Dawn finally arrived following a restless night. But HEROIN's bureau siren sound still fastened to my mind like an echo. After yesterday's revelation, I couldn't get off worrying about Alfie. The thought that he would be taken away kept haunting me.

He was sleeping soundly on the floor next to my dracaena. Last night he spent hours staring at that plant, just sitting and gazing at it in fascination. No doubt he was strange, but considering he was the first-ever pod man who suddenly could move like a living human, his behaviour was still unknown to us.

The rustling from my bed made him stir. "Sorry I woke you," I uttered softly.

He tilted back and blinked. I waited for something more, but that was it. Hence I was baffled if he could understand or gestures were the only way for him to communicate.

Nevertheless, I insisted on talking. "I promised my friend I would come to school early today."

As predicted, he didn't make a sound. Ignoring me completely, he struggled to stand but kept falling.

I got out of bed and approached him. "Where are you going? What is it?" I asked.

It turned out he had wet himself, his pants were starting to soak. On the fourth day of his life, his excretion system finally kicked in. It was something I didn't foresee happening, moreover to handle. Now that he was human after all, so what was I expecting?

When we got to the toilet, the confusion began. The differences between the human male and female genitalia weren't something I was taught at school; not in high school at least. Since males were claimed extinct, their anatomy wasn't a matter of subject for education.

I placed him down next to the toilet. "I'd seen puppies do this," I told myself, scratching my head. "So you just... do your business okay?" I helped him off his pants and turned around.

Apparently it wasn't the best idea because a moment later my back felt wet. I spun nervously and tossed his pants back to him.

"Alfie!" I chafed. My voice came out louder than intended because of the tight space in the toilet. I grasped my mouth after realising I had scared him.

He was crawl-gliding to the corner in fear. It made me feel so guilty. "No, no. It's okay. I wasn't--" I tried to touch him, but he cringed and hugged his knees.

"What happened?"

My mother peeked through the door. Her eyes skimmed to Alfie and me in turns.

"I want to help him... But he peed on me." I explained, pouting meekly.

In the meantime, I was starting to remove my clothes then and there; feeling icky by urine. But my mother stopped me.

"Don't remove your clothes in front of him," she said.

"Why not?"

"There are many things you need to start learning honey."

Despite the confusion, I got out instead to remove my stinky clothes and put on my robe. When I entered the bathroom, my mother was bathing Alfie.

"He's like a baby," she began when she noticed me watching her. "He didn't know what to do and it's up to us to teach him." Her words ended before she wrapped him with a towel.

Alfie slouched when he walked past me at the bathroom door. He pulled the towel to cover his head as if it could hide him.

"Alfie, I'm sorry," I coaxed, gently touching him.

His face was inscrutable, yet the crease on his forehead gave away his unease. Guilt hammered in my heart, knowing it was from my outburst.

After we dressed him with another of my clothes; a grey blouse paired with my long pink pants. It made him look rather strange than before. Yet I couldn't put a word on it.

"Get ready for school" —my mother walked to the door and halted— "remember, keep yourself low for now while we decide what to do."

"Yes, ma," I replied with a firm nod.

Her smile flickered before she disappeared down the hall.

I drew my attention back to Alfie, who sat at the side of my bed, fiddling with the ruffles on a pillow. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Do you want me to sing for you?" I asked him.

Since I was sure he wouldn't answer anyway, I started singing. He turned his head to me, again watching me with his expressionless face. I moved slowly to him as each word passed through my lips. Once I finished, I ended sitting next to him, so I leaned slowly on his shoulder.

"I want to understand you. And I will. Now I'll go to school, okay?" My voice went as delicate as it possibly could. His eyes dilated upon meeting mine.

Unknowing to me why I had the need to kiss his cheek. When it happened, I saw his lips curved into a smile, and it was beautiful, it made my heart skip a beat.

***

After quickly gobbling down a piece of bread my mom had prepared on the table, I rushed to school. I lost track of time after the ordeal with Alfie. On my way, I bemused why was it that I felt time moving so fast suddenly?

Alatha was already waiting when I stepped into school ground. Luckily she was occupied with Amy.

"Hey, Charis." The redhead acknowledged me with a smirk. A look of mischief was plastered on her face.

"Hai, what's up with you two?" I asked her.

"I was just telling Ala about my new stash," she declared, hunching over and whispering the word stash.

With a slight narrowed eye, Alatha hummed in response. Just then, I remembered something about Amy; she had always been fascinated by the extinct men. An idea of learning about them rang in my head.

"So I'll be seeing you after school okay, Ala." Casting a wink towards Alatha, she finished.

When she was about to walk away, I grasped her arm. "Can I join?"

Both the girls face turned bewildered, like they'd seen a ghost. They were perplexed by my sudden interest in their unusual meetings.

To be continued...