Pleasure Series #1: Pleasure to Love You

Dhaxzy's POV

I received a message from my aunt saying that something might happen if I wasn't at home before seven in the evening. I planned to sneak out, trying not to be obvious, but this owner of this school is just so annoying.

"Mr. Dhaxzy, where do you think you're going?" His voice was cold enough for me to tremble.

I looked around and saw those groups of bullies laughing at me. I stood straight, but not for a long moment. I received crumbled papers from my fellow students.

"What an attention seeker!" Their loud laugh was consuming my head. My knees wanted to give up; these embarrassing moments added to my previous ones.

I felt a hand hold mine, and it was Mier. He accompanied me out of the studio. My tears escaped. I do not know what I did to deserve this kind of humiliation. What did I do to that man? He may be rich, but why does he need to mention my name? I could not be mad at him; I'm a scholar at this university.

"Shh, don't cry, Xzy." We were at our usual place where I can cry out loud, the garden.

I was the one who found this place first, but I couldn't hide any secrets from Mier, so I said it. This place could make me feel relaxed and calm. This place reminds me of my parents—the park that we always go to to bond like a happy and contented family. I suddenly burst into tears; I could not hold my tears back anymore.

The pain that I always feel inside the household adds to the pain that I feel inside this school. I kept on questioning my existence—how could I be alive? I smiled so bitterly when I saw Mier's face. It was full of worries, but I could not assure him that I was fine. Not now. I may be strong and a great pretender, but now I want to be weak at once.

"W-why? M-Mier, how bad am I?" I was sobbing. My eyes can't stop crying. The humiliation that they made me feel earlier, the sadness that always brought me back to the darkness that I always wanted to be away from, and the anxiety that I did not want to feel—this cruel life gave all those things to me.

"Xzy, you're not bad. They are. I'm still here, okay? I won't ever do that to you; I'm always at your side, Xzy. Stop crying; you're making me cry as well." I forced myself to stop crying. I shouldn't cry over that. I should not cry over those stupid nonsense things. I tried to clam myself down, convincing myself that they did not deserve any single tears of mine.

I thought I was used to it, but I wasn't. It is still hurting me. I do not want attention, and I don't want them to bully me. I dislike being the center of attention; I want to be invisible. I don't need any of them to make my life better; I just need my nephew, Mier, and those people who love me.

"Yeah. Sorry, I soaked your handkerchief." I giggled and threw it to him. I believe that there is something waiting for me.

I realized why I would look at those negative sides. There are lots of bad sides, but I am forcing myself to look at those good sides for me to keep on fighting. Instead of thinking of those bullies, I have now decided that I will think of Mier and Gried. They will be one of my inspirations to still fight and go on.

"Hahaha, as long as you are happy." He patted my head. "Starting from now, please stop crying." I nodded. He became my brother and also my best friend. Never in my life have I wished for someone like him to be with me.

Now I know why we became best friends. He is pulling me out of the darkness; if I really do want to get out of there, I will contribute to Mier's effort for me to finally get away from that darkest place.

"Thanks, Mier. You're the best friend!" I happily shouted—not literally, but I am really lucky to have him by my side.

"Dhaxzy!" I heard a familiar voice. They turned around and sighed.

I was about to stand up, but two men showed up in front of us. It was Mr. Disero and Mr. Kirke. It shocks me at first; I thought that no one could find them since this garden is kind of hard to find. And if they find this, they will not notice that there is someone in here.

"Sorry about what I did earlier." I forced myself to smile, like what I had thought earlier: I have no right to be mad at the one who let me study here.

"I have no right to be mad at the owner of this university, and I can tell that you're higher than me, so there is no need to say sorry. I am the one who needs to say sorry. Sorry, Mr. Disero," I said and bowed my head as a sign of my respect. I never felt anger towards anyone; I just cannot.

"Mier, come on." I smiled—a fake one as usual. "Excuse me, we still have a class." I excused ourselves; I do not want to see their face this time. I just can't let them see these eyes crying in front of them. I still cannot pretend at the moment.

