It's already 11 pm when Ryan woke up because she's thirsty. Forcing herself to move, she went to the kitchen with heavy lids. She walks as if shes an iron who keeps on getting pulled by her magnetic-like bed.
"I should have brought water inside my room before, tssss," she grunted.
Eager to yawn, she opened her mouth as widely as she can, but failed to do so because she got distracted by Chaylen who suddenly came inside the boarding house.
Tears built up in the corner of her eyes as her yawn got interrupted. For that, Ryan silently cursed Chaylen's name. It was not entirely his fault but since she hated him so much, Ryan couldn't help but to blame the drunk man.
When Chaylen saw her standing on the first level of the stair, he greeted, "Oh? You're still up?"
His tone, smell and movement, Ryan could tell he's real drunk. Her defensive instinct did its work, as she thought of escaping away from him as soon as possible.
'I had to go back to my room!' She thought, forgetting her purpose for coming down.
But before she could go in, Chaylen made something which prevented her from fleeing.
"Why do I keep seeing you at time like this?" Chaylen murmured. At the end of his sentence, his voice cracked and soon, tears fell down from his eyes.
Ryan got thunderstruck. She stayed standing at the same spot while staring at those tears running like waterfalls.
It was then she remembered the scene she witnessed few days before, when Chaylen got slapped by his mom. Without doubt, Ryan guessed inwardly, ‘Maybe, he had another fight with his mom?’
“I really hate it when you see me like…” Due from too much drowsiness under the influence of the alcohol, Chaylen both stumbled his words and his body.
Ryan worried if he might had his head cracked open after falling down, therefore, she ran into him and caught his falling body.
“Look out!”
“Hmmm,” Chaylen grunted while on her arms. Slowly, he lifted his teary eyes towards her.His hands gently wrapped around her, before he hugged her so tight.
To kick, push and smack his head, these are Ryan’s plan to do with this man. But how can she bear hurt him if he’s crying like this?
Instead of pushing him away, Ryan, with both of her hands upward, asked him, “C-Chaylen. Are you okay?” She didn’t know who spirit possessed her right now but she dared tapped his back.
“Why?” Chaylen sobbed. “Why does it have to be me?”
As his hug tightened, his shoulder elevated up and down.
Everyone was used of seeing Chaylen laughing and being annoying. So if he’s crying like this, then that’s a serious topic.
After letting out all of his emotions, Chaylen lost his consciousness. He’s so heavy that he and Ryan ended up sitting on the floor.
“Chaylen! Chaylen!” Ryan shouted while shaking the man on the floor.
Suddenly, someone entered the house. It is Slyvester who came in to offer help.
“Slyvester,” Ryan called him out of surprise.
“I will carry him to his room,” he presented.
“O-Okay,” Ryan agreed.
Slyvester lifted Chaylen from the ground and placed him behind his back. Even though Slyvester is much taller than Chaylen, the drunk guy has more muscular built that him which made their weight very uneven.
“Oh my g-god,” Slyvester grunted. “I should have eat more before coming back,” he chuckled. With a grunt, he tried lifting Chaylen and groaned, “Argh! This monkey is so… heavy.”
Ryan followed Slyvester through the gaze, as he carried Chaylen upstairs. She really thought the two would be rolling down because Slyvester looks like he’s in the verge of death.
Fortunately, Slyvester succeeded on bringing Chaylen to his own room.
Catching his breath, Slyvester threw Chaylen to his bed.
“Hmmm,” Chaylen moaned, but didn’t wake up.
Slyvester’s face was filled with sweats. He stretched his arms and massaged his waist. “Damn it. You’re so heavy, you freaking b*astard.”
He was about to leave Chaylen alone but the drunk man suddenly held Slyvester’s pants and pulled it down.
“You…!”
Annoyed, Slyvester smacked Chaylen’s head.
“Ahhh!” Chaylen winced. He fell down on the ground and Slyvester took that chance to escape.
As soon as Slyvester got out of the room, he saw Ryan waiting for her. They looked at each other, but it took them a long time before someone think of speaking.
‘I heard from Kyle that today is your ex’ death anniversary,’ is what Ryan wanted to say. But because Slyvester probably saw her and Chaylen a moment ago, Ryan thought that she must clear the misunderstanding first.
“Did you see me and Chaylen hugging each other?”
Slyvester then loosened his strained look by smiling. “Ahhh, yes. I saw it.”
“The t-thing is, I only tapped his back because he is crying an…”
“Hey,” Slyvester stopped her from explaining. “You don’t need to explain everything,” he said, chuckling. “I know that Chaylen is a bastard but I don’t have the rights to meddle between the two of you.”
Another silence swept he space.
“Ahmmm, Ryan,” Orij dropped, breaking the silence which was the result of his own words.
“Hmmmm?”
“I’m a bit tired now,” he said, scratching his nape as he bit his lower lip. Then he continued, “I will sleep first. You should take a rest too. Goodnight.”
Slyvester walked away and went inside his own room without looking back.
----------------
The next morning, Chaylen woke up with headaches.
“Ahhhhhh, it’s so painful,” he complained.
He feels so thirsty and so he walked out of his room to get water from the kitchen.
“I need water, water…” he moaned. But as soon as he opened the door, he saw Ryan walking by.
Chaylen quickly made a model pose by the door-sill and called her.
