Bound To You

Chapter 6

After going all out to have fun for two days, they were dead tired. And Jess fell asleep as soon as his head hit the bed after returning from skydiving.

He hadn't slept so well in many years. Humans are such weird creatures. When they are younger, they're so carefree and can sleep earlier but will choose to stay up late, throwing away their youth. As they grow older, the hardships of life start piling up in their heart, worrying them and resulting in them being unable to sleep.

With a heavy workload, a hopeless love life, a broken relationship with his parents and a lonely life, he was beyond tired. Due to many times he was plagued of worries he became unable to sleep, he had no choice but to go to the doctor for anti-anxiety pills from time to time.

The doctor said his illness had something to do with his unhealthy lifestyle.

How can a person not fall sick if he has been unhappy for such a long time?

Now that he's dying, he finally accepted reality and can sleep well.

Maybe Jess should also thank Jake for being a good bolster too.

He was intolerant of cold. Even during the hottest summer, his hands and legs were cold. Winter is a freezing cold season. He hugged Jake's warm, living body, that was just like a heating stove, providing him warmth, under the blanket.

Jess woke up early and just laid still, watching Jake's sleeping face. He remained like that for how long he can't pinpoint when he had begun.

This boy was wild when he was awake but appeared much gentler when asleep, making him look really young. How cute!

Jess watched Jake for quite a while, never knowing that he was such a superficial person and feeling quite smug for no apparent reason...

He actually slept with such a young and handsome boy!

Jess didn't want to wake Jake up and intended to quietly remove his hands from the younger's hold, but as soon as he moved, he suddenly woke up.

With his eyes still half-closed, Jake felt for his phone and looked at the time. It's almost 10 o'clock. "So early," he mumbled.

He reached out to pull Jess into his arms, still very sleepy. "Let's sleep for a while longer, okay?"

It's still early? Jess chuckled. Patting Jake's head, he said, "Let me go. I'll cook some food for us."

Jake snuggled against Jess, reluctant to release the older man. But after a while he still remove his hold on him. Jess put on his clothes, folded his sleeved and went to make their meal. The seaside villa Jake rented had everything they needed. Jess rummaged through the fridge and realised there were not enough ingredients, only flour and eggs, so he made a batter and fried omelette for brunch.

Jake struggled to get up from the bed, still topless and barefooted. His jeans hung on his waist with his belt not even buckled. If someone ugly dressed like this, it would be called sloppy. Since he was good-looking and built, dressing like this made him look dashing in a messy and wild sense.

Still sleepy, he hugged Jess waist from behind, and affectionately ask. "Where do you want to go today?"

"You weren't even intimate with me yesterday. Do you have enough energy already?" Then added. "We are not going anywhere today. Eek, move your hands away. Don't touch me... Follow me to the vegetable market after eating. I want to buy some groceries to cook."

Jake was kind of disappointed and whining like a kid said. "Why go through all that trouble, I can... The high-class escort service also includes this segment. Tell me what you want to buy. There will be someone to get and send them over."

"That's not good. It's only fun to buy them on my own." Jess shook his head.

Still grumbling, Jake let out a heavy sigh and easily went along with him. "Then I'll follow you."

"Of course you have to follow me. I spent so much money on you, so you should at least help me to push the shopping cart and carry the groceries."

"I cost 15 thousand dollars per night. You bought me for a month at only 300 thousand dollars. Do you think my math is bad?"

Jess put his hands on his hips and said frankly, "That's why I let you rest. You only have to work for five days with two days off. For four weeks, five days per week, isn't it exactly 300 thousand dollars?"

Jake laughed hard, pulled Jess towards him and kissed the older man on the cheek. "You're so interesting! But I'd rather you be an evil client who will ask me to work overtime every night."

After eating and researching, Jess brought Jake to the local vegetable market. Jake had never been to such a chaotic place since young. The market was smelly, narrow and crowded. The cement flooring was so dirty there was nowhere he could place his feet on, so he could only follow Jess closely. Like a lost puppy.

Jees bought three beef ribs and some veggies, then went to the supermarket to get flour, butter, food flavouring, seasoning and whipping cream.

"Why don't you buy the meat from this supermarket? The meat here looks much cleaner." Jake asked as he pushed the shopping cart.

Jess looked at him with disapproval. "You clearly don't cook. The meat from the supermarket has no soul."

Jake burst out laughing. And he didn't stop for a while. When he finally got to stop he looked at the ingredients Jess bought and Jake guessed, "You want to make some pastries?"

Jess nodded.

As they walked, Jake suddenly said, "My mother loves making pastries and she is good at it. I like the apple pie she makes the most."

"I knew it. Only a mother good at cooking can raise a son who can't cook. My mother can't cook, so the kitchen is my father's territory. I grew up thinking that the kitchen is too dangerous for women to enter."

Jake laughed for a while, then stopped and mused, "My mother passed away when I was eight years old and no one made apple pie for me ever since."

"..."

Jess didn't know whether it was a true story or just something Jake made up to make Jess take pity on him. Look, what a sly boy who looks wild but occasionally shows his weak and lonely side.

"Be good." Jess raised his hand to pat Jake's head and put a bag of sweet apples in the shopping cart. "I'll make it for you, though it definitely won't be as good as those made by your mother."

After buying what they needed, they headed back to make the meal. Jess didn't feel bad to keep his hands free, leaving Jake to carry everything on his own.

Then he went to cook in the kitchen.

Jess originally wanted Jake to help him handle the ingredients and the younger man was very focused but he realised that Jake wasn't lying. He was indeed hopeless in terms of cooking, so Jess chased him out. "Get lost, get lost. Stop giving me problems."

But Jake refused to leave and stood around him like a dog. "Teach me."

Jess couldn't Jake's pair of bright eyes and gave in allowing him to stay, teaching him step by step.

They both wore aprons, got their hands full of flour and had fun playing the whole afternoon.

In the evening, the small square table was filled with dishes.

It was the first time Jake cooked. He remembered that once, when he was about five or six years old, he ran over to his mother who was making apple pie to help. His mother didn't reject him and let him wash the apples. He was barely able to reach the basin as he stood on a bench so after washing, his sleeves were drenched, and his collar and face were wet too. His mother gently wiped his face and pat him on the head, praising him for being a good boy.

With a puff of his chest and slightly arrogant tilt of his head Jake praised himself. "I'm really good. The food came out well partly because of me."

Jess just roll his eyes. Cutting the apple pie, he gave one piece to the younger man. "Geez stop being over dramatic. Just taste it."

Jake tried the pie, its sweetness overflowing. He felt comfortable being with Jess and his cooking was reminded him of something familiar but distant. He can feel his chest tightening.

"Is it good?"

Jake lips curved into a smile. It's too pure and bright. "Yes it is."

Jess couldn't help but smile too. "I only need you to do one thing tonight."

"What?" Jake's mellow mood slowly disappear, and he started thinking dirty thoughts.

Jess smiled and said, "Seriously act like my lover and wish me happy birthday."

If there is no miracle, this will be his last birthday.

He is generally satisfied and has enjoyed himself.

He has no regrets...

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