"What's happening?" Marc had just come from having a meeting at the university. He already talked to the school board about Erin's re-admission.
On his way to his room, he found Dylan and Andrei both standing guard on Erin's door.
"She hasn't left the room. So there's no one to cook for us." Dylan muttered.
"You're both adults, you should know how to cook for yourselves."
"But isn't that what she's here for?" Andrei surprisingly answered. It seems that its hunger caused it to be irritated.
"Call for take-outs. I'll go talk to her myself."
The two didn't dare to argue and just followed their master's order.
He began knocking on Erin's door.
"Do I need to get the keys to open a room in my own house?"
As if someone had dragged itself towards the door just to open it.
He was greeted by a pair of red eyes.
"What happened?" It didn't say a word and seek comfort from his body. The latter hugged him.
"Dylan asked what you would want to-- "
It's a good thing that Erin was dressed as a girl at that time. Or it would really be awkward for both of them later.
"Go order whatever you want. And don't even bother me for a second." having said that, he brought Erin back inside the room and locked the door.
"O-okay." still in a daze Andrei turned back to the stairs again.
Dylan was still on the phone waiting for instructions on what to order.
"What did he say?" it asked as soon as he saw him.
"What?"
"I told you to ask him what to order for dinner. Did you just got bitten by a snake or something? You look rather pale."
"Am I?" it said touching its face.
Dylan is already used to Andrei's robotic reactions. That you can hardly tell whether it's making a joke or simply being itself.
He can't help but burst into laughter.
"Okay, tell me what you just saw right there."
"Nothing," it uttered in a straight face. Easy enough to predict that it's lying.
"Whatever, I'll just order the usual."
While inside Erin's room.
Marc didn't dare to pull away from Erin's embrace even after they were both inside the room. It's just that he felt afraid, that Erin might burst into tears again if he does turn it away.
"Have you calmed down yet?"
"One more minute-please?"
For the first time in his life, he did as he was asked.
I'm scared, please don't leave me. That young boy's voice came into mind again. It's been several years already. But he could never forget how that little boy pleaded for him to save his life.
After his mom Dad, his Dad didn't want him. Without his Grand Dad, he will be useless even to himself.
Only that kid made him feel that he was needed. And for that, he made a special place for it in his heart. If only, he could see him again.
"I'm sorry," Erin then got to pull herself away from him. "I didn't mean to be so--"
"Touchy?" he tried teasing it.
"No. I was going to say pervasive. But that would do." it said in a slightly mocking tone.
He started laughing as he had never done before in his life. Which is exactly a fact.
Even Andrei and Dylan were shocked upon hearing it.
"Did I hear it wrong? Was young master laughing just now? And a very loud one at that?"
Andrei confirmed Dylan's inquiry with a nod.
"The skies must be falling soon. This is indeed a very weird turn of events." Dylan said slightly shaking his head. "Or it's probably a good thing that she came here." a knowing smile suddenly crossed its lips. "Now, we can rest assured that the master won't feel so sad anymore."
"I hope so too," said Andrei that surprised him more. Its eyes lingered up to the stairs towards the second floor.
***
"Do you want to tell me what happened? Or should we just pretend that it didn't?" he had never been too cautious with anyone's feelings. But with Erin, he just felt soft-hearted all of a sudden.
"If I say yes to you now, will you guarantee that I won't get hurt?"
Dylan almost slipped and bumped its head on the door while eavesdropping. He stared at Andrei with a confused look on his face.
Did he just hear it right? Or was his mind playing dirty again?
He stared at his friend trying to make sense of what could be happening inside at the moment. But what he got was a complete loss for words.
Andrei then took one of his arms and forcefully pulled him away from there. He struggled silently, but Andrei was far stronger than he is. He is only known for being quick and flexible with his movements.
Just let me listen for quite a bit. He mouthed. But it didn't give him enough chance to do so as he pleases.
***
"If you put it that way, others may think that we're up to no good locking ourselves up," said Marc that had Erin thinking of what he might have said wrong.
He suddenly blushed at his own thoughts.
Why would he say those words anyway? It's not like they're having sex or anything?
"I was talking about your proposal." his cheeks were still red with embarrassment.
"So I take that, you already agreed to do it with me?" Marc suddenly closed the gap from their faces.
"If you talk like that," he thought of playing with its own words. " Others may misinterpret."
"Better if we practice now, we can avoid suspicions later."
Just when he thought that it meant differently again. Its lips went straight to his. Like sealing a deal they had just made to one another.
Forgive me, Erin. But you will have to be mine from this moment on.