9
Mitch still had not come home since yesterday’s argument, which, if Jude was being honest, made him feel slightly relieved.
He did not know how he was supposed to face her either.
It was Sunday, and she was probably staying over at a friend’s house.
Today was also the day he and Jasper were supposed to go out, but the excitement he had been carrying for days had dulled because of everything that had happened.
Jude still could not move on from the things Mitch had said to him.
She hated him so deeply that she no longer considered him family.
Being called a plague and a disgrace to the family stayed with him more than he wanted to admit.
The people at school hated him. Even his own family seemed to hate him, too.
So where was I supposed to belong? The question brutally lingered in his mind as tears slipped down his cheeks. Standing in front of the mirror, he stared at his reflection and felt nothing but pity for the pale, slender figure looking back at him.
Jude was wearing a plain black sweater with a small Doraemon print above the right side of his chest. The weather was cloudy, though rays of sunlight managed to slip through.
He chose the sweater to hide the bruises scattered across his shoulders and the fading marks on his arms. He paired it with worn-out blue jeans and an old pair of dirty white Adidas sneakers he had bought from a thrift shop eight months ago.
He had not gotten the chance to buy a new pair yesterday.
He had been too busy cleaning the house, and honestly, it slipped his mind completely.
He had not even managed to get a haircut.
None of the things he had planned for today turned out the way he wanted.
The familiar horn of a car pulled him out of his thoughts, and he quickly wiped his tears away using the sleeve of his sweater.
He glanced at himself in the mirror one last time before peeking through the window, where Jasper was leaning casually against the side of a black Chevy truck.
His eyes widened in disappointment when a barely naked woman covering her two boobs using only her hands was painted on the side of the vehicle, positioned between the driver’s seat and the back part.
If the door were opened, the image would split perfectly in half.
There was only one person who owned a car like that, and that was none other than the notorious Sky Granger.
No fabrics, big breasts, voluptuous, and with crimson lipstick on her plump lips.
The type of woman Sky Granger liked. Thankfully, the image ended only at her hips.
Even though the Chevy was old, it carried the charm of a vintage classic, and with Jasper leaning against it, the sight stole Jude’s heart away, in contrast to when Sky was using it.
When his gaze returned to Jasper, Jude felt his breath catch in his throat.
The sunlight seemed to make Jasper’s complexion glow even more.
Dressed in a plain black shirt, gray pants, white sneakers, and a pair of black aviator sunglasses, he looked effortlessly attractive.
It was such a simple outfit, yet somehow, it looked expensive on him.
He was like a model, and he completely stole his breath away.
He was so perfect right there, and Jude shuddered at his feet.
Physically, they were not all that different.
Jasper was only a few inches taller and slightly broader than him, not as muscular as his brother, but still noticeably bigger.
Jude had always preferred lean, intelligent, and kind-hearted guys exactly like Jasper.
They shared so many similarities that Jude sometimes convinced himself they were truly meant for each other.
Embarrassed by the thoughts running through his mind, he quickly looked away, trying to ignore the sudden flutter stirring inside him at the mere sight of Jasper. Jude felt his lower member twitch.
Jasper seemed to notice Jude was staring, more like ogling him, because he slowly lifted his gaze from his phone and looked his way. The moment his eyes landed on Jude, a breathtaking smile spread across his pink lips. A smile so beautiful that Jude felt it was worth dying for.
Jasper raised a hand and waved at him.
Jude nearly lost his sanity. Heat rushed to his cheeks as he shyly smiled back and returned the wave before quickly hurrying downstairs, afraid he might completely lose his composure if he stayed there any longer.
He took a long, steady breath before opening the door, trying to push away all the thoughts weighing on him.
This was a rare chance to spend time with Jasper, and he did not want to ruin it.
His heart pounded wildly in his chest, and a thin layer of sweat formed on his skin as he pulled the door open.
A timid smile tugged at his lips as he walked toward him.
Jude could feel Jasper’s eyes on him, making him lower his gaze to the ground.
The breeze brushed softly against his face, carrying with it Jasper’s strong, fruity cologne.
