The Freeloader Calls Me the Leech

When my cousin, Rita Pike, brings her boyfriend, Benny Booker, home to meet her parents, I get labelled as a freeloader for some reason. As soon as Benny steps through the front door, he shoots me a disdainful glance. "You're the cousin who refuses to move out of my girlfriend's villa, right?" I just stare at him in confusion. Yes, I do live in this villa. But my parents have left this property to me as a part of my assets. My name is the one printed on the property deed. Heck, I'm the one who told my butler to give Rita a room to stay here! Why is it that I'm painted as the poor relative who refuses to move out now that she's dating another man? Chapter 1 As my cousin, Rita Pike, brought her boyfriend, Benny Booker, through the door, I was watering the camellias on the balcony. Benny was dressed to the nines. From the moment he entered, he kept scrutinizing the entire villa, nodding in approval again and again. It wasn't until he reached the balcony and saw me in my loungewear that he frowned slightly with disdain. "So, you're the poor cousin who's been mooching off Rita?" I looked at him, puzzled. Rita walked over at the sound of his voice, and Benny immediately switched to a smile. "Babe, who's this guy?" Rita introduced with a smile, "Benny, this is my cousin, Ruben Johnston. We grew up together. He's the closest person to me in all of Elmouth." Benny crossed his arms and looked me up and down contemptuously. "He looks like a kept man. No wonder he's been mooching off you." I looked at Rita, and only then did she speak up. "Rita, don't make such rude jokes.“ Benny showed no sign of shutting up. Instead, he wrapped his arm around Rita's waist and said sincerely, "I wasn't joking. Before I came, I heard from your friends how kind you were to take in a cousin who had nowhere else to go. "I just feel bad for you. You work so hard and still have to take care of someone else. But he's a grown man who's perfectly capable, and yet he's actually fine with mooching off you? Wow, that's a new one." I interrupted coldly, "Taking me in? Mooching off her? Which friend of Rita's did you hear that from?" The air in the living room seemed to freeze in that moment. Rita furrowed her brow. "Benny, who's been feeding you lies? Ruben is an important part of this family. There's no taking him in or anything like that. Don't talk nonsense and upset him." She was being transparently defensive. Benny quickly put on an apologetic look, though his eyes kept darting toward me. "Babe, don't be so serious. Maybe I heard wrong. I can apologize to him if that's what you want. You know, it's just that a lot of people around me have been saying how incredibly kind you are. "You're out there working your butt off, and on top of that, you're supporting some poor cousin." He paused, his gaze sweeping over me again. His tone grew more innocent as he continued, "How could I not feel indignant on your behalf after hearing all that gossip? "I mean, Ruben's healthy and full of energy, yet instead of working, he chooses to mooch off you." Before I could respond, he grabbed Rita's hand. "Still, it's not like I'm the type of person who can't stand having relatives around. I won't be so quick to believe what others say from now on. "Ruben, don't overthink it either. Since Rita put it that way, I'll treat you like my own brother. The more the merrier, after all." Benny was handsome and silver-tongued. In just a few words, he had Rita completely charmed. But I felt deeply uncomfortable and thoroughly disgusted. From the moment he walked in, he'd been slinging mud at me. That little speech just now sounded like an explanation and an apology, but really, it just reinforced the whole "freeloader" and "burden" labels all over again. Chapter 2 He'd also deliberately highlighted the false impression that I was the one being taken in. I subconsciously clenched my fists. It was true that both Rita and I lived here, but this villa belonged to me. After their unexpected passing, they'd left me this villa and enough assets to ensure I'd never have to worry about money for the rest of my life. In fact, it was Rita's parents—my aunt and uncle—who'd suggested she come live with me in the big city. Partly it was so I wouldn't be lonely, and partly because they wanted her to have better opportunities here. I'd agreed to let her move in because of our decades-long family ties. So, how was it that now, after she'd gotten a boyfriend, I'd gone from being the homeowner to some pretty boy she'd taken in? But considering it was Benny's first visit, I decided to spare Rita the embarrassment and didn't say anything. Dinner that night was exceptionally stifling. Benny seemed to realize that Rita truly valued me, so he began trying to make up for what he'd said earlier. He kept serving me food, pouring me drinks, and insisting he'd respect all of Rita's decisions. It was only in the brief moments when our eyes accidentally met that I caught his undisguised contempt and hostility. I kept my composure on the surface, but inside I was thoroughly disgusted. I finished dinner quickly, and Rita went out to the balcony to take a call. Benny seemed to sense something. Just as I was about to leave, he immediately stood up and pressed me back down onto the couch. He even patted my shoulder with fake familiarity, saying, "Ruben, don't be mad at me, okay? I was just worried about Rita, so I spoke a little too quickly. I didn't mean to upset you." He winked at me. "Actually, I totally get how you feel." Expressionless, I tried to push his hand away. "What exactly is it that you get about me?" "How tough things are for you, of course." Benny frowned at me, his tone dripping with patronizing superiority, as if he was doing me a favor just by talking to me. "Look, Rita has me now, and we're going to get married eventually. Sure, you're staying here for now. But this isn't really your home, is it? "Once Rita and I are married, it'll be pretty inconvenient having a grown man living with us. A man needs to have his own career