ONLY YOU

His Beautiful Barista

"You are up and about very early today." Saint said.
"Got a meeting with some Japanese investors so that's why I am here at this deathly hour." Zee shared.
"I made some new muffins using some new recipes... Would you like to try some?"
"Sure Saint. Thanks."
"It's not matcha flavoured right?" Zee asked and Saint smiled while shaking his head.
"I know you hate matcha." Saint stated.
"Hate is not the word for it." Zee muttered and Saint's smile grew bigger into a grin.
"It's beyond disgusting!" He passionately told Saint.

Zee wondered how could a man who claimed to love Saint hurt him. He would protect the man standing behind the counter with his life. A twinge of pain filled him. Saint was not his. He had no claim over the man whom he thought was the most beautiful. Joss always made fun of him as he had stopped being the Zee Pruk Panich from a year before after he met Saint. He no longer slept around. He no longer fooled around. He became a more responsible future CEO to his company. Even his father was amazed by his changes. Sadly, the reason for his change did not even know how much he mattered to Zee. Joss called him pathetic, which was understandably true. From a playboy, he had become his father's favourite son. From a consummate man-whore, he had become a more responsible man.

"Here's your coffee... And your muffin." Saint put a mug of coffee and a muffin in front of Zee.
"Thank you." Zee said and he immediately felt a sense of calm. He loved Saint's coffee.
"Saint...." Zee's eyes suddenly narrowed at Saint's exposed wrist.
"What the fuck Saint!" Zee growled and held Saint's forearm. The man winced in pain.
"Let go! Please!" Saint became pale.
"I'm sorry..." Zee whispered.
"Don't move." He instructed Saint.
"Please Saint... Don't move. I don't want to hurt you." Zee begged.

His ears were buzzing and fury filled his veins. There were scars on Saint's forearm. Zee carefully pulled his sleeve up and he could see more. There were more bruises and scars. There were old scars and new ones. He could feel Saint's body trembling. Zee slowly raised his head and his heart broke into pieces when his beautiful barista was silently crying. Tears fell from his eyes but the man was staring at something distant in front of him. Zee slowly stood up and held his shoulders. He turned Saint's body so that he was facing him.

"He doesn't deserve you Saint. He has no right to hurt you like this... Please Saint... Leave him."
"I can't. I love him." Saint  whispered.
"He doesn't deserve your love Saint. If he loves you, he would not hurt you like this." Zee argued.
"He's sick... He will get better... I can't leave him. He needs me." Saint replied.
"This is insane Saint! He is abusing you!" Zee growled.
"He will get better... He's just sick!" Saint took a few steps away from Zee.
"Mr Panich... Thank you for caring about me. Everything will be fine... Please... Please enjoy your coffee and the muffin."
"Saint... It might not get better but it could get worse! I don't want you to get hurt... Seriously hurt next time. Please Saint... Let me help you... You know I can help you." Zee begged.

Saint gave Zee a heart wrenching smile. He wiped his tears with the back of his hands.

"Thank you for caring about me... But please leave my boyfriend and I alone." Saint's voice was hoarse.
"He will cause you more pain and I don't want to think what he will do to you." Zee whispered.
"Please... Please leave this matter alone Mr Panich..."
"I can't Saint... I care about you! I worry about you! You... You don't know how important you are to me." Zee shared.

Saint looked surprised. His beautiful eyes dilated and he was lost for words.

"I think you know I that care about you Saint... More than I should." Zee smiled sadly.
"I worry about you... He will be more violent. He will never stop." He continued.
"You don't know that... He... He can change... I am all he has... He... He... Loves me. I know he does." Saint said.
"This not how you treat the person you love... This is not how it is Saint." Zee asserted bitterly.
"I think I'm... I'm going to the back..."
"I haven't paid for my coffee and the muffin Saint." Zee pointed.
"It's alright Mr Panich... It's on the house."
"Saint..."
"I... I better go... The morning crowd will be here soon." Saint told Zee.
"Saint... Please..."
"Thank you Mr Panich... For caring about me... You don't know how much it means to me... But I have responsibilities and obligations to my life and to Simon." Saint slowly made his way to the back of the cafe.
"Saint!" Zee desperately called for him.