Just don't ask me what we were talking about.

Just don't.

Stop.

HE DIDN'T HOLD MY HANDS, I TOLD YOU TO STOP.

I was waiting for Alex to come and start distracting Kassy and Andrew. Tapping my feet as fast as I could as if doing so would make the time spin faster. I ran up to him as soon as I could.

"Hey, where were you?" I asked and walked away from the trio. They followed us behind; tormenting Kal, I assume. I didn't want to be held accountable for what happened. My head his all fuzzy and dripped with all the emotions that flashed in front of me, it's too hard to compute which one do I want to feel and avoid.

"I was at the cafeteria, duh. I told Kass that you'll be in the park but looks like," He turned back to look at Kal, who was busy talking to Andrew and his sister, "someone knew where you'd be right before me." The grin on his face was two puns away from kissing a stone, I hope he knew that.

"Yeah, he was just talking me out of the fright." I brushed him off.

"So," Alex started to kick away the rocks like he always does, "did you find any dirt on him?"

"I know something, but it's not enough. It's definitely not easy to open him up. He's so comfortable with being secluded that it's...scary."

"Not all have to be a social butterfly like you to feed their energy." Alex had put his hands in the pockets of his letterman; he was eagerly waiting for Kass to catch up with him.

"I know, but you need someone to tell what's going on with you. Bottling up emotions is like a bomb; you'll blast off and hurt everyone close to you."

"What's with late night and you becoming Shakespeare, bruh, cut me some slack." Alex sneered, scrunching his nose. "It's too late for my brain to function."

"Aww, you smelt your brain fart too? Don't worry, I won't tell Kass." I winked at him as he grabbed me by the neck and manoeuvred.

A harsh tap on my shoulders forced me to turn around, Kal was now walking with us. Before I realised, my body had given its control to my devil side who clearly wanted to mess my life since 2002. My eyes had widened so much, my stomach turned into knots as if doing so would anchor my eyeballs to stay where they belong.

"If you don't mind Alex," Kal was totally ignoring me but leaned in so close, I wondered if his cheeks were capable of smelling the dinner I had, "Can I take Eli for a moment? Would you say something to his parents to cover it up?"

"Wait, are you taking him to your place?"

The chills down my spine made me freeze and just stare at him with my eyes popping. I couldn't fathom what he was up to, nor did I want him to manipulate me into believing whatever he did was right. A thousand thoughts were escaping and crossing my mind but none of them connected well for me to speak something.

"No, I mean, I gotta drop Andrew to his place and he's got to run some errands. I don't want Kass to hang around, so, with all my poor decision-making skills. I trusting you with the job of dropping her off safely. I am taking Eli with me."

Alex nodded like a wild puppy who was just offered some food. Of course, he wouldn't deny that offer. Kal deliberately did it, Alex would never leave me alone at night. I can't believe my cousin chose a girl over me.

"What say, Eli?" Kal was finally asking me, I wonder what made him seek the consent of the person in question.

"Um," I screwed my nose, folding my hands but rubbing my temples with another, "if you're leaving Alex with Kass, alone," I leaned in, furrowing my eyebrows, "wouldn't my surveillance make it more secure journey?"

I had caught him on the wrong foot. His tried and tightened throat wouldn't let any deceit escape anymore---

"No, it's Kassy's plan. She wants to talk to Alex. I am all on board with you invading their privacy." He narrowed his eyes, which roughly would have translated to not to mess with his sister. I looked down, kind of embarrassed to think that I thought Kal would want to talk to me, but he wouldn't have slipped his hand---

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

Kassy and Alex parted ways, one was visibly more excited than the other. We three were standing at the corner of the street, the air of tension and awkwardness solidifying into walls.

"So, I have some work at Stacy's, why don't you lovebirds grab a shake while I am done?" Andrew blew a kiss and floated away from us.

"It's been a while since he called me a lovebird," Kal and I both were staring in his direction, he looked at me, which forced me to do the same, "but he's never wrong at guessing what I feel you know?" He escaped and started to walk faster than he winked. It took me a while to get a hold of what he just said and realise how sly he had just become. He just reminded me... of the guy he used to be.

