Chapter 2: He Sleeps

Chapter 2: He Sleeps

Traveling across the void to search for doors can be a bit mundane at times. Caden Mistral was a man who didn’t like too many surprises. He established a routine and stuck to it for the most part. When he traveled through different dreams, he wanted to check on the few he cared about. He had well-kempt short brown hair and thick square glasses that framed his matching brown eyes. He looked towards the scene before him, relaxing on a small table outside a cafe.

Dreams often occurred in a place someone has been to before.

Caden had definitely been in this same streetside cafe. He had sat in this exact spot with his best friend Tashi. He was drinking the same iced tea and eating the same quesadilla that he ordered before. The only thing that was strikingly different was the absence of Tashi in the seat in front of him.

That didn’t mean Tashi was not present.

No.

Unfortunately, no.

Tashi was right in front of him, strutting down the streets, winking at the girls as he passed. Caden’s cheeks were dusted pink and he looked down, hiding his face.

Tashi didn’t have any pants on.

The girls giggled as they watched the tall man walk down the streets without a care in the world. He was whistling to himself a tune as he merrily sauntered about.

Why, Tashi? Why? Caden had groaned.

This is your dumbest dream yet.

Caden was horrified at the thought of seeing his best friend later when he was awake.

He trailed Tashi more, avoiding looking at whatever is going on down there. Tashi was just merrily walking until he halted to a stop. There was a girl in front of Tashi. Unlike the rest, she raised a brow and asked.

“Why the fuck are you naked?”

Caden stifled a laugh. Any inkling of confidence faded when Tashi met the girl’s fierce gaze.

“Sara-!”

Tashi and Caden both woke up. Caden’s vision slowly recovered as he laid in his bed. His phone’s alarm blared and his dogs licked his cheeks. He contemplated getting up, horrified that he saw his best friend’s best friend. He felt like he violated some unwritten code somewhere.

The alarm was getting annoying.

He turned to his phone and turned his alarm off. The two chihuahuas playfully barked at him.

“Alright, alright.” He groaned. “I’m awake.”

He stretched and yawned, preparing himself for the morning. The clock read 5:32 AM.

Time for his morning routine.

The smell of garlic, oil, and meat cooking later permeated the kitchen. Now in a green knitted sweater, Caden cooked breakfast for two people, a hot cup of mocha beside him. A simple brown record player played loud enough a relaxing aged jazz tune. A sleepy yawn signaled the arrival of his housemate, Tashi. Caden stiffened, remembering Tashi’s dream.

“Julian,” He called nonchalantly. The black-haired man, Tashi, didn’t seem bothered that he was called by his middle name.

“Susan.” Tashi retorted.

“Darn it.” Caden visibly cringed.

“Haha,” Tashi went to the coffee maker, making himself a pot of coffee. “You know normal people say shit, fuck, or maybe damn. Damn is a pretty nice start.”

“What time did you sleep?” Caden sighed, crossing his arms as he let the sausages cook.

“3:30? I don’t know.” Tashi yawned again. “Isn’t it too early for you to be grilling me, mom?”

“It’s 8. We have a class at 10.” Caden replied. “I already finished my morning workout.”

“Congrats.” Tashi shrugged, bringing his mug of coffee to the counter beside Caden. “I was playing all night.”

“Go shower already.” Caden nagged. “Breakfast is almost done.”

“Thanks, Susan!”

“It’s your turn to do the groceries tomorrow!” Caden yelled.

It was the same every morning every day. It was always the two of them, Caden and Tashi. Caden had his routine wired into his brain while Tashi...

Tashi did stuff.

After breakfast, Tashi was tasked to wash the dishes while Caden got ready. He slipped on a collared dress shirt and a knitted sweater to top. He placed some food on the dogs’ food bowl and freshwater. There wasn’t anything extraordinary with his routine, rather he prided himself in the normalcy.

As he waited for his best friend to get ready, he checked the fireplace. On top were a line of photos and one in the middle was of an old woman who smiled gently towards the camera. She was the same old woman that held a younger version of himself in his room’s photo frame. He smiled softly, picked the picture up, and kissed the frame.

“I’m heading off to school now, Ma.”

Tashi was behind him nodding to the frame.

