Meeting With a Childhood Friend

Today I know I'm not in my condo. I'm in our house back at the Webber mansion. But I don't hear the birds chirping at my window which what usually wakes me up every morning. What wakes me up instead is a soft snore near my ear and warm breath that accompanies it hitting my neck.

Squinting, I slowly open my eyes to a start. Bright sunshine streams through the windows although I'm not sure whether it's still morning or already afternoon. I frown at the window. Wait. This isn't my room. It only takes a millisecond for the memories to come back and my eyes widen in shock and fear. Sh*t! I slept in the freak's room!

I swiftly look beside me, cringing at Annalouie's stupid sleeping face. If I don't know better, I would've thought of him handsome and docile. But f*ck that! He's a goddamn monster and a devil! I fling the covers off my body, surprised that I'm wearing a pair of boxers on and they're my favorite pair, too.

I take a glance at Annalouie and he's also wearing a pair of his own. Did he put this on me? Of course, he did! Who else! Stupid brain. I grumble while slowly easing out of bed, careful not to wake up the sleeping demon. I step on my tattered clothes on the floor, wincing at the memories which made them into this state.

Cursing and groaning in pain, I slowly pick up the torn pieces while supporting my hips. My goddamn a*s feels sore like hell. I roll all my gathered clothes and look around for somewhere to dump them. I am not going back to my room with just my boxers on.

Frowning, I open the freak's connecting bath, throw my clothes in a bin before snatching his bathrobe and put it on. When I'm already at his door, I look at the knife sitting on his night table. What demon had possessed me last night for even attempting killing the fucker? Of course, if I kill this beast, my life would also be finished.

Walking back, I pick up the knife and carefully get to the door and leave his room. Just like how I sneaked in last night, I also escape in the same fashion, feeling ashamed of myself and to all that I did. After closing the door, I pivot to my own room only to jump back seeing my mother standing by the hallway.

"Mother, good morning."

She doesnt answer. Mom only stares at me with disbelief in her wide eyes. I also saw disappointment and pain contorting her expression. I frown and step near her but she only backs away. Right there and then, I remember the knife in my hand. I gasp, glancing at it before meeting her gaze again.

"No, this is not what you think it is!" I say frantically.

"It better not!" She angrily utters before stepping to the side and enters Annalouie's room. "What did you do to him?"

"I didn't do anything, I swear!" I tell her, trying to catch her but she's successfully let herself in. "What are you doing? He's still sleeping!"

However, mom didn't listen to me. She walks across Annalouie's room, flings the blanket off of his body before rolling him to his back. The move makes him stir awake, squinting to both of us with a frown of confusion. He rubs his eyes with the ball of his hands before sitting up.

"What are you two doing here?" He asks, looking disoriented.

"Tell me, did he do something to you?" My mother asks while pointing at me.

"Did what? And who?" When Annalouie looks at me, he seems to have finally recalled what happened last night and his eyes flash for a second. "Oh..."

"What oh?" Mom snaps before grabbing his chin. "What's this? Where did you get this wound?" Mom glares at me over her shoulder before inspecting Annalouie once again. "Did you two fight? Speak, Annalouie!"

"Come on!" He says, pulling his face from my mother's hold, looking annoyed. "It's nothing new." He gets up from bed to put on a pair of sweat pants. "I just didn't get to dodge quickly but this is nothing."

"I told you, mother, it's not what you think it is!" I say desperately. "Besides, do I look like someone who will do it? Especially to Annalouie?"

"Who knows, Axel." Mom says with controlled anger. "Even as your mother, I don't know you anymore."

"Because you don't give a damn to know me better!" I can't help but shot back, triggered by the memories I had being neglected as a child because they favor Annalouie over me. "You're only concerned about Annalouie! It's always him, him! It's like I'm not your son at all!"

My mother gasps, mortified by my outburst before her eyes flash with anger. She steps close to me and raises her hand to my cheek. I shut my eyes tight and wait for the impact but it never happened. When I open my eyes again, Annalouie's gripping my mom's wrist, glaring at her with his bloodshot eyes.

"You don't want to do that." He says with face as stoic as sh*t but his tone is hard and commanding it actually gives me creeps. "Don't even think about it." Annalouie drops my mother's hand and turns away. "Get out of my room!"

Pain and regret flash in mom's eyes as she looks at Annalouie's tattooed back. When she turns to me, she only regards me with contempt before marching out of the room. I heave a sigh of relief, looking at Annalouie's back as he stares out of his window. I frown when my heart flutters without reason.

