Beneath the Surface: Secrets of an Obsessed Heart
Chapter 60 - 59

Chapter 60: Chapter 59

Hiro felt his eyes heat up once more as tears gathered within them, threatening to spill. It was like Raiden’s hug broke the dam keeping his emotions at bay and he hugged Raiden tightly, seeking solace in the safety of his arms. His tears flowed silently, yet his body trembled with the weight of his suppressed feelings. Raiden sensed Hiro’s distress and enveloped him in a protective cocoon, holding him close as he cried.

For a while, Hiro sobbed unabashedly, the tears flowing like a torrential downpour. Memories of their parents’ abandonment flooded his mind, reopening old wounds that had never fully healed. But gradually, as Raiden continued to stroke his hair with gentle reassurance, coupled with the comforting scent of Raiden’s cologne enveloping him, he began to find a sense of calm amidst the turmoil. With each gentle stroke, a sense of peace washed over him, gradually easing the intensity of his tears.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Raiden asked after Hiro had finally calmed down.

Hiro hesitated, his heart heavy with the weight of his past, but the warmth of Raiden’s embrace and the sincerity in his eyes urged him to open up. With a shaky breath, Hiro began to recount the events of that horrid night.

“This suit just reminded me of that night.” He sniffled, raising his head to look at Raiden. His eyes were and nose were tinged red, his lashes wet and those beautiful multi-coloured orbs glittered like gems under the sun. Raiden’s breath caught in his throat at Hiro’s cuteness. He wondered how he was so lucky.

“What night?” He asked, trying to not be distracted by Hiro’s beauty.

“The night that changed everything.” Hiro answered. “The night that changed my life.”

Without requiring any further words, Raiden instinctively knew what Hiro needed. With a gentle smile, he bent at the knees, scooping Hiro up into his arms in a princess-style carry. Making their way over to the large sofa, Raiden settled himself down, ensuring Hiro was comfortably seated on his lap.

"Go on," Raiden encouraged softly, his voice a tender reassurance as he shifted slightly to make Hiro’s position more comfortable.

The gesture spoke volumes of Raiden’s empathy and understanding and Hiro was quite touched by it. He began to wonder if he had just misunderstood Raiden all along.

“You were there that night, weren’t you? You witnessed everything.” Hiro said, leaning into Raiden’s embrace, a sense of solace washing over him, knowing that Raiden was there for him.

“I did.” Raiden answered. “But I still want to hear you talk about it. Tell me how you feel.” He could remember the night vividly. The night everything went downhill for the Watanabes and the first time he had seen Hiro freak out.

Hiro sighed. “This suit just reminded me of that night. I was wearing a suit of similar colour and the memories just came rushing back. It was horrible Raiden. Everything just came crashing down in a flash. What my parents had worked hard to achieve all their lives, their reputation, everything, gone in an instant. You have no idea how much it killed me to watch the police handcuff them and drag them like criminals to their cars. I felt like I was suffocating as they were read their rights. We weren’t even allowed to go close to them. Believe me, I tried. I tried to stop them from taking my parents but I couldn’t.” His eyes welled with tears once more as the memories replayed in his mind.

Raiden listened intently, his arms a steady support as Hiro poured out his heart. Hiro didn’t even need to describe what he had felt that night for Raiden had seen it all. His tears, his cries, his pleas. Raiden had witnessed them.

“But, do you know that that night isn’t what hurts me the most?” Hiro said, raising up his head to look at Raiden. “What hurts me more than anything is that since the day our parents were imprisoned, we never saw them again.”

Raiden was shocked. “What do you mean by you never saw them again?”

“They refused to see us.” Hiro explained. “No matter how many times we went to visit, we were told that they didn’t want any visitors. Even their own kids. I haven’t laid eyes on my parents for four years Raiden. Four years. I miss them so much and I want to see them again but they don’t want to see me. They don’t want to see any of us.”

Raiden’s heart sank as Hiro poured out his anguish. The revelation that Hiro had been denied the solace of his parents’ presence for four long years gnawed at his soul. He knew what it was like to crave for a parent’s attention. To want them to see and hear you. To validate your presence. To praise you and be proud of you. He knew what it was like to yearn for all of those and more for he had gone through it his entire life. He had prayed everyday that his father would hug him and tell him that he loved him. He had wished more than anything for his stepmother to feed him like she fed her sons. To ruffle his hair and give him a kiss on the cheek for doing something good. To tuck him in bed and read him his favourite book. He had yearned for all of that and more.

He let out a shaky breath as he closed his eyes and held Hiro tight. The pain etched in Hiro echoed within him, resonating with a deep ache that threatened to overwhelm him. He couldn’t bear to see his Hiro suffer any longer. He couldn’t stand the thought of Hiro yearning for his parents without any hope of reunion. He knew he was in love with Hiro to the point of obsession but every time something happened, he seemed to ealise that his feeling for Hiro ran deeper than he imagined . He had thought that he could watch Hiro suffer, he thought he could endure it but now that he had Hiro in his arms, he just couldn’t bear it. Just the sight of tears in Hiro’s eyes made him want to break something.

With a resolute expression, he reached out, placing a finger under Hiro’s chin and raising his head so their eyes cold meet.

"I’m so sorry, Hiro," he whispered, his voice tinged with empathy. "I’m so sorry that you had to go through that but I promise you this: I won’t rest until I find a way for you to see your parents again.”