Me And His Shadow.

"Ahhh—"

I make a sound while Emris keeps dragging me upstairs and opens my room's door for me.

"I already washed myself in the changing room!"

"Change clothes."

He tells me and closes the door while he waits for me outside.

"*Sigh…"

I take off my jacket and throw it on the couch.

"I…"

Suddenly, Emris opens the door and gets inside 

I pause myself immediately. Emris walks past me with his head down and heads to my closet. I'm freezing, topless, and wearing only my undies. He picks my white T-shirt and jeans out of the closet and gives them to me shakingly.

"..."

I raise one hand to grab them. Then, he walks out calmly from my room.

Hmm.

I would rather not ask. Just wear whatever he suggests.

'Maybe he hates your style.'

Ha…

I twist the doorknob and leave the room. Emris observes my look and looks right at my eyes.

"Hm?"

"Mmm…"

He's hesitated.

"You choose for me…Emris."

"Wear your favorite jacket…"

"Hm?"

"Your favorite jacket is the black one…it's big…"

How does he know my favorite jacket? He observes me…

"..."

My face is turning hot.

I nod and hurriedly go to get the jacket. And we go downstairs. Seeing Mr. Laith and Raden are already waiting for us. I notice Raden is carrying the black bag.

"What took you so long?"

Raden.

"She's sexy in every outfit…"

"Ha!!.."

I am shocked by what I heard and then Mr. Laith grabs my hand and drags me out of the building.

"So you let her wear that Jacket?"

Raden.

"..."

Then, we decided to go to Zhen Yong's place together. Mr. Laith, Emris, Raden, and me.

We walk straight to the end of the street and walk past the steel fences behind the village. There are so many signs to warn people, trespassers, or us to cross past.

Dogs bark?

'Dogs bite?'

Keep out.

'Get your ass off this area'

Xin and I read at the same time.

Mr. Laith leads us. Raden walks beside him, and I follow them, then Emris after me. We cross the dried tall grass that never gets water or even raindrops, only the heat from the sun. Mr. Laith warns us that even though we are not yet inside, we could be watched at this moment, so he reminds us to keep our position while we head to his dent.

And we stop at the big abandoned building that looks like a school. Then, I look around again and realize that we walk in the schoolyard. 

Emris grabs my hand and takes me inside while two of them have walked inside.

"Don't leave my side."

He whispers.

I nod.

Mr. Laith glances at us before he steps his right foot down the stairs, and his right foot hangs.

"Team leader?"

Raden.

"..."

Mr. Laith's gaze looks right at me with concern. Then, he turns his body and walks back to us. He raises his right hand to touch my head, slides to the side of my cheek, and shifts his eyes to the man who is holding my hand.

"If you..."

Mr. Laith.

"You do the talk... She's mine."

Emris.

"..."

Mr. Laith's eyes back to me, and he gives me a smile.

Then he's back to step his foot on the first step of the stairs, and we follow him. Mr. Laith continues his steps across the round, big hall, which is full of red and orange light bulbs and signs. There are local food restaurants all around, knife and sword stores, fruits and vegetables, iron and steel, and game sections. All mixing up.

Every floor in this rounded building are lit up, give the living beings the light through the dark. High up, I can see the outstanding green light shining through and the sign hanging over the 'House of Brothel.'

Ah...

On the ground floor, there are tables separating around in a circle, only giving the long middle path to walk through.

The surroundings draw me in completely, blurring the humans watching us and stopping their actions to see the unannounced guests. Emris holds my hands tighter, calling me back to earth, and then I start to hear their noises.

Before we reach the end, two security guards block our way to a massive red door. The two men who don't wear the usual security uniform wear long, loose black sleeves, a high neck, and long, loose black pants—flowing and breezy.

"I'm here for Dr. Zhen."

Mr. Laith.

"He's busy."

"Are you Dr. Zhen?"

"...He's busy."

"I don't remember Dr. Zhen looking like this. Hmmm..."

Mr. Laith steps closer to the man who speaks to him.

"You look bigger...eh..."

Mr. Laith paces around that man and acts like he observes his body with his teasing smile.

"Are those wrinkles?..."

Mr. Laith pulls his glasses down a bit to give his eyes to him, and that man leans back a bit.

Mr. Laith last wore the glasses quite a long time ago. I saw him wear it on the first day we met at the gym, on the 4th floor for the second time, and sometimes when he was working.

I wonder if there is a reason.

"Hey..."

And another security guard is about to grab Mr. Laith's shoulder. He slides his body away, and that man's hand hangs in the air.

"Mmm..."

Mr. Laith gives his glare to the man.

"Don't touch me...I'm not too fond of physical touch..."

Mr. Laith tells the man with a disgusted face.

Hmm eh?

Does he hate physical touch? Then why...?

And when I think of him when he is with me, all I think of is physical touch—grabbing my hands from the first day we met, holding my hands, hugging me, patting my head... and earlier, he was about to kiss me... Did I imagine this by myself?

'Thinking about it, I never saw him touching anybody. He always puts his hands in his pocket...except you...'

"What's your business with him?"

The security guard pulls his hand back and asks him.

"Are you Dr. Zhen?..."

Mr. Laith.

"Hmpt..."

He groans lightly in his throat.

"We have a paper talk...a lot of them."

Mr. Laith glances at the black bag that Raden is carrying.

"Do you like paper talk?...if yes, you're half Dr. Zhen...I guess."

Mr. Laith gives an eye to the man.

"Wait here."

That man gets inside the door.

Seeing him like this makes me smile inside. He's always a playful and cheerful person around me, and he loves teasing the Coaches. He's like a kid but with mischievous-naughty thoughts.

Then, Mr. Laith puts his hands in his pockets, stands still in silence, tilts his head slightly to the side, and shifts his eyes to see behind him.

'Why this mother fucker is under your feet all the time.'

Ha?

I look down and see Mr. Laith's shadow spreading a long way under my feet. How long is it there?

How long is it there?

'Since we crossed the fences...Can I get out? I don't like this bastard under you...'

You can't get out...you need to behave, Xin. If we make the wrong moves, we're doomed.

'Hmpt. I want to get out!!!!'

SHUT UP!

"You guys can come in."

And that same man opens the door and tells us.

"Hehe."

Mr. Laith chuckles a little and leads the three of us inside.