CHAPTER 6

THE FURNITURE the Marquess bought will be delivered today. They bought a lot of stuff to replace the things Count Knight broke when he went crazy, so the store offered to deliver it to their home.

Count Knight and Lady SM were upstairs, in their room, so it's just him and the Marquess helping the delivery men to move the furniture inside the house.

Nang maipasok na lahat, nagpasalamat si Cloud sa mga nag-deliver at binigyan niya ang mga ito ng tip bago bumalik sa loob ng bahay.

Silently, he and Lord Jacques started working, taking out the furniture from the boxes and putting them in their designated place.

The living room was a mess as they work silently. Nabasag lang ang katahimikan ng bumaba sa salas ang boss niya at si Lady SM.

Lord Jacques' face immediately grimaced in annoyance seeing Count Knight. The Marquess was still pissed about what happened days ago, when his boss went berserk just because of the lava cave Lady SM made.

"Sa labas kami kakain." Imporma sa kanila ng boss niya, "Mag nuggets nalang kayo."

"Yes, my Lord." Cloud replied automatically.

Then Lady SM spoke to Jacques softly. "Kumain ka na rin kasama si Cloud. Have a fun dinner you two."

They both grunted at Lady SM before returning to their work. Nang makalabas ang dalawa nilang amo, nabalot na naman sila ng mahabang katahimikan.

Well, ever since that day, when Cloud told the Marquess that if he wants to fuck him, the latter would be naked and writhing already, Cloud kept his distance. Because based in his observation, he does weird fucking shit when he's alone with Lord Jacques.

It's like he can't control his body from moving, his mind from wandering, and his mouth from saying bullshit things.

Cloud knew that he said he'll let thing unfold on it's own — he even said 'come what may' — but, it was actually very hard to do, especially that his mind was now slowly wrapping around the truth.

It shook him, down to the core of his being when he thought of what he said to Lord Jacques that day, 'if I wanna fuck you, you'd be naked and writhing by now', and he wasn't even repulsed by it. Not even an ounce of disgust, if he's being honest, he was turned on, and it almost sent him to a mental breakdown.

Sa buong buhay ni Cloud, hindi lang babae ang interesado sa kaniya. A lot of men also tried to get him into their bed, a lot of them tried and failed simply because he's not into men. All his life, he only prefers females.

So this thing with Lord Jacques ... it was only not hard to understand, but to accept as well.

Cloud knew he's straight, all his life he's straight as a flag pole — so what the fuck is this? His mind was having a hard time wrapping around it.

"...for dinner?"

Napakurap-kurap siya ng marinig na nagsalita ang Marquess, "anong sabi mo?"

The Marquess frowned at him. "I said please tell me that we're not really eating nuggets for dinner."

Cloud looked at Lord Jacques and he found himself staring at the Marquess longer than normal. Realizing what he was doing, he quickly averted his eyes.

This is getting exhausting, always keeping himself in check when the Marquess was around. He doesn't like this. It's too tiring. He's too old for this shit!

"Anong gusto mong kainin?" Tanong niya habang inaabala ang sarili sa pagbubukas ng karton.

"Burger and pasta." Mabilis na sagot ng Marquess.

"Sorry, but it's just eggs and nuggets tonight." They're broke as fuck after all.

"Can we watch a movie after dinner then?" Lord Jacques asked before grunting at what he said.

Being in a room, alone with Lord Jacques, was the one thing Cloud wanted to avoid. "I can't. I'm busy."

"If so, then make me a burger and pasta now." The Marquess was being bossy again and Cloud, of course, didn't mind it. "I'll finish up here."

"You sure?"

"Yep." Bumaling ang Marquess sa natitira pang karton na di pa nila nabubuksan. "I can manage."

"Okay." Was all he said before pushing himself up to go to the kitchen to cook.

Wala siyang ganang kumain kaya pang isang tao lang ang ginawa niya. He placed everything in the silver tray, the nuggets, the eggs, mango shake and a glass of water, then he carefully picked it up, put the tray on his right hand and walked towards the living room.

When Cloud entered the living room, the Marquess was busy opening the last medium size box with a sharp cutter in his hand. Lord Jacques was squatting in front of the box as he tried to cut it open.

