24 #2
The roaring sound of a car pulled Sky from his thoughts.
He glanced up just in time to see a black Sedan pulled into the lot.
Keeping his head slightly lowered, he watched from the corner of his eye as an elderly man and a middle-aged woman stepped out of the vehicle, someone Sky assumed was a prostitute.
The two smashed into each other impatiently, touching and kissing with desperate hunger, as though they could hardly wait to get a room.
Sky’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. He quickly tore his gaze away from them, refusing to look back again.
Ten minutes later, Jude finally came out. There was not really much that could have delayed him anyway, considering they had not brought body essentials or anything except his wallet.
Sky lifted his gaze toward him, quietly observing his appearance.
“Did you cry again?” Sky asked, even though he already knew the answer the moment he noticed Jude’s bloodshot, watery eyes.
Somehow, Sky could always tell.
Jude simply shook his head without saying a word. He was lying, and Sky felt irritation rise inside him. Pushing himself off the wall, Sky started walking ahead, though he still made sure Jude was following close behind, worried he might suddenly run away.
Three blocks later, Sky spotted a restaurant called MJ & C Resto. He slowed his pace for Jude to keep up and walk beside him, only to stop a moment later when he realized Jude had slowed down too.
“What the fuck? Walk faster!” Sky shouted when he turned around, and Jude was still several meters behind him.
Jude lowered his head in embarrassment and trotted toward Sky. Sky could not care less about what the people around them thought.
“Get in first,” Sky ordered as he held the door open for him before following him inside.
After they finally settled into their seats and finished looking through the menu, an awkward silence enveloped them. Sky kept his eyes on Jude the entire time, while Jude nervously fidgeted with his hands beneath the table until the waiter finally came to take their order.
“Good morning, sir. May I take your orders?” the male waiter asked, his attention directed toward Sky.
“Take his order first,” Sky said.
“Alright, sir.”
The waiter turned to Jude, who slowly lifted his gaze from his hands.
“What can I get for you?”
Jude hesitantly glanced at Sky before looking back at the menu.
“A-ah…I’d like to ask…Do you have pancakes available?”
“Yes, we do,” the waiter answered shortly.
“I-I’ll have one small serving of pancakes, please.”
“What kind of toppings would you like? We have several options on the menu,” the waiter asked.
“H-honey, please,” Jude answered softly.
“What else?” the waiter followed up in a bored tone.
If Sky had not been in the mood, this faggot would have easily earned him a black eye and a busted lip of his own.
“N-nothing else,”
“And your drink?”
“O-oh…j-just water, please. Thank you,” he added quickly.
“Alright. And you, sir?” the waiter asked, turning to Sky as he batted his long fake eyelashes.
His expression suddenly shifted, becoming more polite and noticeably more attentive.
“Vegetable omelet, hash brown, beef steak, and black coffee,” Sky ordered. “Make the vegetable omelet two sets. Also, add bacon, smoked salmon, and a glass of almond milk. That’s all.”
“Okay, sir, copy. I’ll rep—”
“Stop repeating it. Just fucking go,” Sky demanded firmly, unable to endure his presence any longer.
The waiter was taken aback.
“Okay, sir.”
An awkward silence settled between them as they waited for their order.
Jude avoided Sky’s gaze, his head bowed as his restless fingers twisted together beneath the table.
Across from him, Sky remained silent, his eyes never leaving Jude.
When the orders arrived fifteen minutes later, Sky took the plate of vegetable omelet and set it down harshly beside Jude’s pancakes, along with bacon, smoked salmon, and a glass of almond milk.
“Look at yourself, you’re going to eat all these,” he said firmly.
“I’m okay with just the pan—”
“Shut the fuck up. You’re not leaving this table until you finish everything,” Sky cut him off.
Jude tried to protest, but Sky slammed his hands on the table, holding a breakfast knife and fork, leaving Jude no room to argue.
They ate in awkward silence. Jude kept his eyes fixed on his food the entire time until the back of his neck grew stiff and sore.
Sky finished first, wiping his mouth with a tissue as he watched Jude slowly take bites.
His plate was still far from empty. Jude was a slow eater.
Sky only observed him, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back in his chair.
The familiar keenness of Sky’s gaze pierced through his soul. Jude’s hands felt heavy as he reached for the food. He suddenly felt aware of every chew, every swallow, every breath, and even every little awkward expression he made.
“We’re going to school in the afternoon,” Sky said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
Jude hesitantly looked up at him and blinked twice. He shook his head.
“I won’t go to school today. You can g—”
“Didn’t I tell you not to be absent again?” Sky cut him off, brows furrowing.
“We’re already absent this morning,” Jude muttered.
“Your sarcasm doesn’t work on me. At least go for a half-day.”
“I won’t go, Sky, please…” Jude insisted stubbornly, setting his cutlery down and lowering his gaze to his hands under the table. “I won’t go today. I’m not ready to see Mitch yet. I’m not even ready to go home. I don’t know what I should do.”
Jude’s confession caught Sky off guard. And by those pleading eyes, his weakness, who would not give in?
“Just for today,” Sky said after a pause. “You’re going to school tomorrow whether you like it or not. Do you understand me?”
Jude looked up at Sky in reluctance and in confusion, but Jude still nodded his head slowly.
“Now finish your food.”
It took him nearly half an hour to finish everything on his plate, making sure not to leave a single bite behind, just as Sky had instructed. A flush spread across Jude’s face when he let out an accidental burp.
“S-sorry,” Jude muttered in embarrassment, quickly lowering his head, almost hiding under the table.
Sky struggled to hold back his laughter, silently grateful that he managed to keep it in. Yet, an involuntary smile formed on his lips without him even realizing it.
What the fuck? I don’t fucking smile.