Their Parallel Universe ✓

Chapter 16

Why did he come here?

He paces back and forth, contemplating what he should do now that he is here. He stops, takes a deep breath, and then looks up at the black wooden door. Hesitantly, he raises a hand, intending to knock, but he finds himself unable to make any further movement. He stays still for a few seconds before he lowers his hand, sighing heavily.

What the hell am I doing? He scratches the back of his head, frustrated by his inability to do a simple task. All he has to do is knock on the door, hand out the bag of items, and immediately leave the place.

This is something that one of his friends should be doing, but those jerks forced it on him, claiming he was partly at fault that this thing happened. The audacity of those good-for-nothing friends to blame him for something that he had no control over.

He is here because he was guilt-tripped, he convinces himself, not because he is worried. Not least because he wants to see the guy and ensure he is okay. This is completely against his will.

Turning away from the door, he begins pacing again. There is nothing to be anxious about in this circumstance but, for some reason, he feels like he has been a bundle of nerves since he arrived here. He estimates he has been here for more or less than ten minutes and all he has done is fidget in front of that guy's house.

"Do you plan to loiter on my porch all day, Apollo?"

Poll jumps in surprise upon hearing the familiar drawl of his real name. In spite of the hoarseness that is shrouding the guy's natural voice, he can't misidentify the speaker. He notes that his voice is more gravelly than yesterday and he wonders if the guy's condition has become worse.

Tentatively, he turns around so he can check out the guy better. The first thing that Poll notices is the casual home wear that he is donning, something that is in sharp contrast with his common outfits at the university.

Eujae always dresses well when he is on campus and some people may mistake him for a show-off because of it. As compared to the bad boy appearance or pop idol look that he would always have on during their earlier days in college, Eujae's fashion has mellowed nowadays. Yet, the change of style never makes him look any less fashionable. If anything, it has just given him a classier vibe.

Today, Poll can't find a trace of that stylishness as he stares at the man's simple outfit. Eujae only has a gray house slipper, gray sweatpants and a white shirt.

But, boy, does he look effortlessly fine with that plain top.

There are people whose physical charms can be highlighted by their good sense of fashion, and there are people who exude sex appeal just by wearing a plain, white t-shirt. It is beyond a shadow of a doubt that Eujae Nigel Castillo falls in both categories. The man is just gorgeous without even trying.

What?

As he catches himself thinking those things, Poll mentally curses. Acknowledging the fact that Eujae is attractive is one thing, but practically calling the guy sexy?

Have you lost your mind, Poll? He silently chides himself and pushes the undesired thoughts to the farthest and darkest corner of his head, wishing for them to go away and never make any appearance in his consciousness again.

To divert his mind, Poll chooses to focus on the man's face. As soon as their gazes meet, Poll stills, finding himself enraptured by another striking discovery. Words fail him while he gets lost in Eujae's eyes. His exposed eyes.

In place of the contact lenses, Eujae is wearing a pair of semi-rimless glasses. With the tinted contacts gone, the natural colors of his eyes are now in full display, and Poll can't help but stare at them in awe.