Boy for Sale

by Icaro Trindade

  When I got closer to the kitchen, I felt the scent of toasts invading my nostrils. I was starving. We didn’t have dinner the night before, due to the situation I created between us. In the moment that I entered and we sat at the table to eat, Eric laughed when he saw me attacking the toast he had prepared with ferocity.

  “Slow down,” he said.

  “I’m hungry.”

  “You’re right. We should have had dinner yesterday. I’m sorry for that."

  “Don’t worry; I’m the one to blame.”

  “Stop it! I don’t want to go back to that topic. Let’s focus on what we are living here and now,” I agreed with a nod.

  After we finished eating, he got dressed and told me that he would go to the market and return in a few minutes. As soon as I saw myself alone there, it was inevitable for me to look for phones around the apartment. I knew that I couldn’t leave, but maybe I could call my parents and let them know that I was alive.

  I looked all over the wide room, but there was no phones. Just as in the dining room, where I couldn’t find anything, even after looking into every cupboard I could see. I decided to go upstairs and search for it there. Eric had left a few minutes before, it wouldn’t be possible to buy things and return in such a short span of time. In addition to our bedrooms, there were a bathroom and two other bedrooms, probably for guests. There was also a locked door that I had no idea where it would go.

  Therefore, I got inside his bedroom and opened his huge wardrobe. There were lots of clothes, shoes and luxurious watches. I tried not to touch his clothes in order not to make a mess of things. In the doors in the middle, there were a few drawers in the lower part with documents and things of the sort. When I got to the last one, I finally found three phones and a notebook. He had really disconnected and hidden everything from me.

  I closed everything quickly and I checked if there was any signs that I had been there. I noticed that I was anxious and worried. If Eric had found me there, he would realize he couldn't trust me. He had hidden those things for obvious reasons.

  Now I was already wondering if I should really take a chance of getting into a relationship with Eric. The things between us seemed to be going too well for me to tell my family that I was alive. I wasn’t sure anymore. After all, I could end up letting they even more worried. Which parents wouldn’t do anything they could to find their missing child?

  I went downstairs again and waited for Eric at the kitchen’s table. It took almost ten minutes for him to return. I was glad for making the right choice.

  “Here, I think I have everything we need,” said Eric, placing the shopping bags over the table.

  “What are you going to cook?”

  “The only thing I believe I can make: pasta,” he answered.

  “Looks great,” I said, trying not to show my anxiety. I was terrible with these kind of things; I never knew how to lie. It was easy to read in my face if everything was fine or not.

  “You don’t seem to be too sure about my cooking skills,” Eric remarked, a bit upset.

  “That’s not it. Of course I trust you!”

  “Then, what happened?” he asked, pulling me against his body and hugging me.

  “Nothing,” I tried not to stutter.

  “Are you worried about something?” he looked at me warily.

  “Get-getting fat,” I lied. As always, one of the worst possible excuses. Eric laughed, nonetheless.

  “Getting fat, Ianto? You are so thin; I cannot believe you will put on weight that easily.

  “I know, but I used to work hard before and now I spend my whole day lying on the bed,” I tried to seem serious.

  “Fine, fine. I guess I want you exactly the way you are. What about working out together on the weekends?” he suggested.

  “What do you mean? You will let me go out?” I asked, excited.

  “No, Ianto.” His seriousness erased the smile on my face. “This place is not only a two-story apartment, it’s also a penthouse. Upstairs there are a few gym equipment and a swimming pool. We can go there on weekends,” he clarified.

  “Great,” I replied, faking a smile. I finally knew to where that locked door would go.

  “Anyway, want to help me cooking? I’ve received more than twenty calls from the office.”

  “Let’s do this.”

  I had to help him several times. Eric was terrible at this. Luckily, I have always paid attention when my Mom was cooking; even then, it wasn’t enough to make the food we prepared more delicious. However, since we were both starving, we ended up eating everything anyway.

