Chapter 3

03

"T-Thank you," said Peter.

"Are you sure you're alright? You look pale," West asked worrying about the boy's well-being. He must be shock.

"Yeah," Peter whispered.

"Are you going home?"

Peter nodded.

"Nice! Let's walk home together! I’m also on my way home," West suggested with the wide smile on his face. Peter was caught by his smile and it was so warm and light that he couldn't say no that might wash the smile of West's lips away.

In the end, Peter nodded.

Both of them walked side by side on their way home. At the middle of walking, West pulled Peter on the other side as they exchange places. He put the smaller boy on the safe side so that what happened a while ago won't happen again.

That realization, that small gesture of West made Peter blush. It was his first time that someone did that to him.

"I went to the music club a while ago. I was hoping to see you there," West started a conversation.

"Why?" Peter asked, shoting West a short glance before he returned his gaze to the road in front.

"Because...I just want to?"

He's suspicious.

Peter just nodded and didn't bother to ask further about it. But something was bothering his mind. Why did West went to the music club to find me? Of all the places.

He must have noticed my guitar. Right. That's just it.

Peter was formulating questions on his mind but he's also the one analyzing of the possible answer of it. That's how his mind works. He's not really into asking people questions not until he's really confused and really needed an answer.

"Do you usually go home at this hour?" asked West, taking a glance on the smaller boy who's adorably focusing on the road, oblivious that the taller man beside him was secretly admiring his every little movement.

He's so cute on his white sweater.

"Yeah," Peter answered shortly. West isn't complaining about how short Peter's response are. He understand that maybe the boy's not really a talker and maybe shy. They just met, he could buy that excuse. That just made him wanted to talk more often with Peter until the smaller boy will be comfortable with him and will initiate a conversation.

"Let's walk together then," West suggested with a smile. They didn't stop walking but he could see how Peter's grip tightened and how the boy's ear turned slightly red.

"Do you study there too?" Peter asked in a monotone voice.

"Yeah," West answered without hesitation.

"Where's your bag then?"

Bag? School bag? Where you put your notebooks—

"Oh shoot!" West halted and his mouth gaped. "I forgot my bag!" he exclaimed after remembering that he's not holding his bag anymore.

Peter was bewildered. Who on Earth would forget to bring their school bag back home?

Wow, he's surprisingly stupid too. Peter thought.

"You can go get it back," Peter suggested.

West turned to him. "Huh? No, don't mind it. Let's continue."

Peter's eyebrows knitted. "But your bag?"

"Someone will get it," West answered with a smile. Peter didn't argue about it and just nodded. It's not his problem after all, it's none of his business.

—

Peter just finished washing himself on the small bathroom inside his room. He changed into his usual sleeping attire—a short and a T-shirt. He's drying his hair with a towel while walking towards the small kitchen on the side. The rice was cooked already and now the only problem he have is what to pair on it. What should he cook?

His thoughts were disrupted when someone knocked on his door. He walked towards his door and peaked on the peephole to see who’s outside.

Once he caught the figure of the man standing in front of his door, he quickly opened the door.

"West."

"Hey, I cooked food. I thought of sharing it with you," said West with a smile on his face again.

He's like a walking ball of sunshine.

Peter's gaze dropped to the food container—it was his—that West's holding. West gave it to him which he gladly accepted.

"I hope you'll like the taste.”

"Sure. Thanks," said Peter. West turned around and was about to walk away when Peter stopped him. The taller man looked at him, asking. "Do you want to get in? L-Let’s eat...t-together." Peter bit his lower lip and looked away, avoiding West's eyes. He don’t know why he’s stuttering.

That made West smile widely that he pursed his lips to hide the excitement he felt. Peter was really unaware on what his effect on West. They are both unaware of the effect they made to each other. West giddily agreed then they both walked inside the room.

West and Peter's room has the same space. West can't help but to scan his sight on Peter's room. Their are so much differences that he found on Peter's room to his. First, the boy's room was clean and organized. The plates, the small TV, the study table and the bed. Second, the trashbin on the side. It looks empty, opposite on his full bin.

I'll put it away later.

Lastly is his guitar safely placed on top of his bed. This is the first time that he took a sight of the guitar Peter always bring. It's a brown acoustic guitar and when he looked at it longer, he noticed the name Sunny engraved on it.

Who's Sunny? Was the first thought that came up on West. He's sure that it's a name of a girl. What's her connection to Peter?

West was interrupted by his thoughts when Peter called him to come over. He went to the small dining table and sat himself on the vacant chair across Peter’s. It's a good thing that Peter have more than one chair for a visitor.

They sat across to each other and silently started eating. West looked at Peter to see his reaction after he took a bite of the food.

"How was it?" West asked. He has no idea on how he felt anxious about Peter eating the food he made.

Peter swallowed his food before he nodded his head. "It’s good," he answered plainly.

West pouted. He knows that he cooks well but hearing Peter's reaction of it, it doesn't felt good at all.

Is it really good? Does he really like it? I can't see it on his face though...

West mentally scolded himself after telling himself that that's just how Peter is. He's honest, he can feel that but he's not just good at showing emotions or at expressions. He's that kind of boy and it attracts him.

"I don’t know if I should smile because the food’s delicious, but it is really good. I am telling the truth." Peter suddenly blurted after noticing the pouting face of the man across him.

West was caught off-guard but he immediately regain himself and smiled right away before continuing his food with a smile still plastered on its face.

Peter's lips raised a little that if you'll see it you'll have a hard time thinking if it was a smile or just an involuntary movement of his lips.