Meeting you in the City

Chapter 22: Friends and Memories

Yoru’s POV

Why is it so loud?

Damn it!

Can’t a poor boy like me have some decent sleep?

Ugh! Uh! Argh, All I just want is some peace and quiet just for a day, grrr!

I can even hear Velo; why can’t I just get enough rest for the love of God

I just want to sleep.

I wanted to shout at them, but to my surprise, I was weaker than I thought; I guess I’m still not okay; I have faded to little memories of what had happened after Astra left. What happened to him and me after that? Why do I feel so heavy then?

I tried to open my eyes to see who disturbed my rest. That does not mean I’m not mad anymore; ah! On the contrary, I’m still pissed off

*(Velo and Astra still fighting in the background)*

I can’t quite understand why they were fighting about, but whatever it is, they are too loud

I opened my eyes, still blinking a few times before seeing things clearly. I saw a huge man. It was clearly Velo and…

Who’s that?

Wait, I know that voice.

What are they fighting about?

Astra?

“LEAVE ME ALONE!” Astra demanded, but I couldn’t get why he wanted Velo to stay away from him.

“Boss, why do you have to leave.” huh? What why? Leave? Go to where then? When were you even planning to leave? Do you plan just to leave us in a situation like this? I thought as I still could not see him from the side of the room, but I knew that voice.

“Boss!”

“Damn it, why won’t you just leave me alone!”

“Don’t be such a coward!”

“Stop being like this. If you really want to protect Salvy, be strong!”

“Be the Astra I know.”

“The Astra, you know..” The Astra we know

“Do you even really know who I am?” who am I again? What do you mean

“I don’t know myself too.” Typical bullshit, isn’t it? Until now, we can’t still let you see.

“I’m so tired, but I….” see who are you to us.

“I… wouldn’t let him touch them again, Velo.” Velo stepped away from his position, revealing a troubled, struggling Astra sitting on the side of the room near the wall. That look on his face is never a good sign... why am I seeing it again.

“What are you really planning, Astra?”

Or instead, what is in your mind again? Will you tell me this time? Will we even have the chance to know?

“Astra,” I whispered. I wanted to call you but... I have doubts it’s like I don’t want to wake up anymore or even see you if that means you’ll leave us again, but I already did, and those eyes tell me something I don’t want to know

Tell me then, Astra

No…just

don’t tell me.

Just looking at him...

He looks tired and sleepless, his body shaking, his skin is pale than ever. His situation seems terrible than the state I am in, but nothing caught my attention more than those eyes. It really bothers me to think of what happened. I was just asleep, yet his world changed again. How could it happen so fast? How could the life in his eyes suddenly vanish? Where did it go, or was it not there all along?

“Yoru!, you’re awake.” Velo immediately notice

“Huh? Ah, oh...yeah,” I jumped out of my thoughts, and then Velo greeted me with a smile. I pretend not to notice anything, but I’m still troubled.

“Hey, you seem like you’re still out of it, haha,” Astra commented

“Yeah, well, you two are so loud, damn it!” I said as I glowered at the both of them

“Looks who’s grumpy in the morning. I’m surprised it’s not Astra.” Velo snorted at his remarks, putting his hands to his mouth to restrain his laughter as Astra scowled a look at him

“Yeah, right, it’s like you two weren’t fighting just a while ago,” I commented

“Why can’t I have my rest ahhhhhhh!” uh I just looked at Astra while still sulking at the thought of them waking me up

“uhhhhhh.”

“Guess I have to deal with both of you and Astra’s sulking and attitude this early in the morning.”

“Damn, talk about a lot of pain,” Velo complained. You’re the damn pain beanstalk!

“Shut it,”

“Shut up, your stupid face Velo.” Astra and I said. Looking back, I remember how Astra used to be scary to wake up as he’ll get mad at you and probably will look at you like you kill someone for the rest of your life *(Yoru remembers)* *(gulps)* ah... Hehehe?

*(Flashback)*

Hmm, this is almost ready. I should wake up Astra. We still need to do a lot of things for today.

“Hey Velo,” I called.

“Aye, yes, sir!” The boy immediately comes to where I’m standing and salutes

“..?”

“What?” The boy asks, curious at my reaction as I quickly retract my gaze

“You know what, never mind.”

