No One Will Ever Hurt You Again I Promise-Chapter 44: Little Retrospect

You guys are always so noisy; I have a horrible migraine, and you had to make such a fuss. Ayke reproached them, sitting up in the bed where he was lying. He doesn’t know how he landed in the infirmary. He remembers that they were trying to stop El and that idiot, whom he doesn’t know the name of yet, from punching himself in front of the eyes of the other students, frightened by their aggressiveness, and their nameless anger. He scanned the room in search of his brother, whom he barely sensed presence. He feels tired and empty as if something drained of all his energy, by who knows what exactly.

I need to get back to my physical activities seriously, otherwise, I’m going to end up in a coffin six feet on the ground at such a young age, and I haven’t understood anything about life yet. He grumbled between his teeth, holding his head in his hand.

He jumped when he met Howie’s peaceful, sleepy face in the bed next to him. He never saw him so relaxed, calm, and serene, even though he still wears that clear face like sleeping water when he’s not fighting the teachers during his tantrums. But what exactly is he doing here? What is going on? After asking himself these questions while admiring H’s face, he realized something.

He knows it’s just a facade. He doesn’t know how, but he knows he’s still worried and preoccupied and only sleeps with one eye open. What worry can a child have that can prevent him from having peace of heart even when he sleeps?

He remembers when he often slept at Howie’s and in the same bed as him. He was waking up all the time whenever he moved or changed position. The first week was hard, something drew him to his bed like a magnet, and he kept Howie from sleeping correctly. But what pleased him was that Howie never complained about him or asked him to stay in the guest room with Aike.

He smiles when the memory of H’s warm body invades him, that night when he decided to imprison him in his arms so that he could rest quiet and sleep in peace. He had that same warm, admiring smile he had that night. It was a little cold, and despite the thickness of the blanket, he couldn’t warm up properly because a particular person didn’t perceive the temperature like him.

His room is the coldest in the house; he seems to have a particular attraction for the cold, and like it, he looks insensitive to those who don’t know him too well. That night, Ayke moved tirelessly; Howie pulled him into his embrace and held him against his naked, hot body all night. Ayke fell asleep the minute her body touched H’s, with a smirk on her face.

He slept like a baby. Since that day, he knows that H would make a good boyfriend for the girl who will fall in love with him or instead for the girl he will love if that day ever comes, of course. Because he knows that the latter refuses to let others approach him so close, and he does not give a damn about the one who looks at him with these intentions, take the case of Kaeli, for example.

But he would never have believed that the little cat-and-mouse game his brother was playing with H would also trap him in his mad and irresistible charm, a charm he doesn’t know he exerts on others.

He used to be a little suspicious, but when he spent those countless nights in the same bed as the latter, depriving him of his sleep, without having the presence of mind to wear a boxer short to hide his nudity and the big thing he has between his legs. He had his answer; there was no reason for him to be suspicious of him. and that night when he protected him from the cold, keeping him pressed against his warm, supple, muscular and soft body, he knew that there was no place on earth safer than to be by his side.

So when his brother explained his emotional issues and the mess he got himself into by letting his feelings push him toward someone he never thought of as such, he wasn’t surprised. He was even waiting for it to happen to them.

Somewhere in him, he knew it would come to that crossroads eventually. But he wondered many times why Aike and not me since he is the first to have approached him so intimately by sleeping in his bed while the latter is stark naked with his dream body that is the object of envy in their basketball team, always sleeping in his embrace when he can’t handle the coldness of the night too well while Aike refused to let his guard down by staying away from him.

Even if sometimes Aike looks at him out of the corner of his eye when the latter is busy, he looks at him for a long time when he is busy doing something else that prevents him from paying attention. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

After all, life is like that; we find ourselves facing situations we never thought of. And what we dream for ourselves never happens as we wish. But he didn’t want H as his brother wanted him. He simultaneously sees in him everything he doesn’t have and wants to have as a quality and a defect. He sees him as a brother, a friend, a confidant other than his twin, and a loving and caring brother-in-law.

