:Ding dong:
Argh. It's such a pain to go get the door. I was discharged from the hospital but it still hurt when I moved around. The doctor said it will be like that for a while.
I got up and was struggling to walk to the door, but stopped mid-way.
Wait… I don't know who this is. This could be bad news.
I took out my phone and got ready to short-dial the police officers nearby that were assigned to me.
:Ding dong:
Should I pretend I'm not home?
:Boom Boom:
The guy behind the door started to kick and I was just about to tap the dial button.
"Open up! It's me!"
…. Shu?
I ran to the door - if you could call it running - and opened it.
"Could you help me with the luggage?"
Shu pointed at the big trunk he had placed next to him.
"What's this for?"
I was a bit confused and annoyed at the same time. I just got out of the hospital and still reeling with pain, and he's asking ME to help with the luggage.
"I'm moving in"
"Whoa whoa whoa… stop there. Who said you can come here, because I certainly didn't"
Since that night after I left Shu, I imagined many times what I would say if we meet ever again. Should I apologize straight away? Should I just act naturally and try to make us move on? Should I be friendly or keep my distance?
But now that I saw him again, I had a sudden change of heart and all I could think of was that I didn't want to see him again. I hope you stay safe kid, but you ain't gonna stay with me.
"Detective Haas"
Argh.
"He can't decide this for himself?!"
"So are you gonna let me in or not?"
I wasn't quite keen on the idea of keeping my door open for a long time, so I just sighed and gestured for him to come in. He struggled to get the luggage over the door threshold but somehow managed. Yeah, I would probably feel like my tummy's gonna explode if I tried to pick that up now.
Shu came into my house and looked around standing in the middle of the living room.
"This place is so empty"
"I prefer it that way"
Shu then sat on the couch.
"You feel better now? Are you still in pain?"
"So why are you here?"
"Efficiency"
"Explain"
"The police had to keep their men by my house and your house, that's not very efficient when we are both targets anyways. Put us together they can do it with one team"
"That's it?"
"…. Yeah"
"I'm gonna call the detective"
I short-dialed the detective and he picked it up after just a few rings.
"Everything ok, Boh?"
"Yeah, thank you. Can I ask you something?"
"Go on"
"Shu's over here saying you made him stay with me so you can reduce your guys, is that true?"
I looked over to Shu as I was saying this and he was looking away all fidgety.
"Uh….. Yeah I did, I did"
"That doesn't sound very convincing"
"What did he say?, Shu inquired and I just gave him a shhh sign.
"You are not on speaker phone right?"
"No, I'm not"
"Ok, here's the deal. Remember what I told you before? He needs you. He's constantly in fear and hasn't been eating or sleeping well"
I almost shouted into the phone "I'm not his mom!" and realized that's something I should never say.
"Look, I'm the one who got stabbed here"
"Just stick together. Get him to help you around the house or something"
Again, I almost shouted "He's useless around the house" but managed to stop myself from it.
"Ok, for how long"
"Until we get those motherfuckers"
I looked over at Shu and he wasn't saying or doing anything.
It wasn't gonna be easy keeping him here, but then again, kicking him out to the streets would be like sending a lamb to the slaughterhouse.
"Please do your best"
"We will. You do too"
"See? See? I was right, see?", Shu spoke as soon as I hung up.
Well, not exactly, but I'll let that pass.
"You take my room. That's the small one on the left. I'll stay in my parents' room"
"What about your parents?"
"They are busy working. Apparently"
"Business trip? When will they be back?"
"They are so busy that they are not coming back"
Shu understood what I meant and did not ask any further questions.
"So it's just two of us…?"
"Just like before"
"I see"
"You stay in your room, I stay in my room. You make your own meals, I make my own meals. You do your laundry, I do mine. My house, my rules. Got it?"
"Got it"
Shu pouted and then wheeled his trunk to my room.