Everyone Knew About It

After sparring with Dylan that morning, Draco had breakfast and prepared to leave for the office. But Riley still had not come down from his room. Draco did not think about it too much. The boy must have been exhausted after last night.

Leaving a few instructions to prepare a hangover soup and medicine for Riley, Draco left at around 8 AM.

But he did not know that as soon as his car left the garage, Riley sneaked a peak from his window to make sure he was gone. 

The boy's face behind the curtains was beet red.

The truth is, Riley had been awake as early as 6 AM, but he chose to hole up in his room, too ashamed to face Draco.

Riley remembered everything he had done last night. By everything meaning: his antics at Keith's restaurant to his stubborn insistence on a piggyback ride from Draco. And to give Draco a light peck on his chin.

Thinking about all that he'd done, Riley felt mortified!

What would Draco think of him after yesterday? He acted so unreserved and spoiled!

Right now, he was not ready to face the man yet. 

Everything was still fresh in his mind. It was distracting.

Moving away from the window, Riley jumped on the bed and rolled a few times. Groaning, he pulled a pillow over his face to muffle his frustrated shouts. His brain kept flashing all the scenes from the night before. He couldn't stop it! Argh!

Throwing the pillow away, Riley picked up his phone and dialed Lark's number to apologize for his behavior. He at least had to do this one. Besides, Riley knows Lark, and he is confident his friend will forgive him.

After a few rings, Lark answered.

"Hey, Ry! How's your head? Hangover?"

"Hello, Lark! I'm fine. I only wanted to say sorry about my behavior last night! I told you I was a lightweight!"

Riley heard laughter from the other line before Lark asked, "You remembered everything?"

"Yeah… I couldn't believe I did that to you and Draco."

"So, you remembered hugging and kissing me…?" Lark teased.

Riley instantly replied, "I did not! I remembered, however, that I hugged Draco thinking he was a pillow."

"Yeah, you did. And even declared Draco as yours."

There was something about Lark's tone that Riley could not put his finger on exactly. Like his friend knows something he was not saying to Riley. But before he could clarify, Lark was back to teasing him. "And you wouldn't let go of me too! I did not know you're so promiscuous, Ry!"

"I'm not! And I was drunk, okay?! Argh!" Then forgetting his earlier worry, Riley vowed, "I will never drink another bottle of liquor again, ever."

The two friends kept talking for a while until Riley heard his stomach grumble in hunger. After telling Lark he needed to eat breakfast, Riley ended the call with a promise to contact him again.

Riley had just gotten off the phone when he heard a soft knock on his door. He looked at the clock and saw it was already half past 8. He had been talking with Lark for the last 30 minutes.

"Mr. Riley? Are you awake?" Riley heard someone call out.

Getting up, Riley opened the door. A cute girl wearing a maid's uniform was standing outside. He'd been living in the mansion for a few days now, yet it was his first time meeting the girl. He was not surprised. The other servants, for the most part, work silently and almost out of sight. Often, Uncle Oliver would be present to cater to Draco and Riley's needs.

Standing in front of Riley, the girl shyly said, "I'm sorry to disturb you, Mr. Riley. But Mr. Sy instructed us to wake you up and don't let you don't miss breakfast."

Hearing Draco's name, Riley cannot help feeling shy. His cheeks were immediately tainted red. Feeling awkward, his hand came up to scratch the back of his head.

"No, it's fine. I was already up."

The girl giggled, ogling at Riley's blushed cheeks. Riley was a little bothered about the look the girl was giving him. As if she was privy to his secrets. Weird.

"Then please come down and dine, Mr. Riley. We have reheated the food as per Mr. Sy's instruction."

When Riley heard her address him formally again, he cringed inside. The girl doesn't even look much older than him.

"You can just call me Riley," he finally told her. "And you are?"

"I am Lily, sir-. I mean Riley," she introduced herself, smiling.

Riley returned her smile and responded, "Nice to meet you, Lily. I hope we can get along."

