Chapter 4.2 "Love Or War"

“Hey you,” I rudely called.

His rigid eyes turned round for a second then went back to their original shape. Nonetheless, I did not care about his nonchalant reaction, or the coldness his next gaze sent me.

I lifted my chin arrogantly then opened my damn mouth.

“As far as I can remember, we both paid the same price for this boarding house. And FYI, I didn’t mean to look inside your room. The door was opened, that’s why.”

One of his brows went upward, making his eyes look smaller than the other. Then, a mocking sneer slipped onto his lips.

“I only agreed to live here under the condition that there will be no woman inside the place,” he said, using his baritone voice that is as deep as the ocean. “Having you around is making me angry. So to help me, can you please just get lost? Next time, don’t ever stop in front of my room. Don’t look at me, don’t talk to me, and don’t even touch my room’s door. You can understand English, right?”

He pulled out the smile, followed by slamming the door real hard.

BAM!

‘OH MY GOD! I COULD FEEL THE VEINS IN MY BRAIN BURSTING IN ANGER!’

I really wanted to kick the door, but nah. That would only hurt me. Moreover, the door is innocent.

I took a deep breath. Gritting my teeth, I just decided to go to the kitchen.

“I regretted considering that he is handsome,” I whispered before opening the refrigerator.

I peeked inside but there was nothing to cook besides the raw eggs at the top row of the fridge.

“Should I visit the supermarket later?”

I closed the fridge and…

“Hi~”

My heart almost jumped down when this man, whom I saw at the night bar, appeared out of nowhere.

My mouth opened but no scream went out of my lips. Seemed like I gulped my own voice.

I was all alone a moment ago when I opened the fridge. Yet when I closed it, I saw this guy standing at the side, leaning his back on the sink.

The corner of his lips was stretched, showing his white teeth. He has deer-like eyes, and his lashes are so long. His brows are thick, and his skin is so pale… maybe paler than mine. Also, he has these red lips that I almost think he’s wearing lip tint, when he actually does not.

At the time we met at the night bar, I admitted that he was freaking sexy; like the vampire of the night. However, he looks more handsome today even if he’s only wearing a simple black shirt, while his hair is wet. Maybe he just came out of the shower.

“Based on your reaction, I can see that you remembered me,” he said.

“Yes,” I answered. “You are the sick guy at the bar. How are you? Are you still sick? In the first place, you shouldn’t come in there if your heart is weak.”

He froze. Second, after he blinked swiftly, I heard him laugh so hard in a husky voice.

“Until now, you still believe that I am sick?”

Suddenly he leaned closer and caught my guard off.

“It was a lie,” he whispered.

Danger knocked on my system. I hastily moved away from him until my back leaned against the fridge.

This guy placed his hands on the ref, beside my ears, and locked me in between.

It was one of my dreams to be in this kind of situation, where a man will pin me against the wall. However, the reality is scarier than my expectation.

Right now, my hands are trembling as well as my insides. I slowly lifted my eyes to look at him, and my nape hurts because he was much taller than me.

“I used you as my scapegoat during that time,” he said with a grin. Using his red pouting lips, he murmured, “But I really do have the plan to flirt with you.”

He stick out his tongue and skillfully licked the corner of his lips.

He’s sexy, I will also admit that. Yet, it won’t change the fact that he’s a stupid bastard whom I showed my utmost kindness to.

I clenched my fists before my response returned.

“Go away. If you don’t, I will kick your…”

“D*ck?” he cut my words. Next, after he grinned, my legs were pressed between his thighs. “Let’s see if you can kick my d*ck if I hold you like this. But if you can’t use your feet, why not use your hands?” His brows moved up and down, signaling a lewd gaze.

‘This pervert!’

I brought up my hand to slap his face. Unfortunately, he held my wrist before I could slam his cheek. Argh!

“Not now,” he uttered. “I haven’t done anything yet.”

He bit his lower lip as his eyes traced my neck.

“You can slap me next time after I bit your neck.”

“...!”

He winked at me and then walked out.

The strength that I gathered yesterday went gone. My knees felt so frail that I needed to lean against the fridge so I could stand straight.

‘This is not good. I need to stay away from that person while we’re leaving together.’

“Excuse me.” Someone knocked out my senses.

When my tranquility returned, I recognized the man who was standing in front of me. The man who was holding a guitar before.

His hair is dyed in bright color, with one-sided bangs. He has cat-like eyes with double lids, a pointed nose, a small face, and well-defined lips. In short, he is a pretty boy with pink hair.

