0 comments/ 9357 views/ 7 favorites Keep Rolling By: jerrymiah Hi! This is my first time in writing fictional story. I'm sorry if I have a lot of grammars and wrong term I used here, because English is not my main language but I'm trying to hone it by wiring story in English form. If you want to be my editor, feel free to send me an e-mail ^_^ -Jer "What?" I snapped at Laurence. Frowning at me while putting a bill on the slot of the machine in front of him. "Nothing. Something's bothering you." He said while pressing the buttons on the vendo machine. "I just.. Uhm.. I hate socializing. I don't want to blend on this society. I feel so awkward when I talk to someone I didn't know. Making friends. I know I used to be like this, but this is different." I sighed. I watched as he bent down and picked up his can of softdrinks from the dispenser. "Geez, Laurence. I think can't do this.." "Damn it, Jerry! I helped you to find your fortune here! Helping you to forget your past! To find people whom you can trust." He glared at me while chugging his drink down on his throat. "Okay, I know what's your fucking problem. What is your wants before you came here?" I hate this. I want to meet people who got my back. I'm scared that I might found wrong people, I hate to be rejected a again. "I want a monstrous gaming system, explore the whole Europe, and marry some guy who really loves me for who and what I am." I confessed sincerely. Suddenly, a wave of shame washed me. Bringing back to the reality. I always thought that happy ending and happy ever after is for fictional romance stories only. There's no way it'll happen in real life. Oh yes I do believe on happy ending, but its impossible to have it. "Now what, Mister Jerrymiah Cabungcal? You what? You want to start a new life here in America! That's it, bro! That's the idea!! That's why you are here! Why did you left Philippines then?" His voice is a little loud but not shouting at me just to catch some people's attention towards us. "Why are you here besides leaving your bitter past." He eyed me but I didn't look back. We were walking down on the sidewalk in the busy streets of New York. Glancing and roaming my eyes to spot my ideal guy. Or should I say I'm just roaming my eyes to those people walking on their home, observing their faces. Most of them are with their family or partner and I can say that they're happy. "I already gave myself to them without giving themselves to me. I can't have their back while I gave it to them. The worst is.." I suddenly stopped. I felt my eyes burning as I remember what happened back to my country. 'Trust issues'. That why I left and to have my clean start here in America. I bow my head down, looking down on the pavement as we walk. I keep breathing deeply just to relax myself before I broke down here on public. "I don't want to talk about it." I whisper. I don't know if he heard me or not. "Trust issues, right? I know. I was there before they abandoned you. I brought you with me here. To start a new life. To forget them. Fuck, even your family turned their back on you." He scolded me but his voice were gentle and full of caring just like a brother when his little brother is in trouble. I can't blame him either because he was right. Its not him or my friend or even my family. Its just me. I can't accept the fact that they don't love me anymore and they disowned me. I can't forget my old guys. Those times when I was happy with them. But something terrible happened. I'm glad that I met Laurence. Not because of him, maybe I already killed myself. I nudged his arm. "I don't want to talk about it." I said coldy. Arriving at the front apartment where Laurence and I live together as a roommate. I entered the building and went straight to room 102 on the right side of the building. I grabbed my keys and opened the door. I went straight to my bed after dropping our stuffs we bought on the boutique shop. I decided to sleep right away just to avoid being a broke and fucked up guy. *** "Bro, wake up!" He said at me. Violently shaking me. "Five minutes pa, antok pa ako. (Five minutes more, I'm still sleepy.)" I mumbled at him and covered my head with my pillow and turned my back against him. I felt his hands left on me and heard his steps walking out of my own room. I don't know how long he was gone when I startled with an annoying sound. I jumped at shock when he shouted at me using the megaphone made of rolled paper folder. "Wake up!! We just have one hour before your first day of job!!" He shouted right at my ear. "Putang-ina naman, Laurence. Pakyu ka! Ahh, puta sakit sa tenga ng ginawa mo gago ka. (What the fuck Laurence! Fuck you! Ahh, my ear hurts for what you did to me you sick.)" I said, growling while I glared at him while narrowing my eyes. I grabbed the pillow and threw at him. I felt my ear drum were broken as it sting too much. Because of the pain. "What did I said? We need to practice your pronunciation, diction and accent so you can find your 'Man'. First step of getting your 'Man'. No speaking in Tagalog. Understand? And oh, thank you for your polite words you throw at me. Now get the fuck up! I alread cooked our breakfast! You shithead." He said while quoting the word 'Man'. He put his rolled paper down on the bedside table and quickly went outside the room leaving me rubbing my ear. I stayed sitting on my bed for a while. I barely hear him shuffling around from the kitchen. Probably fixing the plates. "Magi-isang linggo na pala nung dumating ako dito (its been almost a week since I arrive here.)" I talked to myself. "Gusto kong kalimutan ang mga taong naging dahilan ng pagiging miserable ko. Kaya ko to! Iisipin ko na lang na para akong nakikipag-chat sa Facebook. (I want to forget all of the people who makes me miserable. I can do this! I'll think that I'm chatting over on Facebook.)" Cheering myself while smiling like an idiot when the aroma of the breakfast entered the room and my stomach growled violently. "Jerry! Drag your ass here! Come on! Its your first of work! You need to impress them!" He shouted from the kitchen. I lazily stood up and walked towards the table in the kitchen area. While I'm getting near, my mouth watered as what I saw. Fried Rice, eggs, sausage, slice of toasted bread and a two mugs of coffee. I smiled at myself and to him. Typical Filipino breakfast. Yeah, I maybe stay here for a long time but from what I saw from him is, he still appreciate for where we come from. "Fuck you, Jerry. Talking what you desire is exempted." Snapping me from trance. I grinned at him, making a small chuckle before I take my seat as he did the same. While we're eating our breakfast, he broke the comfortable silence that lie between the two of us.. "How old are you, Jerry?" Laurence ask with his mouth full of sausage and following it with a spoonful of fried rice. "22, turning 23 at this coming May 11." I replied while surfing the internet on my BlackBerry without looking up at him. I went on the calendar on my phone. "Oh! Its monday." I muttered. I don't care if he heard me. "The date today is Febraury 25, 2013." Mimicking the sound of pupils back in our country. "Yeah its monday today, genius head." This time I looked up at and saw him shooking his head slowly before he sip a generous amount of coffee from his mug. "What time do I start?" I asked him "8:30 A.M." He said then suddenly looked at the wall clock hanging on the living room behind my back. I stared at him slowly wrinkling his forehead. "What?" I said sharply while scowling at him. He lift his wrist and glanced at his wristwatch. "Hmm, get up and go take a bath. Because. We. Are. Fucking. Late. DOUBLE TIME!!" He shouted at me and I stood up quickly and I run as I'm running for my own life to