Four To Two [Elisop]

Chapter 7

The following week, Eli noticed that Aesop didn't come to class for a few days. Sure, they didn't have to come all the time, but the young man had the habit of being there almost every time, so it was quite odd. The blue-eyed boy took out his phone and tapped a few times on the screen of the object. The new circle of friends created a chat group on a network to communicate more easily. He thought for a moment before deciding to write, then when he pressed send, you could see an icon with an owl appear on the screen next to his message.

[ OwlBoy : Aesop ? Why didn't you attend classes ? ]

He didn't wait long before more people started writing in to join the conversation.

[ NortNort : Is everything okay ? ]

[ BlackCoffin : It's nothing. Just a cold. ]

Just a cold ? Eli repeated in his head. It had been a few days since the young man came to class and if it was just a cold like he said, he would be back by now ! It was then that an idea crossed his mind. He could take the opportunity to bring him a few things to recover and maybe at the same time try to get closer to him. It was perhaps wrong to think like that but he was really worried about Aesop too. 

[ OwlBoy : I'll come see you after school if you don't mind. ]

Eli waited a minute or two for a reply from Aesop. Fortunately, Aesop didn't reject him and sent him his address. A smile spread across his face as he sent another message asking him if he needed anything. The rest of the day passed in a flash and Eli was on his way to the patient's house. On his way, he stopped by a convenience store to buy some medicine and what Aesop had asked him for, some lemon candy.

He thought it was funny that he asked him for such a thing, it was cute. Once the shopping was done, he followed the map on his phone to get to Aesop's house. It was about half an hour from the university, not too far but not that close either. He arrived in front of a large building and walked up a few floors before arriving at a door with a sign marked "Aesop Carl."

He was about to press the doorbell but footsteps stopped him. He turned slightly to see a familiar face. Joseph. What was he doing there ? His attention then turned to a bag he was carrying. Eli suddenly felt annoyed. After what he had done, he dared to show up at his door to see how he was doing ? Joseph was probably thinking the same thing because he put on an embarrassed face before handing the bag he was holding to Eli.

"Um... Could you give this to Aesop ?" he said softly.

Eli said nothing and simply took the package from his hands. Just then, the sound of a door opening caught the two men. Aesop stood in the doorway, his clothes a bit disheveled and a mask covering half his face. He frowned when he saw Joseph's face, the latter was clearly not very welcome here. The Frenchman apologized saying that he had just come to see how Aesop was doing and then left with a sorry look on his face.

Aesop watched him leave in silence before inviting Eli to come inside, which he did. He took off his shoes before following the other man inside the place. The interior furniture was quite modern and minimalist, it reflected well the personality of the owner. The two joined the living room where Eli put the two plastic bags on the table which was in front of the sofa. He sat down on the sofa where Aesop was already sitting. The sick man was going through what was in the bags and taking out a bit of everything.

"H-how do you feel ?" asked Eli nervously.

"Not too bad I guess..."

Truthfully, he was lying. Aesop could feel his entire body weighing a considerable amount. He glanced at what his friend had brought him. Some medicine for the fever and his candies. There was also some fruit that Joseph had given him. He thought about the times he had been sick in the past, when Joseph always came to give him fruits. Some things never change. Aesop sighed slightly before resting his head against Eli's shoulder from fatigue...