Chapter 22: A New Start

Levi's POV

Hanji didn't come home yesterday. Her cellphone can't also be reached and I am not sure if it is currently dead or if she alrady blocked my number. To be honest, after her bestfriend ended the call I started looking  for her frantically yesterday till dark. But I never saw Hanji nor have seen any signs of her. Then it dawned to me that she maybe staying at Mike's house right now cause knowing shitty glass, her office and Nanaba's house is the best possible places for her to go to. The first one is already a no tho since Hanji doesn't have a work till tomorrow. So there is a huge possibility that she might be in Mike's right now.

Eventhough I have that kind of guess, I still can't help but feel bothered. I am sure that I hurt her and just remembering the expression she did before she turned her back at me already makes me hate myself so much. She clearly don't deserve to be treated like that, especially by an asshole such as me.

I pinched the bridge of my nose as I let out a sigh. I really should have told her the truth before when I had a chance. But I chickened out and now, it resulted to a much greater problem.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard the sound of the doorknob turning. I immediately stood up from the couch and went to the doorway, seeing Hanji with the same clothes that she wore yesterday. She was untying her shoes when she raised her head, meeting my eyes. Both of us didn't say a word until she put it down once again as she continued removing her shoes.

"Shitty glasses.." I started. "I..-"

"Its fine" Hanji cut me off and then she raised her head smiling at me "you don't have to explain anything" She said and then she chuckled. Hanji stepped out of her shoes, leaving the footwear at the doorway as she walks inside. I saw her stretched her arms, bumping a pile of books which were stacked at one of the tables. It made a huge mess at the floor. "Oops" She giggled "sorry"

The mess made me feel a bit annoyed but I tossed it aside. It is not the time to feel pissed off because I still have an apology to say after all.

"Hey" I tried to call after her but she already closed her door shut. I sighed, picking up her shoes and I placed it on the rack. I went to the mess of books and papers afterwards to clean it up. As I did so, Hanji got out of her room, still wearing the hoodie but she has replaced her pants with a shorts. She has a towel hanging by her shoulders while she made her way towards the bathroom. None of us said a word when she walked past me.

As soon as I finished picking up the books, I heard the sound of shower going inside the bathroom. Then a silent hum followed which I recognized as Hanji's. She usually hums in her shower whenever she is in a good mood so I can't quite grasp what she is feeling right now. It was just yesterday when her face was in the verge of breaking down and now, she is smiling at me like nothing happened.

The sound of the shower stopped for a moment and then silence dominated the whole apartment. I leaned at the kitchen counter as I waited for shitty glasses who went out of the bathroom, minutes after she finished her shower. Her hair was dripping wet and a towel was draped above her head. As she walked past me, the towel fell but she didn't paid any attention to it.

I tsked. She has been making a lot of mess lately even when the day has just started.

Hanji heard my remark so she turned her head towards me and smirked. "Oops. Sorry" She said before turning her head in front once again as she walked away.

I grinned in realization. It is not that she is making a mess. She is doing it on purpose to piss me off.

I picked up the towel and placed it on the laundry basket. Shitty glasses went out of her room again and headed towards the bookshelf. She started taking the books, dropping one by one while she shakes her head. Eventhough I said that it is not the time to feel annoyed, the mess that she has been making has totally pushed my buttons.

"Oy" I called her "you are making a mess in there"

Hanji looked at me and raised her eyebrow. "Oh sorry. I was used to doing this when I was alone in my own house" She said, beaming sarcastically at me. She then continued messing with the shelf.

I shook my head, turning my back at her. I went towards the kitchen to prepare us our lunch and just decided to fix the shelf later. But just as I was about to prepare the ingredients, Hanji came in the kitchen with a microwavable container in hand. She walked towards the microwave, placing the container inside.

"What are you doing?" I asked frowning. She looks at me as if I just asked a very silly question.

"I am preparing myself my own lunch" she answered in an obvious manner.

"Why are you doing that? I am already making a meal for the two of us"

Hanji chuckled. "Nah! You don't have to. Nanaba already gave me one of the take outs from yesterday" She said clicking a button to start the microwave. Hanji looked at me after. "And also, I don't feel like eating home cooked foods" She turned her back at me and went back to the living room. I gritted my teeth as my eyes followed her figure.

It seems like Hanji is really serious with this game that she is trying to play. So eventhough I'm at a disadvantage in here, I would go along with you shitty glasses.

Hanji's POV

Eversince I got home, I have been trying to irritate Levi. I want him to get angry at me or talk to me sarcastically, just as how he always do before. But knowing that a huge amount of awkwardness has made its way between us, it would really be impossible.

