use my connection to help you, will you come for dinner?' Theodore said, he was careful not to seem too needy.
'Okay, text me the address, I'm on my way' Malik said, he could have sworn that he heard an happy squeal before he hung up.
'Don't tell me you're dressing like that for dinner' Maeve said and Malik examined himself. He was wearing a grey suit and white undershirt then rolled his eyes as he saw another torture of trying on clothes in its way. They went to Malik's house to pick an outfit, he went with all black signature, against Maeve choice.
The address was a Chinese restaurant and this time they didn't eat in a private room because Theodore secretly wanted to show off his date, the popular billionaire bachelor. The young heir have been watching the billionaire since their food arrived an Malik barely touched his food, it made him start to rethink what he done.
'What's making you worry, don't tell me you're worried about that boy' Theodore said
'He isn't just any boy, he was also my friend' Malik said with guilt not far from his tongue, 'He confess his feelings to me yesterday and I rejected him, I feel it's my fault he left'
'Come on, Malik, it isn't your fault, it's about time I tell you, it's mine' the billionaire raised an eyebrow on him.
'I sent him away to New York to pursue his dreams' he confessed, he didn't like the way Malik looked at him, did he underestimate the importance of the boy?
'Why?'
'I didn't like him, don't blame me you aren't important to him, he chose his dream over you' Theodore said and toke Malik's hands in his, the billionaire pulled out his hand and place it on his hand. At the same time, Theodore's phone vibrated, it was a message from his mother telling him to come home for dessert, his father's orders.
'I think we are done here' Malik said, he couldn't eat properly knowing that Hayden left because Theodore, he wiped his mouth with a napkin and left the restaurant. The spoilt heir caught up him before he entered his car, he didn't feel what he did was wrong but the thought of Malik leaving while he was still mad at him didn't seat well with him.
'Malik, I'm sorry but I just felt the aneed to do it' Theodore said
'Still defending yourself'
'Okay, truthfully I was jealous'
'Why would you be? This thing between us isn't even real but my friendship with him was real' was this how heartbreak tasted like? Was this what Marcus felt like? He knew their relationship was joint by a contract but he wouldn't regret marrying Malik but Malik words made him rethink his action if he had forced him into this.
'I'm sorry' Theodore say letting go of Malik hand that he didn't know he held. The billionaire saw the young heir eyes, it wasn't the normal flirting eyes, he was hurt but he needed to do, to draw that line to keep himself from crossing it even though he knew his feelings were growing everyday.
'Mess with my friends one more time and we are done' Malik said and entered his car leaving Theodore standing there before Marcus led him to their car. He was silent through out the ride to his dad mansion, he felt a tear leave his eyes, he was sure he didn't like Malik but why did it hurt?
Malik sat in his car not driving, he was trying to recollect everything that had happened between the few minutes he got out of the restaurant. He felt the feelings of guilt crawl up to his throat, he hurt Theodore the same way he did nine years ago. He owned him many things, everything he had now even his wealth was thanks to him, he feel himself falling for this Dore. He had to remind himself not to fall for this Dore that he was only meant to love one Dore, his Dore.
The evening breeze blowing into the car dried up Theodore tears, it felt weird to cry over a guy that he didn't like but he was grateful Malik didn't bolt out of the contract because it would take him so time to find someone else to agree on this contract. On the down side, he had Malik all to himself, the thought of that made him smile.
'Marcus, I think Marcus is a good guy even if I end up marrying to convince my dad, I wouldn't regret it' Marcus didn't responded, his eyes were focus on the road that he could dig Malik grave there. His had tightened on the steering until his knuckles were white, he almost ran into a truck but he was quick to step on the brake.
'Are you alright?' the bodyguard turned to look at the feminine man that made him feel things.
'You like me' Theodore asked instead
Marcus remembered he answered no to this question the previous night but now he doesn't want to hide anymore, he is sick of feeling like crap anytime the billionaire name is mention. That was all Theodore talks about since their contract agreement.
'I like you, Theodore, I like you so much that it kills me when you talk about another man in front of me' he answered with his voice cracking on some words.
'Look, it's okay to like someone' the smaller man held the black man face between his palms.
'Not when the person you like doesn't like you back' if it was yesterday the young heir wouldn't have understand this statement but now he realize Marcus was feeling how he felt a while back, he couldn't say anything than to withdraw is hand and let him drive.
Theodore and his father arrived at the same time, they acknowledge each other without words and went inside. Rodrick didn't touch his dessert he was more focus on his tablet, checking on the market while Theodore and is mother exchanged smile and had small talks.
'You found yourself a boyfriend' Rodrick said without lifting his head from his tablet
'We are actually engaged' Rodrick scoffed
'To that terrorist billionaire, I hope you are thinking of breaking it'
'I would when you cut off my arranged marriage or even marry him for real' who was he kidding his father knew everything was fake, there was no secret he could keep from his father but he would continue until gives up.
He noticed his mother choking and stopped exchanging words with his father to rub her back
'Can't we eat like a family for once' Theresa voiced out and they both kept quiet for the rest of the dinner.
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Dore was blindfolded but he could tell from the careful touches of the slightly rough palm that he could trust this person. The touch was different from the ones that assaulted his body, the person changed his clothes and threw him over his shoulders. The person carried him for a while before stopping for some rest, he couldn't see what was going on in the house but he had idea of could have happened, he suspected the person who was previously assaulting his body was shot dead. Did he pity the person? No, the person deserved it.
He didn't know where they were but he could smell pine and daisy so he guessed they were in the woods. It was cold outside there so the kind person made a fire to keep them warm and also fed him in silence until the person asked him to sleep. Dore hasn't slept for days same goes for today, he felt that the person also couldn't sleep.
'Are you MK' he asked
'Shut up and sleep'
'If I'm going to think you're MK, I'm mad at you, actually heartbroken, I loved someone for the first time, actually the second and you broke my heart, even at that I can still tell you nice, don't try to hide it, you are good person, I see through the bad boy facade, never hide it again' Dore ended his monologue when he heard some sniffles coming from MK. He stretched his leg until he touched MK's, his rubbed his on MK's as a sign of giving comfort.
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That night Malik had asked Maeve to prepare a flight for him to New York without bother to give answers to her question. It midnight when he reached Hayden residence, it was in a more comfortable neighbourhood than the one had in San Francisco. He rang the bell, it took some minutes before the door opened with Hayden behind it. His eyes was widen in shock at the sight of Malik coming all the way from San Francisco to find him. The rim of Hayden's eyes were red, he had cried on the jet that brought him there and cried when he was settling in. He knew was supposed to adapt to situation the same adapted to every bad situation in his life but his feelings for the billionaire made him a crying mess.
'Found you' Malik muttered.