"Hi… Still remember me, right?"
Mike frowned at the figure of a woman waving at him. Mike didn't like women's tactics like this. Too many women have pretended to know him well, and Mike knew very well that most of them would have expected more of a relationship.
"I don't know you."
Mike was about to close the door again, but the woman bravely held him back. Mike was fed up now, he didn't like small talk. While Mike isn't in the mood to deal with women, he's still enjoying his new role as a big brother.
"I think your boyfriend will remember me. Hi Dev!"
Mike turned around and met face to face with Devan who gave a faint smile. And they ended up in the living room with an atmosphere that suddenly became very awkward.
"Thank you, Dev, you look cute in that oversized t-shirt," the woman complimented after she took a sip of the sweet drink served by Devan. Her lips never stop smiling as her eyes are busy exploring every corner of the room.
"Ehmm… Thank you."
The clothes that Devan is wearing are Mike's, which are a little too small, even so, this shirt still looks very big on Devan's tiny body. That day Mike offered to buy him some new clothes, but Devan vehemently refused. He felt it was quite a hassle with him staying at Mike's place. Devan doesn't want to be more troublesome.
"You know, I miss you so much, guys!" The woman's words made Mike and Devan look at each other with different meanings. Mike suddenly remembered this woman in front of him, a strange woman who accused him of being bisexual. Mike rolled his eyes in disgust, preparing to shoo the woman in front of him, but his intentions had to be stopped when a small hand grabbed him.
"Oh yeah?"
Devan squeezed Mike's hand gently. He knew Mike seemed uncomfortable with the woman's presence. Devan remembers Mike telling him with an annoyed face about what happened in the elevator the first time they met. Mike felt that he had to stay away from this horrible woman who seemed to have the odd intention of diverting his orientation.
Devan felt a little disappointed when Mike confidently said that he didn't want to have more relations with any man. At that moment, Devan felt his wings break before he could flap them. Yes, after all, Devan still has to be self-aware.
"Wow…. Your room is so warm, unlike mine, which is quiet."
"You live alone?" asked Devan trying to be a little polite with guests, although to be honest, he didn't like the grown woman a bit.
"Ya, my parents live in America and I'm here on duty."
"Oh…"
"Dev… You look young, how old are you?"
"17 years old." You're the same age as my young brother then. If I'm not mistaken, then you're entering the second grade of senior high school, right?"
"Ehmm… actually..."
"Yes. You're right, Miss," Mike interrupted Devan. They looked at each other for a while and finally, Devan cut off the contact. The teenager's small body leaned against the back of the sofa, heaving a long sigh.
"Why do you call me Miss, it's like we don't even know each other."
"Indeed."
Devan lightly hit Mike's stocky back and made the masculine man turn around. His right eyebrow raised with a questioning look, what's wrong with that?
"You guys are so romantic… so I wanted to see you guys a little longer. Can I join in for the dinner?"
And Mike had to hold back his annoyance as those sad eyes stared at him with a twinkle of hope.
.
.
.
Ting tong
Devan poked his head towards the door. His feet walked away from his favorite cartoons. Devan felt a little bad when he suddenly hoped that Gista was not the guest this time. Not feeling hate or anything, to be honest, he felt a little uncomfortable with her. How could there be a woman who was so eager to pair a man with another man, while on the other hand, Mike seemed hopeless to reciprocate his feelings? Devan knew enough to get rid of this stupid feeling. He also didn't want him and Mike to be awkward because of it.
His hand turned the door handle and found a new face with a faint smile on his stiff face.
"Ya?"
"I want…"
"Oh, you Niel… come on in!"
The man's words stopped when Mike's voice invited him in. Devan slightly stepped out of the doorway to ease the man's path. He closed the door again and intended to walk away intending not to interfere with other people's business.
"How is it, is it done?"
"Yes, please double-check."
The man handed me a file which was immediately accepted by Mike. His hands turned over each sheet of file and absorbed the data he was carrying.
"Well Niel, you can always be relied on. You can go," Mike said with a satisfied smile.
"I'm sorry to resign."
The man named Daniel bowed half-body towards Mike. Devan was left gaping at the incident. His initial intention of wanting to cook dinner, however, was distracted by curiosity that had reached normal limits.
And sure enough, he found the strangeness in the behavior of the two people. What does it mean to bend over to a person of the same age? Damn, he doesn't know a Mike at all.
Like the previous days, at exactly seven o'clock in the evening, Mike and Devan sat opposite some of the simple dishes that were served in front of them. The clinking of the cutlery was proof that neither of them had spoken a single word.
"Tonight's menu is different. You don't usually bake cakes for dessert, is there anything special today?" Devan turned around and looked at Mike's big hands that grabbed his arm.
Devan's steps were accompanied by Mike's gentle tug which led him to the sofa. Television impressions felt very bland when Mike's big hands turned to hug his small body.
"Happy birthday to you," Mike whispered right into Devan's ear.
"You know that?" asked Devan while gently pushing Mike's body to give some distance.
"Heem… Just a moment ago. You lied to me the first time we met, 'I'm 17 years old, that's not even boy!" said Mike excitedly pinching Devan's smooth cheek to leave a little red spot.
"Ah! You just made a fuss," Devan replied by dismissing Mike's naughty hand.
"You want a present from me?" Mike offered with a big smile.
"No, you donating a little food and sharing a little space in your luxurious apartment alone means a lot to me."
"Don't ever underestimate my abilities, okay? Even if you pretend to ask me to buy a car tonight, you know that?" Mike's conceit made Devan burst out laughing.
"Haha… A rare rich man already."
"You're making fun of me? Alright… After you see this, maybe you can't deny it anymore. Mike thrusts a file towards Devan. The file that the guest brought earlier?
"This… what?"
"Open it!"
Mike coded with his eyes at the file. With curiosity, Devan opened the first sheet which contained complete information about himself. Devan's forehead furrowed further as he turned to the next page.
"You…."
Devan looked at Mike with a twinkle of happiness.
"Why? Are you touched? Want to hug me huh?" Mike's teasing made Devan's tense face replaced with a smile full of joy. Can Devan live his life with this stranger? Could he be touched by the temporary attention of a Mike?