Pauper's Yearning Page 4

  "Didn't you hear me calling?" Tiffany yelled, getting up to face him. "You know that I don't like to be kept waiting, you know."

  "I came as soon as Harriet told me, I swear." Caleb muttered, preparing to get slapped but was glad none of that happened.

  "What tricks are you playing?" Gregory asked, still folding his arms. "Are you in any way planning to destroy this family?"

  Caleb had no idea what his uncle was talking about. As far as he knew, he had not done anything that could have wronged the masters. He practically followed every instruction that was given and impressed Preston' family. Wasn't that the only thing that they had asked of him?

  "I don't understand." Caleb said his voice cutting as he spoke. He was just too scared to stay confident. "I practically did what you had instructed."

  Tiffany chuckled angrily and Caleb knew exactly what was going to follow. He had no idea if he was ready for any beatings that night.

  "Alright, maybe this will refresh your memory." His aunt said as she backhanded Caleb across the face sending him flying to the floor. He was lucky he didn't hit his face on the hard floor or anything but the slap he got made his face hurt and it felt like a burn.

  "Does that refresh your memory?" Tiffany yelled as she went near him.

  "I still don't know what I did." Caleb cried, feeling every pain that he had ever experienced come back, loss, anger, rage and even determination.

  "You are really kidding me." Tiffany said as she grabbed his long hair and got him up with it.

  It hurt like fucking hell and Caleb sobbed. She was hurting him for absolutely no reason. Caleb wondered why this family enjoyed seeing him in pain and suffering. He was later brought to reality when he felt like his hair was ripping out of the skin.

  "Please, let me go." Caleb cried even harder than before. "You are hurting me."

  "Then tell me the reason why you pulled that stunt?" Tiffany shouted, pulling on his hair even harder.

  "I don't know," Caleb cried, more tears flooding his face. "I told you I did everything that you told..."

  "Then let me refresh your memory." Tiffany yelled out in anger, pulling on his hair as she headed to the dining followed by all the other house members.

  They reached the dining room and Tiffany held firmly to Caleb's hair without even any feeling of pity or sympathy for the way that he was crying. His voice could be heard all around the house but maybe it was music to those people's ears.

  "Now do you remember what you did?" Tiffany yelled. "Do you remember? It happened in this place a few hours ago...just a few hours ago."

  No matter how much the pain was Caleb had clue what he had done in the dining room that made Tiffany act like that. It was obvious she was out to destroy him.

  "I don't know anything," Caleb wailed, trying to get Tiffany's hands off his hair but she just held on tighter making him wince in pain. "I told you I...I did everything that you told me to."

  "So you still want to play smart, uh?" Tiffany laughed, so evil the very voice made Caleb jump out of his skin. "I will teach you a lesson which..."

  "Mom," William shouted. "Let me handle him."

  Tiffany let go of Caleb's hair and he was able to feel alive but not for long. He felt William's hands pulling his hair so furiously he almost passed out from the excruciating pain he felt. For a moment he was unable to breath and his wails stopped but after a few seconds his wails became louder and his pain increased. William was brutally terrorizing his head and it hurt like hell. He wanted to die, be killed or commit suicide the way he felt at that time. This was the time someone had pulled on his hair that hard.

  He felt like the skin was pulling away from the skull and it hurt like hell. William threw him on the floor and then pulled him up with his hair. His heart felt for a moment like it had died but when he realized the amount of pain he was in, he almost passed out.

  "Now tell me why you did it." William yelled. "...to provoke me or to show that you are better than me? What was the reason for pulling that stunt?"

  "Please, you are hurting me." Caleb cried.

  "Then tell me what I want to know."

  "I don't know what you are saying to me." Caleb cried weakly. His body was slowly giving up because the pain was just too much.

  "Alright," William threw him on the floor and kicked him severally while he writhed on the floor crying. His whole body felt like something big and heavy had fallen on him. His body was hurting everywhere. Whenever he tried to move, he winced in pain.

  "Now will you fucking tell me what I want to know?"

  "I don't know." Caleb cried. "Please, don't hurt me anymore. I have had enough."

  "I don't think you..."

  "Wait, son," Gregory finally said. "Maybe he has forgotten about everything just tell him what he did. He has had enough beatings for one night."

  "But dad, he deserves more." Harriet hollered.

  "No, I think he might kill him if he continues."

  "No more," Caleb gave out a weak cry.

  "Do you know how long I have worked out for what Preston' grandmother did to you?" William yelled.

  All that was just for what Preston' grandmother did? Why did he have to suffer for that? He was not at fault that the woman had chosen to bless him.

  "I am sorry," Caleb cried. "I didn't know that she would do that. I...I didn't even plan on it. It's not my fault."

  "It's your fault." William yelled. "It's your entire fault. You always do things that piss me off. You knew exactly that I needed those blessings for the wedding and yet you were busy bowing your head as if you were the one who was about to be married to Preston."

