11.

Nash’s POV

Luke Zyrill Hale! As in him! In our apartment! Sitting in our couch, beside me!

“Slap me” I tusked, moving slowly away from him, his cologne even surrounded the environment, I turned my head to the other side and I saw Azel eating in the kitchen already, “I can’t hurt a friend, you know” he uttered and made me to sigh

‘did I hear it right?’

“What are you doing here? Did you like escaped from class? It’s almost 11, it must’ve started” I asked calmly, gulping in the lump in my throat, tried not to drop a sweat, “It doesn’t feel bad to have you as my friend after all” he said, putting on a grin and

HE FLICKED MY FRACKITY FOREHEAD!

“An airplane will land on it soon, nice” he chuckled and probably he was getting really into my nerves up to the point that I could crush his skinny bones, “What are you doing here?!” I literally screamed, and will really beat him not into just a pulp itself, “We’re neighbors dummy” he smug a look, as he stared at the T.V

‘hell no!’

“Seriously?! For real?!” Azel yelled and came running in front of Luke and he chuckled, “You heard it, Ms. Azel”

‘how did they know each other?’

“Imma rest for now, and you! Get lost” I pointed at Luke as he stared right into my eyes, I got on my knees and swiped Azel’s pizza on her hand and munched it directly to my mouth

‘man, that was good!’

“Yah! That was mine!” my ears heard Azel’s yell as I was making my way up to my room, then plopped down my restless potato body in the soft sheets of the bed,

‘mmhh, I missed this’

Then my mind suddenly made thoughts of him, that weird softball player creature that barged in suddenly in our house

Luke’s POV

“By any chance, is she on her period?” I innocently asked, folding my arms across my chest and sighed, looking at the empty seat beside me where she used to sit some minutes ago, Azel was standing by the mirror, texting something on her phone, “You heard me, right?” I uttered again, and I wanted to shout because Azel wasn’t answering me.

‘I should find a way to talk to Nash’

I grabbed my phone and opened it, then went directly to compose a message. My back leaned against the soft couch and my leg crossed with the other and formed a ‘4’ position

To: Nash Smith

[Why are you locking yourself in your room? I’ve got something to talk to you, so please come out.]

Message sent!

I sighed as I turned off my phone and waited for her to at least hear me out before she leaves Seoul, and I do really have something to talk to her

FLASHBACK (WHEN NASH LEFT THE CANTEEN) ~

“Was that your girlfriend?” Someone with his tray came in sitting in front of me, and my head slowly lifted and my eyes widened as I stared at him, “Calix! How are you gummy worm!? Nice to finally see you again” I smiled from ear-to-ear, “Same, I just got here though” he started eating his same old food, “You still eat rice cakes and eggs?” I pointed at his plate and he looked at me seriously, “So what? I love it” he smiled and leaned on the seat and started eating, “Seriously? Don’t be too formal scumbag, I know you too well” he scoffed and finally I breathed in sigh of relief.

Honestly, when I left Seoul, I never said anything to Calix and that’s when I was really nervous about what would happen if I suddenly appear and go see him, so I just tried to talk normal.

“When did you arrived?” I nearly choked on my food when he asked and just stared at the coffee on the table, “Slow down, I’m not a monster” he chuckled and continued eating.

“Yesterday morning”

“And yet, you didn’t tell me, aish!” he sighed

“I forgot, okay! Don’t throw the blame on me” I snarled

“Who’s that girl? I see her mostly at the canteen, and she’s on her first year, what you gonna do about it?” he cheekily grinned and got his joke and it’s not funny

“Dude, we’re not dating for your uncle’s sake! I swear” I responded, shoved another spoonful of porridge that Nash didn’t finish

“She’s pretty too, and also a daughter of a CEO, but she’s quiet though, you don’t have to worry about the neighbors about the melodies the both of you will make in the night” he added, chuckling

“YOU NEED JESUS, AMEN!” I yelled at him but not sarcastically

“It’s not what you think, Calix! Clean your dirty brain!” I spoke and he laughed so loud, others might think that we’re maniacs and talking about dude stuff.

“So, who is she, huh?” Calix’s serious tone hovered over his throat and made me flinch when it stroke my ear drums and made every hair to rose up in my skin as the unbearable shiver started to grow inside me.

“A friend?” I breathed out, thinking of a word, probably my soul was drowning in confusion.

‘I chose the right decision, right?’

