Chapter 5: Enemy or Friend?    

   

The man sitting gulped as he heard Herald’s voice. He smiled avoiding Herald’s sight. While his right hand scratches his nape, a burst of small laughter can be heard.

   

   

‘That old man always says that my voice is irritating. That my voice alone can boil his blood in anger. Knowing that, I never tried to use my voice in front of the people I respect. This is my way of not making them hate me.  This man in front of me, I don’t like him. His very face is telling me that he is a bad person.’

   

   

Oliver is eating his meal. He can feel gazes from Marco’s table. He takes a glimpse at them and notices that Marco is not the one looking at him. It is a girl sitting beside him. With a big earrings hanging in her small ears, she rolled her eyes even if she didn’t realize that Oliver notice her actions. A small smirk crept on his lips.

   

   

‘Got yah’

   

   

Making a stretch after a long while of sitting, he look in the direction on where Herald had his way a while ago. To his surprise, He saw Herald talking to the man with a blonde hair. His eyes narrowed as tried to recall that familiar face. With that, he stood up and went in their direction.

   

   

“Herald, What is happening here?” Oliver asked. It hasn’t been a day since he got in that body yet he feels comfortable in Oliver’s body.

   

   

“Oh, it really is my lucky day. What’s up Oliver!”

   

   

Herald looks at Oliver with a confused look.

   

   

‘He knows him?’

   

   

“Ian… Ian Win… frey…”

   

   

The blonde man let out a burst of small laughter. “It is a good thing that you still remember my name. After all, it is not manly to forget your best friend’s name.” 

   

   

He stands up and pat Oliver’s back.  “How have you been? The last time we saw each other was at our graduation.”

   

   

“Graduation…”

   

   

‘I can clearly remember the memories of him and the real Oliver. I can’t say if they are really best friends but to be honest, he is not a bad person. He always says that he sticks to me since he wants to talk to someone who is not talkative. He wants to talk and talk for he is a good talker but has never been a good listener. Even so, he thinks of me as his friend. It wouldn’t be bad to treat him as one… right?’

   

   

“Good to see you.”

   

   

“Wooh, is that really you? “

   

   

Oliver regrets his decision. ‘Maybe I should just act the way I treat him before.’

   

   

“By the way, I heard you called him Herald.” Ian looks at Herald and gives his hand.

   

   

“Nice to meet you. Let us be friends?”

   

   

   

    Blankly staring at his hand, Herald frown and looks at Oliver as if he is saying ‘Brother, I hate this guy.’

   

   

With a smile, Oliver slightly chuckled and said. “It looks like he doesn’t like to be your friend.”

   

   

“Eh? How come? Well, whatever. Whether you like it or not, you are now my friend.” He pats Herald’s shoulder which makes him hiss like a mad cat. Ian raised his hand and laugh.

   

   

“By the way, why are you with him? Herald?”

   

   

‘I thought he went in the restroom?’

   

   

“Ah, regarding that matter… I am also confused why this brat suddenly appears and tells in my face ‘Annoying’.”

   

   

Herald didn’t say a word and avoided their gaze. ‘It looks like he misunderstands something.’

   

   

“Sorry about that. If you would excuse us, we still have a meal to finish.”

   

   

“That is nice. Would you mind if I join the both of you?”

   

   

“Yes.”

   

   

Even if Oliver said that he mind having a meal with him,  Ian head in the direction of where Oliver is dining.  Sitting in front of Oliver’s seat, he feel much welcomed even if he is not.

   

   

“Ahh, how nostalgic. We also dine together before.”

   

   

Oliver sigh as he decided to sit back in his chair. Ian raises his hand to call the waiter. After telling his order, he started to talk with Oliver.

   

   

“You remember the first time I saw you? Man, back then you are such a loner. If it wasn’t for me you will be easily bullied by others.”

   

   

“Thank you. I still remember the time when you made enemies with one of the school’s gangs. They rushed to us and you got me involved.”

   

   

Ian smiled as he remember those memories.

   

   

‘Hey, are you Ian Winfrey?’ a big guy with a masculine body is staring down to Ian who is sitting with Oliver. With an annoyed face, Oliver stands up as he finds Ian irritating. Knowing that someone will accompany that talkative fella, he made his way to go back to the dormitory.

   

   

‘Yes? I am Ian. What do you need?’ he asked with a smile on his face.

   

   

Oliver’s direction was blocked by another man who is a head taller than him. ‘What?’ he asked why the man is covering his direction.

   

   

‘Ian… so you are the one who busted my sister.’ The big guy clenched his fist as he raised it to make a good impact on Ian’s face. With no hassle, Ian slightly moves his head. The impact of the man’s fist makes Ian’s hair wave.

   

   

‘Move’ Oliver ordered the man in front of him to give way. He is irritated with Ian following him and treating him as if they are close to each other. With the man blocking him, he can’t help but feel mad.