  "How is it my fault?" Caleb writhed. "I had no power over that."

  "You could have rejected." William yelled, grabbing his hair once more but this time Caleb didn't react but just cried. "You could have come up with an excuse but you always do everything possible to make me look bad. But just know that for every stunt that you try to pull up on me, I'll always make you pay just like this.

  Thanks to you and your sneaky little faggot ass I have no idea when Preston' grandmother will ever bless me. Stay out of the things that piss me off and you avoid the trouble. Otherwise, if you try to act with me again, you'll experience more pain than this."

  William stormed out of the dining leaving Caleb wincing on the floor.

  "You heard right," Harriet laughed. "My twin brother will make sure he sends you to hell." She left but her words didn't do anything to Caleb. He was more hurt that he didn't even know if he had ever been hurt the way he was at that particular time.

  "You are really lucky my son took over," Tiffany laughed. "Otherwise, you'd be on your way to that bitch of your mother." Tiffany left and Caleb cried out even more.

  "Keep it down," His uncle yelled. "You deserve everything that is happening to you. Just because I was quiet doesn't mean that I wasn't mad. Next time you try this, I'll kill you myself." Gregory warned. "And if I hear any noise, you'll be dead meat." Gregory left and banged the door leading out of the dining room.

  Caleb was left alone on the floor, weeping and mourning. His head felt like he had been hit by an iron bar several times and his body though okay were aching. He could feel the veins in his head pumping as he was welcomed by a headache that made everything spin.

  Caleb lay on the cold tiled floor, wetting it with his tears. He cried like never before in the dining for almost an hour before he decided to get up. He slowly moved and the body pains had subsided but the headache was too much. For a moment he had thought that his head was about to fall off. It hurt whenever he tried to touch the hair, move his head and even blink.

  He knew he had to take some painkillers and a hot shower to make at least a little pain go away. He slowly balanced himself between the chairs as he got up, walked out of the dining room like a snail and then went to climb the stairs.

  Caleb felt like every step he made on that staircase added to his headache. It was really painful and if that wasn't enough, he had to get up
as early as 5 am to prepare breakfast for everyone. He was as good as dead. It took 30 minutes just to reach his room and his head was really aching so badly.

  He took some painkillers, stripped painfully and went to massage his head. He entered the shower and let the hot water in. He almost walked out when the water hit his head. He felt like he had cuts all over his head and the hot water was not helping but he managed to wash and massage his head until the pain was no longer hurting extremely badly.

  That was the most painful shower that he had ever had and he cried throughout the shower. He was sure they were really out to kill him. How could they hurt him like that all because he had received blessings from a stranger?

  Had he know that it would breed deadly problems like the ones he was in, he wouldn't have received those blessings.

  Caleb slowly walked to the room, feeling his headache worsen every time he made a movement. It was really painful but he managed to pull on a boxer, trunks and an old T-shirt. He couldn't even tie his hair or pass his hand through it. It was really the most painful shower ever.

  Caleb grabbed his pillow, set it carefully on the bed and then slowly and carefully laid his head. It was almost 12 midnight which meant that he only had five more hours to sleep. For the first time in two years, Caleb cried and whispered his mother's name. He whispered her name that if she could hear him, she should make him feel better and stronger when he wakes up.

  Caleb was heavily crying while he did that and he chanted his mother's name while he cried and suddenly went to sleep.

  5 hours later, he heard the alarm clock vibrating and he slowly raised his head only to be surprised that the severe headache had gone. He had a headache but it was just the normal which he took painkillers for before he went downstairs to make breakfast for everyone.

  His body was perfect but his hair was still sensitive to touch whenever he touched it but he was gonna be alright. Caleb made breakfast and the family ate it without uttering a word to him. He began his chores and then before he could finish, he experienced a bad headache that made him sit for a moment. He did work just like any other day and tried to avoid everyone and luckily it worked until after dinner in the evening when he was called to the living room.

  Caleb was so scared because if it was another beating, he would surely die because he had not completely recovered from the previous one. He went to the living room and found that it was just William who had called him. He stood there without saying anything and waited for either another job or a beating.

  "Starting tomorrow," William began. "You'll have to be cooking lunch for Preston and take it to his office. You'll do this every day without fail or else."

  Caleb nodded as he didn't want to make any mistakes. There was a lot to be done but he couldn't argue with William anymore because he still hadn't regained his lost energy.

  "If I hear any complaints, any complaints at all," William warned. "You'll be sorry so if I were you, I'd be careful. That's all unless you have questions?"

  Of course he had a question. He had no idea where Preston' office was and besides, Preston had Companies scattered throughout the country that Caleb had no idea which one.

  "I don't have his address." Caleb muttered.

