The air begins to tense the more he inches closer to me. The soft yet pacifying fragrant of him linger through the air, leading in my nostrils. He leans forward with his lids sealed and lips puckered. I am too. We bring ourselves closer and closer to each other; eager to lock lips. It feels as if we’re two lovebirds in a film, acting out a purely passionate or lustful love scene. Except for the fact that it’s the 21st century and life’s romance nowadays is a never-ending spiral of affairs with no happy endings in the cliché. Before it has the chance to happen, I zoom back to reality and realize what I was about to do. I immediately slope my head sideways, and was quick enough to prevent it. It is followed by the feel of his plump lips along the skin of my cheek. ‘I’m sorry’ I mutter internally. The moment was perfect and I wanted the kiss. Yet the man I didn’t want.
            ‘Crap. I didn’t intend to.’ Howard apologizes with unease, resting his hand at the back of his head.
            ‘No, it’s fine’ I say waddling my hands in mid-air, as if telling him there’s no need for apologies. Afterwards, silence overtakes the room. No party budged to respond. We fiddle with our thumbs, clueless as of how to break the inconvenient tension loitering in the air.
            ‘Well look at the time!’ Howard pipes up all of a sudden, startling me to the point that I’d almost punched him in defense. ‘You better get some sleep Astrid! We’re heading home in early morning remember?’
            ‘Geez, soothe your volume. It was like gunfire when you spoke. Also, I can handle myself by the way. You go get some rest if you want’ I insist. He nods and scuttles away providing a huge gap between the both of us. I observe him as he crawls into his side of the bed, drawing the sheets about his torso. I grin delicately to myself; he looks utterly adorable.
            On the other hand, I can feel microbes sizzling up and having a blast in my mouth. This is what comes about when you don’t brush your teeth an entire 24 hours. I step in the bathroom and it’s without doubt, the most sumptuous bathroom I’ve ever set foot on. Even the toilet has a warm air dryer entrenched to it! I quickly stride towards it and sit myself down to quickly fulfill my urge of defecating. It didn’t take long for me to eject a massive bomb of diarrhea down my digestive subway station. You don’t even know how amazing it feels to even sit on this costly item. Hence I decide to try something new. Why not use that warm air dryer from before? Who knows what sort of fascination it possesses?
            Then I tried it, and the unanticipated happened. There are a couple things I must outline from the experience. First of all, it feels awfully uncomfortable. It was as if there were demons trying to wriggle up my secret hole when it really was merely the intense heat. Essentially, the feature is an alternative way to acquire a swamp ass. Secondly, the air dryer was too hyped up when I switched it on, that it prompted the entire room to smell like my diarrhea. In conclusion, the device sucks. I proceed to punch on a random red button to power off the device. Yet apparently, what I’d initially assumed to be the off switch—was not. A strange tune bombards all of a sudden from within the mad toilet.

DON’T SIT ON THE PLEXIGLASS TOILET’
Said the momma to her son
Wipe the butt clean with the paper
Make it nice for everyone. [STYX-Plexiglass Toilet]

            Apparently, this toilet also comes with built-in music system and lights. I had just activated them. Who knew? Believe me, having to listen to an aggravating track whilst enduring chronic constipation is not a decent memory. I quickly hop off that satanic toilet before I can activate more peculiar devices in it. It turns out that not all things of luxury are simple and practical. I exit the bathroom only to find Howard serenely asleep on the bed. His body is coiled up into a ball and he looks outright innocent in that state. I sigh to myself—I can’t believe I’d just said that. I want to stroke his perfectly aligned abs, but quickly repelled against the temptation. I end up napping on the couch because he had seemingly colonized the entire bed. Of course, I had seized a pillow from under his masculine arms to lay my head on before eventually dozing off into a deep slumber.
            I was woken up the next day upon a bolster being chucked onto my head by none other than the demon. It’s still rather early and my eyelids are still intensively glued onto each other. You see, I didn’t really acquire decent sleep the night preceding. Hence, It’s no doubt that I look like the identical twin of Jabba The Hut. ‘Quick, Astrid! We’re going to head off now!’ He says, acting all sunny and awake. I notice that he’s got a shirt on now; which is pretty upsetting frankly.
            ‘Sure’ I say in obedience, jolting up. ‘Where did you get the shirt by the way?’
