Where is he?

Kenneth managed to not crack his voice when he said 'hi' because for some unknown reason, he felt nervous. But he was thankful to finally have a company beside him. Allen's presence alone was enough.

"H-hello..." Allen's voice was trembling and his head was still facing the ground. Again, he wasn't able to hide his pink ears and now, even his nape is pink. Good grief.

Allen was silently praying that Kenneth would stay silent for a while. Please let him not speak. Kenneth's voice was manly deep and is very dangerous to the heart of an innocent man like Allen.

Unfortunately for Allen, Kenneth was oblivious and took it the wrong way. He tried to approach the poor boy and got a hold of Allen's hair. Allen jolted in shock but managed to keep his position on the swing as he lets Kenneth play with his hair.

Kenneth, however, wasn't planning on playing with his hair. He puts a chunk of Allen's hair he got a hold of behind his ear to get a better view of Allen. It was inevitable so Allen finally looked at Kenneth.

"You're finally looking at me" Kenneth chuckled as he lets go of Allen's hair. Allen was done. He's red now, and to make matters worse, Kenneth must've misunderstood because he stood up and went near Allen. He bowed down and locked both of their heads together.

"U-uh...uhm.." Allen was confused. He grew up in a very reserved family. This was a first for him and had no idea what Kenneth was doing so he only closed his eyes. 'Isn't it too fast for a kiss?' Allen wondered silently, keeping his eyes firmly shut. If only he could also do something about his red face.

"Doesn't seen like you have a fever, why are you so red?" Kenneth moved away Allen's face and went back to his swing. Allen sat, dumbfounded, trying to decipher what was happening as he stares afar. Finally, he opened his mouth.

"Wha—What were you trying to do?" Allen struggled to ask in embarrassment. Was he not about to kiss him? Was he laying with him? Why did he move in that close?

"Hm? I was...checking your temperature? First time? Mom used to check my temperature like that, good thing I don't get sick too easily so it rarely happens" Kenneth said non-chalantly.

"Checking my temperature?! You..You could've used your hand!" Allen wasn't actually that angry with Kenneth. He was annoyed at himself for assuming things he shouldn't have.

"Hey chill, okay? I was told that it was more effective that way" Kenneth remembered how his mom used to check his temperature because he had a very poor health when he was young. Luckily, now he's not that sickly anymore. But he was confused with Allen's reactions. It was as if everything he does to Allen will give him, in turn a reaction of Allen Kenneth is not expecting. It was funny and exciting. He didn't feel bored at all with Allen beside him.

Although, it could get awkward most of the times, Kenneth didn't mind. Somewhere inside his mind, he thought of befriending Allen but immediately brushed off the idea. He belonged to the popular type. No reason for the plain and typical Kenneth to stick around him right? It would only bring him more trouble than necessary.

"T-that..t-thing...That was...my first, Emily usually used devices to check my temperature." Allen couldn't look at Kenneth's eyes anymore, let alone face him. He was too embarrassed. One, because of the fact that he assumed too much and let his imaginations roam free. And two, because he's too easy to read. He very pale, so his skin right now is like a canvas painted with red and pink paint. He was too obvious. Goo thing, Kenneth thought he was sick.

"You call your mom Emily?" Kenneth after checking Allen's temperature, concluded that maybe he just have a sensitive skin that's why he's red. Good thing for Allen, Kenneth's a fool.

"She's not my Mom, she's my Nanny" Allen tried to remember her Nanny when he was still a child. They weren't so friendly with each other that Allen have already forgotten about her face. She just gets into trouble a lot with other maids so Allen often hears her name.

Kenneth felt like it was a private matter so he decided to just nod like it was normal to call your Nanny, mostly older than you, by her name. Kenneth wanted reactions from Allen, he never wanted to see his empty eyes by the hallway ever again, it sucks people in. It was cold and piercing but empty at the same time.

There it is again, that calming silence between the two of them that doesn't seem awkward at all. Kenneth wondered if he as the only one who felt comfortable with the atmosphere or if Allen was struggling to open up another conversation so he tilted his head backwards to catch a glimpse of Allen only to see him closing his eyes.

He was beautiful. Kenneth wondered if Allen really was a boy. Of course, he kept this question to himself, thinking that if he blurted it out, he might unintentionally offend Allen. Kenneth couldn't help but stare. This time, he was the one staring at Allen's face.

He was indeed very pale, and his lips are pink too. His girlfriend would be so lucky, she gets to kiss that kind of soft lips whenever she wants. Such beauty. Kenneth shifted his gaze away. Thinking about it made his stomach feel funny. He felt his brow slightly twitching and he felt annoyed. Kenneth wondered if this was connected to his frequent phases of envying beautiful people inevitably. He still had those days? He felt his brows meeting closer.

This time, Allen was the one oblivious, he kept closing his eyes, trying to calm down his nerves and admiring this very comfortable silence. His entire life, he felt sick because no one would ever take effort on engaging with him. The house was often empty with his parents away from work and his maids just casually chattering to each other, only meeting him when it's time for his bath. School wasn't good either, after knowing the real Allen, people tend to avoid him. Was it so hard to be himself? He felt very lonely and sick, he despised such silence.

It baffles him. Having Kenneth's presence beside him was enough. Whenever he closes his eyes, he felt assured that he had company. He felt safe and felt like it's okay to feel everything he's been feeling. He felt accepted.

It's been a while since he closed his eyes and it was so quiet. Allen felt grateful that Kenneth continued to keep his mouth shut. Allen wanted yo know more about the guy and decided that it's finally time to start a conversation with him now that he calmed his nerves.

But just when he already calmed his nerves, he opened his eyes and saw that no one was beside him. He blinked several times and his heart started racing again. Did he leave him? Was he that boring? Did Kenneth got tired of the silence Allen was enjoying so much?

Feeling helpless, Allen reached his hand out to the swing slightly moving, where Kenneth used to sit. Once again, Allen felt the cold.