Checking left and right, Julien hurried out the door and slid in next to Andrew. He felt prickly.
It's moments like these I wish I could just do a clean mind wipe.
Andrew glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Thankfully.
"Huu."
Spotting a nearby vending machine, Julien pressed the A1 button and dispensed a vanilla latte.
"You want anything?"
Andrew shook his head.
Cracking open the can, he tugged on Andrew's arm and started walking towards the gates.
Whew, okay.
He took a sip.
Let's continue like this. At least until I get home.
If the world was dead set on tearing normalcy away from him, so be it, but could he at least finish the morning first?
Passing through the gates, Julien glanced at his taciturn companion.
"I forgot to mention it earlier, but when Nevaeah keeps Cello she goes back home—her parents' place."
Andrew nodded. Julien continued.
"We'll need the car."
Andrew's footsteps halted for a second before returning to their regular rhythm. He simply nodded.
Julien continued to stare at him.
Did he hit his word quota or…
"Are you mad at me?"
"No."
An automatic response.
"Okay."
They continued walking.
Step
Step
Step
Step
The silence was deafening.
Pausing just in front of a small bookshop at the edge of the park directly tied to his apartment, Julien stared at the sign while drinking the last of his coffee.
He grabbed the back of Andrew's shirt.
Andrew turned to him.
Throwing the empty can away, he pointed to the sign.
[ ○・＊・°Unveiled Media°・＊・○ ]
There was a subtitle as well, but it was illegible.
"Can I buy you a book?"
Even if he said reading was just a habit, he has to like reading at least a bit, right?
Andrew glanced at the bookstore. Then, as he began to shake his head, he paused.
After about 30 seconds, Andrew nodded.
"Budget?"
Feeling relieved, Julien confidently—didn't pull up his bank balance. He wasn't stupid.
"There is none."
Chime!
The silver bell above the door chimed as the two of them entered the bookstore.
If he had to describe it, it was exactly the kind of place someone would post on their blog only to complain about it becoming 'too popular' later. It had a very cozy, almost nostalgic atmosphere.
If they had a reading corner or a café, it'd be perfect.
"Welcome!"
A bookstore clerk with round glasses perched over amethyst eyes, a brown ponytail, and a long-sleeved striped shirt pressed under a blue store apron came over with a friendly smile.
She smelled like chamomile.
"The owner isn't here right now, but can I help you find anything?"
Julien shook his head then glanced at Andrew. Andrew just stared at her without a word.
In fact, they were staring at each other.
With an awkward laugh, Julien pulled Andrew to the side and gave the clerk a polite nod.
"We'll seek you out if we need anything."
The clerk 'uh huh'ed' him in a daze, then with a bow, she made her exit.
Julien turned to Andrew. He was still staring.
"Is that someone you know?"
Finally tearing his eyes away from the clerk, Andrew shook his head.
"Her scent."
Tilting his head, Andrew stared at him.
"Almost like you, almost like Rory."
So like a mix?
Glancing at the bookstore clerk with mixed feelings, Julien motioned towards the books.
Whatever she was, he was going to ignore it.
"We came here to buy a book, so let's do that."
Andrew nodded, paused, then raised his wrist to his own neck. After rubbing it for a bit, he rubbed his wrist against Julien's neck as well before turning away.
Crash—!
Robotically turning his head, Julien saw the bookstore clerk busily picking up a display with pink cheeks. Meeting his eyes, the clerk offered him a sheepish smile.
"Ah… sorry."
"…"
Raising his head to stare at the ceiling, he covered his face and cursed this wicked fate.
F*ck.
—
After enduring a painful checkout where the store clerk stole glances at them the whole way, the two of them finally left the store.
Even though I said I'd buy him 'a' book, he still could've let me pay for the other one.
That's right, Andrew now had two new books.
Though he did in fact buy Andrew 'a' book as promised, as he moved to leave, Andrew produced another book from gods knows where and paid for it himself before Julien could even blink twice.
Staring at the two bags swaying in the other's hand, Julien opened his mouth.
"Are you happy?"
Andrew tilted his head.
Opening his mouth for a second then closing it again, he finally turned to look at his smaller companion.
"Do I look happy?"
How am I supposed to know that?
Julien turned away. Though he'd gotten used to Andrew's blank face over time and could discern a thing or two sometimes… asking if he actually looked happy was just cruel.
Pursing his lips, Julien nodded anyway.
"You look better."
Andrew stared at him for a while before looking ahead.
By the way, the books he'd bought were these:
The Inner Workings of the Mind: Understanding Human Nature 101
And
101 Unique Recipes for a Healthy Mind
Julien had a number of things he wanted to say about the titles of those books, but he kept his mouth firmly shut.
