"Your fight is more entertaining than the movie, you know," Jonas quipped while gulping down another handful of popcorn.

He had already finished half of the bowl.

"You don't get to eat any more of it," I snapped, snatching the bowl of popcorn from him.

"You two make a cute pair by the way," he jested with a wink.

Only till he received a mighty blow by my pillow.

"Start the movie again," I demanded.

Bruno shoved himself between me and Jonas as if he wanted to watch the movie too. My smart pet. Jonas attempted to steal from my share of popcorn quite a few times, but I wouldn't let him. It was almost midnight when the movie came to an end. We were gossiping on the plot twists for the next few minutes when a rumble of thunder cracked so stridently that it felt it was right above us. I peeked out of the window to see a mighty bolt of lightning flashing across the sky, which had turned gravel-gray now. I had to shut the window a few seconds later because of the ferocious cloudburst. A thunderstorm was on the way.

Before we could comment on the weather, our attention was quickly drawn to Kelvin, who had entered the room through the open door.

"The bulb in that room flickered out because of the thunder," he blurted out, answering the question on our faces.

"Hmm so? It's already midnight, you're going to sleep anyway."

"Amy, Xav Bro can't sleep with all lights turned off," Jonas responded for him.

I raised an eyebrow.

Interesting. I finally got something to pull his legs.

"Wait, so Senior Detective Kelvin Xaviers, who isn't afraid of guns, is scared of sleeping in the dark," I mocked, not letting such a golden opportunity go out of my hands.

Kelvin didn't say anything. Maybe I got him on the right spot. Well, I didn't continue any further since it wasn't any fun in fighting if he stays silent like that.

I wonder why he was silent though.

I glanced over at Jonas, feeling sorry for that poor guy for having to sleep in a lighted room for the past few days, credits to me. He made an innocent puppy face as if trying to gain more sympathy for the suffering he went through. I held my left ear with my fingers, gesticulating a funny apology.

"So Miss Amyra, if you would sleep in Jonas' room today-"

"Of course not! I'm not sleeping in that eerie room alone with no lights."

"Then go and knock on Mrs. Arabella's house, requesting her to let you stay with her tonight."

"Don't be funny Xav Bro, it's 1 am now. She's probably snoring and best of luck if you can wake her up before morning."

Kelvin sighed before turning to me again, "Then let us both sleep on the floor here tonight. I'll fix it tomorrow."

I considered for a moment. Would it be wise to let these two men sleep in my room?

Well, I had been staying in their house for a week and they had proved themselves harmless. Not to forget that I would have been dead by now if they had not saved me from my near-death experiences.

"Say Please," I demanded with a mood to mess around a bit.

Well, it's not every day that I get the chance to hear some polite words from Mr. Angry Young Man.

"Huh?"

"Say it," I merely shrugged my shoulders.

"Fine, please," he said, rolling his eyes.

"You could say it a bit more sweetly, you know."

"Only if I had seen such a bad time coming when I've to request someone else for allowing me to sleep in my own room," he heaved. "That too on the floor."

Jonas and I giggled in unison as always.

"Saying a sweet word doesn't cost you diabetes, you know," I wisecracked.

He tried his best to force a wide smile across his face before saying, "Pleaseeeee, Miss Amyra."

I bit the corner of my lips to suppress a chuckle.

"Yes yes, you can sleep on the floor. I have a big heart, you know."

"Sure you do..."

After placing the mattress and pillows over the floor, Kelvin chose the side beside my bed while Jonas took the other side. I really had no clue why.

We kept the lamp at the bedside turned on as our dear Mr. Xaviers was afraid of sleeping in the dark. I tugged my blanket and lay down with Bruno beside me, trying to fall asleep. No use. I was not used to sleeping with lights turned on. Even Bruno was constantly rolling on the bed; he usually sleeps way earlier.

I lifted my head a little to have a peek at Kelvin and Jonas. Kelvin's eyes were closed, not sure if he was already asleep though. Jonas was scrolling through his Instagram feed on his phone, probably not being able to sleep either. An idea cracked in my head.

How about some fun?

I grabbed my phone from my vicinity and texted Jonas. He glanced over at me after receiving the text and showed a thumbs up. I put Bruno down on the floor, letting him take the lead. My peppy puppy, however, leaped towards Jonas instead of Kelvin, being more attached to him. Failed attempt.

Jonas came up with a plan B and propelled the furball under their blanket, between him and Kelvin. He took out his phone, and then the real plan began-

HIGH MUSIC, HIGH FLOW

TAKI TAKI,

TAKI TAKI, RUMBA!

Kelvin's eyes shot open at the music, and he instantly rose up.

"What in the world-!"

Jonas and I cackled out loudly, not being able to control our outburst at Kelvin's reaction.

We waited as Kelvin's already startled face turned even more alarmed when he sensed something moving under his blankets. He lifted the blanket hastily as my bubbly pet sprang onto his lap. Kelvin's face was totally worth watching! He backed off a few inches at the sudden shock before yelling,

"What-is-your-dog-doing-here-Miss-Amyra!"

"Don't call him dog, his name is Bruno."

His left eye twitched in ultimate annoyance and he seized the phone from June's hands, turning off the music.

"What do you two think you are doing at this hour of the night?" he demanded.

"Taki Taki, Rumba!" Jonas replied chuckling.

I was pretty sure even Kelvin could not but forget his anger at that one. I took the chance to turn on the music again, this time on my phone. Kelvin looked at me with a helpless face, feeling defeated; he was aware by now that by no means he could stop both of us. I was almost about to turn off the song seeing his puppy face, but I managed not to fall for it.

He buried his forehand in his hands, and huffed out saying, "Why am I even in this shit?"

The outbreak of chortle continued as Jonas and I copied the hook steps to the beats of the song.

Kelvin got up and scurried towards the cupboard. Who knows what he was up to?

He came back with a gun in his hand and a serious look on his face. I gulped and quickly turned off the song, straightening myself.

"Tables turned," Kelvin grinned.

"Now if you two don't go to sleep like good kiddos, then two bullets from my gun are going to get a life today," he threatened with a smile spread across his face.

Although I knew he was just messing around, I decided to retreat.

"June! Why are you still awake?" I messed around for the last time.

"It's late. I need to sleep, don't disturb me," I acted as I pulled my blanket and pretended to be asleep.

I had one of my eyes slightly opened to see the next scene.

Jonas played along as he faked a yawn while saying, "Yes yes I've to sleep too. Goodnight Kelv."

I tried to turn my head a bit without being noticed, to have a glance at Kelvin's reaction. He had a What-the-dash look on his face as a response to the abrupt change in our antics. I closed my eyes rapidly as he walked back towards this direction.

"Take your dog from here Amyra, I know you're not sleeping."

"Let him sleep with you tonight. At least someone seems to love you," I jested, opening one eye as I saw Bruno already dozing peacefully.

"Goodnight Kelv."

"You don't get to call me that," he warned sharply.

"We'll see," I replied with a chuckle before closing my eyes again.

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