For them, he changed a lot of his habits, for example: sleeping wearing shorts when Aike decides to join them, sleeping in the same sheets and bed with someone other than himself, talking to them in public acting like they’re the most influential people in the universe, stepping out of his comfort zone to protect them from their classmates’ gossip, turning up the temperature in his room to keep them warm when they’re with him, to be their driver while rumors are circulating about his car and his relationship with them.

Who would have thought under this tight, distant, and icy shell that he displays all the time had a soft and warm heart that beats only for the well-being of others without thinking of having things in return? A brother, a boyfriend, a friend, a protector, and a confidant. For them, he is everything they want, and they ask for nothing more.

He raised his hand to touch Howie’s peaceful face, which displayed an absolute serenity and peace, but he held back his gesture when he remembered that bunch of idiot friends he had under the doorstep that stared at them like they’d seen a ghost or something.

They risk waking him up if he touches him under their greedy gaze because they will undoubtedly scream like crazy, and with this big mouth of Oleck in public, the spectacle could last for an eternity.

He sighed before turning back to them, and then a question popped into his head like an alarm bell, why is he sleeping next to me, and where for heaven’s sake is my brother?

Where is my brother? He whispers in the direction of the others who have not dared to open their mouths when they notice the care with which he tries to make as little noise as possible. They all point to the corner next to the bed with a single gesture. Hmm, what, it’s my brother that I asked; he whispers to them by making gestures to make them understand more clearly.

They all nodded, pointing to the same place as before. Okay, said Ayke softly. They’ve become stupid now while caressing his temples with a frown. This headache will kill me if it keeps growing like this; he groaned between his teeth and then unconsciously turned his head in the direction pointed by his friends.

They are the cream of Wood hill high but sometimes they act like the dumber, they are many that are as competent as them, but they are not part of their gang, and their grades are not as stable as theirs, who still keep to the top of the monthly and annual high school bulletin board and honors list.

They have almost no life outside the walls of Wood Hill. They are workaholics, real beasts, not to mention that they all have challenges to overcome to surpass their parents or keep the positions they once had. There is also Howie, who keeps them on a leash, they don’t know how he manages to always be on top, but they don’t intend to let it go without a fight.

They wonder how it would have been if Howie also had predecessors before him at Wood Hill that he would have to follow the trail so as not to put them to shame.

It would have been worse, Oleck still replies, grimacing. This guy is an absolute machine; he does everything to perfection and is downright good at everything. I don’t intend to compete with him, but I like that he is there to remind me of my duty here; otherwise, I would have already messed up my parents’ hard work before me because I don’t care about all that.

Everyone has their own choices, goals, and needs. Copying and trying to live like others never brings anything good, only pain and misery to the soul. You always feel like shit to those you compare to, and I don’t want that in my life.

I am Oleck. Life is far too short to waste on trivialities. I make my life as I hear it and with my objectives, so I will advise you to try to do the same. After all, we all count, no matter what.

He jumped as his gaze caught his brother’s body, casually crouched on the floor as if he’d fallen as a wet dressing gown tossed carelessly onto the floor. A feverish oh, escaped his lips as he hurriedly climbed out of bed, forgetting all the care he had taken before not to wake Howie.

His headache throbbed like someone had hammered him on the top of his head. He staggered like a drunk under the violence of his headache. He tried to cling to the bed, barely missed, and fell over into the void. He awaits with death in his soul this last shock that will finish him off, and he knows that he will not last long if his head hits the ground in his state.

Bravael jostled the small group, making his way through them to go to the rescue of Ayke when he saw him stagger and struggle against his fall like a poor devil. He felt discomfort when he saw him carrying his hands to his temples, massaging them. Lugh had to use all their life force in both bodies to help Howie escape the mess he had headed into in desperation.

The wall had no more traces of cracks, and the floor too. Lugh put everything back in order, and Howie’s shirt was impeccable as if the latter’s sharp claws had never torn it.

It’s all about him, he never leaves anything to chance, and nothing escapes him. He must have stormed off when he heard us outside the door, which is why the twins were in such a terrible state, one on the bed and the other beside the bed stacked like a waste.

