Be With Me

Chapter 24

Cris Yoon moved closer to him, so close that their noses were almost touching. Kelvin tried his best not to close his eyes or look away. He didn't want him to think he was scared and he was sure he was only doing it to try and get a reaction from him. Kelvin wouldn't give him the satisfaction of looking away.

"So what if it's the first day of the month, huh, Kelvin?" he asked, looking down deeply into his eyes.

"I-It's easier to count the days. To complete the month," he blurted out, a little dazed and Cris laughed. His pleasant laughter echoed inside the luxurious place.

But then, he sighed.

"Little lamb… I really have no words left for you." He was both amused and frustrated at the same time. Only he could give him such childish answer and get away with it.

Kelvin looked around the large room and noticed that it was very quiet. "Are your family not home?" he asked innocently and Cris lifted his chin with his finger.

"I live alone, Kelvin," he said, suddenly becoming serious. "But it looks like this house now welcomes its new guest."

Kelvin's eyes turned wide. W-what? He lived alone in this massive house?!

"A-alone?!" He looked at him with shock and disbelief.

"Oh, well, the butler is here and maids as well. They do count as people living here, too, I guess…" he smiled wryly and Kelvin didn't know how to react.

Cris eyes then fell on his luggage and he took another deep breath.

"You didn't run away from home, did you?"

Kelvin shook his head. "I talked to my dad properly last night."

"But I bet that you didn't tell him the whole truth, did you?"

Kelvin pressed his lips tightly, causing Crie Yoon's lips to curve up again.

"Let me see… You told him that you're going to stay with that friend of yours, right?" he said and Kelvin flushed. This man, he realized, was not only dangerous because of his physical capabilities, he was also dangerous because he seemed to also see through him like a glass window.

"Well, well, well. This good little lamb actually told a lie to his family. What a gutsy little lamb," he murmured.

"Didn't you sleep well last night?" he asked innocently as he looked at his face, and successfully diverted his attention from him.

Cris bent forward that their foreheads almost touched. "I just got home, Kelvin. Actually, right now, I very much want to punish you for disturbing my sleep." He smirked playfully. "But I'll let you off the hook for now," he added as he straightened up and called out a name.

"Charles," he said and the butler immediately appeared as if he was in the corridor this whole time, just waiting for his name to be called.

"Yes, master."

"I'll leave him to you," Cris ordered before he looked at Kelvin again and whispered in his ear.

"I'll go to sleep first, Kelvin. You rest, too. We'll talk later."

Kelvin shivered when he felt his warm breath touch his ear and he swallowed subconsciously. And before he could even say 'Rest well or Goodnight', he was already gone.

As he watched his back as he walked up the stairs, the butler coughed and drew Kelvin's attention. He then introduced himself to him.

"My name is Charles Smith, but you can call me Charles. Nice to meet you Mr. Kelvin."

"Nice to meet you, too, Mr-, I mean, Charles."

"Come with me please. I will show you to your room," he said respectfully. "Don't worry about your luggage, I'll send a maid to bring it up in your room."

The butler led him towards the grand staircase which led to the second floor.

As expected, it was even more breathtaking than the ground floor. What he saw was another large, and fancy open space. Velvet curtains were tied back to let the sunshine through the windows and he saw antique looking, brass candelabras which hung on the walls in between the windows. They each held three candles and he wondered if those candles had ever been lit. As soon as he saw this area, he immediately thought that if it were back in time, this room would be where grand balls were held like the ones he once saw on television when he watched a documentary about how royalty lived a century ago.

Kelvin could also see two doors on the far wall and wondered where they led to. He imagined that these would perhaps be the rooms where the men went to play cards or drink or talk business while their wives gossiped in the main ballroom - at least that was what she deduced from watching that documentary.

Kelvin was speechless. There were no words in the English language that could describe this place. It was definitely a 'one had to see to appreciate it' type scenario. Again, Kel was curious beyond belief. Why was Cris Yoon living in a place like this? And why was he living by himself?! He was getting more and more curious by the minute.

