LET’S DRINK PART TWO

[GRIFFIN'S POV]

When I got back from the convenience store, my phone vibrates indicating that a text came up.

I grab my phone from my pocket and it shows that a group chats from my college before being notified. Recently, they have been planning on seeing each other and get to hang out. I did not come last time, I think it's already 5 years ago, that was the last time that they have their gatherings.

Right now, they have been tagging me pictures and memes that I need to go to this event with them because I did not go last time. But it depends on my schedule at work or it depends on my mood.

I ignored their texts and open the door using my key, and when I open it, I hear laughter coming from two people.

When Eryx sees me, he stops and quickly grabs the paper bag that I am holding and smiles at me, "Did you buy it?"

I just nodded and I turn my face towards the quiet guy who I just heard laughing with Eryx.

"Oh, sorry, this is Kev, I am just showing him how to use a PowerPoint in his thesis presentation," Eryx says as he's pointing at the seated guy in front of his laptop and the quiet guy bows his head like we are in a historical drama in other Asian countries.

Eryx walks to the kitchen and starts to prepare the dinner and I followed him, "And what did I tell you about inviting a guy over?"

Eryx slightly laughs but sarcastically, "Don't worry, we did not do anything. He's a junior from my old school, he just needed my help."

I sigh, "But this is not your place, Eryx."

I am trying to teach him how to do proper manners because sometimes, he just wants to do what he wanted to do without thinking about the consequences.

"That is why I am telling you this now."

We are whispering to each other and the quiet guy named Kev is just exploring his laptop. Eryx's laptop is his personal use, he doesn't share it unless something is important or urgent, but in this case, is that guy even important?

"So, is he going to spend the night here?" I challenged and getting annoyed at the fact that this is my place but another guy, whom I don't know of, is staying here, without my permission.

Eryx looks at me and stops opening the container of the pork belly.

"Of course not. I told you, we are not hooking up, okay? He's a junior and-" Eryx cuts off by the Kev guy who just stood up and looks at us who are childishly arguing.

"Umm, Eryx, how can I insert a picture?" He asks and Eryx smiles and walks towards the small living room and sits beside him.

I sigh and instead of talking to him or getting annoyed with the guy, I should not be mad at him because he doesn't know anything about the place or who owns it, I just prepare the dinner and bring out he can of beer and put on the countertop.

Later on, I am cooking the meat and suddenly Eryx went beside me and looks at the pan.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"It smells amazing." He smiles.

"Don't look or you might get hurt." I added and he moans, "That was so romantic of you."

"... and you might complain about your skin and asked me for money." I shot back from my first statement.

He rolls his eyes sarcastically, "Kev already left. He did not say goodbye because I kicked him out."

"You kicked him out?"

"Not literally but, he just asked me to send a tutorial video because he has to go home or his mom will get mad."

"So, he's a mommy's boy?"

"Sort of." Eryx answers and grabs the tongs from my hand, "I will cook this, you just seat over there." He points at the sofa.

"I already started this, let me finish-" But he makes a moaning sound while flipping the pork belly over the pan, ignoring my answer.

I sigh, "Fine, just don't overcook it."

"Roger that." He says and I prepare the beers, I grab a glass and pour one canned of beer over it.

"Did you see Eros' post?" Eryx whispers.

"Post? What post?"

He coughs, "He posted something on his profile, he and Ellis, together and they are smiling. The caption is... a smiley face."

"Oh. That's good for them." I replied.

Eryx did not reply and instead looked at what I am doing and his eyes widen.

"You remembered on the way I drink beer." He softly said and looks down, staring at the floor.

"What's wrong?"

The way I see at Eryx, he's on the stage of moving on, and right now, he's just starting the first stage, in denial.

"Eros does that as well whenever we drink beer, he pours it gently, so all of the beer would not be a waste, and the best part is, he will let it stay cold in his refrigerator." He explains and looking at him, he still remembers Eros in every little detail, I understand him because I have been there and done that.

"... maybe I am being clingy to him that is why he got bored and did not pursue what he intended to do." He continues.

Suddenly, I smell something burning and I panic and got the tongs from his hand and turn off the stove, and transfer the burnt pork belly to the plate.

"I told you I don't like burnt food," I say to him and as soon as I looked at him, tears are falling from his cheeks.

"Eryx," I called.