  "Don't worry," William swung his hand sexily in the air. "I'll give it you. Just make sure that the food you deliver is in good shape or it'll be a disaster for you."

  Caleb nodded and turned around to go to his room. As soon as he reached the room, he threw his tired, exhausted body on the bed. He prayed for God to help him and for nothing to go wrong. He drifted off to sleep hoping to wake up better.

  ****

  Preston sat on his wonderfully comfy chair, waiting for the food to be brought to his office. It was lunch already and he really hoped for the food to be sent to his office. He's been waiting for that food for long and to pass the time, he took a document and reviewed everything that needed to be done.

  About 30 minutes later, his office phone rang and he didn't take any more time to pick it up.

  "Hello," Preston answered, hoping his secretary was about to tell him about that the boy from William's house had brought the food for him. Preston really had no idea why he had gone crazy since he had tasted that food that evening.

  "Sir, Caleb is here to see you."

  Preston had no idea who Caleb was but he was sure it was the same boy who had brought the food for him.

  "Caleb?" Preston sounded confused but he had to allow whoever Caleb was in.

  "Fine, let him in."

  In just a matter of two minutes there was a knock on the door.

  "Come in," Preston hollered, eager to see who Caleb was.

  The door opened and his suspicions were right, it was the same houseboy from William's house and he had a basket with him. Somehow, Preston got excited to finally know the name of the boy.

  Soon as he had entered, Preston was staring at him. He was wearing an old jean that made him look so handsome, a yellow t-shirt and brown sandals. His long hair was tied into a ponytail and he was not making eye contact, he was looking straight on the floor.

  "Good afternoon?" Caleb greeted his face looking straight on the floor. He couldn't stare at Preston because he didn't want to see him for some reason that he was yet to find out.

  "Afternoon...Caleb," Preston stuttered, wondering the reason why the boy couldn't move his face up. "Are you okay?"

  Caleb had no idea why Preston had asked if he was okay but he was really fine. He just wanted to drop the food and go back home to do his daily chores before the masters unleashed their anger on him and probably hurt him. He hadn't even recovered from the pain they had inflicted on him on the weekend night.

  "I am fine...sir," Caleb stammered. "I just came here to bring you your lunch."

  "Oh," Preston muttered. "Fine, sit down." Preston pointed to the chair in front of his table.

  "I am sorry," Caleb finally raised his face to see the handsome hunk seated comfortably on his office chair. "I don't think I have the time to sit. You see, I've to go back home to finish what I was doing."

  Preston saw that the boy was really not happy and he wondered why. The boy he had met during the weekend dinner had smiled but the boy who was in front of him seemed lost and a little scared. Was Preston that scary?

  "It's okay," Preston chuckled.

  Caleb was relieved that he left as soon as he had dropped the basket on the table. He had prepared something scrumptious for Preston and he prayed that no complaints came from Preston or he would definitely be in big trouble. He really prayed for Preston to love the food, his life depended on that choice.

  Odd, Preston thought. But anyway, he had waited for the food and now that it was here he was gonna dive into it. He quickly got out of his chair, took the basket and took out two large food warmers. There was also a glass jar of orange juice but his mind was on what was inside those warmers.

  He quickly opened the warmers and was welcomed by an aroma that filled his whole office. He sniffed the aroma and almost tasted the food using his nose, how insane. Preston really hoped the food was as good as it smelt, even better.

  Curried yellow rice, curry chicken and sauce and it was really mouthwatering. Preston took a plate out, a folk, spoon and knife and served himself. He quickly took a bite and it left a zing in his mouth. It was yummy, tasty, scrumptious and sweet. He ate all of it and got his way with the home made juice which was sweet. As he ate, he found himself thinking about Caleb and his reaction when he had come to the office a few minutes ago.

  He had no idea why he was suddenly thinking about a poor boy that he had no relations with. What was really happening to him? Caleb was getting to him like no other person had. Suddenly he found himself getting eager to see the boy and he had no idea why.

  Preston shook his head and brought himself to reality. He couldn't afford to mess up or he would get it from William. He quickly concentrated on the food he was eating and enjoyed every bit of it. He finished everything and by 4.pm the ent
ire juice was done. He felt stuffed and his tummy hurt. He felt like he could live without food for a week but it was worth it and he couldn't wait for the next day when Caleb brings another.

  Preston was done with the food and while rubbing his tummy he was thinking about Caleb, again. He had a boyfriend and their wedding was gonna be in just a few weeks. Everything was set and in just a few weeks they would be walking hand in hand as husband but why was he not happy that he was getting married to his long time boyfriend, why? He had to do it, he just had to.

  He has to do it for his mother who had made the alliance simply because she was friends with William's mother.

  Preston got all the dirty dishes, called his secretary to have them cleaned and signed the last paper he had to sign for the day before his secretary came back with clean plates. He thanked her and later William was inside the office kissing him like he was at the verge of killing him.