Title: In the Verge of Darkness

Characters: Alfred, Arthur, Gilbert, Ivan

Rating: T

Summary: Alfred a former Fine Arts student and an out-of-school youth goes to hang out with himself every weekend at the park before going to church. There, he met Arthur, a writer. A guy who seems to know a lot about Alfred (which Alfred doesn't noticed to know in their first meeting)

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My eyes are twitching already, four hours had passed and yet, Arthur is still not sober up. Also, I'm hungry already! I haven't eaten my breakfast yet! I barged into his kitchen, but most of his stocked foods are inedible. There are some dried foods and…what was that? Oh, marmite! It reminds me the time when Gilbert challenged me to empty the bottle of marmite by using it as a spread in my toasted bread, the result was, I lost my ability to smell things and almost lost my taste. And its name sounded like some kind of bomb or a canon or anything that has to do with biological weapons. And there's this thing on his kitchen table that looks like a charcoal but most of it are powdered chalk…and I am sure it was a soup. Before.

Arthur blinked his eyes he looked like he was confused, he groaned as he slowly sat up. I reached to him and massage his head like I what do to my father when he got sober up too and having a hangover. He flinched in my sudden movement and I smiled. I took the coffee that I made and gave it to him. He grimaced at the smell of it.

"Coffee?" he asked. I nodded.

"Tea would be better for me." He said.

"You're out of tea so I bought a coffee. I don't know where to buy your tea, and my budget can't afford that stuff unless it is powdered iced coffee. But I know you won't drink it."

"Never mind, thank you anyway."

I grinned, satisfied.

"I don't usually do this to other people." I said.

"Huh?"

"I don't help people that much, unless if their face shows like their asking for help."

He just stared at me with bored look in his face.

"The last thing I tried to help someone, they got insulted, saying that they don't need my help and that I'll just make things worse for them. So I gave up on them. I know I should not to, I should also know how to approach other people. I have this tendency to act without thinking, doing things that could hurt or insult other people, though I didn't mean to. Maybe if I'm not like this, I don't mind people to be like that, but my actions mirrored my Lord. Because every time I do something, it will reflect to Him. And if I did something disgraceful, I'm sad. And yet, he always forgive." Just like a father to his son, I thought. I looked up to him.

He smiled at me sadly.

"So of all the human beings in earth, why are you helping me? Though, I do not need it." Arthur asked.

"I don't know, something like a connection." I answered. And Arthur reminds me of Gilbert.

"We barely knew each other."

"Maybe, I just missed my life having a brother. So that's why I asked you. And why you? I don't know."

"What happened to your brother, if I may ask?"

I fumbled my cup of creamy-latte coffee and smiled sadly. "Unfortunately, he died when he was a baby. I didn't get a chance to meet him in my whole life."

"Oh, sorry."

"Don't be. At least he's an angel now. I think he's my guardian angel."

Arthur chuckled. "How childish of you."

"Aww, don't be like that. I know you have one too." I beamed at him.

He nodded.

"Feeling better now?" I asked.

"Yes, thank you for your help. I'm sorry you have to see that side of mine." He said. And I could see that he is embarrassed of what happened, well, who won't?

"So, I have to go now."

"Alright. Be safe on your way."

"Also, I typed my number on your cell phone, sorry for doing that, but now we're friends, just text me if you need help."

"Yes, yes, I will."

"Don't do that again."

"Do what?"

"Getting drunk, and then still going to a public place. It's dangerous you know. For both you and other people, you'll freak them out!" I laughed.

"Yes, yes. I will…maybe." He smirked.

"Whatever. See ya next time."

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x

A week had passed. Students are laughing on their way to the schools they are attending, excited for the new school year. Most of them are excited to meet and greet their old and new friends. Oh, how I miss going to school. But nah, college is much more different than elementary and high school. It is the level of learning which makes you ready to fight the not-so-nice world. Adults would say, real world is not the place for playing. For me, it is not playing. Having fun while struggling to get your needs is much more appealing for me. I don't care what kind of job I will get in the future, as long as I enjoy what I'm doing, I don't mind at all. Success in world, I don't need it. I'm content of the things that God gave to me. I don't want to be greedy. I don't want to follow how the world works. This is not my world.

Buzz buzz buzz

You got 1 new message from Ore-Sama

Message :

- What time are we going to meet?

Reply :

- After your last class.

(Sent)

It's been two months since I haven't seen my best friend Gilbert. In those two months, our past kept haunting me. I can't sleep at night.

I also stop reading some stuff that would remind me our past, but it still keeps going on and on. I'm getting tired of it. I think I'm going insane. When I text Gilbert about something, he will reply me If I'm being a suicidal crackpot. And now is not the right time to be like that. I don't want to waste the gift of life that God gave me. He's giving me a future, why should I waste it? Though, I don't know that future, I have to trust Him.

Buzz buzz buzz

You got 1 new message from Artie

Message :

- Let's not meet anymore.

Eh? What was that for? Why so suddenly? I – I No way! I don't want another friendship of mine going to be like this.

Reply :

- Dude! Why so sudden? What have I done?

AR : You have done nothing bad to me. But, I'm afraid I might be the one who will cause something bad to you.

AL : Don't be like that, you won't do anything to me. I trust you. There must be a reason behind this. Why?

AR : Please. For your own good.

AL : No way~!

AR : I'm a SINNER! I'm a bad influence to you.

AL : Dude, we're all sinners.

AR : *sigh* stubborn

AL : Your still my best friend ;D

AR : Whatever.

AL : Love u too~

AR : The heck-! What was that for?

AL : We're best friends, so it is normal to love each other XD

AR : Yes, yes. Whatever you say.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x

That kid, he doesn't know what he's doing. I blushed at the text that Alfred sent me. No one has ever said such words to me. But I'm glad, God gave me a chance to have such a friend like that. But my problem is, he's too open that sometimes, I misunderstand him. I'm afraid, I might love him in an appropriate way. Oh no no no no, no way. I slumped myself on the bed, slowly, my conscious drifting away from reality. Too bad, I fall in love to a Christian. I have no chance for that. But Alfred is not a stranger to me. He doesn't know it, but I managed to remember him. He's the kid of that bastard man.

That bastard…my father. My biological father.