Rough

8. Demand

Zhao was back to his old schedule, reading the report of Shen Wei from Lin Jing and finding news material, until he wishes to be born as a wall that could hear every conversation that happened in the city. It would be awesome to be able to bring the news like choosing which bread he wants to eat tonight. Yet the reality is rough on him. Like always, he linger on the bar, talking to all his informant hoping to hear something important enough to publicize.

"Old Chu. We've been friends for years. Can't you give me something for tomorrow?" Zhao flirts with him. He knows Lao Chu is one competent cop that tough and discipline, but Zhao could easily grab him in the neck with the secret he brings.

"How's Xiao Guo?" Zhao asks again.

"Oh just get the hell out of me you leech. One day I'll surely die cause of you." Lao Chu drinks from his glass.

It is the worst day of his life, when his secret dating Xiao Guo gets to the Zhao's ears. It's not that Zhao is troublesome, but he could be so whiny for news once in a while. Especially under the tight dateline and more pressure put on him. They have been friends for so long, but Lao Chu couldn't get used to Zhao when he acts like a snake.

"Oy, Get away from me. You're not supposed to needing my care, since this is your thank you for my hard work saving someone." Lao Chu shoving Zhao head to the bar table, grumpy.

"Right, you know, I am meeting him yesterday. He blushes in front of me. I just want to eat him that second." Zhao who's drunk dead just get his energy charge in instant, talking about Shen Wei. "He is so beautifully sad."

"Yeah, sure." Lao Chu snorting. "I hope he asks you out tomorrow, when you're walking on eggshells and drunk as hell."

"Are those supposed to be bad?" Zhao Laughing on alcohol, his eyes lose focus already. "Ah why don't I send him my house address? What'd you say? Would he come?"

"Don't do something you'd regret, you horny brat." Lao Chu has enough and speaks on Zhao ear as he carrying him on his shoulder. "We're going home."

Lao Chu is someone Zhao could depend so much; Zhao only let himself wasted in front of him and maybe some more people. Zhao surely treasure their friendship and try not to get Lao Chu involved on things that not so important. It is, for Zhao, something so out of his hand when he was trying to save Shen Wei. That time, he has no other option than to once again asking his old grumpy friend for help.

Lao Zhu drives his car to Zhao apartment, pulling Zhao body easily, as he is bigger than Zhao. Lao Chu always amazed of how this human lives his life. Try looking at his room, everyone know it resemble a dog lair more. Here is always this dirty, always this messy and almost always, smells bad. Old Chu leaves after throwing Zhao body to the bed. He doesn't care less how Zhao lives until he really dying.

***

The night flashes like a page of book. Zhao wakes up for someone knocking in his door, forcefully asks to be invited in. He stands up, walking sluggishly and scratching his body here and there. He is yawning big, when he open the door, not realizing who's the one waking him up. Shen Wei is there, standing frozen while surprised. Zhao starching his eyes, not believing that the one in front of him Is Shen wei.

"What are you doing here?" Zhao spontaneously asks.

"Didn't you text your address last night to me?" Shen Wei answering with another question. "I simply thought you want that by today. Am I wrong?"

Zhao words disappear. He wasn't sure he really text Shen Wei his address. Moreover he is now suffering with hangover, he couldn't think straight. Zhao head is a mess, but he's letting Shen Wei in anyway. Even at the end of his life, he won't refuse Shen Wei who comes directly to his house.