the bathroom. *** "You okay?" He asked me as we getting nearer on the building where I will work as a regular employee here in this famous international bank. I might inexperienced and I didn't got a college degree but I know how to do my job very well. Thanks to Laurence's friends of his. He helped me to find a job here. My jobs here is to enter the client's data into their server. No more and no less. Far from my skills I can use but still, it's a computer related stuff. In my previous job, the nature of my job is all about program errors and program troubleshooting. Computer software is my field when it comes to computer troubleshooting. Although I'm just a highschool graduate, I know a lot about decoding program files, cracking and modifying databases and configurations, a nd such stuffs that related to softwares. I used to create a cheap and low class program before and I had my job before with those things. But this time, its different. "I'm just nervous." I said softly while looking at my lap where my hands rests. "Just imagine that you're chatting someone over the internet. That's what you used to, right?" He asked me while focused on driving. "Wow! You're telling me that I'm a philosoper when it comes English literacy. Nah, I suck at it." I shrugged it off, but inside of me was like a leaf shaking of because of nervousness. "Really? But you used to write an English story before." I know he's grinning even I don't look up at him. "Jerry, you used to apply at those call center before back at Philippines. Hell, you can also pass the initial interview without dripping a single sweat.." "But I miserably fail all the final interview." I finished his sentence. I faced him and stared at giving him the 'you're dead later' look. "Do you want me to be miserable at everything, do you?" I looked sharply at him. I am irritated, not at him but at me. I just want to curl up on the corner and just daydream like I always do. I'd rather to be alone than to be with someone else, except for Laurence. "You are gay. Remember our local dictionary. Gay means they have a lot of friends, have an incredible ability, they're outgoing person and happy. You aren't gay when you're just moping around like someone shot your dog. But you are gay, and what gay wants? Friends, ofcourse friends lead to a romantic relationship. If you found your prince charming." I looked at him and he looked back and laughed hard like there's no tomorrow. I blushed deeply. I'm gay but I'm getting embarassed when I talk about my personal love life to everyone. "You'll be happy and I'll be happy for you too, bro." He stopped his car and faced him. Our eyes met and he continued what he is saying. "And make a new friends, go get your man somewhere else." He sighed and his face gotten serious. "I love you, Jerry. I don't want you to sit alone on our place and weep around because your family and your friends abandoned you. Now go." He shove me with a little force. I jumped out of the car and shouted at me. "Quick tutorial, say hi and smile always and be polite whoever you meet. Now I'll pick you up, same spot, later between 5 P.M. to 5:30 P.M." He peeked at the passenger window and smiled at him. No matter how rude I am towards to him, he still treasure me as his friend, he treated me like a little brother. I can't help but to smile back at him. "Thank you Laurence. Take care bro." I wave at him gesturing shoo and I heard him chuckle before he drove off. As I walked to the main glass entrance door, I was thankful that I found Laurence, that he was my friend. I straightened my clothes. I decided to wear a nice but not elegant blue shirt with 'Demons hates you because you are hotter than hell' text on the front, earth colored jeans and a sporty looking rubber shoes. I don't have my suit or something fancy something that fits on my job. I haven't gotten all of my stuff before I flew here. And I don't want to ask some money to Laurence and I don't know what is the proper attire so my clothes I wear right now is much better. I entered the reception area and went to the counter. A lady who stationed there greeted me with her warmest smile. "Good morning, sir!" "Uhm, good morning. I am the new employee here. He said that I need to be here before 9 for my orientation." I can't keep my voice calm as I have my first casual conversation with this stranger. My voice squiver lightly. "Oh, you must be Jerrymiah Cabungcal. In your application letter, it says that you're Filipino. Not an American." She ask me while her eyes are moving across the application letter I sent to them 4 days after I got here. "Yes." I said under my breath. My whole body is shaking because of my nervousness. I keep swallowing periodical. My eyes roam on the place but not focusing on the decors the filled the room. "Don't be nervous, Jerry? It says that your nick is Jerry. Maybe I can call you in your nick Jerry." She lift her head and smiled at me. I nodded at her and smiled awkwardly. Some of my nervousness left me but I kept my hand stuffed at the pocket of my jeans. The temperature of the room is just ok but I felt I'm in the middle of the south pole. Its freezing the hell out me. "You just had one job before and its a software programmer. Right? Why did you left your job?" "I-" I swallowed hardly that I doubt she heard it. "Its about personal problem." I don't know but the surroundings went blank as I answered that question. "Oh, sorry. I guess its very personal matters of yours." She laughed awkwardly. "22 years old, just a highschool graduate." Her voice went from awkwardly calm to shock and surprise after reading my educational background. "Yes ma'am but I am a good employee. If I had my testimonials showing that I was a good employee before, I'll show it to you ma'am." I chuckled awkwardly, wishing that the floor beneath me will open up and swallow me right away, right here, right now. "But I added the e-mail address of the company where I work before, you can sent them some message just to be sure that I'm the most best employee in the world." I winced at that part. I don't know how that confidence dominate me for just a short of time. I stare at the reception girl behind the counter and smiled at me. "We already did and they testified that you were one of their best employee they had." My heart soar when she said that. I smiled at him warmly, not caring if I have a goofy smile. "Is this the new soul already came up here in heaven that hoping we will accept him?" Sudden a voice echoed across the reception area. I turned my head around and saw him peeking his head through the door. "Its him." She said. I returned my eyes to her and grinned at me. "Raymond will introduce you to the rest of the team." I show my confusion on her, I decide to open my mouth to ask her name but suddenly interrupt me. "Call me Des. Welcome to your job! Raymond Gatchalian will introduce you to your new working place." She smiled at me and heart beam as I grinned back at her. 'Yes! I got my fucking job! Where's your gay god now?' I thought to myself while saying "Thank you." to her. Raymond walked where we were and Des handed something that I assumed its my application letter. He read it very briefly and I saw the corner of his lips curved into smile. He lift his eyes on the paper and turned to me. He frowned and stared at me from toes to head. He laughed suddenly. I'm going to ask why is he laughing when he spoke that I barely understand it. "We, employees of this company, have a proper attire. I'll make you through your first offense but I hope that next week, you'll wear the attire needed for the employees." He said at me before turning his head into Des. "Is Jen here today?" He asked her while calming himself from the burst of laughter. In the corner of my eyes, I saw Des shows a confussion on her face. Her face darken as Raymond mentioned the name Jen. "Why?" She asked. I felt out of place here. Then they both looked at me. Des stood up and her eyes fixed on my shirt then giggled loudly. He turned to Des. "That's why that evil bitch we hate, hates you a lot. You're hotter than her!" She and I laughed at his joke. Then Des crumpled a piece of paper and threw at him. "Hey! No offensive word is allowed here." She warned Raymond but her voice is stained by the laughter we had. "Ok, enough of this. Let's get started." He invited me to begin our introduction of my working field and its properties and also my new coworker. "I'll see 'ya around, sexy." He winked at her. I smiled at myself. 