CHAPTER 38

Thea's mind still wanders to Simon. In comparison on how she always sees him, kind, the type that smiles every time, comforting that somehow makes her at ease while he's around. However, lately he is indeed strange, starting from the day she found him knocked out drunk on the floor until the last few days that everyone in the cafe is uneasy with him around. He reeks of alcohol whenever he's near her and somehow, it bothers her. 

Dimitri's eyes didn't fail to notice Thea's worries and hears her silence since back at the cafe, and even now that they are driving close to her dump, a crowded and dangerous area of living. 

"Simon has had drinking problems ever since college." Dimitri started while his eyes pasted on the road. 

Thea turned to him. 

"He was admitted to rehab twice, thrice now. To help his alcoholic tendencies. He gets violent when drunk. There was a time he beat a freshman almost to his death just because he didn't move aside. We were seniors at that time. The freshman looks like the ones who just got into puberty, he was small...a lot smaller compared to Simon." He added. 

He turned to her to see her listening intently, brows furrowed and eyes widened upon hearing about Simon in his younger days, but he never missed noticing her worries to Simon. "You must be nervous around him during those days."

"Yeah, Darwin laid his guard up with having us, Stacy, around him." Thea answered and stared back on the road. 

"He likes you. Simon." Dimitri gently responded, leaning his elbow on the window, waiting for Thea's answer. 

Instead, she just looked down and fidgeted with her fingers. "I suspected it, from how he comforted me and how he helps me almost every time even the times that I didn't realize I needed help." 

"You were shocked when I told you he wanted me to drive home every day while he's away____"

"I just can't believe someone like you would take that plea. It's very...very__"

"What?" Dimitri looked at her intently, waiting for her next words.

"Nothing." 

"Hmm." he smirked. "You're talking as if you know me." 

"You do look arrogant, as if everything is under your control, plus you look more tired today."

He fell silent after hearing her and back to his intimidating demeanor he looked at her. 

"What I'm saying is you don't have to drive just because Sir Simon asked you." Thea sighed in frustration. 

"Okay." he monotonously answered and continued driving. "Just make sure to get home in one piece. I don't want Simon beating me to death just like that kid." 

Thea chuckled under her breath but didn't fail to be heard with the silence between them, he bats an eye on her and smirked. 

Once they get to her place, just like before curios neighbors and touching and staring at his car as he waits for Thea to get out of it. 

"Don't worry, these kids don't scratch cars." Thea mumbled as she unbuckled the seat belt and opened the door. "Thank you sir." 

He just nodded in response as he followed her every move through his eyes. From every turn and every one she encounters while she's making her way up to her room. Once she's out of his sight, he quickly maneuvered and drove away. 

After almost an hour of driving, he arrived at a familiar place. A compound with several level 1 buildings and a massive 5-storey building at the center. He was greeted by the staff with gestures of familiarity on him and walked up to a central garden where several benches are seen. He turned to one of the bench in front of a small fountain at the center, where a man is sitting in his pajamas and barefoot with minimal wounds on his toes. 

"Hi." Dimitri started in his gentle voice and sat beside him. 

"Hi Tri. I'm here again." Simon whispered, with his puffed eyes from all his crying. 

"Yeah, tough luck. Just like before, you just have to do what they say and you'll be out in less than a month or two." Dimitri assured Simon with a gentle tap on his shoulder. 

He fiddled with his fingers as he looks down, Dimitri hears him sniffled as he stayed silent, just sitting there to accompany his friend. 

"How is she?" He whispered. 

"Thea?" Dimitri chuckled which led Simon to turn his head at him. "As usual, she's scared of me." 

"Probably, because you look grumpy." Simon chuckled. "Hey, can I ask a favor?" 

"Sure. What is it?" 

"Can you drive Thea home, everyday while I am not around. I want her to be safe." Simon mumbled in his worried tone as his eyes wandered far. 

Dimitri fell silent as he stared at him. He was suddenly struck by guilt that had built up to his throat, stopping him from uttering a word. 

"It's okay if you can't, though. I mean Annie might have thought of it differently_____"

"No." He unconsciously responded. "I_I_uh...I_ mean. No. I don't mind. I'll bring my work to the cafe anyway, so I'll be there when everyone goes home." 

Dimitri smiled as saw Simon sigh in relief after hearing him say it. 

"Thank you. I owe you a lot." Simon smiled. "I'll get better as soon as I can."

"You better." Dimitri jokingly answered and chuckled. The two fell silent in the midst of the silent night that dawned on them. 

"Theo visited me this morning," Simon said.

"Let me guess, he cried." Dimitri scoffed.

"As always." 

"Such a softie." 

Dimitri walked back at the gate, glancing at the only room lit at the topmost floor in the center building. It was Simon's room, he sighed as he remembered walking him back to his room located in a silent floor with only the light in front and in his room is lit. He couldn't imagine spending the night in that situation as he stares at the nurse locking his room as if like a prisoner. He peeked in Simon's room, with his chest aching seeing his friend sat in his bed, silent with nothing but cold white walls around him. He couldn't do anything but to wait and trust the process. This is what he did before and he got better, he can only hope that the same will happen after this treatment. 

He drove back to his home with a heavy heart and a constant sigh. Right before he could lock the gates, his phone rang. It wasn't a call but a text message. His brows furrowed at the sight of an unknown number, and he opened it without any hesitation. Dimitri's fist clenched as he saw Annie's photo wasted in a bar sent by the unknown number. 

"What is this?" he mumbled as his hands started trembling. Just before he could start typing for a reply, his phone rang again. A photo is sent. This time, it was Thea getting out of his car. He figures that the photo is taken today, seeing Thea's clothes. 

Without a second wasted, Dimitri jumped back to his car and started dialing several numbers on his personal and work phone.

"Who is this person?"