“Hah! You’re sweating, go get her” I don’t have any idea what Calix is talking about but, I’m really craving for her, I mean not that craving, I just wanted to see her. Her scent, her touch, I felt roughly that she would leave me and she would never come back.

My feet rapidly stood up and grabbed the straps of my bag, and took a glance at Calix who’s way more chill than Netflix, “I have a child with me and, I should get going, see you next time?” The crooked smile planted in my lips and disappeared after I left the canteen door.

My hands abruptly grabbed the handles of my car and sat in the driver’s seat, and roamed my eyes outside the car, I was searching for Nash’s Van and realized that it was not there anymore

‘Can a child cook a bacon or open a can of sausages?’

I merrily thought of Yahnie, because I just left her peacefully sleeping and hoping that she might not freak out if I’d just leave her with a note. My foot stepped hard on the gas paddle and my hand gripped the wheel as my knuckles turned white, driving my way back home, since my classes are not yet starting.

The whole ride was quiet and calm, I tried to drive fast as soon as I arrived at the village then went in the house, I stepped in the welcome dusty mat on the floor in front of the door and opened the door with my keys. As soon as I stepped in the house, the smell of delicious tuna immediately woke my whole system up, I was probably not cooking anything this morning, right? And plus, I didn’t buy any tuna from the grocery.

“Yahnie?!” I shouted and heard a noise from the backyard, my feet sprinted towards the back door and found her siting in the grass, lighting a candle and holding a can of sardines on top of the candle flame

‘Dude, she’s way smarter than me’

“Appa! Mianhaeyo” she stood up and bowed really low as I slowly walked towards her,

[Translation: Dad! I’m so sorry]

“No, it’s okay, stop doing that and you can eat mac and cheese” she blew the candle and left the can of tuna in the grass as I grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to stand her up then walked with her inside the house, she immediately sat in the table, “I’ll just heat this in the microwave” I called, I saw her nod and placed the mac and cheese in the microwave

“Appa, why you came back?” she innocently asked, “Because it’s my house?” I stared at her puffy eyes, which she just woke up and she giggled, “I mean, you left ring ring?”

‘what the heck is this child talking about?’

“Ring ring?” I turned to look at her as she placed both of her arms above the table and her head looking at the floor, my head consciously tilted to the side tracing her eyes, and smiled when it was closed, “Who is ring ring? Is that your new friend?” I innocently asked as I was waiting for the microwave

“Aish, you not understand appa” she chuckled and as soon as I heard the ringtone of my phone, I fished it immediately from my pocket, “That! That is ring ring appa” she spoke softly her head still on the table, without looking at the number, I answered with one finger still chuckling, “Hello?”

It took me 1 seconds to wait before I heard someone’s voice calling my name, “Zyrill” the voice was really unfamiliar, it seems like it’s been used with a magic tone, where you can sound like a boy when you’re even a girl, I started to get chills when I removed my phone from my ear and took a glance of the caller’s number and surprisingly it was unknown, that’s when my eyes enlarged when a certain person came directly in my mind and it made my smile to fade away

You shouldn’t have answered it Luke! It may trace your location

I was pissed just by thinking of it, “I’ve got no time for this, this is not the time for games, Ianne” My blood started boiling as if each blood in my veins was heated because of how my anger is taking over me, I would burst out screaming and punch Ianne through the screen.

“Woah, you really recognize me, do you?” my nose is steaming “Relax, you’re not the one I’m playing games with” she chuckled like a slut, and it really disgusted my whole manhood, I’d kill her if she tries to bother Yahnie, I can’t stand her if she lays a finger, “Stop wasting my time” with that, I didn’t hesitate to immediately ended the call and blocked the number once and for all, she didn’t have to even change her voice, because she is damn obvious.

My mind was foggy because of the loaded things or someone I could think of Ianne’s bait, why did she have to call me? Am I even involved in her games? Obviously.

Then the microwave bell rang, which I grabbed the maroon mittens from the table and grabbed the mac and cheese then placed it in another pot, and poured a fresh orange juice for Yahnie to drink, “Thank you appa” her chubby reddish cheeks that are softer than a mochi really melts me

She seems to be enjoying the food she is munching because it’s like her first-time eating mac and cheese, she even sniffled it first before she took a bite. My feet dragged me in the dining chair across her, she was kneeling in the chair because she couldn’t reach the table, “Yahnie, I have food in the fridge, and just eat or drink if you’re hungry, I will be home at 6 pm and make sure you’ve took some bath, ate dinner and of course toothbrush, I cannot stand bad breath, understood?” I huffed and sighed, looking at her almost finished glass of orange juice, her petite doe coffee brown orbs slowly looked at me, I’m glad I didn’t burst out laughing because her face was covered with cheese

“Here, clean yourself up” I reached her a box of napkin that she shyly received with both her small palms and giggled once again, I went near her and gave her a small high five as I pat her head lightly, “Lock the doors, and you should never let anyone in, except if it’s me, you can watch TV but never make a mess” I sternly said that I hope it never scared her.

