Why so gloomy? (Fruk)

4

"HEY ARTHUR—WHOA! What happened to you?"

I nearly jumped out of my clothes as I focused on him. He looked like shit.

His eyes had dark circles, his skin dry and cracked. He did not waste time going back to how he usually looks. He looked at me, annoyed, and rolled his eyes. I pulled a seat beside his desk and placed my chin on the palm of my hand as I looked at him. "What is it?" He asked. "What do you mean? You look...well—horrid."

"Again, why do you bother trying to be my "friend" if you are going to insult me all the time?"

"Sorry, sorry! I wasn't expecting this; you looked fine yesterday," I started. Maybe it was the allergic reaction to the garlic? "Was it the garlic? I am so sorry about that! Next time tell me what I should cook!" I spoke. This was all my fault! Maybe he came in like this all the time because he has encounters with garlic! This was all an allergic reaction! "Yes, part of it, I don't do well with garlic," he explained.

"Oh! Well, is there anything else you are allergic to?" I asked. He suspiciously looked at me and placed his pen down. "Why would you want to know? Are you trying to kill me?" He asked. My eyes widened, and I shook my head. "No! God no!"

This guy has some major trust issues.

"I want to be nice," I tried to explain.

It freaked me out a bit when he stared at me like this. His eyes seem so lifeless and dull. He looked like he was dead in a way. "Are you sure you are good?" I asked.

I reached my hand up to his forehead, and his eyes widened. I placed my hand gently on his forehead and immediately took it off. His skin was cold as ice. "Oh my! Your skin is freezing? Are you cold? Do you need a blanket or jacket? Here! Use mine!" I demanded. I began to quickly take off my sweater, and he looked at me with a confused smile. His head was tilted, and he continued to watch me.

"That won't be necessary... I just get cold easily, so do not worry."

"But—"

"No buts!"

I looked at him concerned and sat straight. How was he so cold? Seems like a lot of things bother him, but he just doesn't care enough to address any of the issues.

I looked at him seriously, and he stared back at me. We looked into each other's eyes, but it was not romantic as you might think. We were looking at each other as if trying to study one another. He looks like this all the time, except when he doesn't, and when he doesn't, it is a mystery how.

He was terrifying to look at like this. Yet, I could tell he was going through it. Despite looking like crap, I could still see the traces in the way he looked like yesterday. As if the way he looked now wasn't his authentic look. The look he had yesterday was his true form, and this is something that happens to him. How sad.

"Why do you have long hair?" He asked. Arthur began to touch my hair, and I stopped him. "You are weird and have the audacity to ask that?" I asked. He began to laugh at me, and his smile pulled me in. "Francis, you care too much; your girlfriend must be well taken care of," he laughed.

"Oh, well, I don't have one... no family, just Matthew and Alfred," I spoke seriously. He looked at me with a side-eye. "Is that so?" He asked. I nodded at him, "yes."

"OH, GOD! Are the two of you dating or something?"

I froze in my seat, hearing Alfred. I turned to look at him, and he had his index finger pointing at Arthur and me. Arthur looked at Alfred as if studying him. "Sorry about him; he would not shut up," Matthew laughed. They both sat beside us, and Arthur looked at them, annoyed. "Wait! Why are you two coming here now!?" Arthur asked. He began to move his things as both of them smiled at him.

"Any person that's a friend of Francis is a friend of ours! We will be around a lot now!" Alfred cheered. "What?! Francis and I aren't friends!" Arthur shouted. "We aren't?" I pretended to be sad. Alfred and I gave him puppy eyes as Matthew giggled nervously. Arthur's face had started to turn pink as he looked at us, annoyed. "Well, acquaintances is more accurate," he pouted.

Arthur looked away from us nervously, and I smiled. "That's what I thought!" I laughed. He rolled his eyes and began to fix his paperwork. "What a child," Arthur whispered.

"We should all go drinking tonight!" Alfred suggested.

"Tonight?" Matthew asked.

"Yes! We can meet up at the pub near my place! Around nine?" Alfred suggested. I looked over to Arthur, who shrugged. "Fine, I will go," he spoke quietly. My smile widened but soon vanished as I realized something. "Ah! I might be a little late! I know tonight it is my turn to double-check audits, so that I might be getting out late! I can still meet, just late," I laughed nervously.

Arthur looked at me curiously, and they nodded. "No worries! We will be there pretty late! So take your time! Plus, it will give us a chance to get to know Arthur finally! Instead of you hogging him all to yourself," Alfred teased. I rolled my eyes at him and shrugged. "Fine! Whatever you say! I will be there by ten, I promise," I smiled.

"Don't rush; just take your time; we won't go anywhere," Matthew smiled. I nodded a thank you at him, and the four of us began to talk and exchange numbers. I was glad that Arthur was slowly putting down his walls. Hopefully, we will be great friends. I just know it!