EMBRACE
It was decided, Ruan and the three bullies all got suspended for two weeks. Ruan didn't regret it though. He thought it was good for him to spend sometime alone to calm down.
It was the weekends; he was in his room playing video games when his maid told him he had visitors. It was Kev and the twins
"Are you good, bro?" Est asked. "We were worried about you?"
"Hey, who do you think I am? I'm fine."
"Sorry, it's my fault." Kev said low and sad.
Ruan smirked, laying his hand on Kev's back. "Hey, it's no one's fault. That jackass stepped out of his boundaries and he deserved a beating. Didn't he guys?"
West and Est shook their heads agreeing on what Ruan said.
"So chill out man. Jay is under control and nobody, even T.J. going to come near you." Ruan assured.
Kev nodded slightly, with a smile.
"We are sorry too. We weren't good friends after all." West said.
"No, no, no. You guys are the best." Kev opposed.
The three hugged each other. And soon they were playing video games and enjoyed the rest of day.
In the evening sky had turned dusky purple when Ruan sat on the edge of his bed, the silence in his room heavy and suffocating. His hand rubbed the fresh bruise on his cheek—warm, tender, a sharp reminder of the fight earlier.
The door burst open suddenly. Eric's furious voice broke the quiet.
"Do you have any idea what you've done? Suspended for two weeks, a fight, ruining our family's name!"
"Enough with this 'ruining family name thing'. I can't deal with it right now." He said calmly but in a bitter voice.
Eric's hand came down hard on Ruan's face—once. "Don't you dare talk back!"
Ruan's jaw clenched tightly. Anger surged inside him, but also a deep, aching loneliness. Finally, he stood up, his voice low but burning with defiance.
"Maybe if you understood me… maybe if you saw me instead of what you want me to be."
His father's eyes narrowed with rage. "I'm your father! You'll respect me!"
"I'm tired," Ruan said, his voice cracking. "Tired of fighting all the time. Tired of feeling like I'm never enough for anyone."
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed his jacket and stormed out into the cool night air. The city lights flickered, distant and cold. He found himself at the park nearby—the one place he felt he could breathe.
There he sat by the cold night and gazed at the people who happily passed by him. He pulled out something from his jacket. It was the doll from the school club. He played with it in his fingers. Then after some time he pulled out his phone. His phone trembled in his hand as he dialled Akari's number.
Luckily Akari picked up. It was a new number so he just replied with a, "hello, who is this?"
"Hi. It's me Ruan. Are you free right now?"
Ruan sounded very calm than his normal. So low and bitter. Akari too. It had been days since he last heard from Ruan. And he couldn't help, but worry how he was doing.
Ruan sent him the location and within few minutes Akari arrived at the park, breathless and eyes wide with concern.
"Ruan? Are you okay?" He asked directly as soon as he arrived.
Ruan beamed weakly, he pulled out the doll and talked to it, "Tch... I didn't know my teacher was this worried. So why didn't you look for me?"
Akari sighed, rolling his eyes. "Hey, you called me to play games?"
He turned to go, but Ruan grabbed his hand. Akari slowly turned his head, and looked at the clasp. Ruan held him, with the bandaged hand. The hand that hit Jay. Then he drifted his look up at Ruan.
"I'm done with playing. Please don't go," Ruan said pouting.
Akari's brows arched. He had spotted a new bruise blooming on Ruan's cheek. He raised his hand and held Ruan's chin and tilted his head and bit to get a good view of it.
Ruan offered a weak, half-smile, trying to hide the pain. "Jay's handiwork." He lied.
"You had a fight with him again?" Akari asked in concern.
He nodded. Akari sighed sitting beside Ruan on the bench. His face fell.
"You need to stop. This isn't just about fights anymore, big boy." Akari muttered worriedly. Ruan stared at him smiling as he spoke.
"Hm...I won't do it again. I won't do anything that will worry you again, coat check." Ruan said, smiling.
"Don't think about me. Think about yourself more. Your grades and future."
Ruan lowered his head getting a bit serious, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for things to get out of hand at school."
"You don't have to apologize to me. But you need to take care of yourself Ruan." Akari said, placing his hand on Ruan's thigh.
Ruan chuckled, looking up, "Jeez, you sound just like an old man right now."
"Quit with the jokes." Akari said, smiling a bit.
They sat and star gazed for a while. But Ruan's eyes were on Akari the whole time.
Suddenly Akari stood up. "It's late. You should go home now, big boy."
"Can I...can I stay over tonight?" Ruan said voice shaky but eyes focused.
Akari hesitated. It was a bit risky.
"Please. I just...I need someone. Please." Akari said.
This time Akari saw the raw need in Ruan's eyes and he couldn't resist it.
"Have you eaten?" Akari asked instead.
Ruan shook his head, no.
"Let's go. I will make us instant noodles," Akari offered.
Ruan smiled brightly. He stood up and held hands with Akari. "Let's go."
Akari yanked his hand out slightly, "Don't flatter yourself. It's only tonight." He said leading the way.
Ruan smiled and followed.
They arrived Akari's apartment and had their dinner.
Akari's apartment was small, the bed barely big enough for one. That night, Akari laid on his narrow mattress while Ruan curled up on the floor beside it. The lights were off and everything was quite.
After a long silence, Ruan finally spoke, his voice narrow and serious. "Hey coat check, are you asleep?"
"No," Akari replied, voice low and polite.
Silence overcrowded for some few seconds before Ruan finally spoke.
"My mom...she's broken." Ruan started. "Ever since my dad married her, he has been hitting her. I tried to help bu..." he sniffled. "She couldn't fight back, so she drowned in pain...in drugs. Just to numb it all. I hate him for it. And I couldn't do anything about it but complain. I wonder if dad loved her even a bit." He sniffled again. "This thing of being called illegitimate since I was born feels like I'm a burden to her too."
Akari's heart clenched. He looked at Ruan as he opened up in the dim light. He, himself couldn't help the tears sliding to his cheek just as Ruan.
"Want a shoulder to cry on?" Akari asked.
Ruan looked up at him. Akari tapped on his bed. There was a space for one. Without hesitation, Ruan reached out. He slowly, shifted and crawled closer until he was half on the bed.
Ruan held him closer, squeezing Akari's slim waist hard enough to feel the fragile bones beneath, as if anchoring himself to the warmth of Akari's body. Akari shivered, overwhelmed by the strength and tenderness in Ruan's grasp.
Tears welled in Ruan's eyes, spilling silently as he buried his face in Akari's neck.
Akari tightened his hold, wrapping his arms around Ruan's broad shoulders, offering what comfort he could. "It's okay. I'm here."
Ruan's voice was barely audible as he murmured against Akari's skin, "Don't let go."
They stayed like that for a long time, two souls finding solace in the quite strength of each other's embrace.