Four men were gathered in front of a large gate. While other students were studying inside the library or in their rooms, Kyle, Chaylen, Vincent, and Terban waited outside Slyvester's house.
"Woah. Slyvester’s house is big,” Chaylen expressed, surprised at the grandeur house in front of them. “He acts like a beggar in the boarding house; I did not expect that he is actually rich,” he added.
Terban looked at the house casually and asked, "So, how do we get in?"
"We're going to throw you over the gate," Vincent replied.
Terban quickly retorted, “We can use the doorbell, you dumbass.”
“Why ask if you knew the answer? Idiot,” Vincent said.
The two looked at each other, and an invisible lightning spark formed between them.
"Aren't you tired of fighting?" Chaylen commented sympathetically as he watched the two men, who seemed like dogs and cats. "You fought so many times; you can list yourself to the Genius World Book of Record."
Terban and Vincent both frowned. Their eyes slowly moved towards Chaylen’s direction.
"It's Guinness, not Genius," Vincent corrected Chaylen.
Terban then let out a disdainful "Stupid."
That's why sometimes it's better not to get involved in other people's fights.
Chaylen’s fury came alive as he explained, "It sounds so confusing!”
"Guinness sounds far from Genius," Vincent murmured, raising his brow.
"Yes," Terban agreed. When it comes to Chaylen, the two get along.
When Chaylen was about to refute, Kyle's voice returned, "Stop it. We didn't come here to fight."
Fortunately, the three stopped. Kyle then pressed the doorbell.
'Ding dong!'
Upon pressing the security audio button, a voice responded promptly, "Hello, who are you, and what do you need?"
Kyle responded with a cheerful greeting, "Good day!"
Anyone who had overheard his voice may have mistaken him for a salesperson due to his soft tone.
"This is Kyle," he introduced himself. "I'm here with Vincent and a few other friends. We're here to visit Slyvester."
["Ahhh, Sir Kyle, it's you. Just a moment,"] the maid replied.
Chaylen was surprised to hear Kyle's voice and realised that his earlier worry and nervousness at the gate were unnecessary because the people inside already knew Kyle.
"Have you been here before?" Chaylen asked.
"Hmmm," Kyle answered, nodding his head. " Vincent and I used to go to Slyvester’s house often."
"So, you've known for a long time that he's rich?"
As Terban's eyes flickered towards Chaylen, he was met with a blank expression. Though the other residents of the boarding house appeared nonchalant about their new acquaintances, Terban had done some digging and found out that Vincent and Kyle were sons of billionaires and were in elite circles.
In contrast, Chaylen was the secret offspring of a conglomerate and seemed indifferent to social status - a highly commendable quality. Despite this, he had unwittingly befriended Vincent, Kyle, and Slyvester without knowing their immense wealth.
‘But he’s the one to talk,’ Terban thought before grinning at Chaylen and saying, “Idiot people like you don’t know things.” He walked forward, leaving Chaylen annoyed.
“W-What did you say?” Chaylen asked, glaring at Terban before walking on his tail.
Vincent and Kyle both held their breath. Then they also followed the two.
When the maid opened the door for them, Slyvester’s mother received the guests. " Kyle, Vincent!" she exclaimed, happy to see the familiar faces.
"How are you, aunt?" Kyle greeted her.
Vincent nodded as a show of respect.
Slyvester’s mom just gave a faint smile. She answered Kyle’s question about the situation with a sad smile.
"Where’s Slyvester?" Kyle inquired.
She looked up in the direction of Slyvester’s room. "Well, he locked himself in his room. He does not want to come out."
Kyle and Vincent looked at the place they used to go to. When Slyvester was depressed after Nikki's death, Vincent and Kyle always visited and said hello to their friend. Now they are returning to comfort him for the girl they also love.
"Did you go here because you were worried about him?" asked the mother.
To which Terban answered. "No."
Multiple pairs of eyes went to Terban.
"We're here to snap him out with the fact that his whining won't do anything. If I see him, I'll kick his..." It's a good thing Chaylen covered his mouth right away. "Hmph!"
"That's right! We came here because we were worried about the idiot... I mean, that monkey... your son," Chaylen tried to save the serenity.
Slyvester’s mom looked at Kyle to ask for more information about the men she had just seen.
"They are also our roommates at the boarding house. They are also friends of Slyvester," Kyle introduced. "That is Terban and the other one is Chaylen."
"Ahhh." Slyvester’s mother nodded.
"Can we go and visit Slyvester now?" Vincent uttered.
"Okay, sure. You can go. I just hope you can get him out," she sighed.
"Don't worry, aunt. We'll take care of it," Kyle reassured.
The three dragged Terban up the stairs and to the front of Slyvester’s room. When they arrived, it was Kyle who knocked on the door.
"Slyvester! It's Kyle!"
But they received no answer from within.
"Hey, dumbass!" Chaylen shouted. "Do you plan to repeat the year?! The exam is tomorrow!"
