Chapter 4
358
"Why does that panda eyed kid keep following you?" I looked to Luhan who had a questioning look on his face. I look back to see Hēisè, the name I had given him, following behind us happily. A few days had passed since he had helped me and after that he would accompany me almost everywhere. The day after, he trailed behind me far away and as the days passed, he got a little closer. Some days he would even grab the back of my shirt cutely. I wasn't bothered at all by his company, oddly. He was like a kid brother to some extents. "Does it bother you?" I ask meeting Luhan's face. "It doesn't but sometimes your friend looks at me like he wants to kill me." Luhan frowned and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Hēisè is harmless. He's like a little kid." Luhan looked back at him. "Hēisè? Don't tell me that's his name." I shook my head. "I don't know his actual name. He doesn't talk." Luhan brought his hand up to his mouth and absentmindedly put the side of his index finger between his lips. Something he always did when he was in thought. "I've noticed. Do you even know where he lives?" I bit my bottom lip at the question. "No. I actually don't know anything about him. I don't think he speaks Chinese. I've also tried English and Korean but nothing." I shrugged, climbing up the stairs that led up to my apartment.
"Maybe he doesn't know how to talk?" Luhan followed close behind. I waved to Hēisè, telling him to come up since he always stops at the bottom of my stairs, asking for permission to follow. "How could that be possible at his age?" I watched him climb up the stairs as I held the door open for him. He smiled halfly and bowed before coming in, something he probably picked up from watching me go into stores. I closed the door and watched Luhan study Hēisè from the kitchen. "Maybe a childhood trauma?" Luhan shrugged then disappeared in the kitchen. "Maybe. He does have his sort of branding on his chest." I throw my body on the couch. Hēisè had his eyes on the clock I had mounted on the wall, silently counting the seconds go by. I watched him for a moment until I was brought back to reality. "Branding? Like they do to cows?" Luhan came back with a bowl of popcorn and I grabbed the television remote, turning it on to a random channel. "Yeah, It was in the shape of an hourglass, but there was also the number 10 under it." I turn to look at Hēisè who was now engulfed in the television.
"There possibly might be nine more of him? Kids who don't know how to speak or use common technology?" Luhan grabbed a handful of popcorn as he passed me the bowl and sat on the floor, next to Hēisè, at my feet. "He has some understanding I guess. He reads emotions pretty well." I place my hand on his head and he turns to look at me. He smiles and points to the television. Cute. "Lets try something. Turn off the television really quick." I grab the remote and flick it off. Hēisè's smile disappears and me looks at me with a disappointed face. He tugs on my jeans slightly and points to the television again. How can anyone be this cute? Luhan grabbed one of his hands and Hēisè turned to him questioningly. I sat back and watched quietly. "Can you say Kris?" Hēisè turns his head to the side, showing his confusion. "Ka-ris." Luhan points to me and I smile softly. Hēisè looks from me to Luhan then back to me. "Ka-ris." I repeat Luhan's words. He opens his mouth and I could feel myself leaning in in anticipation. "Ka-rees." His voice was deep but soft at the same time. I almost fell off the sofa, leaning so much. "Again." Luhan clapped encouragingly. "Krees." He looked at me and smiled. Saying my name one more time. "Krees." So cute.
For the next few hours, we taught Hēisè a couple of words. He learned Luhan's name, television, door, light and a couple of other small things. He was now sitting in front of the television watching a child's cartoon I put on so he could learn a few more things while Luhan and I were in the kitchen drinking coffee. "He's learned a lot for such a short time." I watched Luhan stuff a piece of dounut in his mouth making his cheeks puff. I chuckled at the powder that clung to his lips. "What's so funny?" Luhan pouted cutely. Hēisè walked into the kitchen then, holding a cup in both his hands. He handed his cup to me then noticed the powder on Luhan's lips. In one quick swift movement, he bent down and licked the powder off of Luhan's lips. Luhan and I both froze in our seats but Luhan's face turned a color similar to strawberries. Hēisè just smiled and walked back into the living room. What was that? "W-where did he learn that from?" Luhan stuttered out still red faced. Where DID he learn that from? "It wasn't from me."
Once it hit midnight, I suggested that Luhan and Hēisè should stay over. I didn't want either of them walking home alone at this time but Luhan had work in the morning. I must have told him three times to call me when he got home. "I got it. I'm a big boy, I can take care of myself." He said leaning against my door. "You don't look it." I joked. "Hey! I'm older then you! Don't make me make you call me Gege." He puffed out his cheeks again and I gave them a gentle squeeze. "You wouldn't dare, now go before it gets later." I quickly ruffled his hair. "Fine. Goodnight then. Night Hēisè!" Luhan got on his tiptoes and waved. Adorable. Hēisè looked back and smiled softly, waving back. "Bye Bye Luhun." Also adorable. Luhan gave a quick giggle before leaving.
After Luhan had gotten home and called me I brought out the freshly washed black sweatpants Hēisè admired so much. I've only ever seen him wear my sweatpants and hoodie or the clothes I found him in. "Hey, Hēisè." I called out but he stopped me. He shook his head and pressed his hand against my chest gently. "Krees" then moved his hand to his chest, "Tao." I nodded in understanding. So he does have a name. Tao. "Kris." I lightly corrected, handing him the sweatpants, a tee shirt, a towel and boxers. "Kris." He smiled brightly. He's too cute for his own good. "Yeah. Good." I run my hand through his hair. "Okay, would you like me to run you a bath?" He tilts his head. "Bath?" I smile and lead him to the bathroom. I point to the tub. He stares at it for a while then moves. I watched him set the clothes on top of the sink and climb into the tub where he just lies down in it. Maybe he thinks it's a bed? "No Tao, not a bed. Bath." He sits up and steps out. I turn the nobs to control the hot and cold water and hold my hand under the running water until it becomes warm enough. Tao watches me in silence. I put the small white plug in the drain and let the tub start filling. "Water?" I turn to him and nod. I take his hand and put it under the water gently. His fingers wiggle under the water and his face was pure child-like.
Before I could walk out of the bathroom, he called out to me. "Kris." I look back at him to see him sitting on the edge of the tub, one of his hands still under the tap. "Bath together?" What? You gotta be kidding. I could feel my face heat up but I will blame it on the steam coming from the tub. "Um, no. Tao bath. Not Kris." He stands up and grabs my hand with both of his. He looks up at me with the cutest expression. Does this come that naturally? Seriously! I bow my head in defeat, not being able to resist. "Okay." I mumble. Tao claps his hands happily and starts to strip off his shirt. "Wait! Woah! Hold on!" I close my eyes quickly and run out the bathroom.
How did I get myself into this mess? I was sitting in the bath tub with Tao between my legs and his back to me. He was playing with the bubbles I put in the tub while I washed his hair. "Having fun?" I ask massaging the shampoo in his short black hair. "Yes!" He started splashing around. "Okay okay." I laughed while grabbing the bar of soap and lathering it in my hands. "Arm." I tapped his right shoulder and he stretched out his arm in front of him. I leaned forward until my chest hit his back and I rubbing the soap on his skin gently until he stopped me. I questioned his actions until I felt his fingers run down my arm, along my bar-coded scars. He looked back at me with a frown, one that could break anyone's heart. "Bad." I felt my heart throb within my chest. "Yes. Bad." He stood up, turned around and knelled in front of me. "No more bad." He put his hand under my chin and brought my face up to meet his. "No more." He repeated. I smiled weakly. "No more."