Akmang ilalapag niya sa round table ang tray para tulungan ito ng makita niyang nawala sa anggulo ang cutter na hawak nito, at sa halip na mahiwa ang karton, dumeretso ang cutter sa tuhod nito.

Worry consumed Cloud but he couldn't move to check on Lord Jacques because he was stunned seeing the Marquess with no emotion on his face. Not even a single streak of pain in his eyes. Nothing. He didn't even flinch, didn't change position and he just continued opening the box like he wasn't bleeding on the floor.

It's like ... he couldn't feel the pain at all.

Cloud knew that people who have insensitivity to pain exist, he had read an article about them before — but they're rare.

It couldn't be...

But Cloud remembered the Marquess not flinching even when he poured antiseptic on his wound, the Marquess didn't even woke up that night, when he was cleaning his wound ... the Marquess walking normally even when he has deep fresh cut wound on his feet. Nonchalantly saying that he's okay. Then he remembered the Marquess asking him about 'pain' when they were watching the movie Saw.

Dumbfounded, Cloud looked at Lord Jacques. Was he one of those people who has Congenital Insensitivity to Pain?

Cloud took a deep breath, pulled himself together, placed the silver tray on the round table, he, then went to get the first aid kit.

Nang makabalik siya sa salas, nabuksan na ni Lord Jacques ang karton at mukhang wala itong kaidi-ideya na may sugat ito.

"What the fuck, Cloud?!" Gulat na sininghalan siya ng Marquess ng basta nalang niya itong hinawakan sa pulsuhan saka malakas na hinila patungo sa sofa at tinulak pa upo doon. "What the fuck?!" Singhal ulit nito sa kaniya.

"Don't move." Was all Cloud said before he sat on the floor, in front of Lord Jacques knees and he started cleaning his wound.

At mukhang doon lang napansin ng Marquess na nasugatan ito.

"Oh." The Marquess said when realization dawned on him.

Good thing the Marquess was wearing cargo shorts. Madaling nalinis ni Cloud ang sugat nito at nilagyan niya iyon ng antiseptic bago tinakpan ng gauze pad.

Ilang segundo matapos niyang gamutin ang sugat ng Marquess, nag-angat siya ng tingin dito habang nakaupo pa rin siya sa sahig at ito naman sa sofa.

"CIPA patient?" Cloud asked.

Halos isang minuto ang dumaan bago sumagot ang Marquess. "Just CIP. I don't have Anhydrosis."

Cloud having a medical background understood the Marquess. "So you can still sweat?"

Tumango ang kaharap.

It's a good thing that he can sweat. That means his body can regulate his temperature and he won't suffer from high fever. And he can also feel if it's hot or cold.

"For CIP patients, a gene mutation can occur that will affect your body. But it doesn't happen to everyone." Cloud looked at the Marquess in the eyes. "Did it happen to you?"

Halos isang minuto ulit ang lumipas bago sumagot ang Marquess sa pamamagitan ng pagtango ng ulo nito.

"Anong ... naapektuhan sa 'yo?" Marahan ang boses na tanong niya kapagkuwan ay bumuntong-hininga siya. "Hindi mo 'yon kailangang sagutin kung hindi ka komportable."

"Sense of smell." Lord Jacques said in a whisper but Cloud heard him clearly.

Umawang ang labi niya. "You can't smell?"

The Marquess looked away, like he was ashamed to admit it. "I can smell ... but it has to be severe and excessive odor for my nose to pick it up."

Nakaawang pa rin ang labi ni Cloud sa Marquess. If the Marquess' sense of smell was affected, does that mean his sense of taste as well? Smell and taste are somehow connected after all.

"How's your sense of taste?" Cloud asked.

Lord Jacques' face contorted in irritation. "It needs to have a very excessive flavour for me to fucking taste it. Example sugar, for normal people 100% is already fucking sweat, for me, I can't taste it. It has to be 500% or more for me to taste the fucking sweetness. But if I put that much sugar on my coffee, then I'll die fucking early."

Cloud squeezed his eyes shut. He feels like someone's twisting his inside. He feels awful. He wanted to hurt someone. If CIP has a physical body, Cloud would have beaten it to death.