I was about to go away from them, but Mr. Disero pulled my hand, and I landed on his chest. He snaked his arms around me. He was hugging me tightly. Mier was shocked, even me. But Mr. Kirke wasn't; he was smiling and dying instead. Can I think that this Mr. Kirke is indeed crazy?

I tried to loosen his hug, and good thing he did. Is this my imagination, or is it for real? Mr. Disero's eyes were wet. He looks like he is about to cry. My eyes widened, and I wiped his teary eyes using my bare hands.

"Sorry. I didn't mean it; I didn't know that they were bullying you." He looks sincere. I nodded as I accepted his apology.

"I told you there's no need for you to say sorry." I tried to smile. For me, there is no need to say sorry. I am not making him feel guilty.

"NO! I know I hurt you. So, I'll treat you. Okay?" I'm confused. He kept on insisting. "And of course, I won't accept a no. Come on." He held my hands and walked away from them. I have nothing to do since he is obviously stronger than me, so I let him decently drag me.

"Wait! What about us!?" Kirke shouted, his friend. Mier and Kirke's faces look defeated.

"Wait up! That's my friend. Give him back or you can have him, but treat me too." Saying that I'm his friend made me happy, but the last part of his sentence made me dislike him.

"Mier would dumb me just for food. How brutal he is." I shook my head and pulled my hand. I rolled my eyes at my friend before I turned around to face Mr. Disero. "I can walk." He scratched his nape.

I nodded at him and followed him. We arrived at the cafeteria and sat on the chair beside the plant and the window. I can clearly see those students who are playing soccer on the huge soccer field. I felt excited when the man who had a number 11 scored.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked me. It beats me to wake up knowing that I am with someone.

"I'm not hungry; you should ask Mier," I honestly said while my eyes were still on those players.

"You always say his name." I gazed at him and saw his fists closed, his forehead creased, and he looked grumpy. I reached his forehead and massaged it for him.

"Don't be grumpy; it doesn't suit you. And these fists..." I touched his fists and opened them up. "Don't close it, 'cause you can scare others, okay?" I said while slightly smiling in front of him. I assured him that he did not need to close his fist over my best friend's name.

"Why?" I asked when I felt he was stunned. I kept on massaging his temple.

"N-Nothing." He looked away, and I didn't care. Is he shy? I let him do what he wanted; actually, he's doing nothing but staring at me.

"Ah, okay," I said, looking at him in the eyes.

He was about to ask something, but Mier and his friend sat beside us. I looked at them, and they both had sweat on their faces. Mier was panting and trying to catch his breath, as was Kirke. The tiredness caused by running is visible on their faces.

"You didn't even bother to wait for us," Kirke sulked, but he was the first one to get and open the menu book.

"You're not important, anyway," Mr. Disero said. I looked at him and stared; my mouth was opened because of the sudden roasting.

"Oh! Roasted Kirke!" Mier responded. I jokily punched Mier's shoulder. He looked at me and gestured that he'd done something wrong. He should not say it. "Calm down, my friend. This guy right here is now a friend of mine."

"Ow, that's hurt, Mr. Kirke." I chuckled, and they were just looking at him. "And to give an assurance, yes, me and Mier are now friends."

"Um. Why?" I asked. My forehead wrinkles. They are all looking so creepy, but Mier's face is so epic.

"Did you just genuinely giggle?" Mier asked, and I nodded. I do not know what the big deal is with me genuinely chuckling over them.

"I'm hurt, Xzy! You never giggled like that to my jokes. How could you!?" Mier acted like he's in pain. I face-plammed and shook my head. I can't—I just can't with this friend of mine.

"Your jokes are all lame. Even an infant won't find them funny," I said, and they all laughed at what I said. Well, it is the truth. "Who would laugh at a joke saying, 'Are you a clown? 'Cause you're just a clown'?" I asked.

"It looks like someone is stunned because of the smile for his love of his life." Mr. Kirke was teasing Mr. Disero. I was curious to know who it was but ended up not asking since it was none of my business.

