WHEN Astrid entered his apartnt, he was surprised when he saw that his brother was already there. But what's more surprising was that the other was staring blankly at the ceiling and seed to not even notice his arrival.
With Reas' SS Level physique, he should have already known that he was here even before he opened the door. But looking at the other's dazed expression right now, that didn't seem to be the case.
When he walked towards the living room and the other still hadn't turned his head, Astrid decided to prank the other. He carefully stood behind Reas and then pat his shoulders with a bit of force. 𝗇𝑜𝗏𝔢𝓛𝓊𝓈𝑏.𝑐𝐎𝑚
"Boo!"
Reas jumped out in fright, grabbed his arm, and was about to throw him over. He quickly called the other;
"Reas, stop, stop, it's !" Astrid quickly said.
Good thing the other has fast reflexes and imdiately managed to stop.
Reas let go of Astrid's wrist and said with a bit of scolding, "Why did you sneak up on like that? I almost threw you over!"
"Well, isn't the question here why did I manage to sneak up on you?" Astrid asked with a raised brow.
Reas stiffened, knowing what his brother was trying to say. He sat back on the couch. "I'm just preoccupied."
"With thoughts of Lauren?" Astrid said as he crouched down to pick up his AI cat housekeeper.
"W-why ntion him all of a sudden?" Reas almost stamred, sounding all defensive.
Astrid beca curious at his brother's reaction. He sat down beside the other and said, "Ah, because you just had a lunch date with him?"
Reas blinked, then a hint of red appeared on his cheeks. Probably because he was embarrassed by how he overreacted. "It's just a simple lunch. Besides, we're friends. Friends don't go on dates."
The way Reas said that last part made it seem like he just ate sothing bitter. Now Astrid was truly curious about what happened to this 'simple lunch'. But that's his brother's business, and he didn't have the hobby to pry. Especially since it involved his brother's love life.
He put Xiao Lan down and stood up. "I'll make us so snacks," he said, walking to the kitchen.
Reas raised his head once again and looked dazedly at the ceiling.
Although the start of the lunch was awkward, it returned to normal with both their efforts, but things started to get weird again when Lauren ntioned his past 'scandals'. By now, he already understood that the other really didn't have any romantic relationship with those he had a scandal with. Lauren was simply too friendly that the public gave different aning to his actions.
But even if Reas understood that, there's that small part of him that couldn't help but be annoyed. And the most annoying thing of it all was that he didn't know why he was feeling that way in the first place.
It's truly confusing for him. But even though it's annoying, it's not like he disliked it. Which just made it more confusing.
A heavy sigh escaped his mouth. If soone could read his mind right now, they would probably want to punch him because of how redundant all his thoughts were. But he couldn't help it. These thoughts were the only ones that kept circling around his mind since earlier.
No, probably not just earlier. But sothing that would suddenly pop up in his brain from ti to ti.
"Why are you back so early, by the way?" Astrid asked from the kitchen. "I thought you'd be back much later."
His brother's question finally stopped the spinning thoughts inside Reas' brain.
"He still has work," he only said.
As he answered that, he couldn't help but rember what happened before he and Lauren went their separate ways.
=====
After lunch, Lauren said that they should walk in the bay area to help them digest the food they ate. Reas had no reason to refuse, so he agreed.
Feeling the cool ocean breeze on his face, Reas glanced at the person walking beside him. Lauren's long hair was swaying with the wind, the corner of his lips was drawn up in a faint arc, showing his good mood. As if feeling his gaze, Lauren raised his head "I really enjoyed our lunch," the other started. "Since most of my friends are celebrities and a bright smile appeared on his face.
His eyes curved like a crescent moon, revealing the small crinkles around them that showed how genuine the smile was. Reas couldn't help but feel a small flutter in his chest at the sight. Lauren's smile was infectious, and Reas found himself smiling back without even realizing it. For a mont, everything else faded away, and all he could see was Lauren.
That was, until the other opened his mouth and said sothing that quickly ended this 'mont'.
"I really enjoyed our lunch," the other started. "Since most of my friends are celebrities like , it's hard to go out with them without causing any, well, you know, gossip. So, I'm really glad I have a friend like you. We should do this whenever the two of us have a free ti."
Reas steps faltered when he heard that. He didn't know which one made him falter, the fact that Lauren called him a 'friend' or that he's not even considered as soone he could be in a scandal with.
Lauren noticed him stopping and turned around with a questioning look. "What's wrong?"
Reas barely held on to his bubbling temper and said in a calm tone, "Nothing."
But the fact that those thoughts circled around his mind even after they separated ant that it's definitely just nothing.
=====
Reas shook his head after rembering the emotions he felt then. It was a mixed of everything—disappointnt, frustration, confusion, those three were the major ones. If he continued on like this, he felt like he would really have to consult a psychologist or at least soone professional.
No, wait. He glanced at his brother. Didn't he have a perfect professional here? Maybe his brother could solve his problem.
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