   

   

The man’s fist was about to hit Oliver but he was surprised when his hand was held by Oliver’s hand. He tried to get it back but the force that is holding his hand is so strong. Before his other hand even have a chance to hit Oliver's head, his arm was twisted to his back making him wince in pain. That didn’t end there for his knee was bent kneel to the rough ground as Oliver’s feet kick his knee from behind.

   

   

‘Ahhh!’ he shouted in pain.

   

    

‘It is you who first attacked us. We are just doing this as self defense…’

   

   

Ian smiled as he kick the man’s stomach using his left foot with his full force. The sound of his feet striking the man's abdomen was heard.

   

   

‘You… little… brat…’

   

   

“So you still remember that. Would you believe if I say that I never thought you can fight?”

   

   

Ian claps his hand with exaggeration. “You are truly incredible during those times.”

   

   

“I am still remarkably incredible even now.”

   

   

Drinking the wine in his glass, Oliver gazes at Herald.

   

   

‘ He continued eating. It looks like he is doing fine. I’ll just leave him be.’

   

   

The food of Ian arrives and he talks and talks like he always does. Oliver remembered some things as they exchange in their conversation. Although it can’t be called a conversation since Ian is solely the one who is talking the whole time. Oliver continued eating his meal and act as if he is listening to what Ian is saying.

   

   

Nodding his head he unconsciously separates the corn in the corner of his plate.

   

   

“So you still hate eating corn. Are you a girl or what? Haha, you are still picky in your food as ever.”

   

   

Oliver didn’t notice that he is separating the corn in his meal.

   

   

“The corn won’t easily dissolve in your body. It is useless in one's body.”

   

   

Shaking his head his gaze falls into the side of Herald. He was answered back with a cold gape.

   

   

“Ah, I heard Lewis is running his own business? And you two are luckily not competitors this time. That is a piece of good news. Back then he constantly tries to surpass you. Do you remember the time when you won in the sports contest he aced for three consecutive years? The moment you enter in that field you snatch his place in one go.”

   

   

Ian was overjoyed thinking back to what happened before. He then looks at Oliver who stops from slicing the last bite of his steak.

   

   

“Lewis…”

   

   

“Yes, Lewis Morgan.”

   

   

“Lewis Morgan…”

   

   

“Why are you acting as if you don’t know him? Man, you hate him from the guts.”

   

   

‘Lewis Morgan. He is someone I find… disturbing. He always treats me as his enemy. I disdain that part of him. If there is one goal I want to achieve, I want to be rich enough to not get hungry. I want to be strong enough to not get beaten by others. Even if they talk bad about me, as if I care. To be honest, I just want to live a happy life with my own but with that man around… it would be impossible.’

   

   

“Did I open an old wound? Sorry about that.”

   

   

Ian said as he took a bite in the fried tempura he requested. “I didn’t saw him ever since.”

   

   

Nodding his head, Oliver didn’t say anything to Ian. To be honest, he is avoiding Lewis that is why they never met. The reason he can only find in his memory is that, ‘Lewis is dangerous.’

   

   

It is not that Oliver is afraid of him or what. Ever since he is a little, fright has never been part of his dictionary. He slept in a dark room alone when he was still a child. If any normal child would experience that, they will surely be terrified.

   

“Ah, this one is nice. Hey, Herald try this too!” putting some teriyaki on Herald’s plate, Oliver didn’t bother.

   

‘That is good Herald. Distract him from talking to me.”

   

Herald looks at Oliver as if he is asking for help but his boss didn’t give his gaze to him.

   

   

  “You can do that Herald and please…” looking in the other direction, Oliver drink his wine and enjoyed the view from the outside. “Don’t look at me that way.”

   

   

They finish their meal but Ian is not yet done. “Alright, we have to go.”

   

   

Oliver notices that the people at his step brother’s table stand up. It looks like they too are finished with their meal. He sigh.

   

   

“What? Wait for me, I’m not yet done.”

   

   

“Then hurry up and finish your food”

   

Ian smiled and look at Oliver. “You know what? I think you’ve changed. Still, that changes suits you more.”

   

Raising his eyebrow, his friend continued to eat his food. With that, his stare landed in Marco’s direction. About to go down to the first floor of the restaurant, Marco took a peek at his older brother.  He didn’t smile, he didn’t wave his hands, he didn’t even nod his head to bid farewell to his brother. Oliver didn't find it odd for he does not have hopes that his little brother will say goodbye to him.

   

   

   

   

    The girl that is sitting beside Marco a while ago give Oliver a disgusted look. Her long white hair is as straight as the pasta used in making carbonara.

   

   

   

    'Ah, why does she looks like a real-life carbonara. she even matches her hair with a green bag.'