The Rogue System [BL]
Chapter 258 - How it started

Chapter 258: Chapter 258 - How it started

Eric subtly took out his dagger and walked towards the car but as soon as he got close it drove away hurriedly. He did not run after him. He simply let a yellow paper out of his hand, the little paper fluttered in the wind and got attached to the back of the car. ’let’s see where they are running off to....’

That small paper was something called a yin tracker paper. It’s a very new enchantment that he was trying to perfect. When attached to a subject the paper can help track their location with ease. But since it was his own invention, it had its shortcomings.

He was not in a hurry to follow them. Whistling he got into his car and drove to his small bakery. Even though he had gotten their ears little shadow had already opened up the doors and was working on the dough.

Eric sighed. "You could have rested well. I can take care of these things."

"I know but I like working in the kitchen. Plus, I was not the one doing heavy lifting last night,’ he winked at him.

"Oh god never talk about your sex life with my brother,"

"Who was the one who gave us sex ed?" Sha playfully ruffled up his hair.

Pouting, Eric pushed his hand away. "I was just telling you guys the health risks. It’s not like I enjoy talking about sex." He rolled his eyes and took over making the pastry whipped creams.

Together they were quite efficient in making every single pastry by seven and they opened the shop as well.

Their patrons started to pile in. They had a dedicated group of retires who visited the bakery every single morning without fails.

"Eric," a cheerful voice called for him.

Eric poked his head out of the kitchen to look at the old ladies from their old apartment complex. "The usual?"

"Do you even have to ask? Come here," she gestured for him to come close.

These old ladies were their old neighbors and they had always helped him out whenever he needed it. in fact, she was the one who helped spread word of mouth about his exorcism talent and clients started to flow in just like that.

Eric walked up to them and sat down on the comfortable chair. "You look absolutely stunning today."

"oh stop it," she playfully swatted his arm. "I noticed something peculiar. Last night I was looking out the window and I saw you leaving your house late at night. tell me why did you leave so late last night?"

Like a group of teenage gossipers, the group of older women leaned forward to listen to the juicy gossip.

Eric grimaced. "ohh that... nothing much. Just wanted to sleep at my new place."

"don’t you dare lie boy. I know that look on your face when I see it." the old lady grinned widely. "Did you figure out about your brother?"

Eric gasped. "you guys knew!"

"of course, we knew. Everyone knew except you." She gently pinched his cheeks. "You innocent little lamb, you know nothing about the matter of heart,"

Eric pouted. "They hid it so well."

"They were quite obvious honey. I have spotted them holding hands right in front of your face but you were too gone from this world to even notice it." the old lady looked at him with her head tilted. "Now that I’m thinking about it, you weirdly look so cheerful. Your eyes are sparkling. You have to spill the tea child. Are you in love?"

"No!" he shook his head vigorously. "No, I’m not,"

"No, he must be talking to someone for sure," the other lady whispered. the others nodded and whispered among themselves.

"Hmm I’m sure of it. but who?"

"Do you think it’s that cute girl?"

"no, he likes men."

The old ladies started to chat among themselves.

Eric blankly stared at the marble counter. ’Am I that happy to meet him again? didn’t I move on?’ he touched his face delicately.

"Oh girls, stop distracting the young man. come on Eric, get us the best egg sandwich you can make and a cream puff dipped in chocolate milk. Hmm Mnn, I can already taste the delicacies."

Eric snapped out of it. "Coming right up." he ran back into the kitchen and let the waiters deal with taking orders.

Back in the kitchen little shadow gave him a look.

"They know about you and brother."

"I know because it was I who made it clear to them." he rolled his eyes. Those old ladies really love playing matchmaker. Do you know they tried to set up hao with some girl? Who can ii let that happen.... I just gave them a small show and after that, they retreated." Sha smiled mischievously.

while whisking the eggs he started to reminisce about their relationship.

in fact, the day they held hands for the first time was the start of their relationship. two years ago after Eric had gotten better they had moved places and lived with Yuna. strangely he started to feel something for Haolei. but he did not know how to express it. but he knew he wanted Haolei to himself.

he started to throw subtle hints.

small touches.

small winks,

but Haolei the dumb dumb never got it!

he was just a simple guy with a simple thought of mind.