"If you pity me. I'll kill you." Lord Jacques said.

Cloud opened his eyes and looked straight to Lord Jacques' hazel orbs. "Look at me and tell me if I pity you."

While looking into Cloud's eyes, Jacques never saw even a sliver of pity in his eyes. What the Marquess saw was worry and sadness.

Bumuntong-hininga ang Marquess saka mahinang natawa. "I wasn't planning on telling anyone, but here we are."

Huminga naman ng malalim si Cloud saka tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa sahig, kapagkuwan ay kinuha ang tray na nasa round table para ibalik 'yon sa kusina.

"W-wait," pigil sa kaniya ng Marquess na hinawakan pa siya sa braso, "my dinner."

Cloud scowled at the Marquess. "I'm not planning on feeding you food you can't taste."

"But i—"

"No buts." Bumaling siya sa nag iisang karton na may laman. "Tapusin mo na rito at linisin mo na rin ang kalat. Be careful not to get cut again. I'll be in the kitchen to cook you something else."

Hindi na hinintay ni Cloud na makasagot o magreklamo ang Marquess. Bumalik siya sa kusina.

He was determined to make something that Lord Jacques can taste. But the flavour must be excessive. Pero kapag sinobrahan naman niya ang ilalagay na ingredients, siguradong magkakasakit ito.

He has to think of other ways. He has to use other spices that will not ruin Lord Jacques' health. But what are those spices?

Cloud was really thinking hard when Lord Jacques entered the kitchen. Kinunotan nito ng nuo si Cloud, lalo na ng hindi napansin ng huli na nakaupo na ang Marquess sa stool ng island counter at kinakain ang nuggets na niluto nito.

Then Cloud snapped when he finally noticed Lord Jacques and saw him eating the nuggets. "Hey! Don't eat that!"

Lord Jacques rolled his eyes at Cloud. "Seriously, Cloud. I'd been eating tasteless food since I can remember."

Cloud looked at Lord Jacques with determination. "It'll take me some time to gather the spices I need, I have to experiment with flavours, but I promise you, I'm gonna make you a food that you can taste without ruining your health. I swear."

Napatigil sa pagkagat ng nuggets ang Marquess saka tumitig ito kay Cloud. "Why do you care?"

Cloud smiled. "Because I'm one hell of a Butler."

Napailing ang Marquess saka bumalik sa pagkain ulit. "Seriously, Cloud, if you were a woman, I'll marry you in a heartbeat."

"I know for a fact that a man can marry another man."

Umasim ang mukha ng Marquess saka umiling. "Don't care. I rather die alone and lonely."

For some reason, Lord Jacques' word stung a bit. Hinilot ni Cloud and sentido.

Me and my mouth. This always happens when I'm alone with the Marquess. Saying bullshit things seems to be his new hobby now.

Cloud took a deep breath and releases them softly. He wanted to get away from the Marquess but his mouth just had to open and speak without his permission again.

"If you can't feel pain, can you feel pleasure ... like sex?"

Napatigil na naman sa pagkain ang Marquess para sagutin ang tanong niya. "Yeah... but it takes a lot of time to turn me on and it has to be rough."

"So if I kiss you right now, you'll actually feel something?"

The Marquess stared at him, dumbfounded at the words that came out from his mouth.

See? Saying bullshit things was now his new motherfucking hobby.

Then his eyes accidentally landed on the Marquess' slightly parted lips, unconsciously, Cloud licked the corner of his own lips with the tip of his tongue.

Cloud didn't know what possessed him when he asked the Marques. "Hey, can I kiss you?"

Lord Jacques scoffed and glared at Cloud. "Kiss, my ass, you motherfucking bullshit. Try and die, asshole."

Cloud tsked. "My head hurts." Hinilot niya ang sentido. He wanted to put a packing tape on his own mouth so it won't say any bullshit things again, that's making his head hurt dealing with the aftermath.

"Here, you motherfucker." Using his fork, the Marquess offered him a nugget. "You haven't eaten yet. Maybe that's why your head hurts and you're saying fuckin' stupid things."

"Nah." Umiling siya habang hinihilot pa rin ang sentido. "I'm pretty sure my head hurts because of too much thinking." Ipinatong niya ang mga siko sa island counter habang sapo ang ulo niya. "Fuck. I'm exhausted. If this continues, I'm gonna have a mental break down soon."