He doesn’t know what he would say to the others if they found Howie with his hands in his stomach, the twins missing with the presence of this bewildering guy in the room.

This situation frightened him, so his heart stopped beating for endless seconds, and drops of cold sweat ran through his whole body like a stream. He took a deep breath as the door opened in front of them, and he saw that the twins had returned to normal, and Howie was peacefully sleeping a recovery sleep next to Ayke, who had been startled awake by the cry they made.

I admit that sometimes you surprise me, and I’m jealous of your diligence, he said. Oh, those, are they always going to cause me so many problems? If one day I die of a heart attack, it will surely be their fault and no one else, he grumbled, taking a breath, relieved that Lugh was always so attentive and quick-witted.

When he arrived behind Ayke, El was ready to save him from a fall that could be fatal for his health and that of his brother since they are both attached and feel the feelings, needs, and pains of the other, but this one never arrived in his outstretched arms ready to catch him.

Holy shit! I missed him, he shouted in his head. I’m just a good-for-nothing. He opened his eyes to see the damage for himself. I wasn’t even able to bring Theo back to help; if they’re sick now, the other had to use up all their little stock to help Howie heal. He complained in his head, sulking while making lousy blood with his lack of tact and uselessness.

A stupid smile formed on his lips when he saw that Ayke could avoid this fatal fall even if he could not do it himself.

Oh, thank God you’re awake! He said, wringing his hands a little embarrassed.

Howie had grabbed Ayke’s wrist, and he felt he needed help, and that strength made him wake up. Even before the latter could touch the arms of El, who had rushed to come to his aid, he grabbed his flying wrist to get him back on his feet. He sat back in bed like a robot; his body movements were mechanical and not human.

He’s still sleeping; he’s not awake yet, El says, putting his hand to his mouth. EL has barely figured it out because Howie doesn’t move or say a word, only his spiritual energy works and fills the air they breathe.

El hurried back to the door pushing the others out; come on, brats, get out of here, he whispered, not giving them time to figure out what was happening. He asks them to push them to capitulate without making a scene. Aren’t you too nosy there, forcing yourself into their room uninvited?

Is Howie okay? Mandy and Elie ask him at the same time. Raphael and Oleck turned to them, throwing knowing glances at each other with smirks.

Did you take the time to sync up at a time like this? Bravael asks them, rolling his eyes, while Eli and Mandy stare into each other’s eyes, completely forgetting where they are and why forgetting about El’s presence and his whining.

Well, ok, I understand, dropped El; when he realized that the girls were no longer in the same world as him. he pushed them outside towards the boys and closed the door with him inside.

And why is he staying and not us, Oleck asks them, sulking? El opened the door halfway and stuck his head in the half-open door to give him the answer to his question.

Well, that’s because I’m family and you’re not. He said to the other childishly, sticking out his tongue despite the urgency he finds the time to fool around. Before Oleck could even answer, he closed the door. He leaned his head against the door and took a deep breath. Thank goodness they cooperated this time; this bunch of scum is often hard to get rid of.

But what’s got into him? I didn’t think he was childish; Oleck sulked, even more, staring at the closed door in front of him. So you’ve never observed him, Raphael replies, who just here hadn’t uttered a single word.

The girls hold each other’s gazes by playing who knows what game while they smile shyly, unable to take their eyes off them.

Oleck noticed them, nudging Raphael, who had been staring at the door since El disappeared behind it. Lost in his thoughts, he finds it strange that Howie reacts like this. It seems that his body reacted without even the authorization of his brain, it’s like a reflex for him, and he is sure of what he saw.

He wonders because he’s sure and sure Howie Was Sleeping. And why was he sleeping? Wasn’t he supposed to watch over the twins, but what the hell is going on here? Is it possible that someone is acting outside their motor faculties or, more specifically, outside their motor cortex?

