Linx slept well into the evening. During his sleep, Jazz prepared lunch for the two of them and tidied the apartment a bit. He also ignored all the calls and messages from Rose, finding it suspicious on how Rose is only texting Jim, but not any other coach.

Maybe she's connected to those men?

Jazz pondered on the thought but soon got rid of it. It's not a good habit to assume things you don't know and he sure wasn't about to start now.

Of course, being cautious is another thing. So he kept ignoring the calls and continued to do small chores around the apartment.

Every so often he'll peek at Kal's sleeping body, checking to see if Kal's stiff body and tense face relaxed yet. Jazz wanted to wake him up, since it looked like he was having a nightmare, but he stopped himself. For if Kal's dark eyebags told him anything, was that the boy needed some sleep.

So even though Jazz felt completely useless, he left Kal alone.

I should also stop calling Roftkal, Kal. I'll ask for his name once he wakes up. But for now I should stop being corny and just call him Roftkal.

Once evening hit, Kal started to groggily wake up. He truly didn't want to get up, just lazing around sounded fine to him. But the trauma of his father hitting him if he didn't get up fast enough, forced him to always to get up as soon as he wakes up, even to this day.

Though he has tried to break this habit of his, he can not break trauma by himself.

He needs help to break it.

But when has Linx ever gone to get help for himself? Never. Not when he needed help tying his show laces in first grade or when he sprained his shoulder last year.

So up he goes, ignoring his body's and mind's protest of getting up, the heavy weight blanket that was wrapped around him, rolling onto the maroon carpet. He ignored the headache that was starting to stab him and opened his eyes.

Upon inspecting his surroundings, he was not expecting Jazz's face to be three inches away from his own face. Kal furrowed his eyebrows and leaned back, trying to put some distance at this uncomfortable proximity.

Kal then noticed that Jazz's mouth was moving, he was even wearing a worried expression. But before Kal could be too confused, his senses soon came back to him.

"-alright? Kal, Kal, nod if you're okay. Are you alright? Is everything good? Shake your head if something is wrong, Kal. Kal?" Confused at Jazz's concern, he quickly nodded so he can stop Jazz's worries.

Jazz, finally getting a reaction from Kal after two minutes of continuous questioning, felt all of his tension being released. Jazz took in a deep breath, counted to five in his head, and offered Kal an unexpected smile.

Of course, Kal didn't smile back since he only smiles for Ivy. He just leaned further into the couch, trying to distance himself from the confusing situation.

"Would you like to eat some food? I made some lunch for us, or I guess dinner since it's already seven..." Sensing Kal's discomfort, Jazz smoothly created some space between them by getting up and going to the adjacent room, the kitchen, to prepare the food.

Kal stared towards Jazz's direction, still not registering anything that's happening to him. Kal released his breath that he was unconsciously holding and started to relax his stiff muscles. He tried closing his eyes to soothe his nerves, but his headache didn't want that.

So he opened his eyes again and decided to observe his surroundings to distract himself.

The overall color scheme of the apartment seemed to be gray and white, with a few bold colors splashed in. The couch he was sitting on was a nice light tan and the low coffee table, that was in front of him, being a soothing smokey color. Kal rubbed his feet on the soft carpet and noticed the many pictures that were hanging from the wall or placed on a countertop.

Most of the pictures were of people, but a certain dark-skinned woman kept on reappearing in all of them. As well as her bright smile that was always present with her buoyant coffee hair.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Jazz walked in, setting down two plates of hot rice noodles with pork and a salad in the side. He handed Kal a fork and a knife, Kal taking it with wariness.

Jazz ignored Kal's uncertainty, sat next to Kal, and began to eat. Kal, not having anything else to do, followed Jazz's suite and the two ate in silence. It wasn't exactly comfortable silence, but more of an unsteady peace.

"So, Roftkal, what's your real name? Cuz I'm starting to get tired of calling you Kal in my head." Jazz didn't look up at Kal since he knew intimidation wasn't going to get him anywhere. Heck, the poor fellow seemed to be more acquainted with fear then a friendly smile.

The silence stretched. It stretched while Jazz finished eating his food, while he was cleaning the dirty dishes, and while he sat back down with Kal.

Kal avoided any contact with Jazz. He just kept on observing his surroundings. Like the light pink lamp that was hanging next to the entrance or the dusty ceiling fan that was hanging in front of them.

