Sugar and Pepper X (32.5)
THIRTY-TWO
* THIRTY-TWO.FIVE *
01.
The young master knew he was unreasonable, but sometimes even knowing that he couldn't stop himself. He had authority in the household. Intoxicated with it, he frequently exerted his will too far at times. And at those times when his parents were most unaware of his selfishness, the servants suffered.
Only one boy one year younger than him, the maid's boy, masterfully had the strength to stop him. No one knew, and the young master never told, the countless times the younger boy physically brought him back to his senses. The young master didn't like pain, but he appreciated the only forceful hand that kept him from committing irreversible regrets.
02.
Even though the young master was snobbish, demanding, and had a short temper, the maid's youngest who had too much pride even as a child did not hate him who had been born into fortune. Because the youngest had realized, that even though his older sister sometimes glared at the young master as if he was foul in his selfishness, and even though he himself sometimes couldn't stop his lips from curling in distaste, the young master never said spiteful hateful words and his face never twisted in disgust.
As much as he enjoyed his fortune, the young master never blatantly disregarded anyone's efforts.
He at least could admire that.
03.
They had that strange friendship between them; each side always pulling and pushing and both of them secretly admiring.
Growing up, sometimes unconsciously they found themselves looking at each other. And then their eyes would meet and at least one of them would blush. They didn't play together like children did, running around in circles or trading toys, but whenever they were in each other's company they enjoyed the other's presence.
Often, they couldn't stop wondering about the other. What did the other boy think in times like this? How would the other boy respond to that? Sometimes, they smiled when they caught the other smiling. Thoughts became unconscious habits until it became a natural part of them.
04.
The young master was the first to make an effort to seek the other boy out. Forced to learn the piano as part of his stylish upbringing, during practices without his instructor he suddenly wished for an audience. He commissioned his maid's son to stay with him.
Straightforwardly, the younger boy said he didn't know much about music, especially since he couldn't play anything.
Did he wish to play? the young master had asked.
Sure, the other boy had answered. But definitely not the piano.
So the young master had gifted his friend with a guitar.
Together they wrote songs and lyrics and then sang. They found that they connected in more ways than one.
Unable to understand the dissatisfaction within himself, the young master gifted his friend with material presents, but even his friend's grateful smiles were never enough to give him absolute comfort. He couldn't remove the butterflies in his stomach or the possessiveness that overcame him.
05.
On that fateful day that would break the comfort they had gotten used to, the young master sat at his piano. Beside him his friend sat with his back turned strumming his guitar. They sang to accompaniment and then the young master's fingers strayed on the piano keys. The younger boy turned to catch the young master's eye, wondering why he hesitated.
Slowly, the young master leaned in and pressed a preciously sweet kiss on his friend's lips. Their hearts beat passionately as one, and then the young master shied away.
It was that very day that the young master cried tearfully in selfless abandonment, clutching his friend's hands to his tear-stained face. He said he couldn't do this, this loving another boy. He said he couldn't see his friend anymore.
06.
They moved out of their employer's house and into a new home. His mother told him it was because she had always wanted a home of her own and had been saving for this day, and although the younger boy knew this was true, he also knew that the young master had forced them out.
He called the young master selfish. How could he speak and never wait for the other person's answer? What must be done in order for himself to be heard? How could he let go when the most precious thing growing in him refused to be severed?
And so he refused to move forward without a chance to ever voice his feelings. He refused to shed tears over the young master's forceful and abrupt end to their evolving friendship. The time between them was not yet truly over. Not until he had his say in the matter.
The memories between them were his treasure, and although the young master denied them, he knew deep inside himself that the older boy had once treasured them too.
* *
THIRTY-THREE
* THIRTY-TWO.FIVE *
01.
The young master knew he was unreasonable, but sometimes even knowing that he couldn't stop himself. He had authority in the household. Intoxicated with it, he frequently exerted his will too far at times. And at those times when his parents were most unaware of his selfishness, the servants suffered.
Only one boy one year younger than him, the maid's boy, masterfully had the strength to stop him. No one knew, and the young master never told, the countless times the younger boy physically brought him back to his senses. The young master didn't like pain, but he appreciated the only forceful hand that kept him from committing irreversible regrets.
02.
Even though the young master was snobbish, demanding, and had a short temper, the maid's youngest who had too much pride even as a child did not hate him who had been born into fortune. Because the youngest had realized, that even though his older sister sometimes glared at the young master as if he was foul in his selfishness, and even though he himself sometimes couldn't stop his lips from curling in distaste, the young master never said spiteful hateful words and his face never twisted in disgust.
As much as he enjoyed his fortune, the young master never blatantly disregarded anyone's efforts.
He at least could admire that.
03.
They had that strange friendship between them; each side always pulling and pushing and both of them secretly admiring.
Growing up, sometimes unconsciously they found themselves looking at each other. And then their eyes would meet and at least one of them would blush. They didn't play together like children did, running around in circles or trading toys, but whenever they were in each other's company they enjoyed the other's presence.
Often, they couldn't stop wondering about the other. What did the other boy think in times like this? How would the other boy respond to that? Sometimes, they smiled when they caught the other smiling. Thoughts became unconscious habits until it became a natural part of them.
04.
The young master was the first to make an effort to seek the other boy out. Forced to learn the piano as part of his stylish upbringing, during practices without his instructor he suddenly wished for an audience. He commissioned his maid's son to stay with him.
Straightforwardly, the younger boy said he didn't know much about music, especially since he couldn't play anything.
Did he wish to play? the young master had asked.
Sure, the other boy had answered. But definitely not the piano.
So the young master had gifted his friend with a guitar.
Together they wrote songs and lyrics and then sang. They found that they connected in more ways than one.
Unable to understand the dissatisfaction within himself, the young master gifted his friend with material presents, but even his friend's grateful smiles were never enough to give him absolute comfort. He couldn't remove the butterflies in his stomach or the possessiveness that overcame him.
05.
On that fateful day that would break the comfort they had gotten used to, the young master sat at his piano. Beside him his friend sat with his back turned strumming his guitar. They sang to accompaniment and then the young master's fingers strayed on the piano keys. The younger boy turned to catch the young master's eye, wondering why he hesitated.
Slowly, the young master leaned in and pressed a preciously sweet kiss on his friend's lips. Their hearts beat passionately as one, and then the young master shied away.
It was that very day that the young master cried tearfully in selfless abandonment, clutching his friend's hands to his tear-stained face. He said he couldn't do this, this loving another boy. He said he couldn't see his friend anymore.
06.
They moved out of their employer's house and into a new home. His mother told him it was because she had always wanted a home of her own and had been saving for this day, and although the younger boy knew this was true, he also knew that the young master had forced them out.
He called the young master selfish. How could he speak and never wait for the other person's answer? What must be done in order for himself to be heard? How could he let go when the most precious thing growing in him refused to be severed?
And so he refused to move forward without a chance to ever voice his feelings. He refused to shed tears over the young master's forceful and abrupt end to their evolving friendship. The time between them was not yet truly over. Not until he had his say in the matter.
The memories between them were his treasure, and although the young master denied them, he knew deep inside himself that the older boy had once treasured them too.
* *
THIRTY-THREE