“Appa, where eonnie Nash house?” Yahnie asked all of a sudden, I turned around staring at her, “Why? You want to visit eonnie? But I don’t know where she lives”

I regretted each passing second when Nash and I met at the canteen earlier, I should’ve asked about her and yet I just confused her.

“Yahnie heard eonnie Nash and eonnie Azel at that house a while ago” She slowly pointed at the house from our right, outside the window, it’s a beige colored house with a dark indigo roof, “Maybe you just saw someone that looks like them, and you know what? You should take a shower now” I flashed a smile at her and trailed off the house then locked the door.

I was glad that Yahnie isn’t the type of kid that really seeks attention to a person, she didn’t even ask for a bedtime story or a forehead kiss, in fact she can already live on her own.

As soon as my body stepped outside the house, the fresh air blew gently in my face, inhaling them in, I looked around for a while and saw a pizza guy with his deliveries and just as I thought, it stopped by at the ‘so called Nash’s house’ I sprinted towards the pizza guy

“sillyehabnida. gumaeja ileum-i mwojyo?” (excuse me, what’s the name of the buyer?)

 the pizza guy stared at me then to the box and smiled, “keulleeo higinseu ssi” (it’s for Ms. Claire Higgins) Yahnie was right, maybe this is where Nash and Azel lives.

I smiled grabbing the pizza and paid the pizza guy, as he left and wore his helmet and went off with his motorcycle

And that’s when I opened the door and saw Azel, lazily walking as she just opened the door widely and let me in the house.

My eyes roamed around the house for a matter of time and sat beside Nash.

END OF FLASHBACK~

Azel and I are out here in the living room, she shared the large pizza with me and I shoved it inside my mouth,

“So, you said we’re neighbors?” Azel started, walking towards the TV when she got herself a juice, “Just the boy next door” I said calmly leaning my back against the soft cushion of the sofa supporter, “No freaking way, too bad we’re leaving soon though, didn’t have time to enjoy you as the ‘boy next door’ hehe” I scoffed at her slightly rolling my eyes playfully, I’m still waiting for the text I sent to Nash, and decided to entertain myself by discovering the whole house.

“Your place is kind of small than mine, no offense” I chuckled as my hands touched the marble tiles of the floor, “And as if we poop cash? You’re also slow at sometimes, you know that, Luke?” I turned my head towards Azel, her mouth was full of food and sitting at the sofa and her other leg raised, she has rich parents and plus, she’s the only daughter?! Boy, she’s one hella’ lucky brat.

I paused at my position and thought of an amazing idea, then after it, I can go straight back to the University. I took a glimpse of Azel and smiled, she looked weird but she’s normal, I slowly went to the stairs and tried not to make the littlest sound that I could make, and upon reaching the second floor, I felt my heart clenching in embarrassment, my knees somewhat getting weaker and as I continue the creaking sound of the door from a room opened, my eyes opened wide because Nash came out, holding her stomach and as far as I could see her face, it was not okay.

“H-Hey” I uttered and felt my heart to drop in my stomach when she dropped on the floor and she vomited, and my breathing got faster because she kept on vomiting.

“Luke, we’re leaving, unless you want to come with us, it’s okay” a sudden voice woke me and shook my shoulders, “Hoe, you farted!” Azel was dressed up already holding her large luggage on her other hand.

“Oh, I am truly sorry, and no it’s okay, well I have a class to catch up” I explained fixing my messy hair and embarrassed of how I look waking up in someone’s sofa and had that very awful dream, and I softly chuckled looking up to Azel’s indescribable face

“I don’t know her so much yet but, please take good care of her” I sighed referring to Nash

Till’ then I was proud of Azel that she immediately understood and we went outside the house with Nash inside the black van and Azel locking the door knob, “Hope to see you soon, football guy” with a sly smile, Azel went in the van and left.

Unaccompanied... 

My fingers felt so numb realizing that I was in the middle of the silent road, still reminiscing about my dream

Yes, I dreamed of something.