'Everything will be fine. Just calm down.' "Jerry, Pinoy, first time here in America. 22 years old, your job is to maintain our program holding our clients record running and trouble-free. Its also included the inventory program, the data of our customers, and any other stuff. A Understand?" He explained while his eyes is fixed on front of him. "I understand sir." I gulp at the saliva on my mouth. My nervousness is attacking me again. "May iba ka pa bang katanungan? (Do you have any questions?)" He asked me while walking on the hall while my eyes is roving on the doors which I assumed is different departments of this company. After he asked me, I snapped my head at him and dropped my jaw. "Bakit? (Why?)" He asked me again, he was trying to hold his laugh because I can see that his lips curved upward and his body slightly shook. "Nothing sir. Can we move about rules and regulations?" I decided to speak in English instead of speaking in my native language. I am so eager to work my pronunciation and accent. I have the feeling that this is start of my new self. "Bago tayo magsimula tungkol doon, ayoko na ninenerbiyos ka. (Before we start on that, I don't want you to be nervous.)" We stop in front of the door with the sign hanging on it. Raymond Gatchalian Human Resources "Bakit po hindi? (Why not?)" I grinned at him very happily. *** "Her face after reading that!!" Mark squealed then he point his finger on my shirt. Everyone laughed and I joined them too. After my first day and meeting all the staff, they accepted me as their new friend. They also understand if some of my grammar was wrong and my accent sucks, because Raymond explained to them that I'm just a new here. I activated my attitude after meeting them. Being funny, humorous, nosy, and expressing my true self. Although some of them doesn't like me or don't give a damn, it didn't bothered me. "After Raymond pissing Jen off." John said. "She'll file a complain against you. And ofcourse, that complain will reach into our boss' desk and.." "You're fired Jen! You such a slut who is hotter than my girlfriend!" I finished him, mimicking my voice into a fake deep American english accent. Everyone broke into laughter. They laughed to the point their eyes got teary. I jumped at the honking car arriving at us. "Oh great. My friend is here to pick me up." I mumbled to myself. I watch the car until it stopped in front of me. The window of the front driver's door rolled down and Laurence greeted me. "How about the first day, greek babe?" I rolled my eyes. "Great, babe." I mumbled. "You're gay?" Ricky asked, his eyes widened. "We knew it!" John snickered but smiling. "Your boyfriend?" Des asked. Peeking above my shoulder while all of my new friends, John, Raymond, Hannah, Nicole, Ricky, Brian, and Lyka is glancing at us. They must be heard what we said to each other. "Oh, when did you become hetero? I thought you were gay?" Laurence asked whilst wrinkling his forehead. "Since you called me babe." I tried to shook his joke off to me. "Hey lady..." Laurence called to Des. "Don't call me lady, I have my proper name! And my name is Des. Desiree. And nope, he's not my boyfriend. He's out of my league." Des rolled her eyes. "Because he didn't meet your requirements for your ideal boyfriend?" He asked to Des while switching his eyes time to time between to Des and me. "No, because I'm hotter than his boyfriend and that's why I'm out of her league." I answered his question and winked at Des. Everyone said in unison 'ooohhh' then laughed. Keep Rolling "Hey! I don't have a boyfriend!" Des shouted at us, blushing heavily. "Then why did you talked to him?" Brian asked. "She's not usually talking to strangers, even to his friend's friend." Ricky answered the question given to Des. "Since when the last time you had crush with someone?" Hannah asked, but I know someone will answer it for her. "Its been a long time, how have that been?" Lyka answered, mimicking a videogame character GLaDOS "Shut up guys! I hate you!" Des shouted at us and walked away but Brian grabbed her arm and pulled back towards us. "Uh. No, no, no, no, no! Stay here." Brian firmly hold her, keeping to walk away from us. "That's enough. I need to go, see ya tomorrow guys! Nice meeting you!" I said my good bye to them as I running around to the other side of the car. I heard Laurence said something. "Whoever you are, my name is Laurence. Hope this gay guy besides me invite you to the house on our small gathering sometimes soon." That time I already took my sit in the passenger side of his car. I waved my hands to them as we took off. "Seems that you enjoyed your first day." Laurence asked as we drove off the road going to our home. "Yeah, they're very funny. Nice person." I said while cracking my knuckles. "Si Raymond eh Pinoy din pala. (Raymond is also a Pinoy.)" I said after cracking my last finger. "Oh? Really? Tell me what happened to your first day." He smiled at me although his eyes focusing on the road. *** "What our boss is look like?" I keep my curiosity hidden but I really failed. "He's scary. A scary, ruthless monster!." Brian curled his finger gesturing a monster stance after ordering his lunch on the building's cafeteria. This is my second week here and our friendship between the guys I met two weeks before is getting stronger as time goes by. Its around twelve noon and we aren't allowed to bring any home made lunch and also not allowed to eat outside the property's premises. But the food here in cafeteria is very good and a kind of cheaper than the cheap fast food chain that can be seen in the busy streets of New York. We're just ordered our lunch and waiting the cashier to bring our order before we eat. "I saw him earlier walking down the hall. As usual, scowling. I don't know but I never seen him smile just once of my two years here." Ricky suddenly spoke behind my back. "Maybe he's going through a lot of problem in his life." I defended him. "Stop talking like you know Thomas Franks." Nicole poked the back of my neck before grabbing his drinks. "Thomas Franks?" I frowned at them as we walk towards our specific table on the corner of the room. "Thomas Franks is the CEO of this heaven. I can say that he's satan while we're here on heaven." John said, lowering his voice into whisper so no one can hear him. "Ohh.." The word I can say to him. Its not that I disagree on him but I want to meet that person, whoever Thomas Franks is that, before I gave my first impression. "Shit! Jerry, can you buy me a bottled water? I'll treat you bottle of Fanta. I forgot to get one." Raymond asked me. I nod and grab the paper bill he handed at me and went to the counter to buy what he asked. I decided of instead bottled softdrink, I bought a cup of Pepsi and his bottled water before returning back to our table. Turning my body to him, I didn't expect that I'll bump someone. Before the drink in my cup spill above his stomach, my world goes in slow mo. He has a hard body. Hard as rock. His smell, there's something on his smell. Very masculine scent. The rich expensive perfume surrounded on his body. The faint soap and sweat blend on his perfume. I love his masculine scent. But I snapped out of my trance when he hissed loudly and I heard everyone's gasp. I felt all of the eyes on this cafeteria locked into us. "What the hell." He hissed on me. His thick and rich accent melt me. But the reality washed my consciousness quickly and I gasp. "I'm sorry sir! I never meant to.." "Are you blind? You are so fucking careless! What is your name?" I looked up. My jaw jaw nearly dropped on the floor when I looked up to his face. His face, blue eyes, short hair or maybe I can say that his hair cut is very neat which is making him look so manly, the shape of his jaw is square like a manly actor in mostly American I watched in 80's movies, thin beard and moustache that surrounded his thin and kissable red lips, I'm not good at guessing height but he stood 6'3 or 6'2, pointed nose, and the color of his skin is reddish. 