Labyrinth | ✓

t w e n t y - e i g h t h ♂

Refresh.

The cold shower lasted almost half an hour, but I felt completely refreshed and ready to start out the day. The awful odor that my hair gave out gradually disappeared, and the muggy sweat that drenched my skin had been washed away. Besides that, the shower also refreshed my brain from thinking too much, especially about some useless shit that should have been forgotten for long.

After drying myself and brushing my teeth,   I randomly took my boxers from the drawer, and put them on rather quickly. Next, I decided to wear a tanktop and shorts, all were black in color. I didn't give much thought about whether they were of matching style or not; at least they looked fine on me and that was it. Seb's not here to judge me, anyway.

Plugging my hairdryer onto the socket, I let the warm, agile wind coming from the machine to blow against my soaked hair.

Yet another day... being at home. I thought, brushing my hair further with my hand as it was being dried. Not that I want to go out, either...

Even when I felt much better to hang out, I could still notice some pale complexions on my face as I looked at the mirror. This included the dark, sagging bag just below my eye that Seb had easily pointed it out. If my family or friends, especially Rena, saw me outside in this condition, they would definitely force me to rest at home. I would also be forced visit the doctor, to which I didn't need to.

Maybe I just need another day of rest, and I will recover by tomorrow. From there, I could go with my friends at any time I wanted. With that, I could push all my thoughts about the past to the back of my head. However, if I were to be better by now, I would definitely ask Rena to go to the mountains together, and obviously, it would be the both of us...

I tensed up at the thought, and immediately shook my head. I sighed loudly, before I resumed drying my hair, but a few seconds after, I got distracted by my sudden, buzzing phone on my table, which simultaneously blasted out a ringtone. At the noise, I powered off the hairdryer, placing it away and turning towards it.

Who could that be...?

I wondered, slowly ambling towards the table to take a peek.

Thump. Even if it wasn't that loud, I could still hear the sound of my speeding heart pounding against my ribs. My eye went wide as I repeatedly read the name engraved on the screen. It was as if I didn't want to believe that it was her.

Rena.

She's calling me...

I gulped hard, swallowing my saliva down as I slowly took the vibrating phone. Butterflies started building up inside my guts, with most of their fluttering wings sweeping against the walls of my stomach. A somewhat overwhelming feeling began to take control of my mind, while I punched the answer button and turned on the speaker mode.

"H-hello." I found myself stuttering while greeting her. To make matters worse, I nearly bit my tongue, but thankfully I managed to slip through that, or else I would definitely fuck everything up.

Be a fucking man, Edward.

"Hey Ed..." As anticipated, Rena's magnetizing voice filled the other side of the phone, which always left me wanting for more. Honestly, I could listen to her the whole day continuously, as she was almost everything my mind wanted. "U-um... sorry for calling early in the m-morning... Are you still sleeping t-though...?"

"It's fine, Rena." I answered, not wanting to make her worried. "I woke up an hour ago, and I just showered."

"Y-you know, I thought a-about calling you without even thinking that you might still be asleep and all... It's dumb, but I guess I got the timing right..." Rena explained, adding a nervous laugh in the end. However, I heard her sighing of relief echoed in the background, which simultaneously lightened me down. "So, first of all, how a-are you feeling now, Ed?"