BACK IN THE PAST

Before Eros left home…

A high school memory…

[EROS' POV]

"Ros, Ros, Ros." He says as he pulls my pants down as I'm busy preparing for today's class.

"El, stop that, I'm almost late."

"You're not. You still have 20 minutes before your classes start."

I sigh and I wear again my pants for school, "El, I didn't forget what I've promised to you, okay?"

His eyes lightened up and attached again his hands on my shirt, "Really? You don't forget the ice cream that you've promised?"

I smile and pat his head, "Of course, silly. I won't forget the ice cream that I've promised. I will buy it later at Daphne's."

He jumps up and down, "Okay, okay. I won't be a naughty kid now and I will release you from my spell."

He closes his eyes and whispers something, then he removes his hand from my shirt.

"Tada!" He smiled and he opens his eyes.

"How can you be so adorable?"

"Like this?" He pouts.

I chuckle, "Alright, El, you stay here okay?"

"I'll take care of him, Ros. You should go now." Mom said as she went out from the kitchen.

"Yes, mom. Don't forget his homework for tomorrow, he has plenty of homework and needed to be done!" I said as I went out of the house.

Ellis and I have different times when it comes to our classes and we rarely have the same time, when we do, we go home together.

Moreover, there are times when Ellis leaves early from school and I get to stay behind because of group projects, and sometimes, Ares and Eryx would like me to join them in the arcade and play video games at their homes.

When I come with them, I always go home late and mom would scold me for being irresponsible, and Ellis would always wait for me before going to bed.

But, I can't blame myself because I enjoy playing games with Ares and Eryx, and it would give me some time alone but I don't want to make Ellis wait, so recently, I've been avoiding Ares and Eryx whenever they want me to join them. But not in a bad way, I mean, I'm not avoiding them, I'm just lessening the fact that I'm with them all the time.

As time went by, classes ended and I'm about to go straight ahead but Ares and Eryx already stopped me from leaving.

"Where are you going?" Ares asked.

"Home," I answered.

"But, we're going to my house today. We're going to try our new game, right?"

I forgot about that. I'm so busy worrying about Ellis and the ice cream, I forgot about the new game that Ares bought yesterday.

"Maybe, next time?" I smile sarcastically.

Ares snorts, "Unfair! You said you're going to come." And he continues, "So, you're leaving me with Eryx?"

"What's wrong with me?" Eryx asked.

I chuckle.

"It's fun if we're complete," Ares added.

"Sorry." I plainly said.

I'll just have to make it up to them. We're already walking down the stairs while Ares is walking beside me, "Are you sure you don't want to join us?" He asked when we got out of school.

"I promised Ellis I would buy him ice cream as soon as classes end," I say.

"You are such a lovable brother." Eryx teases and continues, "I wish I have a brother like you."

"But you have plenty. You have 7 brothers!" Ares teases him which is true! He has plenty of brothers but they are all older than him and they are all serving their Father, which is the mafia boss.

Eryx rolls his eyes, "But they have anger issues like Father and they are ugly."

We laugh at the way he says it.

"Anyway, I have to go. The store might close soon. I'll make it up to you guys. Maybe tomorrow?" I say to them and I walk away while they're saying goodbye to me.

"Don't just make promises if you're going to break it, Eros!" Ares shouted.

I laugh deep inside.

Our school is just near our house and also the ice cream store. Mom is busy at the bakeshop and Ellis would be waiting for me at home, so I would go straight to our house after I buy ice cream.

When I already see the ice cream store, I run to it because I already see Daphne preparing to close the store.

"Daphne, wait!" I say to her.

"Oh, Eros! What took you so long? I thought you're not going to buy today."

"I have to. I promised Ellis." I answered and I took a deep breath and exhaled.

That was exhausting! Maybe, I need to work out my lungs in the future and have a more masculine body.

She smiles and scratches her short back hair, "Alright, alright, don't worry, I already prepared one chocolate ice cream and one vanilla ice cream, just in case you buy today."

I smile, "Really?"

"Of course! I would not reject my regular customer." She laughs.

I got money from my pocket and I give it to her, she went inside the store and after a moment, she brought out a paper bag with two ice creams inside.

I smile as I'm looking at it.

"Thank you so much, Daphne!" I smile and I quickly walk away from the store.

"You're welcome, Eros. Say hello to Ellis from me!" I heard her say and I nodded to her.

"Okay! Bye!"

While walking, I could already Ellis's smile when he sees his ice cream and he will look so adorable.

As I almost reach the house, I've noticed a man standing in front of our gate, peeking from outside, like he's looking for someone.

I carefully walk towards him and he looks decent. He is wearing pants, long sleeves, and expensive shoes. He looks plain but his face is a little bit okay. Maybe, too good to be okay.

But still, even a decent person can have bad intentions, so I still don't know what he's up to.

"Who are you looking for?" I say to him and he is startled. Is he like this because someone found out about him? Or he's just surprised that a stranger like me, a kid, is talking to him?

"Oh, no, I'm not looking for anyone." He answered and I'm still staring at him differently.

"Are you lost?"

"I've been looking for a house."

"And you're suddenly interested in our house?"

"You're living here?" His eyes widen.

"Why? Are you having bad motives?"

Now, I'm getting some more clues.

He chuckles, "You're a smart little kid. That's how you talk with strangers, that's good. It's better to be safe than sorry."

"What do you want?" I asked him.

"What's your name, kid?"

He moves closer and I just stand still because I'm not afraid of him. If he's going to do something to me, just do it. But leave my mom and Ellis alone.

"Eros, why?" I confidently said.

"You're Eros?" His eyes lit up.

"Do you know me?"

He smiles and puts his hand on his chin and says, "So, you're Eros, you have an attitude like your dad. But in a good way."

Did I hear him correctly? He mentioned my dad, who I didn't even meet in person!

"Y-you know my dad?"

"Of course. And I also know your mom."

"K-know mom? How? Who are you?" I'm getting more curious than ever, but he knows that I'm still a high school student based on the uniform that I'm wearing right now, so I think he will try to tease me, but I'm not going to fall for it.

"Why don't we talk somewhere?" He smiles.

Talk where? Does he REALLY know mom? Does he know dad? What if, he's going to do something bad to me? Should I run? But, Ellis is inside, and if I run and left this guy, and still look for Ellis inside, Ellis might be in danger.

I need to do something to avoid the house. But, mom is in the bakeshop, should I go to her and tell her that a creepy-looking guy is watching our house?

What should I do?

"Eros, I'm not going to eat you. I'm just going to talk to you, is that okay?" He says.

But I don't trust him.

"Okay," I said to him.

"I will come with you and if you're going to kidnap me and kill me, I should leave a letter to my family," I added.

I said family because I don't want him to have any idea who's I'm within the house, it's better to be safe.

He chuckles, "You're funny. But trust me, I'm not interested in any of that."

I didn't answer.

"So, are you going to come with me?"

Should I do it? I looked at the house and Ellis is definitely waiting for me, but it's for his protection, so I need to come with this creepy man.

"Okay, but I still don't trust you."

•••