            ‘Aubrey had lent me this. Though, she had left the house early in the morning because of scheduled tutoring lessons.’ He states, in which I replied by mouthing an O. I’m pretty curious about this Aubrey girl. Certainly, there is no denying how spoilt she is. But I also can’t disregard how helpful the girl is for being considerate enough to grant permission for Howard and me to sleep in, all through last night. We leave in quietude after thanking the nanny who was present in the house; nursing who I assume to be Aubrey’s little brother. The nanny is a very pleasant and youthful lady. I’m guessing she’s probably in her early 20s. She had actually offered us foods for the trip back home but we stupidly declined.
            I order Howard to lead the way back home, knowing that I can barely recognize where I’m at. He scoffs before self-assuredly stepping in front of me. ‘I got this’ He assures and begins to walk in a random direction. I—having yet the slightest clue of where I’m at—opt into practically trailing behind him like an ant. Soon after, we have been walking for upwards of thirty minutes and I’m beginning to feel exhausted. It seems as if we’ve veered off track yet at the same time, Howard counters that with his overly confident expression. He looks like he definitely knows where he’s headed towards, and that is comforting to know. Little did I know—all is not okay.
            He abruptly halts in the middle of the route without an obvious reason and turns to face me with a reluctant and baffled expression. ‘What? Why did you stop? Keep walking please’ I demand like a master.
            He shifts around awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck, ‘I think the lady should lead the way now.’ He insists.
            ‘I don’t even know where we are! What are you talking about!? Where are we!?’
            ‘What, me? Why ask me? How should I know!?’
            ‘You are the dumb idiot who’d led us here!’ By this time, my head is whirling away in confusion and panic is surging through me. Where am I?
            ‘My brain is currently experiencing a momentary retardation. So...’ He says. How can anyone joke around in a situation like this? But most importantly, wow was I even able to rely on him in the first place?!
            I shake my head in dismal; pulling up my middle finger in front of his face. ‘I hate you!’ I begin to pound my miniature fists on his chest as my eyes gradually brim with tears. He realizes how my voice is beginning to crack and how disconsolate I sound that he instantly hauls me into an embrace. My chest begins to pound rapidly.
            The warmth from his soft yet heavy exhales and comfortable chest that’s radiated to my own is very mollifying. He has one arm patting my back and the other, stroking my hair. He tucks a clutter of tousled hair strands behind my ear and whispers ‘Just let it all out.’ Without hesitation, I bury my head in the comfort of his warmth and sob everything out. I wept… and wept… and wept… still within his embrace for long. I hear him sigh as he rests his chin lightly on my head.
            ‘I’m sorry, this is my fault. I’m going to make it right.’ I hear him heave out an apology. After a couple more sobs, my waterworks eventually finishes. I open my eyes to a drenched collar to his shirt. He mutters another apology. All I can do is grin weakly at him. After I’ve composed myself, we resume our journey back home. We had no guaranteed direction, but we did tread by plenty of residents who understand the area, and were keen to help us. The help was what helped lead us home.
            After a long tiresome walk, I can finally ascertain the distinct smell of fresh decay; a subtle indication of home. Howard decides to accompany me back to my place because he felt that it was his responsibility to promise my safety. We walk down and along the avenue that stretches all the way to my house. I can hardly express the relief I feel upon seeing my home again. It’s a refreshing sight from all the madness I’d seen over the past twenty four hours. As we get closer, I begin to distinguish an amassed bundle of people standing right outside my home. What’s the occasion? I walk a bit further, only to be immediately caught by shock upon what I see firsthand.
            Numerous police vehicles are lined up in front of the house. Had I taken it too far? Daddy must be seriously anxious about my whereabouts. I notice dad pacing to and fro on the front porch, conversing to one of the authorities. He looks livid—extremely livid in fact. I immediately dash towards him and lock him in an embrace from behind. ‘I missed you, Daddy!’ I exclaim, jolly to finally be able to see him again. Dad harshly orders me to let go and yanks me off in a tone of voice he’s never used with me before. I wince at the pain, rubbing the areas of skin he’d gripped. It’s not very often that I see dad vexed to this extent.
            Out of the blue, I feel claws piercing into the skin of wrist and my hair being tugged. It is Dee—the parasite—trying to lug my body away with force. ‘Get off of me!’ I stammer. She doesn’t bother to listen and proceeds to tow me into the back of a police car. Before I know it, I feel her slap me across the cheek with her bony palm. Perhaps if she isn’t as skinny, my cheek wouldn’t be blistering red as of right now.