"Care to tell me what's going on? Might help a motherfucker like you."

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa Marquess, ang dahilan kung bakit masakit ang ulo niya. "Nah. You're not gonna like it."

"Try me." The Marquess looks confident. "I told you about my condition, it's only fuckin' fair to tell me what's making your head hurt."

Mahina natawa si Cloud habang nakatingin sa guwapong mukha ng kaharap. Yes. I just complimented a guy. "It's nothing."

"Come on. Tell me." Giit nito.

"It's nothing. Really."

"I don't believe you. Just tell me." Pamimilit nito.

Bumuga ng marahas na hininga si Cloud saka umayos ng tayo. "It's okay — I'm okay. Whatever this is, It'll pass I guess."

"And if it don't?"

Cloud looked straight into the Marquess eyes. "Then you should get ready, because I will eat you up in more ways than one." Cloud, then, left the kitchen and went to the living room.

The boxes were piled up in the corner but it's still messy, so to take his mind off of the Marquess, Cloud started cleaning and vacuuming the whole place.

Few minutes later, the Marquess was helping him clean up. Pareho silang tahimik. Ayaw ni Cloud na ibuka ang bibig at makipag-usap baka ano na naman ang sabihin niya.

Nuong una, hindi niya ma-kontrol ang galaw ng katawan, ngayon naman ang bibig niya. Kung ngayon palang ito na ang epekto ng Marquess sa kaniya, ano pa kaya kung magtagal 'tong nangyayari sa kaniya?

Will he lose his mind?

Cloud tsked and just focused on vacuuming the whole house.

At 'yon ang napasukan ng boss niya at ni Lady SM na kakauwi palang. And then his crazy boss gave them food to eat for dinner.

Cloud went along and converse with Lord Jacques. Ayaw niyang may mahalata ang boss niya at si Lady SM. It'll only burden them.

And Lord Jacques was doing the same thing — he's acting normal, saying things that normal people would say about food. Even though he know all too well that the Marquess could'tappreciate the steak.

"Here." Lord Jacques gave him the steak when they entered the kitchen.

Umiling siya. "Hindi ako nagugutom."

"But you haven't eaten anything."

"I'm good. Ikaw nalang ang kumain. Kung busog ka naman na, ilagay mo nalang sa ref."

"That's the thing, I don't know if I'm already full."

Gulat na napabaling siya sa Marquess. "Seriously?"

Tumango ito saka ito na ang naglagay ng steak sa ref. "I can't feel hunger or fullness."

"That sucks." He commented.

"Yeah." Then the Marquess looked at him. "So ... wanna watch a movie? It's still early."

Cloud has already decided to stay away, but to his horror, his head nodded like it has a mind of its own.

The Marquess looks pleased at his response. "Great. Let's watch the Conjuring this time. Maybe that'll scare the fuck out of me."

"Mmm..." Cloud can only hum, before returning to the living room to finish cleaning.

JACQUES WANTED TO laugh at Cloud's thoughtfulness. Cloud actually readied popcorn before the movie. Alam nitong wala siyang nalalasahan pero naghanda pa rin ito ng pagkain. For that reason, Jacques felt relieved. Even knowing his condition, Cloud didn't change how he treats him and above all, he didn't pity him.

There was no pity in Cloud's eyes, just genuine sadness and worry for him. And for that, Jacques chose to overlook Cloud's bullshit statements.

Even though Cloud sometimes says things that a normal guy wouldn't say to another guy, Jacques still wants to keep him around. Maybe Cloud was just being weird, like his boss, the Count.

Jacques sighed and his eyes landed on the man sitting on the couch, few feet away from his bed where he was sitting. Nakatutok ang mga mata nito sa TV habang nanonood.

Suddenly, he felt awful, remembering why he's here, in this house. Why he's trying so hard to be Lady SM's butler. He's here to spy and gather information for the Triad's advantage. He doesn't even want to think what will happen if Cloud finds out the truth.

Those sad and worry eyes will surely turn into hate once Cloud knows the truth.