Even from a distance, the scent wrapped around him, sending a wave of electricity down his spine and signals in his brain transmitting data for a new kind of addiction.
“Hi, Jasper,” Jude greeted him first, looking at him with a sheepish smile.
Jude could see through his sunglasses that his dark eyes, flecked with gold, were connected to his gray ones.
“Hey, Jude,” Jasper greeted him warmly. “You seem a little down today. Are you okay?” he asked with concern in his voice.
Jude worried for a moment that Jasper had noticed something was wrong, but he did not want to ruin the rest of the day. This day was supposed to be special and memorable.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” Jude gave a reassuring smile. “I probably just didn’t get enough sleep because I was too excited to hang out with you,” he lied softly.
A smile spread across Jasper’s face at that.
“Ready for an adventure then?” he asked.
Jude nodded enthusiastically, forcing himself to push away the thoughts clouding his mind. He did not want to think about any of that right now. For once, he would stop carrying the weight of his worries and spend the day thinking only of himself and what made him happy.
When he was about to step forward, he was shocked when Jasper opened the passenger door for him. A small, secret smile tugged at his lips at the sweet gesture. Jasper was such a gentleman that Jude swore he could practically see hearts floating around him. Jude felt himself fall for him even more.
Shyly, Jude climbed into the truck and settled into his seat while Jasper walked around to the driver’s side after gently closing the door for him.
At that moment, Jude could almost imagine butterflies fluttering around the inside of the car, teasing him playfully as his heart raced.
This was what Jasper always did to his system.
For the past five years, it was the first time Jude had gotten inside this car.
The truck was old and slightly rusty, but Jude honestly did not mind.
Somehow, with Jasper Granger behind the wheel, it looked effortlessly grand.
Jasper turned the radio on, and a country song began to play through the speakers. Jude loved country music too.
“Where are we going, Jasper?” Jude softly asked when they pulled out onto the road.
Jude had no idea what Jasper had planned for them.
“I was thinking we could hit the arcade first,” Jasper suggested. “Then maybe watch the new Harry Potter movie. What do you think?”
Jude’s face instantly brightened with excitement.
“That sounds fun!” he said exuberantly, earning a soft chuckle from Jasper.
Harry Potter had always been one of Jude’s favorite movie franchises of all time, and the thought of going to the arcade filled him with overflowing excitement.
It had been years since he last stepped inside the arcade in town.
It was exactly eight years ago that he went there with his parents and Mitch.
It was a memory he could never forget because, for the first time in his life, he had genuinely felt very happy.
Even though Mitch selfishly claimed most of the prizes their father won, Jude did not really care.
What mattered to him was the joy he felt playing the games, riding the attractions, and spending time together as a family.
But after that day, they never returned to the arcade again.
And somehow, neither did the happiness they once shared as a family.
“You okay?” Jasper asked when he noticed Jude’s silence.
Jude nodded and gave Jasper a reassuring smile.
Again, he did not want to ruin the mood because of his own misery.
Jasper’s thoughtfulness was one of the factors that brought him comfort.
Nevertheless, he still could not believe it until now that the man sitting beside him in the driver’s seat was taking him out.
Jasper smiled back before suddenly speeding up the truck, causing Jude to let out an unexpected squeak.
The sound made Jasper burst into soft laughter.
Jude rolled his eyes at him, though he quickly found himself laughing too.
Instead of being scared, he ended up enjoying the sudden rush of speed, and Jasper could not stop smiling at his reaction.
Without really thinking, Jude pushed himself halfway out the window and shouted at the top of his lungs, as if trying to throw every negative thought out into the wind, just for this one moment with Jasper.
The strong breeze hit his face and swept his hair back.
He worried briefly that his glasses might fly off, but thankfully, they stayed in place.
The road ahead was smooth and nearly empty, allowing Jasper to drive faster. Jude stretched his arms wide into the air, careful not to lose his balance as the wind wrapped around him.
“Hey! Be careful!” Jasper shouted, though he was laughing at the same time.