Chapter 11: Encounter

Levi's POV

I was fucking seen just now. BY. MY. FORMER. COLLEAGUE.

I hissed while entering Hanji's room. Never have I thought that this woman is close to them. So does it mean that the friend she was talking about is Nanaba? Well congratulations to them and unfortunately for me. I tried blocking every single contact I had with my previous friends and work mates but it seems like the world is really too small for me to run from. How I really wish to I disappear in here and to leave no trace about myself.

As carefully as possible, I placed the sleeping Hanji in her bed. I leaned towards her, removing her coat, and leaving her in her black long sleeves.

"Le..vi?" I stopped and looked at the sleeping Hanji. Her cheeks is still red, most probably because of the alcohol she just drank, and her sleeping expression just made her look less shitty. She's more peaceful this way.

A small smile crept to my face. I removed her glasses which was placed at her forehead, putting it at the bedside table. Then I moved towards her feet, removing her shoes and socks.

"Don't drink so much if you can't handle yourself shitty glasses" I said, finally placing her blanket over her. Hanji's lips curled into a smile and for a few more minutes I just sat at the edge of her bed, observing her. It is not everyday that you see this woman being awfully quiet and calm after all.

To be honest, I never had any experience on dealing with woman aside from Petra so shitty glasses is quite a new challenge for me. Unlike my ex girlfriend, this woman is immature as if she always needed assistance in almost everything. She is also too annoying to handle, but too kind to fool. As I stayed with her under the same roof, I am slowly realizing how awful as a person I am. I just lied to a good woman just for my own benefit.

I brushed a few strands of her hair from her forehead, taking a last glimpse of her face before standing up. I already did a huge mistake and all that I have left to do is to face its consequences. Nanaba and Mike are one of them that is why I'll have to meet them tomorrow to explain my side. I just hope that it will go well.

"Good night" I muttered, turning off the lights. I returned to my own room, falling asleep a few minutes after I settled hpmyself on the mattress.

~*~

11 am. I heard a few stumbling in Hanji's room and a couple of curses. Then her room door opened revealing a very shitty woman.

"Morning" I said as soon as I saw her. She, on the other hand just walked towards the counter with her back crouched and her face crunched up. When she reached the counter, she immediately put her head down on it and sighed.

"This headache is killing me" Hanji whined accompanied with a groan.

"You shouldn't have drank too much" I said, setting a bowl of chicken noodle soup in front of her. She raised her head when she noticed the food.

"Great! Just what I need right now" Hanji smiled widely then immediately grabbed the spoon at the side of the bowl. She ate the meal and as she enjoyed it, I just found myself staring at her. Her hair is in a mess right now, untamed by her ponytail so it is left standing in different directions. The clothes she is wearing right now is still the same as last night and did I already mentioned the dried saliva at the side of her mouth? Nevertheless, I still found her annoyingly adorable.

I huffed, trying to contain the slight laughter that threatened to get released and immediately turned my back at her. Hanji is undoubtedly the shittiest woman I've ever met but for an unknown reason, I don't feel uncomfortable with her.

"Seconds please!" Hanji yelled making me break from my thoughts. I then faced her again, snatching the bowl from her hand to fill it again with the soup.

"Are you still going to your work?" I asked, giving her the bowl back.

Hanji rolled her eyes and sighed. "Unfortunately I have to. Gotta finish the documents that Erwin is asking me from my last excavation after all"

I hummed. "Lets go out together later then"

Let's go out together?

The sound of Hanji's spoon dropping and the echoing of my voice in my head made me realize what I just said. Sht. I'm misunderstood.

"No, what I mean is-""W-well, I guess its fine-"

Both of us stopped and in a second, we turned our back at each other. Damn. I'm acting so gay right now.

I faked a cough. "What I mean is that I'll be going out later." I paused as I tried to speak with my usual tone. "If you want, we can just get on the bus together. Up until the market tho" I said, putting up my stiff and cold attitude back in my words.

