It's almost ten in the evening and Dylan is still up staring at his phone's black screen, reflecting his handsome features.
For some reasons, he feels somehow uneasiness inside of him.
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At the moment, he's arguing with himself whether he should call or at least send Ulysses a chat.
The fact that Ulysses is sick and is living alone in an almost dilapidated state apartment makes him wonder if he's fine by himself. But the thought that he might be fast asleep by now makes him hesitate.
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He let out a deep sigh and buries his face on his pillow. Why is he worrying too much? He's been living alone for four years now. In the duration of four long years, this isn't the first time that he's sick, right?
But what is it that made him worry over Ulysses? Well, it's because of what he discovered after he walks him home.
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"You're getting farther from your house." Ulysses said when they took another turn away from the main road. "You can go now. You don't have to accompany me anymore."
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"Nah, I'm good with directions." Dylan casually replies.
Actually, this narrow street they're walking through is a little disturbing. The houses around the area are old, and there's not much people passing.
It's very quiet. Too quiet that it gives off an eerie atmosphere. And the streetlights are turning on and off.
To be honest with himself, he really wants to sprint back to the main road after their second turn but his precious pride won't let him do that.
"And besides, didn't I told you that I'll walk you home? Also, didn't you say that you're not worried going home late because you know I'll walk you home? It would be very unfair if I leave now."
Dylan even made a fake laugh, trying not to make his anxiousness obvious.
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The cold breeze blows that makes him shiver. He put his hands on his pocket.
His eyes subconsciously landed on the other's hands. Ulysses is not putting those in his pocket to keep warm. Well, actually, he can't even if he wants to. His hands are full with folders and envelopes.
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"Do you want me to help you with that?" Before he realized it, those words already escaped from his lips.
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Meanwhile, Ulysses slowly turns his head to look at Dylan. He's wearing a complicated facial expression. It's like a combination of fear, disbelief, and suspicion.
"You're scaring me. Are you still Dylan or a lost soul overtook your body?"
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Seeing Ulysses acting strange. Dylan starts to feel goosebumps all over his body. It's like all his blood escaped from his body. "Ulysses, don't joke around like that."
Nervousness is clear in his voice. He doesn't want where this is going.
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With a straight face, he said, "Sorry. Did I scare you?"
However, Ulysses can't keep up his straight face and starts laughing. He can't help it, Dylan looked so funny. His reaction is just hilarious!
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To get pranked like this, it would surprise everyone if Dylan remains collected. "You know what? Fuck you."
He was just offering his help towards the other, and in return, he got laughed at.
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Trying to suppress his laughter, Ulysses responded. "Well guess what? Fuck you too."
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The truth is, Ulysses somehow has the idea of what Dylan is thinking.
He noticed that Dylan isn't comfortable in this place so he told him that he can go and that he doesn't have to accompany him along the way. Actually, Ulysses doesn't find it strange. Even him, when he's still in his first year in high school, he hates this area as well, especially when it gets dark.
However, he doesn't have much choices. It's either he will stay here or give up going to Northwestern High School. As the time passes, he got used to it.
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Also, he assumes that Dylan thought his hands are cold.
It's because he saw the other slightly shivering when a breeze touched their skin.
He also witnessed how he hides his hands in his pockets. And then after that, he glanced on his way, particularly in his hands that are carrying the documents.
Well, it's true that his hands really are cold but it doesn't bother him at all.
In fact, he prefers to feel cold than warm. Because he thinks that warmth tends to fade away sooner than the coldness.
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To get rid of the embarrassment and clear out the awkward situation, Dylan decided to change the direction of their conversation. "I heard you are currently staying in an apartment. Is your house that far?"
Actually, he knows this detail very well. It's because they've been classmates for four years now. Introducing themselves during the first week of classes is something like a tradition in their school. They just said the same things over and over again so it's not really surprising if Dylan and Ulysses knows where they are dwelling.
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"Mn. It's about a couple of hours and a half travel." Since his hometown is far, Ulysses only goes home every holidays or long weekends.
Also, he thinks that it's such a waste of money if he goes home often. The fare isn't cheap. Of course, he misses his family in the province, and his family misses him too. But what can he do? He's just budgeting his monthly allowance from the scholarship he got. There's not much money left for other expenses.
