chapter 16: my parents

Aiden ended up falling asleep on my chest after the good cry. I spent almost ten minutes spacing out, thinking about how grateful I should have been. I was awakened from my thoughts when I heard Aiden snoring. Being in love really got me thinking that his snoring is cute, even when it is supposed to be described as annoyingly loud. I laid his body at the left side of the bed.

He sounds so tired and doesn't even wake up when I wipe his wet nose and mouth and because of that, I was so certain that he is not going to wake up and decided to change my pajamas while he's in the room. I took out another blanket out of the cabinet and covered his body with it. After taking care of Aiden, finally I can go to the dreamland.

No, I failed to sleep.

It is now 1 am and I am still awake. My eyes are tired, but my body is too intense. I want to sleep facing my left but Aiden is sleeping facing his right which is my back.

"My back feels so empty..." I told myself. When I sleep I always put a long pillow behind my back because it makes me think that there is someone protecting me. I know it sounds stupid but I really did this. It makes me feel safe.

I tried to force myself to sleep once again, my eyes are so in pain right now. My eyes are so tired to the point that whenever I blinked it felt burning. Suddenly something held me from behind. Its arm wrapped around my waist, a head rested on my shoulder, it closed its body to mine and put its right leg on my legs. It feels so safe... It seems to me Aiden is so comfortable in his sleep that he thought I was a bolster. This is so nice... So nice until I fall asleep, finally welcomed by the dreamland.

*

It's Saturday, and I was woken up by the sound of chirping birds outside and the golden rays of the sun kissing my face. Despite how good and welcoming the morning sounds like, the bed is so cozy, early morning kind of cold. I grabbed my phone to check the time and it is 7am, which is early to me, and decided to grab my charger. However, that's when I realized that my phone is currently charging. My realization hits me even harder when I remember that I never open the curtains this early, that's when I notice the arms wrapped around my waist are already gone. I quickly get off the bed in panic, scared that Aiden is running away again.

My panic wakes me from feeling sleepy, I am now wide awake. I rushed downstairs to find Aiden but he's nowhere to be found. Got so tired from running and calling on Aiden, I went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. All these? It's only freaking 7am Aiden. When I walked past the island table, I saw a note stuck on the food's cover. I read the note and it was actually from Aiden.

He said that he is wearing my jogging jacket that is on the chair in my room and is now gone doing his morning jog, he also added that he has made me a breakfast to eat. I opened the food cover and it's egg sandwich. I started to smile like a fool alone, reminding myself about last night and now he made me breakfast. We're not even dating but I'm already fluttered by this. What if we're actually dating?

Realization hits me again. My smile gradually faded and the only thing I could do was sigh. "Stop getting yourself hope high Han..."

I took a bite of the sandwich and it's better than what I thought it would be. The fillings are filled with scrambled boiled eggs and mayonnaise, sliced tomato and little chili's sauce. Not actually a big fan of egg sandwiches but Aiden made this for me... I should appreciate it by eating it right?

In the middle of my morning tea, someone rings the doorbell. I check the camera to see who before opening the door, it is Aiden. I opened the door and let Aiden enter, wet in dripping sweat from his morning jog. The scent of his fresh sweats naturally masculine, alluring me to shove my face into his chest. He was wearing my jacket, short that is so short that when you see it you can confirm that man is a whore who posts thirst traps of himself, airpods on both of his ears. Wondering if he's listening to the same artists as mine or he's listening to Tyler, The Creator, Jay Z, Kendrick, opposite of mine who only listen to female artists.

"Han?" I woke up from my thoughts

"Huh? Yes what?"

"Where were you?" He laughs

"Go wash you wet sweaty body, I'll prepare you my t-shirt and pants." I told him

"Thank you. Oh and don't worry I'll go to the laundromat later to wash your jacket. I saw one during my jog." This man is so kind. I'm about to let him until I remember he has issues with money.

"You don't have to... Just place it on my chair. I'll wash it myself." Plus I won't let this opportunity go away, dirty thoughts all rushed to colonize my innocence. The scent is too tempting...

"Han... I don't think you have to do that... You have already let me stay at your house, let me used your pajamas, let me sleep on your bed, let me wore your jacket-"

"Technically I didn't let you because you didn't ask me before" i cutted him

"Even if I asked, you would still allow me right?"

"I don't think so... There's a reason why it's on the chair and not hung on the rack. It has not been washed since the last time I wore it." Aiden looks at me in surprise. There's awkward silence between us after.

"But when I was about to wear it, I actually smelled it and... It still smells nice... I mean it smelt like lavenders so I assume it has been washed"

"You must be disgusting right now right? After knowing that jacket is still unwashed."

"Why would I? I like it better this way. I wore a jacket with your lovely body scent."