Entering the apartment building, Julien stretched before moving over to one of the lobby sofas.
"I'll wait here while you put those away and grab the keys."
In the meantime, he was going to take this chance to decompress.
Andrew stared at him with what he thought was suspicion before finally walking towards the elevators.
Watching him leave, Julien sighed before turning away. He checked the time.
[ 10:59 A.M. ]
The morning was almost over.
…
Pressing a knuckle between his brows, Julien activated his Tith and opened the notes app.
Okay.
Let's list everything out from the beginning.
With hesitant fingers, he began to type.
—
[ 11:46 A.M. ]
Stepping onto the 3rd floor of a certain condominium, Julien stopped in front of a dull blue door and knocked.
Knock knock knock
After about a minute, Nevaeah opened the door and smiled at them.
"Look who's finally showin' their sorry face around here! I feel like it's been ages since you've been."
Thinking about it for a moment, he smiled back.
"The last time was your graduation party?"
"Ahhh!"
Nevaeah hurriedly shook her head, lifting a finger to her lips.
"Silence from you! That's a dark mark in my life I tell you! A dark mark!"
It wasn't 'that' bad.
Recalling the event Julien…
…
He…
…
Julien redirected his attention to the toddler on her hip.
"And this is… Azaiah, right?"
He waved at the baby.
The baby did not wave back.
Azaiah was staring at Andrew, as seems to be the theme for today.
Nevaeah glanced at her baby brother then nodded.
"Right. You haven't seen him before have you."
Pausing for a moment, she held him out.
"Would you like to—"
"WAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Azaiah let out a shrill scream and clung to her arms, desperately trying to place himself back into the safety net that was his sister.
Blinking, Julien chuffed.
"I don't think he wants that."
She shook her head. Rocking the baby, she glanced at Andrew.
"I doubt it's because of you."
He glanced at the older man as well.
Aha.
"Is he still emanating a nasty aura?"
He seemed to be immune to it, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious.
She shrugged.
"It's not quite as bad as before, but even if he wasn't, wouldn't anyone be a little intimidated?"
Glancing at the older man who was staring at the baby with an almost… hurt expression on his face, Julien nodded.
"I think his face cancels it out a bit."
"Ditto."
Stepping out of the way, she motioned them in.
"I don't know where she's hiding right now, but her carrier is in Zai's room. Sorry I can't help."
She readjusted the toddler.
"My hands are tied."
Patting her shoulder, Julien shook his head with a smile.
"That's fine…"
Pointing meaningfully towards her bedroom, his smile turned evil.
"But I'm raiding your tarot collection."
He wasn't even interested in those things, he was doing it for the love of the game.
She opened her mouth in disbelief.
He dashed towards her room.
"JULIEN!!"
"WAAAHHHHH!!!!"
As Nevaeah soothed her baby brother, he flicked through her collection and carefully hid her most unassuming deck behind some of the ones on display.
She'd never find out which one was missing if it was still in there.
Hehehe.
With a smug face, he picked up a pacifier sitting on her dresser and opened the door—
"Arf! ARF ARF!"
Only to come face to face with a tiny beagle in the arms of an intimidating giant.
Looks like he found her.
Peeking behind his fellow man, he spotted Nevaeah sitting on the couch and walked over. Popping the binky into the crying baby's mouth, he smiled innocently.
"I'll take him if you wanna take a look around."
She practically shoved that baby at him. Patting him down, she quickly determined her stolen deck was still somewhere over yonder and ran into her bedroom, shouting—
"You'll pay for this!!!"
She even shook her fist in the air for added effect.
Shaking his head, Julien sat on the couch with the baby in hand.
…
What were you supposed to do with kids again?
With an awkward smile, Julien turned to Mr. Caretaker at the other end of the room…
No… he could do it on his own.
Looking around the room for something to do with this kid instead, he pursed his lips. No toys, no TV, not even a high chair in sight.
It's probably all in his room.
Feeling a bit lazy, Julien remained in place. Meeting the eyes of the toddler who silently stared at him through all of this, Julien nodded towards him.
"Hello."
The baby stared at him.
"Can you talk?"
The baby stared.
"…"
He stared at the baby.
"…"
He poked his cheek.
Swat!
Staring at his tingly hand in disbelief, he gave the baby a sideways smile.
"Guess you didn't like that."
Turning away, he decided if he wasn't crying that was good enough.
Growl
Turning his head as Andrew took a seat with the growling pup in hand, he looked between them.
