Chapter 17: Leaving

Levi’s POV

“Oy Levi!!!” whined Hanji. She has been at it as she came home last night and it is seriously making my head hurt. “LEVI!” shitty glasses shouted making me hiss.

“What?!” I yelled back, clearly pissed off. Hanji angrily frowned at me.

“You suddenly left last night you freakin’ chibi! You didn’t even say goodbye!” Hanji said, pouting her lips slightly. I rolled my eyes, ignoring her once again. I sat at the far end of the couch, watching the news that were flashing on the screen while she sats on the floor, thrashing for hours now.

That is right. Four eyes had been whining like a kid since last night because I left the event suddenly. You can’t blame me tho because that evening was truly chaotic for me especially when Mr. Zackley came. I had been in my thoughts, whether to accept his offer or not cause definitely I don’t want to go back in the university knowing that my previous colleagues are still working in there, but I also want to have a job as soon as possible so I won’t bring any more trouble to Hanji.

But this shitty woman right here is acting like a child making my head hurt so badly. She seriously annoys me.

“Leeeevi!” Hanji pulled the edge of my white long sleeves. “You are ignoring me again” she whined. “Is it because I danced with Moblit and not you?”

My eyes grew wide for a second before I threw her a glare. But I am sure that my face turned a bit red cause it currently feels hot.

“Shut the fuck up four eyes” Hanji grinned. “It is not because of that” I said, darting my attention back to the television, trying to focus so I can calm the beating on my chest and the reddening of my cheeks. I heard Hanji huff from the floor. “I am actually grateful that you danced with somebody else cause it must have looked really ridiculous” I said smirking and from the corner of my eyes, I saw Hanji’s face scrunch in a frown. “Dancing with you is such a shame”

“What the hell did you say?” she asked in a low voice. I ignored her. “So you really didn’t want to dance with me? Is that what you were implying?” shitty glasses squinted her eye a little, throwing me a warning look.

“Absolutely” I answered, not looking at her. It was just a few seconds after I replied when a thick book landed on my face. “What the hell?!” I cursed, picking up the book that made the side of my cheek red. I looked at Hanji. “What on Earth is your problem throwing this fucking book at me?” I yelled.

“You!” Hanji yelled back, standing up from the floor. “You are my problem you stupid chibi!” she said, storming off after.

My face folded in a confused frown as my eyes followed Hanji’s figure. She went inside her room and for the next couple of seconds only the news anchor on the television is heard as she delivers her news because the apartment fell silent. I placed the book at the coffee table in front of the couch and just sat back once again. A few minutes after, I heard her room door opened. Hanji went out dressed in a blue sweater and black pants. She then went to the shoe rack where she grab herself a pair of brown boots which she usually use when she goes out of the apartment.

“Where are you going?” I asked. Hanji glared at me as she puts on the shoe.

“I’ll go find a date!” she yelled with an annoyed voice. My lips curled in an amused smirk.

“Good luck finding that” I said, a hint of mock in my voice. Hanji eyes widened due to her shock and angry state before she went out of the apartment, slamming the door.

I don’t know why Hanji became that pissed off but seeing her in that state brought me fun. When I first met her, I immediately read her as a happy-go-lucky type of person and as I stayed at her apartment, I got to prove that she really is one. Hanji is also a really curious woman and she tends to dig every little information you have on yourself. I was actually a victim of that because I was still staying in here for like a day or two and she already managed to ask me the reason why I became broke and jobless. But despite that, I still see her annoying, out-going and inquisitive personality as truly complimentary traits. Hanji is worth admiring even with her shitty face and pissing positivity.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when the front door buzzed. It is really unusual for the buzzer to be used since Hanji and I have our own keys of the apartment. But maybe that four-eyes is stupid enough to forget her’s when she was throwing her tantrums earlier.

“Coming” I said as I walked at the front door. When I opened it, what welcomed me is a tall and thin boy who is currently digging in his bag. “What do you want?” I asked in my usual voice but that seemed to make him flinch. He looked at me nervously and slightly stuttering.