  “Well, I guess I’ll have to keep buying food,” Eric remarked.

  “I guess it would be better.” I laughed hard. It was funny how I could already talk to Eric and even play and laugh. I had only been there for four days and I was already falling for him. Was it too fast? No, the situation between us was that intense.

  “No way. I like homemade food. I’m going to buy a few cooking books for you to read and learn,” he said, holding a laughter.

  “It wouldn’t be a bad idea; after all, I really could use some distraction in the afternoon.”

  “I’ve already gave you a book and you threw it at the wall!” he pointed out.

  “Well… Let’s say that I ended up reading it later and I kind of liked it.”

  “Really? You did?” he asked, surprised.

  “Yeah, really,” I answered, feeling my face burning. “So… Could it be that you have its sequence to lend me?” I asked, expectantly.

  “Of course I do. I’ll let it with you now, since it's time for me to go,” he said, taking a glance at his watch.

  “All right. Do you want me to wash the dishes?” I offered.

  “You don’t have to worry about this. I’ll let you in your room,” he concluded. That was it; he still didn’t trust me enough to let me out of the bedroom while he was working.

  “Okay,” I said, trying not to show him my disappointment.

  “Before I go, I have something serious to say,” he stared at me attentively.

  “Go ahead.”

  “As you can see, this is a big apartment. Therefore, twice a week there is a girl here to clean it up. She will be coming today, so I need you not to make any noise in your bedroom in order not to make her wonder about you.”

  “Leave it to me.”

  “I knew I could rely on you,” he said, getting up and messing up my hair. “Let’s go.”

  I followed him upstairs and entered my bedroom while he went to his. I felt disappointed for still having to remain locked in my bedroom, but I could understand him. The cleaning girl couldn’t see me; otherwise, she would find it strange. After all, I didn’t even know if Eric had revealed to the media that he was gay.

  “I’ve found it,” he said, entering my bedroom. “Here it is!” He handed me a book called Gothic Moon.

  “Thank you.”

  “You don’t need to thank me.” He got closer to me and kissed me goodbye. “Good reading, Ianto. See you tonight.”

  “Good work,” I wished him and he smiled at me before leaving the bedroom, locking me.

  I laid on the mattress and started reading the book. That was all I have left to do. Soon, I was already completely enthralled by the reading, but I woke up from the fictional world the book provided me with the sounds that were coming from the corridor.

  I got on my feet and stood by the door, trying to hear things better. It seemed that there was someone walking on the hall, carrying something. It was probably the cleaning girl, mentioned by Eric. I had to stay silent; I didn’t want to get him into trouble.

  I tried to get back to my reading, but it was difficult to concentrate with the noises and whispers. The girl seemed to be talking to herself, but I couldn’t quite understand what she was saying. After a few failed attempts to read, the doorknob turned and I jumped up, scared. She was trying to get in.

  “How weird,” I heard the girly voice on the other side saying while still for
cing the doorknob. I was quiet, hoping that she would give up.

  “Is anyone here?” she asked, knocking on the door.

  We had forgotten about the light. It was obvious that she would find it odd to have a locked room with the lights on. I didn’t answer, believing she would soon give up. A few seconds later, she left and I calmed down.

  As soon as I sat on the mattress again, I heard her steps returning. What did she want? It was then that I was surprised by the sound of a key entering the keyhole. I jumped from the bed, scared, and she seemed to feel the same as soon as she opened the door and saw me there.

  “Who are you?” she asked, after a few seconds, when she had recovered from the shock. She was young, probably a bit over her twenties, with black straight hair. She had a beautiful face, but she exaggerated on the make-up. She was just as short and skinny as I was. “Aren’t you going to answer me, you damned?” she insisted, picking a broom beside the door and pointing its stick at me, as defense. I had no idea what to say.

  “I am Ianto, Eric’s cousin,” I lied. She looked at me warily. Of course, she wouldn't buy it. I was urgently in need of a How to lie 101.

