CHAPTER 80: A LITTLE COMFORT AND CONFRONTATION AFTER THE PARTY

We take shots after shots and once I feel my body floating, I strut towards the dance floor with Malik and Keaton in tow. We flail our hands, sway our bodies, and dance to our hearts content. Malik's friends also joined us on the dance floor soon after.

Malik's friends are all so nice and he has a lot of them. They are also so much fun. Very unrestrained. Not like how Chuck is unrestrained when playing, because even then, he's still all proper and good. No. Malik's friends clearly know how to have fun.

I dance to the music, feeling Keaton behind me, holding me close to his chest while Malik is in front of me with my arms around his neck as his hands on my hips, holding me steady. I don't know how it came to this. Being sandwiched between two equally attractive guys, looking positively intoxicated.

From outside looking in, this view is probably quite promiscuous. Especially if the ones watching are my friends. They'll probably think I'm so unrestrained and lecherous. My image has probably taken a turn. Probably for the worst too at that.

But it's consensual anyway, so, I'm really not worried. Besides, this kind of thing will end sooner or later anyway. So, I'm going to enjoy it as long as it lasts.

Being with Malik and Keaton is so easy. There's no drama whatsoever. Well, probably aside from the fact that Keaton is actually trying to be my boyfriend. But he has been very respectful about it. He never pushes his feelings towards me nor demands anything from me. It makes me feel slightly bad for him. But like he had said before, his feelings are his own problem while my feelings are my own problem. Therefore, I have no pressure.

Truly. What a good guy.

I should appreciate him more.

*

I don't know how we got home last night, Everything in my memory is blurry. But the dull aches I feel when I move my body as I stir awake, tells me that after we got home last night, we do more things than just sleep.

I groan and try to move as I open my eyes. Malik's bed is crammed with the three of us and they sleep while hugging me and it feels kinda stuffy and warm. Both of them are still sleeping soundly but stir when I sit up on the bed. I look at the window and through the gap. It's already bright outside. I look at the clock on the wall. Sure enough, it's past 11 o'clock. We skipped breakfast so it will be bad if we also skip lunch.

"Malik, Keaton, wake up," I nudge them gently, trying to wake them. They both groan and stir and frown from my actions. I chuckle. They look so cute sleeping. So handsome too. "C'mon. Get up." I tell them, nudging them harder and pushing them.

"Morning…" Keaton is the first to open his eyes and greets me. I look down at him, pecking his lips.

"Morning," I greet him.

"Where's mine?" Malik's hoarse voice demands from my other side. I chuckle and give him a peck also as they both sit up.

"It's almost lunch. We have to get up and wash and make some lunch," I tell them, pushing their body to help them get rid of sleep. "C'mon." I'm about to get up and get out of bed when Malik grabs my hand and pulls me so hard I fall back on to the bed, startled and honestly, kinda scared.

"The fuck Lee?!" he growls on top of me while Keaton also bends down. Their eyes roaming all over my body.

Oh. Shit.

I guess the concealer has washed off.

"Did we do that?" Keaton asks Malik with a voice so restrained I'm afraid he had pulled a muscle or something.

"Of course not," Malik says to him before turning back to me.

All I can do right now is to grin and try to laugh it off.

"It's…" I'm about to say 'nothing' when Keaton cuts me off.

"Don't say it's nothing. It's not nothing." He tells me softly.

I stare at him. I nod and push them away so I can sit up and talk to them properly. Albeit still naked as a baby.

"It's not nothing. But it's fine," I tell them.

"Your Mr. Bond is truly something," Malik says with a grunt, clearly displeased.

"You're bruised all over. There are also scratches. Some are even new," Keaton says softly as he inspects every inch of my body. Worry is written all over his face and I can't help but to feel my heart soften for him.

"They only look bad," I try to reassure them. "They don't hurt," I say and then I try not to groan as Malik pokes one of the newer bruises. I turn and glare at him while trying to hold my tears from flowing down.

"Yeah, right," Malik scoffs. But the hand he's using to caress the bruise he poked is gentle and apologetic. I can only pout then.

"Do you have any ointment for them?" Keaton asks Malik who shakes his head. "I'm gonna buy some," Keaton says as he gets up but I grab his hand, stopping him from going.

"Don't," I tell him, shaking my head. "It's not necessary."

"But the bruises hurt and the scratches will leave marks if left alone," Keaton says with a frown.

"I'm still seeing him. Even if these bruises and scratches heals, there will be new ones. So it's no use," I tell them straightforwardly.

The two of them stare at me. I stare back at them. I don't know what they are thinking nor what they are going to say. Either way, whatever it is, I am going to make it clear that this is not any of their business. I'm grateful for their concern, though.

They say nothing even after a while. Did I sound too harsh earlier?

Malik then sighs, nodding his head. "I know it's none of our business about who you're seeing and in what kind of way, but at least let us buy the ointment and take care of you? So that we won't worry so much and have a guilty conscience?" he asks.