At least she was letting him hold her now. That was an improvement.
"Where'd you find her?"
"I didn't."
Julien blinked.
"…So, she came up to you? On her own?"
Nod.
Staring at the growling bundle of joy dressed in a sparkling pink tutu, he looked at her sideways.
Huh.
Maybe she'll even let 'me' touch her now.
Standing up, Julien cautiously approached… then stopped. Looking at the child in his arms, then Cello, then Andrew…
He could only see a disaster happening if he got any closer.
Sigh
He sat back down.
A few minutes later, Nevaeah re-emerged in a huff with his 'stolen' deck in hand.
"Is this it?"
"No."
She groaned before returning to her room.
Feeling a gaze, he turned his head.
Andrew was staring at him.
"What?"
Glancing at Nevaeah's room, Andrew hesitantly opened his mouth.
"That was it."
Looking the same way, Julien raised a brow.
"How would you know that?"
Andrew tapped his nose.
"…"
Was he the weird one for not getting freaked out by that?
I wasn't even holding it that long…
Deciding not to dwell on it, Julien cancelled the prank.
"Vae!"
"What!"
"You found it!"
She poked her head out.
"I found it?"
She raised the deck she had in her hand.
"This?"
"The last one."
"…"
"…"
Her gaze grew cold.
"Count your days."
SLAM!
She shut the door.
After a brief silence, ominous muttering emanated from beneath the door frame.
Was it just him, or had the room gotten darker?
Turning to his guard, Julien sprung to his feet.
"The carrier?"
Andrew tilted his head before nodding towards an ajar door at the other end of the room. Azaiah's room.
Nodding, Julien hurriedly deposited the child in his cradle, grabbed the carrier, and exited the bedroom.
Practically shoving Andrew out the door, he shouted over his shoulder.
"I left your brother in his bed!"
The muttering stopped.
Uwahh.
Grabbing the door on his way out, he timidly added on.
"I-I'll buy you a limited edition Magic Leap x President Evil ~☆ card set! Free of charge!"
The condo went quiet.
Click!
A lock disengaged.
Creeee—
A hooded figure dressed in black poked her head out from beyond the frame. Only the lower half of her face was visible.
"…Gold edition?"
Drenched in cold sweat, he shook his head.
"Platinum."
Eyeing him suspiciously, she removed her hood.
"Fine."
Going back into her room, she reemerged hoodless with a small box in hand. Smiling, she handed him the box.
"Seems you live to see another day, Julien."
Turning away, she walked towards her brother's room while 'huhuhu-ing'.
"That's from your sister by the way. Merry Christmas."
She closed the door behind her.
"…"
It's the end of February?
Staring at the almost metallic sheen of the jewelry box tied shut with a red and white ribbon, Julien felt an odd chilliness.
What is it this time?
Turning to Andrew with a strained smile, he tucked the box into his pocket.
"Let's go."
And thus, a successful retreat was made.
—
[ 8:02 P.M. ]
Julien was lying in bed, blankly staring at the jewelry box in his hands.
He still hadn't opened it.
Rolling it over in his hand, he recalled the past few hours.
Upon returning to the apartment, Andrew made them a simple lunch—an assortment of salads and sandwiches—and as he watched him work, Julien asked him this:
"Do you have any idea what this is?"
Julien pulled the box from his pocket.
Andrew didn't turn around.
Lowering the Jewelry box, Julien's expression went blank.
Silence is an answer too.
Staring at his back for a while longer, he decided to drop it.
Whatever.
After that, time passed smoothly.
By 1, they'd eaten and went their separate ways.
By 2, Andrew had Julien hand over his keys before leaving to take Cello on a walk, meanwhile Julien went over the material for his exam tomorrow.
By 5, he'd wrapped up his studying, and with the free time he had, he sat beneath the tree hidden under the stairs.
Placing a tentative hand against the bark, Julien leaned against the tree.
The silent apartment was comforting.
By the time Julien began to wonder where his roommate had gone off to, Andrew came back with a carry-out bag in hand.
He'd taken Cello to the vet.
Julien was tempted to try petting her, but he figured if she'd just experienced the horrors of veterinary care she would bite his hand clean off.
Until next time.
Turning his head to stare at the analog clock on his dresser, Julien closed his eyes.
By 7, he'd eaten dinner like normal, showered like normal, and even watched a movie, just like you'd do at the end of a long day.
Julien rubbed the box.
Everything had gone exactly the way a normal day should.
…
It was a 'normal' day.
Reopening his eyes, Julien looked down at the box in his hands.
…
Pulling off the ribbon holding it shut, he opened the box.