  “If you are Eric’s cousin, why are you locked here in this bedroom? And why didn’t you answer me, huh?” she questioned me.

  “I’m grounded.” That was the only thing that came to my mind at the time. My lies were pathetic.

  “You are not that young. You’d better tell me what the hell is going on or I’m going to call the police!” she threatened me. I could sense that she was just as nervous as I was.

  “Fine, fine. Don’t call anyone!” I said quickly, since I didn’t want to be murdered. “I’m friends with Eric and he let me stay here. No one can know, though, that’s why I didn’t answer,” I lied again, hoping that it would work this time.

  “Why not? What’s the problem?” she asked, seeming to be even more suspicious.

  “It’s just…” I couldn’t find any excuses.

  “Are you two fucking?”

  “What?!”

  “Answer me. Is he fucking you?” she asked, still pointing the damn broomstick on my way.

  “Yes, he is,” I answered, feeling my face on fire.

  “Phew, I knew it! I’ve just won a bet with my sisters. I was quite sure that he was gay. A hot wealthy man like him would never be single otherwise,” she remarked, finally letting go of the broom. “He made you stay in this room just for me not to see you? What are you, a whore?” She analyzed me from head to toe. Apparently, she believed that I was in that bedroom just to hide from her, not every day as it really was. I sighed in relief.

  “No, I’m not! He just doesn’t want anyone to know about me.”

  “Fuck! So now that I know about you, he will certainly fire me, right? Could you, please, not tell him that I know? Please! Please! I promise to be a good maid!” she begged me, with her hands together in a plea.

  “Calm down! I’m not gonna tell him,” I told her, making her jump in celebration. “But how did you manage to open the door?”

  “First of all, thank you very much! You are cute and I love you already! About the door, I opened it using his master key. Just like that,” she answered.

  “I see. What’s your name?” I asked.

  “Lucy. What about you, white-haired boy?

  “Ianto.”

  “How old are you again?” she asked, with a suspicious look.

  “Eighteen,” I lied.

  “For real.”

  “Okay, seventeen.”

  “So Eric like them young. It’s a pity for my brother and I, right? I’d love to be the sister-in-law of a billionaire.”

  “Stop this!” I begged her, blushing. “You won’t tell anybody, will you?” I questioned her, nervous. She seemed to consider my request.

  “Of course not, kid. I’ll never find anyone to pay me as much as Eric does,” she declared.

  “Phew! That’s a relief!”

  “That’s weird, though. I thought that when you dated a guy as rich as Eric, he would cover you with jewels, chocolate and luxury. It’s quite the opposite, nonetheless. Eric has locked you in an empty bedroom with only a mattress. Kid, if I were you, I would look for another hot billionaire. If you were able to catch one, you can catch another,” she remarked.

  "Of course not!"

  “Right. I just said that because I still hope for my brother to win him over. You are right, though; Eric is anything but dispensable. I would suck every millimeter of his body if he was into vaginas.”

  “Stop saying such things!” I begged her, embarrassed.

  “Fine, since I have an apartment to clean. Unfortunately, I’m not being fucked by a billionaire. Do you want to be left out or would you rather be locked up again?”

  “You can lock it up.” I didn’t wanted Eric to see me out of the bedroom. I wasn’t willing to put everything I had to lose.

  “All right. See you later!” said Lucy, locking the door.

  I resumed my reading, even with the noises Lucy was making while cleaning the house. When she finished, she came to say goodbye.

  “I’m leaving, White-haired boy! Enjoy your time with your hot man and I'll see you later!” she shouted from the other side.

  “Bye, Lucy!” I shouted back, laughing. I was relieved when she said she wouldn’t tell anyone. After all, if that situation got to the police, both Eric and I would be condemned to death.

  While I was waiting for Eric to return from work, I realized how anxious I was. I was dying to see him again. I wanted to kiss him, to touch him and, this time, I didn’t repress those feelings and thoughts. When he arrived, I would fuck him madly.

