Chapter 6

Maze's

I don't understand the look on their faces especially Gab's when we finally settled down on our table. Their faces is unusually sour as if they had lost their appetite the moment they saw the person that I came along with. I was talking to one of my subordinates over the phone when the guy suddenly approached me and introduced himself as the same guy who bought some drinks for me last night, which I obviously ignored. I tried to get away from him by blabbering some excuses using my band mates. But it turns out that he's their junior and he said he wants to bond with us today.

And of course, I'm not dense. I know his agenda and it's kind of irritating me but I don't have a choice. As much as I want to get rid of him, I can't risk my band mates' relationship with him. There's a possibility that he'll vent it out to them if ever I made a wrong move.

Such a great way to start welcome me in my first day here, right? Tsk.

Even Mark seems uneasy when he saw me walking towards him with this guy and now that we're seated in the table, telling our orders to the waiter, I can feel my head throb as he keeps on talking to me. I'm slowly losing my patience and I'm afraid that I might snap at him in any minute. But I managed to maintain my straight and uninterested face as he blabber things that I don't even understand.

"What's your order, Maze? My treat." He suddenly asked so I looked at him.

"No need." We all looked at Gab when he's the one who answered Adan and not me. "A-ah, w-well, Top already ordered something for him. Right, Top?" Top's eye widened because of what he said and I can't help but frown when I saw Gab poking his side under the table.

'What the hell is wrong with these people?'

"Then, I'll just pay for the whole meal--"

"No need." Gab was the one who interrupted him again. Adan looked at him with furrowed brow.

"Don't tell me it's also Top's treat?" Adan raised the side of his lips as if he's mocking Gab. 

"I-it's actually Mike's treat. Right, Pal?" He then looked at Mike with unusual wide eyes and ridiculous smile as if telling Mike to just agree with him. And I can't help but to smirk when Mike reacted.

"Aow? Me?! I only came here because Kevin told me that it's free and he'll treat me but now I am the one to treat all of you?!" Mike exclaimed before standing up. "This is not cool, Gabriel. You know that I'm broke right now--"

"Gabriel is just kidding, Adan." We all looked at Mark when he interrupted Mike's whine. And he smiled before looking at all of us. Particularly Gab and he's showing him his smug look. Then Mark looked back at Adan. "It's actually my treat to welcome Maze on his first day." Gab and Mike sighed in relief while the other three is looking at Gab quizzically, probably wondering what's going on with him. While Troy and Cole looked at Mark knowingly. Probably shocked because of what he said. But Top couldn't be more thankful to Mark as he was able to eat free lunch for today. All thanks to Gab who's acting quite weird for 10 minutes straight already ever since we arrived here.

Adan had no choice but to nod nonchalantly as he flashed his smile towards me. Come to think of it, this guy is actually good looking same as Gab and Top. He has this rock star aura that a lot of girls would swoon over. But it's also obvious that he swing both ways and is now targeting me but that obviously won't happen. 

"I heard that you're the one who named your band?" Adan opened another topic, looking straight at me so I had to look on the seasoning containers as I find his stares downright flirtatious. 

"Yeah. A very nice name, isn't it?" And just like Gab, Mike was the one to answer Adan before I could even nod. I looked at him and he smiled at me before looking at Adan. It was then I looked at Gab and saw that he's smirking mischievously but immediately switch his expression to being clueless when he saw me looking at him.

"Then, may I know what's the reason behind the name Thoughts at Midnight?" Adan asked again and I paused to think of the shortest way to answer. But then, I failed as it was really quite long for me to talk about so I just shrugged.

"It's actually a long story. I'm afraid, we don't have enough time to talk about that here." I said and I can hear Gab scoffed. We all looked at him but he quickly looked at Mike and smiled at the latter. And of course, being a crack head same as his best friend, Mike quickly got Gab's message and they both laughed and even gave each other a high five. 

"What's with the two of you?" Barry asked them but they just grinned before shrugging. 

"You're both creeping me out." Said Marvin and they just laughed before looking at Adan. Kevin is minding his own business same with Top who's currently busy with his phone. Troy and Cole are also talking to each other, not minding their surrounding while Mark closely observe the two.

It was then Mark looked at me knowingly and he smile before he shook his head. It's as if he's telling me that he can't do anything about it and he's actually enjoying it. 

Is he really going to let Gab and Mike pissed the hell out of his senior?

And why the hell are they doing this? 

I looked at Adan and it's obvious that he's also losing his patience same as me. But it's actually good. Seems like I don't have to put much effort in getting rid of this guy. But it seems like they all didn't expect what Adan did next.

"What about you, Gab?" He suddenly decided to talk to Gab and he's wearing that wry smile on his face. Gab's face suddenly became serious as he stare back at Adan.

"What about me?" His time suddenly become serious, far from his animated laugh a while ago. 

"Who's your flavor of the week right now?" Adan said mockingly, trying to get even. Gab scoffs at his question and looked at Top who suddenly became interested same with all our friends. 

"Why do you ask?" Gab said and Adan chuckled before shrugging. 

"Well, I haven't heard of you dating someone new after Jen. Which I find kind of odd. What's going on?" Again, Adan mocked Gab and I saw how the latter clenched his fist as he smirked at Adan.

"It's not as if it concerns you, Adan." Gab said. "Unless, you're really waiting for whom I'll be dating for you to date them right after I dumped them?" He added and I can't help but to smirk as I see nothing but a big jerk in front of me. Mark and Top looked at me with their bothered faces as I shook my head because of dismay. 

