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In the Wrong Hands.

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Episode 7

As soon as he finished talking to his nephew, Tez said goodbye to him, accompanying him to the street.

Tez: Come back tomorrow with everything you need. I need to go as early as possible, I'm depending on you.

Rodrigo: Don't worry, boss, I'll be here in the morning.

Tez: Thanks, take care.

The car drove away, disappearing at the end of the street. Tez took a deep breath, turned around, and went inside.

Leyne: He already left?

Tez: Yes.

Leyne: He's very polite. And he really admires you.

Tez: Yes... Are you hungry?

Leyne: Yes, and by the way, I already separated all your spices.

The man smiled, looking at Leyne.

Tez: Great, then I have to do something special to make up for your work. What do you want to eat?

Leyne: Seriously? I get to choose the menu. That's great... Well... I don't know, let me think. Oh, there's something I haven't eaten in a long time. Much longer than I've been on the run, eating whatever I could find... Chicken pie.

Tez: Well then, I'll make a chicken pie.

Leyne: Can I help you?

Tez: I don't really like...

Leyne: Please! Even if it's just washing dishes, taking out the trash, or even peeling something.

Tez: All right. So let's start with the onions, you can peel them.

Leyne: Yes, Chef!

…

In a bowl, five peeled onions were waiting to be chopped. Impatient, Leyne grabbed the knife and began to chop them, to speed up the process.

Leyne: Is this size okay?

Tez: Yes, it's good...

Leyne's eyes were red, and tears streamed down his face. Tez laughed.

Tez: You look funny red like that.

Leyne: I'll show you what's funny!

Leyne threw an onion at Tez, but he caught it in midair.

Leyne: Jerk! :( Do you have to be so skilled?

Tez: I just caught an onion, kid, don't exaggerate.

Leyne: Kid? Are you kidding? I'm a man!

Tez: Okay, kid.

A little while later, the two sat down at the table to eat. Tez again watched the boy in front of him eat excitedly.

Leyne: Aren't you going to eat? It's really good!

Tez: I'm eating, but it's for you, so enjoy it.

Tez opened a bottle of wine.

Tez: Do you drink?

Leyne: I only drink at parties and on New Year's Eve. But you know what, serve me some. I feel like celebrating with this wonderful pie.

They both drank at the same time, and their eyes met, which made Leyne blush.

Tez: You're red again, can't even handle drinking, can you?

Leyne: What do you mean? It's not that... I just remembered something funny... Pour me some more.

…

After two glasses of wine, Leyne felt more cheerful and at ease.

Leyne: Tez... You know you're crazy, right?

Tez: Crazy? Why do you say that?

Leyne: Who would let an intruder sleep in their house and even serve them food? You weren't afraid I was going to rob you, you just wanted to know if someone sent me, right? ... That's crazy.

Tez: Maybe it's not a coincidence.

Tez got up and began to clear the table.

Leyne: It's not a coincidence? Are you trying to say that... Fate wanted this?

Silence prevailed for a few seconds.

Tez came back and picked up the bottle of wine, the only item left on the table besides the glass in Leyne's hand.

Leyne: No! Don't take it, I'm still drinking.

Tez: No, give me your glass. You've had enough.

Leyne: Ah, at least let me finish what's in the glass...

Leyne was tilting the glass as Tez went to take it from his hands. He raised the hand that was holding the glass to take it away, and some of the wine dripped down the corner of Leyne's mouth.

Tez: ...

Leyne saw his hand caught in Tez's hand, their faces close. On impulse, he leaned forward, pressing his lips to Tez's. Tez supported him when he saw that he had lost his balance, and the kiss continued.

Tez found himself enveloped by those warm, wine-flavored lips, placed the glass on the table, and hugged Leyne, continuing that captivating moment.

The glass wobbled on the table and shattered as it fell to the floor, Tez pulled away from Leyne.

Tez: I... I think you'd better go to sleep. I'm going to clean this up.

Leyne stood rooted to the spot.

Leyne: {Why did we stop? Is he coming back? Am I... supposed to go to sleep?}

…

After cleaning up the shards and taking out the trash, Tez returned to the kitchen and saw that Leyne was no longer there. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a glass of cold water.

Tez: {Good heavens. What am I doing? I can't get attached to him. He's not going to stay here...}

The stunned man went upstairs to his room, but before going in, he wanted to see if Leyne had made it to bed. To his surprise, there was no one in the room.

Tez: LEYNE!

Running to the window, Tez looked out into the backyard.

Tez: LEYNE! What are you doing?

Leyne was on top of a chair against the wall trying to climb over it.

As soon as he saw him, Tez ran outside, arriving in time to pull Leyne back inside.

Tez: WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? Who said you could escape? I didn't give you permission!

The boy kept his eyes fixed on the floor. He didn't raise his head at any point, avoiding looking at Tez.

Leyne: You... You didn't like the kiss?

Perplexed, Tez's eyes widened.

Tez: What did you say?

Leyne: The kiss... I couldn't help myself. I think the wine gave me courage, but... I thought you liked it... Now I... I can't face you after that.

Tez: Are you kidding me? Are you trying to run away because you can't face me? Are you that ashamed? Never kissed anyone before?