Help from the OtherSide

34. Between Friends

I hadn't shifted from my position since yesterday night. My side was sore from the still orientation I had stayed in and so I slowly rolled on my back.

There. Much better. 
My eyes felt like they were stuck with glue. I carefully force them to open and blink a couple times to get adjusted to the light in the room. I rubbed my eye to get rid of the dirt accumulated in the corners and sit up on my elbows. 

Unlike the arrangement the night before where they had neatly adjusted themselves on the small couch, Amelia sprawled herself on top of Liam; her feet near his face while his arm securely held around her calf. Amusing thing about the whole situation is that Grant was on the floor mattress hugging his cloak tightly, oblivious to the whole snug environment his partner was sleeping in.

Which made me realize that I had acquired more space on the bed than with which I went to sleep. I looked around to see no sign of Deccan. The fireplace was put out and the windows were opened, letting in warm sunlight. Although our living room door was still closed. Visible dust particles floated around through the rays that entered the room.

Hex had occupied the bedding Dora had slept on, as she was missing too.

"Mmm." 

My head turned at the source of the sound. Liam was holding Amelia's ankles and hugged them close to chest as if it were his source of oxygen. Subconsciously she wiggled her toes and he made the sound again. 

If only I had my phone to record everything.

I quietly made my way to the door,  avoiding the creaky floor boards and pulled the door using  the crack in place of a knob.

The house hadn't changed one bit. It was dingy as ever, with the dusty furniture closely packed. I strolled towards a pot with some liquid. It smelt like regular water and I dipped my last finger in for a patch test. My finger was unharmed and I took it as a sign of safe water. I washed my face with water in the nearby sink and cleaned my face thoroughly.

 Straightening my robes I pushed the main door open. Fresh air gushed in and I closed my eyes, inhaling as much as I can. 

"You're doing it wrong. Keep your knees straight and bend . . . like this . . . " Dora held Deccan knees straight while he attempted what I assumed to be a full split pose. They had their backs facing the house.

"Aah aah aah my legs!" He lowered his head and yelped in pain.

"Looks like we have company." Dora let go of him and turned to me. "You wanna try?"

Deccan immediately closed his legs and stood up, brushing his robes near the buttocks where some grass had clung on.

"No, thank you." I politely decline. 

"Oh Yumiko. . . How long where you standing there?" His face reddened and he blinked quickly.

"Long enough to see the master in action." I smiled slyly and leaned on the door frame, crossing my hands.

"I'm going to call your bluff. Come on here." He laughed and gestured me towards them.

The three of us talked for a while about our dreamless nights and the rest of them still asleep inside. After a while Dora excused herself to check on Hex and went back in.

"How was the sofa? Was it to your liking?" He questioned.

The couch was barely a set up of wood and some hard fillings. But what made my night better was the company.

"It was alright." I shrugged.

He went on to talk about how he got up couple times during the night to check on something. To make sure the fire was still burning and that it wasn't getting suffocating in there. He said something about carbon monoxide poisoning which was a new thing I learnt for the day. Apparently he slept on the ground mattress assigned to me, since the couch was congested. That explained why I had a relatively better sleep.