Chapter3

#Chapter3

A LOUD BEEPING sound woke Liam from his slumber. His eyes shot open only to realise he was back in his room, but how he got there he couldn't quite remember.

He got up from bed as a loud groan fell from lips at the thumping in his head. It was as if someone was consistently drumming in his skull. He reached for his phone to see who would so rudely wake him up.

Liam searched for his phone and found it besides his bed, placed perfectly at the charger as if someone had taken extra care too. The screen flashed once more indicating he got yet another text message.

How are you doing?

Hope I didn't wake you up?

The messages read from an unknown number and he couldn't quite pinpoint who the sender was.

I'm slightly better but nursing a huge hangover.

He typed and sent the message. But after a moment's hesitation, he decided to ask the one question that was nagging him.

Who is this?

A few minutes passed as he waited eerily still for the person to reply.

I'm an acquaintance from last night's rendezvous. Don't worry, I'm not a serial killer mate. Just wanted to check up on you and tell you there's some Advil and a glass of water on your nightstand.

As Liam read the message, he turned to look at his nightstand and indeed, there was a glass of water and some Advil just as the person had said.

He stood up, downed the medicine with a sip of water before dragging himself to the bathroom to take a much needed cold shower. After which he felt slightly much better than before.

Liam walked to his friend's room only to find it empty-the bed still made and untouched. Sighing, he turned and made his way downstairs where he grabbed his wallet and house keys, deciding he needed some air and time to think over what had happened nearly two days ago.

••••••••

The warm summer air hit Liam's face first as he walked out from the apartment he and Evan shared.

Even though summer wasn't one of his favourite seasons, he found it comforting how the air just felt right for how he felt. It was as if someone up there knew this was what he needed. And for that, he was more than grateful.

Liam walked to the nearby park and took a seat at one of the empty benches-basking in the late afternoon sun as it shone on him. Taking a huge breath, one that felt long deserved, he closed his eyes and just sat there enjoying the feel of it on his pale skin.

/"It's a nice day to be out, isn't it?/" a voice said somewhere behind him. /"Mind if I take a seat?/"

Liam didn't even bother opening his eyes, he simply nodded and that was enough for the person as they took a seat next to him.

A peaceful silence fell between them before the stranger spoke again.

/"How are you feeling?/"

Those words were enough to have Liam's eyes pop open and have him turn to face the stranger. The stranger was looking straight ahead but he could feel Liam staring at him open-mouthed.

/"How! I mean, what?/"

The guy laughed and it was a mellow laugh that almost made Liam smile if he wasn't so creeped out by him. /"Ah, I see. You shouldn't have drunk that much Liam. Alcohol isn't the best remedy for anything./"

His voice, it sounded too familiar but Liam couldn't quite remember anything or where exactly it was he had heard it from. The events of the previous night were still hazy in his mind from the excessive alcohol consumption. /"Umm do I know you?/" he asked after momentarily racking his brain for an answer.

/"Jake./"

His name rang a bell to Liam and it was enough to piece everything together. It all started with Evan inviting him a party and then ditching him. The party that was meant to make him forget all about his ex-girlfriend. He remembered meeting a guy who looked distinctly like him, the same hazel eyes, the same light brown hair and the same glasses. Then he remembered the kiss and how he made a total fool of himself. Jake didn't say anything about it and it was either he didn’t remember or he just simply didn't care about it all together, either way, Liam was grateful.

/"Oh!/"

Jake laughed once more as a look of recognition swept across Liam’s features. /"Alas mate, you finally remembered,/" he humoured. /"How's the hangover treating ya? Hope it’s not too bad./"

/"It hurts like hell,/" Liam confessed, then subconsciously ran a frustrated palm down his face. /"I probably shouldn't have drunk that much now that I think about, heck, I think I shouldn’t have even agreed to go to that party in the first place./"

/"C'mon,/" Jake began as he stood up. /"I heard that coffee is the best remedy for a hangover and I happen to have a friend who works at a small café not too far away from here./" He angled his head in the direction before he took off.

Liam was sceptical of his offer. He had only just met him not more than 24 hours ago under unusual circumstances. If it had been in a different circumstance and he hadn’t embarrassed himself so badly, then he wouldn't have hesitated but this wasn’t a different circumstance. /"No offense Jake, but I actually hate coffee and I don’t even know you,/" he decided to answer truthfully.

/"You have a point. But if I planned on doing anything to you then I'd have probably done it yesterday when you were intoxicated,/" Jake stopped walking as he placed his hands in his pockets and turned to stare at him with raised eyebrows. /"What's with you Brits and hating coffee anyway?/"

Liam mauled over what Jake had said and true enough, he could have taken advantage of him when he wasn't sober but he hadn't. That was a step in the right direction in his books. But that didn’t mean he had to trust him just like that, he was still basically a stranger in his books. A stranger he kissed, his subconscious reminded him.

/"Patriotism and that kind of shite,/" he answered with a shrug which made Jake crack a small smile.

/"All right-y then, we'll get you hot cup of tea, how does that sound Brit?/"

Liam ignored the comment Jake had made. Tea sounded way appealing than coffee and Liam couldn't help but be a little tempted to concede to Jakes offer.

/"Okay,/" he said as he stood up and they walked side by side out of the park toward the café.

/"But if it doesn't help, then you certainly did not hear about it from me,/" Jake spoke with all seriousness but there was a glimmer of amusement laced in his hazel eyes.

/"At least I would have gotten a free cup of tea from you, so I'm okay with it either way,/" Liam mused.

Jake bumped his shoulder with his, /"who said I'm buying?/" he mused as well. /"All I did was suggest, not offer to buy you one. So tough luck buddy./"