The young Rord and Asher were sitting in a restaurant. There were empty bowls and alcohol jars placed on the table.
But...
Rord wore an awkward smile, while Asher glared at him.
"Why are you glaring, friend?" Rord asked with a smile.
" I'm wondering the same. Tell me. Why am I glaring?"
" How am I supposed... "
Asher slammed his hand at the table, stood up, reaching for Rord's collar.
Rord leaned backward, causing Asher to hold nothing but air.
The other customers turned at them.
" Kids." Someone murmured and returned to his meal.
Asher slowly sat, his hand clenched and face red from anger and embarrassment.
A waitress walked over to their table.
She glanced between the two people with her hands on her hips.
" Oh, you really are too luck I woke up in a good mood." she faked a smile.
" There are many unwashed dishes in the kitchen. Please... Follow me."
Rord smiled at her before glancing at his friend.
Asher looked away.
" Come on friend. I really thought I had money when I brought you..."
Asher stood up and followed the waitress without letting him finish.
Rord hurried after them.
" Are you still angry?" Rord asked his friend with his usual smile.
Asher ignored him.
" I seriously thought I had money."
" This is the third time you did this!" Asher snapped.
"Don't ever bring me to a restaurant if you have no money. I hate washing dishes."
Asher increased his pace.
Rord awkwardly scratched his hair.
He caught up with him, and put his arm around his friend's shoulders.
" Put your arm off my shoulders."
" Why?"
" You're obviously short. You're hurting my shoulders."
Rord blinked at his friend.
He was tall. It was only that Asher was taller.
" What does my height have to do with your hurting shoulders?"
Asher elbowed him in the rib.
Rord quickly let go of him and held his stomach, unable to hide his pain.
Asher walked faster.
Rord watched his friend's back as he walked away.
He knew his friend wasn't feeling well.
He had taken him to the restaurant intending to cheer him up, but only made things worse.
" Why didn't God give me a talent to cheer people up?"
He caught up with him only after seconds.
" Let me buy you buns."
" No thanks."
" Let me..."
Asher turned and gave him a cold look. Rord just smiled it away, and patted Asher's shoulder.
Asher returned the smile.
Then both smiles froze.
Someone was staring at them. They slowly turned and noticed a lady standing in front of them.
She wore a brilliant smile that could probably cause anyone a nosebleed.
However, Rord and Asher weren't impressed.
The later being disgusted.
" What are you doing here?" Rord asked her.
She smiled, her eyes fixed on Asher.
" Why? Are you not pleased to see me here?"
" Why do you bother asking obvious ? Now go away." Rord politely pushed her aside so they could pass.
The girl held Asher's hand.
Asher frowned.
" Let go." His voice was cold.
The girl only smiled caressing his hand.
" Lys... Let me go." Asher's voice was colder this time.
" Are you deaf?"
" I'm pregnant."
Rord smile slowly disappeared. He glanced at Asher.
Asher's expression was completely blank.
" Lys..." He whispered .
" What did you do?"
Lys titled her head innocently. " I made him drunk."
Asher closed his eyes in frustration.
Lys smiled. " Children are blessing."
Asher gave her a look. He couldn't understand how he had to cross paths with the creature in front of him.
Rord wanted to say something.
Anything.
But no word came to his mind.
He saw his friend burying his head in his hands frustrated, while the lady was strangely pleased with herself.
Without a single word, Asher walked away.
Rord stared at his figure and then at the smiling lady in front of him. He felt disgusted.
He decided to catch up with his friend.
He didn't put his arm around his shoulder. Nor did he try to make jokes.
He simply walked by his side. Silently.
Asher stayed with Rord in an old abandoned house.
Rord had left to find something to eat. There was a painful screeching sound coming from inside.
Rord rushed towards the door.
Asher was sitting down with the ' STUPID RESEARCH ' book.
His finger was bleeding as he wrote in the book.
" What are..."
Rord's eyes fell on a rat writhing in pain. Its eyes veiled with blood and blood gushing out of its mouth. He was startled.
" I gave it the liquid we extracted for the dreamshade." Asher's voice was calm that Rord almost believed there was no dying rat in front of him.
He shut his eyes trying to ignore the sight.
He walked to him, tore a small piece off his clothing, and wrapped it around Asher's finger.
He assumed the rat had bitten him.
He frowned as he saw blood on the page Asher had been writing on.
He then took the book and read the words on the page.
The effect of the Dreamshade liquid.
The method used to extract it.
The change the liquid caused.
" Why... " Asher seemed to read his mind.
" I wanted to know the true effect of the liquid. How should we name it?"
" Asher..."
" Hmm."
" Let's stop this experiment. It's may cause a lot of trouble in the future."
Asher nodded.
He seemed to agree.
But there was something else weighing on him.
" Don't worry about Lys..."
Asher didn't respond.
" I want to go home. " He murmured.
His real home was in Melgold.
Rord didn't say a thing.
Asher buried his head in his hands sighing. He never thought he would meet someone who wanted to destroy his life using love as an excuse.
At that exact moment the door opened. They all turned at the entrance only to see Lys entering with a bright smile.
Rord felt his inner part tearing apart from anger. He wondered how his friend was feeling.
" What are you doing here?" Rord asked.
" To see the father of my child. Is that wrong?"
She then spotted the dead rat.
An ' Oh' excaped her mouth.
She approached and picked it up with an odd happy expression.
Her eyes moved towards the book.
She reached for it, but Rord immediately pulled it.
" Just get out."
Lys smiled looking at Asher.
" Do you want me to get out?"
Asher looked tired.
" That would be for the best."