"Okay, fine, you don't have to tell me your name or anything about yourself. But you do need to tell me what's going on so I know how to act around Rose. She's been calling and texting me nonstop, all about if I know where you went, and I don't know if I should tell her you're here or-"

"No! No no no no no no no, you don't need to tell her anything or where I am, nothing at-"

"But why shouldn't I? She's your coach. She's supposed to be taking care of you, not me. So I'll just text her right now so she can be the coach she's supposed to be." Jazz reached for his back pocket, pulling out his phone.

But before Jazz could even touch the screen, cold hands wrapped around his own.

They stare at each for a moment, Jazz seeing the sheer panic Kal was currently in. His eyes darting back and forth between their joined hands and Jazz's face. His chest pumping in and out at a faster pace, his breathing getting louder, and Jazz let it happen.

For he didn't wish to coax the boy into telling him the truth. Kal needed to coax himself into telling the truth.

"I-" Kal licked his parched lips, "I'll tell you what's going on," Kal stared at Jazz with all his soul, "if you don't tell Rose where I am." Jazz agreed because he never intended to text Rose in the first place.

He wasn't a jerk, okay?

But Kal did need a little push so Jazz could understand on what's going on.

He put his phone on the coffee table, far away from him but close to Kal.

Kal nodded to himself, his heart beating against his chest just a little less painfully. Yet it was only for a moment because he realized he now needed to tell Jazz his situation.

I have to tell him. If I don't then Rose will come here and force me to tell her what's going on. Plus, once I tell him, I won't have to talk to him again. Just do it Linx, talk to him...!

"So um..." Kal started to observe the apartment again, but this time his eyes weren't avoiding Jazz. Like the sunburn pillow Jazz's back was resting on.

"Okay, I don't have the best memory but here's what happened..." Kal then went to explain last night. Sometimes his words were too rushed, or details too vague, or the pauses too long, but he told Jazz what happened.

Though Kal didn't make the best storyteller, he didn't need to be one to tell his thoughts. His emotions.

Jazz acted like a statue the whole time because he feared if he interfered, then Kal would crawl back into his shell.

And that was the last thing he wanted to happen.

The story soon came to a close and silence stretched between them again. Though this time, it was a steady, peaceful silence. Jazz stayed quiet for a couple more minutes, letting Kal and himself understand on what just happened.

From what he gathered, it seemed like Rose and those boys were trying to tell him something. Jazz hoped it was something good, since it doesn't seem like Rose would ever intentionally hurt the lad. And though the relationship between the so called 'boys' and Kal were unclear, judging by the way the three men looked ready to either cry, kill someone, or a combination of the two for Kal in the alleyway last night, it supported Jazz's theory that they didn't wish Kal any harm.

"Okay, I won't tell Rose anything. Not even if she offers me some beer. But, there is one condition," Kal furrowed his eyebrows, immediately regretting telling Jazz any of the information.

"You have to the end of this week to figure out how to fix your situation. Because my wife is coming next Tuesday, and though this may sound rude, I wish to celebrate with her alone after not seeing her for a whole month. Of course, if you still didn't fix your situation by then, then you might be able to stay with us for another week or so. But that is no guarantee. So do you agree or no?" Jazz laid out everything, making sure Kal understood that he couldn't hide forever and needed to face his own problems.

Jazz also didn't want his wife to find out that this cute boy was staying in their apartment or else she'll think he's cheating on her. He is bisexual after all.

Kal nodded, but was frustrated that he couldn't hide away from the world forever. And though Kal couldn't see Jazz's intentions for setting up this rule, he did realize that he would need to face the boys again. Whether he liked it or not.

"Great! Then let me go get you some spare clothes and you can go wash up, yeah?" Jazz stood up and walked towards the hallway that was next to the kitchen. And just as he was about to leave Kal alone, a small voice called behind him.

"Um, Jazz? My name's Linx, if you were still wondering..." Linx's voice, quieter then the soft pitter-patter of the rain, barely reached Jazz. But he heard him loud and clear, and Jazz couldn't help but suppress the large grin that was forming.

He turned around and shined his white, but crooked, teeth towards Linx.

"Why hello Linx, my name's Isaac, if you were wondering as well! Hope we'll become friends in the future." Linx smiled back, though it was more of a nod then a smile, but Jazz appreciated the attempt anyway.

And Jazz disappeared into the hallway while Linx thought about what Jazz said.

How he hopes to be friends with Linx.

_______