“By the way, wake Astra up.”

“Wake up, Astra?” Velo repeated

“Yes, is it not clear?”

“T-the boss?” Velo asked nervously

“Yes, Velo”

“The boss?!” what the hell got you so worked up

“Did I stutter, moron?”

“And why are you so worked up?”

“Nothing, bo-boss”

“Just… ahmm”

“Nothing,” The boy replied, stuttering

“Well, okay…. I guess?” I answer confused

“Okay, wake him up now,” I ordered, and as soon as I uttered those words, Velo quickly ran as fast as he could away from me.

“NOOOO! I MUST ESCAPE!!”

“What, why?! I asked, but Velo just made a run for it.

“Why, you moron! Get back here!”

“I can’t do it. I’m sorry Yoruuuuuuuuu!!!”

“HEY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING! DUMBASSS” I shouted as I couldn’t see any trace of him anymore. What the hell does he need to escape from? Stupid giant! Just tell me that you don’t want to do it, don’t make such a big fuss about it, tsk. I continued what I was doing while complaining while frying the meat in the pan.

“Hmm, smells good” my mouth is drooling, just smelling the cooked meat when I noticed Chico passed by, warily walking. Hmm?... weird but, okay?

“Hey Chico, there you are. Can you-” before I even finished my last words, Chico was already itching to get the fvck out of here.

“Oh.. bo-boss, I didn’t notice you... Ah there,” he said, wobbling like he’s holding a pee. I mean, he just literally walked past by me, stupid.

“What is happening to you? Do you need to pee?” I asked, wondering about how silly Chico was acting.

“Well, just get on with it and wake Astra up,” I commanded

“Wa-WAKE? Ah hehe, it’s funny you... you know I’m... really going to do something hehe! Yeah, I’m going to do something.” I’m not buying it

“And yeah, what is that, Chico?” I questioned sarcastically.

“Yeah, ahmm…..oh! I’ll read books at the library and… and I’m going to go now! BYEEE!”

“Hey, wait!!! So that you know, fvck you!” I tried to stop and chase him, but Chico then flees as well like Velo, seriously? First of all, that wasn’t a compelling excuse; not even the dumbest person would believe that which is you, and second, why are they so afraid to wake up Astra? It’s not like it’s hard, isn’t it? Right? Arghh! Those darn Idiots, oh there’s Con maybe he could wake Astra up

“Oh, hey Con! Can you”

“No” WHAAATTTTTTTTTT?! No, what?! No one can say no to me, well maybe Astra or Velo or Chico, alright everyone, but he can’t just do this to me who does he thinks he is! Alright, I’ll sweet-talk the hell out of this guy,

“Hey, you know you’re my favorite, ahmm.”

“No,” ah...ah..ah? But...but... But? Con instantly turned me down. Just what the hell? That’s not fair. How could someone resist my adorable face, uh people!

“First of all, you’re not cute, and second yes, I can resist you because again you’re not cute” ?!!! AHHHH! I flinch inches away from the boy who seemed to read my mind exactly. WHAT THE FVCK, HOW DID HE KNOW? I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT!

“Uhm... What are you talking about, hehe?” but he just gave me the “seriously?” face man, this one is tough. I should try again. I’m going to use my most potent weapon.

“How about now, ow?” I pose irresistible faces for this dude, but I guess he’s just not going to have it. Darn, you mint chocolate chip hair, dude!

“Ahm.. what are you doing exactly? and No...No, wake him up yourself.”

“Arghh! Why?!” you also smell like Colgate!

“FINE, I WILL! WHAT’S EVEN SO SCARY ABOUT WAKING UP ASTRA!”

“I know you never experience waking him up since Astra makes you do things all the time, and you’ll be back when he’s awake, but!” damn, why is he always looking so serious.

“But?” what is it? Why am I suddenly nervous as well

“Goodluck to you, Yoru,” Con whispered as he smiled and left me there like he was scaring me

“Hey, no fair!” fine arghhh...arghh..grr!

I walk towards Astra’s room and steadily open the door *(gulp)*

“Am I sure about this?”

“And my life decisions?”

“I mean, is it worth it? To be killed by Astra or a shark.”

“Nah”

“Yeah, definitely Astra.”

“Shh, no time to think about that now, Yoru.”

