60. Salt And Vinegar

"Your father texted me again. It looks like some copy-and-paste message from a motivational site."

"He is still texting you?"

"It has been going on for a while now." Ari sighed. "Though one-sided."

"If you tell me what you two discussed, I can help you eliminate him."

"Why are you still adamant about wanting to know?"

"Why are you adamant on hiding what you two discussed."

Ari placed his phone on the couch and looked at Rey, seeming inflamed. "He wanted to know when he'll be meeting my parents."

"Why I'm not surprised," Rey asked rhetorically.

"I had to tell him I wasn't on good terms with them, and he could decipher why. My pride was hurt, of course, but then he further inquired about my upbringing."

"You didn't tell him everything did you?" Rey asked, fearing the knowledge of Ari's false accusation coming to light, 'But then, Ari is a nimble-witted individual.' 

"Constantly being bullied at the orphanage, apathy, contempt and hazing from my siblings and neighbours, and not forgetting the pointless and unnecessary pity from those spectating my life and not lifting a finger to help out. I kept it in summary, only giving out information that would dissuade him from meeting my foster family. Your dad sure knows how to make someone talk though. I was suspicious of his inquisitiveness at first, but he seems to be intrigued by swaying a guarded and always skeptical me into being meek and trustworthy."

Ari's response was so casual that Rey was beginning to feel concerned. It worried him that Ari had grown accustomed and dull to mistreatment. But that didn't waiver off his hurt. 'It's no wonder he remained calm to my insults.'

Even so, Ari had changed since their return. He was eating well, usually sleeping without tossing and turning, he was no longer on edge, and that gladdened Rey.

"Oh, he texted again!" Rey hadn't realized that Ari was already back on his phone.

"You don't even reply to their messages, so why bother reading?"

"I do not want to give them false hope, or rather myself. They are your family, after all, and I also think it would be a bit too much if I got too close to them."

'A bit too much?' Rey wondered, then leaned closer to Ari for a sneak-peek at what he was reading so intently. "They are asking if you ate?" Rey asked, pleasantly surprised. "I see why you consider it a bit too much."

"Your father was concerned about my malnourished physique. His words, not mine." Ari giggled. "I hadn't realized I'd lost so much weight until that day. Perhaps I've been overworking myself lately."

"You think?"

"Ow shut it!" Ari smiled and side-glanced Rey. "This is the first time someone parental is interested in my welfare, therefore let me bask in the sun."

"Really?" Rey seemed baffled. "What about Manager Mun."

"Have you met him?"

Rey cleared his throat, perceiving the sarcasm in Ari's words. "You're right. Manager Mun is a peculiar kind of human."

"He has his priorities twisted, alright." Ari mocked and continued to scroll through his phone, which seemed to vex Rey.

"If you like talking to my parents so much, respond to their messages. They like you from my point of view and not once have they concern themselves with my welfare since we left."

"Oh please, stop sulking." Ari hesitated briefly. "They will become tired eventually, and the texting will stop."

"Ari..." Rey grabbed the cell phone from Ari and placed it away from his reach. "My parents are not your parents. You can trust that they genuinely care for you."

"I never said I'm doubting their intentions, but you must know it felt too good to be true, how their reception of me was."

Laying his head on Ari's lap, Rey agreed. "I'd expected them to scold me at least. I'm guessing the distance I kept from them must have made them opt for a gay son than a dead son."

"Why did you keep your distance for that long?"

"My girlfriend had died, and I needed time to mourn. I also needed to protect them from the knowledge of watching my sister crumble by day. Staying away from them hurt me as much as it hurt them." Looking away, Rey added, "They are good people. Even if they'd rejected our relationship, they would have accepted you eventually."

"Your sister said the same thing."

The two looked at each other momentarily, Ari's mind filled with envious thoughts of Rey's upbringing while Rey had other pressing matters of concern.

"I'm feeling a bit heavy-hearted. 'I should let it go.' "About the sight of you kissing Chairman Ned that night."

Ari's body stiffened, his eyes widening from shock and shame. He didn't utter a word, but his flustered expression said it all. 'Mun that prick!' 

