77 No Reaction

"You're just lazy!" Arius chided.

"Nuh-uh!" Zuna responded like a child. "I collapse every time!"

"Show me!"

"No way!

Arius immediately moved to pounce on her, and yet she stood her ground and didn't move. He landed with his arms on either side of her. As he hovered over her, it occured to Zuna that avoiding him might have been a good idea.

At that moment, a teenager walked in through the front door, first greeted by the dent in the wall, and then this sight once he turned towards them.

His face froze, as those inside froze their movements as well. Then, suddenly he began chastising them. "What the hell! If you're going to do this, don't do it infront of Durante!"

There was a brief silence before the three on the couch erupted into laughter. "Pfft-!"

The atmosphere was cheery, and If it wasn't for the lasting redness on the rim of Zuna's eyes, no one could tell that she was crying earlier.

Asrael had his brows furrowed, as he angrily walked towards the couch and threw a bag of dog food down. He used to be so calm before he met those two idiots, but now he couldn't help blowing up. The reason was simple and yet hard to figure out. It was just that, Asrael never used to care, but now he did. Asrael cared a lot.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Azlia got feed, and then Dante took her outside to play. Asrael followed along, under the excuse that he'd better watch incase of any accidents.

Arius and Zuna were left alone.

"So, what's on Saturday?" Arius asked Zuna.

"Oh, every year on a Saturday, Jeffery, Tibet, and I will go to the park late at night to prank civilians out on walks!"

Arius stared at her. It was as if the friendship between the three was based solely on pranks. That couldn't be it though, right? "Is that all you do?"

"No..." Zuna puffed up her cheeks in embarrassment. "At midnight, we also open up about our feelings... and resolve any misgivings..."

"Then, that's just it! Just wait until Saturday, then you can make up with Tibet. Problem solved."

"No! You don't get it, he called Saturday off! Understand? He doesn't want to make up!" Zuna stomped her feet.

"No, what you have to do is find him just before midnight on Saturday!" Arius explained.

"There are rules to Saturday, don't you know!?"

Arius smiled lightly, he came to reasonable solution. "Then, do one of the rules include never missing Saturday?"

Zuna's pasued in realization, looking at Arius with wide eyes. "You're... right!"

"Of course I'm right!"

"Yup!" Zuna was about the hurry out when Arius stopped her.

"Wait 'til Saturday."

"Huh? Why?" Zuna couldn't understand patience.

"Just give Tibet some time to cool down." Arius sighed helplessly at her energy.

She didn't refute him, simply glancing up at him before calmly saying, "Okay."

Arius caught sight of the painting of the girl with rusty red hair. He was reminded again of 'that' painting...

"Hey... do you want to know what she looked like?"

"Huh?"

"In the basement, I have a painting of her." Arius smiled lightly.

"Eh, I don't really care." Zuna shrugged.

"I'll go get it if you change your mind." Arius started walking towards the basement door, forgetting that he didn't have the key on him at the moment.

"Wait... can I have your shirt?" Zuna asked bluntly.

Arius paused, then looked at her for a moment in silence, before saying, "What for?"

"Someone took the one from before from me! I'm usually a light sleeper, but your scent makes it difficult for me to wake up. So give."

Arius's hand twitched, 'what the hell?' As if to agree to her request, he gripped the hem if his shirt and lifted it up, while watching her face for a reaction.

No reaction. Other than her reaching her expectant hand out to take his shirt. This wasn't how it was supposed to play out! Casually asking for his shirt? What?

Once she obtained the shirt, she fled the room.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"You, why are you shirtless?" Eirik grimly asked.

Arius shook his head weakly. Eirik was concerned and confused.