Bernard had no choice but to comply with Rubens’ order. Then he stood there blankly like a sack of barley. Rubens left him alone and was lost in thought for a moment.
“I want to look at clothes together.”
“How about calling the whole family while we’re at it?”
“But Bernard refused, saying it would be burdensome. I’ll ask Mother.”
Elliot was always the one who desired honestly. He had no hesitation in saying what he wanted, and often showed an attitude full of confidence that the other person would definitely listen to him. However, Bernard acted like someone who felt tremendous burden when given something.
The shirt that looked worn for a long time at a glance and the faded jeans looked shabby. He seemed to wear them at a level that wasn’t too embarrassing, but thinking of Elliot, it was excessively discriminatory attire.
“Elliot’s clothes are decent.”
“Ah, my parents buy them for him often.”
“And you?”
“…We’re not a family with that much spare money.”
Perhaps embarrassed, Bernard blushed and belatedly added an excuse. Because Elliot has many places to show himself, because his needs are clear, because he can just wear the clothes Elliot wore. He knew he looked poor the more he added, so he eventually closed his mouth.
Bernard always wore cheap clothes. Things Elliot had grown tired of wearing, things bought secondhand, cheap and close to standard-issue clothes and such hung in his closet. It wasn’t that he particularly complained. When being bullied, clothes easily got dirty, so Bernard thought such clothes were rather better.
“Why didn’t you buy some? I heard you receive a monthly salary for your work?”
“I’m trying to… save money for independence.”
Instead of speaking honestly, Bernard made an appropriate excuse. Though it was true, the salary he received was ridiculously small compared to what other employees received, and to actually earn money, he had to do freelance work on the side. He briefly recalled Rhino’s nagging that he would make more money working as a freelance editor. Besides, even when he saved up some money, didn’t Liam quickly take it away?
“I want even a whore who rolls around briefly in my bed to wear clothes befitting me.”
A cold remark struck down on Bernard, whose expression had relaxed for a moment. Bernard’s shoulders stiffened.
“So from now on, make sure I don’t see such clothes.”
Rubens’ gaze swept over Bernard’s face. Bernard nodded with a haggard expression. The ring on his fourth finger reflected light brilliantly. Even as Rubens spoke, he felt stuffiness settling in his chest. He liked that pathetic face crumpling and clouding miserably, but somehow not at this moment. He felt discomfort like some inexplicable indigestion.
“Thank you for waiting. I’ve prepared some simple refreshments. Please let me know if you need anything else.”
“I’m Nora Rayburn, the personal shopper in charge of serving you today. Please treat me well.”
As if breaking the two people’s strange atmosphere, a new person entered at good timing. The person who had placed food on the table in front of the sofa left soon, and the woman who introduced herself as Nora Rayburn followed, handing over two business cards. Behind her, with a team leader position, a holder with various clothes hung on it newly entered. Now three people remained in the room.
“I prepared outfits to complement a slim build. I chose bright colors, and focused on the brands you mentioned. Since you didn’t specify accessory preferences separately, I prepared watches first.”
At the shopper’s gentle tone, Bernard glanced sideways at Rubens as if demanding an explanation. However, he didn’t seem inclined to give a long explanation.
“It’s nothing, so just think of it comfortably.”
As if he hadn’t been sharp just moments ago, he picked up a magazine with a bored face and leisurely turned the pages. However, seeming not to find anything suitable, he tossed the magazine onto the table and leaned back. Leaning against the sofa, he gestured toward the shopper.
“The changing room is this way. Shall I help you?”
“Ah, no. It’s okay.”
In the meantime, an outfit had been placed in Bernard’s hands. Rubens, sitting on the sofa, stared at Bernard intently. Though he didn’t particularly say anything, at the urging feeling, Bernard hurriedly hid himself in the changing room.
The clothes had no separate tags attached. There was no brand logo visible, making it difficult to guess the price range, but even if there had been a logo, Bernard wouldn’t have known. Being completely ignorant about luxury goods, even at a glance it didn’t look like clothes worth just a penny or two, so his anxiety swelled like a snowball. Even while faithfully changing clothes according to Rubens’ order, he had to swallow anxiety about whether the clothes might accidentally get damaged.