I blink at him before relenting. Nodding my head, "thank you," I tell them.

"I'm gonna wash up and then go to the store," Keaton stands up immediately and walks to the bathroom. I sigh and get out of bed also.

"I'm gonna wash up and prepare lunch," I tell Malik before following Keaton to the bathroom.

"I'm gonna wash up and have some more sex," Malik say from behind me as he trails to the bathroom also. I roll my eyes at him but still let him in the bathroom where we take a quick shower in the cramped space. So quick even Malik can't do anything and he went out with a pout and me with a grin.

"We can do that later," I tell him as I prepare the food, "I'm really starving."

"Didn't we feed you enough last night?" Malik says from behind me as he sticks a finger up my ass, making me yelp in surprise and then whimper from the sensation that damn finger brings me. My fault for only wearing my briefs and not my jeans. Damn me. Also, damn him and his sex drive.

"Fuck off, Malik," I warn him, holding the knife to his face.

Malik chuckles and steps back a little but instead of taking out his fingers, he puts in another one and starts stirring my insides. I feel my knees weaken instantly and I hold on to the counter and groan.

"Seriously! If you don't stop, I'm going to chop your dick off!" I try to kick him and free myself from him. Laughing, Malik pulls out his fingers and I turn to him, glaring and holding up the knife threateningly.

"My bad," Malik blows a kiss before running off to safety.

I roll my eyes, groaning. Now my body is hot all over thanks to that idiot of a man who is more like a child than even Chuck. I try to concentrate on cooking while I'm all bothered. But at least I'm not hard so there's that. I'm actually really starving so that helps too.

"I'm back," Keaton walks inside the house not long after I finished setting up the dining table.

"Welcome back," I grin at him, "Perfect timing. Go wash your hands and face then we can eat," I tell him. Keaton nods and walks to the bathroom while calling out for Malik to come eat.

"Looks good," Malik says after he enters the room and eyes the dishes I made.

Today for lunch I made simple food because we had been drinking a lot last night. So, nothing too oily and fatty. Just a simple radish and chicken soup and some stir fry bok choy with tofu. There's also kimchi Malik stored for sides as well as some pickled eggs. I also made ginger and brown sugar pudding for dessert.

We each sit down properly on the dining table instead of sprawling on the floor in the living room like usual. Such a change is kinda awkward especially since the table seems to have not been used for a long time. I had to wipe it a few times before I could put anything on it without making some sort of mark from the dust.

"Thank you for the food," Keaton tells me with a smile.

"Let's eat," I tell them and we start eating right away.

It seems that I'm not the only one starving. They gobble down their food at a speed faster than I ever saw. Even Keaton, who is usually all proper and decent, can't stop chewing and taking things with his chopsticks. The both of them are silent and busy eating; they don't even bother with the usual small talk. I giggle, feeling satisfied. It's always good to see someone enjoying the food I make.

In no time at all, all the dishes are cleaned by the two of them. They even finished the dessert right after the meal. I roll my eyes, looking at their incapacitated bodies sitting, leaning against the living room sofa like some old men, looking satisfied and sleepy.

"Sure. I'll wash the dishes too," I say from the kitchen as I put away the dishes in the sink, chuckling and rolling my eyes.

"Leave it! I'll do it tomorrow!" Malik says from the living room.

"I'll do it later!" comes Keaton's reply.

"Or just throw it in the dishwasher!" Malik says again.

I roll my eyes. Tomorrow or later, I can't count on them, truly, I thought as I started washing them. I don't like using the dishwasher either. I don't feel they're clean enough. So, then, I started washing them and put them back in the cupboard after wiping them dry.

I walk back to the living room, throwing myself on the armchair beside the sofa and turn to the TV where it plays some random soap opera, or something. I don't watch much TV.

"What's your plan?" Malik asks as he turns to me.

"For the future?" I ask with a grin. Malik rolls his eyes.

"I have to open my shop tomorrow and will probably be out by eight in the morning," he tells us. "Are you staying here or going back to the dorm?" he asks me.

"I have to go back," I say, sighing.

"Mr. Bond?" Malik asks.

"Not really…" I wince, trying to avoid the subject all together.

"Then just stay here if you don't really have anything going on. Tomorrow's sunday. You can sleep in with Keaton, I'm sure you don't have to work on Sundays, right?" He directs the last part to Keaton who nods.

"I don't work on Sundays unless there's an emergency or an appointment made beforehand," Keaton tells us.

"That's perfect," Malik slaps his thigh, grinning, "just stay here then I'll drive you back on Monday early so you can get ready for class. Keaton brought his car so he can piss off Monday morning to his office," Malik says.

"Piss off, he says," Keaton chuckles, shaking his head at the blatant difference of treatment.

"Sure, then," I shrug.

There's really no difference for me on where I stay anyway. My friends will probably be looking for me, but distance is a good thing. This is also to let them get used to it. Soon, the distance will just increase far and wide anyway.