Chapter Twenty Five

"There's one more thing I need to know." Tay said after a few minutes.

"Yeah?" I asked, looking up from my phone.

"Is there a reason why you didn't contact me much this past month? I mean, I get it you had a lot to catch up with your Grandma and everything-"

"I met this guy and it got kinda complicated in the beginning. I know that's no excuse but so much happened and I just didn't want you to worry about it." I answered him truthfully.

"A guy?" He straightened his back and questioned in surprise.

I nodded in reply.

"You didn't call me once because you were busy with a guy? The whole month?" He asked with narrowed eyes.

"Now that you say it like that, it sounds bad." I lowered my eyes, feeling guilty.

"Because it is. Who does that?" He asked, sounding pissed.

"Stop acting like you haven't left me to sit alone when you were busy hitting on Mariel." I retorted, trying to reason.

"You said you were okay with it." He said, reminding me.

"That's not the point." I huffed in annoyance.

"I thought you didn't wanna talk because you were finally done with my bullshit." He said in a low voice before leaning his head back again. Closing his eyes, he let out a sigh.

"Don't guilt trip me..." I started but trailed off when I caught the look on his face.

"Fine. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have ignored you just because I was having an existential crisis, even though you've done the same in the past."

"Existential crisis?" He asked incredulously.

"I'm sorry." I apologised again.

None of us said anything for a while. Tay kept his eyes closed until his stomach started growling. Both of us chuckled hearing his stomach growl.

"How about some food? You're clearly starving." I asked with a smile before getting up to plate the food.

He chuckled before nodding. "Yeah."

~~~

"Can I see him? Your guy?" Tay asked, helping me carry the empty take-out containers to the trash can.

"His name is Nicolas. And no, I didn't get a picture of him." I shrugged.

"What? Why not?" He stopped in his tracks to face me.

"Well, I wasn't sure if he would be okay with it." I explained.

"What kinda young guy isn't okay with a picture or two?" He wondered out loud before resuming our walk.

"He isn't particularly fond of technology." I replied, walking beside him.

"Sounds like a weirdo to me." He mused.

I pushed him away with my shoulder. "Shut up. He's not a weirdo."

"Fugitive then? Scared he'd get caught?" He questioned, sounding serious.

"None of those." I snapped at him in annoyance and fastened my pace to walk ahead of him.

He laughed from behind me before running over to walk beside me again. "I'm just worried."

"There's no need. He's a good guy and I like him. Grandma knows him too." I tried to assure him.

"Is that who you were talking to earlier? In the car?" He inquired.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"And that Marco?" He asked, dumping the empty containers in the trash can.

I dumped the ones I was holding as well before turning around to walk back home. "He's Nicolas' friend."

"And Nicolas is gay too?" He looked over to me.

"Pan." I clarified.

"Oh." He hummed.

"And this Marco?" He questioned just as we were about to enter the apartment again.

"Pan as well." I placed the keys on the table before turning to him. "Any more questions?"

Tay thought for a moment before nodding. "I'd like to talk to Nicolas."

I looked at him in surprise. "What for?"

"To make sure he's good for you." Tay answered, closing the door behind him.

He went to sit down on the couch, leaving me standing still in the hallway.

A moment later, I faced him again before shaking my head. "We barely started talking a week ago."

"So? Sounds like you both like each other. There shouldn't be any problem with just one call." He crossed his arms over his chest, looking determined.

"I'm not doing this." I denied, firmly.

"Why not?"

He was obviously trying to act stubborn. I huffed in annoyance before marching over to him and taking a seat at the edge of the table.

"One, it's too soon-"

"No, it isn't." He retaliated, cutting me off.

Ignoring him, I continued. "And two, he must be asleep already."

He looked over to the clock on the wall beside him in confusion. "It's not even ten."

"He wakes up before sunrise." I answered, trying to suppress the amusement over his confusion.

"Wow." He sounded actually amazed while still staring at the clock.

A chuckle escaped me as soon as I opened my mouth. "He's amazing. I know."

When he didn't talk back to me, I decided to leave him to get the extra blanket and pillow for him to sleep.

~~~

Tay and I stayed up talking for the most part of the night. We talked about what we had done for the past month and I told him about Nicolas as much as I could've without having to mention that he was a werewolf.

Tay was still doubtful about Nicolas and I didn't blame him for that. After all, it was clearly my fault. The only thing I hadn't told him was the very reason for everything he thought was odd.

He wasn't shy about expressing his concern about my safety and sanity for being so close to a not-your-regular young guy. But by the end of the night, we came to some terms which we both agreed upon.

The most important thing for me was to keep Tay from insulting Nicolas any more and thankfully he agreed to it. His only condition was that he wanted to meet Nicolas and it wasn't negotiable. I had no other option but to agree to it.

Thankfully, he didn't ask for it right away or even anytime soon. So that was something I wasn't going to worry about, not for a long time at least. After all, we all still had a long life ahead of us.

"You think you'll be okay with this long distance thing?" Tay asked as soon as I came out of the shower.

"What?" I asked, confused by his sudden question.

"Your long distance relationship with Nicolas. You're okay with it?" He explained again.

"I guess." I shrugged, drying my hair with the towel.

"You guess?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I mean, I don't know. I came back just two days ago." I said and left to hang the wet towel to dry.

"You don't miss him?" He questioned once more as soon as he saw me again.

"Why are you even asking so many questions?" I queried before taking a seat beside him.

"I'm curious. Now tell me, do you miss him?" He turned to face me.

"Yeah? Of course, I do. What kinda question is that?" I answered, shaking my head in disbelief.

He hummed as if thinking of more questions to ask.

"You know, we should be studying instead of wasting time like this."

Instead of agreeing with me, I saw a smirk take over his face and he opened his mouth again.

"No, shut up. No more questions. Or I'm going to kick you out." I threatened him with a glare.

"But-"

"No." I narrowed and gestured toward the gate.

His smile faltered and he nodded reluctantly.

I grinned widely, realising that for once I had managed to win against him.

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