"Oh.. Haha yeah.. Of course thats what you mean" Hanji said before she grabbed the bowl and drank the rest of the soup.

"Oy what are you doing?" I asked, grabbing the empty bowl as soon as she finished it. She coughed a little and looked at me smiling.

"Just gulping all my shame down" Hanji said, getting up from her seat. She then ran out of the kitchen and closed herself off in the bathroom.

Really a weird, shitty woman.

Nanaba's POV

"Do you think that he would really show up?" I asked my husband for the nth time. He sighed and looked at me with straight face.

"Yes Nanaba so just finish your drink" Mike said, pushing the glass of milkshake towards me.

"But I just lost my appetite" I replied, glaring at the sweet cold thing in front of me.

Mike looked at me unbelievably. "But you were about to kill me earlier just to get that, weren't you?"

"Yes, cause it looks tasty in the menu" I said raising my eyebrow at him.

My husband sighed. "Hormones" He whispered while shaking his head. I was about to start another petty fight with him when I was cut off with the sound of the bell as soon as the door of the diner opened. I looked at the entrance and found a chibi, carrying two bags of groceries at both arms, with a plastic bag of detergents and soaps hanging at his right hand. The crew of the diner welcomed him but he just walked past them and scanned the place, probably looking for us. When his eyes darted towards me, I immediately hid at my seat and pulled my stupid husband closer. I don't know but I felt a chill run down my spine when he looked at me and by reflex, I did this.

"Sorry I'm late" Levi said, setting his goods at the table.

"No worries" Mike said "It is my pleasure to witness such a rare happening"

Mike smirked while Levi rolled his eye. "Lets just get this over immediately. I still have to get home to prepare a dinner for shitty glasses"

"How.. How did you get in Hanji's place?" I asked, making his attention turn towards me. Mike also looked at me but I just sent him a small smile.

"I became homeless" Levi started. "I need a place to stay for a while and Hanji's apartment was the only one available"

"You could have just stayed with us" Mike suggested.

"I can't. I tried to block each one of you after all. I don't want to carry this issue with me even as I leave"

"Issue? You mean 'that' one?" I asked. Levi's eyes widened, darting immediately towards Mike. My husband just mouthed 'sorry'

He sighed. "Yeah. Because of that, I am now finding it hard to look for a new job. And with my money running out, I tried to look for a cheap place. Unfortunately, I got caught in a scam and ended up at your friend's house"

"How did you convinced Hanji to let you stay? Cause the last time I check, she rejected almost every guy aho came to her life" I asked, looking at him suspiciously.

"I said that I was gay"

My eyes widened and for a moment, the three of us grew silent.

"What?!""HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

I looked at him with a questioned expression while Mike laughs beside me. Levi seemed to get a bit irritated because he hissed after our reactions.

"I lied to her. I said that I was gay so I won't do any to her" Levi rolled his eyes. "I also promised to tend her house so she agreed"

"I still can't believe you did that" Mike said, recovering from his laughter. "A man full of pride, saying that?" He laughed again.

"I was already stripped off my pride Mike" Levi told him, making my husband stop.

"Levi" He looked at me with straight face. "You won't do anything to her right? Cause seriously speaking, Hanji means a lot to me. And I won't forgive you if something happens to her. You already lied but you won't do something even more grave than that right?"

Mine and my husband's eyes widened when Levi smiled. It is not a cold nor a fake smile, not even a smirk. It is a genuine one.

"You can trust me Nanaba" He said making me feel lighter. I have been worrying since yesterday but hearing him say that made me feel assured.

"Alright then" Mike grabbed the menu and handed one to each of us. "Lets have a meal. My treat" He said, opening the menu. I looked at the chibi in front of me who is also silently reading the meals and smiled.

It is not only mine and Mike's life which is changing. Hanji's life is also starting to make its own turn and fortunately, it is going towards a good path. Maybe the reason why Hanji rejected every men who comes to her life, is due to Levi. It is because every yes that she has in store for a man is allotted for him. And I don't mind spectating this development between them for this has also been a dream of mine for my bestfriend.