            ‘He could’ve been dead!’ She whines; her hair in scruffy clutters and drenched in tears. What exactly is she complaining about and in what way am I involved?
            ‘Excuse me? Why are you condemning me?’ I ask, sticking a mischievous attitude at her for the first time.
'Jerquis! He could’ve been dead and it’s all because of you!’ Jerquis? What has he got to do with all this? Dee was about to whack me another time across the face yet I seized her arm just in time and twist it punitively; making her yelp in distress. I do acknowledge of how that was a pretty violent move, but it’s a form of my defense mechanism and it’s always been intended that way.
            ‘What the heck!?’ I cuss at her, still wholly perplexed. It’s outright domestic abuse for her to attack me all of a sudden without a rational cause. I angle my head to the right to sight a glimpse of Howard grunting in agony. Dad had surrendered him to the ground and is wrestling him atop the rocks. The poor boy now has apparent minor bruises all over his body. This has been a warm welcome so far.
            ‘Stop!’ I holler bolting towards the row and try to get dad off of poor Howard. I begin to tug on dad’s arm to get him to immediately stop hurting the boy.
            ‘What are you doing here Astrid!?’ Dad resists my wrenching; yanking his arm back. His very abrupt pull was powerful enough to send my tiny fragile frame off, flying.
I rebound because of my bum, and it ached terribly for some time. But as soon as I’m able to get back up on my feet, my intuitive intention is to safeguard Howard from the flaming wrath of dad.
            I lope in front of dad in attempts to block his sight. What exactly did Howard do to deserve all that? Dad is yelling at me to stay away but I flout his order. Neither Howard nor I have any clue as to whatever has taken place. Dad continues the assault, while I continue to shield Howard; tolerating the bruises and kicks for him instead. Does it make me a hero now that I’d done that? Because I deserve the title.
            After what had felt like an hour, daddy finally stops. I collapse onto the ground in pants. My limbs feel sore and my skin is stinging in ridiculous pain, but I ignore them. If I’m enduring this much pain, what about Howard? He must be in the verge of dying! I glance at Howard’s vulnerable body on the ground and he indeed looks like he’s in severe agony. Because of that, we immediately rush him to a nearby hospital while Dee stayed to finish whatever deal we have with the police at home. Dad had completely knocked him out!
            Dad and I are told to wait in the waiting room while the doctors examine Howard to determine the extent of possible damages in his body. ‘What’s with the police? Did you send them out to search for me, Dad?’ I ask, as we long for the medical results to be pronounced. In response, he shakes his head. Dad seems as if he’s in no mood for chattering, even with his dear daughter. Yet I insist for it; I believe I deserve to know. ‘Then, what exactly happened?’ I query. He doesn’t respond for a couple of quiet seconds but eventually tells.
            ‘Two burglars violated the house. They thieved some of our properties yet demolished the majority of them.’ He sighs in devastation.
            ‘What about Jerquis?’ I ask.
            ‘What about him?’
            ‘I don’t know. Judith accused me of a crime I hadn’t done, and his name was tagged on it’ I raise an eyebrow, still utterly perplexed. ‘She said I nearly killed him, and I’ve barely seen him for a week! I think she’s a bit inane.’
            Dad tilts his head towards me, displaying a menacing glare. ‘Judith is not inane. She’s right—you had almost prompted his death’ Dad says. I stare at him; baffled. ‘You see, I had sent him out to look for you. And along the way, he had halted by the house to drop off some boxes. The burglars were already present at that time and when Jerquis entered the house, they threatened and assaulted him. The moment Dee arrived early in the morning today, Jerquis already had severe unattended injuries. We immediately rushed him to a nearby hospital then notified local authorities of the incident.’ He implies, trying to remain composed.
            ‘How is it my fault that two burglars broke in?’ I scoff.
            ‘If you had of repaired your demolished bathroom window, they wouldn’t have the guts to sneak in! And if you hadn’t gone astray, Jerquis would’ve dropped the boxes by another day!’ He slams his fists on the hollow seats beside of him; staggering me.
            My eyes grow wide. My heart yields in guilt. Was that really what happened? ‘Was that why you were furious at Howard?’ I ask almost inaudibly. Dad shakes his head, very peeved that I carry on perturbing him with a series of interrogations at a time like this. ‘Then why did you?’ I ask again, regardless of that.
