3 Because Of His Eyes

At A. City Medical Center Hospital.

Sunlight seeps through the blinds into a private room. Its afternoon warmth caressed the sleeping youth.

Riley's lids fluttered open. He glanced around to survey his surroundings. His eyes landed on a set of folded clothes on the couch near the window. He stared at it without really looking. Pushing himself up, he slowly swung both legs on the side of the bed, careful not to aggravate his wound.

Then the door opened, pushed from outside. In came a man in casual jeans and a jacket. Perhaps, because he was not expecting to find him awake, the man was already halfway in when he noticed Riley sitting on the bed. They both froze, but the man quickly recovered and energetically greeted Riley.

"Hey! You're awake. That's good. How are you feeling? How's your wound? By the way, I'm Dylan. We brought you here last night."

Mind still foggy, Riley had to take time to process everything Dylan said.

"I feel fine. Thank you for helping me and bringing me here." He quietly responded after a while.

"Oh! About the helping part. It's actually Boss Draco whom you should thank. Draco Sy. He's our boss and the one who decided to help you last night."

Dylan was feeling a little ashamed. If the boss had not given an insistent order, they would have left the boy on that deserted road. They were suspicious of the boy. Well, they still are. Only not as intense as last night.

"Just the same, you still brought me here to the hospital. Thank you."

The boy smiled in gratitude. His eyes curved as he did and mesmerized Dylan. Looking at that pale but pretty face brightened by a smile, Dylan could hardly associate him with that dirt-covered scrawny thing they picked up last night. Distracted, Dylan had to shake his head a few times to retain clarity.

"W-well, I guess you could say that. Anyway, I'm here to ask a few things. We did not find any ID on you. So, I need your personal information."

When Dylan saw the boy became wary, he immediately added, "Don't worry, just hospital procedure, and we need it in case we need to report to the police."

Dylan thought hearing that would soothe the boy's worries.

But he was wrong.

However, it was the opposite. When Riley heard the mention of filing a report, he felt panic. His brother's connections extend up to the authorities. Yesterday, Riley heard one of his brother's men talking to the police after he was captured and brought to that abandoned building. It seemed like his brother asked someone with a high position in the bureau to help find him. If the police were to know his whereabouts, Riley was afraid they would hand him over to his brother.

"N-no police, please. I swear. I'm not a criminal. Please don't report this." Riley pleaded.

"Ah?" Flustered, Dylan watched as the boy gripped his arms and begged him. Fat tears sprang and rolled down the boy's pallid cheeks. What the hell just happened? Why was he so afraid of the police? He has no idea how to calm the youth.

"P-please promise me you will not report me."

"Uhm, don't cry. Okay, okay. I promise. I will not report this for now. But you have to tell me something. Right? Let us start with your name first?"

"I'm Riley," Riley replied, sniffling, wiping his tears with his arms. He was embarrassed for crying.

"Okay, Riley. Can you tell me what happened to you? And why were you at that area last night?"

Calmer, Riley recounted how he ran away from home after learning his brother's plan to auction him as a male bride. And how his brother's men found, shot, and captured him. Later he escaped from them and ran into Dylan's group.

When Riley finishes telling his story, Dylan can't help feeling angry and disgusted for the boy.

"Damn! Are you sure you and your brother share the same blood? Or maybe you're adopted?"

"Ah?" Riley was confused.

Dylan scratched his head, a little apologetic.

"Well, you know. I assumed you were adopted or something. 'Coz if you were my brother, I'd never do that. That's just fucked up."

The youth's head hangs low. "I don't know…" he said in a small voice. His peach blossom eyes drooped. With his head bowed, he looked frail and younger than his actual age sitting on the hospital bed, legs dangling over the edge.

Even Dylan, who was still skeptical about his identity, could not help but be affected. In front of that watery eyes, he had to reconsider his earlier judgment. If everything Riley said was true, Dylan cursed Riley's lecherous brother for treating him like that. What a vile thing to do to a young boy.

When Dylan left with a promise not to say anything to the authorities, Riley was left alone to think about his current circumstances.

He cannot go on running. Besides, the only reason he survived for a few months without being caught was with the help of his friends, Lark and Keith. At that time, he ran off. Lark was kind enough to offer Riley a place at his brother's café.

Riley thought Anton would never find him since his brother had no idea about his friends or acquaintances. Furthermore, Lark was a friend he met up with only once. Afterward, they continued to communicate online.

But after a few months of peace, Riley grew complacent and made a mistake. He regretted making that one call that allowed his brother's men to find him.

