05: Going out shopping

Yuki sits silently, sipping his milk, waiting for Kevin to speak up. Meanwhile, Kevin finished the last bites and pushed aside his plate and looks up, facing him. Holding the glass with both of his hands, stealing a glance timidly, Yuki looks like a rabbit in front of a wolf. Kevin's aura is too intimidating but somehow he's not giving off some kind of dangerous vibes.

"I'm gonna ask a few questions and I need you to answer me honestly. Can you do that?" Kevin leans back and stares at the younger guy. Yuki slowly nods.

"So first, where is your family?" Kevin already knows but he still needs to hear it from Yuki's mouth. He wants to test whether Yuki gonna lie or not.

Yuki shakes his head. "No family. Mom, dad, h- had died."

Noticing that Yuki is on the verge of tears, Kevin suddenly feels guilty for bringing up such questions. "Then, where do you live? I can send you back to your house."

Yuki shakes his head again. "My o- old house is at N District but it was a lo- long time ago... so I didn't know its condition now."

Kevin squinted. "Then, where do you live before this?"

Yuki stays silent. He can't say he lived at the Evo Organization building. Not lived but was kept as a prisoner. If it's possible he doesn't want to go back to that place but if Kevin knows where he lived, Kevin might be sent him back there.

Kevin crosses his arms. "Fine. Then, who were the guys who chased after you that night? You need to give me an honest answer or else... I can't help you."

Yuki tightens his grip on the glass. "They...are bad guys. Th- they want to hurt me..."

"Why do they want to hurt you? And who asked them to hurt you?" Kevin keeps asking without giving him a break and organizing his thoughts.

"My un- uncle. My uncle asked them to ca- catch me." Suddenly, tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. Kevin was a little bit surprised and flustered. He didn't know what he should do. Comforting someone is not his thing. Yuki quickly wipes off his tears. Part of him wants to tell everything to Kevin but another part of him keeps telling him not to trust a stranger easily. No matter how kind he looks on the outside, we never know his insides. He already regretted his past decision for trusting his so-called uncle.

Kevin sighs. He can see that Yuki still doesn't fully trust him and he also now confirmed that everything that happened to him was caused by his uncle. "Then, what are you gonna do after this? Any plans?" It feels doesn't right if he keeps Yuki in his house while the latter is not doing anything. Well, he does not particularly need Yuki to pay the rent but Yuki can't stay idle every day. It makes him look like he is the mistress of the Tsujihara mansion.

"No. I don't know." The scariest part for Yuki is Kevin asked him to leave the house. If Kevin really did that, he got no choice other than return to his old house and in just a few days, for sure he'll be taken back to the hellish place.

"Do you want to go to college?" Kevin frowns. He also feels weird about why he asked such questions.

"Co- college? B- but... I don't even know about high school lessons. How can I go to college?" His daily life routines for the past seven years are taking injections or specially formulated meds, having a weekly checkup and... serving the clients. Study? His uncle doesn't have time to care for that. All his uncle cares about is he makes the client satisfied with his skills.

Kevin sized him up and down. 'What is this guy has been doing all these times? Did he go for meditation inside a cave or what?'

For the nth time, Kevin sighs. "Then, do you want to learn?"

Yuki looks up and his eyes are full of excitation and happiness. Kevin suddenly had a thought, 'What a cute guy.'

"If you want to learn, I can register you for a homeschooled. Going to school at your age might not be suitable and it might be a bit dangerous if you encounter those guys again. So, you want it?"

Yuki nods vigorously. He always wants to go to school like other teens, have friends, study together, field trips but he never gets that chance. Nevertheless, getting a chance to learn is good enough.

"Alright. Since you want, I'll ask a teacher to come here and teach you. You'll learn everything from the first year until the third year. As for the books and tools, I'll give them to you later on."

Yuki abruptly stands and bows 90 degrees. "Thank you, Mr. Kevin. Thank you so much. I promise I'll repay your kindness one day."

Kevin chuckles. He went to the sink, washed his plates, wipes his hand dry and then stands next to Yuki. He ruffles the long black hair. "Just study hard. Make sure you get a high school diploma. As for the repayment, just think of it after you've graduated."

"Hmn!" Yuki nods and shows his smiles. It's been a while since he can smile sincerely like this. A smile that truly shows how happy he is. Not a fake smile to seduce an old fart.

Kevin had captured and saved the image of the beautiful smile. Infected by it, he unconsciously smiles along, making Yuki flush. Kevin lowers his hand and gently pinch the fair cheek, "Alright now, go to sleep. Tomorrow, after lunch, we'll go out."

Yuki tilts his head, "Out?"

Kevin hums. "You need more clothes and also we're going to buy books for you. Don't worry. With me around, you're safe going out."

Yuki lowers his head, hiding his smiles. "Okay. Thank you, Mr. Kevin."

Kevin gives another caress on the cheeks then goes up to his room. He stares at his palm that just make a contact with Yuki's head. His lips curved. If he stays longer in the kitchen, his facial muscles will be strained from smiling too much.

.....

As Kevin promised, he returned home during lunch hour. He finished his work as fast as he can and postpone a meeting just to go out shopping but he didn't mention the reason he was going home early. Or else, Raiden will lock him inside his office until the end of working time.

