Chereads / Enchanter's survival in the apocalypse / Chapter 18 - CH18: A ladder is something multiple people couldn't climb at the same time

Chapter 18 - CH18: A ladder is something multiple people couldn't climb at the same time

What happened earlier that day was so humiliating for Sean that he don't know how to face Will after that. However, he never imagined that his reaction in avoiding Will could lead to a whole new complicated situation like this. Jess disappeared all of a sudden, as well as Rick who's looking everywhere for her. Tom fortunately managed to get back home and informed Will and Sean through the Point Link communication.

Will isn't speaking about what happened. However, he persistently clings to Sean like a child who don't want to get left behind. With all this happening to them, their plans for today to hang out around the new entertainment facilities and explore the parts of the city they haven't been to before, all inevitably gets canceled. There are only the two of them in the park now and aren't of any mood to go along with the original plan. Sean also now have to take care of Will who suddenly turned mute and could only get back home.

In the bus, Will leans his head on the bus window and stares at Sean solemnly. Sean looks at him anxiously and couldn't figure out what triggered the other to suddenly turn like this. "Will… please say anything… is it because I was avoiding you earlier? I'm so sorry okay?... I was just too embarrassed…"

Will's irises flickers as if he finally awakens back to his senses and then looks at Sean's eyes intently. "You're not angry anymore?..."

"I wasn't angry at all… is that what you thought all along? What happened to Jess and Rick? I couldn't believe I was walking all alone earlier and couldn't find any of you once I looked back to ask why you all suddenly turned silent…" Sean couldn't piece up anything no matter how much he recalls what happened earlier. Everyone else was acting normal except Sean himself. How did this happen?

"I don't know what happened to Jess… She just ran away all of a sudden after talking to me. That's when I realized that I must have spoken something inappropriate. That happened to you too and you suddenly started avoiding me. Rick said that I must have said and done something that might have offended you and made me reflect in myself. Even Tom thinks that I did something bad… but, I have no idea how and when…" Will says dejectedly.

"No. You've never done something to offend me at all… it was all on me actually. That accident was too humiliating… I just needed some time to settle down my feelings after that. I'm sure you also couldn't have offended Jess just by talking with her. Something else must have happened…" Sean says carefully and observes Will's expression. However, the latter still looks dejected. He seems to be very unsure and couldn't trust himself any longer.

"Do you think… I have no human emotions?" Will asks abruptly.

"What? You have. Of course you have. I can see it in your face right now, so how can that be the case?" Sean really wants to rub and squeeze Will right now. He seems so adorable and vulnerable in his current state.

Will releases a faint sigh of relief. However he seem to fall into a daze once again. Sean could only observe Will all the way to their home.

Later that night, they finally heard something from Rick. He reached out through the Point Link bringing a good news that he already found Jess and they shouldn't worry. He also said he's sorry for leaving Tom at home.

At dinner time, Will's parents asked what happened seeing his dejected expression. Will explains that he seems to offend others unconsciously so his parents heavily retorted, saying that there's nothing wrong with him.

Seeing that Will still isn't fine after that, Sean couldn't just leave him alone. He feels like this is happening because of his exaggerated reactions he showed Will earlier that day. He couldn't have imagined Will could be very weak and vulnerable in some matters. Sean's image of Will all along is his unbothered and straightforward front that never breaks with wherever case scenario.

Will also have a secret identity as amazing as the founder of the explorer's organization. The most successful man in the world. Sean just thought that it was a given that Will wouldn't break down into something so weak and unsure. But now that expectation proves to be too much for even Will. After all, he's still just a fifteen years old boy. He also must have something he finds difficult to settle with in himself like everybody else.

After dinner and everyone retreated to their rooms, Sean goes along with Will to have a bit of talk with him. Sean really want to know what happened to them before in the park, as well as listen to Will's troubles. Maybe Will have some things that he couldn't easily release for his parents to hear. He could still see in Will's eyes that he needs to release his distress after all.

