Chapter 5

05

Peter didn't think twice and just agreed. They continued walking until they halted on a small diner beside the road. They went inside and sat on the empty table. The place was not crowded but not near empty either. Just enough to keep the place busy and lively.

"I like their palabok here," ani West kay Peter. "You should try it too," he added.

Peter just got done placing the guitar on his side and his bag. He just nodded at West in agreement.

West ordered two serves of palabok and a drink for Peter. The service was fast as the food already arrived in front of them, still hot.

"Eat well," said West as he started eating. He closed his eyes on satisfaction. He then raised his head to see Peter. He watched the smaller boy used the fork to grab a mouthful of food before putting it inside his mouth. Peter halted as the taste burst inside his mouth. West swear that he could see Peter's eyes sparking animatedly. That made him smile as he realized that Peter likes the food.

"Let's come back here," Peter said after they're done eating and on their way home.

West chuckled. "I told you. You emptied two plates." Peter's cheeks flushed because of the comment. He's guilty. He can't help himself. The food was to good to not have another serve. It's his new favourite.

They decided to rest for a while on a vacant bench beside the plaza. The sun's almost down as the darkness is slowly occupying the place. The lights from the establishments are already turned on as well as the lampposts at the side of the road.

West turned to Peter when he heard the latter heaved a deep sigh.

"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned. Truth is, he noticed that something's off about Peter today. It's like his minds wandering about something that West don't have an idea. He's preoccupied or bothered but what could it be that's bothering him?

"I don't know," Peter answered honestly. He's looking straight to the road, staring at nothing in particular.

"What's bothering you if I may ask?" West wanted Peter to feel comfortable around him. Opening up to him is an impossible idea to happen for he knows that Peter's not a talker, but still he wanted to try his luck.

"There's an upcoming program at school. The stakeholders day. You know that right? That's a three days event,” Peter started.

"Y-yeah," replied West. What program is he talking about?

"Have you attended the night band every last day?"

"Ah, y-yeah."

"I'm one of the performers this year," said Peter.

"That is what's bothering you?"

Peter nodded.

"They wanted me to have a solo performance." He gulped after what he said and his gripped tightened on the strap.

"And?"

"I don't know if I should do it," he said lowly. "I h-have stage f-fright," he added.

West fell silent at what he heard. Stage fright. He didn't expect Peter have that. I mean, yes Peter's shy and cold at the same time. Not a talker and is not good at socializing but never once he thought that boy had that.

He used to imagine Peter singing in front of the crowd, playing his guitar with expertise, treating everyone with his golden voice. That was what happened to him before. When he heard Peter sing a song that unexpectedly put him to sleep.

"You have a very good voice," West suddenly blurted out. Peter turned to him with creased forehead.

"What?"

"Well...I heard you sing," West admitted.

"When?"

"I couldn't remember the exact day but it was night-time when we haven't met yet. On the apartment. On the wall." Peter stiffened as he remembered himself singing a song late at night. He didn't thought that someone heard him despite of knowing that the walls are sickly thin. "That was also the last time that I slept. Strange is it?" West added.

"What do you mean?" Peter averted his gaze back to the road, absorbing the fact that someone heard him singing.

"I don't know either but when I was listening to you that night, I just fell asleep. It was wonderful, I must admit."

Silence occupied the both of them. West don't know why he's feeling nervous about it and Peter on his side is calming the embarrassment that he's feeling. Peter's aware that he can sing well but never did he had the courage and confidence to show it to someone else.

"Maybe I can help you."

Peter's ear twitched at what he heard. Help me? He turned his head to West confusingly who's already looking directly at him as if he anticipated that Peter would look at him.

"How?" Peter admit that he wanted to know how and West's proposal caught his attention. Maybe it isn't bad if he'll listen to his suggestion.

"You can practice while I'll listen to you," replied West.

Peter's forehead creased. "How can it help me?" he asked.

"You’ll use to someone listening to you while singing? Slowly but at least, right?"

Peter looked away and remained silent. He's thinking about the idea and he admits that West have a point. Will he accept it? Will it really work?

"What do you want in return?" Peter asked, shooting the man beside him a glance.

"After practicing, at night. Put me to sleep, Peter. That's my favour."

—

A day had passed since the last conversation Peter and West had at the park. After that day, they returned home without closing the deal.

"Take your time deciding" was the last word West said before he entered his apartment. Later that day, Peter went to school. He attended his classes and went to practice.

"Pepper?" Peter called.

"Yes Pete?" Pepper walked towards Peter who's playing with his finger, a habit of him whenever he's nervous.

"Give me a week. I'll tell you if I'll perform," he said. Peter's looking at Pepper with pleading eyes that the latter couldn't just ignore.

She smiled warmly at the boy. "Sure! I'll save your place," she answered.

Peter made up his mind about accepting West's offer. He hadn't told his only friend Rave about it and he thought that it would be fine since it's just West and there's certainly nothing wrong about it. But still, some part of his mind wanted to tell Rave.

Peter washed the thought away for the meantime as he's already approaching the door of his apartment. Yesterday, he didn't see West and they didn't walk home together. This morning too, the man's room's pretty quiet that feels like someone's not in there. Peter couldn't help but wonder if where's West.

Instead of stopping in front of his room, he found himself standing, facing the door of West's room beside him. He stared at it, battling if he'll knock or just walk pass.

What should I say if he'll open it?

I didn't saw you yesterday—that sounds weird.

I just wanted to ask—what do I wanted to ask?

