It was only three am but the lights in the living room of JLNC's clubhouse are already on. Someone is already doing warm-ups in the gym.
Key is talking to her best friend; Kitten, through video call while doing some stretching.
[I know you won't die from lack of sleep but dang, KC, you should still sleep.] Kitten said and rolled her hazel eyes and combed her newly dyed strawberry-blonde hair
"It's a surprise you didn't dye your roots but just from the tips to your ear," Key said changing the topic
[Please, as much as I want to dye it to the roots, I can't do that, you know that.] Kitten replied clicking her tongue before turning her head somewhere else, no longer looking at the camera
"Are you in the spa?" Key asked her after noticing that Kitten is talking to someone about nail colors and the kind of scent she wants for her skin
[Yes, and oh, stop changing the topic, will you? I know that it's just freaking past three am there so get some damn sleep, stupid.] Kitten replied with her harsh vocabulary
"Geez, we even went partying for twenty-four hours straight before, Kit, nothing happened to us so chill." Key was laidback with her response and Kitten couldn't help but loosen up a bit as well at the memory
[Dang, right, I suddenly miss those hangouts, but we have a little girl to serve as good examples to, so we have to tone it down for now.] Kitten said and Key chuckled while stretching her legs
"Don't you think we should let her some taste of the adulthood, you know, just to make her experience the most of her life?" Key asked teasingly
[You wanna push her to the pit again, stupid? We did that in the past.] There was a sudden change in Kitten's tone and Key sighed because she was just kidding
"Yeah, but she has a best friend now, right? She's not alone, we won't lose her this time." Key said and Kitten shook her head and smiled meaningfully which she caught on to immediately
[Sleep, KC, it's just three-ten am there.] Kitten said and Keychantel took her phone from where she placed it before walking to the living room
"My body clock's messed up, Kit, it's no use." She said and sat on the couch
[Oh well, whatever, you're immortal anyway.] Kitten said with her eyes rolling and Key chuckled
"Hmm, and you are a time traveler who I will never lose." Key said with a warm smile making the other person smile warmly
[That's true, whenever I end up, I know you'll be there doing stupid things out of boredom.] Kitten said
"You're so harsh with me, Kitten, I suddenly missed the days you're so~ freaking kind with me." Key said while chuckling softly and Kitten arched her brow before chuckling
[I'll be having my body spa now, later, KC.] Kitten said and waved her hand in front of the camera
"Later, Kit," she replied and the video call ended
Key stared at her wallpaper for a moment, she has to give Kitten her thanks for it to be possible. It was a collection of Polaroid images of them…
Taken before she broke up with him.
She closed her eyes and opened them again when she heard movement from the stairs.
"Good morning, Captain," she greeted with a smile and he replied with a nod
Rasheed headed to the kitchen and Key curiously stood up to follow him.
"What do you want?" Rasheed asked after pressing the button of the electric kettle
"Nothing, what are you doing?" Key replied and leaned her elbow on the island counter
"Why are you asking?" Rasheed asked and looked at her
"It's only around quarter past three, why are you already up, Captain?" Key asked another question
"Why are you up?" Rasheed asked her back and Key sighed
"Why won't you just answer my questions?" Key asked him and he looked at her in a bored manner
"Why do you have so many questions?" He asked as he turned his head to the electric kettle after hearing the button click
Key watched as Rasheed took two mugs from the cupboard and placed two spoons of chocolate powder in both mugs before pouring hot water and stirring it.
"You don't drink coffee, Captain?" Key asked when he placed the two mugs of hot chocolate on the island counter where Key is leaning on
"We have a child to serve as an example to." Rasheed replied casually as he took one cup and Key glared at him, this reaction of hers made Rasheed smirk before he went out of the kitchen to the living room
"Why do you always refer to me as a child?" Key asked with a frown as she followed Rasheed to the living room with the mug of hot chocolate in her hand
"You look and act like one," Key's eyes widened before she glared at Rasheed because of this reply
"You're such a bully," Key shook her head and when their eyes met, her expression has reverted to its usual calmness
"Why did you join e-sports?" she asked him unexpectedly
"Why did you?" again, Rasheed threw the question back at her but instead of shaking her head in disappointment for the evaded question, Key smiled while blowing her hot chocolate
"Because it's something no one can tell me I received out of privilege for my looks and background." She answered in a straightforward manner
"You do look like a kid who throws her tantrums when she didn't get what she wanted." Rasheed commented while slowly nodding his head and Key shook her head while sighing
"It's a breath of fresh air from the business." She looked at him in surprise because she didn't expect that he would answer her question
Comforting silence enveloped them as they drank from their mugs of hot chocolate.
It was quite calming and surprising for someone like Keychantel, who has been suffering from frequent chaotic sleepless nights for the past several years of her life, to experience such silence for once.
That is because even during the night before her first match and game as an official member of JLNC, Key didn't fall asleep easily, she had to drink sleeping pills.
After finishing off their drinks, only the ticking of the digital clock as it changes digits makes a sound next to their breathing, none of them seems to have any plans of leaving the living room or heading to the kitchen to put the mugs in the sink.
Amidst the silence, Key's phone vibrated, she received a message. She immediately clicked it open after drawing her pattern and smiled when she read a message from her 'Babe'. It's more than half-past three am on her side so it's probably half past three pm on their side.
Babe (At 3:36 AM): How are you?
You don't have a game today, right?
Babe (at 3:37 AM): Then, whoever wins today will be your opponent in the finals.
She started typing her reply; 'Yes, that's true. What a surprise, you're been watching e-sports now?'
Babe (at 3:38 AM): Just a bit, only when Aki's available to accompany me.
"You look so happy," she looked up when she heard Rasheed's voice
"I haven't talked to Babe in a while." She replied with a smile
"Babe, you have a boyfriend, huh?" It's now Rasheed's turn to ask
"Oh no, Babe's babe, we're not romantically involved." She shook her head while replying and put her phone down after sending her reply; 'Okay, good luck, love you.'
Babe (at 3:40 AM): I have to go now, 'til next time.
"Why do you ask?" Key asked Rasheed who just ignores the question and faced his phone
Silence once again surrounded them and Key couldn't help but lean on the couch she's seating on and lean her head on the backrest when she suddenly felt sleepy. The intervals of her every blink shortened although she remained alert, and she didn't have any intention of stopping herself from falling asleep.
"Morn-night, Captain," she muttered before succumbing to the drowsiness she's feeling, and she eventually fell asleep while seated on the sofa
Rasheed looked up from his phone screen when he heard her greeting him in a soft voice. Key looks so peaceful at that moment, her long eyelashes cast a shadow on her pale ivory complexion, her ash-gray hair has evident raven black roots, and it falls freely on her back and on her shoulder down to the top of her chest.
He shook his head when he saw Key indeed has fallen asleep, he stood up and sat on the couch where Key is sitting before her gently pulled her by the shoulder, and placed her head to use his lap as a pillow.
"Troublesome…" Rasheed said in his mind before he found himself combing Key's hair
Rasheed also leaned his head back into the couch and eventually fell asleep as well.