“Pssst. Good morning, baby,” he said in flirtatious tone.
Ryan looked back with an unexpected reaction. Instead of getting annoyed, she stared at Chaylen with worried face.
‘Oh? I didn’t expect her to stay still?’ Chaylen wondered inside his head.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked. Just in case he has booger on his eyes, Chaylen wiped the corners of his eyes in advance.
Once again, Ryan did not answer. She just kept on staring at him with those sincere eyes.
‘Don’t tell me she’s…!’
“Are you falling in love with me?”
Ryan’s expression shifted from worried to annoyed. This is the reaction that Chaylen was seeking for!
“Did you forget what you did last night?” she asked.
Chaylen looked back and began to squeeze his brain. ‘Last night? Hmmm, I came back so drunk last night. Then… omg! I couldn’t remember anything once I stepped inside the house.’
Squinting his eyes, Chaylen looked suspiciously at Ryan.
“Did we… have a s*x?” he asked.
As her answer, Ryan rolled her eyes. She took a deep breath and whispered, “Damn in. I worried for nothing.” Ryan glared at him and murmured, “You’re so annoying.” Then she left him alone.
“Hey! I am just joking!” Chaylen chuckled. As his laughs slowly faded, he wondered about the memories he lost last night. “How did I enter my room?”
Chaylen held his butt and thought again.
“My butt hurts too. Where did I fall last night?”
He stated to walk on the way to the kitchen while thinking. He got a glass of water and looked around of the quiet place.
Vincent is eating a peanut butter sandwich. Kyle is cooking for breakfast and Ryan seems looking for something at the living room. She’s a clumsy person who lost her things for many times this doesn’t surprise Chaylen anymore.
It is a peaceful morning, Chaylen thought. Not until they heard a loud shout coming outside the boarding house.
Kyle turned off the stove, and he’s the first one who ran outside. Although apathetic, Vincent stood up. While holding the sandwich, he followed Kyle. Ryan, who found her phone at last, also went out to check what’s going on. And of course, the curious Chaylen won’t let himself stay behind. He ran out to check what’s the reason behind Terban’s loud shout early in the morning.
“What are you doing here?!” Terban shouted to Slyvester.
Slyvester is laying down on the bench, it seems he just woke up just now.
“Hey. Why did you sit on my face?” Slyvester complained while rising up. He stretched his arms, then when he saw the mug on Terban’s hand, he snatched it away. “Let me take a sip~” Without hearing the owner’s permission, Slyvester took a sip on Terban’s coffee.
Terban’s mouth opened, as if trying to shout again. But when his eyes went to the witness’ direction, exactly at Ryan, Terban closed his mouth.
‘He looks like a puppy who calmed down after seeing its owner,’ Chaylen concluded while looking alternately at Terban and Ryan. ‘Hmmmmm. I smell something fishy. Since when did she tame this demon? I am getting curious.'
“Slyvester, why did you sleep there?” asked Kyle.
“Didn’t you enter your room last night? Why are you there?” Ryan also inquired.
Slyvester smiled at them. “I couldn’t sleep last night so I went out to get some fresh air. I didn’t expect I’ll fall asleep.”
“What a fool,” Vincent chuckled then went back in.
“Achoo!” Slyvester sneezed. He wiped the water coming from his nose and gave the coffee back to Terban. “Here. I’ll give it back to you. Thank you.”
Terban gave the mug back to Slyvester and shouted, “JUST HAVE IT! YOU DIRTY CREATURE!” Stomping his feet, Terban jolted to the pack side and shoved Chaylen so he can enter the house.
“Ahh!” Chaylen moaned exaggeratedly. “Hey! That hurts!”
Slyvester caressed the goosebumps on his arms. “Ahhhh, so cold,” he complained, placing the coffee near his cheek.
“Are you sick?” Ryan asked. She approached him and touched his forehead. “Oh?! Slyvester, you’re bur…” She couldn’t finish her words because Slyvester suddenly pushed her hand away from him.
‘Oh f*ck. This is interesting. Did they have a fight?’ Chaylen wondered inwardly while watching.
“Don’t worry too much, Ryan,” Slyvester said with a serious stare. “I’ll be okay after drinking some medicine.” He stood up and walked inside the boarding house while murmuring, “I won’t attend school today, Kyle. I don’t feel good.”
Chaylen was so surprised to see Slyvester in low energy. He’s not used of seeing the joker being so down.
Since he cannot hold his curiosity anymore, Chaylen asked Kyle.
“What’s wrong with Slyvester?”
With a sigh, Kyle answered, “Just let him be. He’s always like that after the day of his ex-girlfriend’s death anniversary.”
“Ahhhh girlfriend,” Chaylen repeated in low tone. He couldn’t believe that a happy-go-lucky person like Slyvester has a sad history like that.
“At least, you have that slight empathy towards other,” Ryan said to Chaylen. “Congratulations.”
“I’ll admit that I am a bastard but there’s till kindness in my heart,” Chaylen defended himself.
“Tsss,” Ryan clicked her tongue. She rolled her eyes to Chaylen again and went inside.
‘Wow. In the end, why does it feel I am the villain again? My only sin is that I got too curious!’ Chaylen shouted inside his head and continued loudly, “Argh! I won’t go to school too! My head is aching!” he stomped his feet and went back to his room.