Welcome Ciaran Novel – Chapter 3

He looks even cuter in these clothes. How can a monster like me be allowed to have feelings for an angel? I don’t deserve him!

Contrary to what Yuu thought, the night had been quieter than expected, thanks to Ciarán’s decency. When Killian came home with his boy, the little one was already sleeping, mumbling inaudible words in his wild dream. The two and a half hours’ walk had been enough to tire Ciarán out, who fell asleep in a second, lulled by a fresh breeze.

Yuu must admit Killian was right about Ciarán – he really is the quietest child on earth. He didn’t wake up at night, only crying when he wanted food or some attention – Yuu wouldn’t have noticed – from his daddies. He slept peacefully until the sun came up while Yuu was lying in bed. When he got up, he found Ciarán freshly showered and wearing one of his ugly hats, bought at one of the hundreds of shops they visited last night.

He looks so ridiculous! Yuu feels embarrassed for Ciarán. When the boy’s old enough to remember this, he’ll be mad at Killian for letting him wear such an ugly hat. What animal is it? A frog? A turtle?

Yuu watches Ciarán play with his new toys – he doesn’t seem super enthusiastic despite what the shop assistant said, but he isn’t displeased either, which is a good sign. As long as Ciarán keeps quiet, Yuu has almost nothing to complain about. He will eventually find something because Yuu’s days can’t be perfect when Killian is around. As if an invisible force had sent him their answer, Killian showed up with hands full of warm food.

“It’s after ten in the morning,” Yuu says. “Why didn’t you feed the boy sooner?”

“I did!” Killian replies. “Ciarán doesn’t really like baby food for some odd reason, but if you find the right method, he’ll eat all these nutritious foods without complaining.”

“And what is the ‘right method’?” Yuu asks suspiciously.

“A sports game!” Killian says proudly. He scrolls through his saved videos before giving them to Ciarán. “My boy is a sports addict, just like Daddy! That alone is an excuse to feed him every thirty minutes and turn him into a ball of muscles.”

Yuu has a headache listening to Killian’s nonsense. He should have known better. This is the worst idea he’s heard so far. He’s heard a lot of stupidity from Killian, but feeding a child every half an hour just to get him to gain muscles is beyond stupid. But, the method is working: Ciarán’s eyes are glued to the screen and he chews the baby food he was so reluctant to eat.

“When Kayla finds out the skills I’ve developed during her absence she’ll try to get pregnant within a few weeks.”

“Don’t hype yourself up,” Yuu mumbles.

Yuu finds a spot on the sofa, keeping his distance from the two boys enjoying a game that already sounds boring to him. However, Yuu won’t complain too much if it gives him a bit of peace. Remembering the misunderstanding of the previous night, Yuu just wants to stay away from his flatmate.

I mean, as far away as we can because the apartment has its limits. The embarrassment last night made me miss a call with my uncle. He knows everything and would have noticed something was wrong. And because I can’t lie to him, I’ll be forced to tell him the truth. Yuu looks at the ceiling. May God have mercy on me! I’ll have to go into hiding, going from one place to another like a stowaway if I’m stupid enough to make this call–

Yuu feels someone staring at him, and when he turns back, he meets Ciarán’s piercing eyes. Comfortable in his spot, Yuu didn’t notice that Killian had left, leaving him alone with a savage child. Standing in the cot, Ciarán’s severe eyes don’t seem like a child’s eyes, but rather an adult in bad shape.

Does he hate me? He isn’t the first and won’t be the last either. As if I’m craving his love. Who does he think I am? He should have more respect for the man who’s letting him stay here. Only a few can proudly say they were lucky to spend a night at my place.

“Gna, gna.”

 

 

Baby talk! Don’t have the patience to pretend to understand why you’re saying. Wait for Killian to look after you, soI’mI’m busy with my own stuff. Good luck!

Getting back to work, Yuu grabs his laptop and goes straight to his inbox. One of his morning routines is reading his fans’ cheerful messages before emailing them back. To be fair to Floryhan, it’s more accurate to say she’s in charge of reading the emails aloud before typing Yuu’s message to his delusional fans.

I miss my employee – so cheap, but so efficient! How was I lucky enough to find her? She must have missed me yesterday. I remember her saying something about a film she really wanted to watch. What was the plot agaiI’ve’ve probably forgotten because it was terrible. Knowing Floryhan’s tastes, she just cares about the characters’ pretty faces, so I’ll have no interest in it.

