The Master of the House

Yuki staggered from where he was standing which caused his back knee hit the bench behind him. He stumbled and reflexively grasped on something for support but Elle Ralez was quick enough to grab his waist and pull Yuki's body close to his. 

"I-I…"

Holy's name came out of nowhere. A dead student mentioned by the transferee. And the transferee looking for him. 

'Why?'

"Did I startle you that much?"

Yuki flinched when Elle Ralez's breath fanned his face. They were so close and he just realized that this guy might hear his heart pounding so loudly. He cannot think of a reason why he's looking for him because of Holy. 

"Yuki."

Elle Ralez's voice was deep and calm as he called him. His hands on Yuki's waist moved up to his back, gently patting it as if soothing him. Yuki's gaze flickered up to his quiet gray eyes that seemed to negate the fact that he just mentioned Holy. 

"Calm down. I wasn't trying to shock you or anything."

Yuki bit his lower lip and looked away. He was trying to make sense of things but at the moment, he knew he just have to ask. 

"You… How do you know Holy?"

Finally, Yuki was able to ask him. He was able to look up to him as innocent as he was about what happened. 

"He's my brother."

'Brother?!'

Yuki whimpered. He couldn't believe it. Why would Holy's brother be here, clinging to him like this?! 

"Why… I don't understand."

A faint smile formed on Elle Ralez's lips. "You don't have to think much about it. I just wanted to know you better, Yuki."

"Why? Did you think that I have something to do with what happened? Are you here to take revenge or something?"

With that, Elle Ralez might have remained passive and silent but they're too close not to notice how an emotion flickered in his gray orbs. It was Yuki's cue to pull his body free from the transferee's hold. 

Elle Ralez let him go easily. They kept a safe distance from each other while Yuki was half-glaring and half-confused. He was alarmed and suspicious, and it bothered Elle Ralez how easily he destroyed the chance for Yuki to lower his defenses around him. 

He just wanted to be honest but obviously he didn't think it through. Now Yuki is even more wary of him. 

"Look Elle Ralez, I am sorry with what happened to Holy but I don't have anything to do with his death. Don't you ever bring up that topic again, you hear me?"

Yuki walked past him and went out of school in a hurry. His heart was beating so hard as he searched for Sho's familiar figure. The latter was talking over the phone but waved his hand when he saw him. 

Yuki ran and clutched the hem of his shirt, gasping for air. Sho instinctively put down the phone and asked him what happened but Yuki just shook his head and asked if they can go. 

Hopping on the bike, he glanced at the entrance of the school where Elle Ralez just got out, standing tall and still while staring at his direction. His uniform and watch shone with the rays of the sun but his face remained dim. 

Yuki hugged Sho's waist even tighter, looking away from the gate until they have finally driven away. 

***

It was around 6 in the evening when Yuki was finally able to arrive at home. He lives in a two-storey house with his mother, several maids and guards. It was not that big but his mother has always been obsessed with cleanliness and protection. 

Sho and Yuki entered the house walking beside each other. They were greeted with a quiet hallway with only some paintings hanging on the wall. 

Light footsteps suddenly came from above the grand staircase and a man in a white uniform and black vest appeared. 

It was Jie Horiichi, his mother's right hand man. He's a Japanese descent with black hair and snake-like eyes. 

"Master Yuki, welcome back."

Yuki smiled brightly as they climbed up the stairs. "Uncle Hori! How have you been?"

"I'm good, Young Master. How about you, did Jie Shiro feed you well?"

"Don't worry, Uncle Jie. He's taking care of me very well."

Sho grinned proudly at himself.

"Ah, is mother waiting for me?"

"She's preparing for dinner, Young Master. She told me to be at the dining at 6:30."

"Alright, I'll just go prepare to my room then. Sho, let's meet tomorrow. Thanks for today!" 

Yuki said, waving. Sho, as expected, bowed deeply at Yuki. Yuki inwardly groaned and ran up to his room. 

His room was the last one at the second floor. It was wide but not spacious as flushies, toys, and pillows are scattered all over. There is a door that connects to the bathroom and walk-in closet. Meanwhile his whole bedroom serves as his bed. 