Aunty Emma feels happy when he saw Kevin is treating Yuki so well. Aunty Emma had known Kevin for so long and of course, the nightlife didn't miss from her knowledge but she knows the real Kevin.

Kevin drives to the mall in the middle of the city. Lucas and Sam followed behind with another car and also a few other bodyguards in disguised. Kevin is wearing a white shirt with sleeves folded till his elbow and a sunglass. While Yuki wearing a simple sweatshirt that Kevin gave him a few days ago and his hair was tied in a ponytail.

During the ride, Yuki keeps looking out the window, feeling fascinated with everything he saw. Many things had changed. He also feels excited about going out for the first time in seven years. Kevin glances at the restless guy beside him. He also shakes his head and huffs when Yuki's eyes sparkle every time he saw something that looks unusual for him.

When they arrived at the mall, Kevin parked his car on the rooftop, especially for VIPs. The elevator is also specially provided for VIPs so they don't have to crowd in one elevator with many people.

The first destination is the clothes store. Kevin asked Yuki to pick anything he likes but the latter just stood still, looking between him and the clothes. When he turns around, Yuki is still fidgeting and didn't try to look at the clothes. He approaches him, "What's wrong? Not your taste?"

Yuki shakes his head. He whispers, "It- it's too expensive Mr. Kevin! How can we buy this? Let's go to a cheaper store." He was shocked when he looked at those zeros just for a simple t-shirt so he didn't dare to touch the others.

Kevin chuckles and then ruffles his head. Kevin picks three shirts of different colors, two black pants and one grey pants. Then, he drags Yuki to the fitting room, pushed him inside, and gives him the clothes, "Don't go out until you've tried all these."

Kevin sits on the couch while waiting for Yuki. He's playing with his phone but at the same time his eyes are looking out at his surrounding. He just received info from the men that were instructed to look out at Yuki's old house. They said a few men came to the house and waited in front of the house for two days.

Kevin sure those men were hired by Yuki's uncle but he asked his men not to do anything and just watch from afar.

Yuki is walking out of the fitting room, Kevin quickly puts away his phone. "Done? All fit?" He asked.

Yuki hesitantly nods. He feels like the soft and expensive fabrics didn't suit his dirty and poor skin but he can't do anything as Kevin already paid it at the counter.

After that, they went to another clothing store. Kevin picks more casual clothes for Yuki to wear at home or using it when they're going out as of now. Passing all the paper bags to Lucas and Sam who were tailing them, Kevin drags Yuki to a stationary store to get the books for the high school lessons and some stationary. Before going home, Kevin brings Yuki to a cafe and treats him desserts.

Women keep looking out for Kevin while some guys keep staring at Yuki. The latter indulged in his souffle pancakes, cheesecake and milkshake so he didn't even realize those prying eyes. However, with just one glance from Kevin, those guys quickly remove their gaze.

"Wow! Did you buy the whole store?" asked Aunty Emma as soon as she saw all the paper bags carried by Sam and Lucas when they reached home.

Yuki lowers his head and rubs his nape. Then, he stealthily glances at Kevin. Aunty Emma follows his eyes. "Kevin...this must be your work right?"

Kevin just shrugs his shoulders. "I can't let him keep wearing the same thing so I just bought what I think necessary." Aunty Emma shakes her head. Kevin's 'necessary' means half of the store.

Yuki approached Aunty Emma, "Here, for you," Yuki passes a light brown box.

Aunty Emma opens it and smiles, "Yuki bought this cake for aunty?"

"We- well... I just choose it. Kevin was the one who paid it."

Aunty Emma laughs then smirks at Kevin, "Aunty knows. It must be Yuki who asked Kevin to buy this. That insensible guy won't remember aunty."

Kevin rolls his eyes. He pulls Yuki by his shoulder, "Go to your room and wash up. Lucas and Sam will help you to bring your stuff." He caressed Yuki's hair. Somehow, he's getting accustomed to it. Yuki nods and heads to his room with Lucas and Sam followed behind.

Kevin slumps on the couch and sighs. "I like that boy," said Aunty Emma out of nowhere. Kevin hums.

Aunty Emma takes a seat beside Kevin, "I wonder what happened to him before. Sometimes I caught him staring into the air, looking lost, keeps jolted and flinched away when I slightly touched him. He looks terrified when I did that. Poor boy... He must have gone through a bad life," Aunty Emma heavily sighs.

Then, she turns to Kevin. "You must take good care of him, Kevin. Aunty can assure you that he's a good boy. I even heard him crying when he was alone in the room. Please, give some light to his life." She gently taps on Kevin's shoulder.

Kevin suddenly chuckles. "Me? A dark person trying to give another person lights? Are you kidding, Aunty Emma?"

She slaps Kevin's arm, "Don't you think I didn't notice that you started to care about Yuki? Those branded clothes, getting him homeschooled, that little touchy-touchy, if you didn't soften your heart for him, then what's all that?" Aunty Emma squinted her eyes, while Kevin distanced himself from her.

'Damn! This old woman got a detective instinct!'

"You better take good care of him or else you have to deal with me!"

"Hey! You just met him and you raised me since I was a kid. But why you got his back?!"

Aunty Emma scoffs. "I just care for a little lamb, not a big bad wolf." She leaves Kevin dumbfounded.