To eat - 2

The man saw Luke laying at the couch, hugging one of the small pillows that comes with it. His colar and buttons were open. It was hot last night. His neck to his collar bone was perfectly exposed and lush. He had to admit, this person he took has a nice face. That is, in great importance required. Although he lookes too thin and unhealthy for his tatse. He smiled, and softly touched his abdomen. "You were hungry huh." the man then went off with his cap and greeted a fellow old man that passed by beaming. The door shut. Luke blinked half awake, saw the ceiling first before returning to recall he was in a very different far place. He raised his hand, eyeing his puffed and wrinkled sleeve. His fingers dull and long. Covered in scabs and tiny cuts. He looked at his hand, it was rough. Now that his more aware that the man is nowhere in the unit. He stepped outside and something nostalgic swept him. No more like dajavu. A courtyard with tables decorated with flowers and platters of food, trees breezed surrounding the field. The people here were out of the sun minding their business or either interacting with one another, happily. He knows he saw something similar to this at the past. At his home town. That old town.. A thought flashed without a beat. It struck a vain that made Luke dig his nails on his arm. "Hun Greg deary, what made you dressed posh of all time?" an old lady came frailly sliding her arm around his. "??!. U-umm ma'am" he tries politely "I am not-". "Greg hun, help me bring the parcel. I have to dress we are going to Juliet's birthday.". Luke was willingly pulled by the old lady to her room. It smelled like lilac flowers while portraits framed on the walls or placed on shelves. He cannot help but notice a man beside the lady. She looked young and posed sweetly wearing a blue floral dress. "Hun, where is my dress" she went out of the room in her bloomers. Luke turned embarrassed, he felt obligated now, going through her wardrobe finding pearls and the dress from the portrait.

He came back with another bag of groceries. Entering the gate of the condo unit. "Eric!! son, got a bear?" he laughed "No sir. only eggs and meat" he raised the bag showing it. He walked pass the entrance getting a wave or a greeting from the people at the condo unit. Though he stopped, spotting something. He retraced back his steps and saw at the court yard. A bit of crowd at the shaded seats. He amused himself, seeing that a certain someone enjoying their company. He strolled towards the court yard. "Greg hun, this is Juliet and Antoneth " the old lady in blue velvet dress introduced Luke to her fellow mates. "Oh is this Greg" she covered her mouth "He looks a lot younger from his portraits you showed us" the other chimed. The man went over with them, Luke tried to look unsurprised while the old ladies greeted the man happily. "Eric look at you, come seat with us. Eat I brought a casserole." The man exchanged pleasantries to the old ladies. They all looked immersed and entertained on the way he gestures lively, "We have to get goin, thanks for the casserole mrs. Marison" they whined, always missing his company. Like it seems to make them feel young. Luke was quick to comply and followed the man hesitantly. Their condo door shut from his back removing their shoes. The man placed the groceries by the counter, while Luke sat by the couch feeling tense. The man finished cleaning off the groceries then sat by the couch facing against Luke. The sound of cars driving by and the tic of a clock, filled the room. "Greg huh?" The man smirked then laid back. "So have you thought about it? Of committing only to me?" In a demanding sneer, Luke either felt small or offended. "I'm not sure… But I think, I cant do that." He just stared, unfazed. Luke was beginning to worry what his thinking. Then again its not just like he could or anyone become a loyal and giving servant in a get go. Not that he plans to even try. "You cant" not even a question, "Serve me, close your senses and simply become me… can you do that?" He wasn't sure anymore how it got to this. The man walked in front of Luke, he reached the sides of his head. Placing his cold hands on Luke's cheeks creasing his ear. There it is again, frustration and eyes as if searching something. Luke saw it, the man stared slowly and subtle. His face softened lashes casted down "… Can you even become someone entirely different … Do you even know who's Luke?" he raised his eyes almost staring tiredly at him, his hands added pressure on Luke's head "Can you still be 'Luke' after that". Something crept on, he shuddered trying to avert his gaze desperately. "I know what you did. I know what they did to you…" he starts to panic, arms trying to grab off the nonexistent head lock, trembling. The man paused, the room seemed to grew darker and walls caving in. His face missing and blank "I am Eric, I am Greg, I am Jacob. I am Kai… these aren't my names" he paused, Luke's gut felt nonexistent. His limbs felt limp, it's as if his body felt exposed and vulnerable surrounded by teeth and praying eyes . "I am Kai" he spoke softly, "I am Kai", "I am home". He lowers his hand closely touching his reddish neck, looking tiredly. Luke fazed out still looking up, his jaw's felt glued, a part oh his skin felt like in fire. A memory of places that are pressed, pinched, bit or bruised by cold-hearted and unwanted touch, he lowered his head, his nape exposed. Kai stood there peering down at him, waiting. The room suffocated in dead silence. "I-i need the money" his voice broken, "I have to… to make him want me, he loves me. He kept saying that, they all said that. Im scared, I couldn't…"

