Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Ryan’s POV

It is deafening inside the boarding house when I came back home. Slyvester and Chaylen didn’t attend school today, so hearing nothing inside this place means that they are really in bad shape.

I went to the kitchen and drink water.

Looking at the time from the vintage wall clock hanging on the wall, I thought of the three guys who haven’t come home yet: Kyle, Vincent and Mr. Negative. Then I remembered that thing happened this morning.

“Why did Mr. Negative suddenly treat me so kind?” I murmured. “Vincent is still as mysterious as ever. I can’t read his mind.”

At first, I thought those two were just trying to get me in between their quarrel. But as I think more about this, there must be another reason why those two are fighting just to get me.

After many thoughts, one thing came into my mind.

“Omg,” I gasped. “What if… they have a crush on me?”

‘Right! This is what I always watch in drama and read in romantic novels. Geeze~ I could not believe that two handsome men will fall in love with my face.’

I cupped my cheek while smiling from ear to ear. However, when I remembered what kind of people those guys are, I woke up from my crazy daydreaming. In addition to that, I felt so disgusted that the corners of my lips have drastically pulled down.

They are handsome. I admitted that. But their real characters don’t turn me on. If I only based the scenarios in my imagination with their faces, then it’s a good dream. But Vincent’s weirdness and Terban’s shitty attitude overlapped with my dream that it turned into a nightmare. It is as if the background turned from flowery to horror and suspense.

“If the love triangle that I am thinking is real, then that is a nightmare,” I said while shaking my head.

If by chance Terban and Vincent fight over one woman, I suppose the poor woman will be torn into pieces.

“Oh my god, that’s scary!”

Caressing the goosebumps on my arms, I stopped thinking about that scary imagination since Halloween is still far. Then I hopped up onto the stairs and up to the second floor.

I was humming to the song ‘Quando Quando’ while walking towards my place. But my feet ceased in front of Slyvester’s room. I looked at the door for a long time.

‘He has a fever this morning. Does he feel fine now? Did he drink his medicine?’

I know that Slyvester isn’t in the mood. Kyle told me why.

‘It is because of his ex-girlfriend’s death anniversary.’

But I can’t stay still, not until I can be sure that he’s not sick anymore.

Slyvester is one of my closest friends here.

And so, I knocked onto the door.

Tok tok tok

Seconds passed but I heard no reply.

‘Is he asleep?’

Biting my lips, I tried to check if the door is lock but found out it’s not.

I gasped.

It is not right to walk inside another room without the owner’s permission. I am aware of that. But still, I couldn’t help but get worried to Slyvester, that I have already imagined a lot of ‘What ifs’.

What if he lost his consciousness?

What if he fell on the ground and hit his head on the floor first?

What if he’s burning in fever and he had to be taken to the hospital?

So if ever Slyvester get mad for my intervention, I would blame these ‘what ifs’ inside my head.

“Slyvester?” I mumbled as I opened the door.

His room is dark. Only the light from the shape faintly brightened the space.

“Slyvester?” I called his name again before walking inside. I continued invading his room with loud beating of my chest and while tiptoeing, until I saw him lying down on his bed.

Slyvester is sleeping.

‘He is still breathing, right?’

I walked closer and carefully sat on the edge of his bed.

Slyvester is wearing a blue shirt and white pajamas. I never saw him wearing earrings but now, even at the dim, I noticed the piercing hole in his right ear.

His blue hair darkened at the dim. I knew Slyvester is handsome since the first time we met but because he’s a joker and prankster, there are times that I forgot he’s freaking gorgeous. He always appeared like a clown, that’s why.

“But when he is sleeping and quiet, he looks cool,” I commented in low tone. Slowly, I raised my hand and put my palm on his forehead to check his temperature.

‘He still has slight fever. But he is not as hot as he was this morning.’

Looking around, I saw some paracetamol tablets above the table. There are also thermometer and bowl filled with water and wrinkled towel; which means, Slyvester took care of himself. It seems I should not worry that much.

As I stood up, his bed creaked and I bit my lip, fearing that the sound might wake him up. Nervous, I peeked at the sleeping handsome and…

“Nikki.”

“Ahh!”

Slyvester suddenly pulled me down, so strong I fell lying down on the bed too. It was too fast. When I opened my eyes and blinked them, I just found myself laying beside him.

‘Oh my gosh.’

I tilted my head to look at him, which I regretted in the end. Because as soon as I did, his handsome face came into my view. He’s too close that if I move wrong, our lips might bump each other.

‘What should I do?! What should I do?’

I was rooted on my spot, unable to move. It feels like standing in the middle of narrow bridge, where I could fall into the deep pit if I won’t be careful. My heart is beating so fast, each pound, I cannot breathe.