By now, Keith must have discovered that he was missing. He must be worried. Riley forgot to borrow Dylan's phone and inform the brothers that he was fine. He'll do that next time.

Riley must have used all his energy worrying about his predicament and dozed off.

The top floor of the Sy Business Empire Building

In a floor-to-ceiling window, Draco stands with one hand inside his pocket and the other one holding a newly lit cigarette. The midnight blue suit he was wearing fit perfectly on his tall frame, emphasizing his broad shoulder and long legs. Flickering lights from the traffic below created a blurred background. From time to time, a puff of smoke comes out of his mouth and into the air.

After a while came a knock and the sound of the door opening. Chief Chan entered the office carrying a black folder.

Draco remained where he was standing. He stared at his Chief Security Personnel through the faint reflection on the window, using his eyes to communicate 

Taking queue on his silence, Chief Chan spoke.

"Sir. Here is the information you asked for regarding the boy Riley. From what we have gathered, what he said was all true. He is of the Santillans."

"Hmm. Everything?"

Draco turned to reach for the folder and moved to sit on the couch, Chief Chan following behind him. Crossing his legs, Draco began to scan the contents of the folder. Using a slight movement of his head, he signaled for Chief Chan to take the seat opposite him.

"Yes, Sir. It seems that the older brother Anton Santillan, CEO of The Santillan Group of Companies, made a lot of bad investments. The company is submerged in debt and on the verge of bankruptcy. The brother Anton planned to use the boy as a means of making relations through marriage to keep the business afloat."

"But I never heard the late Maurice Santillan had another son."

"After the mother died of childbirth, the boy was raised by the maternal grandfather. He is an illegitimate child. When the old man died, the child was brought to an orphanage. It took a year for Maurice Santillan to acknowledge the boy's existence and bring him home. Unfortunately, Maurice and his wife died in an accident. The boy, who was then ten, was sent to the countryside under the care of servants."

Draco just listened in silence as he flipped through the pages containing all information gathered about Riley. While turning the pages, a photo slipped out and fell on his lap. It was a picture of the teen. It must have been a recent photo as the boy looks closer to his current age.

In the photo, the boy was looking straight at the camera while riding a bicycle and laughing. A pink blush painted his healthy cheeks, probably due to the exercise. His jet-black hair was blown away, giving an unblocked view of his small face. Peach blossom eyes curved in happiness. It showed a carefree innocence.

"Sir. what are you going to do about the boy?" Chief Chan inquired after giving him that brief summary.

Clipping the photo back to the folder, Draco transferred to his swivel chair and replied, "I want to talk to him first. Let's go tonight. Prepare the helicopter. We'll leave in an hour."

Chief Chan was amazed to hear it. Anyone who has worked with Darco Sy knows about his aloof and cold personality. And although he was not unkind. He was also not a compassionate person. Or could he be easily swayed by emotions like pity? So, the decision to help the boy last night was somewhat out of their boss' character. Then now he is taking the time to travel and personally talk to the boy?!

Moreover, though it was confirmed later as a mere coincidence, and the boy indeed needed help, it was still an unexpected move. Something that, prior to last night, the usually indifferent Draco Sy would not have done. It was astonishing.

Also, no woman had ever stood beside the boss for years now. That was the truth. This led to many speculations, including rumors that the head of the business empire was rather into… men.

The chief's silence and absentmindedness did not go unnoticed by Draco. However, he remained silent, his lips curving up to a smirk. Based on his trusted aid's character he will sooner or later tell him what's on his mind. Draco waited.

Afterward, he saw Chief Chan stand up and walk towards the door. Then stopped, looking as if he was wrestling with his inner self about something.

Without disappointing him, he heard Chief Chan ask, "Sir, about last night. If I may ask, why did you decide to help the boy?" Then as if to justify his boldness, he added, "I don't mean to question your intentions, sir. But I only want to understand what made you decide to help the boy."

Draco leaned back on his chair and replied, "Because of his eyes."

"His eyes, sir?" Not comprehending, Chief Chan asked again.

"Yes, they were pure and clean." Then there was a pause. Chief Chan thought he had to contend himself with that short response. It's a fact that his boss is a man of few words and seldom explains himself to anyone. However, he was surprised to hear him continue. "After years of looking at eyes either filled with hatred or deceit, it was refreshing to find someone with such innocence in their eyes. Interesting, but I find myself wanting to protect it."

Finally understanding what the boss meant, Chief Chan nodded and turned to leave.

"I understand, sir. We'll be ready to leave on schedule."

When he was finally alone in his office, Draco took the photo out again. Looking at the curved eyes of the youth staring back, he felt a strong surge of protectiveness he never felt for anyone before.