56 ✒ Chapter 43 : Making me anxious

The weekend had pass, Rei and Khein really made it to the convention. Rei gave Khein a human sized Kon fluffy bear and a lot of expensive action figures. That night when Rei comforted Khein, they only kissed and made love like normal couples do. Khein didn't suffer because Rei managed to get himself together and comforted Khein unconditionally. Their relationship got stronger and passionate, but still a secret. Khein's mother didn't know, Rei's parents too. Their friends had no idea, except Ethan and Center, no one else knows.

"Kheiny, I don't know if it's a good thing or not but I haven't seen Center hanging around Ethan for a while." Rei said as the two of them were heading to the school gate. Khein made a 'tch' sound as if he was telling Rei that the reason was too obvious.

"It's a good thing because Ethan already has a girlfriend. It's too awkward for Ethan if Center would still hang around him like a leech. Center may pretend in front of other people that he is happy around Ethan. But the two of them both know that all Center ever did was pretending." Khein said. He had been more and more talkative around Rei and it felt too natural that he didn't even noticed.

"Or maybe he also found himself a girlfriend. Good thing for the both of them. Maybe they'll realize that they were destined to become best friends again and not lovers." Khein added. Rei watched Khein talking all the way and thought of a situation. He just wanted to tease Khein.

"Kheiny, what would you do if I'll fall in love with a girl?" Rei asked in a childish way. He already predicted that Khein's answer would be:

"Go ahead and be happy then."

Or...

"Whatever, I can find myself a girlfriend too."

Or worst,

"I knew it from the start, we can't be possible. Now I'm relieved."

Rei knew it from the start that Khein loved him. But Rei believed that the rebel guy couldn't love him like the way the psycho loves him.

"I'll shoot you first, then her, then me." Khein said seriously while staring at the straight hallway. Rei's heart thumped loudly as if it wanted to be heard.

"That's insane" Rei chuckled and changed the topic. His heart rejoiced everytime Khein does or says something unpredictable. It made him fall for his puppy even deeper.

"I'm just kidding. If you'll find someone better than me, then, don't show yourself in front of me again." Khein said with a serious tone.

"Why?"

"I'll cry, really hard." Khein said seriously.

'I will began to think how stupid I am and I'll blame no one but myself for falling inlove with you. So don't show yourself to me cause I'll look pitifully broken.' Khein thought seriously and gave Rei a bitter smile. Rei regretted asking such question because his puppy looked really sad.

"I've been making you sad these days, am I? How can I make it up to you, Kheiny? I'm so sorry." Rei said sincerely. Khein chuckled and flicked Rei's forehead real hard.

"Don't ever fall for someone else, then." Khein said seriously. That was the cutest side of Khein that Rei had seen.

On the hallway, Ethan was heading towards the school clinic when he spotted Center playing guitar at the garden. It was surprisingly unexpected. He had never seen Center held a guitar for so long.

"Oh my gosh, is that Center playing guitar over there?" Ethan's vice president fangirled smoothly. He nodded and looked at Center looking cool with a guitar.

"Center!" Ethan's vice president called the serious looking guy and Center immediately looked towards their direction. Ethan waited for Center to look at him but it didn't happen. Center looked directly at the vice president and waved his hand. He smiled genuinely towards the girl and returned his attention to playing his guitar again. There was something that felt really different and painful. Ethan felt it, and he hated it. They continued walking towards their destination as Ethan bowed his head along the way. His heart was throbbing from time to time everytime he remembers that scene where Center couldn't even managed to look at him anymore.

It has been two weeks since Ethan and Center talked nor hang out with each other. Ethan had not been paying attention to his girlfriend during their dates. Everytime he attempted to kiss the girl, he would remember Center's kiss. Everytime they would have a plane and simple conversation, Center's noisy and irritating voice would resonate around Ethan's ears.

It was Friday afternoon when Ethan's girlfriend talked to him. He received a slap when he said that she was not the only girl he was dating. If course, it was a lie. He was just finding an excuse to make the girl break up with him. The girl cried in front of Ethan and said how much she liked him but she ended up being played. Instead of feeling bad for the girl, all Ethan could see were Center's countless cryings in front of him.

Friday night when Ethan went to Center's house, heavily drunk. Center was so worried he almost panicked when he saw Ethan looked so wasted.

"Hey, what happened? Did your girlfriend broke your heart? Come on, let's get inside. It's cold here, let's talk about it inside, okay?" Center said while trying to guide Ethan towards the door but the drunken guy would push him away. Center got frustrated and he didn't want to scold Ethan for being hardheaded, he was being considerate.

"You want to tell me what happened between you and your girlfriend, right? Yeah yeah I'm your best friend, so let's get inside" Center said and pulled Ethan inside but the drunken guy was persistent.

"Ugh! Whatever! If you don't want to come inside, you can stay here! Let's see who's going to catch a cold tommorrow. A total package of hangover and a fever. Good luck!-"

"Center" Ethan called his best friend's name.

"What?!" Center asked angrily.

"Center"

Center rolled his eyes and responded again.

"I'm right here, Eeth. What is it?" Center asked and stared at Ethan looking so wasted while sitting on the stair.

"Center"

Center sighed and leaned against the wall.

"Hmm?"

"Center"

"I'm here, what is it?"

"Cent, you're breaking my heart" Ethan cried and bowed his head. Center nodded and went with the flow. He was right, Ethan just broke up with his girlfriend.

"Please talk to me"

"I am talking to you" Center said while nodding his head.

"Why can't I see you?" Ethan was bowing his head while sobbing. He kept rubbing his teary eyes like a kid and looked for Center.

"I'm right behind you"

"Sit beside me"

Center followed what his best friend said and sat beside Ethan.

"Do you still love me?" Ethan asked and swayed his head on Center's shoulder. Center gulped and pouted his lips. He sighed heavily and tried to consider the current state of Ethan. He should not answer it seriously because Ethan would forget everything anyway.

"No, I don't love you anymore. And I'm sleepy so let's just go to bed, okay?" Center said and tried to keep Ethan inside the house, but still, he failed.

"Then, what am I supposed to do to make you love me back?" Ethan cried and hugged Center tightly. His mouth pressing against Center's neck.

"Ethan, please don't do this to me. I've had enough of you." Center begged and dropped his hopes down.

"How can I make you love me back, Cent?" Ethan said with a low voice, he started snoring softly which made Center chuckle.

Center sighed and carried Ethan inside all the way to his room.

"Let's talk about it tomorrow, Eeth." Center said and kissed Ethan on the forehead. He went outside his room and slept on the living room.

"Please wake up soon" Center said softly, his arm resting on his forehead.

"You always make me anxious" Center sighed and closed his eyes.