"I don't understand most of what Rick said… I just know that I unconsciously do something that could offend someone. Like what happened when we first met three years ago. I keep thinking hard what Rick was talking about when he suddenly brought that up…"

"That time when we first met three years ago?..." Sean remembers that Will was so jealous and treated him with a cold shoulder when he got a little bit close with Tom back then. Sean could easily read Will's hostility and the latter didn't even want to be in the same room as him. But honestly, Sean himself forgot about that already. "That time also proves that you have human emotions right? Everybody have something they're possessive of and would naturally get jealous once someone else takes them…"

"I didn't realize it back then but now I do. I was so possessive when it comes to Tom after all. I saw him more free and happy when he's with you, but when he's with me, he's so obedient. It's like he was holding back all along…" Will falls into reminiscing that memorable time. That was such a huge blow to Will.

Sean looks at Will and smiles cordially. "I noticed that but I thought that was normal. I never had someone I could feel possessive for before but I could imagine how you felt. I didn't mind it at all… also, Tom loves you no matter what. Everyone could have different reactions towards everybody right? Tom always acts obedient towards you because he looks up to you. He wants to be useful and be praised by you. He didn't want to be a burden to anyone because he sees your maturity and composed bearing as his role model … you know this right?" Sean looks at Will's eyes to make sure the latter understands what he means.

Will's eyes widens in realization. He thinks of it more and realizes that what Sean says makes the most probable sense. If Tom was just holding back himself back then, Tom shouldn't have depended and always sticks to him. Tom should have been a bit more scared and searched for someone else he could depend on like his parents. But for some reason, Tom chooses to be with Will even when they are all in the same room.

Even now, Tom still shows his admiration to Will. Although he's not as intimate as before when he was just a small toddler, this just means that Tom's world has now expanded into something bigger just like his age. He now have more people he could interact and feel inclined to depend on, or perhaps, even protect. This is good for Tom instead and not something like what Will initially thought that his small brother wants to separate himself from him. That was just something like his misunderstanding. Will shouldn't have concluded his brother's sentiments for him just like that. That was too insensitive and unappreciative of him. He actually degraded his brother's affection for him.

Will looks at Sean's eyes and finally sees the world in a new light. "Thank you…" Will is overwhelmed with his gratitude for Sean for waking him up to the truth and couldn't find any other things to say.

"I was just saying the truth… but I'm glad I was able to help…" Sean could now feel a bit of relief seeing Will is slowly coming to his senses.

"So… what happened earlier was also just a misunderstanding on my part. You weren't angry all along. I shouldn't have came onto conclusion all by myself…"

"Actually, it's also my fault for not saying anything. I was too caught up in running away from you. You shouldn't feel too burdened about this by yourself... Let's just say that we both have our share of blames in this misunderstanding. Let's just hope this don't happen next time… " Remembering that time, Sean wants to find a whole and bury himself alive.

"Hopefully so… I understand now why you were acting like that... But you should know that what happened was a natural phenomenon for a healthy young man and it was my fault for finding out about it... I should tell you that I also experience that every single morning and sometimes, out of nowhere in the middle of the day. So I understand your burdens too and you shouldn't feel so humiliated about it…" Will replies with a serious tone. He thinks that by also sharing his humiliating experiences, Sean would feel less uncomfortable about the fact that only him showed something like that to the other. With this, their awkward atmosphere should finally disappear and forget about that accident.

Sean's heart skips a beat. He couldn't believe that the person he likes is talking about something so sensual like it's nothing. If this conversation keeps on that direction, Sean might just spout some crazy things and Will might find out how creepy and perverted he is. Sean needs to find something else to talk to that wouldn't seem weird. Something that teenage boys like them normally talks about.

"…W-what about romance? Do you have someone you feel something like that to? Do you have someone you like?..." Sean abruptly change the topic into a relatively safer conversation that wouldn't stray too far off from the previous one.

Also, this is the boy Sean likes after all so with this, he could test the waters if he even get the chance. Hitting two birds with one stone.