Afterward, Lily hurried away, her face red as a tomato. Tilting his head, puzzled, Riley followed her downstairs to the dining room.

Riley had just seated himself at the table when Dylan came strolling into the room, yawning.

"Good morning, Dy!" Riley greeted, placing a tablecloth on his lap, prepared to eat.

"Yo, Little Riley! Woke up late?" Dylan asked, then not waiting for Riley to respond, he added, "I heard you went out with Boss Draco last night. How was it?"

Not expecting Dylan's inquiry, Riley squirmed in his seat. He cautiously replied, "Uhm, yes. I went to see my friend. He came with me."

Just then, Uncle Oliver came out of the kitchen with Lily in tow, holding a tray with a bowl of soup.

"Riley, drink this hangover soup. We had this prepared for you. Mr. Sy had left specific orders to make sure you drink this."

Riley wanted to bury his head under the table. Why is Draco treating him like some precious little boy in need of care and attention? And even letting everyone know he got drunk. It is making Riley feel guilty and embarrassed.

It did not help at all when Dylan also pointed out the obvious, "Did you drink too much last night? Feels like the boss is very concerned about you, Little Riley."

Actually, Dylan heard all the gossip about Draco giving Riley a piggyback ride last night. Including the fact that Draco stayed for a while inside Riley's room. 

The servants were in a buzz. After a long time of boring everyday life serving their cold and aloof master, there was finally some excitement. Everyone could feel that things around the mansion were about to change.

Observing Little Riley's reaction, Dylan had an inkling that the boy was self-conscious from the attention given to him. If his flighty eyes were not a giveaway already, his red cheeks definitely are.

"So, what happened last night?" Dylan asked, pretending to be ignorant as he picked up his cutlery.

"Huh?! N-nothing. Why did you ask? Did you hear something?"

"What do you mean? Like what?" Dylan kept pretending. Inside, he was grinning. He wanted to see how Riley would broach the subject with him.

At first, Riley was reluctant to tell Dylan. However, he had no one to talk to about what happened. So, eventually, he confessed. "Uhm… Well, I kinda acted like a rotten kid last night. And I may have or may not have taken advantage of Draco. Now, I don't know how to face him."

"Oh? Are you referring to the thing a little birdie told me, that the boss carried you on his back around the house? Hmm?"

"You knew about it?!" Riley exclaimed, surprised. His eyes were wide as saucers.

Undaunted by Riley's response, Dylan swallowed his food before telling him matter-of-factly, "Everyone in this house knows about it already."

"Argh! No!" Riley said in dismay. He suddenly lost the appetite to eat. Putting down the silverware, Riley brought his palms over his face, then slid it down until it only covered his mouth.

"But don't worry. All the servants were carefully selected. They will not tell anyone outside this estate."

If Dylan thought Riley would be comforted after hearing that, he was wrong. Agitated, Riley said, "And you think that's okay? I'm dying of mortification here."

Still hoping to alleviate Riley's worries, Dylan tried to downplay it again. "It's not as bad as you think if you ask me. And I know for a fact that everyone likes you. Don't be so anxious. No one will think less of you."

Even after Dylan's reassurance, Riley was still worried. How was it not wrong? Even a while ago, Lily had looked at him with weird eyes. Now he understands why. 

Everyone must have a very low opinion of him now.

He got home drunk and had their respected boss cater to his whims and demands. He could only imagine what they were saying about him.

Riley suddenly wishes time would pass by quickly, so classes would start and he could stay at the dorm.

After that day, Riley took every opportunity to avoid Draco. He started having his breakfast later than usual and to the extent of skipping dinner so that he would not bump into Draco.

At first, Draco thought it was just a coincidence. But after days of not even a glimpse of Riley's shadow, he definitely realized the boy was hiding from him. And it didn't do any good to his temper and everyone around him.

When the third day came, Draco's mood was already as dark as the clouds during a raging storm.

It was catastrophic.