Click.
The door closed.
Ian walked back to his seat on the hanging chair and sat down.
Like a cat who successfully caught a mouse, Levi fluttered back to his seat as well.
Crossing his legs and posturing elegantly, Levi resumed his scholarly and elegant aura.
"I understand that the three of you are from the same dorm?" Levi started with a lazy and casual voice, as if truly intending to just chat with them.
They nodded.
"Besides that, it seems like you three became good friends." Levi secretly gave Ian a meaningful look to which Ian merely smiled, unaffected. This made Levi unable to guess what was on Ian's mind. So far, it appears Levi was winning the bet between them. However, this didn't make Levi very happy at the moment since he failed to tease Ian.
'No fun,' Levi mentally pouted to himself. Since Ian wasn't provoked, he decided to make a change of plans and set the trio as his next targets.
While Levi was plotting his scheme, Chase and Rip were confused by what Levi was leading to with this topic of conversation. Additionally, why does it seem like he knows a lot about their activities? Was it just their illusion?
Although skeptical, Rip still honestly nodded and answered since Ian was also here and there's no way the other would let him get cheated. "Yes. We are friends."
"Good! Good!" Levi exclaimed with genuine joy.
"Since we're all friends here, why don't we play a little game together? To strengthen our bonds," Levi suggested mysteriously, his eyes squinted, giving off a sly, deceptive feeling.
Were they all friends? But none of them dared to question the words of their higher-ups.
Awkward, Rip and Chase looked at each other and then looked towards Blake to gauge his reaction. Seeing that the black-haired and black-eyed gloomy young man who resembled the dark moon seemed to have no objections, the two bright suns nodded in acquiescence.
Clap! Clap!
After two successive claps of his hands, Levi shouted, "Bring it in!"
Wide-eyed, Chase and Rip were blown away by the grandness of a rich master's aura.
With just two claps of his hands, a servant entered from the door Ian had previously wanted to leave through.
Holding up a silver tray full of a variety of non-electronic games, the servant respectfully stood aside, waiting for Levi to select a game.
"Which one do you want to play?" Levi asked, unintentionally with a sly smile on his face. He didn't mind them choosing any one of the games, after all, he had them specially prepared so no matter which one they pick, his goal will be achieved.
Rip stared at all the choices and had a hard time choosing. He was still a child after all, and the temptation of games was too great and irresistible on him.
On the other hand, neither Chase nor Blake showed much interest in any of the games. They stood aside, wordlessly, waiting for Rip to make up his mind.
Chase had never had the time to play games when he was young, struggling to fight for more resources in the orphanage for himself and his little brother against those cunning orphans. So by the time he was given space to breathe and have fun, he had long outgrown the age where he had an interest in these kid games.
As for Blake, he hardly has an interest in anything. So obviously nothing could be expected from him. Most of the time, he only goes with the flow.
Finally, after minutes of careful contemplation, Rip picked out the winning game.
—Twenty Questions!
Rip gave an explanation for his choice. "Since we want to get to know each other, what better way than asking each other questions! Right?" Rip tilted his head innocently with cleverness flashing in his eyes.
"He speaks the truth." Levi nodded in agreement to Rip's sentiment and asked, "Does anyone have any objections?"
No one raised their hands so Levi took it as their unspoken approval.
The servant put down the card packet for the Twenty Questions game and left at Levi's signal.
Levi got up from his rocking chair and slipped the question cards out from the paper box containing them.
The box was thrown onto the swinging rocking chair.
Taking the cards, Levi sauntered to an area where a 5-feet radius purple carpet was laid out on the floor with beanbag chairs and a low see-through glass table placed on top.
This area was specially designed and arranged to allow for maximum comfort and relaxation as the user admires the fairy tale-like garden outside the one-way glass windows, bathed in the warm sunshine, on either a beanbag of their choosing or lying directly on the soft carpeted-floor.
Now, it was about to become their playground.