"Romance…" Will smiles faintly. "It's one of my dreams to find someone like that and spend the rest of my life with them… But I still haven't found them…"

Sean heaves a sigh of relief and then realizes something crucial. Will mentioned 'them' not 'her'. He didn't specify the gender. Does that mean Sean really have a shot?

"t-they're not a 'she'?..." Sean gets closer to Will meekly and whisperingly asks. Sean don't know if this is something he should pry about but this is also his only chance to confirm his shot at Will.

Will looks at Sean and don't understand. "They could be any gender… I'm still fifteen and I still haven't figured out my sexuality…" Will says this like it's nothing. This makes Sean look at him with wide eyes and choke in the words that he eagerly want to say.

In Will's past life, with magic, necromancy, alchemy, or every other means, same-sex human couples could have children. Human population were sparse because of the harsh environment that's why they developed some other means to reproduce rapidly despite the absence of the other gender. Same sex married couples and lovers are everywhere and there are also many races that could change or have both genders. That was globally normal back then and the composition of a family isn't as 'dull' as here. There were even polygamy at other races' countries. The only drawback is the hierarchical structure. The 'top' was considered as an absolute authority while the 'bottom' was second in command. The children should just obey politely and show their usefulness or else, they could just be rid off since their parents could just produce another child that they want at any junction of their lives.

Another drawback is the arrangement of marriages forcefully set up to them despite their gender and the one they are paired with isn't what they are attracted to. Such few cases also happens, and that was the case for his parents. His parents were both male and they were set up to merge their livelihood and increase the scope of their operation to receive more profit in even terms. Both of Will's father were straight and often don't get along with each other. This resulted to them not feeling fondness on their child.

This was the world Will was brought up to so Will vows to only find the partner he is attracted to. Not the partner that he 'should' be with because of external factors such as the norms or trend.

"Are you sure?..." Sean's heart is pounding so much that they become audible up to his ears, making his head feel quite light.

Will is talking about this so nonchalantly, but for Sean, this means something like a huge opportunity. If Will turns out gay or bi, Sean could seduce him and they might really become lovers. That misunderstanding he have yesterday that greatly disappointed him won't just be left as it is.

Sean's face suddenly burst with heat and turns red. He can't believe he thought of something so bold and daring.

Will could see Sean's strange expression while looking at him. Sean looks a bit shy, or perhaps repulsed. Is talking about something like his sexuality to his friends not normal in this world?

Will then realizes that same-sex relationship in this world only became acknowledged not too long ago. Some countries still even deems same-sex relationship illegal. But it doesn't mean they aren't known or widespread. There are a lot of same sex couples who lived a long and happy lives here too.

"You don't wonder about your sexuality? Are you certain you're heterosexual?" Will asks Sean straightforwardly. "I mean, there's also Pansexuality, Bisexuality, Asexuality… you know... sexual orientation spectrum isn't just as simple as the separation of heterosexuality and homosexuality into two different things. There should be more scales people have developed to define their sexuality. I mean… you should know that the human mind is something so complex that even ourselves don't have a full grasp on them… We're at the age where our bodies still haven't finish its development. We might not have discovered everything within ourselves yet." Will looks at Sean's eyes seriously.

"It is as you say…" Sean agrees.

"Then, that means you still don't know about the gender of the one you will like?..." Will's eyes turns that of his usual eyes whenever he finds something interesting that could be recorded into his database.

Sean wants to understand his situation too and gets overwhelmed by Will's reasonable logic. "I-I didn't until like two days ago?..." Sean honestly revealed.

"That recently huh?... I want to know what triggered it but I might just invade your privacy… do you mind?" Will turns even more curious and the lines between that and prying blurs. Will then realizes too late that he is talking and asking too much. This shocks himself and stops talking before he could offend Sean.

Unexpectedly, Sean still speaks with honesty and replies to this. "Well… I suddenly turned conscious about something that never even crossed my mind before because of a misunderstanding. I thought this person has feelings towards me, and now, I sometimes think about them sexually.. " Sean explains vaguely.

