Theron woke up early despite feeling tired and achy. He rubbed his eyes and sat up to stretch his arms. The night before, it seemed like sleep was avoiding him, and because of his body pain, he couldn't fall asleep right away. He felt the stiffness in his neck, and his back ached.
He stood up and walked towards his closet, taking slow steps to soothe his muscles. When he got to the mirror, he paused for a moment to stare at his reflection. The right side of his eye was swollen and black, a memento of the punch that Kith had given him. He couldn't help but sarcastically smile at his reflection.
It had been a long time since he had observed his reflection in the mirror. He remembered how he used to admire his features before, and now, he found himself hotter than before. His messy hair made him more attractive. He intentionally messed it up and reveled in the fact that it added to his sex appeal.
As he looked at himself, he realized that he had changed. He was no longer the same person he was before. The challenges and obstacles he faced had shaped him into the person he was now. He wondered if people around him saw it too.
He pushed those thoughts aside as he remembered the fight with Kith yesterday. Kith freely punched him, but he didn't want to fight back because he knew there was anger in Kith's heart. Kith just wanted to seek revenge and hurt him, even in a physical way. Theron understood the pain Kith was going through, and he hoped that someday, Kith would come to terms with it and move on.
Theron took a deep breath and decided to start his day, despite the pain and the fatigue he felt. He knew that every day was a new opportunity, a chance to become better than he was yesterday.
Kith, driven by his intense anger, didn't consider the potential pain it would inflict upon him. Theron's kiss had a remarkable power to tame Kith's wildness, making Theron his Achilles' heel.
Theron distinctly remembered the moment their lips met. The kiss was an unexpected and impulsive act, not part of his initial plan. It felt as though an irresistible force compelled him to possess Kith's lips. But strangely enough, it was this very act that exerted control over Kith.
A reminiscent smile formed on Theron's face as he recalled how Kith responded to his kiss. After a brief pause, Theron leisurely walked towards the bathroom. He discarded his shirt and boxers, standing unabashedly naked before the mirror.
As the cascading water drenched his head and body, he closed his eyes and relished the invigorating sensation it brought. The coldness of the water offered a comforting relief. Amidst the continuous stream, memories of Kith's passionate response flooded his mind, vividly reminding him of how Kith wholeheartedly reciprocated the kiss with genuine emotion. Theron could keenly perceive the depth of it.
He involuntarily let out a curse and hurriedly concluded his shower. The last thing he wanted was to be held captive by that particular memory in his mind, disturbing his thoughts.
In less than forty minutes, he emerged from his room, impeccably dressed in office attire. He couldn't bring himself to refuse Kith's offer to work at his company. Deep down, he was well aware that there was no harm in accepting the opportunity. If there had been any lurking doubts, he would have withdrawn his acceptance immediately.
As he descended the staircase, he caught sight of his father seated in the living room. His father glanced up momentarily, acknowledging his presence, but promptly redirected his attention to the laptop before him, taking sips from a steaming cup of coffee.
Deliberately avoiding any interaction, he walked past his father, determined to only engage in necessary conversations regarding his education and the inevitable cautionary advice about working at PPB. However, he hadn't heard any complaints or reproach from his father since last night's altercation.
"I'm leaving, Dad," he uttered politely, his voice tinged with a hint of formality.
"Hijo, you haven't had breakfast yet," his father responded, his gaze still fixed on the laptop screen, engrossed in whatever was holding his attention.
He found himself at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond to his father's sudden shift in demeanor. This was something he had come to anticipate from his father time and time again.
Warren Amherst had always been a loving and gentle father, but things had taken a different turn ever since his mother's passing.
Perhaps his father had yet to fully come to terms with the loss, as it seemed to weigh heavily on him, further exacerbating his behavior.
"Do you want me to cook for you?" his father asked, turning to face him.
Those words touched his heart, as if he were an angel suddenly bestowed with a pair of new wings. It brought forth an indescribable sense of lightness and warmth within him.
Noticing the smile on his father's face, he approached him and tenderly embraced him. "It's okay, Dad. Thank you so much. I'll see you later," he calmly expressed before parting ways and stepping out of the room.