"I-I'm sorry." He says and continues, "I'm sorry for staying here, I'm sorry for being a burden, for being childish of avoiding Eros, and for bringing a guy over here without your permission. I am so sorry for being immature. I don't know who to lean on, because first Ares is always busy and out, flirting with girls while Eros... well, he's the reason why I am acting like this. And I have you, Griffin, we used to be so close, and... you are the only one who I could talk to, right now."

Without hesitation, I grab his right shoulder and pulls him to my chest, "Right. You are such an immature for acting this way, you are already a grown-up, act like one. I am older than you, so you should be respecting my privacy. More importantly, you could talk to me whenever you have problems, it's just that, talk to me straight to the point, don't act like we are strangers."

He sneezes through my clothes and I sigh, "But don't change the topic because we are not done with your burnt pork belly."

He looks at the burnt food, "I have extra noodles in my bag, you can have it."

"No, we cannot waste this food, we have to eat it," I say to him.

"But you said that you don't like it."

"It's fine." I grab the plate and walk to the living room, and sits on the floor.

Eryx sits beside me, bringing the beers on the table, "Sorry for being dramatic."

"It's fine, I got used to your dramas already."

"Hey, they are not all dramas because some are cute and thrilling stories." He says and drinks his glass.

"Eros is already happy now, you should accept that, even from the start."

Eryx empties his glass and pours more of the beer from the full can.

"But I am still hoping for him to notice me, even a little, like 00000.01 percent. It would make me happy." He explains.

I smile, relating to the way he's thinking, I hoped that Eros would look at me as well and liked me a little, but it never came true.

"They are living together now." I say to him, to pursue him to give up on Eros, because whatever he does, or say to him, Eros will be Ellis'. They are perfect matched.

Eryx looks at me, "T-they are living together now? Ellis agreed? I have never thought that Eros would... I mean, why? Eros knows that the Chairman would take away Ellis anytime soon."

"He knows his consequences and he's risking all of that for their happiness," I replied.

He looks down, "I don't want him to get hurt, I don't want Eros to regret his decision, because seeing Eros cry or get hurt, it's heartbreaking."

"Griffin, I did what he asked me to do in Japan, you know that the reason why I stayed there, right?"

"I know. And you know how much he's grateful for you, right, Eryx?" I asked.

"I know, he always thanked me whenever we get to talk." This is with the Chairman's illegal actions towards the company, Eros asked Eryx to be a spy in Japan for a while to find out some things that are not in place, but sometimes, putting personal feelings into work can affect one's performance, and Eryx would be an example of that.

"Eryx, Eros appreciates you as his best friend, you have been his friend for a long time, you know him better than anyone."

He sighs, "What can't I do that you can do, Griffin?"

"Why are you asking me?" I grab my can and drink half of it.

"Because you liked him as well."

I almost cough and spill the drink, "H-how did you know that?"

"Because it is obvious from the start. Eros is one of a kind human being, he's handsome and hot as hell, he's a genius and all. Who can't like him right?"

"Right, right." I gave up and continue, "Eros and I had talked about that, we had closure and we are on good terms, so I don't need to worry anything. There's no awkwardness between us."

"That's great. I'm sorry if there are times that I think that you are going to steal him from me." Eryx chews on the burnt pork belly and matches it with a piece of kimchi cabbage.

"It's obvious on your glares, Eryx."

He laughs, "I said I'm sorry, okay!"

I smile and empties his glass again, I looked at him and he's like a kid who needs more clothes to wear like literally. Why would he be wearing thin and almost see-through clothes where his chest is seen? He's stretching his neck and arms while pouring another can into his glass.

"What are you doing?" He asks and out of nowhere, I am already touching his upper garment because I am trying to fix it.

"Your chest is showing, so put more clothes on, like a jacket or a sweater," I say to him, because of the truth. But maybe he's thinking something else?

"O-oh. But you need to get used to it." He answers and smiles, drinks half of his glass.

I looked at him and he's getting red, leans on the sofa, "I've finished my work, it became a distraction from Eros, and that's fine with me."

"Okay," I answered plainly and I empty mine.

"Whenever I am broken because of him, I go to parties and meet other guys because they prefer rich and handsome men like me, but... they're all different, they are bad kissers."

"Okay."

I yawn. It's late and I still have work tomorrow and I'm going to pick Eros up.

"Griffin?" He calls.

When those words came out of his mouth, I almost laugh but when he looks at me, it is like he's serious about it.

"Would you like to be my boyfriend?"

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