Chapter 17 - Live With Me

The food arrived timely. A neatly organized plate of italian bread with tomato bits was served. It had a combination of a crunch and a citrus taste. There was also a oval plate serving up antipasto to the pair. The skewer dish brought savory flavours to the table, awaking their palates. Sato enjoyed every bite.

Next up was the main dish, where Gray ordered Rigatoni Alla Carbonara for Sato and Tagliatelle al Ragù Alla Bolognese for himself. Sato's used typical wheat pasta, while Gray's had green spinach incorporated inside his pasta.

"This looks so good!" Sato looked at the plating of both dishes and was mesmerised by the intricate details. The pasta came in a twirl with small little leaves sitting above the pasta. Then came the meat that sat by the side.

As they ate their maincourse, Gray continued to watch the happy young man eat his food. Sato casually pokes a Rigatoni with his fork and places it into his mouth. A smile would be forced upon his face as he couldn't help but moan from the explosion in the pasta.

"Hey Sato."

"Yeah?"

"Are you enjoying the meal?"

"Yes! The food is great! I don't know why, but for some reason, it feels like I have had this before. Its like my tongue is reawakening from a long slumber." It felt like a deja vu for Sato as if he had eaten this before. However, no matter how he recalled, he knew that he had never tried this before. It felt too surreal.

"Well, there is no need to think so hard about it, Sato." Gray decided to butt into his thoughts, knowing that the youth would soon have a headache if he continued this. "I'll take you to other restaurants to try other foods on another day."

"Oh there is no need for you to do that Gray. I do not want to leech on your money."

"It is really nothing. It is money well-spent as I have someone to keep me company."

"Don't you have other closer friends, like that man from before?"

"No. He isn't comparable to you. Don't bring him up again in this conversation." Gray frowned slightly.

"Haa?" Sato chuckled a little as he heard his comment about the kind man from before. "Alright I won't bring him up again."

The two continued eating their food. Gray twirled his pasta into a small ball before speaking. "During the interview, I heard that you had to drop out of university due to unexpected circumstances."

"Yes. That's right." Sato stop eating his meal as he awaited the next few words that were going to come out of Gray's mouth. "Am I not allowed to carry on with the personal assistant training?"

"Yes." Gray looked up at Sato seriously. "I have a proposition that you will choose to accept or decline."

"Speak."

"I will fully fund your university tuition fees and you can start your school term once again. I will also give you a monthly allowance for you to spend on the outside. However, there is one condition. And that is, you would have to move into my home and take care of the household chores, such as cleaning of my house, cooking, laundry."

"Pardon?" Sato's face will filled with shock. Instead of being left out on the streets, Gray had thrown a silver spoon infront of him and gave him a chance to carry on with his university. "Are you serious about this? You aren't pulling my leg right?"

"Yes I am serious." Gray nodded and kept his serious face up. "Do you accept my proposal?"

"Yes. Yes! I accept it! I will make sure your house is dustless! I will cook to the best of my abilities too!" Sato nodded his head as he enthusiastically spoke.

"Alright, you will be able to go back to school starting tommorow."

"Huh? That's fast. How did you..."

"Do it? Well, my brother is the board of directors in University Z, he can get you in today." Gray said nonchalantly. "Also, you shall move in with me today."

"But, but my things from my home. I have to bring them over."

"That is no problem. I have already hired house movers to bring your items over. Just hand me the key and they will do the job."

"How did you... You knew I was going to say yes to your proposal?" Sato was shocked at how impressive his boss was. It was as if he could read his mind.

"Yeah. I can read your mind." Gray said calmly.

"Am I that easy to read?"

"No. It is only you that I can read, no one else." This comment made Sato blush. His boss always made questionable comments that made him doubt his own sexuality.

"Well, thank you Gray. I really appreciate that you are helping me pay for my tuition fees. I will definitely pay you back! I can even sign a contract for that!"

"There is no need for that Sato. I trust you."

"But Gray, why do you help me so much? You have only known me for a week." Sato was extremely confused by Gray's actions today. His boss is known as the Ice King to basically everyone. However, when it came to him, he never really showed that side to him and even if he does, it is because he cared for Sato.

Gray stared at Sato for a while as he thought of an answer for him. He absorbed every detail on the young man's face. His thin nose, his sharp chin, his light brown eyes that glowed in the accent lighting. He was everything.

"You remind me of a very close friend of mine." He came up with this excuse.

"Well, I won't dissapoint the friend of yours that I remind you of! I will work hard both in school and at home to repay you, Gray."

"Okay. Let us have dessert before leaving for my home then." The two ate their Semifreddo dessert before leaving the restaurant side by side.