“Nikki,” Slyvester said with his eyes closed.

I once traced his face again; his thick brows, his tall nose at his lips which said a name of girl whom I heard for the first time.

‘Nikki? Is she maybe his… ex-girlfriend?’

“S-Slyvester. It’s me, Ryan. I am not Nikki,” I said, then I started to escape from his grip. But…

“Hmmmm,” Slyvester groaned before he pulled me again.

My heart skipped a beat, then pounded again with faster pace.

My wind went blank, as the information clogged inside the nerves before my brain could process the situation. I bowed my head, breathing so hard.

Haaaa.

Hoooo.

Carefully detaching my lips, I spoke again.

“I am not Nikki.”

“I know.”

My eyes widened when I suddenly heard his voice replied me.

I lifted my head and saw him staring at me with his heavy eyelids.

“S-Slyvester.”

“I know that you and her are not the same,” he whispered. Every time his breath brushes on my cheek, goosebumps appeared on my skin.

“T-Then…” I muttered, about to push him away. But all of my system, my muscles, ceased as soon as I saw a drop of tear fell down from his eyes. It fell on the bridge of his nose, down to his cheek and to the pillow. It stained there, and before it dries, another tear followed.

We looked at each other for seconds.

Slyvester, then, closed his eyes again and fell asleep.

Watching Slyvester up this close, I just realized today that not all funny people are happy persons.

--------------------

Third Person’s POV

Chaylen noticed that the door of Slyvester’s room was slightly opened. He remembered that Slyvester is sick so he thought of checking his condition. But when he peeked inside, he saw Ryan on the bed. And the most shocking scenario is that he caught them hugging each other.

Now, Chaylen is at the kitchen. He’s thinking about the shocking sight he witnessed before.

“Are they dating?” he asked, then squinted his eyes in disbelief. “But Kyle said that Slyvester hasn’t moved on from his ex-girlfriend. Then… friends with benefits?”

Chaylen shook his head. Living with Slyvester for many days, he knew that he’s not that kind of guy.

In the middle of guessing, he saw Ryan came into the kitchen. Her hair is wet, as she just finished her shower. Ryan is wearing a spongebob printed yellow shirt and white pajamas.

‘When will she wear a jean short? She is always wearing pajamas inside the house. So boring.’

Ryan glanced quickly at Chaylen before opening the fridge. She grabbed a box of sterilized milk. Then, she turned around and stepped away.

‘Wait a minute. Why did she ignore me?!’ Chaylen protested inwardly.

“Hey Ryan!” he called her but Ryan did not stop, as if she purposely trying to ignore him.

And so, Chaylen thought of a way to stop her. That is…

“Why are you and Slyvester are hugging?!”

She ceased.

Like a robot, Ryan stared back to Chaylen.

“I saw you before,” Chaylen said, crossing his arms. “You are inside Slyvester room, lying down on his bed. What was that?”

A smirk appeared on Chaylen’s lips.

Ryan took a deep breath and has her eyes downcast on the floor. When she diverted her sight to him, she answered, “It’s not what you think.”

Chaylen walked closer to her, still wearing the sneer on his lips. As he stood before her, he said, “I couldn’t help myself but to think lewd things. This is so surprising, Ryan. I really thought you are different from the girls I’ve met before. Are you really an innocent?”

Ryan clenched her hand around the milk box. When Chaylen saw her hand, he got slightly frightened.

“I just checked if he is still has fever,” Ryan explained, lifting her head and looking straight into his eyes.

Her round eyes did not waver, which means she’s telling only nothing but the truth.

“I was about to go so he can rest more. But that half-sleep man pulled me back and hugged me. I think, maybe he thought I am his ex-girlfriend.”

Chaylen thinks that her explanation are sensible. But…

“Huh,” he scoffed. “So you mean, if a person is not in his right mind, he will suddenly hug other people? Hey, even if I am drunk, I won’t do that. I know who I will hug.”

After boasting, Chaylen lifted his chin.

Ryan’s nervous expression shifted into rage. She frowned and smiled sarcastically.

“Wow. Coming from you? You will definitely bite your own tongue the moment you remember what you did before!” she shouted then pushed Chaylen away from her. “Get out! You are blocking my way!”

She pushed him away but went to the different direction.

Chaylen watcher her hopped up onto the stairs.

‘Did I really do something last night?’ he wondered.

Scratching his nape, he looked at the living room. His eyes stared there for minute until…

“Shit,” he gasped with widened eyes.

Chaylen just remembered that he hugged Ryan while he’s drunk and cried on her shoulder.

“What the f*ck.”