Third Person’s POV
Emily sent a text to Kyle.
[“Kyle! Are we going to have a party later?”]
Kyle stared at the text he received from Ryan’s best friend.
“I am not sure, so I don’t know how to answer this,” Kyle murmured, recalling the events last night.
Ryan and Terban came home together. They weren’t saying anything and only went straight to their room. Meanwhile, Slyvester did not come home.
“Obviously, there was a problem last night,” Kyle uttered.
Kyle texted Slyvester instead of replying to Emily, wanting to know the truth.
[“Slyvester, why didn’t you come home last night?”]
A few minutes passed, but Kyle received no reply. So, he texted him again.
[“Didn’t we plan about the farewell party for Ryan tonight? Aren’t you going?”]
Later on, Slyvester replied.
[“I am going later.”]
Kyle realised from Slyvester's response that he didn't want to explain everything to him. However, Kyle believed that if Ryan and Slyvester met tonight, they could work together to resolve their issue. As one of Ryan's pursuers, Kyle thought, "If Slyvester can't fix it, he'll regret it."
Kyle texted Emily back, confirming that the party would proceed as planned. He got out of bed promptly and went to the kitchen to discuss the event with Emily through a phone call. They decided that Kyle and Slyvester would be the cooks for the party while Terban would be in charge of purchasing desserts. Chaylen would handle the games, and Vincent would keep Ryan occupied until everything was set up.
Kyle proceeded with cooking. While he was cutting onions, he couldn’t help but feel emotional.
Ryan will move, and the five of them will experience another phase of their lives without her. It might still be difficult for them to move on during that time. Actually, Kyle was so sure he wouldn’t be able to cope with his broken heart. Even though it hurt so much, Kyle wants to treasure these feelings a little longer. And he was sure that Vincent, Chaylen and Terban felt the same way.
“Bro. Are you crying?” asked Slyvester, who appeared in the kitchen with an apron.
Kyle sniffed as he looked back at his friend – Ryan's chosen guy.
“N-No. I was cutting an onion,” Kyle explained.
Slyvester laughed at him and then asked, “So, what are we going to cook?”
Kyle smiled at him and said, “Aren’t you the original head chef? You decide, Slyvester.”
Meanwhile, on the other side, Vincent awaited Ryan outside her classroom.
It brought back memories, he thought.
When Ryan left her classroom and saw Vincent, she approached him and asked, “Why are you here?”
To prevent her from going home – that is Vincent’s task.
Casually shoving his hands inside his pocket, Vincent replied, “Are you going home right away?”
Yes,” Ryan responded while carrying heavy books. “I’ll return these to the library and then return home.”
“Stay here. Help me find a book,” Vincent uttered.
“Why should I?” Ryan refused.
“Because you are my friend.”
“I will believe that if you aren’t Vincent,” Ryan complained. “Just go on your own and find a book.”
Vincent felt jealous that Ryan was smart enough to see he was using this chance to have her alone.
‘Slyvester is such a lucky dumbass man,’ he thought inwardly.
Fortunately, Vincent and Slyvester made a plan beforehand.
"I'm not the one who needs the book." Vincent took the cell phone and showed Ryan the conversation between him and Slyvester.
Ryan leaned closer to read them.
[“Vincent. Are you still in school? Can you find me the book: 'The 7 Habits of highly effective People' by Stephen R. Covey?] – Slyvester
[Why should I?] - Vincent
[Come on, dude! When you used to beg me for a book, I used to bring it! You're so evil T^T]- Slyvester
[Fine. Ryan is also at school. I will ask her to find it with me.] - Vincent
[Really? Thank you! Awavyou both!] - Slyvester
[-_-] - Vincent
Ryan pouted after reading the conversation. "Why did he reply to you and not to me?" She whispered.
Vincent's eyes briefly sparkled with curiosity. He wondered if there was a conflict brewing between Slyvester and Ryan.
"Come with me," Vincent said with uncharacteristic enthusiasm, leading Ryan to the library.
