Chereads / The Beast Next Door / Chapter 10 - X. Help

Chapter 10 - X. Help

The landlord's relationship with Lyndon remains unknown to me. Although, I already have a hunch that they are somehow related to each other...I shouldn't stick my nose to somebody else's relationships.

I knocked three times on his door but I only faced the coldness and silence of the door in front of me after a minute of waiting. Earlier, I wouldn't have the courage to stand here even for just three seconds but because of his reasons moments ago, my overthinking and fears disappeared like it never existed from the start. I knocked again three times telling my intention aloud this time.

"Lyndon, it's me, Suzi. I have a medicine kit here with me."

After a few seconds, the door creaked open wide revealing his naked upper body. My whole system shuts and my body froze the moment my eyes leveled his bare wide chest covered with sweat.

And before I knew it, the medicine kit I held was snatched from me bringing me back to my rationality.

"I-I'll help..." He didn't even finish my words when he shut the door immediately. No signs of being grateful for bringing the kit to him, not that I want him to go outside again bragging about his body.

My whole body started to feel hot out of nowhere. I haven't been able to feel hot while walking but right now I feel sweaty.

"Woo..." I sighed deeply as I fan myself.

I doubt he will ever aid himself properly with his cruel and impatient personality.

His body image flashed back in my mind again after the word 'cruel'. His wide chest going up and down while dripping with sweat. His body naturally fits the word cruel that's why it keeps popping on my head but I feel embarrassed.

I feel sinful just by remembering that image again. It's fortunate enough that there's no one who could ever read my mind.

I almost forgot about his wound.

Oh well, he's old enough. He won't die just by a little scar, right?

But what if it gets infected?

I'm bothered and it's annoying. I want to help but I don't want to help at the same time.

I didn't even notice that I'm still standing right in front of his door until it creaked open again. I felt my heart jump out from the terrace.

"What are you doing standing still here?" He frowned.

He's now wearing a new shirt.

"I'm doing you a favor, what if you need my help?" I blurt out whatever excuse came to my mind. "It's a pity." I followed so that I won't sound like I'm worried.

His expression darkened because of my last words. "I can do it myself."

"Oh? Very good, then..." I looked over my room as a sign to leave but he speaks again.

"The papers?"

"What papers?"

"My outputs."

His output...yes I brought it with me!

I opened my mouth to say something but I figured out something so late.

Oh...wait...

Oh...shoot.

That's why I felt uncomfortable earlier, I forgot I'm with my group! I left without proper notice, I left without giving them the glue I bought which is now nowhere to be found, and I left without my things.

"Well?" He asked waiting for my response.

"I left it..."

"What?" He asked again, surprised like he can't believe I left something so important for him. Then suddenly his expression change to being suspicious. "You left it or you just don't want to bring it anymore?"

It's both but the latter will only do me harm.

"It's true, I left it. I was with my group earlier on my way back after buying glue but then you pulled me suddenly. Then I forgot to go back to them." I answered truthfully.

"I thought the meeting is held here?"

"A change of mind because of what happened yesterday." I didn't specifically say what is because it's both the incident in my room and the words I accidentally heard last night.

It seems as though he believed my words because why else would he found me far from the apartment?

And speaking of my groupmates, a shout from below was heard in a quiet setting street.

"Suzi!" Among the group, a man shouting the last of his breath is leading, looking upon me worriedly. It's Sean.

With him is my bag that he holds so tight and the other members except for Katy are there. Of course, her place is far from here, and to add up, she's a transferee who doesn't know other places except for home.

They all look so worried, I feel guilty. I quickly turn my body and was about to go down but Lyndon held my arm to stop me from doing so.

I stared at him curiously, why is he meddling?

"You can hear them from here."

"Lyndon, I've been rude enough for leaving them without saying goodbye."

"It's not like it's your fault." He said that like it's no big deal.

"It is my fault," I emphasized my words.

Is there no sense of responsibility for him? Or is he doing this on purpose just to annoy me again?

"Then let them come up here instead."

"Lyndon," I warned him when he gets near the railings.

"Come up here, you're very much welcome." His tone seems contrasting to his words. Nevertheless, Sean managed to go upstairs while the others won't dare to move a step forward.

"What's this? What are you two doing there?" Luckily, sir Richard showed up just before Lyndon bully them more.

The couple looked up to point us and Sean who's already at the terrace.

"That demon even managed to interfere..." Sir Richard murmured curses under his breath while clicking his tongue.

"You left your things..." Sean held out my bag. "You didn't tell us you'll leave earlier."

"I'm sorry, something came up. I forgot to go back." I excused myself, embarrassed of what happened, and thank him for bringing back my things.

"Then, you guys want some refreshments first before leaving? I bet you're all exhausted from worrying too much. " The landlord asked them.

"No, they're leaving." Lyndon who's quietly staring at me and Sean, interrupted sir Richard's invitation.

"Don't worry about him, you guys should rest for a while first before leaving," I said too just so I could ease my guilt.

I pushed Sean to move with the means of going downstairs with him but Lyndon held me back again.

"What now?" I irritatingly asked.

"I thought you'll help me?"

He hasn't treated his wound yet? I looked at the place where his wound probably is.

"I thought you can do it by yourself?"

"When someone said that while they're dying, will you really not help them?"

"What, are you already dying?"

"So you're waiting for me to die first before helping me?"

"Look, it's not like you'll die with just a small wound."

"Small or big, it's still a wound."

We both stopped, his words make sense but he himself isn't. What's he fighting for now, huh?

"It's okay, Suzi. We'll rest for a while with the landlord, he needs your help so I think you should help him somehow. After all, he helped you get back here." Sean reasoned out.

I will not be dragged into this mess if it's not for him!

"Yes, that's right. Suzi, go help him, I'll take care of your visitors instead." The landlord added he's the one who wants me to help Lyndon first. He seems happy that Lyndon's asking for my help and now I'm rejecting him.

"Fine, I'll help you." Lyndon's tight hold finally loosened.

Sean went down and they all went inside the silent hall below to rest. I turn around expecting Lyndon's hurt face because of his wound but instead I was welcomed by a face of a victor.

He's truly immature.

"Did you wash it already?"

"Huh? No." He answered, going back from his senses.

"Then wash it first so it won't get infected."

He nodded and entered his room, leaving his door opened he disappeared inside. Seconds later, he came out again.

"Done already?" I was surprised. That was fast.

"No, come inside."

I blinked a few times.

"What?"

"What do you mean 'what'? Are you going to treat my wound there?"

"Oh, uh..."

"Don't 'uh' me, hurry."

I entered the room that I always wanted before for the first time. As expected it's small, enough for one to fit in but with my body, Lyndon and I seem perfectly fit together here inside. It's not stuffy nor empty.

The room's quite messy because of the books scattered on the floor...

Books?

I looked down to see what kind of books are in here.

'The Complete Structure of Human Body'

Oh, Science.

A lot of books on the same subject are scattered, it's unexpected for him to have all of this when he's insisting to not go to school.

"Close the door."

He ordered while taking off his shirt.

What...

What?!