Now it’s your turn to stare someone in the eye, too; unfortunately, your lover is a door, my friend. Replied Oleck when he noticed that Raphael was lost in thought, staring at the door with a funny look. He let him stand looking at the door, the girls next to him, and went to sit on the ground not far from them. He took his phone out of his pocket and connected it to one of the many video games he plays to kill time.

While behind the door, El tries to bring some order to his and Ayke’s thoughts. Ayke completely forgot what he was going to do and froze on the spot staring at Howie’s hand on his wrist, moving from his hand to his face. But he’s sleeping; how did he do it? He shouted in El’s direction.

It’s a reflex El responds to him by approaching him. More precisely, he is in a state of wakefulness. Indeed, he sleeps, but his consciousness is active.

I mean by this that in standard times, the brain quickly adapts its levels of activity and consciousness to its needs. For this, it uses the information it receives from the eyes, ears, skin, and other sensory organs.

A person’s wakefulness is controlled from the upper part of the brainstem by a system of cells and nerve fibers. The forebrain interacts with the upper part of the brainstem to maintain consciousness and alertness.

You know H, when it comes to you, he can move earth and sky to help you, and that’s more proof that he will never let you down, as he said. That means he got your warning message, which is why he reacted quickly.

As he spoke, he moved closer to them; carefully untied Howie’s hand from Ayke’s wrist as if he might hurt them, he settled him back comfortably in the bed. Then he retrieved Aike’s body from the corner of the bed, whom he installed near H, while Ayke looked at Howie’s body in disbelief.

I’ve been a burden to you since that famous day you recognized me in class, and without asking your permission, we forced our way into your life.

You won’t be the only one to watch over us, we’ll protect each other from today, and I hope Aike will have some common sense too. Even if you two are hurting each other by staying away from each other out of politeness or fear that ill-intentioned people will hurt him. I will personally see to the happiness of both of you from now on.

Hehehe, hehe! Bravael intervenes in a burst of laughter, listening attentively to the speeches that Ayke was making to himself. I see that your chivalrous side woke up during your knock-down, he says, in a teasing tone that makes Ayke blush.

You weren’t taught to not listen to other people’s conversations, he said, turning abruptly to Bravael.

Bravael took a quick step towards him, fearing that he would stagger if the discomfort he felt a few minutes ago returned to torment him. But the two were surprised to find that this was not the case. Hey, my migraine is gone, Ayke shouted, jumping up and down. It hurts like hell I thought I was going to die just now.

Dude, you protect what is dear to you in a moment like this, and I smash mine under punch like a vulgar punchball. I see that El replies, giving Howie a curious and admiring look. Thinking about him, I have to find him. Where did he run away?

Who do you want to find? Ayke asked him as he only heard the end of what El was whispering. It’s none of your business, sir knights, mind your own business, don’t you just come to swear allegiance to the king not a minute ago, mm?

Hey, no need to be sarcastic, silly you. I was just asking to see if I can be of any help.

Go make yourself valuable, somewhere else, where you can’t find me, nosy. You’re starting to be curious like that rascal of... El stopped abruptly, realizing what he was going to spout like an idiot.

He glanced at Ayke before stepping away from him, glaring at him. Ayke glared back at him and went to his brother’s bedside.

He’s even dumber than I remember, he muttered through gritted teeth so El wouldn’t hear him.

Sir knight, I have something to do. How about you start practicing your oath of allegiance, um? Watch over Howie, don’t let anyone touch him unless he does it himself. You know about his seizures.

Yes, I know, Ayke replies, remembering Marc’s explanations. Good, so much the better; I’ll let the others come in to keep you company, but as I’m telling you, don’t let them disturb him, he needs this sleep it’s important and explain to them because I won’t have time to do it now.

With these words, he opened the door, invited the others to enter, and without waiting or paying attention to their questioning gaze, he spun down the corridor, heading straight for the exit. Nose in the air, he begins to breathe deeply around him like a dog to track Theo’s scent.

Senses on alert, he threw himself down the stairs, light-hearted but anxious, hesitant, and undecided on what he would do when he found Theo.

I’m going to improvise, he said aloud, pushing his anxiety away from him for fear that he would retrace his steps.