Chapter 113 - Tears for a Nobody

The coldness spread throughout his body, but Aki could not tell if it was coming from the cold night breeze or from the hollow empty space in his chest.

He managed to drag his feet inside the house and into the room he shared with Zy. Since Zy took the bed, Aki went straight to his spot on the floor. He barely even noticed if his friend was asleep or not. The world might as well stop at this point, and he would not be aware. Nor care for that matter.

Despite the stillness he felt inside him, his mind was still reeling from his conversation with Liam. His roommate's words seemed to be on the loop inside his head.

"Tell me," Liam whispered, "until when are you going to be a martyr?"

'I'm not. I'm really not. I only wanted to help. Why won't you believe me?'

"You've been pining for him for the longest time. Now he needs you the most. Yet, you're telling me that you're only helping as a friend?!"

'You thought that I'm going to take advantage of the situation? That I would steal him away? Is that what you think of me?'

"But I beg you. Treasure yourself more. Prioritize yourself before Zy."

Aki chuckled despite himself as a tear trickled down his cheek. 'You're angry for me? You're still worried while angry.'

"Ah right. Why would you listen to me? I'm just a roommate. A nobody compared to Zy."

'Of course not. You're not just a nobody. You're more than that. Way more than a roommate.'

More tears fell one after another. He hated how he could not answer back there. He hated that his answers came in a little too late. That he was too late.

The pain in Liam's voice sounded raw that Aki felt like someone slicing through his heart. All he ever wanted was to knock down Liam's door and explain himself, hoping to make things right again.

"Aki?" Zy asked.

Aki turned to face the bed, but Zy faced the other side, "I thought you're asleep."

"I'm thinking of going back tomorrow."

Aki remained silent.

"I want to go talk with Drew. and maybe-- maybe try things out with him again." There was a moment of silence before Zy murmured his goodnight.

Yes, tomorrow. Tomorrow he would talk to Liam too.

***

But tomorrow came sooner than he would have liked.

Aki fell asleep after so much tossing and turning, but it only felt like he had slept for an hour when a raucous outside woke him up. He fumbled around for his phone. 6 am.

Who the hell visits someone at six in the morning?!

He sat up, bleary-eyed. He was too sleepy and too annoyed. But also, too exhausted to move. He glanced at the bed and saw Zy sitting up with his ridiculous bed head. Zy returned Aki's scowl with the same expression.

As if taunting them, another round of laughter sounded, grating Aki's nerves. It seemed like there were a few visitors so early in the morning.

"Ugh, country folks and their early mornings," Zy grumbled.

Aki groaned at the realization. Right. Everything people do around here was early. No wonder Liam was such an early riser.

"We should check out what it's all about," Zy said.

Every muscle in Aki's body revolted at the idea of moving. The only welcome kind of move was going back to the bed. Apparently, that was not an option.

"Fine."

He got up and followed the sound coming from the garden. There were several people outside. One of them stopped mid-laughter and turned to them.