            ‘Of course that was! If he hadn’t of broke your window, none of this rubbish would’ve ever taken place! Astrid, I trusted you and had expected for you to use your wits. I’m very disappointed in you.’ Dad conveys, letting his frustrations out on me. This is primarily my fault, I admit. I should’ve handled the broken window right as I learned of the damages. I should’ve also understood how the area we live in is in every way, not the most secure. Thieves and bad men block up the alleys and pretty delusive women occupy the wealthy neighborhoods. There are indeed lots of illicit traces and felonies being done around here.
            ‘Sorry.’ I apologize repetitively, feeling remorse penetrate within me.
            An hour goes by and dad had gone outside to purchase some items and possibly grab good food to soothe his violent rage. He’d suggested that I come along but I properly declined and reasoned that I am not very starving at that moment. Frankly, I just want to be reassured upon Howard’s present condition. I know it’s not supposedly my place to be overly concerned of him but after what had happened yesterday, I feel like we have developed a string of attachment with each other.
            Not long after, a man in his youth exits the examination room. He notifies me that I am already permitted to check on Howard and that he is all set to leave. The doctor reassures me that there’s nothing tremendous on Howard, and that there’s just minor wounds that will fade eventually. I enter the room to find Howard sitting on the bed, gazing blankly outside the window towards the beautiful garden of Daffodils outside. He has his back fronting me. I tap on his shoulder lightly and he turns back, startled.
            ‘Hey’ he greets, with a voice deep and husky.
            ‘Feeling any better?’ I ask. He nods. ‘I’m sorry for what had happened earlier.’ I pout.
            ‘Don’t be sorry. It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have destroyed your window, I would be irked too if I were the homeowner.’ He says, his head plunging down.
            ‘Let’s not refer to that anymore.’ I assert. ‘Want to grab a meal instead?’ I ask, offering him a hand.
            ‘Let’s go do that’ He finally grins. I toss him his top from atop the counter and he quickly puts it on. We head out the hospital to a fast food restaurant nearby. I’m unbearably starving and he is too. I didn’t forget to phone my dad to inform him that I’ll be heading back home soon on my own. For this time, it’s guaranteed that I won’t run astray because I’m familiar with the area. Howard and I had taken the cab initially, yet stopped midway to walk barefoot the rest of the trip home. It isn’t as if we’re absolute cheapskates who can’t afford to buy footwear due to extreme stinginess. We just thought that it’d be interesting to walk on piping hot asphalt barefoot and make fools of ourselves. I’m pretty sure we looked like dancing caterpillars. But in case you were wondering—no we didn’t appear stupid. We looked as if we’re having the most fun in the world!
            The moment I set foot back home, the temptation to travel again arise within me. The idiom itchy feet pretty much sums up my current urges to travel again. I acknowledge that that’s entirely impossible though, as I’ve got school and an upcoming physics exam the day that follows. Also, it’s already late and I’m feeling rather drained.
            ‘I guess that’s it for the day’ I sigh as I stand awkwardly in the front porch, fiddling with my thumbs. I’m partly relieved that the whole drama is over yet simultaneously very upset towards the fact that we’re supposed to part ways. Only with him can I let myself go—and I greatly relish in that feeling.
            ‘Well then, bye?’ I mumble, staring at him with a forced grin. He notices the obscured frown of mine and immediately raises his hand to offer me a high-five. I return his five before waving my hands at him as to say goodbye, before proceeding to walk in the house first.
            ‘Astrid, wait’ he stops me suddenly along my tracks. ‘I have to say, I had so much fun with you and I just want to let you know that...’ He pauses.
            ‘That, what? That you like me?’ I chuckle, already anticipating the answer. ‘You watch too much soap operas.’ I roll my eyes lightheartedly at him. They’re usually jam-packed with clichés—not that I’m perturbed, I actually like them.
            He approaches me and laces our hands together. ‘In fact, I do’ he says, staring deeply in my eyes. Just then, I can’t help but feel very dejected that I probably won’t be able to see him as often anymore.
            ‘Me too’ I state, squeezing his hand gently. He then passionately hauls me in a warm embrace. ‘I like how warm you are’ I mumble to myself.
            ‘I’ll see you soon’, he murmurs almost inaudibly. I grin weakly at him. Candidly speaking, despite all the foolish deeds and ill-fated fortune he’s granted me, I think I won’t even mind having him present in another chapter of my life.