Beneath the Surface: Secrets of an Obsessed Heart
Chapter 35 - 34

Chapter 35: Chapter 34

"Hey don’t talk to him like that," Sora scowled, pulling Hiro towards himself in a protective manner. "You have no right."

The action only made Raiden’s anger worse. His blood boiled and he balled his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, making cresent shaped dents on the skin. He hated whenever Sora did that. As if he was some maniac Hiro needed protection from.

Hiro stared at Raiden, disbelief and pain marring his features. "Jerk." He murmured underneath his breath, tears welling in his eyes as he bit his lower lip, sniffing hard to keep them at bay. Why did he ever think Raiden was kind? Just because they did some sexual stuff and Raiden gave him his first orgasm didn’t mean Raiden’s behaviour had changed.

"So, from what I understand right now, Raiden was the one who paid for my surgery and not you, Sora?" Saika asked, wanting to confirm. If it was true, then she would be mortified. She had just been flirting with her benefactor.

Sora glared at Raiden but still answered; "I am not sure about this scumbag’s words but I’m sure I didn’t make the payment."

Saika suddenly felt a pang of pain in her chest. She groaned, pressing her palm over her heart. This meant that Hiro and Sora had actually lied to her about everything. If Raiden hadn’t paid, she would not even be having a surgery tomorrow.

"I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave.," the nurse said after watching all the drama. "You’re aggravating the patient."

Alarmed, Hiro instantly turned to Saika. "Sister, I-"

She held up a hand, forcing him to stop talking. "Just go." She didn’t want to listen to anything. She laid down on the bed as the nurse began to check her blood pressure.

"Let’s take this outside." Sora said, shooting Raiden a glare. He held Hiro’s hand and they went out together.

Raiden followed. He could remember the times Sora would hold Hiro’s hand while walking him to class and he would dejectedly follow like some lost puppy, wanting a chance to speak to Hiro but Sora would be there like some bodyguard.

Well, not anymore. He stood still in the middle of the hallway and called out for Hiro.

"Come here, Hiro."

Hiro immediately paused in his tracks, making Sora stop too. His heart began to pound. What was Raiden trying to pull right in the middle of the hallway of a hospital and worse, in front of his brother?

He turned to find Raiden standing still, waiting for him.

Sora was still holding on to Hiro’s hand. "What’s wrong?" He asked, wondering why Hiro would stop just because Raiden told him to.

Hiro gazed between his brother and Raiden, unsure of what to do. He didn’t want to leave his brother’s side and he was still mad at Raiden for calling him out like that back in Saika’s room but he felt something might happen if he didn’t go.

"I said, come here, Hiro." Raiden repeated. His voice, a symphony of authority, resonated with a deep, commanding timbre that seemed to echo through the very foundations of the hallway. It demanded Hiro’s compliance, its resonance was like the steady rumble of distant thunder, foretelling the arrival of an impending storm.

Hiro’s eyes fixated on Raiden, who stood like an imposing tower of power. He could not ignore Raiden even if he wanted to. There was something about the way Raiden called out to him that made him want to comply. Raiden’s figure exuded an aura of unwavering authority. His posture, straight and commanding, carved a silhouette that demanded respect.

Although Hiro was still angry, everything in him screamed at him to go to Raiden. After all, they had a deal and he belonged to Raiden now. He could feel it. He didn’t want to disobey.

He detached his hand from his brother’s and slowly walked back to Raiden.

As Hiro approached, every step seemed to steady Raiden’s pounding heart. On the surface, he was calm but inside, his emotions were like a raging tornado. He was prepared to stomp over there and yank Hiro away from Sora if Hiro refused to obey. He was glad that he didn’t have to do it. Hiro was coming to him, his head of sandy blonde locks bowed in a submissive manner and it made him extremely pleased.

When Hiro was close enough, he reached out and pulled Hiro to his chest, wrapping one arm around Hiro’s thin waist. In that moment, he locked eyes with a furious Sora but he wasn’t fazed at all. In fact, he smirked, his smokey grey eyes holding a provocative glint that danced on the edge of amusement and challenge. It was a look that conveyed a silent message—a subtle play of dominance and assertion. His expression seemed to say, "Your brother is mine, Sora and there’s not a fucking thing you can do about it."

As Raiden hugged Hiro, that lingering gaze sent a ripple of tension through the air, subtly challenging the boundaries between him and Sora.

Sora was thoroughly confused and enraged. He had so many questions but the hallway wasn’t the place to ask them. His jaw clenched and he balled his fists as he turned and kept walking. It was taking everything in him to keep his rage at bay.

"Let’s go." Raiden said to Hiro, his voice now gentle. The anger and seriousness in his eyes had cleared away, replaced by satisfaction and mirth.

Hiro nodded meekly and followed Raiden’s command. He knew his brother would be pissed but he didn’t want to anger Raiden further. Who knew what Raiden would do or say? What he was most afraid of was Raiden revealing to Sora the nature of their agreement. He would be mortified if Sora knew he had agreed to sleep with Raiden for a year.

"Is this okay?" Raiden inquired, interrupting his thoughts.

"Huh?" Hiro responded, caught off guard by the sudden question, his confusion evident in his furrowed brow.

Raiden chuckled, charmed by Hiro’s confusion. Playfully, he pinched Hiro’s waist, prompting him to finally acknowledge the arm encircling him. "I’ve got my arm around you, Hiro. Are you comfortable with that?"

Hiro, shocked by his obliviousness, felt a sudden wave of shyness. Meekly, he nodded in response, acknowledging that it was indeed okay. He couldn’t believe Raiden didn’t forget to ask.

"I’m still mad at you though." He said, raising his head to look at Raiden.

"I know." Raiden affirmed. "But I’m not sorry."

Hiro frowned, not expecting Raiden’s blatant answer. "What do you mean?"