"Let's all sit here and play. That way, it'll be more comfortable and we can stop being so stiff with each other," Levi said and, acting as an example, he took the initiative to sit down in a yellow bean bag.
His body was instantly swallowed up by the fluffy and malleable chair. Now if he had a blanket with him, he could go right to the sweet, sweet dreamland.
Rip had no problems with Levi's proposition. In the first place, he has yet to finally comprehend the adult society and their invisible rules and regulations. As carefree as his young age, Rip plopped himself into a sky-blue colored bean bag without any impoliteness and beamed at Chase and Blake. Urging them to come too.
Without a word, Blake crossed the room and gloomily sat himself down on a black bean bag with white swirling prints.
This left only a desolate Chase dumbly staying where he was to Rip's doubts.
Although Rip could be all springy and bouncy like that because of his childish ignorance and lack of concern, and Blake with his indifferent mode on at all times, Chase was more restrained. It wasn't as easy to relax around people that were supposed to be his superiors who decide whether or not he gets to stay. If he happens to displease the other, the other might just inexplicably tell him to pack up his bags out of nowhere.
And Chase really needed this well-paying job, and so far, he has only been able to read that Ian had a good feeling towards him, while Levi was not interested in him in particular. However, this Mr. Levi who wasn't even an official part of the Everett family and who showed no previous interest in him, took them here to chat with them, including himself. It made Chase wonder what his true purpose was.
What was his ulterior motive?
Being told to sit and sitting freely was one thing, but being told to relax around someone who could very well decide his fate? Chase felt a slight unease. In what circumstances would a higher-up want to get to know their subordinates?
Having long seen through and experienced the ways of the world, Chase was cautious and meticulous beyond his years despite his sunny and easygoing outer appearance.
And Levi saw through that, that was why he deliberately said those words. Even though this young man full of vicissitude might still not relax around them, and instead might be thrown into incertitude, it will at least let him know his thoughts and the other party can act accordingly.
Observing the bright, vividly shining young man who was unsure as to what to do and questioning what their true intentions were, Ian chuckled as his light purple eyes flashed with slight amusement.
The young Chase was really cute and innocent. As well as full of unnecessary worries, prone to overthinking.
But it's also a good thing, that was what allowed him to survive through all these years in this cold, fickle world.
Thinking back to what the older and worn-out Chase he knew was like, Ian found it hard to believe they were one and the same. Different life experiences really do change people.
Uncaring about what the other person thought, Ian also went over to the carpet area and sat down on a purple bean bag that was exclusively reserved for him.
Ian supported his left cheek with his fisted left hand, his head slightly tilted to the left. "Are you not coming?"
For some reason, regardless of how gentle Ian's tone was, something about his voice made Chase's body uncontrollably lift itself up from its sitting position to his feet and walk stiffly to the carpet area.
An inconspicuous glow of deep purple flashed in Ian's eyes before they disappeared in a split second.
Levi did not notice that short glow in Ian's eyes. He only found it strange that Chase would suddenly come over by himself after Ian's simple and unremarkable question, when he had seemed so hesitant and guarded before.
Let alone Levi, a bystander, even Chase did not know what happened or how it happened.
But eventually, he just chalked it to young master Ian's authoritative voice that made his body unconsciously obey him as his subordinate.
Since every one of them has now gathered, the Twenty Questions game officially kicked off.
Levi shuffled the cards in his hands and after he finished mixing them, he handed five cards each to everyone, and placed the remaining pile of cards in the center of the transparent table.
"Here are the rules for this game of twenty questions: Each of us will take turns to choose a question from our cards which we will ask everyone, and then discard the used card. After everyone answers, they will earn a point and that concludes the round. Those who wish not to answer may choose silence, however, it will cost you a point. Whoever accumulates the most points in the end wins and gets a prize!"
"Wow!" Rip was excited, his eyes sparking. Not expecting for there to be a prize, he could feel his competitive nature showing. "What prize?!"
