The night's silence and on its deep darkness. The streets are empty and the houses are dim. You can hear the blazing cold wind outside, the sound of insects, the night frogs and the dogs howling from afar.
Everyone are on their bedrooms, sleeping—most of them.
Some are still awake. Enjoying the night until sun shows up. It's intentional. Part of the teenage life as what they said.
Some are working overtime for school. Some are having their late snacks and some are watching their favorite show, completely ignoring the need to sleep.
Well, apparently, their are those who are unfortunate to put themselves to sleep.
His name's West. West Grunge.
West's staring blankly at the blue ceiling of his bedroom, frustrated and helpless. The dark bags under his eyes are visible. His pale skin that doesn't really appear unhealthy if you won't look thoroughly. His wavy brown hair that's covering his deep blue eyes—he's no doubt a foreigner. Those are the features of someone who have troubles sleeping.
Groaning, West got up from his bed and irritatingly tousled his hair. He walked towards his mini refrigerator to grab a box of milk drink. Putting a straw in it, West sat on the thin wall of his small apartment, enjoying the taste of his favorite milk drink.
There are boxes of milk drink on his trashbin, waiting for him to be thrown outside as it was already full that some are already on the floor, looking dirty. Let's face the truth, West belongs to those men who are careless about the tidiness of their rooms.
Despite living alone, West doesn't really have time cleaning his small apartment. He's too tired to do that kind of thing or more likely it is not his kind of thing. He'd rather get to the point of feeling unpleasant to his own room before cleaning it than cleaning it everyday. It's organized chaos as how he put it.
"Fuck," West whispered. The box of milk drink's squeezed to its emptiness before he tossed it on the trashbin, unfortunately landing on the floor rather inside the bin. He frustratingly rub his palms on his face up to his hair. West leaned the back of his head on the wall slightly looking up. His Adam's apple are showing up, his chiselled like jaw are looking attractive and his proud nose that's one of his assets added to the gorgeousness of his being. All of it are useless to the dilemma that he's facing every night.
I just want some beauty rest...
He remained on his position. He's feeling tired but he can't make himself sleep. He'll just end up flinching and waking up every now and then when he's already near on actually resting. And it's more tiresome for him.
West let out a deep sigh and swallowed a hard lump on his throat. He's relaxing himself while listening to his environment.
It wasn't long enough when he heard footsteps behind the wall,followed by a screeching sound then a thud just behind him. West's eyebrows knitted but refused to open his eyes. His ears are alert to hear the other side.
The wall of his apartment is really thin that you can hear the unnecessary, irritatingly and unearthly sounds his neighbours made. He got used to it but this is the first time to hear this kind of sound from the room beside him. The old tenant's pretty quiet and gentle so probably he thought that it's from the new tenant.
What's he doing? West thought.
He was surprised when he heard a strumming sound. It was near and clear that means that whoever did that sound was just behind him, leaning on the wall just like what he's doing, oblivious that someone's on the other side.
Later on, West's eyes opened when he heard a cold yet soft and soothing singing voice of a man.
He was flustered of how good in singing the person was. He stayed silent and listened to the song. Every words, the sound, the melody, West finds it pleasant and...relaxing.
Is it even possible? How can this make his heart fluttered?
The song continued and West found himself calming and more relaxed despite of the position he's currently into. It wasn't long when his eyes shut close, he felt like he's being rocked and swayed to sleep.
Something on that song, something on that voice made him fall asleep during nighttime.
And he'll do anything to experience it once again. Or more.
