Chapter 65: Chapter 65

“Is there no other handsome man in their department?”

Kyle put his ballpen down and raised his hand. “Excuse me?”

Everyone looked at Kyle inside the meeting room.

“What is the prize for this contest again?”

“iPhone. The newest version.”

Ryan was complaining that her phone was acting weird these past few days. It drained the battery so fast. Recalling that, Kyle made a big decision in his life.

“I will participate in the contest as the architecture department representative,” the shy man presented.

“Really?! We were inviting you to participate in this contest for a long time. Good decision, Kyle! Why did you suddenly change your mind?” one teased him.

Kyle only bit his lower lip while scratching his reddened nape.

The next day, Kyle woke up early to prepare for school. His schedule was so hectic. Requirements, deadlines, festival preparation, and practicing his talent for the contest.

“There’s no cereal again?” Kyle uttered in front of a bowl with one piece of cereal. He tapped the box, but nothing came out. “It was Chaylen. Chaylen ate my cereal. That’s bas…”

He massaged his aching nape and tried to calm down.

A little while later, Ryan came into the kitchen. Her hair was messy and her eyes were still heavy. Too lazy to walk, Ryan yawned while walking toward the kitchen.

“Morning, Kyle,” she greeted as she opened the fridge.

“Good morning, Ryan,” Kyle greeted back while watching her movements.

He watched her open the fridge, grabbed a bottle, and drank. Ryan spilled water on her shirt, and she shamelessly wiped her lips and mouth as if nothing happened. Then, she closed the refrigerator and looked at Kyle.

“You’re so early. I guess you also have morning class, do you?” Ryan asked while scratching her tummy.

The first time Ryan arrived at the boarding house, she was so careful with her actions. Before and now shifted so drastically. If she rarely did a makeover before, then triple that today.

“Yes,” Kyle answered. “Ahmm, Ryan…” He pointed to her eyes. “You still have a booger in your eyes.”

“…”

The five men in the boarding house like her. Ryan only remembered that after Kyle pointed out her booger.

Swiftly, Ryan turned around and wiped her eyes.

“T-That is not booger,” she lied while fixing her hair.

Finding it cute, Kyle only laughed.

He leaned on the sink as he dropped his gaze and asked, “How’s your phone by the way?”

He only had one purpose for asking that question. Kyle wanted to give the contest prize to Ryan if he ever wins.

With his financial status, Kyle could buy a mountain of phones for Ryan. The issue? Ryan might not accept it. He wanted to get a phone without using money so that Ryan wouldn’t feel bad receiving it. His intention was pure.

“My phone?” Ryan repeated. “Oh my god! I forgot to pull out the flat iron from the plug!” She dashed back to her room to prevent an accident from happening.

“What’s the connection between her phone and the flat iron?” Kyle mumbled.

Whatever the connection was, he was happy that Ryan remembered unplugging the appliance before a fire started.

Minutes later, Slyvester arrived in the kitchen. He had no energy at all.

“Good mornin…”

“Are you crazy?”

Slyvester could not finish his greeting because Kyle started his day with a nag.

“Why did you use Vincent’s phone without asking his permission? You promised him that you would never steal his bike again. Vincent was so mad.”

Slyvester shook his ear before answering.

“Don’t worry too much. Vincent always said that he would kill me. But look!” Slyvester opened his arms widely. “I am still alive. Tada!”

“There’s no point convincing you to get your head straight. Just where did you go yesterday?”

‘I can’t tell Kyle that I used the motorbike to have a date with Ryan. He and Vincent would get mad at the same time.’

Aware of that, Slyvester answered the question differently. “I made sure to fill up the gas. Gasoline was so expensive. But because I am kind, I have a full tank. Aren’t I amazing?”

‘He’s avoiding my question,’ Kyle noticed.

Slyvester opened the fridge and got a bottle of milk. He opened the lid and drank it. Then, Ryan came back.

“Thank goodness I unplugged it early. I left my phone near th…”

When Ryan and Slyvester saw each other, they paused.

No one moved.

It was as if there was a remote control that ceased their movements at the same time.

Ryan was staring at Slyvester.

Slyvester was holding the bottle of milk while looking at Ryan.

‘Slyvester kissed me last night.’

‘I kissed Ryan last night.’

The memories of last night’s kiss flashed back vividly. They felt so embarrassed but giddy. Didn’t they miss a few more steps before kissing? Even so, no one regretted it. The only thing they have to fix is how they will face each other today.

Kyle noticed the ambiance between the two.

Ding dong~

Thanks to the doorbell, everyone began to move.

Slyvester put down the milk bottle. Ryan looked away. And Kyle said, “I’ll open the door.”

