Chapter 12: Phase Two.

Kai

Work has been pretty much quiet. Mainly because there wasn't any new product to be launched for now and the boss who at the same time, my dad - wanted us to focus on promoting the new lines of products that we created over the last five months. Although I can't quite guarantee that it would be like that for so long since... things are unexpected.

Just like how Seventeen Stan came out of nowhere and pop right in front of my face.

Although I was not having this whole drama... this whole feeling back in love again with the boy, I just felt that it can't be avoided since he was my first love. I tried to back away from his affections here and there and probably making a fool out of myself in the end. That seems to just make it harder to even back away. If that makes sense?

In the end, I accepted his affections but trying not to feel so happy about it even if I wanted to and even if sometimes I slip out a few smiles. Accepting it and feeling like it's nothing is much helpful.

The time was showing around four fifty and surprisingly, I didn't have any more job to do. Which was when one of my colleagues stop by at the door of my office - peering into why I was still here.

"Kai, you're not going home yet?" He asked, holding onto his sling bag strap. In the whole of he was asking that question, his eyes went crazy looking all around my office. Then he goes back to looking at me. "A lot of people just went home already. Even the boss... It's a pretty simple day, isn't it?"

"Is that so?" I muttered to myself, my eyes glancing back and forth from the man to my desk. Well... guess it was time to go home.

"Ah... yeah. I'll go home after this. Thank you for telling me," I returned. He held a thumb at me with a grin then goes off to go home as well. After he left, I let out a small chuckle following a sigh when thinking about going back home. My mind just went towards Stan's constant questioning and chatters that it made me want to stuff his mouth with fried chickens to shut him up. I never really thought that going back home would be so dreadful towards me now.

I unquestionably don't want to go home. But where should I even go?

To my parents' house? What would they think of it now?

Furthermore... this present Stan... I texted him days ago and still, now, he doesn't even reply to my text. What is absolutely going on with that man? Can't he see that I was in trouble too?

In trouble because of him.

I texted Felix too about him and all he had to say was that Stan also never even contacted him for one month. It was weird and...it made me feel worried. I thought about what was happening towards him and all I could think of is... nothing. Plus, when Felix asked me why I was asking and what happened between us. I couldn't even get myself to say what happened. He can't know about this mess.

In the end, I clean my desk a little and eventually grab my keys for me to get home. I guess I was really going home then.

But not before Hayes comes in and made it longer for me to stay at work.

"Kai... hey," He started, his eyes were looking at me with nervousness.

I gaze at his whole figure. The man's clothes seemed to be messed up, and he looked drowsy. Has he been drinking at work? "Hayes...? What are you doing here? You should go back home,"  I spoke to the man, as he walks further towards me. His steps were wavering here and there.

He definitely drank.

"Look... about the other day- I mean one month ago," He started, and I began feeling quite uncomfortable with his sudden brought up topic. "- I just want to say that I'm sorry. And maybe we could start this all over again. You and Me. I know that you broke up and-," After that, I didn't hear anything he said as I was too caught up by how he knows that I've broken up with Stan.

"Who told you that? Are you spying on me?!" I questioned, feeling anger and disturbed by what he knows and done.

He holds up both of his hands, showing them to me to deny what I said. "No no no! I'm not! I- I just overheard a conversation between you and your dad. It's not like that," He disputed, reaching forward to me - wanting to touch me. But before he could even lay his hands on me, I immediately went past him and rushing out of the place. I hate to hear what he was going to say to me because I know it would involve Stan. I didn't know if I hate him mentioning the breakup, or if I hate that he would say something bad about Stan like he did last time. How can he even act like that?!

I could hear him calling my name, but I paid no mind and walking further towards my car and went home in the spurs of moment. I was done with him. It's like he wanted me and Stan to break up as well. Just so that he can get closer to me. What a prick.

While I was driving back home, I went fishing out my phone from my pocket to tell Seventeen Stan that I was coming back from work. I haven't really got anything from Stan today in the form of texts or calls but I really wondered what he was up to today.

"I'm on my way back now. Be home soon,"

"Why?" I continued, asking on his behalf. Then answered it by myself. "Just because,"

In all honesty, how long is this all going to be anyway? Because as much as I love kids... I am not really the type to raise one. Even if Stan wants to adopt one... all of that work of feeding and playing... I'd give to him that job instead.

What the bull? Am I seriously thinking about raising a child with Stan even after we broke up? Shut up... Kai.

Regardless if I raise a child with him or not. Taking care of one single teenager is a whole lot of work. From trying to hold your anger to try being affectionate. On top of that... it was just hard for me to even look at his face if I even try to take care of him. All I ever see is not a seventeen-year-old teenager... but rather an ex-lover.

Yeah... that's right.

It's fucking difficult. Try imagining doing so.

Along the road back home, my mind drifted off to what I thought about the present Stan. I was and am really worried about him. I haven't seen his face in a while, and it doesn't feel right. Not only that, but I had many speculations to what had happened to him but none of them makes sense except one. One that thought would be true but there wasn't any proof for it.

If the seventeen him was here... then was he in the past now?

-

Finally, I got back home with a tired walk. The path leading up to the front door was tiring and considering that I was running away from Hayes back at the company... I felt that I used too much of my energy just to get away from him.

As I entered the house, again, I was met with the same silence as last time.

Was Stan not home yet?

I told him that if he got bored in the house, he should go out and enjoy himself. But I didn't think that he would be this late outside. Yet, this was Stan we're talking about. He himself is pretty much adventurous without me. So I suppose that he was having the life of the party in town.

I just hope he's safe, that's all.

Howbeit, when I wanted to go inside the bedroom to get a long shower. The door was immediately slammed right in front of my face - blocking me from getting in. He's home... and why is he like this?

Is he upset again?

"Stan... open up the door," He ordered to which I got no reply at all.

I purse my lips. "Stan... open the door... let me in," Again, I was met with another silent reply. I got mad at his sudden behaviour rather than answering me what's wrong.

"What are you doing in there?! Open the door!" I shouted, banging onto the door.

Then he spoke, his voice was mellow - had a taste of sadness lingering over it. "Kai...," He started. He was behind this door, his voice was so close that I knew he was leaning his head onto the door. The crushing sadness feeling that he wore made me stop in my annoyance and impatient and waited for him to talk.

"Kai... did you know? That... from a month ago. The 'me' in this time frame is....," He trails off, his voice gone like something actually worse than terrible happened to him. I waited for him to continue but was replaced with continuous silence. "Stan?" I called, pushing the door, and it wasn't unlocked anymore. Did he unlock the door and stop talking?

I was beginning to get worried so when I do open the door and see what had happened to him. "What about that 'one month'-," I repeat his question but when I try looking at him - try noticing him - try figuring out what he was asking..., my eyes widen in both shocked and confused.

He turns to me, and I was damn sure that this wasn't the same Seventeen Stan that I saw before.

What the fuck happened?!

- - -

Oh?! What happened? By now, what do you think is happening?