Grouchy from waking up with random loud clanking, Atem swung open his bedroom door and walked to where the sounds were coming from with brisk steps. He found Joey in the kitchen, awake and dressed.
"What in the hell..." he looked at the clock hanging on the wall, "It's not even 9, how did you wake up?"
Throwing the last of his dirty dishes in the sink, Joey sighed. "After five damn loud alarm clocks." He rubbed his temples.
"Why? Weren't you the one who told me waking up before noon made you feel tired all day?
"I need to go and help Mai at her place. We're going to clean out a room. She asked me if I could lift some of the heavy boxes laying around."
Atem rested his shoulder at the doorway. "Oh? Is she having a roommate?"
"Dunno. She said something about a friend coming over though. Might be a guest room." Joey answered and walked past Atem. "I'll be back after 8 or so."
"Give me a call if you guys need any help." Atem called out and a few seconds later, the door to the apartment opened, then closed as Joey left.
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His phone ringed in his pocket and Atem answered call after checking who was calling him.
"Hey. You busy?"
"No. Do you want me to come over?"
"Uh. Yeah. There's this one dresser that needs to be moved from its place. Can you... um... it's urgent though, like you need to fly over here."
"Alright. I'll be there as soon as I can. But, tell me why am I rushing again?"
"Uh... I have my reasons, okay? Just come here." Joey said hurriedly and ended the call.
Various plots in his head, Atem left the apartment, and walked to Mai's. Her house wasn't too far away. He could've taken the bus to save 10 minutes but this was the closest thing to exercise for him. A twenty-minute walk it is.
When he arrived, Joey opened the door, grinning a wide smile. "Hi buddy!"
Atem rose an eyebrow. "Hi..." He walked in and looked around. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah yeah yeah..." the hurried voice of Joey sang and closing the door, he threw an arm around Atem's shoulders. "You're one lucky guy let me tell you that."
"What?" He had came here to carry boxes around and move furniture. Atem couldn't see anything luck involved. "What are you up to?" He gently pushed Joey back.
"Let's just go to the room."
As Joey led Atem through the corridor, to the room at the end, the discussions of two women could be heard. One of them, Atem recognized, was Mai.
"...And the hairdresser is really close by, she can give some shape to this mess on your head."
A light-hearted chuckle. "Thanks, but I like it this way." another voice came. It seemed like Mai was going to get a roommate.
They reached the room with where two young women stood inside. Mai and...
"Atem? What are you doing here?" Mai asked when she noticed the guys standing in the doorway.
Joey's arm snaked around Atem's neck once again.
"I called him over to help us out before we finished everything. I mean jeez, you might as well hadn't come..." he blabbed.
Meanwhile, Atem heard none of it. She was standing there, right in front of him. And he was staring openly.
"Oh, right, we had company." Joey grinned and walked in the room until he was standing between his friend, and the brunette. "Atem, this is Mana. One of Mai's old friends." Then he turned to Mana. "And this Mana, is my good friend Atem. You may shake hands." He stood proudly.
Mana gave him the barest of smiles and reached out a hand. "Nice to meet you." She wasn't exactly meeting his eyes.
"You as well." Atem took it, and shook the softest hand he had ever held.