Bound To Be Marked

Chapter Two

Jay hurriedly put the bags of groceries inside the vehicle they rented, rushing and cannot wait to leave the said place. His face felt warm reminiscing what had happened a while ago, in front of the price checking machine and with that weird tall man he's trying to help.

'What the hell is he thinking!' He yelled on his mind, getting the landlady's hand and guiding her inside before following.

His eyes lingered at the entrance of the grocery store and widened to see the same man exiting, in no time, his heart started thumping loudly inside his chest again. His neck felt warm in an instant, his breath still on him.

"L-let's go home, shall we?" he asked the dear landlady and asked the driver to start the engine.

He removed his eyes off the entrance as sweat started trickling down his forehead. 'If I knew he's a jerk I should've ran away instead.'

"Are you okay?"

The voice of her snaps him back to reality, forcing a smile and trying to look convincing as possibly as he can.

"Yes, it's just freezing outside and the market's even more cold." he excused and she seemed satisfied, giving him tips on how to stay warm and reminding him to wear thick clothes at night.

That memory will forever be engraved on his mind, he felt harassed. Though he wanted to deny the sensation so bad, it's so wrong to have that thought, especially with a complete stranger.

Jay lifted his hand, he struggled at first considering their height. His hands were also notably smaller compared to him and undeniably long, too.

"This is how you do it," he said, the machine beep and displaying the price of the bag of chips he's holding. "It's pretty cheap for your look." he added, unaware of the stare he's getting.

He helped him lift his hand again for the other item and told him the same thing.

"There, next time don’t be a stranger to ask the staff. They're more knowledgeable than customers here as for equipment." he told, looking up at him.

His eyebrows knitted together.

"Uh, is there any problem?" he asks, even lowering his head as if trying to peek at his unwavering figure. "Uhm, hello?"

Jay was even more confused when he didn’t move at all and he looks unaware of his own actions. He was about to ask again but his eyes landed on his hand still holding him, he immediately retreated his hand back.

"Oh, I'm sorry I thought--"

He let out a surprise squeak being pulled, the tray he was holding, containing heavy items almost slipped off his hand. His back soon felt being pushed on the shelves, the bags of chips making a sound as his body made an impact.

"What are--!" he tried to protest but he's frozen in place, watching as the man starts to lean. Their faces are getting closer and he can't help but keep his eyes open.

He holds his breath when man's just an inch away, his mouth agape but throats feel dry so he couldn't form any word.

"What hel.." his small voice faded to see his face shifted, lowering and the grasp he had on the basket tightened. A hot breath touched the side of his neck, the man's breathing became louder on his right ears and he just felt collapsing. The scent is too intoxicating and weakens his knees. "What are you.."

He shook his head, wanting to smack himself for remembering how embarrassed he was and how a jerk the man is. 'What the hell he was thinking? He's insane!'

Till they reach the apartment, Jay has been cursing the stranger in his mind. How much he hates it when someone makes him feel harassed and locked.

"Do you want to help me prepare the soup?"

Instead of thinking about him, he busied himself helping the landlady. He was thankful she's initiating random talks even if it doesn’t make sense, it helps his mind to forget the stranger somehow.

"Grandma, say." he said, and was about to finish cutting the carrots into cubes. "Don’t you have grandchildren to visit you here?"

"There was none actually, how can I have grandchildren if I haven’t bear a child of my own?"

Jay stopped cutting. "Huh? Grandma, you're alone?"

"I can't say fully I'm alone, I have you here, technically, it wasn't that empty."

"Well, you're quite right grandma--"

"I told you not to call me grandma! I'm not that old you punk." she said.

Jay laughs at her, it's so much fun to tease the others.

"Okay grandma don’t be mad,"

"You little brat.."

Their conversation went on, mostly it was him asking silly questions to lighten up the mood, to erase what happened to him from his previous work and to forget what a jerk guy tried to do to him. Today was rather stressful but quite lively, he actually felt light despite the turn of events. Weird. He thought.

"Aish, I told you I'll be fine. You go or I'm charging you a rent." she threatened, though Jay knew it wasn't serious, he just went with her. At least it does make things lighter for both of them.

Jay went to his unit, locking the door. He stops in the entrance and stares at the small space given to him. It's not the ideal place to live in, but he would choose comfortable over luxury.

Turning off the lights, he let the darkness swallow his whole being before tossing his exhausted body on bed. There's so much happened today, he half quit his job, the landlady told him it was fine for her to stay, the jerk in the grocery and the fun he had eating with the landlady.

Well, I hope tomorrow's fine. Not too grand but if something shed a light on him, he would definitely grab the opportunity to help himself.

'As long as I won’t meet the guy.. I'll be fine.. '