"Then do it for me" Kai implored. Emptily, Luke gazes back at the man "I could've been alright by now. You using these against me, ha. Your even worst than them… you offered me… saw me all battered and out of it." Luke thought about it, if he really was gonna help him and offered kindness with ulterior motive, he might've still be willing to give it. But this is different. A confusing and complicated approach. "You could've pretend to be kind to me, then maybe I would really, do anything for you. But you didn't. You just brought me here, letting me wear weird clothes, didn't think to let me eat. Even did a background check. What the fu** is with you about serving" If only he said it lauder, a part of him hoped that he could've made it sound mad, angery. Normally he had the right to do it. He can, like he used to.. before 'that' happened. "?!??!" abruptly a sense of crawling fingers on his back, crept into his inards. 'That', should've never happened. His throat heaved dryly, as if puking out something he swallowed. While in irony, he knew, this Kai benefactor, is fleshing out anything from 'that'. He heaved once again. Why is he even with Kai to begin with?. He may have forgotten the reason, now that it's locked deep where in hopes, never bother him again. They made an agreement. Yet his aware that it has to do with-- "You are not 'Luke' " Kai whispered "That explains this" getting something inside a wooden compartment. He then looked at Luke's nails, a hint of red can be seen tained on his sleeve. He shuddered, as Kai went closer, holding his arms. And slowly tying it apart "You should stop doing that", knoting it. "H-hey, wha-" he tried to pull it off, caught by the dazed moment. He just realized. " You have to acknowledge, that your sense of self as being 'Luke' can never be you anymore. It has become a cumbersome name to bear." he kept on tying a rope around his arms to his belly. "No - no - no!!!" he struggled twisting his hips and legs to push out. Kai pressed his stomach softly, then slammed it at the hard part of the coach. Pushing his intestines pressuring his stomach to puke what he ate earlier. He heaved, lungs and throat begining to heave out together. He gasped, coughing incoherent yelps "cough - cough - this is - *wheezed - not what we agreed!!" putting weight above him, Kai quickly tied his legs, stuffing a balled rag in his mouth forcibly. Muffled screams are now unreachable outside. He rolled and fell on the ground, trying to escape. Desperately he squirmed, banging on the ground, in hopes someone to hear. But blows and blows caught up violently beating it dark on his stomach to his legs and back. Effectively, this made him quiet and behaved for Kai. Yet still hoarsely huffing for air even though his mouth is blocked, he sniffed and sniffles became to form. His chest rapidly gasping for a breath. Not long his eyes began to moist and burn.. He tried his all to stay hunched and unmoving. Kai left him there, trowing a blanket on him at the floor. He just stayed still and held his throat shut.

Kai took out his phone and lend it on a ear. His outside by the hallway balcony. He scanned both sides, knowing the rooms surrounding the unit are empty. The phone picked up. A stern gruff can be heard at the other end. "Thank you for calling back. We've already made reservations and preparations for your appearance beforehand. We hope to establish a great connection with your services and contribution to the 'Delvin' name. Are there any concerns?" For a moment, he just listened. "Sir?" Kai spoke in a muted tone. The trees breeze while the sun is blazing. "We understand. I will directly inform my superiors. Thank you for calling Mr. Cicil". it beeped. Kai held the phone down, and punched a text on the keypad, to another number. He then placed it in his pocket. Looking down at the people living at their own sheltered bubble. He glanced back at his door unit. Contemplating a bit, before standing up and going back inside the room.