My One and Only (Yaoi)

Chapter 8: First Requirement

Knock. Knock.

The sound stirred Emil out of his dream. His sluggish eyes began to come around slowly, leaning against the headboard. He noticed a familiar husk of orange, mirrored on the bed, as he rubbed his eyes.

'It's evening already...?'

As he spread his little arms, the black-haired youth yawned, loosening some tight muscles. He was snapped out of his slightly dazed state by a knocking noise.

"Coming!"

Emil hurriedly went to the door, pausing to adjust some of his unkempt hair and clothes in the middle. Satisfied, he opened the door, and again, as earlier in the morning, he was greeted by Antonio's wide grin.

"Have a nice nap, Emil?" Antonio snickered in which the other nodded with embarrassment.

Realizing that it was Antonio standing there, Emil asked. "You know where I moved? I'm sure I haven't told you that."

"I went to your room before and found that you were not there. Worried, I asked Miss Ilya and she told me you were here. Decided to work here, Emil?"

Emil nodded.

Antonio grinned. "That's good. Here is a nice place to get a job. A comfortable environment plus a nice employer and staff to work with. Ah... If not for my ancestors, I had long applied for one. And well..." He had a nervous smile. "How about we have dinner together tonight? This time, it's my treat," Antonio chuckled after seeing the changing look on Emil's face. "Of course, you can pay me later."

"Mn. It'll be my treat later." Emil said gratefully.

Confused as to why Antonio stood there and threw him a nervous glance, Emil's mind jumbled a bit and soon found out. A smile plastered on his face. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about our secret meeting tonight."

Antonio lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank the goddess. I thought you had. Well then, see you downstairs Emil!" And just like that, the emerald-haired man had gone away, leaving Emil alone to prepare himself.

In the Heartfelt Inn, every floor had a washroom installed. There is still some time left before the sun husk can no longer be seen. And so, Emil took the time, not grabbing a bag which typically holds clothes since only Ilya and he was here, to get ready. The washroom was conveniently constructed in the midway point, and when Emil arrived, many kinds of sanitary products were placed, and newly too. As he expected, there were no such things as a 'pump' kind of container, instead of in the form of manually pouring out the liquid. Emil took a quick sniff.

'Haa... It smells like sunshine.'

After a few good minutes, he was done, wearing the other same type of clothing. The used one had been put nicely into the storage ring and he decided to wash it tomorrow after his work had finished. Although a cleansing spell is quick and easy, it still cannot beat a freshly, rewarding warm bath.

'Now I am hungry.'

With that thought in mind, Emil quickened his steps downstairs. As per usual, the atmosphere was lively, the space filled with an admixture of loud and soft voices, clanking of cups between the energetic guys, and the occasional sounds of bells. It was way rowdy than the morning. The black-haired youth looked around and he could see Antonio sitting in their previous location. As Emil drew closer, away from the mops of the head, he noticed that there were already foods displayed on the flat wooden surface.