Chapter 262 - 20: Drunken grumblings
A few days passed, and Shawn settled into the apartment, though his mind never truly found peace. The first day, he woke up early and cooked breakfast, only to find out that Athan was already gone even before he woke up.
He ate alone and spent the day at Franz’s café while waiting for Knoa’s end of school, then, went back to Athan’s unit after Knox arrived home. He tried to wait for him at night, but even then, he was already asleep when Athan returned.
The second day, he tried to wake up as early as he did, but Athan was gone already, again. Then, the same thing happened. Somehow, it felt like he was being avoided. Each evening, he was greeted by the same frigid silence, as if they weren’t living together.
"After telling me it’s nothing?! Argh! What the hell is wrong with him?! I’m not used to this cold treatment!" Shawn stomped his way to the bed after coming back home on the third day.
He took a bath, put on his pajamas, and then sat in the living room. Determined to wait for Athan. He brought two cans of beer to the table and ordered a box of chicken.
Shawn waited obediently, never complaining about how time ticked past midnight. By the time the door finally clicked open, his patience had outlasted all six cans of beer and a box of chicken that lay strewn across the coffee table.
He was half-asleep on the couch, half-drunk, and roused from a light doze as Athan entered.
Blinking against the dim light, Shawn recognized Athan’s figure hovering in the doorway, surprise marking his features.
"Young master!" Shawn grinned as he blinked the sleep away, managing a slightly unsteady wave as he sat up. His speech was wobbly, slurred by alcohol. How come he easily got drunk now? He used to drink a bottle of wine when he went clubbing before! "You’re back! Heavens, finally!"
Athan crossed the room, glancing around the mess of empty beer cans, chicken bones, and tissues, and Shawn’s dazed, slightly flushed face. "Shawn..." he sighed softly, the faintest note of frustration breaking his otherwise calm tone. "Why did you drink so much?"
Shawn tilted his head, his brow furrowing in thought as he tried to remember his own reasoning. "To stay awake, silly," he answered, his words tumbling over each other.