Metanoia.「skephalo」

21 | Feelings.

It was late in the morning, the sunrises filtered out of the small windows located on top of the gray walls of the basement, lighting up the big cold local.
A queue of ten washing machine were aligned one beside the other, and Zak was sitting his on the top of the one next to Darryl, who was crouched down and pressing buttons on the display of the machine while explaining their functions.

"And here you go, that's how it works, nothing too complicated."

"Speak for yourself, smart-ass." the short boy replied, grinning playfully.

"Language, you muffin." he talked back accompanied by a soft chuckle, crossing his arms. "If you want I can do your laundry too, after all you have only a few clothes."

"Yes please, I'd appreciate that." He murmured, scratching the back of his neck with embarrassment. "Darryl?" he asked shortly after, looking down at him.

"Mh?" he hummed in reply, standing up and turning his attention on the short boy.

Zak hesitantly opened his arms towards Darryl, looking down with even more embarrassment, anxiously swinging his legs.

"Aw, what's up, little muffin?" the senior approached him and wrapped his arms around him, getting immediately hugged back.

"I'm... worried about tonight..." murmured, leaning the side of his face on Darryl's chest. "There's the trial, and then the game, and... I don't know if I'll be able to play properly since I'll get to know if he will be pleaded guilty or not in the middle of it... It's strange, I didn't even know a trial could have place in the middle of the evening..."

"Hey, everything is going to be fine, okay?" he placed a small kiss on the top of his head, caressing his back with both hands. "You'll be awesome tonight, and I'll come to cheer for you!" exclaimed, breaking the hug and smiling warmly at Zak.

Darryl didn't forget about what the short boy said the day before, but he preferred to ignore it rather to face it. He knew that was going to hurt him more and more overtime, but he loved Zak. Too much. Way, too much.

"Uh? Really?!" he asked widening his eyes which shined with an unusual sparkling.

"Sure! I might look like someone who isn't interested in sports and such, but I love baseball!" Darryl explained, tilting his head to his left. "Even more if it's you playing." added slightly flustered, chuckling lightly.

"Really?!" Zak repeated, this time with an absurd voice crack that made him bring his hand, hidden into the Senior's sweater sleeve, in front of his mouth with a abrupt gesture.

"Of curse, you muffin!" he replied, laughing softly at him.

"What the heck, I said clearly not to laugh at my voice cracks!" the short boy protested, pouting and crossings his arm, getting then carried away by Darryl's cute laugh.

'Jesus Christ, I'm tired of not being able to understand what I'm feeling...'

"C'mon, little muffin, let's help my, now ex, roommate to pack up his stuff, so you can officially move in." the Senior proposed excitedly. "And after we can go on the rooftop, what do you think about it?"

"Sound sick!" Zak hopped off the washing machine, grabbing Darryl's hand dragging him. "Let's go or I'm gonna steal your other hoodies too!" he threatened, looking back at him with a playful grin printed on his lips.

'Especially this feeling...'

In the late afternoon, the three boys finally finished packing up both Zak's and the other Senior stuff, who was about to leave.