MATCHING BRACELETS

[GRIFFIN'S POV]

Sunday came.

Another day of resting, just with my books and my pet, dog. I looked at him and he looks at me, "Hey, Dog, missed me?" He barks.

This is one of my favorite day when me and dog are just hanging around without any interference.

Knock! Knock!

Or so I thought.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Dog barks in front of the door and he doesn't usually bark at anyone or anything except when he doesn't like that person or that thing.

"Who do you think it is, Dog?" I asked him and I stood up from the sofa and went to open the door.

Knock! Knock!

"Who is it-" Before I even finish my sentence, he shouts at my name and makes his way inside my apartment.

"GRIFFIN!"

"Y-you're here?" I'm surprised to know that he's even here in front of me after knowing that he is in Japan!

When did he arrive?

"Finally!" He says and throws himself to the sofa, he is wearing a coat, white turtle neck clothing, and pants.

He looks decent at first but knowing him now, he doesn't look like it.

"Oh god, it's so tiring." He groans.

Dog is still barking at him. Dog is a pomeranian and he just barks at someone angrily but he doesn't bite anyone, so it's safe to conclude that he is safe.

"Eryx, what are you doing here? Does Eros even know that you arrived?" I asked him.

"No. So, don't tell him about it."

"He doesn't know? And why, may I ask?"

"Just because... I don't want him to know." He answered and sit up, "I've been avoiding him and the last time that I've talked to him is when he's asking me how the business in Japan was."

I carry Dog in my arms and sits beside Eryx who is groaning in every sentence he says.

"Why are you avoiding him? Is it because of the rejection that you've received from him?"

He sighs, "Can I crash here for a while?"

He ignored what I have said.

"No." I immediately said.

"Why not?"

"Dog doesn't want any visitors."

He looks down at Dog who is sitting comfortably on my lap and says, "Hey Dog, we are friends right? You remember our times together, RIGHT?" He emphasized and Dog barks again.

"See, he likes me!" Eryx smiles.

I sigh, "Why don't you stay at your condominium?"

"I can't. They will know that I am back. No one should know I am back, Griffin, except my secretary which I told him to keep a secret."

"Just because of Eros?"

"Just because of Eros." He repeated.

"So, let me stay here for now."

"No." I stood up and carry Dog to my room and left Eryx outside.

"Oh come on! Griffin!" I heard him called.

•••

"So, how's the beef?" He asked as he's chewing the beef using chopsticks.

I don't know what and how did this happen but I'm already eating with him at my dinner table.

"I told you, you're not going to stay here."

"What? I can't hear you!" He smiles and he's about to get some rice but I move the bowl far away from him.

"Eryx, just stay with your father."

"No! I cannot. I can't stand them at the house. Besides, I'm more okay in here. It's better."

"Or rent a hotel room."

"Oh I thought about that but..." He chews and continues, "But they will found out because I cannot bear to change my name because of just hiding from Eros and they will know for sure that I'm back, so it's better to stay here."

"What if I tell Eros that you're here?"

"You will not tell him."

"How can you know?" I asked and he's reaching for the rice bowl, I give it to him just to silence him.

"Because... you know how I feel right?" He pouts and whenever he does that, I cringed.

"Fine, I won't tell him," I answered and I grab my plate and eat the beef that he ordered from a Chinese restaurant.

If I won't let him stay, he will just annoy me until I give in, so it is better to say it now than to expect the unexpected.

"Let me stay for five days. Just five." He says as he shows me five fingers of him.

"Just don't bring men here."

Eryx chuckles, "You know me well when I'm broken-hearted." I did not respond and instead, I continue to eat.

•••

How to Kick Ass to a Friend.

This is a good story, it isn't literal like in the title but it has something to do with the perspective in life.

"Griffin, I know you don't want me to stay here but seriously? Reading a book to kick me out?" He says as he sees what I'm reading.

"Eryx, it's my day off and I didn't even have a rest for the whole day because of you. You don't mind staying quiet, right?"

He sarcastically smiles and he already changed his clothes. He already changed his clothing by wearing a thin white plain and loose long sleeves and shorts that match a girl's clothing.

I ignored it and I should get used to it because he always wears like that even before, so it's fine. He's already used to wearing see-through clothes wherein his slim body is seen.

Then I smell something rosy. It is like a real smell of a rose near me. I looked at Eryx who is busy putting on some lotion on his legs.

"Eryx, what are you doing?"

"Oh, you mean this? I put some of my favorites. Do you want to try? Your skin might be dry." He answered and he's trying to give me the lotion.

"No. I mean, I'm reading a book, can't you just do it somewhere else?" I asked.

"But I'm going to sleep here on the sofa like you said, where should I go? Should I go to your room?" He smiles and I sigh.

"No. Just stay here." I stood up and brought the book and went to my room. I lay on my bed and continue to read.

"Wait!" He called but I already closed the door.

While I'm reading, I can see someone who is peeking at the door and I thought it was Dog but it is not.

"What do you want?" I asked him.

"I bought you something from Japan."

He went inside of my room and he's carrying a small box and it has printed cherry blossoms on top.

He seated at the end of my bed and hands me the box, "Do you remember when you said you will come back for this?"

I did not expect something like this from him, Eryx is one of my closest friends before aside from Eros.

We may not as close as before because we have been so busy at work, also a lot of things happened when we came back here.

When we see each other, there are times that he was all over Eros or he's at work taking care of his projects.

I opened the small box and it was a cherry blossom bracelet, it's plain but the design was carved. It's so beautiful.

It is what I wanted in Japan when we had our business trip a few years ago, but we are in a hurry at that time, so I did not get a chance to buy it.

"It's your favorite color." Eryx smiles.

"But you don't need to buy me this."

"It's a gift, Griffin, for all my rants and drama that I've put you through before. And... I missed hanging out with you." He softly said.

I sigh, "If you need advice for your feelings about Eros, I cannot help you with that."

"No, no. I mean, like, we are friends and we used to hang out and just drink. I'm a bad drinker but, you can handle it, so... yeah, I just missed all of that."

I looked at the bracelet and it was the most beautiful thing ever.

"Wear it!" He excitingly said and he touches the bracelet and let me wear it.

"See? It's beautiful." He smiles and I looked at the bracelet on my wrist.

"Awww, you are blushing, Griffin."

Am I? Why am I blushing?

"It's because of the bracelet. Also, we have matching bracelets!" Eryx happily said as he shows me his on his wrist.

He chuckles, "Anyway, let's drink tomorrow night, it's my treat, okay?"

"It depends on my mood."

He stood up and ignored me, he walks out of the room and shutting the door.

To be honest, I'm not okay with what I am feeling recently. It is like a deep ocean, it's trying to drown me because of insecurities and frustration.

When I see them together and when he talks about him all the time, my heart suffers a little bit. Is it because I like him a lot?

I did confessed to him but he did not take it seriously, but who wouldn't? I mean, just looking at myself, I am a joke.

I get jealous and overprotective when we don't have a relationship except that we are friends and we are co-workers.

But knowing that they are already living together, makes me suffer a lot than I thought.

I may consider getting a drink tomorrow night.

•••