The Drowned

" 3 "

Nine o'clock in the evening

Nathan sits on the couch with one leg crossed over the other. He was wearing his usual night clothes, holding one of his books in his hands. His black hair is hanging down his back and he wears glasses. The door to his room was open and maids were moving back and forth in the corridor.

One of them came carrying a cup of coffee, then stood at the door and did not enter until Nathan allowed her. After the maid left, Nathan held the cup in his right hand, and after taking a sip from his cup, he looked at the sleeper as if he were a dead body. If it were not for his chest, which rose and fell due to his breathing, everyone would think that he was dead.

Nathan looked at the clock hanging on the wall and noticed that it was his bedtime. He did not want to wake the sleeping young man, so he got up to sleep in the next room. When he got up, he heard the voice of the sleeping young man muttering in the middle of his bed.

(My grandma .. my .. grand .. ma)

Nathan stood for a long time, then walked towards the bookshelf, put his book there and moved towards the door. He went out, closed it slowly, and turned around to address the guard.

(If the sleeping young man wakes up, you must wake me up immediately)

The guard shook his head and stood up straight, as he was very afraid of Nathan. Nathan entered the room, closed the door, and lay in bed thinking about Aran until he fell asleep. He did not know how he woke up at six, even though he felt that he had fallen asleep moments before. He felt that his body was extremely exhausted.

He got up from his bed and walked towards his room, opening his braid with his fingers. He stood in front of the door of the room and opened it quietly. He entered and saw that Aran was still sleeping. He went and took his clothes and left the room towards the room in which he lay last night. He went in to take a shower.

His mother saw him coming down the stairs and gathering his hair into a bun, wearing his sports clothes from the Alo Yoga brand, which is one of the best fashion brands in the world. He stood at the end of the stairs, staring at his mother, speaking.

(Good morning, mom)

His mother put the cup back in the saucer on the table and raised her head towards him, smiling with her hair tied with a red ribbon and her red dress made of silk fabric of a unique and excellent material. She spoke to him.

(Good morning dear, how are you?)

He answered her as he approached her and lifted the sleeves of his clothes

(It's not bad and it's not good, but it's better than a headache)

He sat next to his mother and rested his head on her shoulder while whispering to her

(Aranda, your son is not well. He feels pain in his chest.)

I spoke hastily and fearfully

(What is wrong with you, my son? Did he call your father to come back? Oh my God, my little one feels pain in his chest)

He spoke as he pulled her back to sit and went back to resting his cheek on her shoulder

(Please sit down and understand what I mean. I mean it figuratively, not literally.)

She sighed and stared at him, then moved her gaze to his hand, with the effect of that burning, to ask him

(When will you decide to have cosmetic surgery for your hand?)

He hurriedly raised his head and shouted

(Never, I have never and will never schedule an appointment. I love this burn. Why are you always trying to convince me to remove it?)

Aranda sighed, speaking to him

(Why don't you stop looking for him? Maybe he is dead now or married, and my beloved son has a beautiful fiancée and a good life. Why are you still looking for that boy?)

Nathan ignored her speech and got up and turned away from her, rolling his eyes inside their sockets as she shouted to him

(Boy, don't tell me that you have inclinations for men? I converted to Christianity and I do not object to that, so do not make me think that your inclinations for men are real. I don't even want to think that.)

Without giving her any answer, he walked towards the gate with one of the guards, heading to the training section, which was several kilometers away from the house. He stepped into the center and saw Trainer Gabriel standing in front of dozens of trainees.

He has a huge body build, his mother is Russian and his father is African, meaning he is the product of a mixture between the Russian race and the African race. He has brown skin with blue eyes, thick eyelashes, and light blond hair. Gabriel leaned over as Nathan entered

(Good morning, young sir)

Nathan answered in Russian

(Good morning, rest Gabriel)

Nathan passed him to the entrance, where the treadmill and weights room was, followed by the shooting room. From one machine to another, he moved while thinking and spoke with Casper through the big screen. Casper found something and was trying to verify it. This was also their usual call every morning. They kept in touch every morning, even if they did not speak.

*

*

Somewhere

Nafad stands in front of his office and shouts at his guards in a loud voice. He does not give any resemblance to Aran. He has black hair and hazel eyes. Aran is a blond young man who looks a lot like the French and the Americans.

(You are fools. You should have protected him instead of running away. You easily wasted the biggest deal. All my dreams have gone to waste.)