01 Peter's walking his way towards the music room of his school. Steps are heavy, hair's messy, eyebrows are knitted and cheeks are puffed. Whoever took a glance at him will say that he's not in the mood. Who would be happy waking up realizing that you slept while leaning on the wall of your apartment? His neck and back's sore because of the position he took while sleeping. It was unintentional, okay? He wasn't really planning on sleeping like that. He wasn't even planning on sleeping at all. Peter let out a deep sigh before he pushed the door open and walked inside. His co-members who are already there, actually waiting for him greeted him. "Peter! Wow, you look awful..." the girl who comes by the name Pepper said. She's holding a paper and a pen, probably making her assignment for her next class just like what she always do. She's the secretary too. "Dude you okay?" Dave commented that gained a chuckle from the other members
02Peter's currently sitting on his bed while reading a book. He's entertaining himself at the same time thinking if he should follow Rave's opinion."Go try befriending him. He looks like a good guy."Peter sighed at that.He really do but good guys scares me, Peter thought. He's not really into befriending with good guys since he knew that he can't return the treatment. He's not rude and he's not good—he's in the middle, as what he presumed. He's not interested with the rude ones either, in short, he's not befriending with anyone just for the sake of bond or entertainment.Rave's enough for him to count as a friend which he really can trust, who knows him well and who he knows well too. The others are counted as acquaintances, colleagues or something that's not close to being a friend.Peter was disrupted by his analytical thinking when he heard footsteps from the other side of the wall. His ears twitched, alarmed at
03"T-Thank you," said Peter."Are you sure you're alright? You look pale," West asked worrying about the boy's well-being.He must be shock."Yeah," Peter whispered."Are you going home?"Peter nodded."Nice! Let's walk home together! I’m also on my way home," West suggested with the wide smile on his face. Peter was caught by his smile and it was so warm and light that he couldn't say no that might wash the smile of West's lips away.In the end, Peter nodded.Both of them walked side by side on their way home. At the middle of walking, West pulled Peter on the other side as they exchange places. He put the smaller boy on the safe side so that what happened a while ago won't happen again.That realization, that small gesture of West made Peter blush. It was his first time that someone did that to him."I went to the music club a while ago. I was hoping to see you there," West started a conversat
04The scene's familiar. A night with deafening silence, cold room and dogs howling from a distance—nothing, different. That includes West, laying on his bed. Tired. Exhausted. Drained.He flinched that cause him to open his eyes when he was about to fell on his deep slumber. He's too tired, it is seen on his face. Pale skin, dark bags under his eyes and his slow movements.West heaved a deep sigh before he sat on his bed, leaning on the headboard. He reached for his phone at the side. His eyes squinted because of the light but then immediately adjusted. He scanned through his contacts and stopped at the specific name.Peter.He got Peter's number few days ago while they're walking their way home. He gathered all his courage to ask for it with the thought that Peter might not give it. But in the end he gave his number without asking as to why.Without much thought, he composed a message. It's past 12 midnight, even if he thought
05Peter didn't think twice and just agreed. They continued walking until they halted on a small diner beside the road. They went inside and sat on the empty table. The place was not crowded but not near empty either. Just enough to keep the place busy and lively."I like their palabok here," ani West kay Peter. "You should try it too," he added.Peter just got done placing the guitar on his side and his bag. He just nodded at West in agreement.West ordered two serves ofpalabokand a drink for Peter. The service was fast as the food already arrived in front of them, still hot."Eat well," said West as he started eating. He closed his eyes on satisfaction. He then raised his head to see Peter. He watched the smaller boy used the fork to grab a mouthful of food before putting it inside his mouth. Peter halted as the taste burst inside his mouth. West swear that he could see Peter's eyes sparking animatedly. That made him s
06Saturday came and just like planned, Peter went to West's room. He wore his usual attire— a sweater paired with his jeans. Even when West's room is literally next door, he still wanted to dress properly. While changing a while ago, all he could think was his appearance.Am I overdress?How do I look like?Why am I being conscious?In the end he chose to wear what he usually wear. It's comfortable and kind of suit him.Back to present, Peter's currently sitting on the floor at the end of the bed waiting for West to return. The latter excused himself a while ago to buy a drink. A milk drink in particular dahil naubusan daw ito.Peter scanned his eyes on the room. The place is neatly organized. You can't see any thing that seems odd or doesn't belong to the place. Everything coordinates to each other which put Peter into thinking.The first time he took a peek on West's room was when he shared his
07Tomorrow after that day, Peter went back to West's room. He's standing in front of the door, waiting for West to open it. His guitar's on his back as he's patiently waiting for the man. Few seconds after, the door opened, revealing West who's neatly prepared.West's wearing a black pair of jeans and a blue hoodie jacket. He has a black backpack resting on his right shoulder."Let's go?" West called Peter. Petter nodded at him then stepped back to give West the time to lock his room.They're planning to practice not inside the apartment but on somewhere else. It's actually seven in the evening— the time West preferred. Peter didn’t disagree because he doesn’t have early class tomorrow. He also believes that they won’t stay late to wherever West is taking him."Where are we actually heading?" Peter had the courage to ask when they're already inside a taxi."To a nice place. It's a surprise," West answered cheekily.
08After practicing for one week with West, Peter decided to talk to Pepper to inform her his decision. They’re inside the music room preparing for the practice later."Pepper," Peter called the girl. Pepper turns to him and walks toward him."Ano 'yon Pete?" Pepper asked."About the p-performance. I’ll...do the solo." Pepper gasped at Peter's words."Really?! I saved a spot for you, you know! Good thing that you changed your mind!” she exclaimed. “Just practice hard Pete. I can't wait to see you perform!"Peter answered with a nod before he returned to his place where he's preparing his guitar. He’s at the middle of what’s he doing when his friend—Rave went towards him."You're doing it?" asked Rave, talking about the performance.Peter turned to him and nodded. "I guess I can do it," he said in monotone.Rave's aware of Peter's fright. He's not pushing his friend to do it becau