Adan was caught off guard because of Gab's statement and he wasn't able to utter any rebuttal. My mood suddenly changed and I feel like I'm not in the mood to eat anymore. 

Adan looked at me again and was quite surprised to see me frowning at him. 

"I-is there something wrong, Maze?" He asked, acting all concerned and God knows how much I wanted to spit on his face right there and then but that would be too rude, not to him but for the foods that were being serve right now by the waiters. 

"Aow, where's Maze's food, Gab? You said that Top already ordered for him." Kevin asked and they all looked at Gab. I also looked at him and he avoided my gaze. 

I looked at Top and Mark and they are also looking at me so I smiled wryly. They both nodded as they saw how I lost my appetite just by hearing the conversation of these two jerks. The one beside me, and the one in front of me. It's as if my stomach refused to accept any food just by thinking that I'll be eating with two cheaters on the same table. So I stood up and looked at them, trying to flash a smile and stopping myself from beating the hell out of these two at the same time. 

"I'm sorry. I just remembered that I have another important thing to deal with." I winced as I hear how insincere my voice is. Seems like it came from my nose and not from my mouth cause I wasn't really sorry. 

I am actually thankful that I don't get to eat with such jerks. I glared at Gab and he seemed surprised upon seeing how I looked at him. Same with Adan. Tsk. If looks could kill, they're probably dead by now.

'Oh, how I wish.'

Gab's words are stuck in my head as I walked away from them. I can't help but to clenched my fist just by remembering how jerk of a person he is.

And why am I even disappointed? 

I should've been expecting such trashy words from a cheater. They are all just the same. Just like the person that my Mom thought would be faithful to her. But of course, it turns out that she had married a polygamous monster.

What a shame. 

Gabriel's

"What's wrong with Maze?" Marvin, being the busybody he is, asked. "He looked like he wants to beat the hell out of Adan and Gab." He asked Top curiously and we all looked at the latter. 

Top looks uneasy same with Mark. It's as if they both know something but they don't want to tell it either. It was then Adan stood up while fishing his pocket. He then, put a money beside his bowl and left without saying anything.

And there I thought he wanted to bond with his juniors. Tsk. 

It's actually obvious that the fucker just wants to be close with Maze but the latter remained elusive not just to him but also me. I also wonder why Maze suddenly decided to go and why was he looking at me as if he wants to kill me same with Adan. As much as I can remember, I didn't do anything to piss him off. I'm actually trying to help him!

'And what did you get from trying to be a good samaritan, Gabriel Solzeek? A death glare? Nice.'

I can't help but to sigh as they all started eating. Didn't know that I would lose my appetite even more after Maze had left. 

My eyes widened as I realized what the hell am I thinking. 

Fuck.

It's already the second time of the day that I had thought of something horrible. First, is when I thought of our names suitable to be together. And now, the thought of not being able to eat with Maze seems to be the reason why I totally lost my appetite.

'What the fuck is wrong with me?!'

"Oh, by the way, are you all going to the bar tonight?" Top is back to his usual when he asked that question. Mark, the drummer- good thing I'm finally able to recall his name same with his band mates looked at us s if they are all waiting for our answer. Mike and Barry shrugged they both looked at me so I frowned at them.

"What do you mean?" I aid before mimicking what they just did and they let out a deep sigh.

"It actually depends on you, Gab." Barry answered so I looked at Marvin and Kevin and they both nodded in agreement. 

"Top will probably give us another set of free drinks if you come with us. But if not, then nothing's gonna be free tonight since his favorite guy is not coming and I'm not planning to pay either. I told you, I'm quite broke as of the moment." Mike answered while preparing a spoonful of noodles and putting it inside his mouth and he seemed to regret it because it's actually hot but he had no choice but to cover his mouth and endure the feeling of his taste buds burning and I can't help but laugh as he turned red. It was then I saw a hand giving him a glass of cold water and was quite surprised to see Mark looking at Mike worriedly. Of course, Mike quickly accepted his offer and drink the water straight. 

Barry and Marvin laughed at him while Kevin is smirking as he shook his head at Mike's stupidness. I can also see Troy and Cole trying to hold their laugh as Top patted Mike's back.

"T-thanks." He said and Mark nodded. "U-uh, are you guys going to perform on tonight's gig?" Mike asked. The other three members of Thoughts at Midnight looked at each other before looking at Mikenand they all nodded. 

And what's with this feeling inside me?

Tsk. It's not as if I'm glad to know that they will be performing tonight and that I'll get to hear Maze sing again. 

"The only days that we don't get to play at the bar is during Wednesdays and Thursdays." Troy said and Cole nodded.

"So, Gab," I looked at Kevin when he called me. "Have you finally decided if we'll go tonight?" He asked and I pretended to pause to think for a minute.

Just so I won't be obvious.

"There'll be free drinks as well as hot girls, Gab. Rest assured." Top said and I looked at him while smiling slyly.

"Then we'll go." I answered and the all cheered. Especially Mike since he will get a chance to watch Thoughts at Midnight again. Well actually, Top really didn't have to offer such just to make me come.

I don't know.

The thought of watching Maze perform again for tonight excites me more than the thought of seeing hot girls. And I really don't know why. Maybe, I'm just thrilled.

But thrilled with what?