He lifted the coffee cup and threw it at one of the guards, hitting his head and falling, but he got up again. Nevada thought again, then stood up and said to one of the guards

(Watch the scoundrel Firo’s house, and when he leaves, tell me. Since his son is not there, we will break into the house, kidnap Aran, and bring him back. Thus, my deal will be completed, and I will not need to worry about it, and I will live richly.)

He was laughing that dirty laugh as if Aran was not part of his family and his brother recommended him to him. The guards looked at each other and sighed, except for one who was calm and watching silently. He asked them to go out and sat thinking silently and smiling mischievously.

*

*

Nathan entered quietly and sat on the sofa, watching Aran, who woke up at ten-thirty. He was staring at him as he extended his arms up, then he suddenly stopped, his hands reaching for the cover and the bed, and then he spoke.

(I'm really not dreaming. I'm in the master's room... I don't remember his name, but his room smells like that, making me sleepy. Should I go back to sleep?)

Aran closed his eyes and inhaled that scent with a smile, without knowing that the owner of the room was sitting and staring at him, so he interrupted his solitude with the scent.

(You're really a lazy person)

Aran was terrified by the sound and tried to get up. He almost fell because he was in a room that was not his own, and this confused him because he did not know and remember the place. Nathan caught him and put him back on the bed, listening to the young man’s conversation.

(I apologize sir....)

Nathan interrupted and sat down in the chair

(P'Nathan, just P'Nathan, that word “master” makes me feel like that old man) “He means his father, Vero.”

Aran pronunciation

(P'Nathan, I don’t mean to offend, but the word “master” comes with many meanings, and I say it out of respect, and my intention is not for you to feel old)

Nathan was surprised that Aran spoke tactfully and intelligently. His eyes wandered to Aran's face as he looked at nothing, then he sighed and spoke.

(Get up and take a shower and then we'll sit down to talk)

Aran got up from the same side he was lying on yesterday and walked counting his steps towards the bathroom, then he stood up, turned around, and bowed to Nathan, speaking.

(Thank you for the good treatment)

Then he turned around and went in. Nathan got up from his place and walked to the window and stood staring through it, his hair falling down his back and at the end of his hair there was a ribbon tied, and some strands of hair lying on either side of his face, looking through the window at Casper who had just arrived.

Fifteen minutes passed and Aran came out with wet hair and a towel on his head. His clothes were larger than his size. He looked controversial and ridiculous. Nathan could barely suppress his laughter. Aran spoke as he gathered his shirt to the side of his chest

(I'm sorry, the shirt is too big for me)

Nathan answered as he approached him

(I know, raise your arms a little)

Aran obeyed, so Nathan began inserting the shirt into the pants and arranging it, then he pulled the belt from above the sofa and inserted it into the pants loops and arranged it, then asked him to lower his arms. Nathan closed the last button on the shirt and pulled the tie and fastened it until it seemed appropriate on him, then he withdrew his arms and folded the sleeves of the shirt, then moved away and held The towel and noticed that Aran was lost in thought to ask him

(What's wrong with you, Aran?)

Aran answered hurriedly as he took two steps back

(Nothing, P'Nathan, can I get a comb to comb my hair)

Aran was silent after Nathan started combing his hair and he looked more handsome. Nathan was lost in Aran's appearance, but he woke up to Casper's voice speaking.

(Nathan, who has many servants, serves this little tramp. I feel jealous.)

Aran was behind Nathan and whispered to him

(Sorry P'Nathan, I think I got you in trouble with your boyfriend)

But Nathan made it clear to him

(It's Casper, my deranged friend. Casper, be polite. This is Arran, my guest.)

Aran spoke politely after bringing his hands together and saying the usual formal Thai phrase that means respect and greeting

(Sawadi Khab, Mr. Casper)

Casper shouted, causing the people standing by to panic. Then he spoke calmly and went back to sitting

(You're Thai. I shouldn't have been surprised. I knew.)

Nathan turned around, shaking his head impatiently, and faced Aran and addressed him

(give me your hands)

Aran raised his hand for Nathan to hold, and it was trembling. The young brown man felt it. He was walking slowly and pulling him, and this surprised Casper, who understood from their movements that Aran was blind, so he should remain silent. Aran sat on the right side, and Nathan was next to Casper, who handed him the large envelope to open, his eyes staring at Aran.

( s**t )

Nathan cursed as he read the papers, then raised his head to Casper, speaking

(Every day, Nefad proves to me that he is the stupidest man in the world. This is his nephew. How can he put him into a dirty deal like this?)

Aran asked him

(I don't know what my uncle's job is, can you tell me what he does?)