Slyvester and Kyle had asked Vincent to keep Ryan out of the house while they prepared for something. Vincent couldn't help but chuckle at their choice, seeing this as an opportunity to spend time with the woman he loved. He wasn't going to let it slip away.
"Have you asked the librarian where to find the book?" Ryan asked while looking at the pile of books on the shelves.
"Yeah. Section number 56," Vincent lied.
As they approached section number 56, Vincent's gaze drifted towards Ryan's side profile. He thought this was a familiar sight to Sylvester, who had often observed Ryan while they walked together.
Vincent's attention then shifted towards Ryan's hand, which Sylvester held daily.
Vincent couldn't help but notice how petite and delicate Ryan’s frame was. It was a body that only Sylvester could genuinely own.
The thought of Sylvester and Ryan being together brought up countless what-ifs in Vincent's mind. It was a situation he had never anticipated, and he couldn't help but wonder what could have been different.
'What if I realised my feelings early?'
'What if I had confessed earlier?'
'What if I kissed her before him?'
'What if she is my wife?'
Vincent asked this question and then dreamed of being the man who would only hug and hold Ryan. And also the only person who could kiss her sweet lips – the lips he was looking at now.
"I'm on the right, you on the left," Ryan said, guiding Vincent so they could find the book, which wasn’t really in the library.
Standing behind her, Vincent watched the lady. Then he felt melancholy.
What’s the purpose of imagining things if he cannot turn back time?
Vincent approached Ryan and offered her support, saying, "If Sylvester ever makes you cry, remember that you can always come to me."
He pretended to help her search for a book, but Ryan found it amusing that Vincent seemed so fixated on her tears.
"You're so obsessed with someone who cries," Ryan chuckled.
Vincent's interest in Ryan had initially been piqued when he saw her crying while listening to one of his songs. Little did he know that Ryan's tears were caused by her contact lenses, but he didn't regret being drawn to her.
"I'm serious," added Vincent as he tapped the shelves around Ryan and inadvertently caused a book to fall.
"Oh!" Ryan gasped in surprise and quickly protected her head from the falling object.
Vincent quickly positioned himself behind Ryan, using his body as a shield. He stood so close to her that it appeared as if he was hugging her from behind. When Ryan opened her eyes and realised where she was, she exclaimed in shock.
"Are you insane?!" Ryan shouted, causing the other people in the library to look over.
Noticing the disapproving looks, Ryan lowered her voice and whispered, "Why did you tap the shelves and then use your body to shield it?"
"Thanks to that, I got to see your face up close," Vincent replied.
"Wow, you really are crazy," Ryan said.
"Did you just realise that?" Vincent asked with a sneer.
“No. But you’re being crazy on another level.”
“Because I wanted to seduce and steal you from my friend.”
“You know I would never leave Slyvester. Go away.”
Ryan placed her hands between them and pushed him.
“Stop saying nonsense, and let’s continue finding the book.”
Ryan left Vincent and continued searching. She walked by, and Vincent followed her with his gaze.
It may be impossible for him to steal Ryan from Slyvester. But Vincent would not stop. Even if that means he had to fake his intention as a joke.
Back at the boarding house, Chaylen was preparing for the games later on. He wanted to make a game where he could have the chance to get Ryan as her partner. Chaylen really wanted to have a sweet time with his first love before Ryan moved to the other boarding house.
‘It is tough to approach Ryan while she’s dating that monkey,’ Chaylen sulked and dissed Slyvester in his mind.
Speaking of monkeys, Chaylen noticed that Vincent wasn’t home yet. He thought of him not because Vincent resembled a monkey but because he was one of the most annoying men in this place.
Chaylen turned his eyes to Emily and Kyle, who were waiting at the door with confetti in their hands.
“Hey, Kyle. Where’s Vincent?”
“He’s with Ryan. I asked him to keep her company until we finished preparing all of these,” Kyle answered.
Chaylen stood up and complained, “WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT BASTARD?! YOU CAN’T TRUST THAT SH*T!”
Kyle narrowed his eyes at the man making a game, intending to do it with Ryan.
“I know I can trust him more than you,” Kyle uttered.
