The After Kingdom: UnOrdinary (Arlo x John)

Chapter 5

Seraphina agreed to meet-up with them at a cafe, and right now, Arlo is trying his best to make John come with him.

Since Arlo was still wounded, he asked John to assist him in making a healing tonic for himself. For some reason, John seemed to know what he was doing, and when he asked about it, he told him that he learned to make one himself because he often gets bruises. Arlo on the otherhand, learned how to make it as a part of their training.

When the tonic was done, he gave some to John, seeing that he still had a lot of bruises that haven't faded completely. John was hesistant, but he drank it in the end, asking Arlo what he wanted in return for feeding him and giving him a healing tonic.

It bothered Arlo that John expected that Arlo did those things in exchange of something, but since it was an opportunity, he asked John to accompany him outside, and after that, he's free to return home.

He lended the dark haired man a shirt and jeans to wear. Other than the jeans being slightly long, it fitted him well. Since it was still two hours early for their meet up time, he decided to have a walk in the park with John.

The whole time, John was silent, but Arlo tried starting a conversation with him.

"So John, do you still work out?" Arlo asked. It was a stupid question, but Arlo didn't know what to say.

John nodded his head, "I have to maintain my body for my job."

They were silent again, and Arlo had to think of a different question that doesn't involve John's job.

"Is there anything you enjoy doing? Like, hobbies for example?"

"Nothing..."

Oh well, this is awkward. Arlo couldn't think of anything else to ask him. Though he was glad that John haven't said something that would caused another fight, it felt weird seeing John look so gloomy.

When he've first encountered John, he was very talkative, and he was always smiling. It annoyed Arlo so much, and he wanted to wipe the smile off his face, but after Arlo ambushed him, his smile disappeared. He became mad and irritable, especially in front of the blond.

As they were walking, he realized that John have stopped.

"Is there something wrong?"

The blond turned to the direction where John was looking, and there, he saw a couple playing with their son.

John watched them with a sad expression on his face, and soon, his fingers were trembling. Arlo grabbed his arm, trying to calm him down.

"John-- let's head down the cafe. My treat."

They went to the cafe thirty minutes earlier than the time that they were supposed to meet up with Seraphina. He told John to order whatever he likes, but he only ordered a boba tea while Arlo ordered himself a frappe.

John drank his boba tea slowly, his eyes fixed on the windows as he drink. While he wasn't looking, Arlo texted Seraphina on his phone.

'We're already here.'

Soon enough, he received a reply from the girl.

'I'm almost there Arlo.'

As the clock ticks by, Arlo became nervous. He stared at John, wondering how he would react if he saw his friend again. Would John be happy? Surprised? Confused... Mad? Before Arlo realized it, Seraphina was already there, searching for them inside.

"John!" Seraphina rushed over them, hugging John on his seat.

She looked like he was about to cry, and she was hugging John so tight afraid that John would leave. Her fingers were stroking John's hair, and John looked guilty, he was hesitant on moving his hands to hug her back.

"Where have you been?! I looked for you! Why did you just leave, John? You said you won't keep secrets anymore... I missed you..."

"I'm sorry Sera... I just couldn't face you." John looked down.

"Why? What's wrong? You could tell me..."

Seraphina sat beside John, holding his hand. John was still looking down, but he looked afraid.

"I don't think I can tell you now Sera... I'll tell you some other day." John faked a smile.

Then, Seraphina noticed Arlo who was staring at them.

"Arlo, thank you for telling me about John. How did you find him? " she smiled at him.

John's attention turned to Arlo, his eyes meeting Arlo's gaze. It was as if he was telling him not to tell her.

Sorry John, but this is for your own good.

"I saw him at the bar." Arlo started, "He works as a stripper there."

Telling it to her was hard.

Seraphina looked shocked, she thought that Arlo was joking but when he saw how hurt John looked, she knew that Arlo was telling the truth.

"John...? Wh-why?"

John felt ashamed of himself. He didn't want Sera to find out... He wished he could tell everything that happened to him, but he didn't want to burden his best friend. He didn't want her to change the way she looked at him...

"I'm sorry Sera... Sorry..." tears were falling into John's eyes, and John immediately wiped them with both of his palms, before Seraphina sees.

But Arlo saw them.

"Sera... Let's go somewhere else. I couldn't discuss it here."

Seraphina was quite well known, and right now, they were whispering about her, wondering who John is. Seraphina didn't seemed to care, but Arlo knew that John didn't want them listening.

"Is it okay to leave Arlo? Can you give us some time?" Seraphina asked him, in which Arlo nodded as a reply.

"I want to spend time with my best friend, and I really missed him." she smiled at John.

They left the cafe, and Arlo went back to the park as Seraphina took John somewhere else, spending time with him. Seraphina told him that she'll just message him once they were done, and as he waits, he focused on his job. Arranging interviews between him and some of the NXGen's employees that haven't been questioned.

After he've scheduled everything, Arlo couldn't help but wonder.

Does John likes Seraphina romantically? They seemed like a couple earlier, and Arlo knew she was the only one precious to him. Back when they were in high school, John gets mad whenever someone lays a finger on her. Have they been in a relationship before? Arlo didn't really know why, but he was uncomfortable with the idea of it.