Casper and Nathan stared at each other and then Nathan spoke

(Your uncle works in trade, but not any trade)

Nathan remained silent so that Casper could continue talking for him

(I count it with me, the trade in organs, teenagers, children, women, the trade of the most dangerous types of drugs, as well as working in the black auction, where everything you want is sold, almost like the deep web.)

Aran asked innocently

(What is the Deep Web? Why does it trade in all of these people? What do they do with them?)

Casper and Nathan stared at each other again. Casper opened his mouth to answer Aran's questions, but Nathan's hand covered his mouth, silencing him and speaking instead.

(Not today, Aran. Casper and I are a little busy. Should I leave you here, or do you want to go downstairs?)

Aran did not answer him and remained silent, so Casper got up and spoke

(I will leave now, and I will inform you of developments)

Nathan shook his head and got up with him and accompanied him as they mumbled in a low voice about Aran's information. Casper rode his bike and spoke before putting on his helmet.

(I got some information, but I need to verify it. Nathan, take care of Aran and intensify the guard. The fool, Nevad, does not know that you are here. If you need anything, call me.)

Nathan shook his head and took two steps as he stared at Casper on his bike leaving. He turned around and entered the door of the house as he saw his mother avoiding him. He smiled because he knew that the servants had told her that Aran was in her son’s room and she was upset by his presence.

Nathan left it and went up to the room where Aran was sitting. He entered quietly and saw him sitting as he had left him. He went forward and collected the papers and put them inside the envelope, but he stopped when that small piece of paper fell, so he lifted it and looked inside its contents, and what was written on it was

(I am on the verge of death, and there is no one to take care of my grandson Aran. Whoever finds this paper must take care of him for me, Grandma Alan)

Nathan looked at Aran, then folded the paper and placed it inside his book on the table. He approached Aran and knelt down to address him

(Aran, what's wrong with you?)

Aran raised his head slightly and then spoke

(I miss my grandmother. Her condition worsened on the same day you brought me here. I don’t know how she is. Can you take me to see her?)

Aran's voice and the sparkle in his eyes prove to Nathan that Aran's grandmother is very close to Aran, Nathan spoke

(I will send the chief guard to check on her. What is her name?)

Aran smiled, his hands searching for Nathan's hands as he thanked him

(Thank you very much. Her name is Alan. Alan Thockett)

Nathan stood up and held out his hands

(Come with me to the library while they bring us breakfast there.)

Aran walked holding Nathan's hands, feeling the warmth of the hands holding him. He arrived, and with the first step into the library, he stopped and said:

(The smell is different here)

Nathan addressed him as he dragged him towards the couch

(Yes, it is the smell of books, the smell of book pages. I do not allow spraying perfumes or using any fresheners when servants clean the room, and these are my orders.)

Aran asked him

(This is your library? Does it contain musical instruments?)

Nathan answered him with a question instead of answering his own question

(How many music instruments do you know?)

Aran smiled and started counting

(piano, violin, guitar, flute, saxophone, harp, drums)

Nathan spoke as he got up towards the white box and took out his white speaking violin

(Let me see whether you will recognize this instrument by its sound or not)

Nathan began to play, but Aran did not speak. He just closed his eyes and listened to the playing. Even Nathan's mother, who was sitting on the ground floor, was surprised by her son's playing, which rarely played. So she went up to see him, looked at him, then at Aran, then sighed and turned around to go down to her place and sit down to drink tea.

Fifteen minutes and Nathan's playing was interrupted. The sound of strong gunfire from the gate towards the house. Aran got up in fear, but went back to sitting when Nathan spoke, who took two steps to pick up his usual weapon (the sniper). He placed him near the window, tied his hair into a bun, knelt on one knee, and started shooting, shooting them down one by one.

After the last person fell, he got up, moved a strand of hair from his face, looked at Aran, then handed his weapon to the guard and ordered him to clean up the mess. Nathan arranged his clothes, shook off the dust from his burgundy silk shirt and his trousers, and sat quietly and listened to Aran's talk.

(What happened? Who did you kill?)

Nathan replied as he stared at the servants putting the food on the table

(Some of your uncle's men came to take you. They think the house is empty because my father is traveling. Come and have breakfast.)

Aran apologized to him, even though he was tactfully eating the usual food prepared by his uncle’s servants, but the smell attracted him, and Nathan’s command made him obey him after the long-haired young man dragged him by the hand. He sat in confusion, his hands reaching for the spoons and knives, and the smell of the soup made his stomach make sounds indicating his hunger.