"By the way, I am Tatsuke Kirke, and this man right here is Saicki Disero. Call me Tatsu and call him Saicki." I nodded, and I have no idea why a lot of foods are served on our table.

"Let's dig in," Mier said, and he started to eat. My eyes widened as I saw this Mier being so gluttonous once again.

"Sorry, he's a glutton." I shook my head slightly and slapped Mier's shoulder to say, Slow down.

"It is one of the seven deadly sins—gluttony," Tatsu said while eating his food.

"You know about that? You know it is cool. I want a book about that, but I couldn't find it, and if I could, I can't afford to buy that book." I felt a bit sad, but it was okay. I already learned a lot about those deadly sins.

"Want me to buy you some books about those?" Saicki invaded our conversation. I became shy.

"No. I would love bears more than that book 'cause I already learned a lot about those." I thumbs up trying to get rid of my shyness.

"Okay. You love bears?" I nodded. I just love them since they are all so fluffy and cute, and lastly, I think they can give the best hugs.

I was about to say something when Mier answered his question for me. Well, he is always doing this as if I have no voice to speak for myself.

"Yeah, he's obsessed with those chubby, fluffy, and cute bears," he said. "Plus, if you want to be on his side, just give him those bears he wants. That's a hint." Mier chuckled. Okay, he just exposed that side of me.

"Don't talk if your mouth is full." I started to open my sandwich. "Don't talk to me for a while," I said to them, and their eyes widen except for Mier.

"Why?" Saicki asked, but I didn't want to talk. I ignored them.

"Notice us. Are you mad?" he asked again.

"Hey, you don't like the sandwich? Sorry, please notice me." His eyes were pleading, but I didn't want to speak.

Saicki was about to plead again, but Mier just stopped him.

"He's not mad. That's normal," Mier shared.

"No. He is. You see? He doesn't even look at me." Mier giggled and wiped the side of his lips using the table napkin beside him.

"He had the so-called table manner. He won't talk to everyone when he's eating; he only sees his food, not us." Saicki looks like he's relieved.

"What's with you being overreacted?" Kirke chuckled.

"Okay, done! Thanks for the food," I said, innocently looking at them.

Saicki's phone beeped. He answered it, and all of us shut our mouths.

"Yeah, yeah. Coming." He said, "Eat those foods that I ordered for you. Get some fats." He messed with my hair before he bid his goodbye.

He was the first person to mess with my hair; the last person who did that was my father. In that short span of time, I remembered how gentle and caring my dad was. Just that simple gesture makes me feel the gentleness that I am craving. I looked up, and I genuinely smiled at him with all of my heart.

He left Kirke with us. He said he wants Kirke to be my bodyguard today. I didn't accept, but it looks like Mier and Kirke want to bond together, so I didn't mind.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Kirke asked while he was chewing the friend's chicken. His mouth is full of oil. I shook my head. I think I'll be their bodyguard, not him guarding me.

"Hmm, the dean said that you are one of the stockholders in this school, right?" I glimpsed at Mier and saw those sparkles in his eyes. I already knew what he was going to say.

"Yeah, the most handsome man." Mier scoffed and laughed at Kirke.

"Wow. The audacity." I facepalm. If they can just read my mind, they will stop saying these things.

"Whatever, so why did you ask?" Kirke asked while he was cleaning his plate. By means of cleaning, he was licking his plate like a dog. Is he really a billionaire?

"Oh, about that, I'm kind of lazy to go to class. Can you excuse us?" Mier stated. I slapped his arm and gave him a glare. "What?"

"Don't what me?" I rolled my eyes and turned to Mr. Kirke's side. "Sorry for my stupid, childish friend, Mr. Kirke," I formally apologized.

"No worries. That's fine. Also, I told you to cut the formality; just Tatsu will do," he stated. He looks so gentlemanly.

"Okay, Tatsu," I shyly responded.

He chuckled and looked at Mier. I thought he would nag at Mier, but he said what I hadn't expected him to say. "Okay! I'll tell the dean!" He said, standing up.

I facepalmed and saw them wrapping their arms around each other's shoulders. "Saicki, why did you leave these two to me?"