Suddenly he grabbed my hand and smelled it. I can feel the wetness of his sweat on my hand as it touches Aiden's nose. He sniffed deeply of my hand and let go of it. He smiles at me and walks upstairs, leaving me frozen in surprise. Once he's out of sight, the devil whispered to me. It was a tempting urge that I failed to resist. I drag my hand closer to my face, there's no scent, but still wet from his sweat.

"That's salty" I said as I magically turned my hand from being wet from Aiden's sweat to wet from my saliva.

*

Aiden and I spent the evening watching a Netflix series. Aiden seems really into the show, he did not even look at me once. It started to piss me off, a really dumb feeling by someone who's not even dating him. The enjoyment suddenly paused when we heard the doorbell rings. I told Aiden to continue watching the show while I went to check whose it was. I looked at the camera and it got me quickly to open my phone to check the date. I was lied to?!

They constantly ring the doorbell and I have no choice but to let them enter.

"Hey mom,dad... Did you guys leave something or what?" I asked with a concerned smile. They can't know that I let a boy sleep in our house. Either they are mad at me because they don't like Aiden or they think nonsense stuff. Maybe I will also end up being kicked out of the house.

"We have decided to discuss the new project with them next month instead of tomorrow's night. They also agreed so we canceled our flight." My mom told me with a big smile on her face. I know she's very glad that she didn't have to leave home.

"Anyways what are you watching? Some Netflix? Oh! Family movie night! Tomorrow is Sunday you can stay up late! Let's go!" My dad said excitedly as he dragged my mom to the tv. I immediately told them to don't. Smart isn't it? I didn't only tell them, I even shouted at them. Both my mom and dad look at me with a confused expression. Suddenly the sound of the tv stopped, the sound of slippers slapping the floor becoming clear as seconds passed.

"Han? Why are you shouting-" Aiden stopped when he realized my parents were standing in front of him, staring at him thinking, 'who the hell is this boy?'

"Who the hell are you?" My dad asked

"Ah uncle! Auntie! I am Han's friend! He let me sleep here last night. Thank you so much!" My parents turned their head to me and a new question was asked.

"Did you let him sleep in the guest room?" My mom asked me.

"Don't worry Auntie, the guest room is still clean, the bed is still untouched! I slept with Han on his bed last night!" FUCK THIS GUY! IS HE TRYING TO DIG MY GRAVE? FUCK I'M REALLY GOING TO GET KICK OUT!

"What!" My parents said at the same time.

*

"So that's why you let him?" My dad asked

"I'm just being a good friend... Was it wrong?"

"No Han, honestly I'm glad that I own a considerate son, you're making me feel like there's still humanity there." My dad told me as he embraced me.

*

Dad later called Aiden while I'm in my bedroom waiting for his return from meeting my parents.

"So you're Aiden?" Dad asked.

"Yes uncle! I am Han's classmate! We started to become close this year!"

"You're so energetic Aiden" my mom laughs

"Did you bully our son?" My dad asked in a serious tone. My mom's smile faded into a serious face also.

"No I didn't! I swear I didn't!" Aiden told them, trying to convince them.

"Did you ever make our son displeased?" My mom asked.

It took Aiden a few seconds to answer the question. He seems lost in thoughts before answering my parents.

"I can't say that I have never because I'm not sure whether Han ever is not displeased by my presence. However I can't help it but to get closer to him. Han is very nice, I thought that he's actually a narcissist who thinks highly of himself. But then he shows me sides of his insecurities and it warms me... I want to be better towards Han, maybe I used to make him displeased but all I know is that I want to stop that and make him happy with my presence. Your son is so kind for letting me stay, lending me his jacket, cooking me dinner, he's so kind..." Aiden said, smiling at the floor.

"You seem... a little something towards Han, lucky you he's upstairs. If he heard you he must have misunderstood." My mom laughs.

"We're just surprised to see Han bring back a friend and let him stay, not to mention on the same bed. Even Fadly, Samuel and... Who's the other one?"

"Kim" Aiden helped

"Oh yes Kim. Han has brought them back to home before for a few times, but he has never let them stay. You're the first person, I believe, Han lets." My dad said.

"I guess you're special" my mom smiles

*

I'm at my study table, and can't really concentrate on my study. Suddenly I heard the door being knocked and open, I turned to my back quickly that my neck made a 'pop' sound.

"How was it? Did they get mad at you?"

"They are cool with me," Aiden smiles.

My concern face disappear into a smile, my arms suddenly wrapped around his neck and my head on his chest

"I'm glad..." I let out a relief sign. Aiden returns my hug by tapping my back slowly. I can hear his heartbeat, beating faster than normal, but I guess it was from the nerve wracking interview with my parents before. Secretly I wish and fantasize, that is because of me...