Heaven Sent, Hell Bound pt.2

He grabbed the peanut butter jar, a butter knife, one frozen banana, a small cup of yogurt and some leftover granola and nuts. Pride mushed all the ingredients into a plastic bowl until a sludge of makeshift smoothie formed. The owners of the house seemed to forget to leave any spare access cards for Pride. Hence, he was stuck locked in the house as the door would automatically lock him out should he ever leave the house.

Pride's ego wouldn't let his failure at attempting to cook rice consume him. He persisted that he could afford just one food delivery while the owners of the house were away. He also promised himself to not invite anyone in the house unless it was an emergency. The FIFA loading screen stared at him as he zoned out on the couch waiting for his food. It has been about an hour since he ordered his food, the app stated that the food had been delivered and received.

*DING DONG * DING DONG *

"Finally!" he thought.

He looked into the peep hole of the front door. The person was wearing an ensemble of red clothing, nothing like the usual uniform of the delivery company. Perhaps it was a freelancing rider? Or just some broke student looking for some extra cash? He opened the door.

"Um, I think you keyed in the wrong address," the stranger handed him his food.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry. You see, I just moved here an– "

"Hahaha… Yea I'm aware. I've been living here even before Lust moved in with that girl. Did he break up with her? Are you his new roommate?" she said rapidly with anticipation.

"No, actually I'm just housesitting for them. And I don't think they were even together like that," his voice trailed off into deep thought and internalization of their relationship.

"Oh. How rude of me. I'm Famine," she held out a hand and smiled.

Pride shook her hand politely, still weirded out, "what makes you think they were dating? Did you see or hear something from this house?"

She laughed, "Silly me! If I didn't know any better, I'd think you're jealous. So, what's your name?"

"Uhm, yeah. I'm Pride. Sorry it's just that I wasn't aware of how close they are."

"Well, dude's living with her. What do you expect to happen when a guy and a girl are living in the same flat? Are you his dad or something? How old are you?"

"17. You?"

"I'm 16."

"Famine! Who are you talking to? Mom said you need to clean your room!" a loud and deep voice shouted from the opposite unit.

"Coming!" she answered. "Well, it's nice to meet you. That was my brother Plague, he's your age," she quickly said.

"Thanks again for the food, and sorry."

"Here, text me if you need any help with the house," she wrote on the box of his takeout.

Pride raised an eyebrow in annoyance as his new acquaintance desperately tried to get acquainted with him. Or maybe it was the new assumption regarding Lust's relationship. Exactly how much did she know about them? Curiosity was overwhelming him, but ego took over.

"I'm fine without, thanks," he closed the door.

Famine put her foot to stop it from closing, forcing him to open it and face her again, "in case you change your mind, I'll take a dinner as an apology. Might even tell you more about those two," she winked.

Pride was speechless at the bravery and courage of the young lanky girl.

"Dinner? Yeah right. She looked like she needed one," he thought as he remembered her bony appearance.

His food was still warm as he sat in on the dining table. He stashed his dinner in the fridge to keep it fresh and prepared his extremely late lunch. As the first food touched his tongue, he chewed in satisfaction of being able to consume a tasty and more than edible warm meal. The TV was still on as a YouTube video played out of the blue. It startled him for a second before he realized his cheeky neighbor had taken advantage of the Chrome cast installed to the 60" flat-screen TV. It was playing Rick Astley's most famous song.

"Can't I have a moment of peace today?" he grunted.

Pride turned it off and continued to finish his meal and cleaned up before going back into Lust's cold room. It was at this moment when he realized he answered the door bare chested in front of a random girl. Suddenly the thought brought blood rushing to his cheeks. He felt his head getting warm from the embarrassment. Though honestly, he had nothing to be ashamed of with that ripped body of his.

He spent the evening sweating himself off on the balcony. Lilac and cobalt clouds intersected each other to weave a magnificent abstract painting. Pride stood over the railing to inhale the fresh night air under the starry night. Wind brushed over his pecs as he cooled off before taking a long steamy shower. The over-head shower blasted him with warm water as he washed his soreness away. Smelling like Wrath seemed to help with the lonely feeling he needed to cope with.

Pride sighed, "Finally some relaxation."

*DING DONG * DING DONG * DING DONG *