AB Chapter 35: Blinded by Desire
After being questioned repeatedly at the NYPD all day, Michel and Simon were finally released just before dinner.
As soon as they met, Michel immediately rushed over to check if Simon had been subjected to any “secret interrogation.” He hadn’t contacted Aunt Jasmine, nor had he seen her at the NYPD.
Everyone at the police station knew Michel and Aunt Jasmine were close. Not contacting or meeting now was the best way to avoid suspicion.
So Michel hadn’t called her.
He believed Aunt Jasmine hadn’t contacted him first for the same reason.
The Ellis family behind Eric Ellis was a powerful local clan. This wasn’t going to blow over so easily. Even though they didn’t know why Eric insisted it was Simon, they had to be prepared for trouble.
One wave hadn’t settled before the next hit. Michel bit his lip and frowned, deep in thought as he walked alongside Simon.
He forgot to catch a ride, wandering aimlessly. By the time he came to his senses, they had walked through a park and arrived at a cemetery on the outskirts of Chicago.
Looking up, rows upon rows of tombstones stared back at him.
Michel: “……”
Suddenly his hand was held. Michel jumped and quickly turned around, seeing Simon looking at him with a slightly puzzled expression.
“Are we having dinner here?” Simon asked. “You said you were hungry, baby.”
Michel: “Uh…”
Simon joked, “Too bad—it’s already full.”
Michel: “……” Oh my god, stop talking!
What the hell am I even thinking?! Michel rubbed his aching forehead and, still holding Simon’s hand, turned around to leave, explaining his worries as they walked.
“Sorry… let’s go back and eat. My mind was all caught up with that Eric thing. I really don’t get why that mad dog is dragging us down with him—damn it! He ruined my good mood!”
If it hadn’t been for today’s impromptu police station visit, he would’ve been at home with Simon, cooking beef stew, listening to boring TV shows and the neighbors argue, laughing and sharing dinner, discussing their moving plans…
He had looked forward to that—wrapped in a warm, sweet vision of the future. Just thinking about it calmed his heart.
Still hand in hand, Michel muttered complaints and regrets. Then suddenly, a thought struck him—when had he started enjoying living in that little apartment with Simon so much?
He used to be swamped with work every day. By the time he got home, he’d collapse into bed with no energy to think about dinner or the future. When you’re that busy, quality of life isn’t even a consideration.
But now?
How long had it been since he’d even thought about part-time work?
Money used to be everything to him—his lifeline. Without work, he couldn’t survive in America.
Now Simon was his support. A voice in his heart told him: it’s okay to stop. You have someone to rely on now.
“Blinded by desire… really blinded by desire,” Michel muttered quietly, ashamed of how far he’d fallen.
But.
It wasn’t that he wanted more material comfort from Simon. He just no longer felt like life was dull and gray, or like something was constantly chasing him from behind.
This was emotional fulfillment and happiness.
Unconsciously, the presence of Mr. Bumblebee had become extremely important to him…
And as it turns out, spacing out while walking is a bad idea.
Caught in thought, Michel stumbled and almost fell, but Simon instantly reached out and pulled him back. Michel staggered into his arms, even feeling the tension in Simon’s muscles through his clothes.
“You should watch where you’re going, sweetheart.” Simon’s deep voice held a trace of annoyance as he ruffled Michel’s hair.
The cold sweat on Michel’s forehead chilled in the wind as he steadied himself, still a little shaken.
“Thanks.”
“Mm.”
Simon responded softly, then suddenly stepped in front of him, crouching slightly to meet Michel at eye level. His handsome face furrowed in concern.
His amber eyes scanned Michel’s face discreetly. Then, lips curved in a gentle smile, Simon asked in a soft voice, “Baby, what were you thinking about just now? So deeply lost in thought.”
Was it that woman named Jasmine? Or someone else?
Or… had he started to doubt Simon?
As he spoke, Simon watched closely for changes in the flower-faced boy’s expression.
Michel shook his head, thinking Simon was just concerned. He smiled and said, “Nothing really, I just realized—it’s really nice going home and eating with you.”
Simon was momentarily stunned.
Michel sighed with relief. “Even though today sucked… Simon, I don’t believe what they said. You must be a good person.”
How could Mr. Bumblebee, who was obsessed with secretly kissing his flower every day, be a bad guy?
“Come on, let’s go home. Forget the unpleasant stuff!”
The black-haired youth’s pale face lit up with a radiant smile. “I want your beef stew. We’ve still got some rice at home. That Chinese rice goes so well with it—though it’s kind of hard to find… There’s beer in the fridge too, my treat.”
Simon’s smile slowly faded. He fell silent.
Michel didn’t notice anything wrong. He reached out to grab Simon’s hand.
“Let’s—” He tugged, but Simon didn’t move.
Michel looked up in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
When Simon wasn’t smiling, he looked intimidating. His aura screamed dangerous. But Michel was used to it by now—he wasn’t scared.
“Baby,” Simon said.
“Yeah?”
“What if… I am a bad person?”
“Huh?”
Michel didn’t understand.
Simon looked down, shadows in his eyes. “I mean, what if one day you find out that I only smile at you, am only kind to you, only friendly to you—but not to anyone else? That I even push others away from you. What would you do? Would you still live with me… or leave me?”
“Hmm… that’s… let me think…”
Michel pinched his chin in mock contemplation.
“Okay,” Simon nodded, quietly waiting.
Though deep down, he already knew the answer.
Earth, that human woman, and even that guy named Benny—in Michel’s heart, all of them were more important than him. So the answer should be obvious.
But he still wanted to hear Michel say it himself.
After a while—
Michel finally spoke. He sighed, lowered his head, and looked directly into Simon’s eyes.
Ah, as expected… Simon started to force a smile, preparing to brush it off as a joke.
But Michel suddenly broke into a grin and said, “That would honestly be too good to be true. I wouldn’t dare dream of it.”
Simon’s smile froze. “...What?”
“I mean, you only being good to me, ignoring everyone else—that sounds like a super loyal boyfriend declaration.” Michel bit his lip and couldn’t hold back a bigger smile. “Daisy and her boyfriend used to say stuff like that to each other. It’s romantic. Ahem… I’ll be good to you too. I won’t be nice to anyone else either.”
He squeezed Mr. Bumblebee’s fingers and said shyly, “Let’s go, boyfriend. Let’s go home.”
“……………”
That’s not what I meant… Simon stared at the shy, slightly embarrassed boy, but the words he meant to say got stuck. His heart had gone soft.
“You really are—”
Still crouched, Simon leaned in and gently kissed Michel’s lips. It was quick, just a brush, but at that angle, it felt incredibly tender.
“No wonder you’re my plant-type.”
Amber eyes sparkled with laughter.
“So criminally cute.”
“………………”
Michel’s face flushed bright red. He stared blankly as Simon brushed his face and lips with his thumb, raising a hand to press over his wildly beating heart.
…Blinded by desire, totally blinded by desire.
Comments
Post a Comment