“Of course, I am sure. What’s the worst thing that could happen?”

“Hey Astra, wake up.” as I woke Astra up, I could feel the three snooping in and watching me. I wanted to shoot a glare at them, but as soon as I turned back, they disappeared. Hmm?

“Grr annoying idiots,” I muttered and went back to waking Astra up

“Come on, Astra, wake up.”

“Astra, wake up.”

“hey”

“Wake up, sleepyhead” I tap Astra, but he won’t wake up

“Hmm” oh, maybe he is. That’s a relief, but then he again lies flat on his bed, sleeping soundly

“Hey Astra”

“Astra!”

“Damn it, you sleepy head!” I slapped his lap as it did the job to wake him up

“Bo-o-s-s” I can hear the quavering call of my fellow gang member, ha! Look who successfully wakes him up! Cowards!

Astra slowly sits up from his bed as the blanket falls from his head to his stomach, allowing us to see his blank humorless face. This painfully slow-paced thing is killing me. It is making me nervous what will he do to me? Is he mad?

“Ahh! Boss is awake run!” the three quickly fled the scene, and they left me with Astra, whose eyes were burning red inflamed staring at me *(gulps)*

“Hehe, Astra?” he stood up and sauntered. Every step was like stabbing me as he never took away his glaze at me. When he got in his bathroom, I used the chance and straight away headed to the kitchen where the three idiots were already sitting and avoiding my eyes.

*(Velo whistles)*

“Hey, guys, what’s up with Astra?” I asked

“Yor-u” Velo stopped whistling and put on a sedate face he was going to answer when we felt the intimidating presence of Astra walking in as the three boys trembled and continued to eat like pigs.

“Astra, do you want-” *(Gulk)* I was going to offer Astra some juice when *(gulped)* Astra grabbed his fork and violently stabbed the meat in front of him as he stills stared at me with those intense flaming eyes as beaded sweats start to form up. I tried as much as possible to look away or avoid any contact with his eyes, but the burning heat of his eyes caused me to sweat even more as it pierced through the back of my head. It felt like Astra could kill me. I quickly took a peek as I did; Astra stabbed his meat harshly with his knife. I can't do this anymore. That meat looks like it died! My feet jolted me the fvck out of here

*(that afternoon)* As Velo and I were fixing our guns, Astra was across the room, still furiously staring at me. Seriously I’m scared for my life now. He hadn’t talked nor taken his gaze away from me.

“Velo, why is Astra like that,” I asked, whispering and facing away from Astra since he could read our lips, but there’s no hiding in any way

“Because you wake him up.”

“What about that?”

“What about waking him up.”

“He’s always in a bad mood when somebody waked him up. That’s why we never did again.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner! At least that could have helped to stop this.”

“I’m sorry, Yoru, I panicked”

“Tsk fine”

“What do I do now?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you mean that I mean?”

“What?” Velo confusedly ask

“That stare will never go away unless he moves on from it.”

“I mean, he’ll sleep later on.”

“Eh? Hehehe, boss, you got the wrong idea” Velo laughed nervously at his statement.

“How long are we talking about?” I look at Astra again, who put a line on his throat with his thumb, and Velo saw it to

“Looks like you’re going to be dead, boss,” Velo commented

“Stop it, will you, and help me out.”

“You were lucky to get the stare at a far and the silent treatment.”

“Why is there something worse?”

“Yes, he’ll watch you in your sleep.”

“What?!”

“Just joking, I’m joking. Astra’s not a creep.”

“Stop joking around and tell me already.”

“He’ll be like that in a week”

“In a week….”

*(Yoru’s mind)*

in a week….in a week…Do I have to deal with those stares for a week?

*(Velo’s mind)*

“Haha, it couldn’t be that bad,” he said, but it got worse as Astra stared at him every time he moved except for taking a bath and sleeping, but that didn’t stop Yoru to be sleepless as he swung himself back and forth like he was going crazy Yoru was going nuts, and that goes on for days.

*(ends of Flashback)*

Yoru’s POV

I stare into nothingness when, out of the blue, Velo pops up on my face

“Ah!” I flinch slightly at his face

“Hey, Yoru!” I slapped Velo accidentally

“What was that for?” the boy asks, confused while rubbing his face

“Because you’re ugly.”

