I was terrified. That was the right word for what I felt at that moment. I gripped my puffy, old jacket, trying to be strong and not cry, but tears burst out. The only thing I could do was to shout after my mother. I ran through the park looking for her.

Everyone looked at me, but they passed by me while I clung onto each of them. I felt scared and hungry. Even though it was summer, it was a cold morning, and my brother gave me his jacket. He loved me a lot like I did.

“Mom, come back!”

I yelled once more before I hid behind a tree, trying to hold my tears back. I was a bad boy that day, asking her to buy me that biscuits pack even though I knew that she couldn’t afford it. I yelled at her and kicked her leg, calling her stupid.

Now she left me. “Mommy,” I sobbed while calling to her. “I’m sorry.”

Suddenly, I heard a voice and raised my head; before me stood two older kids. My heart slammed into my chest. The shorter one looked rather pale, but his eyes were shining.

“Don’t be scared,” I heard one of them say. I looked at both of them, terrified.

“Did you get lost?” he continued, handing me some cookies and pinching my nose. He made me giggle and I felt my cheeks grow red. I nodded, feeling a new wave of tears forming in my eyes.

I felt cold while my ears were icy by now.

“What is your name?” the skinny boy asked me, as I was chewing the cookies. He kneeled in front of me and pulled out a purple hat, placing it on my head. It made me feel warm.

Before answering, I heard my name,

“Christopher!”.

Her old cross around her neck was swinging on her chest while she gripped me in her warm embrace.

On that day, she pinkie promised me that she would never let me go…

Getting a better look at her, I realized that she was faceless. Her grip became excruciating, burning my arm. A sting across my face made me yelp in pain; I let out a shout and everything dissipated. Same the image of those two boys...

My body hurt while I was covered in sweat.

“Chris!” I heard my name and turned my head. James appeared in front of me, a sleepy look across his face. His hair was a mess. Getting a better look, I realized he was shirtless. “Don’t smirk. It doesn’t work with me, boy,” he said, making me pout while I sunk my head into his neck.

My breathing went back to normal, and I could feel my dream lingering, before my eyes closed back slowly and everything went blank. “Wake up…” I heard James pulling me back.

“What do you want? Let me sleep,” I whined, while I sat with my face buried in the pillow and my butt out. I opened my eyes, suddenly noticing I was at his house in his bed. I was dressed in my guest pajamas, which were blue with cake imprints. “How in the hell did I end up here?” I suddenly shouted, falling from the bed.

“You called me to take you and…” he said, turning with his back toward me and stretching.

“I did?” I asked him, looking for my favorite slippers that he gave me. They were my cute, fluffy slippers that looked like bunnies. I squealed the moment my eyes landed on them, forgetting that I was talking with James.

“Yeah, you did. Guess you were drunk,” he trailed off, walking quickly through the door like the house was on fire or something. James was the meanie. I shall call him from now on. He left me behind to eat the tasty breakfast.

I turned with my back to the door while I slipped into them, my bunny slippers, my smile and good mood faltering. I remembered what Anthony did to me yesterday; and the dream was still vividly in my mind.

The kid’s voice sounded familiar to me. I shrugged and stood up, holding up the pajama pants that stubbornly refused to stay around my waist. I walked out of the room, noticing my messy hair and pale skin in a mirror in the hall. My eyes looked as if they were practically glued open wide.

“I’m so hot still,” I mumbled to myself, nearly letting my pants go down. “Oh! Crap, what if someone would have passed near me? They would have a heart attack from looking at this sexy beast body.”

I heard a chuckle from behind me, and, terrified, I turned around. In one step, I managed to let go of the pants and trip, letting myself only in my briefs with my ass out.

Talk about embarrassing moments. I huffed, trying to pull up my pants.

“Good morning, son,”

I heard James’ father say, chuckling slightly while he had his jacket suit in one hand and his cup of coffee in the other. He looked young and was drop-dead gorgeous. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. I nodded to myself, a smug look on my face.

“Good morning, Mr. Seong.”

“I didn’t know you spent the night here.”

“Neither did I, sir. This morning, I opened my eyes, and I was in your son’s arms.”

He ruffled my hair, laughing and shaking his head, and then he left, but not before telling me that breakfast was on the table.

Holding the pants up with both of my hands, I ran downstairs. My bunny slippers made me feel like a child inside, and they relaxed me; they always did when I was sad.

Were my bunnies for my broken heart.

“Smoothie!” I yelled in James’ ear, making him fall off of the chair and spill his glass everywhere. I giggled, and suddenly I became innocent.

“Not for you, bad boy.” Hearing the last words, I felt like something had stabbed me. He tilted his head and then went slightly pale. I smiled further. He placed his hands on my shoulder and pecked my forehead like a big brother. “Go shower, brush your teeth, and dress. Your clothes have been washed.”

He continued pushing me out the door while I stubbornly refused to move.

“Did I puke?” I asked.

“If you behave, I’ll buy you that mousse chocolate you had your eye on two days ago.” I nodded, feeling like he purposely dodged my question. I guessed I did. Did I drink so much that I lost my memory? Do I usually drink that much?

I guessed that my throbbing head and dizziness came from yesterday. It was too much thinking. I stripped in three moves and jumped in the shower, screaming when the cold water hit my skin.

Half an hour later, I was bouncing in the front seat near the sweet shop, waiting for James to come out with the treat I got for being a good boy. The radio was blasting loudly.

The moment I saw the goodness of the sweet, I jumped on it like a wild animal, nearly choking.

“You call all your sweets like that, Chris?”

I snapped my head to him. I did not say it out loud, did I? He chuckled, and our hellish destination appeared in our view.

It would be a long day for me seeing Anthony, but I knew that by the end of the day, he would come back to me. I know he loved me like I do.

What we had between us wasn't just a short moment of pleasure. I felt it; I didn’t mistake his gentle side with something else. What a twisted game to play and then throw me, If what he said was true, I wouldn’t be able to breathe anymore.