Chapter 5.2 "Our Beginning Wasn't Great"

Ryan’s POV

After eating the oh-so-good spaghetti cooked by Kyle, the boys decided to play cards.

They are going to play Pusoy dos, so I declined to join that game. As far as I know, the game rules indicate that only four players are eligible to play. One more thing, Kyle already did the cooking so cleaning the plates should be my turn.

“Ryan.”

I looked around to see Slyvester who came into the kitchen.

“You can do the plates next time. Come on and join us. Let’s play.”

I shook my head without hesitation. Fortunately, there are friendly people among the five. However, I am not comfortable hanging out with Chaylen.

‘Just how much I tolerated sitting beside him while eating the pasta! I don’t want to be in the awkward position again.’

“No thanks,” I decline. “You only need four players to play Pusoy dos, right?”

“We aren’t going to play pusoy dos,” he answered. Suddenly, Slyvester grabbed my hand.

‘Oh! What are you…!’

 I, who ain’t use of this skinship, felt the rising heat of my cheeks.

“Come on,” he murmured then pulled me out of the kitchen.

I had no time to think when Slyvester pulled me out of the kitchen and brought me to the living room. He’s still holding my hands, thus, I pulled my hand away from his grip before anyone could notice.

My harsh action did not bother Slyvester, though. He just smiled as he announced, “I already brought Ryan. Now let’s play!”

‘Why do we need to play? We’re not kids anymore. Tsk.’

Kyle stood up and showed us the empty jar he was carrying. “I prepared this game to help us know each other. To have a good relationship inside the house, you all will agree that getting to know each other will help, right?”

“Yes, sir!” Slyvester answered like a kindergarten, loud and clear.

Chaylen laughed as if he also could not believe that he’ll be doing this activity with us. On the other side, Vincent has no expression on his face and he’s just sitting on the couch in silence.

“For now,” Kyle continued, “I will ask everyone to write questions on the paper. You can write as much as you want. Then, after folding each piece of paper, put them here inside the jar. Everyone will draw one until there are no questions left. You need to answer the question that you picked. If ever you can’t, then you can pass; which means you’ll have 1 point on every pass. Whoever has the largest points, is the loser. Game?”

Now I understand why the girl broke up with Kyle. He’s more meticulous than women for thinking of childish games like this. ‘Oh god~’

Anyway, to pay respect to the person who cooked food for us, we did what Kyle asked us to do. After writing the questions on the papers, we placed them inside the jar.

We sat around the carpet: Kyle on my right, Vincent on Kyle’s right side, Chaylen on Vincent’s right, and Slyvester at the end.

That is a good lineup because I don’t want to sit next to the pervert Chaylen.

“Since I was the one who initiated this game, I will take the privilege to start first.” Kyle energetically picked a folded paper from the jar. Then he read the question out loud, “Did you ever try baking a sweet potato cake?”

All of us took a short time glancing at Slyvester who was smiling from ear to ear.

“Hey Slyv, it was from you, right?” Kyle took a guess.

Slyvester answered, “Yup. I could not think of anything to ask, hehe.”

“What kind of question is this?” Kyle complained.

“That question did not cross my mind,” Chaylen laughed, holding his intense belly.

“If you don’t answer,” Vincent butted, “you will get one point.”

Speaking of Vincent, I remembered the time when he told me that he saw me crying before.

‘What a waste!’

I should have put in the question of why, where, and how he saw me crying. On second thought, there is no possibility that Vincent will pick the exact question so… never mind.

“Fine, fine! I will answer!” Kyle forged a cough and continued, “I did try baking a sweet potato cake before. But… it’s a failure.”

With a smile on my lips, I watched Vince get a question paper. He did not read it out loud and instead glared at Chaylen.

“Why?” Chaylen asked upon sensing the gaze.

Kyle snatched the paper from Vince. Then he read it out loud: “Are you still a virgin?” His ears turned red right after.

Oh my gosh! This Chaylen isn’t normal!’

Slyvester covered my ears, even though I had read everything and will hear the next things.

“Sh*t. Dude, this kind of question is invalid. There’s a woman here,” Slyvester protested.

Chaylen replied something but I couldn’t hear it clearly because of these hands covering my ears. Yet, I can see him glancing over at me with a smirk. Then he stared back at Vincent.

“I am a virgin,” I read Vincent’s reply through his mouth. Slyvester took his hands off my ears after Vincent answered the question.

“Oh, sh*t. Is it real? Woah,” Chaylen responded in disbelief as if he was enjoying this kind of topic. “Do you want to experience it? I know a lot of pretty girls.”

Vincent suddenly kicked the jar. It flew to Chaylen and hit his thigh. The impact was slightly hard, seeing how Chaylen winced after the attack.

“Just go and pick your answer,” Vincent uttered which stole the grin out of Chaylen’s mouth.

I could feel the lightning between them. ‘There’s a high chance that these two will clash frequently. I can sense it.’

Chaylen picked up the question with an annoyed beam. He maybe went out of the mood because of Vincent. Suit you right!

“What is your favorite color?” Chaylen read. “It is blue,” he replied shortly then gawked in my direction. “Was it from you? This boring question I mean.”

How did he know?!

I avoided his gaze, pretending ignorant.

The next one who picks the question is Slyvester. After he read the question, a crack of thunderous laughter filled the space.

“Damn it, Vincent!” he laughed. “I know that your life revolves around music but was it necessary to put this as your question?”

I peeked at the question sheet in his hand. ‘What are the guitar chords for the song ‘New York’ by Frank Sinatra?”

Vincent swept his hair and then sat straight. He is handsome, but a little bit weirdo.

“If you don’t answer the question, you’ll get points,” Vincent warned.

“Then G, am, em, d, c,” Slyvester tried.

“You’re wrong,” Vincent responded.

“Right or wrong, at least I answered!” Slyvester complained, pouting.

“Nope. Only the right answer is valid.” Vincent lifted the corner of his lips. I think he is not interested in the game. He just wanted to see someone lose.

“Argh, this is unfair,” Slyvester grunted. “Very unfair.”

While the two bicker, Kyle tapped my shoulder.

“Ryan, it’s your turn.”

He leaned closer and handed me the jar. I was caught up with his handsome looks, but thank goodness, I snapped out before he could notice that I’d been staring at his face for quite a long time.

“O-Okay,” I stuttered.

I picked one of the questions and opened the folded paper. The four looked turned my way as they wait for the question I’ll read.

“What is your ideal type?” I read out loud. Next, I slowly glanced over these eyes poring at my side.

‘Who wrote this question?’

“That’s a pretty interesting question you got their lad,” Chaylen said. “So what’s your answer? What is your ideal type?”

‘It seems this is not from Chaylen, seeing that he also got surprised. So among Vincent, Kyle, and Slyvester, who wrote this question.’

I fell into deep thoughts.

All this time, I was only interested in reading books and writing stories. I only fell in love with the characters I read or wrote. So when it comes to my ideal type, I am still not sure. Besides, I am not ready to be in a relationship.

‘Unless that boy came back.’

“I don’t have an ideal type,” I answered, scratching my nape. “But I am waiting for someone.”

In the silence, the creaking sound of the opened door echoed off the wall. A man entered. He’s tall with fox-like eyes. Among the five men, he is the only nameless guy. But if I will give him a nickname, then I will call him: ‘Mr. Negative.’

Mr. Negative looked at us and snubbed us before he hopped up on the stairway.

‘People said that you will find your destiny in the most unexpected way. During this moment, it never came into my mind that the man I’d been waiting for is actually here right in front of me. If only I got to know his name sooner than ever, we shouldn’t have a bad start. Right, Terban?’