“We’ll take care, Ma!” He spoke to the frame.

The two friends nodded at each other and headed out. As they exchanged small talk, Caden actively looked upwards. Tashi raised a brow, noticing Caden’s discomfort.

“Is there something on my forehead?” He questioned.

“No.” Caden shifted his gaze forward.

“Then why have you been staring at my forehead?” Tashi grumbled.

Because I saw you swinging your thing in your dream, Caden replied in his head. He ought not to say.

“You have a pimple.” Caden lied instead.

“Really? Fuck.” Tashi fumbled about, trying to feel for the non-existent acne on his forehead. Caden breathed a sigh of relief.

Go to Tashi’s door, I said. He thought. It would be boring, I said.

Later on that night, Caden plops back into bed, sighing deeply. The day passed by pretty fast. Recently, he felt like the days were starting to blend together. The two dogs jumped on his chest immediately, wagging their tails excitedly. The white and black chihuahua barked at him excitedly.

“Yes, Bruce.” He called as he pets the little dog. The other one also barked, craving attention. “You too, Daisy.”

He plopped his head back down, staring at the ceiling while petting the two.

“Where am I going to go tonight?”

His question would be soon answered once he slumbered. He blinked as soon as his vision faded. He opened his eyes back in the void, the same doors hovering around him. He looked to his right, and there was the door he had seen a couple of months ago. The same hunting dog plush hung at the door.

He looked at the small pile of things in front of him. They were small trinkets he got from various dreams, dreams he wanted to remember. He wordlessly grabbed a small ball of green yarn attached to a small sweater. He set it back down on the pile of things and stood.

“Alright. Where to, today?” He asked no one in particular. He looked at a door he labeled Tashi Aster. He shook his head. What if he’s dreaming dumb stuff again?

What are you thinking, Caden? Of course he is.

Tick

Tock

With a sigh, Caden opened the door. As he shut it, the door disappeared before him. He breathed in and opened his eyes. He was back at home? He blinked. Tashi was dreaming about the house. Caden looked around and looked at the fireplace.

Odd

The picture frames aren’t there.

But an urn sat there.

Tick

Tock

He continued walking around until he encountered boxes stacked outside his room. Caden furrowed his brows, examining the different labels on the box. He ran his finger across each one. Clothes. Books. Mementos.

Is he thinking of getting rid of me? Caden scoffed. In my grandma’s house?

Tick

Tock

That clock is starting to get annoying. Caden thought. It’s too loud. He stood. Time to look for Tashi.

He headed for Tashi’s room. As he crept closer, he heard the faint sound of clocks. If he listened closer, however, he could hear the faintest sobs. Huh?

Is Tashi crying?

He reached Tashi’s bedroom door and creaked it open, peeking inside. There he saw Tashi sitting at the edge of the bed, dressed in a black suit. Tashi held a picture frame. His shoulders were slumped and his head gazed down at the frame. Caden could see the small trace of tears running down his best friend’s cheek. Tashi seemed engrossed in the picture as he didn’t flinch when Caden opened the door to let himself in.

Caden walked up to the grieving man to look at the picture frame. It was of Caden and Tashi alongside two women. He didn’t notice it before but Tashi seemed older and wore a wedding ring on his left finger.

“I miss you…” Tashi whispered. Does that mean?

Was that my urn?

Dumbass. He scoffed, breathing in. “You won’t get rid of me that easily.”

Tashi jumped in surprise, transferring his gaze to Caden. He gasped and blinked. Caden shook his head. Tashi’s lips trembled and he hugged the brunette before him. Caden sighed, patting the other man.

“You’re having a nightmare.” He whispered. Not that you’d remember anyway, Caden thought.

Two pairs of glassy eyes opened in that household come morning.

Caden hummed to himself, cooking breakfast. He surmised Tashi would be hungry. It was a good thing they both loved the same breakfast. One could say it was one of the few things they agreed on.

He prepared several things. There were eggs scrambled on the pan with a pinch of salt. You can clearly see the whites amongst the yellows, blended but not completely. The toast was on the more brown side, crispy like how Tashi liked it with the butter separate because he liked to add a lot as he ate. The bacon was also brown, smaller but crispier.