Jacques scoffed at himself for feeling like a prick. It's not like this was his first time being a spy for the Triad, he already did this countless times.

And pinagkaiba lang ngayon, may Cloud siyang nakilala. A nice but sarcastic guy, caring but annoying at the same time.

The only person who can stand his mitchiness, another word for male bitchiness. Even Kaius can't stand him, and they've been friends since they were young. When he's being a mitch, Kaius would just leave, saying they'll talk once his mitch fit was over.

Only Cloud stayed while he's being a male bitch. While he's throwing curses after curses at him, while shouting at him, Cloud stayed and just listened to him until he calmed down. He waited patiently for him to calm down.

That's why when this was all over, he knew he's gonna regret it. Because he will surely lose Cloud's genuine thoughtfulness, care and worry.

The Marquess sighed again before returning his attention to the movie.

"Cloud?" Tawag niya sa lalaking nakaupo sa couch.

"Hmm?"

"Come sit on the bed." Aya niya rito. "How can you eat the popcorn you made if you're sitting there?"

"It's cool. I made it for you anyways." Then Cloud sighed. "I might say some stupid things again, better keep my distance."

Tumaas ang dalawa niyang kilay. So even he's aware himself that he's saying some stupid things.

Natatawang napailing siya. "Come on. Sit on the bed, you're too far away. I'll ignore whatever bullshit you're gonna say."

"It's confusing the hell out of me too." Napakamot ito sa batok habang naglalakad patungo sa kama kung saan siya naka-upo. "Never said those things to a guy before." Anito ng makaupo sa kabilang gilid ng kama.

"Then why say those bullshits to me?" Tanong ng Marquess habang nakatutok ang mga mata niya sa TV.

"Don't know." Sagot ni Cloud.

The Marquess sighed and just focused his attention on the film they're watching.

Moments later, he was about to say something to Cloud when he heard a soft snore. Bumaling siya sa katabi at napailing ng makitang natutulog na ito.

Cloud was sitting earlier, but he's now lying on the bed. He must have change position slowly without him noticing.

Kinumotan niya ito saka nagpatuloy siya sa panonood ng pelikula hanggang sa natapos 'yon. The movie was scary, but not enough to scare the fuck out of him.

Maingat na umalis sa kama si Jacques para i-off ang DVD at TV, saka kinuha niya ang first aid kit para linisin ang sugat niya sa paa na sa wakas ay naghilom na rin. Pagkatapos ay tumungo siya sa harap ng salamin at tiningnan kung may iba pa bang parte ng katawan niya ang may sugat.

Jacques found some bruises on side edges of his tongue. Shit. He must've bit it while eating or something.

He sighed and took the oral mouthwash, Kamden — the researcher slash Doctor slash Scientist under Triad's payroll — made especially for his mouth, and then he went inside the bathroom.

He gargled the mouthwash, leaving it inside his mouth for two minutes before spitting it on the sink. After that, he went back to his bed, off the lights except for the lampshade on the bedside table on his side.

Cloud was still snoring softly while Jacques laid flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling, awake and couldn't seem to sleep.

Hindi alam ni Jacques kung ilang minuto o kung isang oras na ba ang lumipas na nakatihaya at nakatitig lang siya sa kisame. Hindi siya inaantok. Wala namang laman ang isip niya, talagang hindi lang siya makatulog.

Then he heard a shuffle of movement on his side. Curiously, he looked at his side, confused when he saw Cloud got up and then one by one, he stripped his clothes off only leaving his boxers on. Then he flopped on the bed, lying on his tummy while his face was facing him.

Hindi alam ni Jacques bakit siya natawa. Siguro dahil hindi man lang napansin ni Cloud na wala ito sa sariling kuwarto nito. He must be really tired not to notice.

Naiiling na pipikit na sana ang mga mata ni Jacques para pilitin ulit na patulugin ang sarili ng marinig niya ang inaantok at pabulong na boses ng katabi.

"Smells like Jacques..."

Jacques snapped his eyes at Cloud and saw him nuzzling the pillow with the softest smile he had ever seen Cloud wore, before falling back to a deep slumber again.

That was the first time Jacques heard Cloud used his name without a 'lord' attached on the front.

Hmm... I like it better. With that thought, Jacques closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep.