Chapter 8

This place used to feel homie, a place where he could hide and escape the world with full confidence of his safety guaranteed. 

Reece could not bring himself to reply to Mark Logan's flirtatious greetings. 

"Mark.. please do tell that son of mine to hurry up" his mother's voice rang through the building.

 "Come on sweet cheeks, we can't keep everyone waiting" Watching his back disappear towards the direction of the dining, Reece casually slumps to the wall, his hand over his beating heart. 

Last night had been peaceful, unlike the fears that he had bottled up, he was more than grateful Aryan made no moves on him, he was gentle and had taken the initiative to prepare breakfast before his departure.

 This was his home but deep down Reece wished he could return to the home of Aryan. For some reason, his mind could not think of a safer place despite his head reminding him of his experience with Aryan.

 Reece watched his mother and everyone laugh and chat like the family they were. All the laughter ceased as soon as his presence was noticed, for some reason his heart felt heavy. 

Pulling out a seat he quickly sat down not trusting his legs to keep him up for very long. His sister's smile towards him was enough to have him brighten up.

 "Brother you're late, but not to worry I saved you some mandarins, I know they are your favorite" Shelly wasted no time in passing it over to him which Reece took to peeling it almost immediately. 

The family ate in silence and no one dared utter a word. The tension hovering around was enough to be sliced through with a butcher's knife. Reece took in a few spoons of rice but for some reason, he could not go further.

 "I'm done" he announced standing up to head to his room.

 "Finish your food young man" his father backs angrily. Reece looked at the delicious dishes spread on the table but like always everything had something he was allergic to. Was it parsley, or peas, or shrimps? 

He felt the sudden urge to throw up as he ran to the guest bathroom emptying everything in his stomach out of the toilet pot.

 "Reece… brother are you okay?" Shelly asked dashing out after him but everyone maintained their seats like nothing was happening.

 Gagging to his satisfaction, Reece rinsed out his mouth walking out with a blurry vision, he wanted nothing but to lay in bed and let sleep sing deep into his bones and take away all the hurt and pain he had bottled up within. 

"It's okay, finish your meal" he smiles at Shelly urging her to the table as he takes the stairs. 

"Come back here young man" Mr Mcrocal was not the type to repeat his words and Reece knew too well. He walked as fast as he could despite the protest from his body to take a break.

 "You eat and you dont leave if the food isn't finished" he orders. Reece glanced over at the food and gagged even more but his stomach was empty.

 "I can't eat. I don't feel good and I do not eat all those" he points at the food. 

"You will do as you're told… Why do you have to always be picky? I provide for you, I give you all you have ever wanted and now because you are eighteen you think you have suddenly grown wings to challenge me in my own house?" Reece was not in the mood for another display with his family, but from the looks of it, they weren't ready to let him off the hook.

 "I am not hungry... Why do you force me?" his words came out more like a whisper. 

"Force you?" his father scoffs disdainfully. 

"You have forced us to be your parents for the past eighteen years, do you think we are happy having a son who is like this?" The disgusting look cast on him by both his mother and Father had his heart sank to the depths of his stomach. 

"Like what? Like gay?" Reece laughs, staring at those who ought to be protecting him. 

"I have never done anything right in your eyes... I have never had another man but you cast your judgment on me just because I look feminine. 

It's your fault for having a child who picks up your genie… I wish I were adopted" The last line was not meant to be said out loud but it was rather too late to take them back. 

"You are a curse and no one will want to adopt you. Reece I regret the day I gave birth to a son like you, you shouldn't have lived" The words of his mother did not mean anything, it's been the same words for as long as he could remember. She has always wished she had not given birth to him.

 "Reece you don't talk to father and mother like that" Reece turned to the son of the house.

 "Wow… Mr. Perfect. I have been compared to you all through my life, Ray. I can never do anything right because I have a perfect big brother.

 I have had to put up with you and that nasty prick of a best friend of yours and you stand here dare tell me what to do?" Ray clenches his fist hard. 

"You had been the one to seduce him… you're a slut" Ray's words rang in Reece's head like a church bell. 

Mark had been the one who came up to his room in the heart of the night when all was still and quiet. He was gay and his parents were much aware but still loved him like a son. 

" I dare you to say that again Ray… say I am a slut." Reece demanded his eyes holding back a thousand emotions. Reece clutched his clothes taking deep breaths, so much was happening.

 He just got raped and his abuser is his teacher. Not only does he need their support but he needs their care and here they were acting worse than his abuser. 

"My house shall not harbor whores. Now leave" Reece did not get the time to digest the words of his father when he found himself outside in a pouring rain. He was wet within seconds. 

"Dad… Daddy, please open the door. Dad, I don't feel well" he pleaded, banging the door from outside, but no matter how many times he called out to them or rang, no one came to his aid. It was all hopeless. His tired body slumps to the wet floor.

His vision was blurry... Reece reaches out one last time but his body is too weak to knock. He could feel the approaching hands of the dead and all he wanted was a break. If death would give him a break, he was more than ready to dive hard into its embrace. 

"REECE"