Shrugging off the excess dust in my shoulder driving off to the university. Gladly, the guard still allowed me to go through even though I’m very late, with accelerated heart beats I ran through the quiet halls towards my classroom and witnessed how the terror-faced professor glared.

“First day of class, you are late, introduce yourself”

It was English class for today, “Good Morning” I started and the professor cleared a throat making baby confusions to rise up in my blood “Check your watch for at least once!”  I just smiled at her, “Good Afternoon, I am Luke Zyrill Hale, looking forward to meet all of you” Some of my classmates smiled, gossiped, some of them even laughed but who cares, “Sit”

“We won’t be adjusting ourselves for your sake Mr. Hale, get a book and start reading until you catch up” I nodded vigorously as my palm traveled through my hair, taking a sit beside a familiar girl, but my curiosity ate me and completely turned my head to the side

I gasped, realizing it was the girl who helped me to get to Mr. Jung’s Office, my eyes wide open staring at the girls’ features, as her confused face stared at me too.

“What? Are you that surprised?” she smiled softly and reaches out her hand for me to shake, I guess. “I’m Brizz, nice hand” she lets go of my hand and continued writing on her beige notebook. Hopefully, I caught up the lessons because there are a few of my classmates that are so kind and was ready to risk their lives.

Then the break came, our adviser gave us only 15 minutes before the last subject, which is exploring the university. I planned on just walking for a bit and I want to explore the halls for recognizing each thing.

Glancing to each corridor, watching each student turn their heads on me too, I started to reminisce my sister.

I really wouldn’t mind if she’s far away, and I hope she’s okay.

After minutes of wandering the whole building, I decided to get inside the classroom and finish the last subject. All of the student went outside, especially the transferees which they’re not that familiar with the Campus, we explored the whole Building of Medicine, and that made me think of Nash, Azel had told me that they have the same course and classroom. Each hall we pass, there were girls that was saying hi to me, well a lot of them, maybe it’s because yesterday, I got really exposed to the public and wondering how mad my mom would be.

She doesn’t like messes, she would slap me for not winning a competition in both academics and sports, my father would also yell at me for having too much friends or gaining weight, but my sister... she was not like them, she accepted my flaws, she would sometimes bring me food at 2 am when my parents would not let me eat just a half of the plate, she would lie at my parents just so I could hang out with my friends. That’s why when she left, it felt like the whole world turned its back on me and changed myself.

“Okay students, we shall go back to the classroom and you are now dismissed, have a safe day!”

The adviser prompted us that it’s already dismissal time; quarter 6 pm. Grabbing my things from the classroom and then suddenly I felt a hand in my back that made me to turn back and surprisingly I saw Brizz again.

“H-Hey” I greeted awkwardly as she smiled, her hands placed low in front of her as she was holding her bag, “Please join me for a d-dinner? I’m also new here, just two weeks ago actually” she stated anxiously, as I eyed the small drop of sweat running down her champagne cheeks.

“Why, of course, sure, well just let me put my things and” I stopped talking when a book fell in my hands, I had a hard time doing physical things especially with hands. Since the other one is still injured and in the process of healing

I felt her slightly cold palms on top of my palms too, she was trying to grab the book as I am from falling. “Oh, I’m sorry, here” she smiled again, handing me my book

“Let’s just go to my car” I offered, as she walked with me up to the parking lot, the road was wide and many cherry blossom leaves feel and scattered around looking like a wedding aisle “Are you kidding? With that injured arm? No, I’m driving” she scurried through the car and I was beyond shocked like how did she know that this is my car?

“Let’s go?” the engine roared to life as we we’re heading to a fine restaurant

“So, who’s the mother of that sweet angel?” she spoke which  turned around to see her, she’s holding the wheel right now and is focused to the  road.

How did she know?

 **

A/N: HI! THIS REALL TOOK A WHILE HIHI, I WA SO BUSY AT SCHOOL LATELY BECAUSE I'M ALMOST GRADUATING FOR JUNIOR HIGH. I STILL LOVE WRITING BECAUSE IT'S A PART OF MY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AS A HUMAN, AS A TEENAGER. AND I LOVE MYSELF FOR HAVING THAT KIND OF TALENT. I'M THANKFUL AND OVERWHELMED BECAUSE I HAVE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS RIGHT BESIDE ME. REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE TO LOVE YOURSELF, THAT'S WHERE BEAUTY STARTS WITHIN YOUR SOUL.