Chapter 10: Chapter Nine

-----> Travis. Yummy.

Sleep was my enemy last night. No matter how hard I tried and willed myself to just get some rest I couldn’t do it. My mind wouldn’t shut off. Images of Seth lying on the floor, the bruises all over his body, and just thinking about everything that he has been through had me up all night. How can one man be so cruel to his own son? I honestly wish it wasn’t so. No one deserves to be treated like that, especially Seth. No matter how angry I am with him what happened to him will never be okay under no circumstances. Just remembering his bruises make me regret not beating the hell out of that man some more.

We have school today. I don’t know if he’s awake or if he’s even going but I might as well get ready. I took a cold shower to wake my body up. Warm water would just relax me and make me want to get back in bed. I got out the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist and went to make breakfast. He never told me what he liked to have for breakfast so I didn’t know what to make. I just made some eggs, bacon, and hash brown. I placed the food on the island and went to get dress.

I looked down the hall where Seth’s room was, noticing the bedroom door was closed and the bathroom door was wide open. “Seth?” I called when I reached his room door. He didn’t answer so I knocked, still no answer. I turned the knob and opened the door to see him curled up in a ball, fast asleep. He needs this rest, he’s been through a lot and that must have drained a lot of his energy. Realizing this, I closed the door as quietly as I could and tiptoed to my room where I put on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. I don’t’ want to leave him here by himself just incase he gets scared or needs someone to talk to.

Sighing, I sat by the island and slowly began eating. Shortly after I remembered about emailing my parents and went for my laptop. I emailed my mom; not leaving out a single detailed and prepared myself for the blow. She won’t like this at all. I made sure to tell her I had no idea he was here or anything like that. Hopefully she believes me. It’s about 9 P.M. in China right now so if they’re not sleeping I should be getting a call in five minutes tops.

Nervously, I peeked at the phone that was vibrating to check the caller ID. Mom. Snatching the phone up, I walked out the condo and into the hallway.

“Hi mom,” I answered innocently.

“Travis! Is he all right? Does he need to go to the hospital?” Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What the fuck! I don’t think I’ve been more shock in my life. Here I am, panicking the hell out about my mom and that’s she’s really going to rip my dick off once she finds out about this. No, the most amazing woman in the world is concerned about Seth.

“H-he he’s fine—sleeping.” I stammered. Her concern really caught me off guard.

“Oh my goodness, that’s horrible. How can a father do that to his own child? Doesn’t he have any relatives—aunts, uncles, cousins, older siblings?”

“He has a brother but he’s in the military. He won’t tell me about his mom and every time I ask he gets emotional so I don’t even want to add more to what he’s going through right now.”

She sighed. It was quiet between us for a while then she asked, “How are you doing?”

My back hit the wall hearing that question. It was as if all the strength I had evaporated from me and I slid down to the ground. “I don’t know. I’m so confused I don’t even want to think anymore”

“Why didn’t you tell me he was there? You had to go through that all by yourself. I know seeing him mustn’t have been easy for you”

“I didn’t want you to worry about me and I didn’t want to leave. I was really angry but deep down I know I was happy to see him,” I admitted for the first time.

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry,” she said softly. “I wish there was something I can do”

“You’re doing something now,” I told her. For me, nothing compares to talking to my mom. She can be my mom and then she can be this amazing person that I can talk to about anything—a friend. To some it may seem strange but having a relationship like that with the person who gave birth to me is priceless. It’s the most valuable thing in this world to me. Closing my eyes, I pictured her beautiful smiling face and that did tons for how I’m feeling.

“Are you guys safe?”

“Yeah, he didn’t even Seth left and I honestly don’t think he’ll even care.” Just thinking about that sorry excuse of a father makes my blood boil with so much anger.

“You know, I’m really worried about you. This is not a good idea for you to be around him. If anything you should be as far away from him as possible so that you can figure things out”

I sighed, “I know but he needs someone right now. That someone may not be me but I don’t see anyone else around”

“You’re father wants to speak to you”

“Okay,” I answered, eager to hear his advice.