Will have no idea that the person Sean is talking about is himself and continues being curious. "That person's gender… is it something that you want to keep a secret?" Sean nods. "Then, crossing out that part, you now think that you're attracted to the same gender of that person?..."

"I don't think so… they seems special to me. I couldn't think anybody else but that person…" Sean replies nervously. If Will still keep asking, Sean might just reveal the identity of 'that' person.

"That person is special?... Do you think you fall under graysexuality? This means you only feel attracted to one individual unlike other sexualities that can like people to the general sex they're attracted to. Perhaps demipansexuality? This means that you can be attracted regardless of the gender but you need the emotional closeness and connection to trigger the attraction…" Will stops talking and realizes once again that he have spoken too much. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to pry into something so personal… What I mean to say is… you're enviable. Unlike you, I still haven't met the special person that I feel attracted to. I still have no idea or even a speck of clue about my sexuality…" Will says and turns gloomy once again.

"Will?... You mean you still haven't experienced any attraction to anyone?... How about when you see someone beautiful? Or h-handsome?... You don't have anyone you're fond of? Or an inclining feeling of wanting to be with them?" Sean asks gravely.

"That's right… I haven't all this time. Handsome or beautiful… I don't know what I like… I don't even really know the things that I like generally. There's only a few things that I want to keep but they can be counted with one hand. I only want to be with you and my family…" Will says and falls deeply into gloom.

Now that Will think of it, although he dreams of finding a partner one day, he haven't really thought about their specific gender. He thought that he's fine both ways since that's the case, but then again, he never thought of doing 'that' with anyone regardless of their gender. Will didn't even figure out his sexuality back in his previous world. He have absolutely zero experience of being sexually aroused by anyone.

He never get to question that possibility back in his previous life because he was too busy. He also haven't thought about that here since he just turned adolescent recently and then becomes even busier than ever before.

He seems to be stuck in a loop. At this rate, he won't figure out his sexuality despite living two lives. He's now starting to fear maybe he's asexual or even impotent.

Sean witness Will falling into a deep thought and sees the roller coaster of his expression. Suddenly, Will looks at Sean with worried eyes.

"Sean, do you think that everyone that falls around our age would all be conscious or figured out about their sexuality already? Does everyone else thinks about sensual things aside from me?..." Will asks gravely.

"I don't know… everyone should think differently…" Sean replies with troubled expression. If anyone thinks about something sensual, that would be something they would keep to themselves no matter what.

"I now realize that I have no sense about something as common as these things at all… I don't know what I like, how others feel and why, and I don't even know a thing about my own sexuality… " Will looks at Sean with his eyes asking for help. Will is worrying about his lack of human emotions again.

The two of them are currently sitting on the bed while leaning their backs on the wall. Sean could just devour Will whole right at this moment. Will just looks so clueless and adorable.

Sean sighs and scoots closer to Will. He slides his arms between the wall and Will's nape and fold his elbow to brush the latter's soft hair. Will's hair is fine and silky. He also didn't put any products on them today so they feel so light to touch. Sean plays with it and the sensation feels so nice in his hands. They use the same shampoo but the scent Will gives off is even more pleasant. "Don't worry about this too much. You're still so young and have a lot of time ahead of you. You were just too busy… You could still discover yourself slowly in-between things as you go on with life. That's how life normally works for everyone else as well… Something like this is normal. You said it yourself didn't you? Human mind is something so complex that we wouldn't get a grasp on them ourselves. You shouldn't limit yourself and conclude about your being at just that this early… Remember that you have everyone to talk to… Including me, you can come at me any time and grumble as much as you want. I will stay, listen and help you with however I can…"

"Is that so?... Thank you very much Sean…" Will looks to his side where Sean's face is very close to his. His hair is being played so softly in an even rhythm and it feels so nice. Sean's arm that he pillows on his nape is so warm and Sean himself is so comfortable to be with. Sean always have something to say and always takes him seriously whenever Will grumble about things like this. Sean could make him feel at ease like he works on him like some kind of mysterious appeasing charm.