He buttoned up the shirt, awkwardly put on the casual jacket, then smoothed the hem of the pants. The tailored length that slightly showed his ankle bones felt unfamiliar.
“…Um.”
The sneakers he had taken off and left in front of the changing room had already been put away. After changing clothes, when he drew back the curtain and called out to the other person in difficulty, the shopper placed a pair of disposable indoor slippers in front of him. He was curious about the whereabouts of the sneakers, but asking here would only make him look foolish.
As if Rubens had been reading the newspaper while Bernard changed clothes, a newspaper folded in half lay on his lap. The man’s blue eyes were hidden between his narrow eye shape. He said nothing. At that, only Bernard’s lower back stiffened.
“Bright colors suit you better than expected. You have a good waistline, so I think you could wear more fitted clothes too. It would look better if you wore the top shorter and pulled the bottom longer—what do you think? I matched the clothes to not lose the casual atmosphere as much as possible. Shall I show you something more neat?”
Even in the cold silence, the shopper smiled brightly and spoke well.
“And this shirt has a unique collar, so buttoning it all the way to the neck would be…”
“Leave it.”
It was a hastily dropped remark, a shorter tone than usual. At Rubens’ words, the shopper politely stepped back. A thick silence settled.
“Come here.”
The call was light. But it also felt somehow damp. Bernard hesitantly read Rubens’ complexion, then slowly approached him. The interior was too bright. The lighting was excessively bright, making it seem difficult to hide anything. And by that much, Rubens’ expression was also visible through and through.
“Lean down.”
Should he… close his eyes? A strange concern crossed his mind. Whatever the man thought of Bernard’s hesitation, he slowly added words.
“Nothing will happen.”
Those words sounded strange. Bernard’s toes inside the indoor slippers curled roundly. A different anxiety from just before built up layer upon layer inside. Not having the confidence to meet his gaze, he eventually bent at the waist with his eyes lowered. A sweet fragrance tickled his nose. The floral scent seeping from the fruity fragrance that seemed to flow down stickily… seemed like it wouldn’t suit him, yet strangely, he thought it suited him well.
Fingertips brushed his Adam’s apple. The shirt button that he hadn’t fastened all the way up to his neck because it was stuffy was fastened by Rubens’ hand. The collar tightened, then Bernard was tense enough to feel it all with his skin—even the slight trembling from the button’s recoil as it was pushed in.
Weight was placed on Rubens’ right foot as he straightened his upper body. The carpet underneath was lightly scraped by his shoe and wrinkled, and Bernard tried hard to look only at the tip of his shoes.
“You should fasten it all the way to the neck. So sloppily.”
“Th-thank you…”
It was too light to be a reproach. It was a tone like a sigh. The tone speaking at a lukewarm temperature made him so unfamiliar that he wanted to ask. Why with such a tone, with such a voice.
Rubens’ breath flowed out as if scraping his uvula and died away. His voice… was too sensual. Bernard’s face flushed red. The hand that had reached halfway to his nape slowly gripped his nape. The force applied was very weak. It was weak enough force that he could resist if he tried, yet Bernard had no choice but to helplessly bow his head.
The shopper was still standing to one side. Rubens didn’t care about her standing there saying nothing as if she hadn’t seen their actions. The blue eyes looking only at Bernard were deep. Would it be an illusion if those eyes seemed to be smiling?
“Please bring a matching tie.”
“Shall I bring you a bright color?”
“What I usually wear.”
It was an order that would absolutely not suit Bernard, but the shopper didn’t question it. With a word that it would take a moment, she left the room. Bernard fixed his gaze on the mirror opposite. The man reflected in the mirror was still staring intently at Bernard. Bernard thought he always weakened to those blue eyes. Like a person imprinted on the eyes he first met.
“I felt it in bed too, but you’re too thin.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Was that the right answer? He wasn’t certain.
“You’re too thin.”
He seemed to be pondering something. Like a person comparing with something, he muttered only those words while examining Bernard. Rubens grabbed Bernard’s hand. Bernard felt an incomprehensible sense of crisis and only fidgeted with the hand that was caught.
Then he suddenly realized. All the people who had been in this room had left, and only the two of them remained in the room.
