"Henry is trying to use you, and I promise you it will never end well." Willaims entreat.
"Charlotte said thesame thing, now you too? Why aren't you guys trying to be happy for me?" Glen said with a despondent smile. "Do you know how many years that I've wished for this day to come? I…" his remaining words hanged.
Williams went into a turbulent debate in his head.
That fucker made it clear yesterday! So why?
He clenched his jaw, balling his fist, the veins on his forehead swole up.
Just when I am this close to having everything under control that bastard is telling me he now does guys too? He scoffed in disdain.
He drew his breathe to calm his nerves and shifted his eyes to Glen when his pupil went stunned. Glen had a bruise on the side of his neck. Hickey?
Williams hands moved unconsciously. He stretched Glen's T-shirt collar revealing more neck skin to get a clear look at the bruising.
Glen flinched wedging Williams by his shoulder startled. "Senior Williams??!"
There were more bruising, hickeys to be precise.
"Glen, did you sleep with Henry?" Williams enquired totally agitated.
Glen's face flushed with embarrassment. He hastily pulled Williams hands away from his collar and pulled his collar up in place to obscure the hickey marks. His head hung low.
Williams looked at Glen with fear in his eyes, expecting a "no"
"I…." Glen hung his head more lower. "I—"
"I see." Willaims cut in. His head hung heavy by the tangling feeling in his chest. "Glen…" He raised his head up, pain filled in his eyes as he looked at Glen in the eyes." I need to let him know how I feel…
Glen unconsciously locked eyes with Willaims. He couldn't understand why Willaims eyes looked like it was going through an emotional turmoil.
"I…" Williams breathe and let out a constrained smile. "Well, Glen, if anything happens I'm right here for you. I wish for you to be happy, today, tomorrow and forever." He said moving his hands to Glen's cheeks softly caressing it.
Glen was plastered with a confused expression. "Senior Williams…" He breathes and beamed a smile. "Thank you for wishing me well."
A smile crossed William's face, but his eyes revealed his lingering discontent.
"Shoot!" Glen blotted out abruptly and quickly took a glance at his wrist watch. "I have to get going inside. See you later senior Williams." He said and hastily entered the cafe.
Williams stood there, his feelings overwhelmed.
The memory of the the hickey on Glen's neck triggered a vivid flash back of Henry's eyes sneering at him in contempt.
Ah…How am I supposed to make you understand that you're going to get hurt seriously Glen?
— — -
"You insolent bastard!"
Phil's father; Nicholas bellowed. "How many times do I have to clean up after you?! If not for your mother I would've silenced your miserable existence!!."
Phil's shoulders heaved in fury. He glared at his father, his eyes shot bullets at him. His lip was tore and throbbing from the painful slap his father had landed upon him.
His father abruptly hurled an ashtray at him, grazing his cheek with a narrow miss. His pupil dilated.
Immediately Phil's mother rushed in and Grabbed Nicholas before he'd do worse. "Honey! Please that's enough!" She bellowed fearfully.
Nicholas grabbed his wife by her wrist, his wrath was palpable. "What did the headline say again?! The son of famous Nicholas Anderson involved in a scandalous rape case and was found in possession of hard drugs?!" He shoved her away, his disappointment and anger was clear. "It's all because of your ignorance that this fool has become a nuisance to this household! If you didn't keep letting him do want he wanted, this would not be happening!"
Phil clenched his jaw—his lips trembled, tears swelling up in his eyes. He hesitated unsure wether he'd leave or confront his father, but rebelling against his father could be disastrous.
Nicholas charged towards Phil again to continue at him with his hands but his wife still grabbed him. "Phil! Leave right now, you're going to get hurt."
Phil couldn't help but think of the time when his father had found out about his relationship with Glen and threatend to send him outside the country if he didn't end things with Glen.
"But I like him dad!" Phil said fretfully. "I don't wish for any other thing but him."
"Have you finally gone insane that you'd fearlessly confess that you feel something for a man in front of me?!" His father bellowed his eyes filled with disgust. "You're going to get engaged to the second daughter of Halle as soon as possible! You can't bring shame to my reputation!"
"Dad I promise, I'd do anything you want if you let this relationship happen." Phil implored and went on his knees determined.
