CHAPTER 2

"Guys hurry up alright? Don’t do something funny in there." Sam, the vice-captain of the Silver Valley Volleyball Team, teased as he waved his hand at Andrew and Karl who were still changing their clothes in the club room. He then plastered a whimsical smile at them before finally leaving them alone.

The two looked at each other with a silent agreement of Vice-captain is really silly at times before going back on changing their clothes.

Sam has grayish feathered hair and has small downturned with a pair of hazel-brown eyes. He has an average height, seven centimeters shorter than Karl, and with a slender build. He has slightly thick eyebrows with a birthmark mole under his left eye. His personality was not as bright as Andrew but being the vice-captain, he has a soothing and gentle personality for his teammates and acts as a pillar of support for them. He encourages all of his teammates to never give up, no matter how rough the situation might be. He is known to be the kindest, honest, and most positive member of the team. He listens well to his teammates and gets along pretty well with everyone.

 "Karl." Andrew calls when their vice-captain was no longer in sight.

 "Hmm?" Karl hummed in response as he was busy changing his pants.

“I’ve changed my mind.” Andrew started as he faced Karl’s direction. "Why don’t you live with me for real?"

 Karl turned to Andrew with his head tilting. Andrew was already staring at him.

 "What’s with the change of heart? I asked you about it so many times before but you always turned me down." Karl questioned.

 Andrew shifted his legs to face his locker and started changing his t-shirt. After changing it, he closed his locker and faces Karl again who is just right next to him. "I just want to feel at ease. I’m having a bad feeling." He replied with a worried expression.

“Why?” Karl asked, “What’s wrong?” he went on, closing his locker to look at Andrew properly.

“I… I don’t know.” Andrew responded as he sighed apprehensively. He hates this feeling of anxiousness.

 "Maybe you’re just carried away by Nelson’s constant teasing." Karl pondered as he remembers Nelson and Troy constantly teasing them. He and Andrew were just inseparable. They’re like leeches to each other, where Karl is, Andrew will most likely be there as well. There were also days where Karl sleeps on Andrew’s condo unit and that fact was known to the team thanks to the Nelson and Troy duo who can replace the job of a surveillance camera. And that fact made the duo together with some of their teammates join in teasing the pair to just live together.

 Andrew shook his head as he touched the hem of Karl's t-shirt. "No Karl. I… I’m really having a bad feeling. I don’t know why but I just couldn’t help to worry. I just really want you to stay with me. I don’t want to have a second not seeing you around… Please?"

 A smile was formed from Karl’s lips. He knows that Andrew was just anxious but he couldn’t help but to think Andrew is too adorable when he begs like this.

He pulled Andrew closer and hugs him tightly. "Alright, Mr. Too Obsessed with me. You’ll see every bit of me in every second." He uttered as he tried to hide his smile against Andrew’s temple.

It was not hard for Karl to move to Andrew’s condo unit since it was not too far from the apartment he was settling in. And he just doesn’t want to take too long not to move with Andrew because as the day went on, he noticed that the latter was getting more anxious. He doesn’t want to lose that bright sunshine from his sun.

 "What’s wrong?" Karl asked as he placed his arms around Andrew who’s been sitting on the edge of the bed. The latter was looking at his phone warily.

 "I am not sure if I should go." Andrew responded as his eyes were still fixated on his phone.

 Karl then looked down at Andrew’s phone. He saw an open chat between Andrew and a person named, Brad.

“Brad? Is he your friend from middle school?” Karl questioned.

Andrew nodded in response. “He’s inviting me over to attend our teammate’s death anniversary.”

 "Death Anniversary?" Karl questioned more.

Andrew nodded again. "I-It’s Ralph’s death anniversary." Andrew bit his lower lip and furrowed his eyebrows. He paused for a second as he tried to collect his thoughts. "The last person before Emman who was killed by Allen. The one I talked to you about. His name was Ralph. He’s Emman’s best friend. It is his Death Anniversary this coming Sunday." He continued.

 "Don’t you want to go?" Karl asked that made Andrew gripped his phone tightly.

 "I… I never went to any of the death anniversaries of our friends. Even Emman’s. I... I..." Andrew then started to tremble. He hunched his shoulders as he freezes from the thoughts filling his mind.

 Karl leaned and wrapped his arms around Andrew. "What are you afraid of?" he asked with a calm voice. If there is one thing a relationship could change, that is turning a cold person into a warm assuring person. The fact that he can calm and express his empathy towards a person still amazes Karl.

 "I-I can’t face them. Lev, Ralph... Emman. They all died because of me." And the words made Andrew sobbed as if those words he uttered taste metallic.

When Karl first heard about Allen, he thought that guy was a stupid jerk but when Andrew confessed about how Allen had killed two of their friends before Emman, Karl was sure. Allen is a psychopath who’s too obsessed with Andrew.

 Troy and Nelson who were also Andrew's teammates during middle school once told him that Andrew almost committed suicide when Emman died. He received a year of therapy and was given medications for anxiety and depression. He is also taking sedatives and he’s still drinking those meds up until now. It's a good thing that Andrew's family is rich. Their family is kind of influential so Andrew can receive all the treatments he needed.

 They also told him that Andrew never went to any death anniversaries or even gatherings of their friends and when he did one time for Emman’s 3rd death anniversary, he had an episode of panic disorder.

 "You don’t have to go. They will surely understand." Karl assured benevolently.

 "M-Maybe I can..." Andrew blurted as he faces Karl. "Will you go with me? I’m sure I’ll be fine if you’ll be there with me."

 Karl stared at him as he brushes the latter’s hair. "You don’t have to ask me. I’ll always stay with you."

 *****

 "Isn’t 5 years too long already?" A middle-aged man with black crew-cut hair and a black beard on his face asked the young man in front of him. He’s in a black suit and a blue necktie tied neatly around his collar. He was wearing a pair of eyeglasses over his blue eyes squinting to look at the man he’s talking to.

 "5 years is not enough for the crime I did, Mr. Carter." The young man replied as he stared at the man.

 The man with the name of Mr. Carter nodded in agreement.

"You are right. But everyone deserves chances and I believe you deserve one. You weren’t sent in the Juvenile for nothing." Mr. Carter concluded as he stood up from his seat and looked closely at the papers he’s holding. "For the past 5 years, all I heard was good things from here. Even those doctors and police were impressed by your records considering those crimes you did. They believe you can go out from the prison." He strolled and walked towards the wall and leaned on it. "I can say that you’ll mostly have a 90% chance of being released."

 "Are you sure you are letting me out?" The young man asked with amusement in his voice. A smile then plastered on his face.