He extended his hand with the spoon and ate some of the soup, and he liked the taste, so he began to eat more, forgetting about Nathan, who was sitting opposite him, resting his elbow on the table, and Baran stared, with a charming smile on his face, like someone who had fallen in love. Nathan's eyes wandered to Aran and he did not notice who had photographed him.

*

*

Nevad shouted at the last two men who returned, asking about Aran and the rest of the men, so one of them told him

(We thought that there was no one in the house except Aran and the guards, but there was a professional sniper. He shot our men one by one.)

Nevad turned around, thinking out loud

(Professional sniper? Professional sniper?)

Nevad turned towards his guards and shouted

(It's Nathan, that scoundrel came back without me knowing)

His two guards remained silent as they saw him smashing his desk, then he spoke

(Watch the house, I want to see Aran alive)

They quickly left and closed the door, and Nevad kept moving around his office and muttering to himself

(Aran has fallen into hands from which it is impossible to get out.)

*

*

*

Nathan walked down the stairs with his steps backwards. Aran was in front of him, holding his hands and descending step by step until the last step. Then Nathan turned and saw his mother and spoke, but his mother pulling him forcefully made him stop talking and listen to her conversation.

(Why do you still keep this boy in your room?)

Nathan asked her in surprise

(Do you know him?)

His mother answered him with confusion

(No, I just don't prefer having him near you)

Nathan opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by the entry of the chief guard, Skye, and his friend, Casper, together. It seemed that the topic was important, so they entered at the same time. Nathan looked at them, Sky bowed and left, while Casper headed towards the office. Then Nathan looked at his mother, who shook her head desperately and headed towards Aran, speaking to him

(You're Nathan's friend, Aran, aren't you?)

Aran turned his head towards the voice and brought his hands together to greet the woman speaking to him, but before he could speak, his hands held a speaking hand.

(Nathan has a little work to do. Can you sit with me for a while?)

He answered her as he felt the place with his hand until he sat down

(Of course, ma'am)

Nathan was watching her carefully, and that meant his mother knew something. He turned and walked towards his office and postponed the idea of interrogating his mother until he finished with Nevad, and Aran's grandmother. Only fifteen minutes passed for Nathan to calmly exit, then stand staring at Aran, then spoke, addressing his mother

(Mom, whenever Aran feels tired or you notice that he is tired, take him to my room. I will leave for a few moments.)

His mother shook her head at him, so he turned and left, thinking about Casper's last sentence

[Aran is inside a trick and you will not understand it unless you meet his grandmother]

The car arrived at the hospital where Aran’s grandmother was lying. After Sky found his place, he walked in and everyone’s eyes turned to him. A mass of overwhelming handsomeness with long hair. He had many guards and his friend walking next to him and talking. Both Casper and Nathan are wearing smart, regular clothes, while the guards are uniformed

(It's on the third floor, room thirteen)

Aran asked three guards, along with Skye, to accompany him. As for the rest, they should return to the cars outside and wait there. He knocked on the door, then he and Casper entered, leaving the rest of the guards with Skye at the door. The woman sleeping on the bed with an oxygen mask covering her face looked at him.

Nathan greeted her politely, then sat down and held her hand, speaking

(I received your letter, Grandma)

she spoke

(Again, good that Aran is fine, how is he? Is he eating well? Is he bothering you?)

He didn't answer her questions but asked him instead

(You're not Alan, you're Anna, right?)

Her half-open eyes stared at him, and she finally spoke what Nathan needed to hear

(You are right, I am not Alan, I am her little sister Anna. Alan died after a struggle with liver cancer, and because I resembled her in appearance and voice, Aran did not distinguish between us and did not know that she had died, and he remained attached to me, thinking that I was his grandmother Alan)

Nathan spoke questioningly

(You know who I am?)

She answered him with interrupted words

(Alan told me about you, and there are those who have been watching you since you were young, and even after her death, I started watching you, for Aran’s sake. You are the little boy who tried to pull Aran out of the midst of the rubble and fire and was able to pull him out even though he had burns on his body.)

Nathan did not move at all. He rested the elbow of his arm on the arm of the chair and rested his cheek on the palm of his hand and spoke

(I doubted it, but I wanted to be sure. Now I want to know how you found me?)

Grandmother answered

(It was not difficult for my sister, but she did not look for you until two years later)

Casper asked her

(Why ma'am?)