'Reddish' I shouted to myself silently. I forgot, I spill my drinks on his shirt and probably mad at me. Fuck me. "Je-Jerrymiah Ca-bungc-cal" I stammered while fixing my eyes down on my feet. My hand jerked quickly and grabbed the hand towel I have in my pocket. I always keeping or bringing towel since my sweat glands is active specially when I move too much. I gave him my hand towel to him. He grabbed it violently and wiped it on his ruined shirt and dropped it like a cigarette butt. "Do you know who am I?" His voice growled as he glared at me, sensing that his fist clenched tightly because of the madness. "N-no s-s-sir..." I whisper very silent that I can't even hear it while shooking my head slowly and staring at him with my lips partly open. "You don't know who I'm fucking am?" He shouted at me loudly, just like Laurence did to me on the first day of my job. But this man's voice is so much louder without any improvise megaphone and it make me my ears itch at his shout. I start thinking that his voice is similar to the voice of Akasha in DotA. Upon shouting me, I stepped backward or two. My face went bright red because this guys is humiliating me in front of everyone I didn't know. And that's the thing I really hate. Humiliating me. "I-I have n-no ide-ea sir." My voice crack and I'm getting irritated. I hate that someone is shouting me. Specially to the public where everyone is catching their attention. "I am Thomas Franks. The CEO of this company. Now, I'll call Steven to shred your files on employee's data because.." He leaned at me while his voice getting softer and softer. I don't know if I need to calm myself or brace what's coming. Calm myself because I feel the every eyes is on me and my haters start whispering on their own kind, and that igniting my anger up. Brace myself because he'll release something that I can't handle. Or maybe both. I swallowed hard before he raised his hands as if he'll going to slap the hell out of me. "YOU ARE FIRED!!" He growl so loudly that everything that makes sound automatically muted to my ears. Not because it makes my ears ring that's why I can't hear anything, its because this stud is so fucking beast that everyone is afraid to him. "Get out of my place before I hit the fuck out of you. OUT!!" He growl again at me at the last word. My face went dark red, not because of the shame and humiliation. Its because that even he is the boss, he has no right to humiliate me in front of everyone. "No!" I said firmly. I guess everyone gasp at what I said. "No because I already quit! And you have no right to humiliate in front of them!" I shouted back at him. "You're going to hit me!? I'll file a case on the police station againts you! I quit! You fucking rude head!!" I half-shouted and half-growled at him that makes my throat hurt and itch. "You'll fired me because you're the boss? You'll fire me because I accidentally spilled my drinks on your fucking super-expensive shirt that you think I can't afford to buy that shit?!?" I continued my machine-gun-like mouth. "Oh ok." I said softly then chuckled and pour the remaining Pepsi on his shirt and threw it on his chest. "You can hit me now! You fucking bastard! Don't worry! You can hit me freely!!" I glared at him, challenging him to hit me. I was surprised when his face went shock but smile then shook his head. He turned his back on me and walked out. "Jerrymiah, you are fired! Get out!" I shouted at him and threw his both hands on air gesturing that he gave up. After a few minutes, I heard everyone stiffling a laugh. I snapped my head to those people and gave my best venomous glare before I walk back to the table where my friends wait. I can see there shock on their face as I arrive there. "I'm out. Let's meet on the Domino's later at six." I said bitterly to them, not bothering myself to sit down since I'll go straight home today. I stare at their faces, one by one before saying something that everyone will hear. "Did you heard that douchebag right? I'll fire myself!!" I shouted at them and walked out the scene with my trembling feet, not looking back. *** I already here on the Pizza Hut, stuffing myself with three mashed potatoes and two mojos. The cashier looked at me as an another head suddenly popped to me when I said that I want three mashed potatoes, two mojos and a two family box of manager's choice pizza and I want to eat right now after asking me for dine in or take out. I texted them that since I am not in the mood to walk further from my house. I notified them that I changed our meeting place. "Hey, that was crazy! No one ever did that before! You're the first one who shouted back at him!" Lyka suddenly spoke that it nearly gave me a heart attack. "Damn it! Can you hit me before you spoke?" I snapped at her. "Easy ka nga Jerry! (Jerry! Take it easy!)" Raymond snapped at me too while everyone is taking a seat. "Help me." I said softly. "Help you what?" Brian asked me while stealing some mojos on the box in front of me. "Help me to find some goddamn job. I can't stay there." I said firmly, staring at my mojos. "Really? Do you think you'll be able to look a job after what you did to him? He's the god of all god. Godder than Jesus Almighty." Hannah rolled her eyes as she grabbed my untouched mashed potato and plastic spoon beside it. "You ruined him! You're the only guy we know who confronted him without any fear!" Des folded the table napkins absent mindedly. "And did you guys heard that he doesn't want to see my face on his purgatory?" I rolled my eyes as I scratch my temple. "Jerry, if he really mean that, he already went to me and shred all of your info that you file on the company to the shredder." Raymond shrugged its like he don't know my problem. "Wow! Do you think he wants to see me again after what I did to him? I mean wow! I thought I was the most stupid person living on this earth but I think I was wrong." I beamed at Raymond while he is opening the pizza box and grabbed a single slice. They all suddenly laughed in unison. I scowl at them and rethinking what did I said something wrong. "My grammar, I guess?" I growled at them lowly. "No, did you saw his smile after you spill your softdrink on his shirt twice?" Des asked me excitedly like she is receiving a gift on christmas day. "Yes, and that means that he'll fuck my life more than I did to him." I'd let myself calm and finished my mojos off. "No, not that. Did you know that it was the first we saw him smile at something. For two years!" Nicole squealed at me then snatching the cheese dip on my mojos, opening the protective cap and dipping her finger on the cheese dip. I smiled insanely. "Yeah because he's fucking happy thay he found a toy to play with. And nope! I'm