Sha was about to give up on those useless feelings when that day happened. Haolei came home frustrated that the old ladies were trying to match him up with someone.

his heart almost stopped in fear.

he knew he might lose Haolei if he didn’t do anything.

Braving himself, he suggested something outrageous. "Why don’t we pretend to date? if they think you’re gay and taken they will back off."

"You think so... but isn’t it too much of an extreme..."

"Those old ladies will not give up if it was any other way," Sha tightly gripped the bed sheet under him. internally begging for him to agree.

"Fine... let’s try it. if it doesn’t work, we come clean to them, okay?"

"y-yes! yes...."

he was ecstatic but he did not show it. he simply nodded and agreed to that plan.

the next day they both went to the old apartment complex and started to hold hands. his hands were trembling like a leaf.

but when he finally got to hold his hand, he felt content. their palm fit so perfectly. it was like Haolei was made just for him.

Slowly but surely, he started to get physical with Haolei. just a touch of his face, or a slight nudge to his hip... he made constant moves on him.

Haolei STILL didn’t understand!!

one year after pretending, he knew enough was enough.

Sha knew he had to step up his game. he got slightly drunk to gain some courage and took the first step. he kissed him. he kissed him hard.

The poor guy had frozen under his touch.

This time the dumbo got it. Haolei blushed bright red and ran away. they didn’t meet for a few days after.

’I was so heart broken back then,’ Sha thought about the past with a sigh. ’but thankfully he came around.’

the next day Haolei barraged into his room one day with a hesitant look on his face. "I...I want to know what it means."

"What?"

"That kiss ... I want to know if it was all a play or... God, what am I even talking about/... forget it..." Haolei ran to the door.

Sha caged him with his arms. "I meant it. the kiss, I meant every second of it. I like you... pretending to like you made me like you for real." he gently cupped his chin.

Haolei trembled under his touch. "y-you are... young... these feelings are fleeting."

"don’t say that," Sha pinched his lips gently. "My feelings are real. very real. Don’t you dare assume it’s not, I won’t stand for it," his rough thumb gently touched his petal soft lips. "So many days I laid on the bed dreaming of touching these lips... wondering how they taste..." he slowly inched closer.

Haolei’s breath came out in pants. "y... you are my brother’s friend..."

"Yes, so what?"

"What if?"

"Eric won’t care." Sha gently pecked his lips. "What matters is your opinion. do you like me or not?" he peered into his brown eyes intently. "do you like me Haolei? even though I’m not a human being...." he gently kissed his chin

Haolei softly moaned. "You... you are human."

"But I’m dead. I’m a ghost. Is that okay with you?"

Haolei gulped slightly. "I... I don’t mind."

That was all he needed to know. Sha pounced on him and that night he made this simple-minded cop his lover.

Just remembering that night bought a bright smile to his face. little shadow grinned as he mixed the batter with the beaten eggs.

"How did the old ladies react though?" Eric gazed at him with interest.

"Initially, it was shock. But later I started to find small bags of goodies and cookies now and then left by the doorstep. they are sweet old gals."

Eric chuckled. "Oh, thank god they didn’t try to set me up."

"They did," Sha looked at him like he was crazy. "Why do you think so many cute girls came up to you and talked about random stuff? They were all sent by the ladies. you were too dumb to notice it. just like your dumbo brother"

"Hey!"

Now that he thought about it Eric could remember so many things clearly. He was living with Yuna but occasionally he could come and stay at their old place. Every single time he left the house he would run into a gorgeous woman and they would randomly start a conversation.

Eric tried to stay polite to all of them and rejected them kindly when they asked for a date.

He had also been wondering why so many people actually approached him when he rarely talked.

It turns out it was the old ladies who were behind this.

He grinned. "That’s how they know I’m gay."

"They must have figured it out. Be thankful they didn’t send a slew of men your way. your brother would have had to chase them with a baton."

They both laughed it off and started to cook seriously.

Before he could realize it, it was four, his shift ended.

Eric anxiously gazed at the clock.

’Will he come.... How will I face him? I have to be very professional. No smiling, no talking about unrelated things. Only about yin and yang...’ he nodded to himself and removed his apron and hair net.