What happened to Will today was so chaotic and he honestly thought that he would lose Sean. He was so confused and didn't know what to do to stop that. Thankfully there was just some misunderstanding between them and now, Will feels that the two of them are even closer than before. He couldn't afford to lose Sean no matter what. Not only he's a big part of his plan, Sean already becomes someone irreplaceable to him. He's thankful for Sean being there for his family instead of him while he was gone.

Will close his eyes and let himself immerse in Sean's touch and embrace. "After my relief, another headache inducing matter takes over right away. I seem to have a long line of queueing troubles that's why I haven't had the chance to experience about these things before… I should just take it easy…"

"That's right… You said you also experiences a boner right? That just mean you aren't impotent at all…" Sean isn't worried if Will happens to turn out as an asexual. He could just stay beside him if the latter couldn't find himself a partner. There's also a chance that just like himself, Will just needs some sort of trigger like the other night when he misunderstood Will's words.

Realizing this, Sean thought up a plan. He should have done this right from the start. He, himself was just like Will who didn't even wonder about this kind of things before, just until recently.

"Will… how about we test it?..." Sean couldn't believe he actually manage to say this.

Sean waits for a long time for Will's reply. Will beside him is breathing pleasantly in long and even rhythm. "You're sleeping while sitting up again?..." Sean murmurs dejectedly once he realizes this.

Good thing this is Will's room. Sean looks at the door then realizes that it's closed and just like what happened earlier this day, he's stuck here once again.

"You can't blame me for this can you?..."

"Jess… let's go back… what are you doing here?" Rick found Jess at her grandparent's dark and dusty attic.

"What are 'you' doing here?..." Jess's voice reverberates out of nothing on one corner where the dust seems to have only been cleaned recently.

"You weren't answering any of our calls, even from your parents. Also, you almost caused your grandmother to suffer a heart attack…"

"Can't you just let me be by myself alone for a bit? Also, this is my secret place… how did you find me?..."

"I searched for you all over the city… you were very hard to find. Sean was very worried about you… and Will…"

Jess laughs self-deprecatingly. "I'm sure Will wouldn't worry about someone like me. He never seem interested about me to begin with. I initially just forced myself with you two back then. I was so persistent. He was so cool and unmoved by nothing. He's a genius and even basically saved the world… I know I'm way below his league but I never gave up. He hasn't shown any reactions towards others too anyway so I thought that as long as I stay close to him, there's a chance that one day, he might see me! He only found me interesting once I awakened my ability, and guess what? My ability allows me to not be seen or even be felt. However, Will could see me. He was the only one who could see me! I felt that it was special… then Sean came. He was just a vulnerable and beautiful boy. But then he grew up to be so smart, sensible, and kind. Everybody likes him… I thought I like Will but I also started having feelings for Sean. I started to think that I was greedy for liking two boys at the same time… only to realize that I couldn't have any of the two to begin with… The reason why they couldn't see anybody else was because they have each other all along. And I was blind to see that…"

Rick could feel Jess's pain hearing this. "Jess… I'm so sorry… but we will all still be friends right?" Rick asks nervously.

"I don't know…"

"You know that I'm still here… I'm right here too… the two of us will still be friends right?..."

"Of course, I can't lash out at you. This have nothing to do with you…"

Rick feels relieved and hurt at the same time. "You know you couldn't just lash out at them either. Their feelings aren't something they or others could control…"

"I know that… but let me mope for a bit more time. Just go home… I'll be fine…"

"No, I'll stay here. I couldn't see you anyway so you can mope all you want…" Rick sits down on one corner too.

Jess couldn't help but feel Rick's insistent side is as annoying as always. How could she possibly mope with all her heart if there's someone nearby?

"Do you think I'm funny?..." Jess ask gravely.

"No! Not at all… If anything, I think you're pitiful and pathetic… Ow!" Rick suddenly receives a kick on his thigh.

"How can you say that straight to my face?!"

"I couldn't even see your face!"

"As expected… nobody takes me seriously… you don't even seem surprised that I like Will and Sean at the same time!"