He bowed his head a little. “I-I was just here t-to deliver Ms. Zoe’s mails!” He said, immediately handing a couple of envelopes to me with his arms extended.

 “She is not here right now. So is it alright for me to receive it?” I asked. The boy nodded a couple of times.

“Y-yes sir!” he replied. I took the mails from him and then he give me a paper to sign as proof that we have received it. I complied and afterwards, the mail guy scurried off.

I closed the door once again and looked at the thick bundle of papers on my hand. It is just a series of letters from different research institution so I never bothered to look at all of it. But what caught my attention is the bill for Hanji’s apartment and utilities. I know that it is not right to open a letter which is not intended for you but since this is a matter that involves the two of us (roommates), I decided to look at it too.

My eyes widened. Why did she kept this a secret?

The mails inside the white envelope in my hand is a series of unpaid bills and notice of payments. The amount doubled ever since I started living and obviously, Hanji found it hard to pay. Whenever I asked her about this, she usually just smile and say that everything is covered. Yet, this mails exists without me knowing. I am definitely giving Hanji a hard time eversince I got here.

I placed the mails back to how it looked before and slid it inside the other pile. Without even thinking for a second, I fished my phone out of my pocket and dialled a number. It didn’t even took a minute before it was answered.

"I knew that you will call” the person on the other line said.

“I accept” I said and then I heard him chuckle. This way, the load that I give Hanji will probably lessen.

 

Hanji’s POV

“That chibi!” I groaned, scooping a large amount of ice cream from my bowl. “He really pissed me off earlier. Imagine Nanaba, he told me right in front of my face that it is a shame to dance with me!” I put the ice cream inside my mouth, moaning a little due to its cold and soft texture. But then my annoyance came back when Levi popped in my mind. “ah wona shlam ma fisht rayt ito is fes” I said, scooping from my bowl once again.

Nanaba looked at me with a bored eyes, running her hand at the small bump in her stomach. “Seriously Hanji? You visited my house just for that?” she sighed.

My eyes widened. “This is not just ‘that’ Nanaba!” I slammed my palm at the table. “He told me once that he will never like me even if he is a straight guy and now he said that dancing with me is ridiculous! He is clearly bullying my charisma!”

The woman in front of me grinned, leaning her body a little towards me. “Why are you even affected?” she asked. That is when it all rained down to me. I had been annoyed for a few minutes now just because of that, which is definitely not me. I was never even concerned if a guy wants to go out with me but when Levi came into the picture, I started getting conscious of myself.

“I don’t even know why!” I ate the last of my ice cream, feeling a little down knowing that my sweet and cold treat is already finish.

“You know what Hanji, when I met Mike, I also underwent a huge change. Back then, I always wanted to break a guy’s nose whenever they do me wrong but with him, I want to look sophisticated and well-mannered. I don’t want him to go away from me cause honestly, I started wanting for him, for his presence and his voice” Nanaba smiled at the memory “and before I know it, my old boyish self was replaced with that of a normal woman who is in love and look at what it brought me” she spread her arms.

“It made you round and stressed”

Nanaba rolled her eyes. “It gave me a family which I treasure more than anything else” she said.

“So what do you want to point out to me?” I asked, putting the bowl at the table.

“Maybe you are starting to feel the same as I did back then towards Levi. You see that he wants an organized environment that is why you became less messy and you became really conscious with yourself” she said. My face grew hot.

I faked a laugh, darting my eyes away from Nanaba. “W-what do you mean by that?” I stuttered as I rolled the end of my hair which is at pony, on my finger. “He is a gay. That is impossible”

Nanaba hummed. “If you say so” she said, a hint of teasing in her voice.

“Never mind that. I will be going now” I said, standing up from my chair.

“You don’t want to share a dinner with us?” my friend asked. I shook my head a little.