“Huh! You don’t know what kind of a person Vincent is. He made himself look innocent by staying a virgin for long f*cking years. But he’s vile. I am sure he’s taking this chance to seduce Ryan! You should have asked him to cook instead!”
“If Vincent cooks, we will all die,” Kyle rebuked. “The first time he cooked, Slyvester and I went straight to the Emergency Room.”
Chaylen imagined the scent and felt sorrowful for Kyle and Slyvester. “Is that so? That must be traumatic.”
“Anyway, I texted him to come over. So they must be on their way,” Kyle informed.
“Is that so?” Chaylen sighed. Then he looked back at Slyvester and Terban, who should be complaining.
Surprisingly, they were quiet.
‘What’s wrong with them?’ Chaylen wondered.
Soon, they heard Vincent and Ryan coming.
Kyle and Emily got into their position until the door opened.
Bam!
"Surprise!" Kyle and Emily shouted simultaneously after firing the confetti gun into... VINCENT’s FACE.
"Pfff...!" Chaylen almost laughed out loud at the scene.
“Oh no!”Kyle gasped, looking at the man whose eyes were tightly closed. "S-Sorry, Vincent."
Emily also laughed out loud.
Ryan looked around in surprise. “What’s with this? Is today Vincent’s birthday?” Ryan asked while walking in. She hurriedly removed her rubber shoes while Vincent wiped his face while gritting his teeth.
Kyle should be thankful that he is Kyle. If it were Chaylen, Vincent would have killed him on the spot.
“No!” Emily answered Ryan. “This is your farewell party! Tadah!”
“Farewell party? But there are still days before I leave.”
"It will be a bit busy next time because it's exam day. That's why we started early,” Kyle explained.
Ryan frowned as she turned her head towards Vincent. "Is that why you wasted my time finding a book that isn’t in the library? Seriously, for this?"
“Don’t get me wrong. Slyvester and I worked on that,” Vincent answered.
She then glanced over at Sylvester, and her face lit up when she saw her boyfriend.
Chaylen looked at the two of them and noticed the tense atmosphere. "Something's going on," he thought to himself.
Interrupting the silence, Chaylen suggested, "Let's eat!"
Kyle began handing out paper plates, and they all grabbed some food.
“Did you get ice cream?” Chaylen heard Vincent ask that question to Terban, but he did not attend the continuation of their conversation because he quickly made her way over to Ryan.
“Ry…”
Unfortunately, Slyvester was faster. He stood beside Ryan because Chaylen could fill the void next to the lady.
"Hey," Slyvester called Ryan in a low tone.
"Oh, hi. When did you come home?" Ryan asked.
From a great distance, Chaylen noticed that both were uneasy while talking to each other. He knew something was wrong.
"Just this afternoon," answered Slyvester. "Would you like a baked mac?"
"There is?"
"Hmmm. I baked it. Give me your plate. I’ll get you."
"Okay. Thanks."
While watching them, suddenly, someone played loudly. Chaylen was so close to the stereo that he covered his ears.
'Just who...!'
When he tilted his head, he saw Emily near the amplifier. Emily played a Korean song that Chaylen couldn't understand.
“What is that? I could not even understand it!” Chaylen complained.
Emily looked at Chaylen and answered, “I am sorry. But I am the DJ tonight. Shut up and enjoy the music~.”
Chaylen rolled his eyes and shook his head. Since he didn’t have the chance to talk with Ryan, he sat on the corner and ate chicken. Then, he saw Terban and Vincent fighting again.
'How did their conversation about ice cream end up in a fight?' Chaylen wondered about that.
Good thing Kyle came to the rescue before Vincent and Terban ruined the whole party and ended up in the hospital. Slyvester and Ryan were eating food next to each other, and Chaylen was alone on the sofa, watching them with a smile.
Maybe Chaylen wasn’t lucky to be born into a loving family. He thought his life was trash.
‘But now, I am so glad I came here in this boarding house. Even though it was messy and noisy, I found my home and my happiness.’ Chaylen thought before he raised his juice and cheered for everyone’s future.