t opened, but still drowsy, he was too lazy to get up. He cuddled inside his bl

t a small note on the side table beside the bed, "I'm o

dy 8 am. Getting up, he folded the blan

ud, which resulted in Dar

f hot cocoa milk to his

with Ryan, who was out of touch for almost 2 years, and to his wonderful luck, he stayed with him, which made him even more nervous.

oticed the chocolate in his friend's hand,

't... I'll leave as soon as I get a room of my own. You know right now I don't have any, nor I have enou

u can stay here as long as you

s voice apologetic

just worried about you. What happened to you? Where were you the

cup. He can't say exactly how muc

from home but what about these two years of your leave and these scars..." h

. Now... I don't feel like saying," Ryan l

on the floor, he staggered, "Hey! Sleep on the bed, you'll catch c

stated it crystal clear, Darius's ear turned to

" saying it. He forced Ryan to stay in the bed, and he himself li

ing his hair. He wore a beige t shir

friend mentioned, he saw two eggs, butter and a pack of bread was on th

breakfast? But the condition of the kitchen

served himself a puffy omelet, pieces of bread and butter, with a glass of si

ion. He can't live his life like this dep

his swollen ankle with a pack of ice, his feet feel much better

rang. "I'll be late tonight. I'll bring dinner at night

was quite boring. To get some fre

ir. I'll be back before di

The lights from those shops lit the alley up. He just wandered aro

p with so many flowers. A soothing fragrance came from that shop, as mesmerizing as they loo

re any florist, though he didn't have a

saw the florist cutting the extra

strong tie, you will never loose that lovely lady," she tried to shove it into his arms, when Ryan spoke up, "

afford now. You can leave your number. I'll contact you

shop right opposite to the flower shop

e thriller novels. Whether in distress or happy, books were always the

as well," he mumbled, standi

y fond of story books, reading almost every novel in his midd

p, there were barely people there, in these days few people came here as it w

a sudden grumpy voic

He turned around to see an old man about abo

e." That man replied, his voice shakin

d yesterday down the alley," h

aring at the novel Ryan was holding.

y friend." He smiled, "Do you have other crime thriller

ind it there." That old guy pointe

t was a story of a killer who had two different eye colors. His eyes full of rage, resent, one could see a burning hell in his eyes. How that

like caramels were melting everywhere. He went straight to the counter, looking at the long menu. Scanning every dish, from peanut butter cookie lush, cheesecake trifle, Oreo-chocolate mousse pie, black forest skillet brownie,

brownie and a caramel apple macchi

The food looked gorgeous enoug

perfectly balanced with brown sugar. And the macchiato had rich and sweet apple juice with toasty dark ca

king and serving. The other person in cash counter managing the bills. He asked the manager, "Is

late and very few boys work at café," the manager replied with a beamin

itated, be another failure. Plucking his courage, he asked suddenly, "Can

job. Come this weekend in the afternoon, that time we get less customer, so I can take your interview

His eyes shined brig

to 12 am, Monday to Friday. You n

wil

n nodded, taking the bill. He was about to leave bu

seemed like his smile nev

if they are hiring anyone or not? It would

e pay here

st want to save up some more mone

to live alone but said, "Hmm, one of my friend owns a car washing center, you can c

ightened. He leaned to see

r mumbled, "I found it, here, contact him and tell

ed to save up so that he could rent a room of his own as soon as possible. Not having any parenta

Have them if you're hungry," Ryan texted his friend. His delighted

beauty, he never imagined it to be true. He reached th

heard the flowing sound of the river. That sound went through his heart in the midnight's silence. A stream of tea