Ex's to Lovers

Chapter 52

In Which Ivan Finally Visits

"Alfred! Your favorite person in the whoooole world has come to visit!"

The one shouting was neither Mathew, nor Arthur, but rather Gilbert, inviting himself in and announcing his own arrival in a very un-humble kind of way. Alfred, who was finally allowed to get out of bed on the condition he not do anything strenuous (like excercise) and only play one hour of video games per day (carefully overseen by Arthur, though Mathew tended to just let Alfred do whatever as long as nothing broke), looked up from his video game that he'd been playing for at least two hours already, taking advantage of Arthur's absence.

Alfred, regretfully, took a second away from his game to acknowledge Gilbert, feeling the tiniest bit guilty for causing his best friend trouble.

"You're not my favorite person."

He meant it in a teasing way as he turned back to his game, but Gilbert's voice dropped to a more serious tone at those words.

"Yeah, Yeah.  Speaking of... Ivan hasn't visited yet?"

Alfred swore suddenly, having been killed in the game, and then regretfully turned to face Gilbert fully. Gilbert, for once wearing the glasses he needed but refused to wear, was looking incredibly serious to the point it gave Alfred chills. Alfred scowled, feeling bitter from his loss in the game and the sudden reminded his rival apparently didn't care enough to even bug Alfred.

"It's not like he needs to visit. It's not like he likes me or anything. That jerk is probably attending school like always."

Gilbert, as Alfred's close friend, was able to read Alfred enough to know Alfred was actually very upset about Ivan. But as a fellow idiot, Gilbert also only half interpretted Alfred's emotions correctly, and waht he chose to hear was "I thought Ivan liked me back, but I guess I was wrong." Gilbert frowned back. He didn't like Ivan, and he liked not liking Ivan. It made for a pleasant hobby, but it was nowhere near whatever kinky shit Alfred had going on with Ivan.

Additionally, because he was wearing his glasses he was able to see the depression on Alfred's face much clearer than usual. Naturally Alfred was depressed because as an extrovert, being told to stay inside and not talk go hang out with friends was a cruel punishment, and he rather did miss harassing Ivan. Gilbert got up and moved to the window, looking like he was thinhging hard about something. Gilbert didn't really like thinking too much though, and finally decided what to o as he usually did- with luck and his instinct. So Gilbert swallowed heavily and spoke quickly.

"You're wrong. He does. I mean he's come to see you everyday since then."

Alfred, who knew for a fact no such thing had happened, gave Gilbert a look that was a mixture of offended and are-you-crazy-Gil? Gilbert took offense to being took offense at.

"It's true!" He gestured to the window. "He's standing there right now and I don't know why he won't come in, but he's always there!

Alfred, who didn't make a habit to look out his window when he could be gaming, flinched.

"Ivan's here?" ​​​​​​

Alfred began to feel an inexplicable feeling overtake him, the tiredness fading and a smile beginning to edge onto his face and he rushed to the window to check. Sure enough, there was Ivan, staring at Alfred's house with a complicated look, which Alfred I terpretted to mean Ivan was considering what things to shift slightly over to harass Alfred back, as a revenge if he hadn't already moved something.

Alfred moved quickly, opening the window.

"Ivan!"

Ivan flinched.