and dignity." I stared at him, suddenly finding the whole situation absurd and ridiculous. "I don't quite understand what you're getting at. Why would I need to worry about the future in my own house?" Benny's smile faltered for a second, but he recovered quickly. He let go of my shoulder and patted it instead. Then, in the same patronizing tone, he said, "I get it—I totally do. Men have their pride. But don't worry, I'll be the man of this house soon enough. If you play your cards right, I'll have Rita find you a new place before you move out." Having reached my limit, I stood up and looked down at him. "Mr. Booker, I think you may have misunderstood something. First, this is my home, so there's no way I'm moving out. Second, I'm the owner of this villa, and I always will be. Finally, I don't need you or Rita to arrange anything for me." Benny's facade finally shattered. His expression darkened completely as he glared at me. "Ruben, I'm giving you a chance, so you'd better take it!" he snapped. "Just because you're Rita's cousin, you actually think you're the owner of this villa? "You're nothing but a kept man living off a woman, a shameless parasite. So, what gives you the right to talk back to me?" Chapter 3 "Whether I have the right or not is not for you to decide," I said calmly. "You're here as a guest for the first time, yet you're already acting like you own the place. "Have you and Rita even gotten your marriage license yet? Do you even understand where you stand?" "Why you!" Benny's face flushed crimson with rage. He was about to explode. But when he saw Rita walk in from the balcony after finishing her call, his expression immediately turned pitiful, like he was the victim here. His eyes reddened instantly as he rushed over to her. "Babe…" he whispered a few words in Rita's ear. I couldn't be bothered to watch his act any longer and turned to head upstairs. "Ruben." Rita stopped me, her voice tinged with reproach. "It's Benny's first time here. Maybe he didn't express himself clearly, but you don't need to be so sensitive." I glanced at Benny, who was hiding behind her and shooting me a provocative look, and felt a surge of anger rising in my chest. "Rita." I looked her straight in the eye and said emphatically, "He called me a burden who can only live here because of you. He also said that after you two get married, I'll have to move out. "He's already planning that far ahead, so do you honestly think this is just a case of not expressing himself clearly?" Rita's brow furrowed even deeper. "He was just joking. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? This will always be your home. Benny didn't mean anything by it." Didn't mean anything by it? I took a deep breath, suddenly feeling that any further argument was pointless. If she'd already chosen to believe that Benny had just misspoken, then anything I said would only make me seem unreasonable. "Fine. Fine." I shook my head and, without another glance at her, headed straight upstairs. That night, as I lay in bed, I couldn't figure out whether Rita was truly naive or just genuinely blind to Benny's intentions. The next day, my friend, Jack Huff, noticed I wasn't myself and invited me out for a drink. We settled into a bar, and he asked cautiously, "Ruben, did something happen?" I nodded. "Rita brought her boyfriend home." He hesitated, then said, "Isn't that a good thing? Once she gets married, she'll finally move out. You've had trouble even finding a girlfriend these past few years because of her. Unless…" I didn't say anything. Jack pressed further, "So, what's the guy like?" I gave a slight, humorless smile and replied, "He looks like a million bucks but acts like trash. He's got a lot of hostility toward me." Jack looked puzzled. "Hostility? Shouldn't he be kissing the ground you walk on? Without you, Rita would be out on the street. It's only because of you that they even get a chance to see one of the finest villas in the city." I gave a wry smile. "I don't know how Rita's been spinning it to him, but he seems to think I'm some kept man she took in. He even called me shameless." At this, Jack shot up from his seat. His voice was even more agitated than mine as he exclaimed, "Holy crap! Is he out of his mind? Who the heck does he think he is to talk about you like that? "Your parents left you that villa. What right does he have? And Rita? Did she just stand there and let her boyfriend walk all over you like that?" "Rita thinks he was just joking and that I'm being too sensitive," I said weakly. "You call that a joke? That was straight-up mean. Is Rita blind or something?" Jack fumed with righteous indignation. "That jerk is clearly trying to push you out and take over. "He's basically warning you not to get in the way of him playing master of the house. What a schemer. It's disgusting. But he's also an idiot. "Does he really think your family's money belongs to Rita? Why do people like that feel so entitled to other people's money?" Chapter 4 As I listened to Jack's rant, the frustration that had been building inside me began to ease a little. "Forget it. It's not like he's going to stick around anyway. Rita finally found someone, so let her have her moment. I'll just keep my distance from now on," I said to comfort Jack, but maybe I was also trying to convince myself. Jack was still fired up. "You can't just let it slide. Next time he dares to act up on your turf, shove the property deed right in his face. Let him know who the real owner is." Easy for him to say. But in the end, I still had to consider the nearly two decades of history between Rita and me. Her family was among the few relatives I had left. When my parents were still alive, her family had treated me well enough. So, I didn't want to let things get too ugly. What I expected was that my restraint would give Benny the mistaken impression that I was an easy target. That very evening, he brazenly moved in, dragging several large suitcases behind him. It seemed like he completely ignored what I said. He was dead set on painting me as the