I can't believe the freak just saved me from my mother. But who knows. Maybe it was just an act to make him appear the good boy between us. Maybe that's it. At that thought, my anger at him returns and I scowl. Turning away, I leave his room and slam the door shut that could rattle the walls.

I enter my own bathroom, strip and step into the showers. I was a bit surprised that Annalouie put me on boxers, but I'm more surprised realizing that he also cleaned up my body. Although I don't want to imagine how he did it. I must've been too exhausted to even feel him touching me.

After a thorough shower, I open my closet and decide for what to wear. It's going to be awkward at home today. I hate to be stifled in that kind of atmosphere. I shouldn't have returned home this summer like what I did last year. Although that's the reason why my mother sent me an ultimatum that I visit home.

I sigh and pull a pair of jeans and a blood red shirt. I don't know where I'm heading today but I sure as hell won't stay home. It was just alright when Annalouie's the only enemy. But I can't stand my mother. She's too damn scary to cross. Wallet and phone secured, I leave my room and get down the house.

Other than the servants, I see no other members of the Webber. Relieved, I hurriedly get to the front door until the large gate. Sh*t! I forgot to call for an Uber. There's always a driver ready for dispatch but when I started my night life and learned the adult sh*ts, I've long dismissed the idea of having a chauffeur.

I get out of our gate first before pulling my phone and open Uber app. There's no one picking up my request. The hell. I begin walking along the subdivision under the scorching sun and the practically steaming pavement. Jesus! There's no way in hell I can survive walking until the subdivision gate.

"Axel!"

I turn around at the familiar voice and smile. "Jethro, my man! How's it going?"

"Great! You?”

"I'm pretty good, too."

"Come on!" He inclines his head to the passenger's seat. "Hop in. Think we got a lot of catchin up to do."

"I'll take you up for it!" I quickly round the other side and hop into his car. "Whoa! Since when'd you get this Audi?"

“Old man gave it to me when I decided to turn my life for the better. I feel like the Hitman when I drive this, y'know." He grins smugly before shifting his gear. "So how's it going? You look damn good for a college student."

"Yeah?" I smirk, sighing in my head at Annalouie's room fiasco. "Where you heading at?"

“Nah, just driving around. You wanna hang out?"

"Sure!"

Jethro and I parted ways after I graduated high school. He couldn't go to the Uni we initially agreed to enter together. The dude totally flunked and didn't get to graduate. I remember he'd gradually drifted from me and chose hanging out with other people instead.

I may have a few weird and flashy friends in the past but the kind of crowd he found himself getting acquainted with wasn't my cup of tea. They're the clique of goths and freaks ostracized in campus. I feel bad for not asking him what's the matter. I was so focused on my goal to think of anything else.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite remember what you're taking in college?"

"I didn't." Jethro glances at me and shrugs. "I took a rush course in Fine Arts though."

I arch a brow at him. "I didn't know you're into art, man. I don't even remember you know anything about them."

Jethro chuckles, looking genuinely happy. "Well, Annalouie showed me it."

"Annalouie?" My voice rises saying Anna but goes rapidly low as I continue along the Louie part. "The hell!"

Jethro laughs as if he's having a great time. "Yeah. Your brother's quite nice, you know. Now I really don't get why you hated him before. Oh, wait. Do you still hate him until now?"

I didn't answer him. I can't. Coz I don't know what I feel towards that monster anymore. I still hate him alright but there's other emotions forming in my chest but I can't somehow name. I still can't name because I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

"So you're painting as well now? Oil or what?” I randomly ask, not really knowing shit about Art coz it's what Annalouie does and I don't want to have anything to do about him.

"No. My professor showed me different branches of Art. And I somehow found myself amazed in sculpting. Also, Annalouie's pretty much versatile so he helped me developed it. That man's world is Art, you know. I'm really amazed!”

I suddenly have the urge to get out of his car. I hate listening to him talking about Annalouie. I don't like it. It's as if he's telling me that they're close and we're not. I'm just not sure if I mean me and Jethro. Not me and Annalouie. Taking a deep breath, I try keeping my cool and appear nonchalant.

"So you got a studio, too?" Damn, am I going to start pretending in front of Jethro as well?

"No. Annalouie let me take up a space in his studio. I also have some pieces auctioned in his gallery."

"Oh, that's good. So where are we going? Can we go rustle up some grub first? I'm starving.”

Jethro glances at me, obviously taking notice of my sudden change of topic. "I know a place."

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***