‘He is the singer I saw in the coffee shop.’

“You’re blocking the way. I need to get something from the fridge,” he said in a monotonous voice.

It took me seconds to realize that he was asking me to get out of his way.

“Ahh, s-sorry,” I apologized then quickly slid sideward.

As soon as I moved away, he opened the fridge. “Banana ice cream,” he murmured. As he closed the door of the fridge, I saw a cup of ice cream in his hand. “If you see a banana ice cream in the fridge, then it’s mine.”

‘Was that a friendly instruction or his warning?’

I just nodded my head for the sake of peace.

“Usually, I don’t share my ice cream,” he spoke again. “But if you want some, you can get one.” After that brief moment, he stepped away.

“Wait! Your name is…!” I asked. I think it is a courtesy to ask since he said something nice.

The pink-haired man looked back at me. Wearing a poker face reaction, he disclosed, “Vincent.”

“Ahhh, Vincent.”

Kyle mentioned him to me before. So it was him.

“Nice to meet you, Vincent. My name is…”

“Ryan.”

“Huh?”

“I already heard your name before when you introduced yourself. No need to repeat it.”

We looked at each other for seconds in the middle of an awkward silence.

‘Why does it feel like I am talking to a robot?’

“Ahh right,” I chuckled. “Can I ask something?”

He blinked his eyes. Since he stayed in his place, I will accept that as his cue that he’ll let me continue my inquiry.

“Did we meet before?” I flung my curiosity.

Actually, I am not sure if he is really the guy I saw in the coffee shop. My eyes at that time were adjusting to my new contact lenses. And although he has the same pink hair, it’s not wrong to be sure.

“Yup,” he responded.

“I’m right!” I gasped. “That’s why your face looks very familiar.”

“I saw you crying that day.”

“Huh?”

Crying? Who?

He suddenly turned around and left me clueless.

Who’s crying? Me? When? Where?!

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Third Person's POV

Morning sunbeams peeked through the clouds. The early risers, like Kyle, walked out of his room and walked toward the kitchen while rubbing his eyes.

He was on the schedule of cooking breakfast.

By the time he arrived at the kitchen, he saw another man who has disheveled morning hair just like him.

“This is freaking nice,” Chaylen gasped while looking at the kitchen table.

Foods were already prepared. Chaylen grabbed a sausage and ate it with his bare hand. When he noticed the gaze from the side, he tilted his head to Kyle as he chew.

Kyle alternately looked at Chaylen and the food. He could not imagine if the person who cooked all of those is this new guy with dark red hair.

As the morning goes by, the five men arrived at the kitchen one after another. They are all sitting around the rectangular table; staring at each other.

When it comes to friendship, men win by a margin. They are chilled out, easygoing, and fun, therefore when maintaining a long-term friendship, men nail it effortlessly. However, in some cases, men find it hard to befriend one another because of their too much difference in perspective.

“Every morning,” Kyle broke the silence, “ we always eat breakfast together.” He did not forget to smile at the end of the sentence.

“Ahhh, really? That’s cool,” Chaylen responded. “You are Kyle, right?” He looked at Slyvester and added, “And you are Slyvester.”

“Yup. You can call me Slyv,” Sylvester answered before he cutely gave him a peace sign.

Chaylen’s eyes went to Vincent. He pointed to him and called, “And you are Pork and Vincent?”

At his joke, Vincent sent him a piercing glare.

“Dude, I’m just joking,” Chaylen reassured. For the last man, Chaylen looked at the quiet guy who hasn’t said a thing.

He’s just sitting in the corner with pursed lips.

“Hey bro,” Chaylen called the stern-looking man. “You haven’t introduced yourself.”

The guy who already styled his hair early in the morning lifted his eyes onto them. 

'I can sense that he is not a friendly type,' Kyle thought inwardly,

‘Why is he not answering?’ Sylvester asked silently.

‘Somehow, my guts tell me that he’s a red flag,’ Chaylen believed.

Vincent lifted his tea. As he took a sip, he thought, ‘An arrogant playboy and an anti-social. I wonder what will happen to the five of us. Ahh, I was wrong. There is also one in this house, I almost forgot about that.’

After silence swept the space, the man’s voice resurfaced.

“Do I really need to introduce myself? I don’t have the plan to be anyone’s friend,” he said.

It seems like there will be trouble in the boarding house from today onwards.