leech and gold digger, all to stake his claim, kick me out of the villa, and help himself to a life of luxury. He carried himself like he already owned the place and even made a point of being lovey-dovey with Rita whenever I was around, as if desperate to make sure I knew just how great their relationship was. He had no right, but he kept sticking his nose into every little detail of my life. "Is the clock in your study an antique? Isn't it dangerous to leave it there? What if it gets accidentally knocked over? That must have cost a pretty penny, right? "And why do both the fridge and AC take up so much electricity? This household really falls apart without a man around." Benny also made a point of prying into my expenses. "Ruben, you don't exactly cheap out on yourself, do you? I see you wearing designer watches. Us men don't need to chase after all that superficial stuff, you know? Character is what really matters. "Rita works hard for her money. As her cousin, you shouldn't be mooching off her and splurging like this on top of it." Benny was completely lost in his own fantasy, and I couldn't be bothered to engage with him. But not even two days later, I came home and noticed the furniture had been rearranged. A painting that my father, Vernon Johnston, had loved most during his lifetime had been taken down and replaced with a cheap oil painting that reeked of paint thinner. And the antique clock from my study was nowhere to be seen. In its place was a massive floor-standing stereo system. I found Benny directing my housekeeper, Colleen Foley, as she moved things around. "Where's the antique clock in my study?" I asked coldly. Benny turned and answered with complete confidence, "Oh, that thing? It looked expensive—what if it got broken? So, I had Colleen put it away. And we need to replace the appliances too. They're all so impractical." "Where did you put it?" "There's so much stuff. I can't quite recall at the moment." I pressed him further, but he waved his hand impatiently. "It's just a clock. Why are you so hung up on it? I'm busy right now. I'll bring it to you when I find it." I grabbed him by the collar and snapped, "Who said you could touch my stuff? If it goes missing, you're going to pay for it." That antique clock held endless memories for me, as it was a birthday gift from my father when I turned ten years old. Rita came rushing over when she heard the commotion. She naturally positioned herself beside Benny, shielding him, and frowned at me. "Ruben, Benny was just trying to help this place look a little nicer. It's just a clock. Don't be so difficult. Even if it really is lost, I'll just buy you another one." Watching them act so close and united made me sick to my stomach. Chapter 5 I didn't bother arguing with them any further and went straight to find Colleen instead. "Mr. Johnston, Mr. Booker said he didn't like the antique clock, so he asked me to put it in storage," Colleen explained hesitantly. I searched the storage room from top to bottom, but the antique clock was nowhere to be found. A sinking feeling of dread rose in my chest. That antique clock, though not large, was extremely valuable. In fact, Dad had secured it at an auction for two million dollars. Benny definitely hadn't just put it away. Fed up with all the drama at home, I went on a three-day business trip. But when I returned, the house was in complete disarray. To show off like he owned the place, Benny had invited a bunch of his sketchy friends over for a party at the villa. Amid the deafening music, a crowd of garishly dressed men and women was barbecuing and livestreaming in the garden. But the last bit of tolerance I had left went up in flames the moment I saw what was left of the camellias in the corner of the garden. Benny's friends were laughing as they competed to see who could flick their cigarette butts into the bushes, carelessly burning and trampling those delicate petals. Those camellias were my mother, Lynette Mack's pride and joy. After she passed, I tended to them myself, never allowing anyone to touch a single branch or leaf. Yet, they tramped all over them like it was nothing. In that moment, rage obliterated the very last of my patience. I stormed over and yanked the power cord from the stereo. As everyone stared in shock, I pointed to the gate and said icily, "I'll give you all three minutes to get out of my yard." Benny, apparently feeling humiliated in front of his friends, walked over and shoved me. "Ruben, what are you doing? We were all having a good time." "Are you deaf? I told you to get out!" I shook off his hand and fixed him with a frigid stare. The atmosphere turned unbearably awkward. Benny's friends, looking embarrassed, began to gather their things. Pretty soon, Benny ran off to tattle to Rita. When she rushed over and saw the mess everywhere, she lit into me without even asking what had happened. "Have you lost your mind? Benny's friends are here for the first time, and you humiliate him over a few stupid flowers? Seriously?" "Stupid flowers?" I stared at her, feeling something inside me go cold. "Rita, he has no idea what those flowers mean, but you do. They're all I have left of my mom." "She's already gone, so what's the point of holding onto all this stuff?" she shouted, clearly not thinking before she spoke. "Stop acting like some spoiled rich kid! "You want more flowers? Fine—I'll have someone plant as many as you want tomorrow. Happy now?" "You want to compensate me?" I stared at Rita, someone I thought I knew, and asked emphatically, "What could you possibly offer to make up for the memories of my mom?" Benny jumped in. "What the heck is wrong with you? Who cares about some flowers? Even if it was a grave out there, it's not going to stop me from throwing my party!" That was it. I grabbed Benny by the collar and punched him in the face. Rita screamed and tried to stop me, but I pushed her aside without thinking. "From today, he's not welcome in this house. And you, Rita, if you're going to take his side, then both of you can get the hell out."