Conflict

"What's wrong, Alexis?" I asked as the man crumpled to the ground, Yale looking at him apologetically.

"He … he told them to save the baby," Yale said, breathing in and out to keep herself calm. "Wendy breathed her last a minute ago."

"So she really is dead," I said, furrowing my brows at the grief-stricken man. "What about the baby?"

"In an incubation. It is still too small and the doctors are not sure if the baby will live." Yale said, sighing. "Zion. I'm … hungry."

"I know," I said, patting her head. "Let's go somewhere to eat, with Alexis ok?"

"Ok."

Turning to the doctors that came out of the operating room, wheeling the body of Wendy back to the room in clothes full of blood.

I asked, "We are with her. Is it alright if we step out a minute? Just to get a breath of fresh air?"

"I suppose that is fine." The doctor said, looking at the distraught man sitting on the ground. "Let the nurses clean her up first too."

"Is the baby … stable?"

"They are, for now."

"Thank you."

Walking back to the two, I said, "Alexis, come on."

"Where?" he asked, though he did not look like he knew where he was.

"You must be hungry." Yale wrapped her arms around his more to support than to hang on like she usually did with me.

"I know a place," I said, pulling out my phone. "We will be quick."

"Ok," Alexis said, obediently following us without another word. Limbs sprawling everywhere as he took one slow step after the other.

Are we even going to arrive on time?

_____________________

"Eat," Yale said, cutting the pancakes and shoving them into the man's mouth.

"Yale, I don't think-"

"If you are not going to feed him, then I suggest you keep your mouth shut, Zion." She said, pointing the fork at me.

I made the zipping motion at my lips, sitting as still as I possibly could.

"I can feed myself, Yale," Alexis said, trying to get the fork and knife from her but she would not give up.

"This is the fifth time you said that, Alexis." She said, cutting the pancakes. "Every time I hand the fork and knife to you, you stop moving. Like an idiot. So I have to feed you like a child."

"Sorry." He said, looking at the plate in front of him. "I didn't mean to worry you both."

"You didn't worry us," I said, taking a sip of my coffee. "But you are very close to worrying Yale to the point that she will not let you out of her sight until your family gets here."

"Sorry."

Slamming the fork into the table until a hole almost came on the other said, Yale glared at the man. "Why do you keep apologizing? Did you get replaced with a broken recorder or something?"

"No, I was just … I have caused a lot of problems for you tw-"

"Did you hear us complain about it?"

"N-no, but-" He turned to me. "Zion, help me calm Yale here."

I looked at him and then at Yale, sipped my coffee and turned away from him.

I am sorry, Alexis, I said I would help you but … you are alone on this one.

"Ah, the betrayal," Alexis whined as Yale began lecturing him as I started reading the ten-page article and was done faster than she was at lecturing the man.

"Zion. Help." Alexis said, cheeks and eyes sunken in as he pulled at my sleeves.

Ok, I think this is enough.

"Yale," I said, turning to the girl, who instantly started frowning at me.

"I am not done, Zion. Don't try to stop me."

"I was just thinking that he should be given the chance to eat, right?" I asked, pointing to the plate of pancakes growing cold. "And your cake is growing cold too."

She looked at the cake filled with whipped cream and strawberries like her dress and bag. "Fine. I'll continue after."

"Thank you," Alexis said, biting into his pancakes. "You know … I didn't think there would be a day where I won't be able to talk with her anymore."

"You still can talk to her," I said, putting my cup down. "And I am sure she will respond in her own way."

"I didn't take you to be a … spiritual person, Zion." Alexis chuckled.

"Well, I do believe that ghosts exist so … and the supernatural is definitely there." I cast a sideways glance at Yale as she spoke up immediately.

"I agree with Zion. Our loved ones will always be looking after us when they die. You would too, right?"

"Of course." He laughed, patting our heads, "When I die, I will look after you two from above and scold you every time you do or try to do something stupid."

"What if we died first?" Yale suddenly asked, throwing me and Alexis off guard.

That is a valid question but … it isn't the time or place to talk about it.

"I would hope you both don't die before me," Alexis said, trying to play it off as a joke. "Don't talk like that Yale."

"Yeah, don't," I said, giving her the look.

"Sorry. I guess today just has me thinking silly stuff." She said, resting her head in her hands. "Alexis, when did your family say they were coming?"

"Let me check." He pulled out his phone and looked at the messages, jumping to his feet. "Oh, I have to go. They are there and looking for me."

"Alright. We will head home then." I said, looking at Yale force a smile on her face as she waved at Alexis running out of the café.

"Zion?"

"Yeah?"

"I can't eat anymore." She pushed her barely eaten cake in my direction.

Signalling the waiter, I asked him to pack everything up and to hand the bill over as he walked away with the trays of half-eaten, some untouched, pastries.

Taking Yale's hand in my own I gave it a gentle squeeze. "Let's go home."

"Yeah. Ok."

______________________

Yale didn't even wait for me to close the door as she threw all her clothes off her body, scattering them on the ground like a trail to the bedroom.

Putting the packed snacks away first, I began picking them up and opened the door to the small storage room with the washing machine in there and began washing her clothes and mine as well.

Walking only in my boxers to the bedroom, I looked at Rumant lying flat on top of the bed, hair sprawled everywhere.

Ignoring him, I walked to the bathroom and began preparing for a bath.

"Ru. We need to bathe."

"Leave me alone." He mumbled, voice muffled because of the covers.

"You are going to get the bed dirty," I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Whatever."

"Ru." I walked to him and tried nudging him out of the bed but he wouldn't budge. "Come on."

"Death … death is scary, Zion." He said, sitting up and staring at his hands. The tattoos all along his back slightly moving. "I didn't think it was this scary before but … it really is scary."

Sitting beside him, I picked the boy in my arms, holding him close.

"Sometimes dying is peaceful," I said, not sure what else to tell him. "Don't be too scared of it. It is usually a little bit of pain, sometimes and then peace."

He shook his head, leaning it on the crook of my shoulder. "That isn't that I meant."

"What do you mean then?" I asked as he finally looked me in the eyes, though it didn't look like he was seeing me. Instead, it was like he was searching for something.

"What's wrong?" I tried asking but he didn't say a word.

While he continued to look at me, I could hear the sound of the water overflowing in the bathroom but I dare no move. Not until he gives me the ok.

"Shall we take a bath together?" I asked, finally seeing a break in his stare. "Come on."

Without saying a word, I carried him to the bathroom and gently placed him into the water, turning the tap off.

"Now, where is the shampho-"

Rumant grabbed onto my shirt, looking at me through his wet hair, "Aren't you going to get in? You said we will take a bath together."

"Don't you want your favourite shampoo?" I asked, slightly teasing. "I'll just find it an-"

"Forget about the damn shampoo." He pulled me and I fell into the tub, getting completely soaked up to my hair.

"Ru-!"

Only then did I realise that the boy was on top of me, hands on my chest as though he was tracing along a line on a paper.

"What are yo-?"

"Zion!"

"Yes?"

"You … you want to sleep with me, right? Let's … let's do it."