"Seriously.." I groaned. "How do you live like this? All messy clothes in a closet, and when you open it, everything falls. It's like the one in Shinchan!"
She glared at me, which didn't have any bite anyways. "I live by... living!"
BANG!
"Wait, what?!" I spun around, eyes widening as the entire Section E came into her apartment like a group of hyperactive kids.
Ci-N immediately dove onto April's couch with zero hesitation. "APRIL! YOU NEVER TOLD US YOUR PLACE WAS THIS COOL!"
Denzel and Felix were already poking through the mess she called a closet while Keifer was standing, arms crossed.
And April? She was laughing, holding her hoodie with the stars, 'Rebel with a cause to be awesome.' Where did she even pull it from? Drama queen was literally frowning for it!)
April pulled both of my hands, and made me stand near the window near Keifer. I looked at him, and he smirked at me. It screamed 'Ready for chaos?' I just smiled.
She stormed off to her bedroom, changed into the stars hoodie and she took a pretty long time. I wonder what she's up to.. chaos!
Just as Ci-N was about to turn on the speakers, she came in shouting "NO TURNING ON SPEAKERS WITHOUT ME!" She slid and turned on the speakers. "Hosts! Let's start our show!" she shouted on the mic (I feel sorry for the neighbour.) And just as I thought that.. the bell rang. Everyone turned toward the door.
April went to see who it was. Just as she opened the door, a boy with glasses stood there. Not really like mine, but attractive in a quiet, effortless way. I think that isn't specs, he's wearing coolers. Right.
Why is he here?
His style was… somewhere between casual and trendy. He wore a white shirt tucked into cargo jeans, a look that shouldn't have worked but somehow did. His leather jacket hung loosely over his shoulders, giving him that "I didn't try, but it still looks good" vibe. He was tall, looked kind of like.. 6'1.
April herself is as tall as me, but he's taller than her. She's 5'9, and 5'10?
He gave April a smile, and started speaking. His voice was husky. "Hey, a party goin' on here?"
April nodded, giving a polite smile. "Yes, po. We'll try to be as loud as we can."
There she is, the original April being April. I went forward near the door and he looked at me.
I stepped closer, my eyes narrowing slightly as I studied the newcomer. There was something about him—something off-putting in the way he smiled, too polished for a casual drop-in.
"Hey," I said coolly, crossing my arms. "Neighbour here?"
April shot me a look over her shoulder before turning back to him with that same polite smile. "He's my classmate and something else." she explained lightly, but then added under her breath to me: "I hope he leaves.."
The guy chuckled low in his throat like it was all some inside joke and pushed past me without waiting for an answer.
"Cool decoration," he commented loudly as he scanned the room full of Section E members now freezing mid-movement at this stranger's sudden entrance.
Felix elbowed Ci-N hard when they both caught sight of each other silently mouthing: Who is this guy?!
And Keifer? Oh no, he had already went 'bro mode'. This party just went from chaotic… straight into disaster territory real quick.
I looked at April and she cleared her throat.. "Hey, Ethan?" WHO'S ETHAN? "We're doing a reunion party.. so leave. We'll invite to some party if we think later.."
The boy froze. He looked at her like he didn't expect her to say 'Leave.'
He looked around the room, taking in the mess of people and the general chaos that had taken over April's home, and for a split second, there was a hint of irritation in his expression.
But in a flash, it disappeared, replaced with that same easy-going smirk he'd worn when he arrived. "Ah, my bad," he said casually, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean to intrude. Just thought I'd stop by and say hello."
Yeah, right. Like any normal person would just walk into someone's home unannounced.
And right when he left, the whole Section E (including me) were looking at HER.
"WHAT?" she asked, "You look at me like I did a crime!"
"Who. Is. That. Guy." Keifer questioned her, "why did he walk in here like it's second nature?"
"He's my neighbour.. he moved in one week ago.."
"Is he living alone?" I asked her, the sheer audacity..
She nodded, running her hand through her hair in irritation. "He literally invited himself eight times," she muttered. "And then when I finally say no, he acts like I'm the one being rude. Unbelievable."
Denzel raised an eyebrow. "You really think he's just a random neighbour? Sounds more like a stalker to me."
"Stalker or not, he has to get the hint. I don't want him bothering me every two seconds." She flopped down onto the couch sulkily, crossing her arms.