  Chapter 8

  Sex, sex and more sex. That is how my days with Eric were.

  We had been living together for more than a week. I could feel that soon I would lose myself in the counting of the days. I couldn't care less, though. I could finally see the possibility of being happy by his side. I was still prohibited to walk around the house without him, but I could totally understand. I needed to prove that I was reliable before doing so.

  Lucy came twice a week, every Mondays and Fridays. Once she had worked the day before, it was probably a Tuesday. Even though Eric would always leave me books to entertain me when he wasn’t there, it was great to have Lucy around. That allowed me to stay out of the bedroom while she was cleaning the apartment. She was a funny person to talk.

  She still believed it was strange for Eric to lock me for her not to see me, but I had to protect them both. The police wouldn’t innocent me just for becoming a victim of human traffic and we would both end up being executed. I definitely didn’t want that! It would be better to try to be happy with Eric.

  I was disappointed on the weekend. Instead of what we had planned, going to the penthouse, we remained in the apartment, chatting and having sex. I was in need of fresh air, but I wouldn’t demand such things from Eric. He gave his best to have lunch with me every day, despite of his stressful work. He was being gentle and affectionate with me.

  “Did you miss me?” he asked, with a wide smile, when he opened my bedroom’s door.

  “No doubt,” I answered, jumping to my feet and kissing him. I loved that. Whenever our lips touched, I felt that our relationship was more intimate and deep than just sex. I definitely loved Eric Pitz!

  “What about doing something fun today?” he suggested.

  “Sure,” I answered, a bit distrustful, trying to figure out what he would like to do during sex.

  “Great, because I really need to relax and have a bit of fun. I have several DVDs that I haven’t seen before and I would love to watch them with you. Let’s go?” he invited me.

  “Sure,” I answered promptly, surprised.

  “Then, come,” said him, pulling me to the living room by the arm. “I haven’t gone to the restaurant today, but no problem. We can eat only snacks today and, this Saturday, we can actually work out to burn these calories.”

  “That’s fine by me.
”

  “You can choose the movie, while I pick up the snacks,” he said, pointing towards the shelf where a few movies were organized in one of the compartments.

  “I’ll try to make a great choice,” I remarked.

  “I know you will.” He kissed me and went to the kitchen.

  I took a good look in the titles there. They were mostly police or action movies, which were not my favorite style. I chose at random. The important thing was to be close to Eric and just enjoy the moment. Every time he went to work, I felt badly lonely and missed him a lot. Therefore, every minute around him should be duly treasured.

  “Did you choose?” he asked me, returning with bags of cookies and crackers.

  “Yes, I wanna see this one,” I showed him the cover of the DVD.

  “I haven’t seen this yet. Perfect!” He left everything over the coffee table. “You can start it already; I’m going to bring the soda.

  I put the DVD in the player and soon Eric was back. After placing the glasses and the soda over the table, he sat by my side and hugged me tight. His woody scent was fragrant. I stayed quite close in order to smell the scent that came from his warm body. He had already striped off his jacket and the first buttons of his shirt were open, showing his chest.

  We watched the movie, eating the snacks and drinking the soda. I had no idea how Eric hadn’t realized yet that I had lied to him a few days ago. I definitely wouldn’t get fat. I could eat the whole stock of a bakery and, even then, I would remain with my few pounds.

  As the movie progressed, I noticed Eric’s tiredness and stress. It was weird to think that we would not make sex that night. I had already gotten used to the sexual routine we had stablished, but I could understand. The pressure above him should be too strong. He was the owner of one of the biggest companies in the country. As soon as the movie ended, I suggested we would lie down a bit on his bed.

  “Would you like a massage?” I offered him, when we got to the bedroom.

  “You know how to do it?” Eric seemed surprised.

  “Not really, but I can try,” I answered, making him laugh.