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"Your hometown... you don't have secondary schools there?" Dylan asks.
The truth is, he's not really interested in his hometown. He just asked to keep the conversation going. It's awkward walking together silently so he needs to keep talking or make the other talk.
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"There is. A public one but I got a scholarship in Northwestern High School so I grabbed the chance. I heard that this school has the best teachers in the region. It turns out I'm satisfied with it."
Even though Ulysses is able to attend a prestigious school as Northwestern High School, he didn't grew up with a silver spoon on his mouth. In fact, his parents are both farmers. Despite being born with a not so high status, he's never ashamed of it. However, judgement from outsiders are inevitable.
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"Oh."
Now that the conversation has ended, he needs to think of another topic. Good thing he thought of one not too long after the last topic ended.
"I was thinking, where are the other student council officials? Why is that I only saw you and your secretary in the office?"
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"They're doing whatever they want." Ulysses said in a casual tone. "Their family have money after all."
Dylan isn't certain what the other means by his second statement but he somehow has the idea.
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"They are not complying with their responsibilities as members of student council?"
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"Partly yes, partly no." He smirks and looks at Dylan's way. "Would you criticize me if I tell you that I got paid to do their job?"
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"They do?!" This revelation is indeed shocking to someone studying in their school.
Those student council officers looked very responsible and smartass. Turns out there's something like this going on.
Northwestern High School isn't a very expensive schools that's meant for the richest brats in town but its fees are something one cannot underestimate either.
Dylan didn't know that most of the officials they voted for their positions are using money to do all the work.
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Looking unaffected, Ulysses nods. "Mn. But it's okay. It's kind of helping me with my everyday expenses."
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"..."
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It's been like this since the first year he entered the student council as a year-level representative. Those who are rich brats members of the council will pay the officials like him, a poor scholar, to do their duty.
For this year's set of student council officials, only him, the president, and Mico, his secretary are the only scholars.
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And this is where the handwritten report comes in. It's supposed to be everyone's output. The report is about this year's Student Council's contributions, documentations, observations, experiences, and recommendations for the next set of officers.
He doesn't have his own laptop so he wrote it manually and planned to input it in the lagging computer in their office.
Good thing, Dylan came and helped. He finished the report earlier than he expected.
However, it's only Ulysses who did it. He didn't let Secretary Mico to contribute and gave him the finance statistics task to do instead for them finish everything on time.
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"We're here."
The two of them stopped in front of an almost dilapidated-state two-storey apartment building.
The maintenance is so poor that it looks like it would tumble down sooner or later.
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"That's where you are living?" Dylan can't believe it. He would never sleep in that kind of place even if he got paid for it. "Looks haunted to me."
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"Ridiculous. Almost every building around here looks haunted." Which is actually correct. One can't find any new-looking buildings around the area. He continues, "It actually somehow put me in an advantage."
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Hearing his last statement. Dylan looks at the old apartment, then to Ulysses, and back to the apartment.
He tries to look at it in different angles but he can't think of an advantage in living here. If there's one, it's probably the cheap rent.
"How so?"
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Ulysses taps Dylan's shoulder, pulled him closer and whispers onto his ear. "If you live here, you got yourself a guardian for free. You can't see them though."
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"..."
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"Would you like to take a look inside?" Ulysses said with a straight face.
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"No, thank you." Dylan immediately raised his hand like he's in auto decline mode. "I gotta go now."
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"Alright." Ulysses opens the rusty gate, and the sound it makes is really creepy. "If you see a faceless man on your way, don't mind him and keep walking."
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"Ulysses... you bastard." He murmured to himself. And since the place is very quiet, Ulysses heard it loud and clear.
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He chuckles. "It was a piece of advice, don't be angry."
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"I'll go now! Bye!" Without waiting for the other's reaponse, Dylan turns himself away from Ulysses and started walking back to the main road.
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"Wait."
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Dylan stamps his feet as he looks back at Ulysses. He annoyingly asks, "What?"
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Ulysses' voice is low but it's enough for Dylan to hear. "Thanks for helping us out."
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"..." Dylan is speechless for a while. He actually thanked him. His annoyance disappeared in an instant and got replaced by a mischievous expression. "Ah? That? Everything for my darling!"
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Instead of getting irritated, Ulysses smirks. "Shut up or you'll attract someone not like us."
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"..."