Kyle went to the door and opened it.

“Grite!” Kyle gasped.

A boy and a woman entered the boarding house.

“Brother!”

The boy jumped toward Kyle and gave him a sweet hug.

Giggling, Kyle carried his little brother in his arms and looked forward.

“Mom, why did you suddenly visit?”

“You didn’t come back home when I told you that Grite will have a vacation here. That’s why your silly little brother begged me to take him here.”

“I am disappointed in you, brother,” Grite complained.

From the kitchen, Ryan and Slyvester peeked. Their eyes widened when they recognized the boy in Kyle’s arms!

‘He is the boy we met in the amusement park!’

Slyvester met Kyle’s parents before. However, Kyle’s little brother was staying abroad so Slyvester didn’t have the chance to see him.

“Oh? Why are they here?” Grite asked after seeing Ryan and Slyvester from afar.

It was too late for the two adults to turn around and hide. Kyle looked at them and asked his brother, “You know them?”

“Yeah. I went to the Amusement Park with Nathalie yesterday. I met them in the amusement park.”

Kyle wasn’t dense to know the reason why Ryan and Slyvester went to the amusement park. ‘They were on a date.’

He tried to conceal his emotions with a smile as he messed up his little brother’s head.

“I see. That’s surprising.”

“They let me ride the Ferris wheel because Nathalie went to the comfort room. Say, are those guys a couple?”

Kyle glanced at the two, then he mumbled, “I am not sure. What did they say to you?”

“They did not tell me if they are really dating or not. But to be honest, I was thinking of setting that woman to you. She looks cute.”

Kyle only smiled before he put Grite down and officially introduced his friends to her mother and brother.

“Mom, Grite, these are my board mates. Slyvester and Ryan.”

“I met Slyvester before. But this is my first time seeing Ryan,” his mom said, tending her eyes to the pale lady. “Nice to meet you, Ryan.”

Ryan smiled awkwardly.

“Mom, mom,” Grite pulled his mom’s shirt. “That is the woman I was talking about last night. She’s kind and kind. And kind. If you want Brother to date someone, just get her!”

Slyvester glared at the young boy, whom he didn’t like from the first time he set his eyes on him. ‘How dare he set Ryan to his brother?!’

But when Slyvester met Kyle’s stern gaze, the glare on his eyes smoothened.

What Slyvester saw right now wasn’t his friend, but a foe who was sharpening his claws.

The brief visit was over. Grite and Kyle’s mother could not stay longer because Kyle had to attend school.

After they left, Kyle, Slyvester, and Ryan walked together on the way to the University.

They did not talk about coming together. It was inevitable because they have the same destination.

Unlike in the past, no one was dropping a word until they arrived inside the Campus’s gate.

“I need to go now,” Kyle said, breaking the ice.

The two could not say a thing and they only watched as Kyle stepped away.

“Wait! Kyle!” Ryan called him from behind.

Kyle stopped walking, but he did not look back.

“Do you have some time later?”

Why would Ryan ask for his time? Kyle wasn’t an idiot to know the reason why.

“I am sorry,” Kyle said. “I don’t have time. Let’s talk later.” Then he disappeared.

Ryan and Slyvester sighed in perturbed. They felt so sorry for their friends whom they might hurt as soon as they became a couple.

Speaking of them, Vincent, Terban, and Chaylen were still at the boarding house.

“Did you see Slyvester?” Vincent asked Chaylen.

Chaylen gulped what he was drinking before answering, “Yup.”

“Where is the f*cking mothersh*t, son of a b*tch b*stard sh*tty h*le?” Vincent cursed intensely that Terban, who was reading his newspaper, glanced at him.

“He’s in my heart,” Chaylen answered.

Vincent grabbed the frying pan.

Seeing the danger, Chaylen ran away and hid behind Terban.

“Terban! Help me!”

Cursing, Terban shook Chaylen’s hands off his shoulders. “Don’t touch me!” Then he looked at Vincent. “Hey. If you want to kill this guy with that pan, just do it. Leave me out.”

“You’re so cold,” Chaylen pouted to Terban.

“Just move away! You’re annoying!” Terban showed his fists to get Chaylen away from him. “Slyvester, Kyle, and Ryan were together. They went to school,” Terban added before reading his newspaper again.

Vincent stared at Terban.

One can only count on their fingers how many times Terban and Vincent talked normally to each other. If Terban answered Vincent without igniting a fight, Vincent could only tell one reason.

‘Did Terban notice it too?’

Vincent was talking about how he noticed Ryan’s gaze toward Slyvester. And perhaps Terban knew that either.