"Well, you weren't exactly hiding it. You're not denying it whenever I tease you… also, a girl in love are sometimes easy to read…"

"What?... You were doing all that because you knew? I can't believe you actually have a perceptive side… but you're so insensitive at handling it!... "

"Well, I was looking at you… Say, do you like this place? Don't you always hate spiders?" Rick couldn't understand Jess's contradictory actions.

"You're right. I haven't been here for a long time. Now that I think of it, this place was the reason of my fear of spiders when a saw a huge one before…." Jess suddenly realizes this and slowly scans the area.

"Really? I thought you finally got over your fear. You don't seem bothered about that large spider after all… Should I say congrats?..."

"Where?!" something clatters and the wooden board thump a few times and then Rick almost topple over and feel someone choking him. He cough and taps Jess's arms wrapping around his neck.

"Let's head down first before more spiders comes out…" Rick suggests.

The two then finally gets down on the sliding ladder. At the bottom, Jess's grandparents are looking at them with relief.

"Oh, Jess… it was you!... We were so surprised when we suddenly heard cries and wailing up on the attic… We thought that our old house got haunted by a ghost…" Jess's grandma looks at Jess angrily and scolds her.

"Mama, just let her be… She was crying that much, something must have happened… Are you okay dear?" Jess's grandpa fixes up his granddaughter's messy hair.

Hearing that, Jess turns ashamed and apologized. Then the grandparents, let Jess take a bath and then feed her. Along with Rick.

"So, what did you two fight about?... Dear, We were in the middle of calling for our old exorcist friend when your boyfriend suddenly appeared at our doorstep looking for you…" Jess's grandpa asks.

"He's not my boyfriend!" Jess says bluntly. "I was crying about another boy…"

"Oh… Honey, so, you got dumped." Jess's grandma says so straightforwardly like it's nothing.

"That's not it at all!... No!" Jess put the cookie back on the platter with a clang.

"Is that so… does that mean the boy likes someone else?..." Jess's grandpa genuinely looks at her with worry. Unfortunately, Jess really don't want to hear anything about this right now.

"Grandpa… please stop putting salts in my wound…"

Her grandparents just nods and understand what happened.

"How about this handsome boy then? Is he like, your best friend?" Jess's grandma says so with ambiguous expression.

"Yes. He's just my friend. A best friend…" Jess replies dully.

"Best friend she says…" Jess's grandma murmurs as she looks at Rick with ambiguous eyes. She then looks at her husband and nods at him.

"Hey boy, do you know who this boy Jess is crying for? How about you beat him up for us?... You were so fast and zapping your way here earlier, I bet no one could match you." Jess's grandpa says and pats his shoulder.

"T-that's hard to do… they're my best friends to. In fact we're all best friend including Jess…" Rick says with troubled face.

"What?... Jess? You fell in love with your best friend? Where is he? Can't he at least appease our little darling and explain himself? How could they be so insensitive unlike this boy here? Are you sure you want to be with that boy instead of the one here?" Jess's grandpa says exaggeratedly. Hearing this, Rick panics and wave his hand. Although, inside, he's celebrating for acquiring Jess's grandparent's support effortlessly.

"Grandpa, I know what you're trying to do… but it's not like I can shift my feelings to whom like pressing the button to change the channel… Please, just stop…" Jess says at her grandparents with exhaustion.

"Okay, okay…" Jess's grandpa puts his hands up and makes and exaggerated gesture of giving up.

"Boy, how is the boy Jess likes?" Jess's grandma enters the battle next now that her husband lost.

"Well. I don't know what to say… he's perfect. He's so cool and everybody admires him." Rick could describe Will immediately.

"What? How could our Jess aim at that kind of boy?

"I heard that…"

"Does the boy have someone he likes?"

Rick hesitantly looks at Jess's gloomy figure and the hesitantly nods.

"Oh? Are they together? How's the girl?..."

"Grandma, just stop!" Jess stands up and walks towards the balcony. Everyone else could only watch her fleeing angry back. Jess sits down on the bamboo hammock and grumbles by herself.

