"Uhm… If you don't want me here, then—"
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
The six beeping sounds that followed Hiro's quick taps on the small screen interrupted Izack.
The door clacked open and the two young men entered.
The owner was followed by his guest.
"Go take a shower. The bathroom is on your left. I'll get you some clothes. Oh, and I'll arrange somewhere for you to sleep," Hiro said, and Izack simply nodded.
Hiro's words didn't seem to matter at all. What caught the actor's attention were the empty walls where no pictures hung.
He imagined countless times what his place would look like.
Did I get the wrong person?
He wondered, examining every inch of the living room. Searching for something desperately.
"What are you looking at? Do you need something?"
Izack quickly shook his head. He couldn't let his ulterior motives be revealed. Not until he was certain Hiro was the one he had been searching for all these years. What if the person he had been looking into was wrong all this time?
"No."
Having said so, Izack headed toward the washroom. Then, he opened the door before him. Once inside, within a few seconds, his clothes fell on the floor. He pulled the transparent door open and entered the clear glass shower.
He didn't expect such a small apartment to have such luxurious things. On a small rack beside the shower, a few bottles of shampoos, body washes and other skin care products were scattered.
So different from his living room… neat and clean.
He thought, now brushing shampoo on his hair. He didn't know if he was even allowed to use it but he wanted to smell just like thatperson.
The scent that still clung to his nose like it was yesterday—one he couldn't forget over the years. His heart skipped at the mere thought.
But then worry overwhelmed him.
What if he learned that he had lied to him?
The water began flowing into his body, rinsing the shampoo from his hair while he remained frozen.
A knock broke his trance.
"Are you done?"
"Yes," he answered nervously, reaching for the faucet and turning off the water.
He exited the glass shower and opened the door, extending his hand without looking.
Hiro stood there, holding clothes in his hands. He wasn't surprised. He was used to such things. But the person he was used to doing this for was Felix.
He sighed.
He was thinking about him. Again. Even after everything Felix had done to him.
Inhaling, brushing off thoughts related to that man, Hiro handed over the clothes.
Once Izack felt the warmth of the pressed clothes, he pulled back his hand inside. A soft clack followed once he shut the door.
A white towel, a branded black t-shirt, a pair of black pants and underwear…
He blinked. Then, coughed in disbelief.
Underwear?
He hadn't expected that. Did Hiro really think before giving all these to him? And would this size even fit?
Without a word, he put on the clothes. Back then, he hadn't had a choice—he was forced to wear whatever they gave him, and eat whatever was handed to him. But this time… he was willing.
Once he stepped out, faint sounds drifted in from what seemed to be the kitchen. Quietly, he followed the voice.
"Sorry, I didn't get to visit you. Daddy will come to see you tomorrow. Promise."
W-What? D-Daddy?! Is he into those things?…
Heat rushed to Izack' cheeks, flustered. But before he could say a word, Hiro seemed to have noticed the movements of his shadow in the doorway.
The man quickly hung up without even saying goodbye to the person on the other end.
"Hmm. Looks like it fits you. Do you want some tea? I just finished making noodles. I hope that's okay. I'm not a pro when it comes to cooking." He tried to sound calm, but the slight tremor in his voice gave him away.
But Izack chose to ignore it. He didn't have the right to question him.
Not yet.
He was no one to Hrio.
He parted his lips and whispered, "I don't drink tea. And nodding is just fine. I amthe one who wasn't supposed to be here to begin with."
"Take a seat at the table."
Izack obeyed, moving without hesitation—like an obedient child.
Only then, the thought struck Hiro.
How old is he?
He didn't know anything about Izack yet brought him in his place. He rubbed the back of his neck, fingers dragging slowly like he was grounding himself.
How foolish. What if he is a murderer? The news keeps reporting about a serial killer too…
He scolded himself.
"Aren't you eating?"
Just as he parted his lips to turn down the offer, Hiro's stomach grumbled.
"I am coming…" He replied, relieved he hadn't already refused before his own body betrayed him.
That would've been so embarrassing!...
He bit his lips, ashamed of whatever he was doing. He had been empty-minded for the past few hours, unaware of his actions. He began to realize what he had done once he took a cold shower earlier in the bathroom attached to his bedroom.
Izack noticed but picked up the fork from the table.
"Let's eat," Hiro softly said, noticing Izack who seemed to be waiting for him to start.
He pulled the chair and took a seat, facing the young man. He picked up his fork and dug in.
Izack started eating as well. His face brightened upon tasting the food.
"It's so good!" He subconsciously exclaimed. Then, he covered his mouth, shocked by his own voice.
"Do you not eat noodles? Right, you are from a rich family—" then, he paused.
He also belonged to a rich family, yet he ate instant noodles almost everyday.
Could he judge Izack? Did he have the right to do so?
"I-It's not that! Just… It's not spicy. My… uhm… parents eat spicy foods a lot. And I can't really stand it…" he mumbled, his voice constantly laced with anxiousness. He was afraid he would say something to upset Hiro.
"You—" Hiro's lips twitched as he tried to hold back his laughter. "You are totally not Korean."
Although the words were meant to be playful, it stung.
"Do you mean to say I don't belong here?" Izack's expression had darkened.
For the very first time, he appeared to be angry. He didn't get furious when staff members or other actors looked down on him as much as enraged as he appeared to be now.
"Huh?" Hiro blinked, unsure of how Izack came to such a conclusion.
"Look, all I know about you is that you are from England and your parents are from a rich Korean family and you are their sole heir currently. That's all. I don't know what angered you but I apologize if I said something wrong," Hiro quickly said, trying to solve whatever he did wrong.
Perhaps he was still under the influence of Felix's presence. He hadn't brought anyone into this apartment but him until tonight.
Now that another person was here, he didn't know how to react. So he subconsciously apologized as he would with Felix—which was unlike him. Hiro never apologized to anyone unless his mistake was irredeemable.
He was far too prideful to admit his mistakes in front of anyone other than Felix.