Eventually, Daniella was the first to call me.
"It seems my brother might have fallen for you," she sighed. "Once these things start, they tend to happen again. Could you please take care of him a little longer? His brain is already damaged, and if he gets sick from being out in the rain again..."
Before I could say anything, his sister quickly added, "We'll double your pay!"
So Tate's family is this wealthy?
Tempted by the offer, I didn't refuse.
Since coming back, Tate has become even more clingy—or rather, more brazen.
He used to be so quiet, but now he sweet-talks me into cooking for him. While I'm busy in the kitchen, he gently hugs me from behind.
Even though I know he probably pictures himself as an eight-year-old clinging to his mom, he's still a grown man physically. When his tall frame presses against me, and his long arms wrap around my waist, I shamefully blush.
Zaiden stayed in C City for two days, and after finalizing his project, he was ready to head back.
I went to see him off, and we chatted at the airport café. When he heard that Tate had moved back into my place, he smiled and said, somewhat cryptically, "I figured this would happen."
Me:"Huh?"
Zaiden pulled my white T-shirt out of a paper bag and shook it. "I'll keep the T-shirt."
"Why do you want my T-shirt?"
"So that whenever I'm feeling down, I can take it out and remember how you walked up to me so confidently wearing it. It'll give me a boost."
I was just starting to feel a little touched.
He sighed, "After all, what could be more embarrassing than this?"
Me:"..."
Tate seemed quite happy about Zaiden leaving.
That night, he showered and came out smelling nice, holding a pillow, and insisted on sleeping with me.
If this becomes a habit, what am I going to do?
I pointed to the couch, "That's where you belong."
He pressed his lips together, found a blanket, and spread it out on the floor next to the bed. "I'll sleep here."
I steeled my heart and said, "Fine, suit yourself."
In the middle of the night, I got up to use the bathroom, groggy and not paying attention, and stepped on something hard. It wasn't until I heard Tate groan that I realized I had stepped on his arm and quickly turned on the light.
"Are you okay?" I was startled.
Tate held his arm and shook his head.
Seeing his pitiful, submissive expression, I felt a pang of guilt. "You should sleep in the bed."
He sat up and softly responded, "Okay."
By the time I returned from the bathroom, he was already lying on the bed.
The bed was a single, and it was a bit cramped. I said, "Move over a bit, or I'm going to fall off."
He shifted slightly.
He didn't move at all.
"Move over a bit more."
He suddenly turned over and hugged me, pressing his face against my neck, his breath warm as he spoke, "Now it's not so cramped."
My body went limp in an instant. "What are you doing? Let go!"
He propped himself up on his arm, looking down at me, his voice dropping to a whisper, "Curvy Goddess."
With him pressing down on me, I could feel my face heating up. I threatened, "If you keep this up, you're sleeping on the couch!"
He obediently let go of me.
As he moved away, I suddenly realized something, and my entire body went numb.
Tate, still looking innocent, asked, "What's wrong?"
I kicked him off the bed.
Tate looked confused.
Trembling, I turned on the light. "Good kids don't have this kind of... reaction. Only bad ones do. You must have been naughty today."
He looked at me calmly, paused for a moment, and then said, "Oh."
I pushed him out of the room and locked the door.
Something felt off. I decided I needed to keep my distance from him from now on.
