Chapter 15

That night, while he was showering, Ersel could not help but feel worried about Van.

[I wonder what happened when Van followed Lino.] Ersel thought anxiously. [Did he get caught by Lino? If so, did they have a brawl or something?]

At that instant, Ersel imagined both Lino and Van exchanging punches and kicks with each other. Considering that both of them have such muscular bodies, they would most probably be evenly matched with each other and be seriously injured with wounds and bruises. What Ersel imagined had made him feel much more anxious than he already was.

[No! I hope not!] Ersel thought while wincing and shaking his head with his eyes closed. [They’d better not! If that happened, it will be all my fault for not stopping Van from doing that!]

At that instant, Ersel remembered that Van might have given him an update via Messenger already.

[That’s right! I have to check my Messenger after I’m finished bathing!] Ersel thought with his eyes wide open again.

After Ersel finished bathing, drying himself up, and dressing himself in new clothes, he immediately switched on his Android phone and connected it to the WiFi. To his relief, Ersel saw that Van had sent a message, which meant that the latter was most probably just fine.

[Thank goodness!] Ersel thought after letting out a sigh of relief. [Looks like he’s just fine! Thank you, Lord God!]

Afterwards, Ersel opened Van’s message in Messenger and read it.

The message went like this: [I know where Lino lives now.]

Ersel smiled, raised his left fist, and shouted, “Yes!”

[That’s great, Van! But are you okay? Did Lino see you?] Ersel replied.

[Don’t worry, man. I don’t think he did.] Van answered with a smiley.

[You’re awesome! Seems like you’re used to that, huh?] Ersel replied with a laughing emoji.

[Sort of.] Van replied also with a laughing emoji.

[Anyway, is there anything you found out about him?] Ersel sent.

[None.] Van replied with a sad emoji. [When I was about to, he almost caught me. I barely managed to get out without being seen.]

Ersel felt nervous about what happened to Van and replied, [That's good. Anyways, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten you involved here in the first place.]

[It’s okay, man, so please don't apologize. I really want to help you. Plus, we have our Operation ULI, remember?] Van answered with a smiley.

[Yeah. But that was dangerous. What if you got caught and the two of you brawled with each other?] Ersel replied with a sad emoji. [I don’t want that to happen.]

[Awww. Thanks, Ersel!] Van replied with a smiley. [But don’t worry about that. I can take care of myself better than you think.]

[That's great! So, what’s our plan now?] Ersel answered with a smiling emoji.

[I plan to show you where he lives by tomorrow or this Sunday.] Van replied. [Is that fine with you?]

Ersel thought for a moment and replied, [I’m not really sure if we should, Van. We might get caught by Lino while checking it.]

[But it’s the weekend, so that guy might not be there on those days.] Van replied with a winking emoji.

[Oh, you’re right. Let’s go there, then!] Ersel replied with an open-mouthed smiling emoji.

[Okay, then it’s settled. When and what time will we go there?] Van replied.

[I’ll be available by tomorrow at 4:00PM. And you?] Ersel answered.

[Yeah, that’s fine with me.] Van answered with a smiling emoji.

[Great! Anyway, want to play Mobile Legends, Van?] Ersel sent with a winking emoji.

[Sure! Let’s do it!] Van answered with a smiling and blushing emoji.

[Okay. Bring it on, Van!] Ersel sent before sending a GIF showing a guy who was excited.

Ersel felt so excited playing Mobile Legends with Van as a teammate again since it has been a few days already since they last played together. Both of them were preoccupied with their schoolwork and the ‘Operation ULI’ before having the chance to play together again tonight.

Just as before, Ersel’s jaw dropped upon seeing how really good Van was no matter which hero the latter picked. Van could do well in each class whether as a fighter, mage, tank, or support, making him very versatile in the game.

[He’s really good.] Ersel thought. [I’ve got to work hard to get just as good as Van is in these games! Also, with this skill of his, he could most probably do well in e-sports tournaments!]

After playing up to a total of five games, Van told Ersel that that was it for tonight.

[That’s it for tonight, dude. Let’s play again tomorrow. Thanks!] Van sent with a smiling and blushing emoji via Messenger.

[Okay. Those were such great games. Thanks, Van!] Ersel replied also with a smiling and blushing emoji.

Van sent a GIF that said 'Thank you' before going offline, to which Ersel reacted with a Like.

After Van went offline, Ersel kept on thinking about what he would possibly find inside Lino’s apartment unit.

[Would I find something there that proves that he’s my childhood friend?] Ersel wondered as he tried to picture what he would possibly see inside Lino's apartment unit. [If there is anything, should I...steal that? Should I steal that and show it to Lino?]

Ersel tried to picture what would happen if he did what he was thinking. There were three possible outcomes he could think of: first, he would be able to get whatever evidence he found without being caught, and thus confront Lino about it later on; second, he would be caught after finding an evidence and confront Lino about it right away; third, he would be caught before being able to find any evidence, dragging himself into trouble that he never wished for.

Obviously, Ersel feared the third possible outcome, meaning everything that he went that far for would have been pointless if he got caught without finding any evidence. Lino would most probably be watchful and careful around him after that, and Ersel hated that idea.

Then Ersel thought that it was already his chance to find proof that Lino was his childhood friend. If that was true, then he might have the chance to explain himself to Lino. There was no point in turning back now after what Van did in determining the location of Lino’s apartment. Moreover, Ersel did not want Van's efforts to go to waste.

[Yeah, right! I can’t give up now!] Ersel thought decidedly and determinedly. [I need to get proof that Lino is actually my childhood best friend! And if he’s mad at me, I’ll do everything I can to apologize and be friends with him again!]

At that instant, Lino’s handsome face flashed across Ersel’s mind, making the latter feel sentimental. If that guy was really his childhood friend, then Ersel could also say that Lino was really hit hard by puberty that the former almost failed to recognize the latter.

[Yeah, right...If that’s really him, then Lino has grown up so much like me.] Ersel thought with a serious facial expression while thinking of Lino's handsome face. [Although he has grown much taller and handsomer than I am. And...he’s so hot! He’s definitely my type!]

Ersel then closed his eyes while wishing and imagining that he would have a romantic relationship with Lino, but the former also remembered a moment later that the latter currently has a girlfriend. At that moment, Ersel also felt frustrated about Lino not being either gay or bisexual.

[Shit! I almost forgot!] Ersel thought with his eyes opened again. [He’s straight and has a girlfriend! There’s no way he’d be interested in someone like me! Damn it...Why can't I have been born as a girl instead of as a boy? If I was a girl, I might have a chance in having Lino for myself as my boyfriend!]

Ersel then shook his head while attempting to rid his thoughts of the possibility of having Lino as a boyfriend since he did not want to hurt himself from hoping for something that would never come true in real life.

[Come on, Ersel! Pull it together! There’s no way he’d fall for you!] Ersel thought to himself while wincing as he shook his head with his eyes closed. [Lino is a straight guy, so stop hoping for it! You also have the mission to find out who he is!]

At that instant, Ersel’s mind went back to reality. He remembered that there was something more important that he had to do.

[Yeah, right!] Ersel thought decidedly and determinedly with his eyes opened again. [I have to focus on Operation ULI! There’s no time to be fantasizing about such things now! Lino, I’ll prove that it’s you and confront you when the right time comes!]