not his toy. He can't mess with me." I growled. John grabbed the sour cream dip on my empty box of mojos and dipped the end crust of his pizza into it. "Actually, we saw him talking to Raymond." He mumbled while his mouth is full. Ricky grabbed two slice of pizza, putting together upside down just like a sandwich and started to munching it after he said "it looked like their talk were serious." Hannah is picking up the the meat toppings before handing her empty-meat pizza on Raymond and started her speak. "We guess that they talked about you" She said eerily. "You weird little shit." I said, looking at Raymond. "Weird? In what way?" John asked after he finished his sour cream dip. "I think.." Raymond's phone's ringtone interrupted Ricky. He fished his hands on his pocket from his suit and grabbed his Nokia. He squinted his eyes on the LCD when he show the LCD of his phone to me. Sir Thomas "Be quiet!" He warned us before answering his phone. "Hello, sir Franks?" We can't hear what he is saying to Raymond because of the crowd here in this establishment. "I'm with him." He stated. My heart sped up and swing head to him. He nod. After a couple of moment, he nods again. "Ok, I got it sir. Goodbye sir." He ended the call and put his eyes on my. "What?" "He needs you to fix something before he let you go. Some client want to change their details and he wants you. After you did that, he'll let you go." He said at me smiling, even his eyes are smiling. "Anyway, what did you said that he's mightier than almighty?" I asked at Hannah. "He has a contact with all the company and he can put a notice about you." She replied. "Oh shit." *** "So, Jerry. I want you to fix this program. You waste so much time since the incident." Thomas stated while I'm staring at the monitor. "I'll leave you here. Finish that before you go." He gripped at my shoulder and squeezed it before he left me. I took almost two hours and I felt that my bladder is going to burst. "Fuck it! Maka-ihi nga muna. (I need to pee first.)" I whisper to myself before going to the toilet. I was thinking that I'm only one here in the whole building. Sometimes I'm coward person everytime I'm alone, except in the house. I looked up at the end of the hallway where the toilet resides. I gulp before walking fast along the hallway. Thinking happy thoughts although I was so scared. My heart beats 1000 BPM. Activating my sensor behind my back. When I look back, I saw something horrible that makes my skin jump and my hairs stood. There was a person who wears all black attire and a mask just like a killer in scream. And also a knife, ordinary kitchen knife that shines because of the reflection of hallway's flourescent light. The light from where he stood suddenly turned off, I stepped back as the lights keep shutting off towards me. I screamed loudly and run for my life. I ran as fast as I could until I reached the toilet room's door. I twist the knob hardly but it didn't open. I realized that it was locked. The remaining four lights on the hall way didn't turn off and the person who wants to kill me stepped out of the dark, showing himself or herself through the illuminated area of the hallway. I think I peed on my pants when he raised his blood soaked knife and waved it on me because I felt something hot on the lower part of my body. I felt my chest hurt and I'm gasping for air, dizziness surging through my head and darkness dominating my eyes. All I can see is he's or she's walking towards me before I fell down and passed out. *** "Oh my God! Don't! Don't kill me!!" I jerk violently. I sat up quickly and sob silently, covering my face with my palms. "Shh! Its ok, don't be scared." He hugged me tightly. I tried to look down to see who's hugging me. When he pulled his self out, my shock surrounded me. Thomas Franks. "What are you doing here?" I asked when I finally controlled my sobs. "I want to scare you for what you did to me yesterday at the cafeteria. But I went too far that I did not expect that your heart is weak in this kind of jokes." He sat down besides me while he tilt his head down, gripping my hands on his. His body heat wants me to hug him. I can feel his protectiveness to me but my ears jerked from what he confessed to me. "Joke? Do you think this is a motherfucking game? What if that killer wannabe is a real killer? What the fuck you gonna do?" I shove his hand off of me and glared at him. "I'm sorry. I went too far. I know. But I have the guard roving down every places every night to secure the place from the thieves and outsider. I know that you're really mad at me. I'm sorry. If you need to leave because of what I did. Its ok." He said sincerely, softly although his voice where thick and deep. "I'll pay you thrice the amount you'll receive this coming payday. And also.." I interrupted him, my anger boiling inside. "Wow Mr. Thomas the-fucking-wicked-guy Franks, do you think you can pay me just do whatever the fuck you want to me? Fuck you! Asshole! No need to do that! Because I already quitted!" I shove him. "I want to go home right now! You fucker!" I added, shouting at him when I felt my chest tightened once more. I winced at the pain when he rushed his body through me, rubbing my back with his hand. My chest heaved forward and backward as I'm struggling to breath. He reached something on the bedside table and gave it to me. "Use that inhaler." He instructed me. I did what he told me and suddenly the pain on my chest vanished. "Stay here for a while, please?" He begged me. Still rubbing his hand on my back. "Where the hell am I?" I asked, moving my head in all corner of the room. There's a huge, very huge LCD screen across the room, four tower speaker that placed in every corner of the room, a single bed and a couch, good for two person, lies between the bed and the LCD screen. "My personal place here in the building." "So you gonna leave me alone again then, what? You gonna play your jokes on me again?" I raised my eyebrow at him. "No." He respond with an irritated voice. "Please, have a rest for a few days before you confront me." His irritated voice turns into a full of concern voice. He lifted his head and saw his eyes. The eyes, full of concern, blazing blue like a ocean. It calmed me suddenly. "Ok" I said softly. He stood up and went on the door. "Where are you going?" Asking him, still raising my eyebrow. "I'm hungry. You aren't hungry?" He asked me when he heard my tummy complaining that it needed to be fed. "Kinda." I blushed because I can't keep myself getting into embarassing moment. "Ok, I'll be back..." "May I go with you? I promise I'm fine." I begged him to take him. Its not that I hate being alone on a place I didn't know or I didn't recognise. Its because I really don't trust this bastard if he has any jokes to play with me again. "You don't believe me, aren't you?" He raised his one eyebrow on me while holding the door wide open. "No, I'm scared of being alone." Partly lying and partly telling the truth. I saw him smile and he stepped inside the room, shutting the door off. "I'll call Stef to bring our meal up here." "Okay." I mumble. He went to the front of the enormous TV screen to switch it on after dialling on the phone mounted on the wall to ask someone to bring our meal here. "Movies?" He turned his head at me, raising the DVD cases in his hand. I glanced at his hands and recognise the dvd cases he holding up. Fast 6, Lord of the Ring trilogy, The Day after Tomorrow, A Walk to Remember, Wrong Turn and Three Idiots. I smiled at myself because he's such a manly man but he has A Walk to Remember movie, but suddenly grimaced because I saw Wrong Turn. My heart is weak againts suspence and horror movies so I decided to pick the last one. "I'll go for the last movie. And.." I stop when I reach for my pants and I nearly faint that I don't wear one but my underwear and a blanket on the lower part of me. He looked at me and saw him grin brightfuly. "You peed at your pants so I need to take it off before putting you to the bed. There's no way you're ruining my bed sheet." He explained at me. I turned red and melt into the puddle on the reality. He pointed something at my feet on the bed. "Use that sweat pants." He's not suggesting it nor commanding me. I nodded and returned his head on the entertainment system. I didn't hesitate to pick it up and put it on. Keep Rolling "Hey, did you..." "There!" Interrupting me, pointing the bedside where my phone lies without looking at me or looking at where his finger points. I smiled at him and grabbed my BlackBerry. My face crumpled as I saw something on the screen. 