Charles and Richard Chapter 14

The incident left both of them wounded.

Especially Richard—he had never seen Charles that angry before. Every single word Charles had said pierced deep into his chest. He had no idea Charles thought that way. Richard swore he had never tried to take anything from Charles.

It was true that he’d liked his mom and dad. They were so different from Richard’s own parents in so many ways, and Richard genuinely liked those differences. He truly did. For Richard, who had no siblings, the three sisters—Christine, Emma, and Emily—were also special. Cherry? For Richard, who had never owned a dog before, Cherry was simply an adorable and lovable creature. All of Charles’s friends were great guys, too. As for Jennifer—he had nothing to say. She was cool and a good person, but Richard honestly hadn’t given her much thought. He’d just been frantic with worry that she might take Charles away. That was all.

Only now did Richard understand. Perhaps everything Richard had ever loved was just preparation for loving Charles.

Richard knew everything about Charles. He accepted everything Charles loved without any resistance. He could stand beside Charles and see everything Charles saw. Only now did Richard realize that he could have been Charles’s perfect boyfriend. Now, when everything was far too late. Now, when his emotions had overflowed and even exploded—only now did Richard realize that there had been a way for him to truly make things work with Charles, and that that path had now disappeared.

Richard was in despair. He cried all weekend long. Thinking that Charles had been afraid of him for the very same reason Richard had feared Jennifer was unbearably painful. He swore, he swore he hadn’t meant to take what Charles had. He truly hadn’t. Richard kept crying even after the weekend was over. He kept crying, resenting and hating his own cruel self for unknowingly taking everything Charles had while giving him nothing in return. He shut himself in his room and grieved as if he were left all alone in the world. But that wasn’t true.

Richard’s parents soon found out about it.

Hearing that Richard hadn’t left his room for days and was just hugging a pillow with a gloomy face, Richard’s father, who had been in New York, arrived at the mansion first. Richard’s mother was scheduled to be a little later, as she was departing from China.

Richard’s father first drank a glass of cold water, then poured a glass of straight bourbon for Richard and took it up. He soon found his fourteen-year-old son huddled under his bedsheet, crammed under his desk. Richard’s father sat on the edge of the desk with an indifferent expression and rapped on it. After a moment, Richard poked just his head out from under the desk.

His bright lemon-colored hair was a tangled mess, and the rims of his eyes were still reddish, but at least he wasn’t crying. Richard’s father was satisfied with that. He handed his son the whiskey glass. Richard took it, sniffed it, and wrinkled his brow deeply. Richard’s father tilted his chin.

Richard’s father: Drink it. You’ll feel a little better.

R: This is alcohol.

Richard’s father: Good alcohol.

Richard took a sip, made a face, and set the glass down. Richard’s father glanced at his wristwatch. There was still a little time before dinner.

Richard’s father: Do you know what day it is today?

R: Wednesday.

Richard’s father: I heard you skipped school all week.

R: Yes.

Richard’s father: Do you want to drop out?

R: No.

Richard’s father: Do you want to transfer?

R: ….

Richard’s father: Have a little more.

R: It doesn’t taste good.

Richard’s father: You’ll feel better.

Richard took another sip. He didn’t feel even a fingernail’s worth better. If anything, his stomach burned like it was on fire. Richard’s father tapped the desk with his knuckles a few times before speaking.

Richard’s father: Your mother has been saying we should gradually move you to a school in London. I think that would be a good idea too.

R: ….

Richard’s father: Down it all. Then go back to bed and sleep until dinner.

Richard followed his instructions. He drank the rest of the whiskey in one go and, with a flushed face, went back to bed and flopped down. Richard’s father closed the door and left. Richard quickly fell asleep.

Richard’s parents had originally planned to send him to a boarding school in England. But when Richard became close with Charles’s family around the age of nine, his parents decided to revise that plan. Since schools could be changed anytime they wanted, they judged that there was no need to force him to go to England if Richard didn’t want to.

Now, the situation was different. Lately, Richard had been crying like a heartbroken little kid, eating nothing but Twix chocolate bars and refusing to go to school. Richard’s parents took note of the fact that he was refusing to go to school. Missing a few days of school wasn’t something to make a fuss over. Richard could take as much time off from school as he wanted, whenever he wanted. But this time, it didn’t seem like he just wanted a break—it seemed like he didn’t want to go to that school at all. Whatever the reason, it was enough of an opportunity for Richard’s parents to revive their old plan.

Richard’s parents didn’t ask why, and Richard didn’t tell them. Richard’s parents made him a proposal: they would like him to transfer to a boarding school in London. Richard thought it over for a few evenings and then gave his answer: Yes.

Once the answer was given, everything changed very quickly. Richard’s parents put the mansion up for sale first, and purchased a flat in London for Richard to stay in. He withdrew from school immediately. Richard booked a flight to London to take the transfer exam. The day before he left, he went to school because there was someone he needed to see.

Richard met Jennifer. He apologized to her, sniffling once more. Jennifer was surprisingly mature. She said, with tears welling in her eyes, that she’d contact him if she ever visited London during break. Richard nodded. And then Richard left. He never saw Charles’s parents again, nor Cherry, of course, nor Charles himself.

Reason number twenty-six why Charles hated Richard: Because Richard left.