Krist feels someone calling his name from far, he opens his eyes ..they feel like lead but the voice asking him to get up is insistent..his dreams after such a long time was so freeing, it was him running wild through the open meadows, then he was drowning in a beautiful water with sun soaking him, he really wants never to be awaken again..

" Mr krist..I need to do check up on you. Please get up sir."

The surrounding dawns on him now, he is in the guest room after taking the fever pill which his mom in law forced him to have, he had slept off..he understands the doctor is here to check on him and he flinches..he doesn't want the doctor to know anything.. he had been avoiding to go for any medical visit for so long..

" I am fine doc, it's just a viral fever due to work stress. You don't have to check on me."

" But Mrs Rungroj told me you are having on and off fever since long,even your appetite has decreased . Atleast let me get your routine blood works done Mr krist."

" Doc I am seriously fine, it's just that I have been having new music album release coming next month . I have been super stressed about that. No need for any blood works.. I will surely visit you if any persistent problem occurs.. I assure you."

The doctor sighs, he understands the young man will not let him do check up..his eyes look sunken, his face pale, he is looking malnourished but he insists on being fine. Singto watches and hears everything standing outside the door..hidden from krist's eyes. He had made himself sparse from this room,  when he heard the front door bell ring signalling the family doctor's arrival.

Singto touches his own cheeks, feeling some wetness on them, he is crying unknowingly at the younger's plight.. he knows krist will never let the doctor to check him..his phi Nuwa's marks are all over, marring the pale flawless skin, ..and while flaunting his rights on the younger, Singto has not failed to notice or missed the bruised ribs or the thick blackish red mark on the lower abdomen..he knows what they are ..marks from kicks ..shoes or legs , marks which form when you get hit at those places repeatedly,.. Singto used to carry those marks too.. exactly at those places before he left his home for good.

The doctor finding no other way to convince the young man, starts writing some fever, pain medication and vitamins for him and takes his leave . While going out he bows his head to the hiding Singto, looking straight at his eyes and shaking his head in frustration,  at the young man's stubbornness.

Singto enters the room, it's almost lunch time , the younger should eat something to be able to take his medicines . Krist immediately sits up , pulling his knees towards his chest, seeing him enter the room. Remembering how he was made to moan in front of him by Nuwa , makes his ears burn and tears to trickle but he controls himself, just coils in a ball and starts to look outside , this room has the good view of his favourite part of the mansion, the endless stretch of green lawns ..

" I will call someone to get your medicines, and pls come for lunch . Then afterwards, we can go for the piano room and you can play and I can paint you , if you feel upto it."

Krist just nods , his eyes faraway enjoying the sun on his face and the pristine green of the manicured lawns ..

" you like this lawn around the house, a lot right?"

Krist looks at him surprised ..his voice soft and smooth, non threatning..it's been ages he has been spoken to so softly in this house.. .

" even me too, this is the best part of this otherwise cold house, this lawn gives the farce of warmth don't you think?

Singto gets no answer but he continues none the less..

. Your parents are invited for dinner , mom was asking what will you like to eat. She has made special chicken soup for you for lunch, before leaving ."

" anything will do." Krist answers still looking at Singto with amazed eyes, the black piercing eyes looking back at him has no scorn, no malice and no lust in them.

After coming to this house he has never faced a male who has not looked at him without one of those emotions. Singto's eyes instead holds something akin to pity and an unknown depth in them.

" come get up , your chicken soup is ready and piping hot, it will break your fever and give you strength. Trust me, my mom's chicken soups are the best... Then afterwards you can take the medicines ."

Krist gets up, but due to his weakness, or the shooting knife edged pain in his lower abdomen from the night of love bestowed by his dear husband, he falters and almost falls down, but Singto's strong arms envelops him in protective hold ...

" be careful." Singto leaves him immediately sensing the younger has started shivering with his arms around him, his mere touch scaring him. He knows it is common for abuse victims to scurry away from any physical touch and he is the brother of his repeated abuser, after all.

He instead holds the shaking pale hands , and gives them an assuring squeeze .

