“Day?”
Day jolted awake from his deep slumber at the sudden intrusion.
He sat up on the bed, rubbing his eyes, “What is it?”
Day was surely a little surprised by Mhok’s unexpected appearance in his room in the morning.
“You were sleeping longer than usual, so I just wanted to check up on you,” Mhok continued, “You didn’t answer when I knocked the door so I just came in and found you looking distressed as if you were having a nightmare, that’s why I had to wake you up.”
Day put a hand on his forehead. He winced, reminiscing some parts of the dream. Ever since that day in the rain, he had been dealing with these unpleasantness for a while now.
“Are you okay, Day?” Mhok gazed at him in concern. He had kind of figured out the cause of Day’s nightmares.
“I’m not,” Day admitted, having no energy to lie.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Day hesitated, not answering the question.
“If not me, you can talk to your parents as well.” Mhok added.
Day’s head shot up towards Mhok, “Huh?”
Mhok rubbed his forehead, “I mean, it’s been so long since you’ve contacted them, and you can ease a little by having a chat with them. You do miss them after all.”
Day sighed. Mhok wasn’t wrong. He did miss his parents terribly, and maybe it was about time he contacted them.
Day nodded, “I’ll do that, P’Mhok.”
Mhok smiled, “I’ve prepared breakfast. Come when you’re ready. We can eat together.”
Day’s heart warmed at his kind words and sweet gestures.
Why was P’Mhok so thoughtful and nice towards him?
Was he only doing his job?
Day was confused. He’d have to find answers.
After breakfast, Mhok followed Day to his room.
“Are you going to call your parents now?”
“Yes,” Day looked oddly nervous as if he were on an interview. Probably, Day didn’t know how to face his parents after neglecting them for so long.
“Should I set up the laptop?” Mhok offered.
“Sure.”
Mhok wasted no time before bringing the laptop and opening Skype.
“Will they be at home now?” Mhok placed the laptop on the table, positioning it in a way so that it was facing Day.
“Most probably. It’s a weekend.” Day informed.
“Oh okay,” With that, he called Day’s parents through Skype.
They had to wait for some time before his mother answered the call.
Day just sat in front of the laptop with clammy hands and an anxious body language .
“Oh my God! Day?” Day’s mother exclaimed. Her tone was dripping with disbelief and happiness.
“Mom?” Day called out to her. He felt a little less nervous after hearing his mother’s cheery tone.
“Are you okay, son?” Mhok stood by the side, peering into the screen, but she couldn’t see him.
Day hung his head low, “I’ve been doing well, but lately, that’s not the case.”
“What happened, Day?” She was immediately concerned and sad.
Mhok decided that she is a good mother who loves her child so much.
“Where’s dad?” Day asked another question.
Day’s mother knew what he was doing but didn’t pry him for answers.
She was just content that he was at least calling her.
“He’s in the living room,” she began walking, “I’ll go to him. He’s gonna be overjoyed.”
True to her words, Day’s dad was indeed on cloud nine after taking Day’s call.
“Oh, Day! We missed you so much!” His father was as excited as his mother.
Mhok took in this warm moment, and a smile adorned his face.
Mhok missed his parents now, whereas Day looked absolutely happy and peaceful. All the previous traces of uneasiness from the nightmare were long gone.
Mhok was glad that he helped Day to reconnect with his family.
They chatted for a long time, and Mhok decided that he should leave and give them some privacy.
He was beginning to go out of the room when he heard Day say, “I have someone to help me around now. I hired a cook.”
Mhok halted.
“P’Mhok, do you mind showing yourself to my parents?”
Mhok couldn’t leave anymore. Not when, Day asked him with so much sweetness.
“Yeah, sure.” Mhok sat beside Day on the bed, “Hi, I’m Mhok.” He introduced, smiling widely.
He wanted to leave a good first impression.
His parents were happy to see Mhok. At least Day was not alone anymore. At least Day let someone be close to him.
“Thank you for taking care of our son. He can be stubborn sometimes, but he’s a sweet kid.” His father said, making Day scrunch his eyebrows and pout.
“I’m not that stubborn,” Day interjected defensively, making all of them laugh.
They chatted for a long time about random things, and Day seemed to be in a better mood than he was in for the past few days.
Day’s parents liked Mhok. Mhok was charismatic and mature with his choice of words.
“Aren’t you such a charmer,” Day’s mother commented, “You must have a girlfriend.”
Mhok just chuckled at that. Asian parents were known to be comfortable in saying such things. He was used to it.
“I don’t,” He looked at Day, “I’m not interested.”
“Oh,” His mother was surprised, “Why is a young and handsome man like you single?”
Day’s father meddled in, “Okay, Jessy. Stop it now. I’m getting jealous.” He taunted her while she just smacked his arm.