“Hey, buddy”

“Hey, dad”

“Want to know what I think?”

“Yes, please,” I answered.

“What happened to Seth was awful but it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t supposed to. Think about it. Out of all the colleges in America and the other colleges you got accepted into that aren’t in the country you chose to transfer to that one where he happened to be and you guys happened to register for the same sociology class. I’m not trying to put anything in your head or make you believe anything. Just let everything play out. I know you won’t do anything you don’t want to so I don’t have to worry about you feeling pressured. I’m proud of you for doing what you did and for putting your anger and whatever resentment you have aside and saving that kid. I’m so, so proud of you.”

“Thanks, dad”

“If you want I can get him an apartment for you”

“Dad,” I groaned.

“Okay, okay, I was just throwing the option out there for you. If you think you can do this, know that we support you, always”

“I love you guys so much”

“We love you too. Good luck.” I muttered thanks and said goodbye before hanging up the phone. That girl that asked me to hold the elevator door more than once was walking down the hall. Every time I do she never says thank you even if she’s not on the phone. She doesn’t even have the decency to offer a smile of gratitude. The proper word for girl like that is bitch. That’s what she is, a bitch.

“Hey, asshole,” she seethed at me. She’s mad because the last couple times she asked me to do it I didn’t. What the fuck do I look like? If she had said thank you even once I would have gladly held it for her. To answer to her insult, I raised an eyebrow as I stared up at her. “You’re such a dick. I asked you to hold the elevator for me and you looked me right in the eyes and let it closed.”

Now, this is funny, so funny I in fact laughed. “Let me get this right. You can curse me out about not holding the elevator doors but you can’t say a simple ‘thank you’ when I do hold it?”

She rolled her eye, moving her head a little and crossed her arms over her chest. “I said thank you.” Wow, she can’t even believe her own lie.

Laughing, I stood up and slip my phone in my pocket. “Bye.”

“Dumbass!”

“Bitch!” She looked at me with eyes as wide open as her mouth. She had that look for a while then the corner of her mouth twitched and she bit her lip, hiding what looks like a smile. This was getting weirder by the second and it got even weirder when she smiled, stomped her foot and continued down the hall. Baffled by her behavior, I went inside, making sure to lock the door.

Seth was still sleeping. He was sprawled out on his back with his foot over the bedspread. He had one hand folded behind his head and the other tucked inside his pajamas. He had no shirt on and I had never seen a sexier sight in my life. The bruises on his skin didn’t take away from how beautiful he was. It was like I was looking at an angel. I closed the door and made my way to the living room. There I sat and looked at the blank television screen for a while. Can I do this?

To distract myself I turned the TV on and grabbed my PS3 controller to watch some Netflix. For some odd reason I was in the mood for a gay movie so I put on East Side Story.

Next thing I know there was a soft warm hand on my shoulder, shaking me. Ugh, I fell asleep. “What is it?” I asked him, turning around to face him stooping by the couch.

“Um,” he blushed because he was literally inches away from me and he stepped back to create some much-appreciated distance between us. “It’s a little past 5 and I have to get to work. I made dinner if you’re hungry”

“Oh…”

“Yeah, I’ll see you later”

“Um, okay.” He smiled, walked a few steps towards the door then he stopped and turned around. I quickly averted my eyes from the spot where his ass was so he wouldn’t know I was staring. I can’t help myself, all right? Seth as the most amazing ass I’ve ever seen and no matter what’s going through my head I’m not ashamed to stare at it. As long as I don’t get caught.

“Are you okay with me staying here? I don’t want to cause any problems for you or make you feel uncomfortable, or feel like you have to do anything.”

Awe. “It’s fine, Seth. Don’t be late for work.” He smiled again and waved goodbye. I waved too, and watched ass until he was out of eyes’ view. “Help!” I whined to myself. This is terrible. My emotions are so conflicted. It’s obvious I want him so bad but I can never act on those feelings with all these fears and distrust I have building inside of me.