" come. Even I am hungry let's have lunch together . I hate eating alone and mom has gone for some luncheon at her friend's house."

Krist follows slowly, he is having strong abdominal pain with every step he takes but he has learned to keep it all in. Two years in this house have taught him everything. He has performed in front of thousands with fractured ribs, laughed at party and posed for tabloid pictures smiling happily in his husband's arms with sprained arms , with sexually violated or assaulted body of the night.. . He is really Oscar worthy, he mentally smiles at his fate..

He remembers the night that started it all, that made all of his dreams of a romance , fairy tale happily ever after to vanish into oblivion. The night of the premiere of Nuwa's latest movie two years back, and that one spiked drink with the date rape drug. He shakes his mind to forget the dark thoughts of 'what ifs' crowding his mind and goes and sits on his assigned chair . It's like it's ingrained within him , Nuwa is present or absent he never sits on any other chair . Never dares to..

" come sit here opposite of me , it's just us .. come I don't bite  nong krist." Singto tries to warm up to him...

" no I am fine here  phi ." And  krist starts drinking the hot soup as the maids bring them in, not bothering to even look up from the bowl even once or even taking part in the small talks that Singto tries to initiate .. Singto also after sometime, starts eating his rice and his favourite green pork curry silently disappointed at the younger's aloofness and cold shield.

" so are you ready for the painting?" Singto speaks again after fifteen minutes when he finishes and younger has taken his medicines brought by the servant .

Krist nods and gets up, Singto not failing to notice the sluggish movements. He chews his lower lip but doesn't say anything as he follows the younger to the elevator to go up to the grand piano room.

It's a basically a big banquet hall,  all glass surrounding it on the third floor , overlooking  the lawn and the flower garden on one side and dark blue Olympic sized pool on the other . The wall to floor windows letting the sun stream through endlessly, and the white piano with intricate works dazzling in the sunlight at the best corner of the room, with breathtaking views pleasing the eyes of the one, playing the gigantic instrument.

Singto has already kept everything arranged for the after lunch painting rendezvous.. . The younger touches the black and white keys lovingly before sitting down,

" phi do you want me to pose in a particular way."

" no, you just play I will try to capture the best moment. My paintings are abstract, I hope you like my finished work, though it will take time to finish. I generally take a minimum of week to finish."

" you must be famous phi ,if you are told to display your work in a Paris gallery. Which gallery phi Singto.?"

"Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac" Singto answers, happy to find the younger atleast warming up to him.

" really!! That's like one of the world famous galleries phi Singto. Wow !! It's one of those galleries that features , American Pop and neo-Pop by artists like Warhol, Tom Sachs and Alex Katz, along with European artists such as Ilya Kabakov, Sylvie Fleury and Gilbert & George right?. I feel so honoured."

Singto is surprised that the younger know so much about modern art and contemporary world reknowned artists. And he doesn't miss the shine in his eyes as he says those names and looks at him with so much reverence.

" you are also equally famous , your composed songs are sang internationally too. Will you play me a piece before I draw you nong ."

Krist this time gives him a dimpled smile, Singto feels his world just got a little brighter with that innocent bashful smile..  and as the white and black keys gets played to bring out a beautiful music .. he listens with rapt attention, observing the pale fingers going left and right , the long eye lashes adorning the closed eyes , the owner lost and serened by the calm of the musical poetry. ..

as the keys go higher and the face gets more blissful Singto's brush starts to paint long strokes on the blank white of the canvas filling it up with paints, the brush going up and down with the tempo of the piece, trying to capture the enthralling sight before him..

Sun shining bright, the younger with closed eyes, face upturned like in prayer to the one above,  face flushed and beads of sweat shimmering on the forehead by the fever breaking ultimately..a hint of a smile plays on the bruised lips as he hums to the tune..the music bringing him bliss ,the musician making the painter swoon..

💕💕💕🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱💕💕💕💕💕🌱🌱🌱

A/n :: a hint of what had happened to krist is given in this chapter..

Flashback will come soon..

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