From the corner of his eye, Yuu looks at Ciarán, who’s finally gone back to playing with his toys. If he ignores the dirty look from his fake child, Yuu would say Ciarán is a parent’s dream: he’s obedient and barely complains, though he’s a bit provocative when he looks at others and refuses to eat his food. But overall, Ciarán is a decent child. Sadly, his biological parents couldn’t see what two young men saw in Ciarán.

They may treat you poorly and say awful things about you, but I don’t care! I know who you are, and what I see is a kind man.

“What the hell—”

Yuu gets up from the sofa, looking in every direction, hoping to find the male’s voice in his head. But looking around, the only person in the room is a child who looks at Yuu with concern. Why wouldn’t he? Yuu suddenly stood up, looking frightened for a reason Ciarán ignores.

“Gna!”

Yuu looks at Ciarán, embarrassed by his own behaviour in front of a worried child. Yuu clears his throat and straightens up before sitting down. He can’t let a child witness what just happened and grass him up to his uncle.

I can’t let this happen! I won’t hesitate to fight a child if it means saving my arse! Maybe Killian is right about children? They act cute and all, but it’s a trick to deceive adults and plot against us. I won’t be the fall guy!

“I’m leaving!” Killian says, appearing at the corner of the door. “You’ve got everything you need to take care of Ciarán. I left a note in your room just in case you forget something.”

Yuu’s eyes widen, hoping he’s imagined what Killian just said. Otherwise, he might be on the verge of collapsing. He thought his position couldn’t get any worse after last night’s experience, but Killian has just reminded Yuu that it can always get worse.

Although it’s true, Yuu refuses to let it happen. He almost died of embarrassment because of some women’s dirty minds. He suffered hours of shopping, listening to Killian and shop assistants lying to convince their clients to buy pricey items. Yuu deserves some mercy.

“Where are you going? It won’t last long, will it?”

“I have a finance class in thirty minutes, then basketball practice with my teammates. We’ll probably hang out somewhere in the city centre afterwards so I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

“No, no, no!” Yuu hurries to Killian, panic in his eyes. “Don’t leave me with your monster! Being the Good Samaritan was your idea, not mine! You’re the one who wants to raise a child, I just agreed to give you a place to stay until your girlfriend comes back to Beneath. That was our deal!”

“Hahaha! You’ve got no reason to be scared of Ciarán, Yuu,” Killian reassures. “I’m a light sleeper, but I can tell you my boy didn’t cry once. I checked on him every hour and he slept peacefully. You were right about long walks because Ciarán didn’t make a sound!”

Yuu wonders how Killian can be so stupid. As if he enjoyed being fooled. Yuu remembers Killian had a severe head injury in secondary school when he played a dangerous rugby game with adults – which seemed predictable —  it probably explains why Killian’s brain no longer works properly. Knowing Kayla is who made Killian stop playing rugby after he recovered is enough that Killian’s brain was already damaged.

“Listen, champ!” Killian says. He leans towards Ciarán, who listens carefully. “Today is a busy day for Daddy, who needs to go to work, but don’t worry, Mummy Yuu will take care of you. When I get back, let’s watch a new rugby game to train your mind! What do you think?”

Ciarán takes time before nodding, pleasing Killian, who leaves a kid’s book at the little boy’s feet. When Killian turns back, his smile fades when he sees Yuu’s murderous stare. Killian thinks about what he did wrong, and when he gets the answer, he hurries to defend himself before it’s too late.

 

 

“I was joking, Yuu! Don’t get mad—”

“Fuck off!”

One warning is enough for Killian to disappear as quickly as possible. Although he’s usually slow to notice others’ anger, Yuu’s murderous aura is thick enough to make him realise he should go.

A bright future awaits Killian, who wants to seize the opportunity before joining his family. In addition, he promised a lady he’d marry her when they graduated. A promise he’d better keep, or the lady would use dark magic to bring him back from the dead before killing him a second, third and fourth time.

Although Killian is now out of sight, Yuu keeps cursing him. He swears he’ll beat Killian up until his dysfunctional brain starts working properly the next time he sees him. That noble act would stop the student from making unfunny jokes.

“Next time, Kayla won’t recognise her man!”

“Gna”

“Fuck!” Yuu curses. Ciarán is looking at him. “Fuck this!”

