Chapter 8

Gabriel's

If it wasn't because of my alarm, I'm damn sure that I'll be sleeping all day. I groaned as I reached for it on my bedside table and turned it off. I stared at the ceiling as I feel my head aching. Probably because of hangover. 

'I should remind myself not to drink too much next time. Geez.'

I looked around my room and frowned as I saw a can of Sprite and 3 oranges on my mini dining table. I hurriedly got up from my bed and looked around totally disoriented because of this fucking hang over. 

Nothing's changed. Everything is on their right places except for the clothes that I wore last night--

'Wait, what?!'

I looked at my whole under my blanket and saw that my clothes were changed!

'What the fuck is happening?!'

I walked towards the dining table and plucked the sticky note that is attached on the can.

"These can help you with your hang over. Next time, don't drink too much if you can't handle it. Such a weakling."

I tried my best to recall what happened last night. I must admit that I'm quite drunk but I can totally remember everything before I pass out!

It was then I remembered that I fell asleep on the couch after crying and was horrified about the fact that I woke up on my bed, my clothes were changed by I don't know who and there's a clear evidence that someone came into my room last night and even gave me some cure for my hangover.

'But who the fuck is that person?! Why can't I remember anything?!'

I tried checking my body to see if there's something wrong with me aside from my headache and heaved a deep sigh of relief when I'm finally sure that my body's all good. 

I looked for my phone and dialed Mike's number. Just a few rings and he answered it.

"Aow. Rise and shine, Drunkard!" He greeted me on the other line but I seriously have no time for his antics. 

"Did you came into my room last night?" I asked him.

"What? No. Why would I?" The moment I heard his answer, I felt horrified. 

'If it's not Mike, then who could it be?'

"By the way, I'm on my way to the University. Do you want to have breakfast with me? You should really hurry, though. It's so not you to be late--"

I have no time to listen to him as I was still too busy thinking who the fuck changed my clothes last night and bought these things for me so I ended the call without answering any of his questions. 

'Think, Gabriel! Think!'

It's not that I'm worried if ever someone had robbed me but was more worried about the fact that someone saw my precious body and my not so wonderful state last night. Well, aside from I should thank him or her for taking care of me but that's not the freaking point! I don't know who it is! He may be a complete stranger! Just a mere thought of a stranger seeing my body horrifies me!

Well, a lot of people think that just because I play around, I am wide open for unsafe sex but no! I'm all clean and so does all of my past flings! I make sure I know them before taking them to bed with me! But no matter how much I dig into my memories about last night, I still can't remember what happened after I passed out on my couch after crying. And there's also a fucking possibility that the stranger saw me weeping last night!

'I am fucking doomed!'

Then I accidentally glanced at my wall clock and saw that there's only 40 minutes left before our first class starts but I'm still not ready to go so I hurriedly collected my clothes on the floor and was grossed out when I smelled my own puke.

'Oh, geez. Now I know why that stranger changed my clothes. Fried chicken and beer is not a good combination for pukes.'

I threw all my clothes on the laundry basket inside the bathroom and took a bath in just a speed, but of course making sure that I don't smell like puke. After getting dressed, I gulped down the Sprite in one go and put the oranges inside my bag and the sticky note on my wallet. 

Whoever that person is, I'm sure that he or she is living in the same dorm and floor as me. And all I have to do is to know every person who lives in the same floor and look for someone with the same penmanship. 

'Such a genius, Gabriel.'

But for now, I have to get to the University quick cause I am never late! 

Maze's 

I waited for Top as he park his car in front of the laundry shop in front of my dorm building. I woke up late this morning and I also had to bring my dirty clothes at the laundry shop and I asked him to pick me up so that I won't be late. I nodded at him as he walk towards me while smiling. 

"What's with that smile, Top?" I asked him and he beamed at me.

"It's really rare for you to ask me to pick you up that's why I'm glad." He chuckled while patting my shoulders and I can't help but to shook my head. 

"I should've asked Mark instead of you. You always treat me like a fucking invincible person who's impossible to ask for other people's help." I said and he laughed loudly causing for the other customers to look at us so I had to pat him to stop getting other people's attention. 

It was then we saw someone across the street who seems to be in a hurry and he looked like he would kill anyone who would get in the way. 

"Aow. I almost forgot that you live in the same building with Gabriel." He said as he looked at Gab who is now walking towards the University's direction. It's actually a walking distance from the dorm where I live but I don't feel like walking today.

"Hmm."

"Does he already know that you guys are neighbors?" He looked at me and I shook my head. "Aow, why? You haven't bumped into each other inside the building? That's ridiculous!" He blurted out and I snorted. 

"C'mon, Top. It's not as if I would go in front of him and tell him, 'Hey, Gab. Don't you know that we're neighbors? We actually live in the same floor.' You think I would do that?" I sarcastically said and he winced before nodding. 

"Y-you do have a point." He said and I shook my head once again. 

And besides, Top said that Gab is a punctual person. He can't afford being late so probably, he would leave the dorm ahead of me and when it comes to going home first, it's either I went home ahead of him or vice versa so there'll be absolutely no chance of us seeing each other in the building. Which is good, for me. Cause seeing him will always be the last thing I want to happen. And as for the past one year of living at the dorm, I was too busy working on the bar so we probably had no chances to meet each other aside from the fact that I don't care about the people who lives in the same floor as me.

"Oh, by the way. It's not the usual day for laundry so why are you here?" Top asked and I looked at him and pause for a second. Thinking if I should tell him but I eventually shrugged my shoulders.

"Had to bring them now or else, my whole room would smell like puke." I simply said and his eyes widened with what he heard. 

'I knew that his reaction would be like this. Tsk.'

"You puked last night? But as far as I can remember, you refused every drink that's been offered to you last night. And you have a high tolerance to alcoholic beverages so what made you puke?" He asked quizzically. 

'And who said that I'm the one who puked?'

But instead of answering him, I turned towards the laundry shop owner.

"I'll come to pick up my clothes later, Auntie." I said and the old lady waved at me while smiling and I nodded before looking at Top once again. "I think we should go now, Top. We're both running late. You're such a busybody, eh." I sarcastically said and he winced once again before nodding. I walked towards the passenger's seat as he walked towards the driver's seat while tossing his car keys.

He immediately started the engine as soon as we settled on our seats. I didn't bother wearing the seatbelt same as him and he started driving towards the University.

"How is it going now?" He suddenly asked out of the blue so I looked at him while frowning. 

"What do you mean, how's it going?" I asked him as I was too confused about what he is pertaining to.

"Home. Your home." He answered. It was then I finally understood what he's talking about and I can't help but to stare at him. I suddenly feel like I'm not in the mood anymore.

"This is my home now." I said. Trying my best not to clenched my jaw. I looked outside the car window to avoid his gaze cause I know for a fact where this conversation going. And I seriously don't want to talk about it today or in any other day. 

'I've actually forgotten what home feels like. And it makes me feel like I don't have a home anymore. It's now gone same as my Mom.'