“Levi probably prepared one already” I said. I walked towards their front door and Nanaba followed me. I sat in front of their shoe rack, putting my boots on while she stood behind me.

“So you want Levi’s cooking more than mine now? I’m hurt” Nanaba faked a sob. I just rolled my eyes.

“Think what you want” I stood up and gave her a hug. “I’ll be visiting again soon. Bye” I went out of their house, hearing Nanaba’s ‘goodbye’ and silently walked back to the apartment. As I walked at the crowded street, I saw the mail guy who usually sends me my letters. I ran towards him, bumping a few people in the process. I just silently apologize at them.

“Hey!” I yelled, catching his attention. He looked at me, smiling wide.

“Ms. Zoe!” He said greeting me. He placed his bag at his side, a few envelopes sticking out of it. I removed my attention at it, looking back at the boy in front of me.

“Where is my mail?” I asked. “I’ll be taking it from here so you won’t need to go to my apartment” I said smiling. The boy widened his eyes.

“I already delivered it in your apartment ma’am. A short and frowning guy accepted it” he said and my heart starting beating fast due to fear. I grabbed the boy at the shoulders.

“Why did you gave him that?” I yelled, my chest tightening. The boy yelped so I let go of him and ran my hand through my hair. “did he open it?” I asked.

The boy shook his head, obviously scared with my previous self. I never had the time to apologize at him for I just ran immediately hoping that Levi won’t open any of my mails. If he sees the current bills and my unpaid loans, he will probably think that it is because of him. Which is not entirely true. I agreed to let him stay at my apartment despite my inability to shoulder the expenses so technically, I brought those problems to myself because I decided to. I can’t let him think bad of himself all due to my stupidity. I can’t have him leaving me when I started getting used to his presence. I can’t live in that apartment all by myself again so please Levi, do not open any of it.

After a couple of minutes running, I arrived at my front door, clearly out of breath. I opened it immediately, finding the apartment silent and empty. Did he already left? Am I too late?

My knees suddenly felt weak and I fell sitting at the floor. Maybe Nanaba is right. Maybe I am also feeling the same way now and I feel this sharp sting in my chest cause I am starting to want Levi too. That is why he can’t leave, not when I am finally realizing these things. A single tear fell from my eyes.

“Oy. What the hell are you doing?”

My whole body flinched.  I looked behind me, seeing Levi in his usual long sleeves shirt but it has a jacket on top of it. He also has a paper bag of groceries in his arms and and envelope of who knows what is inside, in his other hand.

“w-where did you go?” I asked, still looking at him in disbelief. Levi frowned.

“I went out for an interview in a job and went to buy the groceries after” he said. I turned my body around so I am fully in front of him.

“Job? So you will be leaving?” I failed to prevent the sob to come out from my mouth making Levi’s expression to soften. He kneeled in front of me and using the sleeve of his jacket, he wiped the corner of my eyes.

“I am not you idiot. I just don’t want to be a freeloader in your apartment so I went to accept the job as a high school teacher” he said looking straight in my eyes. “And I obviously can’t leave this apartment especially when there is a shitty woman who definitely needs someone doing the chore”

I sniffed which made Levi scowl. I smiled at him, erasing the previous frown in his face. “that is a good thing then” I told him, my heart releasing all the tense and fear inside of it. Levi stood up and offered his hand at me. I accepted it then he pulled me up.

“Let me pay all the expenses next month” Levi said, making me look at him.

“No it is actually alright for me” I replied but he threw me a glare.

“Don’t act too tough when your finances is a mess. Let me shoulder a bit of it since I am also living in here” He said and then he walked away. Unconsciously, a smile grew in my face and my heart started beating in its new, melodic pattern.

I don’t want to deny it anymore. I do feel different towards Levi and I definitely can’t bear the possibility of having him leave me. I want his attention, his presence and his voice more than anything so if there is a way for us to be together for a longer time in this apartment, I will willingly do it even at the exchange of something even bigger.