"I do not want to jump to conclusions; that's why I'm asking," Rey assured, seeing the hesitation from Ari's side.

"H-He was leaving for a flight and passed by briefly."

Rey was disappointed with the brief explanation but didn't show it. However, his sarcastic remark betrayed his calm demeanour. "I hope he can join us someday so I can properly introduce what you and I have become."

"It was you in that car and not Mun," Ari said as a matter of factly.

"I went to pick you up only to be met by. . ."

"Rey. . ." Ari interrupted.

"He forced you, didn't he? Tell me he did, please."

"That was how it seemed at first." Unable to maintain eye contact, Ari looked away. "I don't want to lie to you, Rey."

"Then don't."

"Rey, I broke off my relationship with him because of you."

"So, now it's my fault?"

"That's not what I'm saying. Put yourself in his shoes."

"I'm already in his shoes," Rey replied, trying to remain calm. If anything, he wanted to handle the conversation as amicably as possible, but jealousy was eating him up. 'I should have confronted him about it that night, but like a coward, I dashed off to tie him to me before someone snatches him off again from me.'

"Nothing happened after the kiss. You should know since you were there."

"I drove off, remember?"

"I'm sorry."

"Even if he initiated the kiss, why didn't you push him away?"

"I did. . . But. . . Ned is going through a hard time. If you'd been closer, you'd have seen a man in pain behind his expensive suit. H-He told me he was seeing someone and needed closure. I felt responsible for his broken state, and in my conflict of thought, the kiss happened."

"Why is he kissing you when he is with someone else?"

"Because Rey, you've never experienced unrequited love: when you try all you can, but every fibre of your body keeps screaming for that person who wouldn't glance your way...or they could already be taken by another. I empathise with Ned, and I'm confident he will move on eventually. We spoke briefly about his new relationship, and the person he is seeing is someone I know in the field of business."

"Someone you know?" Rey seemed cautious. "Manager Ari, you have a habit of attracting people, including those who shouldn't have anything to do with you."

Ari took offence. "I admit to fooling around in the past, but I didn't sleep with just anybody Rey."

"That's not what I said."

"No matter; his name is Todo. You won't find much of him anywhere, but he is from an influential background, and I believe he fits Ned well."

"How do you know he fits Chairman Ned well?" Rey seemed unconvinced. " What guarantees that Chairman Ned won't be coming back to chase after you again?"

"Rey, it was a pity peck, and it barely lasted three seconds. Additionally, Ned has done a lot for me without expecting anything in return. You can not even begin to fathom the risks he has had to take to keep me out of the public eye. The peck didn't mean a thing, nor should it to you. It was only necessary for Ned. Moreover, I recommend you get used to seeing him since he remains my business partner. Also, remember you and I haven't done much justice to him in the past. You pursued me without regard for my relationship with him. He was fighting a losing battle for so long but held on."

Seeking to draw attention from himself, Ari changed the subject. "Ned mentioned that your debt issue has been resolved."

"What?" Rey jumped, sitting up straight. He'd expected such a move, but how much did Ned dig deeper into him? 'Didn't I tell him all there is to know the last time we met privately?'

"I figured Lia's fiancé did the background check and brought it to his attention."

"Who is Lia?"

"Ned's former wife. Anyway, that guy doesn't trust me and always sees me as a threat to Ned's reputation. He may have encouraged Ned to take on your debt to disassociate me from your crisis."

'Seems Ari isn't aware of my meeting with Chairman Ned. Of course, this is the consequence of making him angry. My, I wouldn't be surprised if he knew I was at the parking that day, kissing my boyfriend on purpose to provoke me. Damn him! He's placed me at palm of his hands.'

"Rey, I believe that if you begin to see Ned as a friend rather than a foe, he'd equally look out for you. When we terminated our relationship, he acted composed. However, it seems he was in despair all this time. It remains my wish that you get along with him as you did in the beginning. Can I request you to do that?"

'I must look into this, but for now, let us play it safe despite my disapproval.' "Yes. I'll do my best, Manager Ari."