Keifer still looked unconvinced. "Be careful. Random men like that can get dangerous."
April looked at him, then to me like she's saying 'I know you're gonna say the same'
"I can handle it, Keif. That's why I am in Section E."
He gave her a look. "I'm serious, April. Don't ignore a guy who keeps showing up unannounced, especially if he's living nearby."
"WHY IS EVERYONE SO DRAMATICCC?" she whined. ugh.
She accusingly pointed a finger to Keifer "YOU! Mr. 'I-will-kill-him-with-my-bare-hands'. Stop being so paranoid," she said, rolling her eyes. "I'm not an idiot, alright?"
He snorted. "Yeah, sure. Because ignoring danger when it's staring you in the face is sooooo smart."
I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Oh, now you're worried about her safety?" I shot Keifer a look. "Where was this energy when she was disappearing for months without a word?"
Keifer's jaw tightened, he knew I had him there. Felix piped up from where he'd been listening to the whole conversation, "Maybe Ethan's just trying to be nice? Some people don't realize they're creepy."
Ci-N gasped loudly. "OR MAYBE HE'S A SECRET SPY SENT BY SECTION A TO STEAL APRIL'S ANIME AND HEADPHONES COLLECTION."
April choked on air.
"...You watch too many dramas," Eman deadpanned as everyone burst into laughter, except me and Keifer, who were still locked in silent tension across the room.
This party went from disaster territory… straight into full-blown warzone real quick.
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Keifer's glare could've melted steel, and I matched him, because oh, we were absolutely doing this now.
April groaned from her spot on the couch, throwing her hands up dramatically. "Yuri, stop trying to pick fights! And Keif—" She pointed an accusing finger at him, "You're worse than my mom when she thinks someone's flirting with me! WHEN SHE KNOWS THAT THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED SECTION E AND SOMEONE CALLED YURI AND KEIFER!"
Felix snorted into his soda while Denzel muttered under his breath: "This is why Section A says we have 'emotional baggage.'"
Ci-N clapped excitedly from where he was sprawled across April's coffee table (somehow not spilling anything). "Ooooohhhh~ Soooo~" He wiggled his eyebrows between me and Keifer like some kind of overgrown gossip machine. "Is this about April orrrr…?"
I choked mid-breath.
Keifer went completely still, like a predator catching movement in the bushes.
April shot up so fast she nearly knocked over Felix's drink behind them all staring wide-eyed between us both before suddenly shrieking:
"CI-N, SHUT YOUR MOUTH BEFORE I SHUT IT FOR YOU!" April's voice cracked as she lunged forward, only for Denzel to yank her back by the hoodie (the one with the stars, because of course).
Felix wheezed so hard he slid off the couch entirely. "OH MY GOD!!"
Keifer's eye twitched. His fingers flexed like he was imagining strangling someone (me, probably). Meanwhile, Ci-N had gone pale under his usual chaotic grin. "Uh… I meant nothing? Like nothing at all?" He fake-whistled while slowly scooting behind David for protection.
And me? Ohhh no, I felt my face burning hotter than a heater in wintertime. My brain short-circuited between:
1. Deny everything.
2. Throw myself out that 17th-floor window.…
3. Wait what did he even imply?!
April looked seconds away from either combusting or committing murder herself when suddenly, BANG BANG BANG! A fist pounded against her apartment door hard.
Everyone froze, all heads swinging to the door.
BANG BANG BANG!
It was louder this time. More aggressive.
"APRILLL!" a voice slurred from the other side before thudding against the door again. "Let.. Me.. Innnn!"
The entire room went dead silent.
April's face drained color, her grip tightening on the edge of the couch like she was about to squish it. "Oh you have GOT to be kidding me"
Keifer moved first, shoving past everyone, "That's Ethan again." His voice dropped into something dangerously low as he got right up in the doorframe, looming like a storm cloud ready to crack open any second now.
Felix and Denzel exchanged panicked looks while Ci-N, still half-hidden behind David, whispered: "Okay but why does this dude sound drunk at 10 PM?!"
I stepped forward too without thinking (probably because my body forgot how self-preservation works), arms crossed as I glared at April from across the room through narrowed eyes: "You said he left."
She looked torn between horror and sheer disbelief before hissing back under her breath: "I THOUGHT HE LEFT!"