She was talking about everything and told Nathan about all of Nevad’s actions to Aran, and she could not help him at that time, and he was angry and resentful of Nevad and her. Nathan did not return home and went with Casper to the bar. All the way he was silent and thoughts consumed him, then he remembered Aran’s panic when he tried to take off his shirt to help him shower, then he sighed. He sat on the couch watching the people at the door, drinking his wine and Casper was next to him drinking vodka and watching him carefully, then he sighed and spoke.

(Calm down man, think about your twin brothers’ reaction when they see Aran living in your room)

Nathan interrupted Casper's conversation

(Nevad's house is empty?)

Casper answered

(Yes, I think it's empty, why do you ask?)

He answered as he got up

(Come with me and you will know, and let us take some men with us just in case)

Nathan and Casper walked away from the bar with a group of men. They got into the car and headed towards Nevad's house. The car stopped in front of the house, and Nathan braided his hair. He pulled out one of the weapons, took it down, and put it in the belt behind his back. He stood staring at the doors that were open, as if the house was deserted. Nathan entered, ignoring Casper’s screams as he walked among the rubble.

He walked towards the second floor on the stairs while holding his weapon in his hand. Then he walked down the corridor and suddenly he stopped and stared at the door, which was a different color from the rest of the doors, so he opened it. Among all the rubble of the house, the room in which Nathan was standing was tidy. From its smell, he knew that it was Aran’s room. He put down his weapon, which he He held it in his hand on the bed and stared around the room.

He saw a picture on the right side of the bed, which contained Aran's parents and Aran as a child, and there was a photo album above the dresser. Nathan moved and pulled out the travel bag that was placed on top of the closet and put in it a picture of Nathan's parents, the photo album, Aran's phone, and some clothes that he deemed appropriate.

He went out, put down the bag, and went towards the car and Casper was watching him desperately. Nathan returned and entered the other room, the door of which was the same color as the door to Aran's room. He opened it. He did not find anything in it and turned to leave, but he returned and took the picture that was placed on the left side of the bed. It was a picture of Aran in elegant and elegant graduation clothes, sitting up straight and looking good. A mass of beauty.

He walked towards the car, then opened the bag, put the picture in it, closed it, and shouted, calling Casper and the guards to leave the place. He asked the guards to deliver the bag without Aran knowing, but he returned to the bar and spent the rest of the day there. He did not eat any food and just drank from his cup absent-mindedly.

Casper despaired of talking to him, so he remained silent to support him. At ten o'clock, Nathan returned home, and his mother quickly received him and checked on him. He told her that he was fine, and sat down to ask her about Aran. She sighed in despair and sat in front of him, speaking

(He ate his lunch and sat in the garden, and when the sun set, you allowed him to go to your room and sent his dinner there, and I think he is asleep now.)

Nathan shook his head and walked upstairs. Without looking at Aran, he felt nauseous and went out to the bathroom. He is used to drinking, but this was the first time he drank a huge amount of wine. He vomited the entire contents of his stomach. Then he walked out to the bed and stared at Aran, then slowly lay down next to him, with a distance between them.

Aran sleeps with the palm of his hand under his cheek, and Nathan is next to him, placing the palm of one hand under his cheek and staring at him, remembering his grandmother’s conversation about Aran’s suffering with his uncle. He extended his hand and pushed Aran's bangs away, so Aran opened his eyes and spoke

(P'Nathan?)

Answer

(Yes, it's me. Sorry, I woke you up.)

Aran spoke without moving

(No problem, I was half asleep. Did you know where my grandmother was?)

Nathan lied

( not yet )

Aran hummed and closed his eyes, and Nathan kept watching him until sleep took him away and he slept next to him without a cover. Twelve midnight, Aran woke up feeling cold, so he pulled the cover, but the weight of something held him back, so he raised his hand to touch the side of the bed, and felt Nathan’s shoulder and arm, and he was startled, speaking in a low voice.

(P'Nathan)

He slowly pulled the cover over Nathan's body and then lay back down. Nathan opened his eyes, stared at him, then went back to sleep. Seven o'clock in the morning, the twins entered Nathan's room slowly, even though their mother had warned them not to go up and that Nathan had guests, but their curiosity remained a curiosity.

They screamed loudly and caused panic for Aran and for Nathan, who hastily pulled his weapon from under the pillow and raised it towards them while hiding Aran behind him. He felt Aran’s fist holding his shirt and felt his trembling. One of the two brothers spoke, saying

(Calm down brother, this is us)

He lowered his weapon and stared at them angrily as they tried to peek at Aran, so he spoke to Aran, and his hand patted Aran's hand, which was holding his clothes.

(Calm down, they are my little brothers)

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