Pitch black. Nothingness. What is this? I looked down and saw my feet, bloody. My hands, broken. How did all this happen? I couldn't feel anything. Was I dead? Was I murdered? No, it can't possibly be.
"Warren." A soft familiar voice echoed through my ears. That richness, smoothnes-- it can't be. Was that my mom?
"Mom!" I shouted loudly with eagerness.
"Warren? We're here!" This time a deep, masculine voice spoke aloud. It was my dad!
"Mom? Dad? Where are you?" This time I had tears down my face. I missed them so much.
"Oh, Warren." Mom's voice was louder this time, she was near.
Then there they were, standing 10 feet in front of me. They spread their arms out together
"Come." They said together.
Was this all I needed to do? Even though that I hated them so much for how they looked at me, were they going to learn? Was I going to learn?
I sprinted towards them but I couldn't move. Wait what? How was this possible? I tried to do it again but nothing happened. Something was holding me back.
"Don't." A broader, more manly voice whispered to me.
"Kyle?" What was he doing here? Was he holding me back?
"Kyle! Stop!" I shouted in agony as my parents were still waiting for me.
"Don't." It was all he said.
"You can't" My father suddenly broke the effort.
"You always can't." Then my mother said with disappointment burning in her eyes.
Then they put their arms down and held hands, walking away, laughing.
"I'm sorry! Please! Just let me go--
"Warren!" Kyle said as I immediately opened my eyes and gasped out for air.
All of a sudden, I came to realize that it was just a nightmare.
"War--"
I got up and hugged him. Then all the tears just burst not being able to control it. I needed someone, something at this point to just let go of everything I held back.
I embraced him with every single bit of what I had and he, unsure, embraced me back.
"Don't worry. It was just a dream." Kyle said with reassurance as my tears continued to flow harder.
"It's okay. Everything's okay now." He said while patting my back like a baby.
But why was he here? Why was I on a bed? Was my place open already?
My tears slowed down and down until it came to a stop but I still held onto him. I needed to.
"It's okay." He still patted my back.
Then something came to me, a pounding in my head had gotten worse somehow, like it was already there.
"You're burning up." He said as I let go. And I leaned against the wall, knees bent.
It was kind of awkward to know that that happened just now. Especially since la--
"Ugh, my head hurts too." I said quietly through my headache.
"That's probably because of the rain." He replied. "Wait, let me get some medicine. I'll be right back." He added with certainty and care.
"Sure." But he already left the room.
I got the time to think about what happened last night during my sleep.
So, I'm in his room, beige and all. And my clothes aren't w-- wait. I removed the blanket and saw that I was not wearing mine. Even my underwear isn't mine! Now this is getting more and more awkward! And ouch! This headache just doesn't seem to lessen.
"What's with the face?" Kyle said coming in with a glass of water and a pill.
Was I making a face? Oh, maybe because-
"Nothing. But can you tell me why? Why I'm here and why I'm not wearing my clothes? And ou--"
"Drink. I'll explain later." He said as he gave me the pill and the glass after I took the pill and drank it straight down.
"That's better." He said, putting down the glass over to the bedside table.
I sure hope this pill will work because I can't handle being here, with him.
"Explanation?" I said with a bit of embrassment and irritation.
"After you left, I went looking for you and... and I saw you laying coldly on the floor last night outside your door so I took in you mine and had to change your wet clothes.
"And underwear, I presume." I replied.
"And underwear." He said with a giggle.
"Aren't going to apologize?" I said with fury.
"Apologize for what? Helping you?" He replied confusedly.
"Who knows what you could've done to me while you were changing me or my... underwear." I said, getting silent after the last word.
"Hey listen, I'm not the person that would do anything to you after how you left when I ki--"
"Shut up!" I said, burying my face in my knees.
"I'm sorry?" He said and I finally looked up.
I noticed the sharp rays of light that struck his face in front of me.
"How long was I asleep?" My eyes were starting to burn because of the tears earlier.
"I mean it's already 1pm." He checked his phone and put back down beside the glass of water.
"Are you hungry?" He added with more concern.
I guess my stomach didn't really that I basically slept more than half a day, I wasn't really that hungry now he asked.
"No, not really." I admitted.
"What was with you earlier, though?" He asked me in a curious tone.
"What do you mean? When I cried?" I responded with a confused one.
"No. More like your dream." He finally got it out.
Flashbacks started to occur and that made my head pound more.
"If it makes you uncomfortable, it's fine with me that you don't wan-"
"No, it's okay. It's just that it was just a bad dream." I responded, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"If you don't mind me asking but is there a reason why you're alone, here, in the Western?" That question actually had sense to it.
"Well, to be frank, I chose to be alone. I found out that my parents were too busy so I gave them less hassle and basically my freedom. It's a win-win situation actually." I said shrugging it off.
"But why? Why do you think that it would be a hassle for them to be busy around you?" He asked once more.
"It's... it's complicated." I said with a tired smile.
"It's okay, I'll listen." He looked at me in the eyes and met his sparkling hazel pupils.
"Growing up, wealth wasn't a problem. My parents were working hard in our own company. When I was little, I'd usually have no issue with time since they'd stay much more often. But when the company blew up in stocks, they'd work as much as they think they need to and I..." My eyes were fogging up again, I didn't want to cry.
"It's okay. I'm listening." He held my hand and started to stroke it.
I gave one deep breath.
"And I was left alone in all I did. They said it was because I needed to learn how to be independent but I already was. Then EGU found out about my basketball and they decided to accept me as a scholar. Even though my friends there were very supportive, I still longed for my parents' and... during my graduation, they didn't come because they said I wasn't good enough." His warm hands was on my cheeks and he wiped my tears dry. Was I crying again?
"It's alright. Come here." He reached in for a hug and I hugged him back.
"I guess you're not so bad. I'm sorry about yesterday." I said honestly.
"Hush, don't be sorry. It's my fault. I never should've done such a bad thing like that to you." He quietly told me and hugged me tighter before letting go and wiping my rears dry again.
He placed the back of his hand against my neck to check my temperature.
"Better. Come on, let's have lunch together." He said as he held my hand and we got out of the room, together.