Don't Refuse

"I will die."

Those words were like dozens of needles stabbed right into Ravi's chest, so he couldn't seem to look at Raymond anymore for now. Ravi made a choking sound in the back of his throat, he wouldn't have thought that sentence would come out of Raymond. But he, who had not known Raymond for a day, felt pain and suffocation to hear the words that came out of this man's cleft lip differently.

Ravi just kept his mouth shut tight. Swallowed every sentence he was about to throw at Raymond. They were silent until the silence was broken by Raymond's hoarse voice. "But Ravi, that's the best option. I'm a bad elf, if Ravi wants to refuse just do it now, Ravi. I don't want to go back there."

"Where do you live?" Ravi asked carefully, not wanting to offend at all lest his question would bring back Raymond's memories.

Raymond answered weakly. "My house is quite spacious, lots of horses in it, but sometimes it stinks."

Ravi's chest throbbed, and his eyes became hot hearing that because Raymond had touched his sensitive side this time. What kind of people lived with Raymond? How was Raymond treated before? "Where is it?"

"Middle world. I don't want to go back there again, whatever Ravi decides. So that's for the best," he said almost in a whisper. Middle world? Ravi wanted to inquire further but seeing what happened to the sad Raymond, he saved his question first.

"Raymond is not easy for me and my family to trust," said Ravi wanting to make Raymond at least understand. "All of this was so sudden for us. My life had always been normal before."

Raymond looked at Ravi curiously, but Ravi could see the sad expression on his face. Then Raymond said, "How can I prove I'm telling the truth, I'm not lying, Ravi. I never lied to you."

Raymond's eyes glazed over when he looked at Ravi, one eye that originally shone was now still dim like the sadness that radiated there. Raymond then said back to him. "I swear Ravi, that I'm not lying. I don't have any malicious intent to hurt your family or even you. You own me completely and you can stop and do anything to me."

Ravi sighed harshly, in the end, he had to make a decision, he didn't want Raymond to die and the possible punishment he would receive if Raymond came back, Ravi took a risk not knowing what would happen in the future. He trusted Raymond or maybe as Raymond said just now that he had Raymond completely created a wave of trust that stuck to Ravi. "Listen, Raymond, I probably won't say it twice."

Raymond looked at Ravi confusedly, then it made Ravi's heart crumble.

"I would never turn you down. Never," said Ravi firmly, but he was a little embarrassed by his own words. He hoped that his decision was the right one, although Ravi himself had not discussed this with his parents.

"Let's go out, you and I haven't had lunch yet," Ravi said as he stood up. Ravi didn't want to see and hear Raymond's response to his previous statement, but the smell of melted chocolate coming back was enough for Ravi as an answer.

"Thank you, Ravi," he said softly, almost sounding like a gentle howl of the wind, then Raymond followed Ravi behind him.

"Want to eat?" Ravi was so shocked that he fell backward into Raymond's front. Ravi's cheeks turned pink and spread across his face, so he stepped back quickly. He hoped Daniel hadn't heard what Ravi and Raymond had just been talking about inside.

"Daniel, I'm surprised. How long have you been here?" Ravi asked raising an eyebrow at Daniel who was still standing blocking the door.

"Ever since then. I can't just leave my brother alone with a stranger." Daniel's eyes flashed at Raymond who looked back at Daniel in confusion.

"Daniel, that's what I'm doing martial arts for, right? Raymond didn't do anything either. We were just talking, we wanted to go to the kitchen and eat something anyway." Ravi shifted Daniel to the edge of the door that was blocking his way.

"Ravi, he's not human. Don't know where he came from, and what his goals are."

Ravi saw Raymond's head which looked down from the corner of his eye. "Daniel, don't talk like Raymond isn't here."

Daniel rolled his eyes, he once again glared at Raymond who didn't catch the gaze as he looked down at the floor at his feet. "I just don't want anything to happen to, you, dad, or mom."

Ravi sighed. "I know," he sighed and walked away with Raymond by his side.

"The results of sin come before me," Daniel whispered which could still be heard in Ravi's ears. He immediately turned to face Daniel.

"Daniel, what were you talking about just now?" asked Ravi looking up to see his brother.

"What? What's the talk?" Daniel instead replied with a similar question, his face displaying a look of not knowing anything. Ravi was sure that Daniel was talking about the sin that came. But what does that mean?

Thank you for reading