Chapter 3 : A FRIEND THAT NEVER LEFT HIM ALONE

Two years ago , he ran off from his home. A fifteen- sixteen year old boy with torn out dirty clothes barely covering his skin, crouched at the corner of a street beside a trash can. He was wandering and begging there for almost a week. People sometimes gave him something to eat while passing by out of pity, but no one ever asked about his circumstances, why he was there at this condition. Also warned their child to stay away from an uncleansed, homeless child like him. He had a fair complexion, cute triangular face with a mesmerizing hazel eyes, although a small stature, he still was a pretty teenage boy, but all that dirt made him a pathetic ugly homeless beggar.

A luxurious car was parked in front of a big flower shop near the corner of the street where Ryan was sitting. He peaked at the shop. A tall man, around in his mid 30s, wearing a luxurious suit ordered a dozens of bouquets. Although he was a bit old to be called a young man, his complexion was so bright that he seemed to be shining like a diamond. His spellbound beauty left the flowers in that shop at shame.

While leaving the shop, he noticed a boy peaking at him hideously. He saw that boy sitting there in that cold, trembling, crouching in fear.

“Boy are you okay, why are you alone here like that, where’s your parents”

“…”, he curled his lips and tried to avoid him.

“ Don’t be afraid”, that man lifted his chin and smiled, “ I’ll help you find your parents..”

“ No no no… I don’t… I don’t want…” Ryan panicked, his voice shuddered.

“ Calm down, calm down, fine, I’m not taking you to your parents, but can you tell me what happened to you.”

He didn’t said anything to that man, he only trembled whenever his parents were mentioned.

“ Will you come with me, I’ll take you to my house, will you live with me”, he asked gently.

Ryan didn’t replied but nodded.

The house was large as a mansion. A big chandelier hanging on the ceiling at the entrance. Both male and female maids greeted them.

A young female maid took Ryan with her. In a big room there was a clean set of suit laid on the bed. He was astonished to see such an expensive suit. That room was extravagantly big, a queen sized bed with fluffy mattress and blankets placed there. The blankets were so soft and fragrant that he wanted to lie down for long but the maid he accompanied to came there asked, “Sir , master is waiting for you to come and have dinner”.

“Coming”, he went to the dinning hall. The hall was as well big , a long table with full of scrumptious meals and desserts. That man sat on the far end of the table A servant pulled a chair on the side next to the man for him to seat. It seemed like, that man didn’t had any other family member. He was hungry so he didn’t thought much and started eating his meals. He felt a strange shiver over his spine as he noticed, that man was staring at him continuously while cutting and eating his stake. He observed a slight smirk too. When he looked up, with a cheerful smile on his face,“ Eat up” .

Almost everyday that man brought him gifts, sometimes books, sometimes expensive snacks or new suits or watches. But Mr. Dayholt never let him step a foot outside the mansion. He could get anything as long as he didn’t leave the place for even a breather. He officially adopted Ryan and took great care for him. he even hired a tutor to teach him everything that a school taught as well as how should a young master behave In the household or in any party. Although it was quite a hard thing to remember and keep up with everything he never hated it. He never hated this life of him until that day.

Ding, Ryan’s phone rang, “Come home asap, I need to talk”, he saw this text from Darius.

He was deep in thought, so he didn’t realize that it was quite late almost 1:00 AM. He hurried back to home.

Darius was waiting for him, his face reddened after eating the dinner made by his dear friend. His eyes were teary as well after eating the tasty dinner, because it was full of spices. He didn’t realize it would be this spicy at the glance of the soup. He regretted his life decision at that moment. Moreover, previously when he just returned home, the room was so clean and neat apparently. The blankets were folded and placed neatly. Not a single dirty clothes found on the floor. But his shirts weren't hanging for drying, he didn't saw his books that were scattered before. Without judging he thought Ryan might have kept them elsewhere. He opened his cupboard to find a shirt to change on, then suddenly all the things stuffed there fell on him, Specially the books he couldn’t find before, they fell on his toes. He screamed out of pain, then the dinner. Ryan returned, his eyes were puffy, although he was smiling, it was clear what emotions he were in before coming home.

He saw his friend’s red glare darting him like a hunter, any moment he could be killed, But suddenly Darius teared up and cried, “ It was so spicy, why did you… why did you do that… sniff… I… I can’t…”, he sobbed continuously. Ryan hugged him to calm him down, Then apologized, “Sorry, I forgot you couldn’t bare chili, I’ll make light food from now on, don’t cry now, shush”.

“What about the cupboard, you stopped everything there, without organizing, everything failed when I opened it”, he sobbed.

“ I didn’t know where to put those books, I will keep them in place for next time, now, now, eat this ice cream or it’ll melt”, he pulled out an ice cream from the plastic bag, he bought it on the way. Although Darius acted like a child, he was quite mature. In critical situation he never gave up on friendship, he never hesitated to help someone regardless their relation.

Next day morning, it was Sunday, Darius had some free time so he accompanied Ryan to the Café to give out his resume. the cafe owner had a small interview and then they left.

“So where should we go next Ryan…”

“Hmmm, where? Not home?”, he asked astonishingly.

“Let’s go… to the amusement park, lets ride everything, I’m sure you hadn’t gone there for a long while

“ It’s really a long while, I was maybe a child last time I visited an amusement park”, he thought and agreed, “ Ummm.. let’s go”

They rode on various rides. They grew so tired, sat on a bench under a tree, sweating all over, laughing and huffing, Ryan said, “ I didn’t have this much fun in a long while, I think we should eat something, I’m hungry”.

“Let’s go to there, there’s the snack store”

While eating the ice cream, sitting on that bench from earlier under the tree shade, Ryan thought about the days when they were little. Every time they played together, they went up to middle school together, but it was destiny that they weren’t studying anymore together, Ryan's situation was not like before, he was alone at this , he only had this friend of him who was helping him till this time.

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