Hyena trugged inside the house, went straight to the living room where her friends were settled. It pissed her off real good, even more, her friends were in so deep of what looked like a fun conversation.
"Seriously, has no one ever noticed I was gone for who knows how long?" Hyena slumped down by the couch, sitting beside Monic who was giving her a questioning look.
"What's up with the long face, my dear?" Monic reached for her friend's shoulder and tapped it in a gentle manner. Hyena was gone for quite longer than she expected her to be.
The racing heartbeat of Hyena began to calm down as well as her pissed off mind due to the easing and light atmosphere inside the living area. Perhaps it was the smiling faces of her friends which greeted her frowning expression — that she somehow found amusing — caused her so much relief, away from any danger and risk she might go through within Dale's presence.
"Nothing to be concerned about, at all. Maybe it's just my period. Don't pay too much attention to it though, I will get or rather feel better any time soon." Hyena reached for the nearby remote and motioned it to the television. "Fancy some movies or anything at all, people?" She thought that she had to do something to divert her attention to what just happened between her and Dale. Her immediate resolve was a netflix and chill, that may somehow entertain her, Hyena sure hoped so.
"Actually, I might have a pass on that one, sweetie." Lan pointed at the window. "See, Dale, for some reason slammed the car's door and I presume he will start the engine anytime soon. Thus, I do not want to walk back home. That would be tormenting."
Hyena looked at the window and there she saw Dale settled behind the wheel of Lan's black porsche. "I can drive you home, you know." She turned to Lan who happened to have risen from his seat. He looked at her with a hesitant expression on his face, which quickly faded away as if he had finally made up his mind.
"That's thoughtful of you, sweetheart. However, I saw my brother, Dale, a moment ago storming off the house in a ballistic manner and he's got that look on his face that simply worries me. I shall go ahead and talk to him. I'll call you later, though." Without waiting for Hyena's response, Lan planted a quick kiss on her cheek. "Right, Monic, Whithy, I'll be off now. See you when I see you." Lan turned to Whithy and gave him a light nod. "Dude, it's nice to meet you, until next time." After that, he finally left them in the living area.
Whithy shot Hyena a curious look which Hyena regarded with a shrug. "Did something happen between you two? I saw you climbing down the stairs earlier but you went to the garden's direction. I suppose you went to check on Dale."
Hyena did not consider the fact that anyone could have seen her earlier. But then, it does not matter now. Her pair of dark eyes landed from Whithy's interrogating look to Monic's hand that slapped her shoulder quite aggressively. It startled her. "What?" She snapped at Monic, rebuffing Whithy's words for a minute.
"Seriously, did something happen?" Monic was itching her chin, impatient for a response coming from her friend.
"Nothing happened. I just went to check on Coby who happened to be hiding at the tall grasses in the garden, but I eventually withdrew by the sight of Dale having some forethought of who knows what matter. I did not want to disturb his peace and alone time, you know." She lied. It was not her intention to fabricate the event, though Hyena was only avoiding firing retorts from anyone, especially Monic. She has not the stomach to deal with that, not when she, herself, has not yet fully digested what rubbish she had done.
On the other hand, Whithy did not appeared to buy her words, for he ought to utter a what seemed to be a negation. Hyena, however, braced herself for what was coming. Surely, it was yet to be another blasted and a fiery protest. Luckily, Monic's phone beeped. It somehow cooled down the growing tension between them — three — because of the not so typical of colloquy they were having.
Monic extracted her phone from her pocket and checked for the message. "I'm sorry guys. It's my boyfriend. Said, his parents wanted me to join them for a family dinner tonight." She tapped her phone's screen for a reply to the message.
"You better introduce me to your boyfriend some other time, Monic. I would definitely love to meet him." Whithy suggested.
"Should we bother to come along?" Hyena joked. "You see, I often tag along with their family dinner, acting as Monic's bodyguard." It's true. Hyena frequently goes to the family dinner of Monic's boyfriend when he cannot pick her up at home. She did not want to come, but then Monic refused to take no for an answer. Said, she does not want to show up in their front door alone, for she will somehow feel awkward. Hyena finds it ridiculous despite the countless times that Monic has done it. Although, it was no big deal to Eric's parents, at all. They rather welcomed Hyena as warm as they welcomed Monic to their family. With that, Hyena had grown fond of them.
Hyena's words reached Monic and Whithy with great humour, which made them laugh heartily. Likewise, Hyena joined them, for it sure was a hilarious fact.
"Sounds fun, to me." Whithy uttered in between laughing. "Though, I'd rather go back home, get ready, fetch my car, and hit the road. I just remembered that I have an appointment meeting with one of the investors of the company."
After a few minutes of additional chat, Monic and Whithy finally went their own ways, leaving Hyena by herself. "Phew, did not realize the day was almost over. Well, it was nice catching up with them tho." Hyena grabbed the brown pillow on the couch and wrapped her arms around it, hugging it. "Now, shall we do some netflix and chill?"