30 text messages, 5 miss call and 8 Facebook notification. I decided to open the inbox. Raymond: Get well soon! Laurence: wer r u? Laurence: u nid 2 stay upl8 der? ok.txt me f u r going hme 2 pck u up. John, Hannah, Nicole, Ricky, Brian, Des and Lyka: get well soon! we are so worried! I scrolled up and I can't keep myself to laugh out loud. Me: Sorry guys but I'm sick and I need to stay here on my bed. Just tell to sir Thomas that I don't feel good today. Sent to: John, Hannah, Nicole, Ricky, Brian, Des, Raymond and Lyka. I went to the conversation box between Laurence and I. Me: I need to work overtime tonight. Maybe I'll come home tomorrow morning. Sent to Laurence I sway my sight to him as he glaring at me. "Did you know that your employee including me and Laurence knew each other that we see each other. Every other day?" I smiled at him because of his lame lying abilities. "Which is?" "Probably they'll go to our house later to visit me, which is at that time, Laurence will find out that that all of what you said is just lies." I explained to him as I stood up and grabbed my phone. "Where do you think you're going?" "Oh, its 5 in the morning. I need to leave before everyone noticed what really happened." "Let me drive you.." "No, I'm ok. I'll kill some times on the park before going home. I don't want to go home until he leaves the house for work." I interrupted him. "And also I'll pick my pants tomorrow." He stood up and pulled out a bill on his wallet. My eyes is wide open when I saw his hand with couple of folded hundred dollars bill giving to me. "Go buy something." He told me while his eyes avoiding my gaze. I pulled out the single hundred dollar bill and waved my goodbye to me. "Thanks for the company! But it doesn't mean that I already forgave you, fucker." *** "That's why you didn't came home last night." I saw Laurence in the corner of my eyes narrowed. I can see him raging because of Thomas' doings. "Nah its ok." I shrugged, wearing my creepy smile the formed after I left Thomas until now. "Puta, pagkatapos ka niyang takutin eh nagagawa mo pang ngumiti? (Fuck, after he scare you, you still manage to smile.)" Marking his voice as surprised. We're watching a rerun of Resident Evil 5 on HBO when I told him the truth, that I didn't worked overtime but I passed out because of his 'joke'. "Wow, I thought no speaking in other language but English?" I looked at him then rolled my eyes. "But I think he's a nice guy. "Such a manly figure. He's the ideal man I'm longing for. But I think he's straight" I pouted my lips. I stood up and went on the whole body sized mirror. 5 feet and and 8 inch, an overweight ugly guy with fats on my belly, a face that no one admires with fatty lips and a semi-squinted eyes just like a typical Asian's eyes, short and clean cut hair, thin moustache and couple of hair strands appears as my goatee and a flat big nose. "And I don't think someone wants me because I'm.." "What is your motto?" He threw a single popcorn at me. "Appearance doesn't matter, attitude and personality does." I finished it and went back to the couch. "So, you're a nice guy. And its already proven. You can please everyone without forcing yourself just to be 'in' the society, and to those you can't, well they're just blind shithead." Munching his popcorn while focusing on the Resident Evil 5 scene where Alice and Aida walking down the suburb of crowded traffic of New York. "Wow! Really? Hell, I failed to please my..." I cocked my head towards him when he smashed flat the popcorn on my forehead. "Its not me." He smashed the food again twice where he hit me. "Its not your new friends." He dunked his hand on the bowl to pick another one. "Its them." I squeezed my eyes shut when I heard he chomped the popcorn down on his mouth grinding it with his teeth. I opened my eyes and saw him that his are straightened back to the screen. I opened my mouth when he interrupted me again. "Don't lose hope, uglyhead. Remember, there's a guy who loves you for what you are and who you are. You'll found a new friends that will listen and believe to you. Maybe a new family. Pun intended." *** "Jerry!!" Lyka hugged me tightly when he saw me walking down the hallway. "Are you ok now?" Nicole asked me as she hugged me. "Oh my God! We we're so worried about you!" Hannah hugged me too behind my back. "I was planning to go to your funeral if you don't have any intention to show your sexy body around here." Des grinned at me cockily. Everyone losen their arm at me and faced her. "Des!" Everyone gasp at her at a same time. "I was just kidding!" She defender herself. "I was gone for just three days and you missed me already?" I narrowed my eyes on them. "F.Y.I. Its not us also, there's someone who misses you more than we did." Brian suddenly appeared at my side. I saw them grinning at me. Something weird happening when I was gone. "Who?" "Oh my God! Jerry got a boyfriend! Jerry got a boyfriend! Who's your boyfriend? Is he hotter than me" Raymond made his entrance, teasing me in a singy voice and winked at. "You are gay?" We turned our head to the guy stand outside our sensor. Thomas. "Oh, yes! I'm a fag, queer, cocksucker, gay, homo, sissy, name it! Do you have any problem, boss?" I said in a high pitch voice. He glared at me making me shrink in front of the people who surrounds me. "Go to your workstations. NOW." He commanded us with his firm and powerful voice. "K dot." I muttered under my breath. After he left, they bugged me with their question. "I thought you already quitted?" I shrugged at them. "I need money! I'm fucking broke!" I said before leave them behind. We resumed our everyday routine here in work until our breaktime come. I was busy making up on the work I missed for three days when they headed out to go eat on the cafeteria. I dismissed them by shooing them when they invited me to join at them. They promised me to return as soon as possible. As laziness slowly covering me, I stood up and started to relax my muscles from walking all over the place I didn't able to discover. I saw someone went up to the ladder on the secluded area of the building, far from the workstations. I followed him and we reached the rooftop. I tried to stiff my gasp as my legs went weak because of the exhaustion at climbing the steel ladder. And to my surprise how cool the wind breeze here. I can barely hear the traffic on the rooftop surrounded us by the skyscrapers. I still tried to keep myself out of his sight as he sat down on the far corner. Grabbing his pack of cigarettes from his suit. He fished his hand in the pocket of his slacks and lit his cigeratte. I watched him exhaling smoke as my admiration onto him ignite. Then suddenly, his broad shoulder shook. He closed his eyes and put his arms over his eyes, rubbing it. My heart beat fast as I saw him. 