I'm thinking of accepting your offer—but what if he changed his mind?

Where did you go—fuck. My mind's on haywire.

Suddenly, Peter's thought were cut off when the door swung open. He was about to say something when he noticed that it's not West who's standing in front of him.

A boy, taller than Peter but shorter than West, with blonde undercut neatly styled, a fair skin, chink pair of brown eyes, proud nose and noticeable silver earring—a total handsome.

"Who are you?" The boy asked to Peter. His eyebrows are furrowed that formed a creased on his forehead. He doesn't look approachable and is really intimidating. In short, for Peter, he looks like a jerk.

"P-Peter."

"Peter?" the man repeated as if remembering the name. "Are you a friend of West?" he asked.

He knows West?

"I don't know," Peter answered that made the man raise a brow at him.

"You don't know?"

Why is he repeating my words?

"W-Well—

"Leon why are you—Peter?" West suddenly came up from behind the man he called Leon. Shock's evident on his face as he saw Peter standing in front of his room. He immediately walked towards the two.

"So he's the Peter you're talking about," Leon blurted out. Peter's eyebrows met as he fell in confusion at what he heard. "He said he's not your friend though." Leon's kind of similar to Peter when he talks—monotone and cold. The difference is that Leon's screaming confidence, opposite to Peter.

"He's just playing around. Go home now Leon," he lightly pushed Leon's side that made the latter groan in annoyance.

"You don't have to push me. But anyways, it is nice meeting you Peter," Leon reached out for his hand. Peter looked at it before he take if for a shake.

"Hmm," was the only thing that came out from Peter's mouth. Leon pulled his hand after before turning to see West.

"I won't be visiting you again since you already have a company who claimed he's not your friend," Leon said as he glanced at Peter. Peter just remained silent, standing awkwardly while listening to their conversation.

"Cut if off already," West growled.

"Yeah. Okay."

Without notice, Leon exited with hands dig on his pocket as he walked unbothered, as if he owns the way.

"Sorry about him," West apologized. Peter turned his gaze back to the man in front of him.

"It's okay," he replied shortly.

"How can I help you by the way?"

Peter then remembered the reason why's he standing in front of West's room. He started playing with his fingers, pinching the nails and skin around it.

"It's about what you said at the park," said Peter.

Excitement immediately rushed to West but he remained calm. "Yeah, about that. Why?" West waited patiently for Peter's answer but the little habit of the smaller boy didn't slip from his eyes.

He's hurting his fingers.

"I'm a-accepting it," Peter softly answered. West's face lit up.

"Really?"

Peter nodded at him. West stopped himself from feeling too excited about it. He's not sure to which part is he happy. Is he excited on helping Peter? Is he excited on spending more time with him? Is he happy that he can listen to Peter's voice until he fell asleep? Or is it because of everything that has Peter in it? That, he don't know. All he know is that, he's excited for the next thing that'll happen.

—

That night, Peter finished all of his homeworks after he washed himself. He then lie on his bed, beside him is the guitar. He turned to his side, facing the guitar he always bring with him. He played his finger on it, trailing the string horizontally, not creating a sound.

He was cut off when his phone beeped. He grabbed it to see who messaged him. Turns out, it's a message from West.

West

10:24 pm

[Hey, are you asleep?]

Peter immediately composed a reply then hit the send button.

Peter

10:25 pm

[why?]

He didn't wait for long as he received a reply immediately.

West

10:25 pm

[just asking hahahaha!]

[btw, something's bothering me]

Peter

10:26 pm

[What is it?]

West

10:26 pm

[it's about a while ago, with Leon]

Peter

10:26 pm

[Yeah?]

West

10:27 pm

[Did u really said that? That we're not friends?]

Peter stilled and stared at his phone, on West's reply in particular. He started typing a response before sending it.

Peter

10:29 pm

[I just said I don't know. I don’t want to say that we’re friends but actually not. It’s up to you. I would rather label you as someone I know. Acquaintance?]

West

10:30 pm

[Pretty cool hahahaha!]

Peter

10:30 pm

[u aren't mad]

West

10:31 pm

[ofc I'm not. I don't want to label you as a friend either]

Peter

10:32 pm

[wdym?]

West

10:33 pm

[I don't want u to be just a friend ;)]

Peter stiffened at West's reply. He can feel his heart beating fast and his cheeks are burning up. His hands are unstable while holding the phone and he can't explain what he's feeling.

He breathe deeply before typing a reply, calming himself.

Peter

10:35 pm

[I don't get it]

West

10:36 pm

[Hahahaha! Thought you fainted in too much bliss!]

Peter

10:36 pm

[I didn't]

West

10:37 pm

[Yeah right. Don't think about it too much, Peter!]

Peter

10:37 pm

[I'm not]

West

10:38 pm

[HAHAHAHAHA OKAY!]

"He's starting to annoy me," said Peter while staring at the phone. He exhaled then composed a message.

Peter

10:40 pm

[let's start in two days, is it ok? I'll go there]

West

10:40 pm

[sure!]

Peter

10:41 pm

[ok. I'm sleeping]

West

10:41 pm

[okay! Goodnight Peter! Sleep tight :)]

Peter didn't bother to reply as he tossed his phone at the side. He then carefully placed the guitar beside his bed. He then started tracing the name engraved on the guitar.

Sunny.

"Will everything be fine after this?" Peter asked as if someone will answer him. He stayed quiet as if waiting for someone to speak but nothing happened. He closed his eyes and hugged the guitar on his chest. "Goodnight, Sunny."