Episode 18

"Here's your meal!" Daren placed a box of food on the nightstand.

"Why did it take you so long? Did you do it on purpose, to make me hungry?" Arsenio snapped as he grabbed the food from the nightstand.

Daren clicked his tongue in annoyance, then snorted. "You should be grateful that I came here at all, bringing you food. Instead of thanking me, you're accusing me of nonsense," he grumbled, irritated.

"Yeah, yeah, thanks!" Arsenio finally retorted.

"Mean it, will you!"

"Whatever!" Arsenio replied while chewing his food.

"Hmph," was all Daren could manage at the moment.

The two of them had always enjoyed verbal spats, yet for some reason, they never really took offense and would help each other out when one was in trouble.

"Why are you not eating much?" Daren frowned, noticing that Arsenio had already placed the food box back on the nightstand with most of the food still left.

"It tastes bad!" Arsenio replied.

"Bad? But I got it from our usual place. How can it be bad?" Daren's eyebrows knitted together, confused.

"I said it's bad, it's bad, okay? I'm the one eating it. It's different from Zora's cooking," Arsenio said without thinking.

Daren burst into laughter, even clutching his stomach.

"So, you're addicted to Zora's cooking now?" Daren teased between his still rampant laugher.

"Mind your own business!" Arsenio deflected.

"You said it yourself. I'm not making this up," Daren continued to laugh.

"Damn you!" Arsenio cursed, throwing a pillow at his friend.

"Why did I even say that? Now that idiot has something to tease me about," Arsenio silently cursed his own slip of the tongue.

Once Daren's laughter subsided, he picked up the pillow Arsenio had thrown and approached his friend.

"But seriously, Zora's cooking is good. I often eat what she makes," Daren tossed the pillow down beside Arsenio.

"What? You often eat her cooking?" Arsenio's eyes narrowed, filled with irritation and disapproval at the thought of his friend eating his wife's cooking so often.

"Yeah, what's the problem?" Daren furrowed his brow.

"Nothing, let's just forget it!" Arsenio said, playing it cool.

But Daren wasn't one to let go so easily. He gazed intently at Arsenio's face, trying to decipher his friend's expressions. Daren suddenly smiled mysteriously, perhaps knowing something.

"Really, it's nothing, right?" Daren asked, still with that enigmatic smile.

"Of course. Do you think I care?" Arsenio asserted firmly.

"Good. Then I won't feel uncomfortable continuing to eat here. Think of it as training to be a husband. Maybe if you discard Zora when Hanum returns, I'll be ready to take her in. She really is the ideal wife, pal. Would be a shame for her to end up with another man," Daren teased harder, enjoying seeing the annoyance on his friend's face.

"Daren, can you stop? Better you leave now!" It appeared Arsenio could no longer withhold his irritation.

"Oh, you're kicking me out? Are you mad?"

"Just go, I said go! I want to rest!" Arsenio's face was truly flushed now.

"Come on, I was just joking! You're making a big deal out of it, hahaha!" Daren's laughter erupted again.

"I'm not overreacting, and I'm not angry. I really just want to rest. I'm tired of listening to your worthless rambling!" Arsenio still countered. Suddenly feeling sheepish that he had been so easily provoked by his friend.

"You've been in this room all day, buddy. Sleeping, sitting – what more rest do you need? Tsk!" Daren clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

"It's my choice! Now, you should really leave!" Arsenio said sharply.

"Aww, and here I wanted to tell you more about Zora, but you're so cruel to kick out your pal. Or maybe, can I stay here until Zora comes back? I want to greet her and miss her smile," Daren said, pushing his luck.

"DAREN, GET OUT, I SAID GET OUT!" Arsenio's voice was raised now, throwing another pillow at his friend.

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving! Should I just leave this pillow here? So Zora will have something to question when she gets back," Daren deliberately suggested, intending to leave the pillow behind.

"Hey, hey, idiot! Bring that pillow here, and please don't do that!" Arsenio suddenly panicked.

"No way! If you want it, pick it up yourself!" Daren stood with his arms crossed.

"Please, Daren, no more games! Take this leftover food downstairs!" Arsenio lowered his ego.

"Come on, stop pretending! Get up, already! Unless you really still hope Hanum will come back, leaving me more chances to get close to Aozora!" Daren said as he stepped to pick up Arsenio's food box. Yet, he deliberately ignored the pillow lying on the floor.

"Daren, why aren't you picking up the pillow?" Arsenio pointed to the pillow on the floor.

Daren ignored him, casually grabbing the food box and heading towards the door.

"Daren, the pillow!" Arsenio reminded him.

Daren picked up the pillow and suddenly flung it at Arsenio's face while laughing.

"You're an awful friend, damn you!" Arsenio cursed.

Daren's laughter continued as he exited Arsenio's room, leaving a housemaid who happened to pass by confused at the commotion.

"Mr. Daren, what's wrong? Why is he laughing coming out of Mr. Arsenio's room? Isn't Mr. Arsenio in a coma?" the housemaid wondered with a puzzled look.

Realizing the puzzled expression on the housemaid's face, Daren's laughter abruptly stopped.

"Sorry, Ma'am. I was on a call, and someone told me something funny; that's why I laughed. Did my laughter disturb you?" Daren explained, hoping the housemaid would buy his excuse.

"Oh, is that so, Sir? No, it did not disturb me," the housemaid replied, convinced.

Daren then left after bidding the housemaid goodbye.

Meanwhile, Arsenio back in his room gazed blankly at the ceiling, contemplating the last thing Daren had said.

"Is it really time for me to wake up?" he thought to himself.

To be continued...

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