To be honest, before I got home I already decided to patch things up with Levi. But when I saw him, all of my plans retreated and I can't seem to do anything. Aside from that, I don't want to make things even more complicated between us by bringing up that subject so I just decided to divert that thing into something else. And that something else is pissing him off.

I have been ignoring him everytime he tries to open up a conversation about yesterday and I made sure to make a mess everytime I move inside the house. Levi's number one weakness is filth so I know that he is already feeling annoyed earlier, tho he is just holding himself back from doing anything. I also didn't accepted the meal that he was planning to cook earlier and I also disarranged the shelves which he carefully tends everyday. I am positive that Levi is close to getting really annoyed so I continued doing it till it went dark.

Now, I have a new scheme as I plan to disturb him in his room, 10 pm in the evening. With a box full of papers and folders in my other arm, I opened the door of his bedroom, stepping inside evethough I was not given any permission. Levi rose his head which were directed to his laptop screen when I stood in front of him. He looked at me frowning, probably thinking about what it is that I am about to do.

"Its okay if I place it here right?" I asked. Levi frowned even more. "Oh wait, why am I even asking. I almost forgot that this was my apartment" I said while laughing sarcastically. Levi's frown disappeared as his face became blank. I dropped the box in front of him, spilling all the papers and folders around the room.

Levi closed his eyes and then he let out a breath. He pushed his laptop screen down and then he darted his gray eyes towards me. The action made me feel uneasy so I directed my eyes in a different direction. When he looked at me, I felt a bit concious suddently. I mean, it is the man that I like who is looking at me directly you know? Who wouldn't feel bothered by that especially when you look like a crap?

"You can just tell me you know" Levi said making my whole body flinch. I looked at him with my eyebrows met. "You can just tell me directly if you don't want me in here. I can leave anytime" He sighed and then he stood up. He grabbed his coat which is neatly hanged at his wall and then he walked passed me.

My heart started beating fast. "O-oy!" I yelled. "Where the hell are you going?"

Levi didn't answer as he just left the house, leaving me inside, confused and unaware of what just happened. Yes, it was my objective to piss him off but I didn't want to annoy him to the point that he would want to leave. But did I went too far? I kinda emphasize the thing about this apartment being mine for a few times today and Levi must have comprehended that as my way of telling him to leave.

But no. I can never make him leave. Not when I have already grew accustomed with him. Not when he has already instilled to me an unbearable desire of his presence. Not when I have learned to love him because of who he is even when I thought that he was a gay.

I bit my lower lip and clenched my fist. I can't lose him. I just can't!

Gathering my strength, I ran forward towards the doorway and immediately went out to the streets. I looked around but I never saw Levi so I sprinted forward. It was just a few minutes when he left. He hasn't gone too far most probably.

I ran till I feel like my legs are about to collapse. I ran eventhough my breathing has became raspy. I ran, just to reach Levi. Just to stop him from going away from me. And it seems like God has been listening to me because just as I turned a corner, I saw his figure walking. My lips curled upwards. Taking a deep breath, I called for him.

"LEVI!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. His body flinched and then he looked behind. Levi's eyes widened when he saw me. I stomped my way towards him and when we were already faced to faced, I retreated my head just a little bit, only to crash my forehead at his. Levi hissed due to the impact.

"What thr fuck?!" He cursed and glared at me. His hand is currently massaging his reddened forehead while I just frowned at him, ignoring the growing pain in my temple.

"For once in your life, can you stop being so unfair!" I yelled at him. Levi looked at me in confusion. "You always call me shitty, you lied to me and now you are planning to leave me alone?!" I leaned towards him and then I pulled him by his collar. "You are not allowed to go away from me you understand? Not when you have made me love you so much to the point that that I can't just imagine myself being apart from you!" I confessed as my eyes watered up. Levi's eyes grew wide and his mouth was slightly open. I took this chance to pull him closer towards me and closing the gap between us, our lips met. This is not the first time that I kissed a man but doing it with Levi, I felt as if I am a teenager once again. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach and my heart is beating so fast. My head feels so light and empty as my knees are starting to weaken.

My grasp on Levi's collar loosened and I was about to break the kiss when his hand snaked behind my head. He kissed me back and it was now my time to have my eyes wide open. But after a second of being drowned by his kisses, my whole system gave in and just got drunk with all of the emotions that the two of us are pouring to one another.

At an empty street under the light of a small street lamp and with the moon as out witness, we finally let only the truth dominate the two of us as our hearts finally connected after a series of denial and running away.

AN: GUNS AND LANCET IS OUT!