The Royal Contract-Chapter 1321: Return the favor

Adam watched the young boy make himself comfortable on his couch. It was old, but for him, it was his favorite spot in the house.

"Are you hungry? I think I still have some leftover pizza in the ref. I can hit it for you." He offered as he walked over to his kitchen.

"Sure." The boy answered, shrugging his shoulder and looking like he did not care.

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He pulled out two cans of cold soda and the pizza box with a few more slices inside, putting them inside the oven.

Then, he walked over to the boy, handing him the cold soda while he sat on the vacant seat. He drank his soda as he watched the boy, wondering what was going through his mind.

"Why live here?" The boy finally spoke while he sipped the cold refreshing drink. His little curious eyes indicated that he was surprised about his living arrangement.

"Why not," Adam responded, leaning on the couch as he tried to relax his body. It had been a long day, and driving all over the city could be tiresome.

"You are now working on that fancy building. I am sure you can afford something so much better than this." Ken questioned him as his eyes roamed around his decent but modest place.

He did not have many decorations because he did not like the maintenance of cleaning too many things. He just needed the basics, mainly essential, nothing more.

Besides, he was away most of the time. So, there was no need for more. But he believed things would be different if he had been living with someone, especially if he started a family.

"Yeah, I can afford a more expensive place than this. But for now, I like it here. As you can see, I have everything I need." Pointing to the kitchen, his bedroom, and the few amenities in his living room.

"But, of course, I will have to move to a bigger place if I am going to have a family." He added, hoping that the boy would get the picture. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"I guess." The boy nodded as if he understood his reasoning. "I will probably live in a place like this too." He gave him what seemed like the sound of approval.

"Yeah, this is perfect for a single guy living alone." He chugged another mouthful of the soda before standing up to get the pizza.

He moved around his kitchen to get a pot holder, then placed the pizza on the counter. Then, he beckoned the boy to join him in the kitchen.

"Are you going to marry Serena?" Out of the blue, the boy asked him.

He had no idea how to answer him at first. But he guessed honesty was the best policy. It would do him no wrong.

"I want to if she will have me." He answered, knowing he would marry Serena in a heartbeat if only she would say yes.

But how could he ask her now, after what had happened? Would she ever forgive him and take him back? But he guessed he had to try or suffer the consequence of losing her forever.

"Why won't she have you?" He looked at him as if pondering on that thought as his eyebrows knitted in question. "You seem to be a nice guy."

He could not help but smile as he looked at the boy. He knew Ken was not being nosy, just genuinely curious about things.

"I am a nice guy. But things are a little more complicated than that." He wished being an adult was as easy as being young. But he guessed in their experience. There was not much difference.

"I guessed I would not understand it until I had gone through the ordeal." The boy said, again nodding in agreement with him.

The boy's responses made him wonder if he was just a boy. He was just too wise for his age. And for someone who did not have a regular education, he knew a lot about life.

He guessed just like him. The boy learned more about survival through his experiences. And the people he bumped into on the street had become his teachers.

"Yeah, I guess that is how life works." He casually commented, hoping he was somehow getting through to the boy.

"Please, don't hurt Serena. Don't make her cry." Ken said, appearing sincerely concerned about his friend. "She is one of the kindest people I have ever met. And she deserves to be happy."

Of course, that was his intention, but sometimes due to unforeseen events, people could do things that accidentally hurt the people they loved.

He never wanted to hurt her, but he could not deny that he was the one to blame for his actions and no one else.

"Yeah, I agree with you on that one." This time, it was his turn to nod. "She already had been through enough. She deserves to smile and be loved."

"And you know what, it would be great if you could give her a chance." He did not want to push his luck, but he still had to try. "It would surely make her happy."

"I told you I don't need anyone. I don't want to get adopted." He answered adamantly. "As you can see, I can take care of myself."

"It is not just about taking care of yourself, Ken. It is about having someone to have your back. Having a family that you can count on." He wished the boy would see it from his point of view.

"Can I watch a movie?" The boy asked as his eyes darted to his television, looking away from him.

"Sure," Adam said, grabbing the remote and turning the electronic machine on. He guessed the boy was tired of talking about himself as he diverted the topic off course.

He had known Ken would be a tough nut to crack since he was just like him. Therefore, he had to be more clever about approaching the situation.

They finished their pizza and soda in silence while watching a movie. Except for the occasional laughter, the boy remained quiet.

A while later, he was about to ask the boy if he would like him to take him home since they already exceeded their time arrangement.

However, he noticed that Ken had his eyes closed. He must have fallen asleep due to exhaustion. He could not help but wonder when was the last time the boy had a good night's sleep.

He could only conclude that never as he remembered his childhood, always thinking of what would happen next. Always alert and looking at his back. That was the life in the street.

"Hah!" He could only sigh, wondering how he could help the boy.

He grabbed a pillow and a blanket, letting the boy sleep on the couch for the night. He would offer his bed, but moving him might only wake him up.

He carefully shifted the boy into a lying position, putting the pillow under his head. Then, he covered him with a blanket, hoping to make him more comfortable.

"Good night!" He mumbled as he touched him on his forehead. "Sleep tight." Not so sure what to say to a sleeping boy.

He had never tried to put a boy to sleep before. He had helped many people in his job but never experienced anything like this.

But instead of going to his room, he sat on the vacant chair adjacent to the couch and watched the boy. He could not help but see himself in the boy.

"Why won't you accept help?" He silently asked the boy as his eyes traveled to the insignia still inked in his skin.

He could have it taken off. But at the moment, he was keeping it. He wanted a reminder of where he had been and where he wanted to go.

"Are you ready to waste your life?" The detective angrily shouted at him when he arrested him for possession, remembering a turning point in his life.

His group was about to ambush their rivals, and he was on his way to their rendezvous when he accidentally stumbled upon the detective.

He was a troubled kid with no adult he could look up to. So, he found himself associating with the wrong crowd.

"You don't know me." He answered the man, stubbornly playing a tough guy, even though he already knew he was screwed.

"I can see that you are not the same as them." The detective pointed to some of the scumbags they arrested that night.

Maybe he was not yet like them. After all, he was still new in the group. He just had his tattoo, a sign that symbolized his part of something.

But he did not see any other options. He could not envision a better future except for the path before him.

"Can you just leave me alone?" He was not in the mood for another bullshit pep talk. He had heard it before, but it was no help at all.

"No, not if there is a chance that I can save your life." The detective insisted.

He could not understand what that man saw in him that night. But as he had promised, he did not give up on him.

He owed his life to that detective that never lost hope in him, no matter how many times he had stumbled. He would not be who he was today if not for him.

"I will not give up on you." He said to the boy, finally understanding why his friend helped him.

Now it was his turn. He had to return the favor that had saved his life.