"That's… a secret." Levi placed a finger against his curved lips and said mysteriously.
"Let's start! Little Ian, you can go first."
Indifferent, Ian nodded.
Looking at his question cards, Ian pondered for a moment before choosing—
"What is your number one favorite color?"
Immediately, Levi's lip twitched.
Really.. Beginning with the most beginner friendly question ever.
But the fact that he can even get that specific card in the first place and end up going first was a miracle.
Since Levi was sitting next to Ian and the one sitting on the other side of Ian had no intentions on answering first, Levi sacrificed himself and answered first, "Jade green."
"Orange."
"Sky-blue!"
"Monochrome…"
Pft! Levi almost laughed out loud. Not because of the ridiculous answer but because since the question specified only "one" color, Blake chose to answer with that term to embody both the colors of black and white. It was cunning and cheeky, which was the opposite of Blake's appearance, making Levi laugh at the contrast.
Imagining Blake struggling to choose between black and white for his top favorite color and in the end choosing both…
Levi almost had a heart attack from the cute chibi image in his mind!
No one was aware of what was racing through Levi's mind behind that elegant and pretentious smile of his in those few short seconds between Blake's answer and Ian's answer.
As the person who asked the question, Ian also had to answer.
Ian, "Purple."
In this way, everyone gets a point this round.
Next, it was Levi's turn to ask questions.
Fanning himself, his golden bangs fluttering in the air, Levi said, "Before I ask my question, I should remind everyone to pick harder questions for everyone to answer, or else, everyone will be able to answer and then no one will win. Then, I'm afraid, the prize will remain a surprise forever."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
Rip nodded the hardest with a serious and solemn expression on his young, immature face. 'We can't have that!'
"Alright. My question is—" Levi scanned his question cards.
"—What were you doing late last night?"
Among his cards, that was the question he thought was the most ambiguous and dynamic when it comes to answer choices. It also allowed for everyone to get to know each other better.
Levi discarded the question card and took a new card from the upside down card deck.
Startled, Chase abruptly raised his head.
Last night…
…It comes down to this again.
Inwardly, Chase did not feel happy.
Once he puts something down, he never picks it up again. Much less get affected or influenced by it.
But now, he found he was unlike his usual self. Just earlier he had thought back on what happened yesterday and now even a question appeared that made him recall yesterday's events.
If he was normal, the first thing that should've come to his mind should be the walk he took before bed or what he did before going to bed and not what happened a few hours before he went to sleep.
A sense of nameless aggression arose in Chase's heart. It was as though something or someone wanted him to tell someone about that incident.
Or rather, a certain someone.
But why?
Why would he inexplicably feel this way?
They had no connections to each other.
"Chase, why aren't you answering? Did you do something you can't share with us last night? In that case… you can opt to skip if you so desire," Levi smiled and said.
Snapped out of his overwhelming thoughts, Chase quickly calmed himself down.
"It's nothing. I was lost in thought. I just took a walk last night because I couldn't sleep." In the end, Chase chose not to reveal anything, as if rebelling against the other individual in his body.
"Oh, really? Nothing else?" Levi probed.
"Nothing else." Chase was calm and his eyes were straightforward as he grinned his usual bright and sunny smile, as though what he said was not an utter lie.
Next, it was Rip's turn to answer.
Recalling what he was doing last night, with a beaming smile that showed his white tiger teeth, Rip articulated a word concisely.
"Sleeping."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"?" Rip looked around him with wide, puzzled eyes. "What?"
"I don't think that's weird. Isn't that what everyone usually does at night?"
Rip was truly confused as to why everyone was staring at him that way. As if he was an alien.
Levi came back to his senses and folded his fan with a twist of his wrist. He tapped the delicate fan on his palm.
"…I think what the question actually meant was—What did you do before you went to bed last night?"
Rip, "…Oh."