Yuki sighed and dropped his bag on the floor, making him fall to the soft mattress and teddy bears. The familiar scent of sweet flowers filled his nose as he inhaled it in. He let the warmth engulf his body, taking away the pain of his sore muscles. He needed it to forget what happened. 

"I knew it."

"Eek!"

Yuki turned at the door. His Uncle Hiro was there, crossing his arms while looking at him. 

"Young Master, you shouldn't let Master Hana wait."

He was reffering to his mother. 

"Sorry about that, Uncle. I was just tired and I kinda missed my bed. Don't worry, I'm up! I'll be out in a minute."

With that, Yuki scrambled to take off his clothes and run to the shower room. He scrubbed the dirt and grime off his body in haste, shivering at Uncle Hiro's lethal gaze. 

When he was done, he dried his body and picked a simple white collared shirt and black trousers. He combed his wet hair and sprayed some perfume then went out of his room. 

He ran into some maids who greeted him with a gentle bow. Yuki smiled faintly at them and quietly made his way to the dining area. It was located on the first floor, in the back part of the house. It was covered with a glass wall and various plants and flowers surrounded it. 

Inside is a long table and a dozen of wooden chairs. Various foods lined up alternately with candles and intricately designed ornaments. It's more like a feast than a dinner. The extravagance was illuminated by a single golden chandelier at the top. 

"Yuki~"

Yuki's gaze flickered at the elegant voice of his mother, calling him in an endearing tone. She was there, sitting on chair at the head of the table, hands resting on the back of her palms. 

"Mom…" Yuki called back, sashaying towards her. His mother smiled widely, offerring her cheeks for Yuki's plump lips. 

Yuki kissed her mother and hugged her lightly, careful not to ruin her hair. She donned a burgundi dress with its hem flowing on the floor like spilt wine. Her fair skin glowed to the contrast of her dark red hair. As always, she wears her clothes like armor. 

"Sorry for not coming home yesterday."

"We're good. As long as Jie Shiro's with you."

Yuki remembered the reason why he didn't want to go home. Covered with bruises and cuts, he definitely cannot let his mother see. Good thing, it all vanished before he was summoned. But that's something he didn't want to tell her. 

Yuki sat beside his mother. As they ate in peace, she began to ask what Yuki has been expecting to hear. 

"I heard you had a scuffle with a classmate. Care to explain what happened?"

"Oh… it's nothing. We just had a bit of a misunderstanding. Didn't Sho told you?"

Yuki said casually, wiping his mouth with a tablecloth. 

His mother smiled, chewing on her vegetable salad for a moment. 

"He didn't. What kind of misunderstanding was it?"

Yuki almost scratched his chin unconsciously. "It's just… someone was bothering me a bit. But I already told them off, don't worry."

"Simon, was it? I know his father. A wise businessman. I never imagined we'd someday talk about our son fighting at school. Nor did I imagine you would be involved in such a…situation."

Yuki groaned. "Me neither."

Dodgy about the facts, Yuki acted engrossed with his typical dinner of steak and wine. But he can definitely feel her stares boring a hole through his head. Well, she has every right to be suspicious. 

Hana Del Ferrer has always been an overprotective mother to Yuki. She never failed to miss anything about his son. Despite her asking, Yuki knows she's fully aware of what happened. But she might as well be clueless of Simon's strange behaviors towards him. One thing Yuki's sure of, her mother has already resolved the issues that might inflict any damage to Yuki in the future. Hence Simon's absence in his radius. 

While enjoying their mousse, Hana opened up to Yuki about her plans. 

"I'm going to Tokyo on Monday. Your grandma summoned me. It will take at least a week."

Yuki slowly dropped his spoon, staring at her mom with a curious face. 

"What did she want?"

"Don't worry. Knowing her, it can't be life-threatening. On the other hand, you, are the one I'm worried about." 

Hana said, pointing a spoon in her son's direction. Yuki rolled his eyes, spreading his arms wide on the side. 

"Mom, look at me, I'm not a child anymore!"

"I know. It's not you but the people around you."

"It's been years Mom. Did somebody ever dared mess with me?"

Upon saying that, he himself remembered Simon. 

"Technically, yes."

His mother noted. 

"That's why I'm thinking of another session before I leave. 

She said that word as if it meant nothing. But for Yuki, it was way despiteful. And hearing him suddenly feel uncomfortable on his seat.