Nicholas pupils dilated seeing Phil's determination. "You fucking repulsive…" the expletive paused as he landed a heavy slap on Phil beating him aggressively before his mother came and interfered.
Nicholas let him go breathing frantically. "First thing tomorrow morning, you're leaving this country. And until you have succeeded in making me believe that you've been redeemed, I'll make sure you rot in Canada."
Terror came across Phil's face. "What? Dad, I'm sorry, please…" he propped himself up.
"Thompson!"
Nicholas yelled his bodyguard's name, some hint of anger still apparent in his tone.
The man Thompson came running to his aid. "Yes? Sir Nicholas." He was burly and wore a black suite.
"Make sure this fool does not leave this house, he's leaving this country tomorrow, otherwise he might try to run away."
"Okay, sir." Thompson said with a slight bow.
Nicholas breathes and shoot Phil one last glare adjusting his shirt before walking away.
Thompson grabbed Phil by his arm. "Follow me to your room."
"No!" Phil tried to run after his father but the bodyguard was too strong for him to shake off. "I'm sorry! I'll change my behavior! Please don't send me away!"
Nicholas feigned ignorance to Phil's imploring as he exited the sitting room.
Phil was sent outside the country the following day. His father sent one of their house help to act as a guardian there for him.
He'd call his mother pleading with her to beg his father on his behalf but her hands were tied. He was in a strange country and to had to blend in somehow, he took English classes so he'd be able to communicate with his other English students.
After one month had passed. He called his father and asked to come back home that he'd changed, but his father doubted. There wasn't any hint of redemption in his tone.
One day while on his way going back to his apartment, he'd noticed someone was stalking him, at first he was terrified and soon lost the stalker.
Instead of rushing home, he went back to find this stalker and fortunately saw him slink behind a wall in the dark alley.
The man pulled his phone out of his pocket and took brief glances around his surroundings before bringing his phone close to his ears. "Mr Nicholas, there's nothing for now.."
Phil's eyes stunned and he quickly retreated behind a wall. I see…my father sent someone to spy on me. He chuckled silently. Glad I found out just on time. He smiled mischievously.
After Phil's discovery, he'd hang around the top students in the school, and studied with them. He passed his exams and graduated with a high score as top 3 student in the school. He had gotten himself a girlfriend too.
All these information were sent to Nicholas alongside photo evidence.
Nicholas smirked in satisfaction seeing Phil's accomplishments and that was when he called him on phone.
"Congratulations son, you're coming back home."
Phil sat in his dark room, books scattered across the floor. His face radiated joy and fufilment. "Thank you dad."
****
Phil blinked and his past disappeared, replaced by the unresolved tension in front of him. He grabbed his car keys from the sofa and paced out of the living room. He could still hear his father's yell he exited the house.
Phil's started the car engine aggressively and peeled out of the driveway, the car tires screeched as he dodged a moving Vehicle, he didn't care, he just needed to run far from his father's rage. His mind raced and before he'd known, he had almost ran into an old man crossing the street and stepped on his brakes with full on force—veering his steering into another car. The two cars grazed each other.
The driver of the other car rushed out and began to berate at Phil's shut—tinted window.
People in the area grew concerned and gathered to resolve the situation.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit!"
Phil cursed, scowling at the mess he'd just created. He knew he was in another dip shit. He refused to get down his car and go face to face with the angry man he'd just bashed his car.
Scared that he'd be on the news again, he put on a hat and a face mask. He finally stepped down and bowed his head apologetically to the man who continued to berate him with series of angry words. As he stood there seething with anger and humiliation, he took a furtive glance at the crowd. And then his eyes locked onto a familiar figure that made his heart to skip a beat. It was Glen, this time it was unmistakably him. He forgot the berating man and sprinted to the direction of the figure.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
The angered man yelled, but Phil seemed have something more serious to attend to at that moment.
It's Glen, I can't let him slip again.
Glen kept walking forward, oblivious to Phil who was running after him.
Before Phil could reach him, he'd hailed a taxi and swiftly ducked into the taxi and it sped away.
Phil came to a stop and watched helplessly as the taxi drove off.
"Fuck!"
He cursed and kicked a pole close to him frustrated. I let him slip again.