Welcome to the club!

Alaric stood up and looked at Marcella, chuckling softly. "While he can't resist, Auntie, always fun to tease him. Will he be like this every time he takes these medications? How many times a day?"

"Three times, but the dosage is lower in the morning and afternoon. Sometimes he's a bit confused momentarily. I'll leave Raven under your care at school, okay, Alaric?"

Marcella's concern for Raven's well-being is evident in her words, trusting Alaric to look after him during his treatment.

"Of course, Auntie Marcella. I'll take good care of him. Take care on the road, Auntie!"

"Thank you, dear. See you later, Alaric!" Marcella got into the car and waved as they drove off.

Alaric watched the car disappear down the street, a smile lingering on his face. He turned back to Raven, who seemed lost in his own thoughts, and gently closed the car door. The driver honked a farewell, and Alaric waved in response.

Once the car was out of sight, Alaric took out his phone and added Raven's number to the chat group. His face lit up with happiness as he typed the first message after Raven officially became a new member.

"Welcome to the host club, Raven! Glad to have you with us. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow."

*

The next day, after school, Gavin approached their new club member with a mix of confusion and concern.

Raven seemed utterly exhausted, his body almost slumping off the sofa, barely held up by a slight willingness to sit upright.

Despite his eyes being open, Raven lacked a clear expression, giving the impression that he wasn't entirely present in the room.

This sight made Gavin feel like he was babysitting a tired child.

"What is it? You're supposed to recruit new hosts, not babysit someone else's kid!" Gavin protested to Alaric, who seemed more focused on his routine task of making coffee.

"Yeah, that's our new host," Alaric replied casually, continuing to stir the coffee slowly. "He's under medication, Gavin. Marcella asked me to keep an eye on him. He'll be back to his usual self soon. Please help me fix Raven's profile on the website and app, Gan, let's promote him today."

Gavin shook his head, his expression more serious now. "What the hell, Al? Look at his eyes!" Gavin grabbed Raven's shirt collar tightly, lifting his body slightly, then inspected the dilated pupils of the angel-faced young man before him. "Shit! His pupils are dilated! Seriously, Alaric! Are you recruiting a drug addict or what?!"

Alaric, who had initially appeared calm, now shared Gavin's concern. He bent down beside Gavin and observed what had caught his attention.

Raven's brown pupils were noticeably dilated, a clear indication of substances affecting his nervous system.

"I didn't notice this last night," Alaric admitted quietly, his worry deepening.

Gavin scrolled through the photos and chat history shown by Alaric, his expression serious as he scrutinized each detail.

"He's on hard drugs, yes. But it's all prescribed," Alaric explained, unlocking his phone to show the photos of the medications Raven had been taking.

Gavin studied the images closely, his brow furrowing in concern. "Damn," he muttered under his breath. "That explains it."

"The drugs are related to his depression and possibly other diagnoses like Borderline Personality Disorder or Bipolar Disorder," Alaric explained, his voice tinged with concern. "From what I found out from my uncle, these medications can manage various symptoms."

"Hmm. It could also be for schizophrenia? I'm not entirely sure about his exact illnesses. But depression is definitely severe," Alaric continued, trying to provide clarity.

Gavin absorbed the information on Alaric's phone, scrolling through details that painted a complex picture of Raven's condition.

The more Gavin read, the deeper his worry grew about Alaric's decision to recruit Raven. "This is serious, Al," he said gravely, turning to look at Raven with concern etched on his face.

Raven met Gavin's gaze with a vacant stare, his demeanor calm and slightly relaxed as he sat on the sofa.

"He seems so serene," Gavin remarked, his voice betraying a mix of fascination and apprehension. "But these conditions… they're no joke."

Alaric nodded in agreement, his expression determined. "I know, I know… but he'll be fine."

Gavin observed Raven in his current state, acknowledging that despite everything, Raven's natural charm shone through. His smooth skin, slender neck, and slightly parted lips gave him a captivating appearance even now. Despite his challenging behavior at times, Raven's inherent charisma remained undeniable.

In a strange twist of thought, Gavin considered that Raven might actually seem more approachable and easier to manage in this dazed state than when fully conscious.

Gavin released his grip on Raven's shirt collar gently, cautious not to exacerbate the young man's fragile condition. But before he could react further, Alaric swiftly set down his coffee glass and moved with decisive speed. He caught Raven's body, pulling him close and pressing Raven's head against his chest in a protective embrace.

"Easy there, Raven," Alaric murmured softly, his voice a mix of concern and reassurance. He held Raven securely, as if shielding him from the world's uncertainties.

Gavin watched the scene unfold, struck by Alaric's instinctive care for Raven.

Then Alaric carefully adjusted Raven's head to rest on the sofa cushion in the most comfortable position possible, treating him with the utmost care as if he were fragile and delicate.

Gavin clicked his tongue in frustration, feeling a pang of jealousy mixed with concern. He watched Alaric's gentle gestures towards Raven, unable to shake off the unease he felt about the situation.

"Still, you have to take care of him!" Gavin snapped, his hands crossed firmly in front of his chest. "What do you expect from someone in this condition?"

Alaric met Gavin's gaze confidently, his demeanor unwavering. "Don't worry, Gavin. I'm sure he'll bring in a lot of money for our club." His smile was warm as he tidied up Raven's messy hair, gently stroking his cheek while quietly assessing the young man in front of him.