The rain was pouring hard, though it was not classified as a typhoon, the localized thunderstorm brought by northeast monsoon has flooded major areas in the city. Luigi was stuck inside their dorm drawing for his graduation project, he took a break for a while and stretched out his limbs. The coldness brought by the weather made his joints stiff. He's still young yet his knees ache terribly whenever the weather gets wet and fuzzy.
He hates rainy season. Not that he's introvert or because coldness makes his knees weak. It was because the rain reminds him of that terrible day when the love of his life died, heaven mourned with him. The rain brings out a lot of drama that tells no romance but plain tragedy.
On a normal day, he would have not gotten out of his room but he was hungry and he has ran out of instant noodles and other snacks. As soon as he wore his jacket, he went down the dormitory and rushed through the falling raindrops since he forgot to bring an umbrella. He quickly entered the nearest convenience store and filled the basket with cup noodles on the stalls. He also took coffee packs and potato chips. Then, since he can't order food due to the heavy weather, he also took some premade dinner on the shelf. He lined up and quickly made it to the counter only to realize that he forgot to bring his wallet and phone.
He sighed and cursed himself for wasting his energy. Upon turning back, the guy behind him offered to pay his items. The part-timer immediately took the card. Luigi carried the plastic bag and thanked the guy wearing a hoodie, "Bro, can you give me your phone number, I'll pay you through phone—"
He was stunned when he saw the guy's face. He looked like Sean. He was wearing his glasses, he was sure that what he was looking at was Sean's face.
The guy smiled and answered, "No need."
Ahh. Right! Sean has an evil twin brother, how can I forget?, Luigi finally recognized the person's identity. The last time he saw him or the first time he met him was on Sean's funeral. He was angry at him at that time and punched him in the face. He's still annoying even five years has passed. Getting treated by the person he hates the most is definitely hurting his pride. He firmly said, "I'll pay, just give me your number."
"Is this how you pick up girls?" Jian laughed.
"Just give me your phone, once I'm done paying, I won't owe you anymore. Is that hard for you?" Luigi instructed as his brows nearly intersect with each other.
Jian smiled and his deep dimples caved in his cheeks. He handed his phone to him displaying his own seemingly candid picture as his wallpaper. The boy on the screen was holding a yellow green electric guitar, he was wearing a black leather jacket and his hair was colored pink. He looked like he was singing, yet his eyes were bright giving the illusion of a smile.
After looking at the picture for a while, he pressed his number and dialed it. He gave it back and slight touch from the other's cold slender finger made him flinch. The reaction made Jian scoff, "You hate me that much?" He jokingly asked. But Luigi ignored him and left.
As soon as he got into their room, Luigi looked for his phone without caring for the droplets that fall on the floor from his wet clothes. He turned his bed upside down and did not find it. His roommate offered a help and called his number, a vibration was then felt under the piles of papers on his desk.
He checked the missed call log and paid Jian's number through payment app. He calmed down when a notification confirming payment was displayed on the upper corner of his phone. But the calmness quickly dissipated when a text message popped up.
From 09XXXXXXXXX: That Durex is my peace offering. Enjoy XOXO J
He blushed when a box of condom fell out of the plastic bag. He quickly threw it on the trash bin below his desk. And sent Jian a reply: Go to hell!
On the other side, Jian was laughing until his stomach hurts. He heard that Luigi is attending the same university and he also did not want to meet him again. He has been avoiding Luigi whenever he catches him from afar. The hate on Luigi's face was just too obvious that he couldn't help taking an unpaid condom nearby and treat him what he needs the most to relax. Thankfully he wasn't caught.
The two has enmity with each other, whenever they see each other by chance, one looked so angry and the other is naughty. They were like stray cats scowling for dominance on the street.
A classmate asked, "Do you know him?"
And he pleasantly smiled, "Sort of."
"He's been glaring at you, he looks like he's looking for a fight."
"Just let him be angry for years."
"Oh. I can't even pull off that expression to my friend who forgot all her debts to me. You sure it's fine to let him be?"
"hahaha… yeah. Don't mind him."
Luigi on the other hand indeed wanted to pick a fight. But he's on his senior year and Jian was apparently just a freshman. Though Jian was months older than him, picking a fight with a junior will make him look bad. So, he can just glare him to death.
Luigi does not hide his displeasure to Jian. His friends scolded him and told him to turn it down despite how many times Luigi says that Jian is an evil incarnate. Who would have believed him when Jian, the vocalist and guitarist of an independent band that's starting to gain popularity, has an image of a cute archangel? He smiles gently after singing a heartfelt sad song. He makes the listeners cry and comfort them afterwards.
Tsk. Luigi clicked his tongue. His roommate, Paul, who was also his friend since high school was the only one who knew where he is coming from. Paul, like him, also lost a friend but he is sane enough to not blame Sean's death to his twin brother. He used to believe that it was Jian's fault too but he grew out of it. He told Luigi his opinion.
"It was an accident, Luigi. Sean was worried for his twin and left to check on him. Whether Jian was having fun or not on that day, it's definitely not in his control to make Sean meet an accident on the way. Seriously, don't you get tired of being angry at Sean's brother? Sean wouldn't want you to treat his twin like that, you know."
"If that brat did not call and pranked Sean, then Sean would have been the one smiling today." Luigi argued and dismissed the conversation.
The sight of Jian having fun, smiling nonchalantly, getting idolized by many people makes him angrier. His hatred gives him stress and he knew that nothing will come out of it. Hating Jian won't bring Sean back to life, but it's everything he can do. He cannot forget Jian's sin. He cannot let go of Sean's passing.
Months passed and he was graduating from college. The thought of finally not seeing Jian was comforting. He walked on the stage and took his diploma. It was rewarding. Since Sean died, he has been busying himself to study. His mind always gets filled with stressful problems and he always don't get the chance to think of how sad it was to live another day without Sean.
That graduation would have been perfect to him if Jian did not show up and give him congratulatory flowers in public. With another annoying smile, Jian congratulated him, "Luigi, here's flowers, for you."
"No, thanks. My family gave me enough bouquet. Give it to someone else. Any of your fans would like it."
"I won't ask you to forgive me. It's just… Sean would have wanted to give you flowers today too." Jian explained his intention.
"So what? You're finally doing something for Sean? If you did not ignore him and pulled some random prank, Sean would have given me the flowers himself." Luigi looked at Jian's hair that has turned blue now and glared at him again. "Go away. Your flowers won't change the fact that he's gone now because of you."
After hearing those cold words, Jian dismissed the idea of giving flowers, he smiled, stretching his lips upwards. A slight tint of redness flashed at the edge of his eyes. The boy definitely looked pretty and innocent with that kind of smile. "Okay." The boy retreated and left.
His back was slowly getting smaller and smaller until he's gone. Luigi's heart suddenly ached. He couldn't explain it. Maybe, it's guilt. Or perhaps, pity.