Free Web NovelChapter 111: Staying In Bed
It was Saturday afternoon, and I was still on my bed. I hadn’t moved an inch except for the bare necessities. The only time I stood up was to take my bath or go pee, and even then, I practically crawled back under the covers the second I was done. The bed was the only place I could be. I ate breakfast in bed, thanks to my nephew and Dina, who brought it to me on a tray like I was some kind of invalid.
And the snacks. I really don’t know where they got them from or whose money they used, but I’ve been eating all day, lying on my bed and staring at videos on my phone.
The phone Princess bought for me.
Every time the screen lit up, my mind went straight back to yesterday. I kept seeing the same scene on a loop: Princess breaking up with me in that cold parking lot. I just couldn’t think about anything else. I replayed so many scenarios in my head, thinking of things I should have said or how to get her back, but the memory of her walking away just wouldn’t fade.
I wish I had just stayed in that car and never entered the club. I wish I had never said those stupid words to Dave and Katie just to act cool.
"Aunty Faye, MG is in the living room. He is asking for Princess’s car keys," Dina said, poking her head through the door.
"It’s on the table," I said. I didn’t even look up as she went to pick it up. She paused for a second, looking at the pile of wrappers on my blanket. freёwebnovel.com
"Do you need anything else?" she asked, her voice soft.
"No, Dina. I just want to sleep," I muttered, pulling the blanket higher.
"But you are eating," she pointed out, unimpressed.
Before I could come up with a comeback, there was a soft knock on the door frame.
"Can I come in?" Malo asked.
"No," I said, but he came in anyway, because he never listens.
"Wow, you look like a trash can, did the garbage man forget to add you in his garbage truck or did anti-cupid pay you a visit?" he said the moment he saw me. I just groaned and looked away, burying my face in the pillow.
"Thank you, Dina. Give him the key so he can leave," I said into the fabric. She handed the key to him and left the room, leaving me alone with him.
Malo didn’t leave. He was still there, standing at the foot of my bed and looking at my sad life with a judgmental expression.
"Princess called me to pick up the keys. Did you two fight?" he asked.
"I said something stupid that hurt her, and now she is punishing me for it," I muttered. My voice sounded thick, like I was about to start crying again.
"I don’t know what to say. My words are not meant for bringing hope and wiping tears. Dating life sucks," he said, leaning against the wall.
I turned my head to look at him, my eyes narrowing. "Dude, two weeks ago you told me to date her so we could be friends with her, and now you’re uno reversing?" I said, looking at him in total disbelief.
"Well, never take advice from a single guy. And I only said that because you two are endgame and you are expecting pups," he shrugged.
"Aww, trying to be an enemy of progress and a best friend at the same time," I said sarcastically. "Dude, you are not helping at all."
"Well, I am trying. I am better than your Yo buddies. Where are they? I am here," he said, gesturing to himself.
"Yo buddies?"
"Yes. What were their names again? Dave and Katie? Always adding yo to every sentence and punching someone like it’s fun. ’Yo, is this your new friend? Yo, he looks cute. Where did you find him? Yo, yo, yo...’ It’s annoying, bro," he said, mimicking them with a ridiculous accent.
I just stared at him for a second, then I actually laughed at his expression. It was the first time I’d felt the weight lift even a little bit.
Before I knew it, Malo had nagged me enough that I was out in the living room, sitting on the couch and covering myself with a mountain of blankets. I was eating Eriko’s chicken nuggets and joining the kids to watch cartoons on the TV. At least I changed my position.
"Okay, I have to go to the club. My boss needs me," Malo said as he checked his watch and stood up.
"Can’t I be your boss instead? Stay," I said to him, not wanting to be left alone with my thoughts again.
"Do you have money? If you can pay twice what Princess pays me daily, I will quit my job and work for you for life," he said with a completely straight face.
"Bye-bye. See you tomorrow," I said, waving my hand dismissively as he left the house. I heard him pull out of the driveway in Princess’s car.
Later on, Eriko came out of his room, looking determined.
"Okay, which one of you little stars is going to help me tidy up the attic?" he said. The kids immediately began to grumble and hide.
"You have an attic?" I asked, surprised. I’d lived here for a while now and I hadn’t seen any stairs.
"Yes, right upstairs, from outside. I need to empty the space and clean it up. I put it on Airbnb, and someone actually rented it, despite how it looks right now. So on Monday, we will be having a new neighbor," Eriko said, tapping his hand on the back of the couch.
He then tried to grab both kids, but they fought him off like little wild animals, trying to escape the manual labor. He grabbed them anyway, hoisting them up, and they all headed outside toward the back stairs.
I sat there, blinking at the TV. I didn’t know which one I should be more surprised about.
Was it the fact that he had a whole attic this entire time while making me share a room with Kaye? Or was it the fact that he rented it out to a complete stranger?
Who in the world is renting that room?
