201 Can’t Sleep

"Is that damn camera going to remain on even after we sleep?" Dean asked.

"Yes, only the bathroom area will be spared." Bernard answered simply.

Ryu looked at Shawn and asked, "Which one do you want? Up or down?"

He was referring to the bunk-bed.

"I'll take this," Shawn answered as he sat down on the lower deck of the bed, patting it with his one hand.

Dean looked at Bernard and said, "I am a very annoying person and will behave like a typical antagonist in the show, so you take the upper deck and let me take the lower one, besides, you look lighter than me  so it will be good for the bed also… Oh no wait, I have a better idea! Big bro Ryu you take this lower deck and me and flower boy will both get the upper beds."

"Can we at least do rock, paper and scissor to be fair?" Bernard complained.

"Are we kids? Let's do it according to age." Dean proposed instead.

Bernard rolled his eyes because obviously he was the youngest.

"Okay, big bro Shawn will choose first since he is the oldest. Then big bro Ryu then me…" Dean said teasingly.

He was having a good time making fun of Bernard.

"Why do I feel like there's a conspiracy going on?" Bernard hissed as he got up on the top of the bed since Ryu and Shawn both chose the lower part of the double decks.

"Well who told you to be slow in completing that puzzle and be with us? You should be faster next time…" Dean continued.

"Okay guys stop that and let's all rest. Dean turn off the lights." Ryu said.

"NO!" Shawn gasped. "Leave the lights on." he murmured.

"But I can't sleep with lights on." Bernard blurted out.

"I can't sleep if the lights are off," Shawn murmured and Ryu could hear it.

He could sense Shawn's fear of dark was connected with his troubled childhood.

Shawn was left behind the doorstep of an orphanage after birth. He was beaten up every now and then and was often locked in a dark room without food.

He was tortured very much and that was the reason that one day he decided to escape from there, he ran away and ended up in the streets.

Ryu couldn't even imagine the hardships his big bro had experienced at such a young and tender age. No wonder he was not used to darkness, sleeping without lights.

He could very well understand the resentment Shawn bore with him. After all his big bro had suffered too much, while he grew up in so much love and comfort.

And so now it is Shawn's turn to get that love and comfort, he would do everything to save him and let him experience the love and happiness he deserved from a family.

Ryu picked up his bag and opened it to get something from it and threw it towards Bernard and said, "There, use that and cover your eyes."

Bernard scratched his head and muttered, "Why do I feel like you two are favoring Shawn and bullying me instead."

Dean laughed and said, "Call us big bros then I will stop making fun of you."

Bernard just hissed and closed his eyes.

After minutes, "Guys are you still awake?" Dean mumbled…

"Shhhhhh" the three answered in chorus.

"I can't sleep! Don't shhh… me I know all of you are still awake. Geez, I can hear different sighing..." Dean continued.

"Oh how about stories? I like telling stories. Each of us tell one story every night so at least we'll get the chance to know each other more. We need to get comfortable with each other since we'll be sleeping in this room for a month." Dean suggested.

He knew his big bro Ryu was still feeling awkward. He should start the conversation and lead it towards personal and family related talks as soon as possible because he wanted to get out of the house early.

He heard Bernard's mocking laugh as he said, "You two Kens don't need that. Besides we don't need to be that too close. What on the earth is that needed for?"

"You sound like a loner you know…" he commented to Bernard.

Then leaned downward to look at Shawn, "Anyway, big bro Shawn, Denise's brother is here. Have you met him before? I'm sure it's you whom he was talking about that he wanted to skin and peel out alive… By the way do you mind if we call you big bro? You are older among us three in here so we must show some respect to you even though they are saying that we are rivals."

"No problem with me. Whatever suits you." Shawn replied simply.

"We can be rivals in business but that doesn't necessarily mean we should be rivals in personal life also." Ryu finally found the courage to talk.

"Yeah correct. So you flower boy - call us big bro from now on." Dean seconded.

"What? Call you three big bro? Never. And why should I? Above all, it's so long to pronounce so spare me the horror will you! I will call you all with your first names and that's it. I grew up abroad so I'm used to calling others either by their first names or surnames." Bernard answered irritably.

It's really annoying to be the junior in the group where everyone will treats you as one.  

Dean laughed and said, "Okay flower boy do as you please - no one is forcing you…. It's a free country. But.... don't expect me not to make fun of you every now and then. Remember I chose to be an annoying housemate and I choose you to be my victim…. Hahaha"

"Whatever, you will have to try your best to irritate me because I don't get pissed off that easily man… By the way, what if it's a woman - rivalry because of a woman then?" Bernard asked in connection with Ryu's words about rivalry in business.

"Oh that's a different thing. We Kens don't entertain rivals when it comes to our woman - we are possessive so it would be war! Right big bros?" Dean answered.

"Bros?" Bernard asked.

"I mean big bro Ryu." Dean said scratching his head.

Shawn was quiet all the way and expressionless.

No one could read and tell what was going on in his mind.

Ryu sighed, he just hoped tomorrow they will have an opportunity to make a talk about their family.

He knew Dean was trying hard to strike a conversation about it but it's just difficult to bring it up out of nowhere.

Besides, rushing things up may not going to end up nicely and they still have thirty days left.

Yes they need to do things faster but it needed to be flawless and Dean was doing it in a rush.

Ryu let out a long sigh before he closed his eyes and said, "Dean stop talking and let us all sleep now. Recharge yourself with some good sleep so you can talk endless tomorrow."

Bernard commented, "You Kens are funny… Reminds me of Batman and Robin..."

Dean: "…!"