The thought of being alone with a demon displeases Yuu, who immediately regrets his decision. If he had the power to go back in time, Yuu wouldn’t have let the two guests in, destroyed his doorbell and turned off his phone. It’s safer to cover all your options when it comes to Killian, who’s become an expert in annoying Yuu.

Why is Kayla away? I should probably call her and tell her what happened between Killian and some random girl… Or not! It’s better not to dance with the devil!

“Ah!” Ciarán says.

“What now?” Yuu complains. Ciarán points out his teddy bear, lying outside his cot. “Do you want your toy?”

Instead of offering a proper answer – “gna” in Ciarán’s vocabulary – the child keeps looking at Yuu while reaching out. The adult knows what he means and curses for the hundredth time before walking towards Ciarán.

“I’ll give you your toy, but promise me to be more careful next time, though I doubt it’ll happen.”

Ciarán nods, which pleases Yuu more than he’d like to admit. He hopes his suffering will end once and for all when Kilian comes back. These have been the worst twelve hours of his life and he wants the nightmare to end. Before his prayers get granted, Yuu has to do something he never thought he’d do.

I’m talking to a child! I’m lucky nobody is around, otherwise they’d make fun of me. That’s embarrassing!

Yuu grabs the teddy bear off the floor and gives it to Ciarán, but the child stays still. Yuu is confused by Ciarán’s behaviour, especially when the child seemed so keen to get his teddy bear back not so long ago.

Paying closer attention to the scene, Ciarán looks like a prisoner, locked in his cot. The playground may bother the child who can’t move freely. Unfortunately, Yuu can’t let him out or Ciarán will get hurt.

If Yuu starts falling for the child’s tricks and something bad happens, he’ll be held accountable and he’s not looking for a prison sentence.

I’m too handsome to end up in jail! Who would annoy my uncle if I was stuck behind bars for the rest of my life? And who will be as merciful as me and offer Floryhan a job?

Yuu sighs, annoyed by Ciarán’s rude attitude. One minute he’s impatient to play with his toy, but the next he isn’t. Yuu blames Killian’s lenient attitude towards raising Ciarán. But he’ll make sure the child understands who’s boss.

Since Killian isn’t around anymore, Ciarán has shown his true nature: a deceitful child with devilish intentions. Yuu knew Ciarán was deceiving adults, but all his worries were confirmed by this bratty attitude. Ciarán tried to slap Yuu’s hand, proving his words, but failed to hurt the adult.

“Don’t fuck with me, kiddo!” Yuu threatens. He manages to stop himself from throwing the teddy at Ciarán’s face. “I wouldn’t hesitate to kick your arse if you touch me again—”

Yuu!

“The fuck—” Yuu curses. He steps back, looking at every corner of the apartment. “I’m hearing voices again!”

Yuu, it’s me!

The familiar voice in Yuu’s head confuses him. What’s wrong with him? Yuu thought a good night’s sleep would refresh him, but he was wrong. He’s having hallucinations: hearing two male voices in his head in less than an hour.

“I’m not on drugs, and I haven’t even lit a cigarette yet,” Yuu breathes heavily, trying to calm down. “It’s probably a lack of sleep. Unless living with a child and Killian has stressed me out and created such madness—”

This isn’t a dream, Yuu! Look down here.

Yuu obeys the familiar voice, but besides Ciarán, he doesn’t see anybody. At first, Yuu starts to think there’s an invisible man, but he quickly rejects such a crazy idea. Out of ideas, Yuu gives up.

“Apart from the monster, I can’t see—”

Yuu stops. He looks down, meets Ciarán’s eyes and stays quiet. Yuu slowly starts to understand what’s happening, but rejects the idea. It can’t be real. Yuu starts to think he must have been on drugs last night. He can’t come up with another excuse that explains the hallucinations. Besides the drugs’ negative effects, Yuu can’t justify the voices in his head either. Yuu’s never been in such a bad situation, even in his wildest dreams.

“It can’t be!” Yuu can’t look away from the child who no longer seems like one. “Ciarán, you can’t be… Uncle Jonathan!”

Now it’s obvious that Yuu’s having hallucinations. Out of everyone in the country, the supposedly orphan child Yuu sees as a monster has turned out to be Uncle Jonathan, the relative he’s closest to. Yuu is ready to confess his sins if this isn’t a nightmare or a hallucination. If a merciful soul saves him, Yuu promises to stop being so greedy and pay his employee after years of free labour.

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