'Is he crying' I thought to myself. I don't know but I hate someone crying on someone or something. I slowly walked behind his back. Maybe he felt someone on his back and slowly turned to me. Our eyes met. 'I knew it! He was crying' I said to myself. His eyes is gazing, like searching for my inner soul. Tears streaking down on his cheeks, I noticed that his sleeve of his long suit damped with his tears. I pulled out my hand towel in the back of my pants and gave it to him. "Don't worry, I haven't used it." I offered it to him. He grabbed it gently and wiped over and arround his eyes. "Why are you here?" He said softly, asking me. "Why are you crying?" My stubborn self is seering out of me. "Its none of your business." He snapped at me. "Well, it is. As long it concerned about you that affects your employee, us and you." I nipped at my own lips. I'm becoming nosy too much. He stood up at me and felt my height shrinks slowly. My senses didn't work properly such my reactions, sight, hearing, and analyzing the situation. I shrugged it off, turning my back on him. Walked away but I stopped in the middle. "I know its none of my goddamn business but you need to keep that fucking problem of yours to keep yourself that affects everyone surrounds you." I spoke to him before leaving him behind. *** "Slim shady! Please stand up!" Des beamed at us on the door where our friends and I started to pack up my things before we head to the bar that Laurence talking about. Its payday today and I want to threat my new friends for being nice to me. "I am the real slim shady!" Brian stood up, grabbing her stuff on the working table. "I am!" Raymond entered the room with all proud, his head is shaved and waxed and shining. "So, since slim shady shaved his hair off his head? I was thinking that you're PitBull." I dismissed at him and everyone crack into laughter. "So, did you convinced your prince to kiss your frog form?" Raymond threw back the embarassment he had at me. I heard everyone said 'ooohhh' and laughed harder. "Jerry, don't worry. We have a bunch of aloe in my home." Ricky said as he kept his face serious. Hannah gave me her disposable cup she used drinking her coffee earlier and winked at me. "Go fetch some cold water and apply it to the burnt area." "Third degree burn!!" They almost shout in unison as I blush because of embarassment. I violently put my finger on my and hissed at them gesturing quiet. "Shut up guys! And let's go. Its getting late. Maybe Laurence is waiting there for us." We grabbed our back and headed to John's black Ford Escalade and Des' pink Hyundai Sonata. We took our respective seat and drove off to the Padis Point bar and resto. We took a half hour before arriving on the said establishment. We parked our car on the parking lot in front of Padis and jumped out and walked in. The place is getting crowded, I sighed in reliefe when I my eyes hit someone waving on us. Laurence. We headed on the reserved round table and sat down. Laurence on my left side, John on my right side following Lyka, Des, Raymond, Brian, Ricky, John, Hannah and Nicole. The beer tower is already in the middle of our table together with ash trays and chicken wings. I explore my eyes around us. There's a streamer above the mini stage. It says 'Thank you for guessing, "Binny"'. There's also a musical instruments displayed there. We're in the second front row near the stage. "Thank you for inviting us." Raymond started. "Thank you for keeping his company." Laurence replied, I looked at him and grinning at him. "I smell something here!" John said and he grabbed a chicken wings with his two fingers. I lift my arm and sniffed at my armpit. Since my sweat glands is active, I almost did everything just to get rid of my body odor. "I do not have a body odor, anymore." I said to him while wrinkling my nose at him. Laurence stared at me, his is eyes is full of concern before looking back to them. "Tell me what do you have in mind." He relaxed his back on the chair as he put his both hands behind his head. "I don't know but its something about him." John said why biting down his food. "Tell me, Jerry!" Lyka screamed at me excitedly. "Is it about being a sucidal person?" Hannah continued her after getting herself a cup that stacked beside the beer dispenser. "Do you have a mental problem and you can't keep yourself from hurting other when you were alone?" Ricky grabbed a stick of Marlboro Black before setting it carefully on the table. "You stole everything you see?" Brian asked me too after grabbing her lighter at her purse. "You keep crying everytime you were alone?" John grabbed the lighter and the cigeratte stick and lit it up. "Vandalism?" Des waved violently at the smoke surrounds her. "Attempted murder?" Lyka gasp after she gulp down the beer on her cup. "Who do you think will win?" I asked Raymond as I grabbed the pack of cigarette and picked mine. "Uhm, this is you guys when you're each other?" He asked us with amazement on his eyes. "The typical us!" I said happily and proud. "So who do you think will win?" "Ok, let's make a bet!" I declare before litting up my cigarette. John attempt to open his mouth but we interrupted by guy on the stage as he spoke. "Good evening everyone!" He shouted and everyback did back. "I'll make it short. Give a loud cheer to Binny!" Everyone cheered as the band come out at the backstage and started to play 'Give it All' by Rise Againts. We are having a good time as they also played 'American Idiot' by Greenday, 'I'm not okay' by My Chemical Romance and 'Glory of Love' by New Found Glory. As the band played song, I excused myself to piss at the toilet. I went right away and quickly did my business. As I go back where my friends are still busy watching the band, I decided to buy myself something on the counter but froze when I saw someone I recognize. Thomas Franks. Again. I saw him sitting on the stool, with a couple of bottle of beers in front of him that I assumed is empty. I also noticed that he's alone. 'Maybe he's winding up after an exhausting activities at his business'. I thought to myself. He slowly turned his back towards the stage behind my back. I don't know but I don't him to see me. That's why I turned my back and walked away fastly. I decided that I don't something anyway and go back to the table. After the band finished playing 'Last Resort' by Papa Roach, they took a break. I grabbed the opportunity to ask my coworkers about him. "Hey, I saw that evilhead our boss on the counter. I think he's alone." I started while I took where I sit. "What do you mean?" Lyka asked, resting her head on Lyka's shoulder. "Before I answer that, Raymond. Control yourself! You're driving. Remember?" The thought suddenly popped on my head as I saw Lyka. "I know. Des and I are not light weight, unlike her." He explained, nodding towards Lyka. "So let's get back to your concern." Ricky asked as he continue to deplete our chicken wings. "You said you saw sir Thomas." John stated. "Here?" Hannah asked. "In the counter?" Brian followed. "Yeah. And I think he's alone." I replied to them while glancing back at the counter. "Maybe he is looking some slut for a night one stand." Nicole responded to me. I don't know but I flinched at what she said. I was going to defend and give an smart-ass joke when the band's break is over and started to play song again on stage. *** "Alrighty then!!" I said while saying my goodbye to them. Its past 2 in the morning when we decided to go home. Lyka, Nicole, Ricky, and Brian decided to crash on Raymond's place tonight since its our day off today. Same as Hannah, John, and Ricky are doing the same on Des' crib too. Laurence told me that he'll need to some an errand at his work, later early morning so he'll spend tonight on his couch at his office room. I told him to get atleast