Being Next to You

Chapter 41: Little boys climbing the ladder called "Growing-Up."

"We're done finally."

I puffed myself in— after the cleaning. Resting on the floor with pillows and futons underneath our backs. There is one bed and we needed to play rock-paper-scissors just for it. But I don't want to play, I'm okay with the floor, the heater reaches my feet if I'm here.

"So warm and cozy," I exclaimed, smiling to this snuggling feeling.

"You'll be a cow if you keep lying down like that, signor," I was caught by Antonio.

"Sorry," I apologized, smiling.

The others were busy.

"Julian, did you already brush your teeth?" Jude asked, snooping inside their bags.

"Mmm..."

Julian was in a daze.

"Julian?"

"Hmm? Yeah," he was occupied. Busy watching Charlie placing the next movie— it hasn't started yet.

"Romance?" He reacted, checking the cover.

"Something wrong with it?" Frenchie countered.

Julian looks at the cover again, staring at it for quite a while.

"Nothing...," he answered.

He really took my attention today. Julian's weird silence can't make you helped, but to be concerned about him. He is a young boy after all.

"What a troublesome little boy you are," I sighed to myself — sharp eyes pointing to poor Julian, and he apologized as he heard. Funny right?

"Is something bothering you? Because it looks like it, Julian," I finally asked.

"Nothing really. My cheek is just aching, but I'm fine," he pointed his punched patch.

"Thank goodness, but tell me if there is something in mind. It'll be my pleasure if I could be of some help, I'm a friend after all."

"Even though you're a witch?" He mused a smile.

"I'm a good witch, Julian. But I had to admit, I'm a bit nosy in someone's love life and stuff..."

"...You don't mean me and Rina, do you?"

I whistled, "That's faster than I expected. It's right on the bag, sweetheart."

And he became quiet 'again.'

Footsteps entering, with a cheery Italian song coming in.

"What a wonderful bath!" Romeo exclaimed. Refreshed and satisfied as he sat next to Julian.

"What is it, Albert?" He smiled at him. Julian shook his head, and said, "nothing" that made Romeo laughed.

"Don't take things so seriously," Rome dumps his towel on Julian's head, and rubbing it like it's wet.

"Keep your germs off me," Julian shoved him away in his deadpan tone.

The movie started, we quiet down as the opening caught these boys' attention. Silence with shining eyes, concentrating to the scenes of the film. You can hear soft comments from one of us because of the corny lines of the actors. But because of that, the little boys I once knew were discovering new things that only show in romantic films.

Don't be fooled if they are commenting 'disgusting' or 'gross' because it's just playing pretend.

Eyes are considered to be the evident evidence of all.