The Cure

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Zeno

“Wake up sleepy head,” that was Peter’s excited voice, disturbing my beauty sleep. It has become his morning routine for him to play my alarm. Sometimes I find his act sweet and sometimes I find him annoying. I am lazy, I cannot help it.

After taking me in Peter helped me find a job as a waitress at a nearby nightclub. The owner of the nightclub is one of Peter’s rich friends. How a humble guy like Peter got hooked up with the rich guys in D city is still in question. The story for another day.

Today we planned to visit an amusement park. We decided to make today a day to rest, it is Peter’s day off. I work in the club every night and sleep during the day, today I think I overslept. Probably because Peter pleaded with the manager to get me a day off. Hence why he is disturbing my sleep.

“Ah, you’re abusing me, Peter,” I told him half asleep. Peter took me to his home for two weeks, since the day we met. He has been a darling since then.

He manages to tolerate both my naughty and noisy side. When I asked him why he took me in without even knowing me. He gave me one of his famous annoying excuses, he find me too cute to be dangerous.

I was just being noisy or maybe I feel jealous that he might take another person in. I may not get all the attention I have now. I ask questions now and then his answers are funny all the time.

Days after arriving here I got to know his neighbors who told me about the death of Peter's parents. His father who was the police captain dead on duty.

Rumour has it his mother couldn’t cope after his father’s death, so she committed suicide. Some claim she was killed by her sugar baby who then took all her investments. To be honest, it’s a lot. No wonder Peter prefers to let bygones be bygones. He never talk about his family or about our relationship status. I am not even sure if he knows that I am gay.

I wonder how it feels to never reminisce in the past.

Waking up, I take a quick shower. Put on my black jeans, a thin T-shirt and black a blouse. I need to look a part.

“I am glad for once you’re ready in time,” said Peter as he hugged me from behind. I like the smell of his cologne. Strange I am well aware I shouldn’t lead him on but I’m too out of it, I need all the comfort I could get after everything I’ve been through.

Peter has done everything in his power to make me feel at home here. He once asked me questions about my past before, I gave silence in response. He never asked again. I guess he took my silence as the answer. I won’t bother to dig in to figure out what he thinks of my past.

My life in D city is good enough, I will do no such thing as linger in the past that could destroy everything completely.

We booked a cab that took us to the local amusement park. I am super excited about this trip. Deep inside I know I need this after working as hard as I did the whole week. It is not month end yet so I couldn’t suggest going out while I don’t have money.

The amusement park is full of people. I didn’t expect the place to be this packed. It is in the middle of the month, how come so many people have money to spend here?

Peter and I played most of the games in the park. We even went swimming. Peter is a good swimmer, I watched him swim eighty percent of the time we spent in the pool. I liked his half-naked view more, so in some instances, I pretended to be a bad swimmer.

Later we went for lunch, we had beef burgers at the restaurant next to the amusement park.

The day ended well, I am super tired but it was all worth it. I am now more positive about the future with Peter in it.

We went home early to do guys’ night, and watch movies before sleeping. It feels like I have been living with Peter for years when it has only been two weeks. The three-bedroom house feels warm, a home feel.

I am glad we will sleep later, I struggle to fall asleep. The memories of the strip club leave me all day long. Only to come at their high pick at night. I worry a lot about Zara, I wonder how she is doing. Moreover, I miss her too.

But the memories I shared with Zara have nothing to do with me struggling to fall asleep. The dreams of the nights I endured suffering in the private booths still haunt me. Some guys were rough, there was no exact limit to their torture.

I am happy I escaped, I wish the peace I have here lasts. I am still not sure how I would begin to explain to Peter when I have to tell him all the truth. When I have to tell him why I have to move to another city every three months. With each passing day with each act of kindness from Peter, my heart stung, and I want to stay. To stay and be with him. To see how this relationship would end.

“What kind of a movie would you like to watch,” murmurs Peter, this disturbed my train of thought. I forgot I get the VIP treatment there is in this house. Every time we watch a movie I get to choose my favourite. Sometimes our favourites clash but then we always find a peaceful way to resolve the conflict. Not that I ever have to compromise when I am with Peter. He is the best Brother in the whole world.

“Peter let us scroll on Net*ix, look for a romantic Korean series, one we could watch until the wee hours of the morning,” I tell Peter, smiling. He looks hesitant and I use that time to grab the remote and start scrolling. I will get away with it anyways, I always do.