Second Chance

Chapter 18.5 - Extra Chapter

unrelated to the main story.

"Extra Chapter"

This morning I woke up finding myself in a huge bed alone. The sun light shines from the glass bedroom windows. It's weird because this is neither my house, Abby's nor Ryan's.

'Where am I?'

My brain is still hazy since I just woke up. I glance around the room while squinting. My body is covered with a blanket and I'm feeling quite comfortable.

My door suddenly opens and a half naked man enters. He's still wiping his hair with his lower half covered in a pair of three-quarters pants.

He lift up his face and he looks familiar. Almost remind me of Ryan but he's not. That's for sure. He smiles at me as he approaches the bed. I look at him blankly.

'Who the fuck is he and why does he act like he knows me?'

He reaches out to touch me and I react without thinking and slap his hand away. I reposition myself and slowly slide away to the corner of the bed away from him.

He looks like he received a huge blow. As if I just stabbed him or something. He gives me an anguished expression. It feels like tears will fall at any time.

"Luke... What's wrong?" He asks in a broken tone. His voice is deep and somehow I feel a sense of familiarity with him but I honestly don't remember him.

I quickly adjust myself. You know as they say; when in Rome, do as Roman does.

"No, it's nothing. I'm just not feeling well,"

He appears to have grown dog-ears and tail. They went all droopy and the look just stabs right at my heart. The guy starts to walk to the door after mumbling a soft 'okay...'

Suddenly, my stomach growls loudly. He turns around and I could feel myself turning red. Oh gawd. This is embarrassing in front of a total stranger.

His doggy ears perk up as he wags his tails. A beaming smile starts to form on his face.

"You're hungry? Let's go to the kitchen. I'll cook you something,"

I awkwardly nod. I move out of the bed and start to follow him. All the way to the kitchen, his tail is wagging. Well, my imagination is running wild for some reason. He's not a dog but a human.

I rub my eyes to see clearly. He keeps looking back with a huge smile.

We finally reach the kitchen. As we were on the way, I manage to note that it's a house and not an apartment. However, the house is not as luxurious as my family home.

So, where the heck am I right now. It doesn't seem like I got kidnapped by him. This place also gives me a sense of comfort and home. Which is really weird.

I move to the island bar and sit on one of the stools. I notice a paper and start examine it. Apparently, it is a paper regarding a company or somewhat investment. I'm not sure but it has Ryan's full name at some of the section.

Does it mean, Ryan lives here as well?

When you don't know, ask.

"Uhm, where's Ryan?"

I ask casually.

The guy had his back to my face as he worked his way around the kitchen. He stops when he heard my question. When he turns around, he has a pouty face.

"Did you forget? He went on a business trip and will only come back tomorrow,"

Then he mumbles, 'why is it always Ryan... Hmph'

I guess Ryan and this guy know each other. He doesn't seem to like Ryan though. Well, at least he's polite since he still answered my question.

I guess Ryan does live here. So what about this guy. He'll probably become sad if I ask straightforwardly.

The guy made me fried rice and it tasted exceptionally good.

After lunch, we head to the living room. I start to survey my surroundings. I notice a picture of a little boy. I went to the picture and start to carefully look at it.

It seems to be a picture of the boy's first day of elementary school. He looks shy and sad. It's like it takes a whole lot of energy to just stand there alone. Next to it is the same picture but with the boy and me.

I feel like I have seen this boy before.

"Isn't that my first day of school?" The guy's voice broke my thoughts.

I turn around to look at him. He seems to be studying the picture as well with his face scrunched up.

"I actually didn't want to go to school because there's no you at school," He mumbles.

I look again at the picture and realise the resemblance is uncanny. He truly is the boy in the picture.

I spent the day walking around the house but what I enjoy most is to walk around the garden we have. It's not a big one but it's still beautiful. There's even a picnic table by the shade.

There's a carving. 'R + L = A' but the 'A' has been crossed out and rewritten.

It's cute. I have a vague idea what it means but at that time, my brain has yet to register it.

The guy hasn't bothered me after lunch. I decided to cook dinner, which apparently something I am quite decent at. I cooked something simple and placed it out.

The guy comes around after smelling the food. His face lights up like a little boy that was given candy. I smile as I feel warm inside. It seems that I know this guy well. He reminds me of someone but I couldn't figure it out until much later.

Much later means, after a good shower to prepare for bed.

I lay in bed. Feeling like I am forgetting something. After a while, my mind slowly flew off to the time a little boy likes to call out my name. Then the memory start crashing and the link starts to form in my brain.

One name keeps popping up and that name is the name of the boy that happens to be the same guy.

Just as realisation hits me, someone opens my bedroom door. For some reason, I close my eyes and pretend that I am sleeping.

"Luke...," He says softly.

I could hear him slowly approaching the bed. My heart starts to beat faster. This atmosphere does not feel quite right.

I could feel him touching my temple and slowly moving to my cheek then stopping at my lips. My heart is panicking by now.

'This isn't right'

I open my eyes and places my hand in between us. He seems to be shocked that I am awake. Luckily, I made it in time before our lips touched.

"Luke..." He whines.

Suddenly, he tries to 'attack' me again and climbs over my body. I react unconsciously in self-defence. I knock him unconscious. He drops on top of me. His weight on me makes it hard to breathe.

I open my eyes again. I'm in my room but this one is familiar to me. It's the room at Ryan's apartment. I look at the small figure laying on top of me. I lightly push Aiden so he'd sleep by my side instead.

Aiden grumbles incoherently. I brushes his hair using my fingers. His face softens up. I give him a light peck on his cheek. Then, I whisper quietly,

"Don't grow up so fast, Aiden,"

(Editor: zephyranthes4)