They continued up the stairs and up the third floor. Again, he was met with a large open area in the middle, but this was smaller than the second floor. It seemed to be the lounge area as there were couches and coffee tables neatly arranged by the big window overlooking the garden area. This seemed to be where the living quarters were located because he saw doors on either side, which he presumed, led to the bedrooms.

Charles stopped in front of tall, heavy looking double doors and pushed it open. The room he walked into was so beautiful and welcoming and Kelvin had never seen this kind of grandeur and elegance before.

But then again, as he looked around at the cavernous room that was in front of him he didn't know why but even with all this beauty and display of elegance and grandeur, he felt a little sad.

Kelvin could tell since the moment he stepped inside this house that this was a whole different life. But Kelvin couldn't stop wondering if Cris Yoon had been actually happy living in this huge and majestic place.

"If you wish to make some changes, all you have to do is say the word, Mr. Kelvin," the butler said and Kelvin quickly shook his head.

"No, everything is absolutely beautiful. Thank you."

"I'm glad you like it, Sir."

While he's looking around the room, he noticed that his luggage was already in the room! He looked at the butler in surprise. He didn't see anyone pass them by as they were climbing up the grand staircase so how come his luggage was already here?!

The butler seemed to have understood the questions and surprise in his eyes, so he smiled.

"I forgot to tell you, Sir, but there is an elevator. If you get tired of using the stairs, you can always use it."

Whoa!! This house even had an elevator?

Kelvin's mouth could only form an 'O' before he nodded at him.

"Well then, Sir. You can rest now, too. You must be tired. Please just call me if you need anything." He smiled politely before he slightly bowed to him and headed towards the door.

Kelvin followed him to the door and as the old butler stepped out, he spoke as he pointed to the next room.

"Mr. Kelvin, that's the master's bedroom," he said. The doors of the room he pointed out were even bigger than his. It was the biggest of all the rooms inside this house and it was located in the center. If this was a palace, his room would be the King's! Kelvin was glad that at least, it was easy to tell which room was his so he wouldn't wander off into it by accident.

When the old man was gone, Kelvin just stood there, staring at the huge door of Cris Yoon's room. He was somehow surprised that he actually gave him, his own room. He really didn't understand what went on his mind at all. He kept on trying to scare him ever since the very start so he had already thought of every possible scenario that was waiting for him in his house but what was waiting for him was actually this?

While Kelvin was in the taxi cab, he kept thinking about his words and how he repeatedly told him that he lived in a hellish world. Kelvin had imagined all kinds of things, from the kind of house he had and the kinds of people who were around him and that he might be living in a cold, dark, chaotic and dangerous place. However, to his surprise, this was where he ended up, which was the furthest thing from his imagination. In fact, it was the complete opposite of what he had imagined! This place could be called a paradise.

Kelvin shook his head when he entered his room. He knew this was too good to be true. He knew there had to be some reasons why Cris Yoon kept on telling him that he was dangerous but right now Kelvin wanted to believe that everything was alright.

Looking around again, Kelvin couldn't help but think of how many lovers Cris Yoon had brought here before him. Why did he need his lovers to live with him, anyway? What was that all about? Cris Yoon, who was he and what was he hiding?

Too many questions flooded in his mind but he decided to stop thinking about those matters. He didn't come here just to gather more questions and bug himself about them. He came here today because of his limited timeframe. Yes, this was the first day of their one-month deal, and he wasn't going to waste the very first day just asking questions that might never be answered.

Sitting on the bed, Kelvin brought out his small notebook. He listed a number of things he wanted to do with him within 31 days.

He was smiling as he read the lists in his mind. These were like the daily wishes he wanted to experience and surprisingly, he didn't find it hard to imagine doing all these things with Cris.

However, how would he make him agree to do all these things with him? That was the dilemma he was currently having.

Remembering his ice cold gazes and the smirk on his lips, Kelvin couldn't help but heave a long sigh. He could already tell that this won't be easy but after a moment, he lift his hand, his fighting spirit blazing! He was going to do this! Whatever happen, he'll make sure Cris agrees with him! No matter what!

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