a quick rest before he do his things but he forcedfully convinced me that he was fine. Since he was a light drinker, I thought to myself. Since I don't drive a car, not that I don't have one. But because I don't know how to drive a car, I decided to grab a cab. I watched them as Nicole, Lyka, Ricky and Brian got into Raymond's car and drove off. Des pulled John, Ricky and Hannah into her car and drove off too. "Are you sure?" He asked me as he insist me to take me home. "Don't worry. I'll be fine." I said, leaning back againts his white Audi Q7 while dragging the smoke on my lungs. "And I want to walk down the busy streets for a while before going home." "You're liking your new place, aren't you?" Grinning while leaning his back on the hood with his fist on his jacket. "Yup! And my new company is better than I had before. Just saying." I tilt my head at him and smiled. He smiled back without looking at me and stood up straight and patted my shoulder. "Fathead, its getting late now and I should be 5 minutes away from my destination but you're wasting my time." "Sure. Don't speak, I'll do it for you." I stood back on his sight and speak loudly that the two of us will hear my voice. "Fathead and shithead and faggothead, get out of my sight and my girl's sight." I rolled my eyes, pertaining to his car. He treated his car like his girlfriend. He laughed joyous before stepping in the car. He rolled down the both side of his both window car and yell at me. "Thank you, Jerry. Remember, take care! Dun't be such a genius head." Before driving off. And now I'm all alone, I decided to walk down the busy streets of the city before heading to home. Maybe buying some corndog or buying myself some frappes at StarBucks. I was heading towards the busy streetlights when I someone bumps into me. "Oops, I'm sorry." I apologized. "Asshole." I whisper to myself. "Fuck, can you..." I gaped at the guy who bumped at me. "What you doing here?" He asked me. There's a car coming towards us and the headlights illuminated his face. I am hundred and one percent sure that he was crying. His face can't be painted, eyes are bloodshot red, deep dark color under his eyes, and streak of tears that ran down on his face. The car passed us. "Have you been crying?" I ask, my voice is different that I didn't recognize it. "Its none of your fucking business." He growled at me. "Please tell me, I'm just concerned about you." I said. He turned his back on me but I grabbed his arm and turned him around. "Will you leave me, can you?" He snapped as he jerked his body. I sensed that he was drunk too much that he can't use his brute force againts me. "I'll leave you after I help you about your problem." I'm trying to calm his anger. "You don't know me, you don't know my life. You don't know.." His voice cracked, his knees went weak and I hold him tightly before he kneel and broke down in front of me. "Let's talk about it. Ok? Hold on. Let's call some cab." He just nodded at me. I grabbed his arm and pulled him as anywhere I go. My palms tickled as I realized that he's a furry guy. I can call him bear, but he's fat or stocky or anything. I pulled my phone to my pocket and called a cab. While waiting where we stood, I can't keep myself glancing at him. His face is blank although I can read his expression. Sadness. My heart tight as like someone is squeezing it. Even though he's such a jerk for yelling me, humiliating in front of everyone, and scared the hell out of me until I pass out, I still feel pity for him. After a few moments, cab arrived and we got inside quickly as I directed the driver the address. Few more minutes and we stopped in front of my apartment. I grabbed some bill and gave it to the driver, leaving my exchange behind as my tip. I led Thomas to our unit. When we were inside, I asked to him take a seat and offered him a drink. "You want drink something?" I asked him. Followed by "You can have any drinks except for an alcoholic one, which is we don't have." I joke just to ease up the tense that started to appear. He didn't respond. Just staring to an empty space. "Ok, sorry for my lame joke." I grabbed the thermos to pour some hot water on the two mugs I grabbed from the cup board. "How do you please everybody?" He asked. Still on his own trance. I stared at him before going back to preparing ourselves some coffee. "Well, I'm just showing my true me. Its up to them if they'll accept me for who I am and what I am. To those who I can't please, well I don't give damn." I respond, finishing stirring the mugs and gave it to him. Keep Rolling He didn't hesitate to grab his and took a small sip before he gaze at me and asked me a question that can't be answered by me. "What if you can't please your own family?" I gaped, staring at him like he dropped a precious secret. But I tried to keep still my brain. I wanted to help him. "It depends on me, well. I'll talk to them and ask them why they didn't like me or ignoring me. Well, I can see that there's a lot of answers to your question. Depending on the specific aspects of the situation." I answered him sincerely. "My Dad and Jenny is the family I only had. I don't know but every moment pass, they're drawing away from me. I don't know why." He cried silently. I stared at him before I grab my hand towel and handed it to him. "Sorry, I don't keep any handkerchief around here." I laughed awkwardly. "So you're saying that they're ignoring you as time goes by?" He smiled at me before accepting it and wiped it on his face. "Did you talked to them why are they doing that?" "They're always busy." He exhaled loudly. "I did what my Dad wants. But I never saw or heard that he was proud of me. Even Jenny, she never spoke to me as if I didn't exist" he put his head down and his shoulder shook as he sob heavy. As he sob heavily and quietly, I sat beside him and I rubbed his back. "Do you have any idea why they're ignoring you? Because they'll never do that without certain reason." "I don't know." He put his head on my shoulder and pour all of his sadness until the shirt I wear soaked. A long silence has passed before he finally controlled his waves of emotion that washed through him. He pulled himself out of me. Before he said anything, I already beaten him. "Sorry if I didn't able to help you. Sucks." I grinned at him. I thought it would lift up his saddened spirit if I show him that smiling through problem will do the work. "Its ok." He gazed at me. "Thank you for lending your shoulder on me." He whisper quietly. "Its ok." I raised my arm and dismissed at him. He stood up. "I need to go home. Thank you again for...." "No, stay here. You're too drunk to go home." I interrupted him, stopping him. I knew he was. Drunk by his breath smell. "But.." "No. Did you brought your car? If it is, you can have it back later after you rest." I grabbed his wrist. "I think you did too much to me." "No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Its ok, I'm glad that I can help although I really didn't." I smiled at him and he smiled back. The world suddenly stopped. My sweat trickling down my neck. Our eyes met, smiling at mine while still holding his arm. I put my head down and lifted it up again looking at him. "I'll take the couch, you sleep in bed." I offered to him while slowly ungripping my hand to his arm. "You such a stubborn." Smiling while shooking his head. I show my room and quickly change my attire into something comfortable. I also grabbed some of my baggy shirt and a pyjamas and gave it to him. "You're not going to shower?" He asked me after I changed my dress and directly lie down on the couch. "Nope. I'm tired. Feel free at home." I said. "Goodnight." I mumble. "Night, too." He replied back before the sleepines devour me. ***