29. Why Are You Here

Ari had been awake the entire ride; however, Rey slumbered as soon as they boarded the train. Frequently, his head would fall back from dozing off, prompting Ari to offer his shoulder for him to rest his head. Thinking back, Ari remembered Rey appearing exhausted earlier.

<i>'If memory serves me right, Mun did a background check on Rey, claiming he shouldered three jobs. Perhaps that explained why he'd often work overtime, the same job that probably paid him more. It's a conflict of interest but no longer concerns me.' </i>

Reaching for his phone, he still anticipated a text message from Ned and a confirmation from the people he was to meet, but there was still none. Looking back at a wholly passed-out Rey, he smiled, unable to contain his excitement at how the reception would be. Still, after almost twelve years of not meeting them, he'd hoped their hearts had softened a little, their spite for him less acidic.

<i>'I guess I was going to be a coward to the very end, unable to take this trip alone. Mun is the best company, but he is a trickster. He'd have made this trip more enjoyable. Ned, on the other hand, is unfit for this task. Apart from standing out, I might tarnish his reputation. Good thing I have this guy who constantly reminds me of my reality, lest I slack off and become complaisant.'</i>

Ari sighed, his head falling back, then nudged Rey to wake up. An automated announcement played for them to leave the train upon reaching their final stop. To his relief, Rey followed him obediently.

The drive to his foster parents' home took about fifteen minutes, and Ari contemplated turning back for a moment, but his pride to put an end to living in shame and fear pushed him out of the car.

"Where is this place?"

"My parents'."

"You brought me to your...?"

"Don't get any weird ideas. I need a helping hand transferring my belongings. That is all."

"What do they do?" Rey asked, his eyes roaming about the affluent neighbourhood. 'You must be raised with a silver spoon."

<i>'Yea, right. They only afforded to adopt me, that's all.'</i> Ari thought to himself and reached for the doorknob, but before he could touch it, it flew wide open, and a rather frail-looking man appeared. He didn't say a word but scanned Ari and Rey from head to toe, then moved aside, gesturing for them to come in. Ari greeted him with a brief bow, and Rey followed suit respectfully.

"Is anyone else home? The house does seem empty..."

"Your luggage items are packed in the guest room." The man cut in abruptly, and Rey noticed a rather cold shoulder coming off of him; however, as it seemed, Ari was utterly blind to it or was playing blind. "Your parents said there is no need for you to meet up with them, for they will be running late."

"What about my brothers?"

"They are at the back on a friendly match with the neighbours." The man hesitated before adding. "You are not permitted to meet with them, for they are unfamiliar with the gays."

<i>'The what?'</i> Rey quickly shot Ari a surprised look but was even more baffled to observe him continue conversing with the old gentleman. Something didn't feel right.

"Okay then," Ari said and advised Rey to take a seat as he proceeded in an unknown direction, leaving him with the old man staring daggers at him.

"I'd be dammed. Did he dare to bring one of his kind to his parent's house?"

"Pardon?"

"You are one of the gays, aren't you? A fine young man such as yourself must have caught it from him, and judging by your features; you seem much younger than that wretched boy. Ari has no shame at all."

"I-I'm not gay..." Rey stammered, unable to trust his declaration even though earlier during the day, there was nothing he wanted as badly as to bed Ari, but he did everything he could to not appear as a pervert.

"Then what are you doing with him?"

"He is my Manager and..."

"Manager, you say?" The older adult scoffed. "How laughable. Is that a code name of some sort?"

Just then, a group of about six people entered from another door, seeming jubilant. One had a tennis racket in his hand, and as soon as they spotted Rey, they stopped and demanded the older adult explain who he was.

"Ari is back? Dad never informed us of his return and with another of his kind." One of them, who appeared to be about Rey's age, spoke. Pointing at Rey with his racket, he added, "Be sure to get rid of whatever he lays his hands on. I wouldn't want the past to repeat itself. The horror our generous family endured in the name of charity."

"Do not bully my friend." Ari appeared, and the group suddenly stiffened. He then extended a hand to acknowledge them for a greeting, but none of his siblings reciprocated, apart from two strangers Ari didn't recognise.

"The nerve!" One of the men said, throwing his racket on the floor. "You should have never returned!"

"Yes! You are not wanted here."

"I am aware, yet I still remain your elder brother," Ari replied calmly and walked towards Rey. "This is my friend from work. Kindly exercise diplomacy in his presence."

"You and your friend best be on your way." The older adult gestured at the door. "We do not wish for the neighbours you'd offended in the past to get wind of your unwelcome return."

"Who is he?" Said a female voice. Aside from his four brothers, Ari couldn't recognise the girl and another man standing beside her. The two seemed amused by the commotion.

"He is nobody important..."

"I'm their gay brother." Ari interrupted.

A brief silence befell the room before the girl added. "I never knew you had another brother."

"He is adopted."

"That's a relief. I wondered where all the good-looking men were in this family."

"What?"

Before everyone's very eyes, the girl, who also seemed to be about Rey's age, walked up to Ari and held his hand for comfort. However, she appeared coy, forcing Ari to remain on guard. "My name is Ana."

"Nice to meet Ms. Ana. You may address me informally."

"Thank you, Ari. Will you really be joining us for dinner? If you feel uncomfortable here, you are welcome to our home next door."

"Ana!" Ari's brother reached to grab her hand, but her brother jumped in to stop him.

"I commend you for your victory during our match, but that does not grant you permission to raise your voice at my sister."

"She can not touch him!" Rey's brother retorted. "He is one of the gays!"

"Although that may not appeal to you, respect my sister. She may be your fiancé today; your wedding can easily be called off tomorrow."

"Look, I didn't come here to cause discord." Ari moved to stand between the two. "I merely meant to pick up my belongings and be off with my friend."

"Is your friend gay too?" The girl looked at Rey. "Is he your boyfriend?"

"As I mentioned earlier, he is my work colleague."

"Fantastic!" The girl replied jubilantly. "My brother and I will gladly provide a place for you two to rest."

"That won't be necessary. We'll be leaving as soon as I take my belongings."

"Nonsense, Ari. Judging from the air, I don't think either of you is wanted here." The girl spoke and pointed at Ari's other siblings, who had been quiet the entire time. "They haven't said a word, but their body language betrays their silent resistance."

"W-We can accommodate you here..." One of Ari's brothers spoke halfheartedly, averting his eyes from view. "T-There is no need to leave...for them to leave Ms. Ana."

"Oh really?" The girl shifted to look at Ari's brother. "Just moments ago, your brother's words and actions were quite the opposite, and the poor racket had to suffer the weight of his anger. Or did you change your mind because my brother threatened to call off our engagement?"

"Why are you defending him?" Ari's brother asked, seeming irritated and confused at the same time. "Disassociate from him, my love. Do not pity him. This man ruined our family's reputation that took years to rectify."

"Enough," Ari spoke in almost a whisper. Then, turning to Rey, he urged him to stand up and follow him to where his pieces of luggage were but stopped upon hearing his brother's remark.

"You remain a murderer." Rey's brother said. "How is it that Mom allowed you to come back?"

"She is the one who called me to come to get my belongings. She could have been easily shipped to my address."

"Nobody knows where you live."

"Mom does."

"Mom? Twelve years of disappearing, and you dare to call her that? You are utterly shameless."

"Yes, I certainly am."