She just whispered something in his ear, and he looked like he understood something finally.
Mhok could only stay confused about their whole secret ordeal. Well, it was not his business anyway, he thought.
Mhok could see that the couple were so in love with each other. Day had a healthy family who loved each other.
They reminded him of his own parents. He decided that he’d visit them sometime.
The conversation went on for some more time.
“Bye, mom and dad.” Day waved at his parents, “Will call you later.”
“Bye, Day. Bye, Mhok.” His mother waved as well, “Take care both of you. Okay?”
“Mhok,” Day’s father called, “Be with Day during all times. I just wanted to say that, that’s all.”
Mhok eyes widened in surprise. His father sounded like he was completely entrusting Day into Mhok’s hands.
Did his parents realize something that Day himself didn’t?
Day rolled his eyes, “That’s enough. Bye you all.”
His parents smiled at him before hanging up the call.
“Your parents are nice.” Mhok commented, glancing at Day.
“Yeah. A little too nice.”
Mhok laughed. He was about to stand up, but Day grabbed his arm.
Even Day was astonished how he managed to get a hold of him perfectly.
“Can I,” Day began, already feeling nervous, “Can I touch your face?”
Mhok’s heart skipped a beat, “Huh?”
Did Mhok perhaps hear him wrong?
“I-I just want to know how you look like,” Day lifted his hands in the air, “So, can I?”
Day had been wondering about Mhok’s face for a while now. He had been living with that man for a little over a month now; he had to know what he looked like. And now that his mother called Mhok handsome, Day was even more curious.
Mhok blinked a few times, regaining his composure, “Sure.” He tried to sound normal.
He sat back down, facing Day.
“Can you guide my hands to your face?”
Mhok shut his eyes. This was all too much.
How much longer should he bear with his longing and aching heart?
Mhok grasped Day’s hands and placed it on either side of his face.
Day’s fingers slowly traced over Mhok’s face, engraving every single detail into his memory. Day’s eyebrows were pulled into a focused frown as he explored every inch of Mhok’s face with his gentle fingers.
His fingers grazed over Mhok’s black stud on his left ear, making his heart beat rapidly. He tried to convince himself that this whole situation was not weird, but his hands that lingered on Mhok’s face longer than necessary proved otherwise.
Mhok’s eyes involuntary closed, savoring the touch of Day on him. His breath hitched when Day’s touch traveled along his mouth.
The Heavens were testing him, Mhok thought.
Day’s fingers ran through Mhok’s hair. Day smiled, “Your hair is soft.”
“Y-Yeah?”
Day laughed, “You sound funny, P’Mhok.”
The audacity to laugh at him after making him feel butterflies.
“You don’t have a girlfriend, Day?” Mhok couldn’t stop his mouth from asking such an invasive question.
Mhok already knew the answer, but he just wanted to hear Day say it.
Day laughed nervously and withdrew his hands, “That was so random.”
Mhok stayed silent, wishing the earth to split and eat him alive.
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Day finally answered.
Mhok was surprised when he received an answer, “Why?”
Day shrugged, “I haven’t been interested in anyone.”
“Ever?” Mhok asked with hope bubbling in him.
“Yes.” Day continued, “It’s been like that always. I’ve had female friends, though. They are nice to me.”
Mhok wanted to ask the question that was burning on his tongue, but that was Day’s battle to face. Day would have to take his own time and figure out what he wanted. He didn’t want to take away Day’s right to explore his own likes.
Mhok knew it better because he had come out to his parents. It was undoubtedly tough, but his parents were supportive. They loved their son after all.
It’s always better to come out of the closet willingly.
“Day,” Mhok began, “Are you ready to go out?”
Day thought for some time. P’Mhok was unpredictable, he thought.
“It’s been a week, right?” Day chuckled, “I think I can manage that. You’re coming with me?”
Mhok nodded, “Yes.”
“Where are we going?”
Mhok smiled, “To your favorite bakery.”
Day’s eyes lit up, “I’d love that.”
Mhok stood up, “We can go in the evening then.”
Day nodded.
“Okay then,” Mhok was about to walk away.
“Wait!”
Mhok turned around. This was the second time, this day.
“Are you doing all this as a part of your job?” Day asked, voicing out the question that was bugging him for some time now.
This was the moment. Mhok should’ve confessed his feelings right here, right now.
But he didn’t.
“No. I don’t think taking care of you is my job at all. I do it because I want to. Because I like to.” Mhok managed to say.
“Why?” Day’s voice was timid.
Mhok sighed, “I don’t know.”
I don’t want you to know.
Day rubbed his chin, “Does that mean you take care of me because I’m dear to you. Does that make me your friend then?”
Mhok was speechless, “Yeah.”
Day smiled, “I’d like that. I’d like to have you in my life as a friend more than an employee.”
“As you wish, Day.”
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