"I'm so sorry boy, she takes after my wife's lashing attitude…" Jess's grandpa pats Rick's shoulder. The grandpa also get's a pat but three times harder from his wife.

"That's fine…" Rick replies and laugh dryly. "I should go after her…"

"Oh, yes, please go on…" Jess's grandma ushers Rick and also hands him a bag filled with cookies.

Jess grunts and rub her eyes when tears unconsciously starts falling down. " This is so frustrating. How can they be so perfect for each other? I can't even retort. They look better together than how I imagine to be with them…" She slump her back on the cushioned bamboo hammock and swing.

"Yes… she couldn't answer her phone, probably because its in silent mode. But yes, she's okay, she already ate something. Yes… of course, Mrs. Flynn…" Jess hears Rick's voice talking on the phone, walking to the balcony.

"My mom?..."

"Yes… but don't worry, I didn't tell them what happened."

"Thanks… say, what do you think if I stay here instead of going with Will in the capital?..." Jess abruptly ask.

"Why are you saying this? Isn't this what we were planning all along?..." Rick looks at her nervously.

"I know, but without the part that Will introduce us with the jobs himself. I don't want to depend in him like that. I want to catch up with him, not climb on his back… not now that…" Jess sits up and looks at her feet as she swing them.

"Oh… you're right. I also don't feel so good about that part. So, you want to stay here? You don't want to go to the capital?..."

"Yes… our Ardent city is much more popular and has a lot more opportunities you know. If I want to catch up with Will, I should just find a job here. Also, whatever we do, we wouldn't be able to stand side-by-side with him, or even Sean if we're in the same place… We'll probably get drowned by their achievements." Jess says and turns even more lonely with that fact.

"I never thought up about that before… maybe its really better to stay here. If I go there, we won't be three good friends. We will be a couple and a third wheel… are you sure about this?" Rick realizes that fact if he go along with them without Jess.

"Wait, you won't go?... You're probably right though." Jess sighs along with Rick.

Rick looks at the sky and then finds his determination. Everything that Jess said is right. It's better to stay here if they want to stand beside Will or Sean. If Rick work his way up on the ladder here, he could be with them on the same height. Because following after them on the same ladder and being with them on the same foothold is impossible.

"Do you still have those calling cards?" Rick asks Jess. Right after graduation, a lot of organizations recruited them. However they were still planning to go with Will that time.

"Of course… the only problem now is to choose which one of them should we call…" Jess replies confidently.

"We're sure about this right?" Rick asks nervously.

"I'm sure… if you're not, then you could go on with them. This means less competition for me." Jess's resolve isn't something easily broken once she settles them.

"We should tell Will about this immediately then… you know how he is." Rick suggest.

"Please tell him that for me… I still can't… also, don't tell them anything about what happened to me just now!"

"Of course…" Rick says sincerely.

Once Will has a plan, he tend to act ahead each time so that everything will fit perfectly once he arrive at his destination. Rick and Jess only lasted until now as Will's friends because they know this. If they changed their mind in something, they need to tell Will immediately or that would crumble everything that he carefully built up.

However, looking at the time, its already too late and they should be sleeping already.

"I'll tell them first thing in the morning…" Rick informs Jess.

Later, Jess's grandma comes to the balcony to tell Rick to stay for the night. "Even if you're fast, it's too dark to go out and go home now… Why don't you just stay here and sleep with Jess for the night?"

"Grandma, don't say something so ambiguous as 'sleep with me'… what if others hear you?" Jess retorts.

"What do you mean?" Jess's grandma plays dumb. "I'm just telling your best friend to stay the night here and so should you… we're you thinking of something naughty?" Her face looks ambiguous and then laugh.

"No!" Jess thumps her feet and head inside. It must be her fate to not be taken seriously by anyone. Rick follows along and could only laugh dryly.

"Thank you grandma Flynn.."

"Oh, this is nothing, my grandson…" She says cordially. Her words seems to still have some vague meaning behind.

End of chapter.