“Fvck you”

“Yeah, fvck you too!”

“It looks like you have lost it back there,” Velo noted at my daydreaming.

“We’re sorry, Yoru, we should leave,” Astra said as he was going to

“Boss”

“No, it’s okay, Astra. You can stay.”

“Really? Aren’t we bothering you?

“Yeah, you have just woken up from your operation. You should rest,” Velo stated

“What? What operation” oh yeah, the operation

“But never mind, it’s really alright I just remembered something,” I explained.

“It’s Nothing, bud. We’re just glad you’re alive. You really made me think you’ll go with the light back there.”

“Shut up, Velo!”

“Thay can have em,” I stated, flexing my fine biceps

“No s**t! Yoru, you made me worry. I even shouted at the nurses.”

“Well, that would be funny to watch. I will surely laugh my ass out.” I commented as I could only imagine a freaking out huge intimidating man having to fight with a nurse and loses hahaha!

“HAHAHAHAH”

“No, it is not funny I almost have a heart attack.”

“Don’t you ever do that again”

“Do what die?”

“Yes, Yoru, yes!”

“Aww, admit it, you’re in love with me, Velo.”

“I haven’t even proposed yet,” I teased the beanstalk in front of me

“Fvck you twerp” The huge boy yapped as he hit me in the head

“Oww, I’m injured, ya know!” I protested

“Look how the tables have turned, hahaha,” Velo teased as he stood proudly. I was about to hit him as well when

“Ha..” a short breathe was heard. We turned to look at Astra, who had a tiny grin on his lips, until he noticed us looking at him and quickly withdrew his smile.

“What?” The boy asked coldly

“Are you just smiling a while ago, Astra?” I asked

“No, I’m not” The tall man denied

“Liar!” I said, cause we did see that, didn’t we, Velo?

“Ayt, I’ll fetch you some food.”

“I’ll leave for a while, Yoru. I’m just going to fetch you some water and food that is right for you.”

“Ehh?! what are you saying? that chicken looks so delicious.” I cried as I made faces pointing at the chicken Velo had bought

“But you still cannot eat that!”

“Then why did you even bring it!”

“That’s for Astra”

“Tsk, no fun,” I pouted as I whispered to myself

“Come on, Velo just one piece.”

“No”

“Come on, no one will know!”

“Yoru don’t be like this”

“Please,” I pleaded, just even for a one-bite of that mouth-watering chicken.

“Yoru, for now, you can’t,” Astra agreed.

“WHAT! Not you, too, Astra! I have been fighting for my life, and I can’t even eat chicken.”

“Hahaha, you’re really obsessed with eating chickens.”

“I remember we even stole some before, and you ate almost all of it! hahahahhaha!” Astra laughed

“HA!?” Velo and I were shocked as to why and how did he laugh

“What can I not laugh with my friends?”

“FRIENDS?!!!”

“Is this real?! I might cry?” Velo said as he came near me a grabbed my blanket

“Don’t get too emotional over a laugh!” Astra yelled, but Velo was still crying at this touching moment as Astra laughed at the memories we shared. I can’t believe that that matters to him as well.

“You must be sick. I can’t hold back my tears” the both of us are emotional, although we know Astra cared, and even he says he does not, Astra really does. He also sees us. But to admit that we are friends.

“A-ASTRAAAA YOU MAKE ME CRYYYY!” Velo burst with tears as he puffs his nose at the hospital blankets. Yes, this huge muscular man is really just soft inside. Don’t let his looks deceive you.

“HEY, HEY, DISGUSTING!” I threw the blanket directly at his face as I looked at Astra, who was smiling at us

“What?”

“Nothing,” he replied.

“So that you know you look like your wardrobe poop at you.”

“You’re really ugly and a mess.”

“Much terrible than the state that I’m in.”

“Oh! Yoru, such a meany uh! you hurt my heart and now I can’t live, my heart, my aching heart huhu” Astra pretended to be offended as he puts his hands on his forehead like a lady in distress and drops to the floor like a dead princess. I thought this situation could be worse, but it’s not. I missed joking with Astra as well. I’m happy to be your friend.

“When you get out of here, let’s get ourselves some chicken,” Astra offered, and who am I to refuse that offer.

“I’m counting on that, Astra!”