Smiling faintly at him, I ran a hand through my wet hair. I realized how big of a mess I looked
like when the too good to be true pair saw me. I reached for the drawer, trying to find a hair
brush.
"Here," Anthony was suddenly on his way to give a hair brush to me.
"Where'd you get this?" I asked him.
"Carley told the maids to give us the necessary toiletries." He said as he handed me the comb.
Having nothing else to do, he sat on the small couch by the bathroom door.
"Promise me something Drei." He suddenly grew serious.
"What?"
"Don't ever feel guilty."
I looked at him straight in the eye. "About what?"
"Promise me first."
When I realized what he was about to say, I immediately refused his request. "No. If you're
thinking of sleeping in that little couch, I'll totally feel guilty."
He sighed, flopping himsef in the couch.
I almost let out a loud awwww at the sight. Anthony who was always prim and proper at school,
the always composed and cool guy who never showed even the slightest hint of anything but
perfection was now showing signs of being 'normal'. That he too was affected by frustration.
And I couldn't help but enjoy that I was the one making him feel that now. I shook my head. How
sadist.
"We'd think of a better way than that." I assured him.
He lifted his face so that he could look at me. "Like what?"
I fiddled with my fingers. "Let me think."
I continued to brush my hair and he straightened himself up. I realized he hadn't taken a shower
yet. His clothes were by the door, lying neatly at the top of a small table.
"I think you should freshen up."
He looked at me, as if having trouble digesting what I'd said. When they finally sank in his
drained mind, he nodded. "Right."
I looked at him expectantly, as if saying he should get up from where he was slumped. He eyed
me, and I could tell he understood what I was implying. Usual y, he’d just do what he was
supposed to but this time he surprised me. He frowned mockingly, very not like his usual self,
and he continued to lie there, like a spoiled little child. I almost gawked at the gesture. What was he trying to do? Look cute? He already is!
I continued to stare at him, expecting him to cut it out, and just take a shower. Shrugging, I
opted to brush my hair while he was regressing to his childhood years. I heard him move. I was
about to sigh in relief since I thought he finally realized what a matured guy like him should do.
But to my dismay, he just continued to lie there, giving in to stubbornness.
“When do you plan to have a shower?” I asked him impatiently.
He shook his head.
My face turned to disgust. “Ew. If only your thousands of fans know how their idol looks like at
night. Al dirty and stinky.” I mocked him.
His head turned so he could glare at me. “Ha ha.”
This was all so new. He never argued before. Not in this playful way, that is.
Finishing up my hair, I got up from where I sat on the bed, and decided to tug at his limp arm
dangling by the edge of the couch.
“Get up, stinky.”
He shook his head. I slightly tightened my grip on his arm. He tried to wriggle free from my
grasp. But I didn’t give in. He shifted in the couch so that his other arm could help in freeing the other which I was holding. He was now lying on his back. I was playfully tugging at his arm, my
eyes scanning the room, thinking of a way for us to sleep with the less awkwardness possible
when suddenly I felt a poke at my side, sending me not only freeing his arm but also falling right
on top of him.
I didn’t dare look at him while we were such an awkward position (like in those lame cheesy
movies) but instead tried to get up, but failed to do so since there was something keeping me
down. Having no other choice, I looked at him. He was staring at me. Curse this close distance.
I could melt right now.
“Are you okay?” He asked, his gaze locked in mine.
I managed to nod, and my vision searched for the thing that was keeping me down. When my
efforts didn’t show any progress, he spoke again.
“Relax, maybe I should get up so you could too,” with that he had his arms on my back,
assisting me as he straightened up. When I looked down at my shirt, I realized what kept me on
him. It was the teddy bear design in the front of my shirt, caught up with the button on his shirt.
He followed my gaze and he realized what I was thinking about.
“Sorry,” we said at the same time, looking away immediately.
This sure is a long night.
***
Chapter 23
The rain drizzled softly outside. The guests must’ve gone to bed since the hal s were now silent.
A few minutes ago, music was blaring from somewhere near the living room. Good thing they
finally realized it was already late. I was in the middle of my little tour in this large mansion
Carley calls her home when suddenly my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Drei? Where are you? Is your phone dead? I’ve been trying to call you but it seems your out of
coverage or your---“
“Hey Drew, calm down.”
“Right. Is Anthony with you? Are you fine?”
“To both questions, yep.”
“Whew. Thank God. I’ve been worrying all afternoon.”
“Didn’t Jonathan tell you?” I rounded a corner and saw a bench. Deciding that it was clean, I sat
down on it.
“Apparently not. I haven’t heard from him.”
“Oh.” I scratched a portion of my forearm that suddenly grew itchy. Stupid mosquito. Even
mansions like these have pests.
“Just remember that spot where you are now, okay? So you can reach me any time.”
“More like so you can reach me,” I chuckled. I miss
