Chapter 58 58: The Silence of A Tamed Man
He was done letting Saint get to him. Whatever Saint said would be successfully ignored unless they were not going through the THC gates.
Raking his fingers through his hair again, Saint stepped closer, "This is difficult for me just as it is for you. All I'm asking is –"
"It's for me to be tamed. I get it, Saint, really," Baby replied softly, surprisingly smiling at Saint, "Trust me, the only version of me you'll ever see is the tamed side. Now, leave me room, we don't want your girlfriend getting ideas," He moved over to the door, pulling it open.
"Leave, Saint," Baby murmured, staring at the floor.
Saint frowned, suddenly feeling angry for unknown reasons.
He felt like the conversation didn't go how it should, he felt emptier, more confused and so fucking angry.
He clenched his jaw and strode toward the door, not sparing a glance at Baby as he walked through the door.
The door was immediately slammed behind him, confirming the rigid barrier that had grown between him and Baby.
He stared at the sofa where Sloane had sat, and then he remembered what happened in the elevator.
He remembered what he had said to Baby, and now, he had managed to make his words a useless lie.
He glanced back at Baby's door, muttering under his breath as he realised that he had let his fear get the better of him.
He was the perfect son, with a clean record from brush till date. Baby was the first stain on him, and it scared him. He had let the fear drive him, making him say things he shouldn't say.
Again, he had hurt Baby with his words, when he never actually intended to.
He had been so scared of seeing the disappointment in his parents' eyes— in people's eyes.
He wasn't like Baby who was used to the negative comments, and for that, he had let his fear get to him.
Then, what about Baby?
Did he really not care what people thought?
Saint sighed, his heart twisting painfully as he recalled the sad, defeated look in Baby's eyes.
Of course, he cared, this was his career, too.
'Have I broken him again?' He thought quietly.
"Saint?" Kora called, slowly walking toward Saint.
He closed his eyes and counted to three before turning to face her, expression calm and polite.
Kora was the last person Saint wanted to see, but had to be polite about it. He could handle the chaos on campus, but he could not risk causing chaos for his family.
"Hey, did you nap?" He asked, forcing out a very rigid smile.
Kora shrugged, "Barely. I saw Sloane, is everything okay?" She asked, hugging Saint's arm and resting her head on his shoulder.
Saint really wanted to untangle himself and ask for some much-needed space. Instead, he lifted his hand and patted Kora's head.
"Don't worry about that. Everything is okay —" he trailed off as Baby's door opened, his body turning stiff beside Kora.
He wanted to move away, but his legs felt like lead and honey mixed, he was stuck.
"Ah, Baby, going somewhere?" Kira asked as Baby walked past them without a word.
Her question instantly pulled Saint back to reality,m. He snapped his head toward Baby who was already at the door and frowned.
Baby was dressed in all black and a black backpack, looking like someone who was never planning to make a return.
Saint untangled himself from Kora and stride tiward the door just as Baby pulled it open.
"Where are you going?" He asked, his voice trembling slightly at the end.
He was using all the control nerves in his body to keep himself from wrapping his arms around Baby and shamelessly begging him to stay.
He knew that feeling could only lead them deeper into shit.
As if Saint had suddenly turned into a particle of the air molecules, Baby easily stepped out of the door and quietly shut it, leaving the apartment in a silence that felt too eerie and final for Saint.
If Baby's door felt like a barrier, this one felt like a heavy restraint strapped around his aching soul and bleeding heart.
The silence was too much to bear, he needed to hear Baby's voice, even if it was as an insult.
The vibration in his phone grabbed his attention, and he reluctantly drew it out of his pocket and suddenly topped Baby's icon with speed.
Baby: \[I'll be at Cam's. See you at practice, Captain.\]
Saint gritted his teeth, pushing the phone back into his pocket.
"Saint, is everything really okay?" Kora asked, her footsteps slowly approaching.
"Actually —" Saint turned, his face dark and cold, "Everything is not okay." He stated, marching past Kora to stand in the middle of the room.
Kora looked confused, walking back to stand in front of Saint.
She reached out and touched his cheek, smiling softly at him, "You know you can tell me anything, baby." She spoke softly.
Saint felt a stab in his chest from that endearment.
Baby has really ruined him. He could never unhear Baby from the usual baby anymore —never.
He sighed and removed Kora's hand from his face, "We don't need to do this, Kora. Our parents are not here to watch and there are no paparazzi to please." He dropped her hand and stepped back.
"But we're supposed to be married in the future –:
"And we will, Kora. I promise you," he murmured, dragging his hand over his tired face.
"Then, why can't we live as a couple?" Kira questioned, offended.
Saint felt like he needed to have a say in a part of his life, any part at all, even if it was with something inevitable like Kora.
"We're not a couple, Kora. We are marrying solely for our family's political benefits. All I'm asking is for you to not pressure me into acting like I'm in love with you— we know the truth—" he murmured the last part.
Kora's fave twisted in distaste, "So? You're calling off the betrothal –"
"Never," Saint chuckled, mocking himself at his flimsy attempt at freedom.
"The engagement is set to happen after I get accepted into THC. That is not changing." He reaffirmed.
"All I'm asking is that you go home, Kora. Allow me these few months of freedom before the year ends. You know I'll be yours in the end, it's destined to happen, please. If you really love me, then let me breathe freely, I beg you." There was no contempt in his voice, just pure sorrow and loneliness.
Kora sighed, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Saint's neck, hugging him warmly.
"Alright, Saint. It pains me to hear you say you don't love me, but I love you too much to see you hurt," She stepped back, smiling softly.
"I will go, Saint. But, I hope you'll be ready to love me on the day of your final match. If you don't do it for me, do it for your parents. They expect a grand proposal on the final match," she laughed quietly and walked past Saint to the room.
"I won't fail them," Saint murmured, "I never fail them—" he muttered.