Vincent laughed secretly on the side. He couldn't believe that Chaylen, a man who hates studying, was able to say that.
Kyle knocked on the door again. "The four of us came here because we were worried about you! Vincent and Terban also came!"
Chaylen approached Vincent. "Do you have anything to say?"
Vincent shrugged his shoulders. He thinks he doesn't need to speak. Just knowing that Vincent came here for Slyvester was enough.
" Slyvester!" Kyle shouted for the last time.
Terban was growing increasingly impatient. He pulled Kyle aside and stepped forward to take the lead. He slammed the door with force, causing his hand to sting slightly.
"Hey!" Terban shouted, wincing in pain. "I came here to help resolve the issue between you and Ryan. I'm a busy person, but I made time for this. So don't act like a child; come out and face me, you bastard!"
Kyle wanted to intervene to prevent further delay, but he stepped back. He was exhausted from being the mediator.
"Stop being a coward! When there's a problem, learn to deal with everything!" Terban continued. "I'll admit you have a right to be jealous because until now..."
Terban must have felt conflicted about the following words he was about to say.
Until now, he’s in love with Ryan. But he hesitated to express his true feelings because Kyle, Vincent, and Chaylen also had feelings for her.
“If you two break up, I will take the chance to take her,” Terban said, sighing. “And I am not the only one with this thought, Slyvester.”
The three men, flabbergasted by Terban’s words, looked at him.
“Why did we come here despite feeling greedy?” Terban uttered. “Can’t you tell why? USE YOUR HEAD, YOU IDIOT!”
The reason is… because Slyvester is their friend.
Even though they all love Ryan, they don't want to see the two in trouble. They were tempted, of course. But in the end, they couldn't bear to do anything on the sidelines. They wanted to help even if it was painful.
"If you don't come out, you will never see Ryan!" Terban continued.
Chaylen frowned upon hearing this. 'What is Terban saying?' he wondered.
"And you will regret it," Terban continued sadly.
The three were shocked by Terban’s actions. He is Ryan’s friend, so they wonder if he knows something they don't.
"She is going to another country today. And maybe, she won't return anymore," he dropped the truth.
“T-Terban," Kyle stuttered.
"H-Hey, is that true?" Chaylen asked in disbelief.
Suddenly, Vincent grabbed Terban’s collar. "Why did you just say it now?!" he shouted.
"Will anything change?!" Terban yelled. "Will I be able to stop her if I tell you guys?! That's why I came along, so that this f*cking bastard would know the truth!"
"Sh*t," Chaylen cursed. "If you told this to us, then I should have seen her! F*ck!"
"I-Is she really leaving now?" Kyle asked with trembling lips.
Terban released Vincent’s grip on the collar.
" Ryan is probably packing right now. If only Slyvester comes out, he can..."
Bam!
The door opened. Slyvester came out with swollen eyes.
"R- Ryan will...what?" Slyvester uttered in disbelief. “She’s moving to another country?”
"Yeah, you f*cking bastard," Terban answered him. "What are you doing, locking yourself in your room? Be brave! She chose you over all of us, so prove that you're worthy of her!"
Slyvester tightened his fists, took a deep breath, and then pushed past the group before quickly rushing down the stairs.
"Ryan might still be here. Let's try to catch up with her," Kyle suggested, but Terban stopped him from following Slyvester.
“It was a joke,” Terban said.
Kyle and Chaylen froze.
"It's just a joke that Ryan is going to another country. I just said that to get the Slyvester out of the room."
Of all Terban’s jokes, this one is the funniest.
"Sh*t," Chaylen gasped in disbelief.
Even Kyle, who rarely swears, was told, "F*ck it."
Vincent, who guessed that it was just an act even from the beginning, chuckled. He thought what Terban said was impossible, so he assumed that maybe he was telling a lie.
"Good job," Vincent praised Terban as he offered his hand for a high five.
Terban looked at Vincent, smiled back and then accepted his high-five.
After giving each other a warm high-five, they both wiped their hands.
One day, they might regret helping. Maybe they will. No, THEY WILL REALLY REGRET IT.
Meanwhile, Slyvester was constantly rushing out of the house with a singular goal in mind: to catch the woman he loves before she leaves the country. His mother called out to him, but he didn't pay attention until he reached the entrance where his father and Ran were waiting for him.
"Ah, you've finally emerged from your room!" Yhlei remarked, pointing at Slyvester.
Slyvester, in tears, yelled at his father, "If I don't catch up with Ryan, I'll never forgive you, Dad!" He then grabbed Ran, whom he needed to return to the boarding house, and darted out the door.
Stunned and bewildered, Yhlei pointed at herself, asking her wife, "What did I do this time?"
At precisely that time, the four went down using the stairs. When Yhlei met Terban’s gaze, he realised that Terban might be why Slyvester got out of his room. And he was very thankful that his son got a great competitor and a caring friend.