"Don't be hypnotized in my trance, lovebird!" He called out from the three blocks he had already crossed and waved at me. I shook my head and ran towards him.

"Don't call me a lovebird," I snapped, while still trying to keep up with his pace and my breath. He takes strides that can fit three men sleeping head to hoe.

"Shall we now be on a nickname basis, then?" He narrowed his eye, but that stupid sly grin he always wore was just blooming brighter and brighter.

"What has gone into your head? Did you eat watermelon seeds by accident?"

"Firstly, no, watermelon seeds are delicious, I eat them as it is, and secondly, why? I have always been like this. You've stayed too away from me. Come closer, you might forget my name now."

"Don't bait me, tell me about that list."

"I just need to whisper into your ears and you'll obey my order. You're too chicken head to be baited. As far as the list is concerned, we need to grab a drink and talk."

Walking two blocks more got us to our destination, a tiny coffee shop. The purple neon lights added to the charm of it. It really looked aesthetic. We entered, with the animated chatter and a warm wall of air hitting us. The coffee shop was filled with locals, I assumed, or they made the world's best coffee. Kal held me by the wrist this time and took me to the table near to the wall full of books. This corner was quiet and generally isolated from the rest of the shop. He pulled the wooden chair for me and I nodded in acknowledgement.

"Have you been here before?" I asked, trying to cut the ice in this otherwise humid place.

"Yeah, this is an IG model go-to, but they make the worst coffee. Your cat can piss tastier than the coffee. Wait, lemme order one thing I know that's edible."

He proceeded to order the barista who came to take the order.

Now we had time to kill, I didn't want the playground scene to repeat.

"So, the list?" I started the conversation again.

"Yeah, so apparently now I can't attempt to kill-" I grimaced and he paused, examining his words, "I can't do what I was about to do, I have no choice but to complete all the things I thought I'd do before I nail the coffin. I think I could use your help with some of them."

"Ok, but if you're able to complete all things, you wouldn't do it again, would you?"

He sighed, playing with the keys of the car, then looking up at me, "If I ever do it, I won't leave with the dissatisfaction. The list is stupid really, you needn't help-"

"What are the things that you've already done?" I don't know why, but I wanted to take control over the possibility that I can help him get over with whatever is going on with him.

"Too much business-oriented, aren't you?" He smirked.

I screwed my face, "was that supposed to be racist?"

"Jesus Christ," he ran his hands through his hair, then looked at me deadpan, "No, bonehead. Anyway, I have already done two. The ghost hunting one and um," he started to tub the back of his neck, "sorry for stealing your tea."

"Oh my god, what did you write in the list? Steal from strangers?"

"I actually wrote, "shout I volunteer and take the drink away" but yeah, you summed it up well too."

"May I see the list?" I brought my hand forward on the table.

"Um, not now. There are some things that only a trusted person can read, but no issues Eli, your annoying voice is growing on me pretty smooth." I swear as much I wanted to be the butt of his teases if that made him happy, I wasn't in the mood to joke around.

"Fine, how many are there?"

"Ten, let me warn you," He leaned in the most dramatic manner ever, "some are deathly too."

"Yeah?" my voice tried to muster the challenge he was presenting, "then that'll be ten lethal ways not to kill yourself."

"Wow," Kal popped his eyes and raised his eyebrows, covering his mouth, "how did you guess the title of my sex tape?"

"I saw it on OnlyFans, let me tell you," I leaned in, so did he, until we could count the blackheads on each other's noses, "my cat's piss is sexier than that."

With that, I was met with a quick flick on my forehead.

"Ouch," I squealed and rubbed my forehead furiously, "that hurts."

"No shit, Sherlock," Kal started to clear the table as the barista came up with two boba tea, "it was supposed to."

We sipped our tea, which tasted like diluted tears of my cat, by the way, in comforting silence. We both needed time to adjust to the fact. He was letting me enter the part of his life that only a few people know. He needs to adjust with me now being with him until our colleges separate us.

We really need to adjust to our presence in each other's life without seeming intruding.

"We can strike one task off, do you wanna do that?" He interrupted the silent conversation.

"What's it?"

"Wait, take your time and finish your tea, let me prep up for it."

I nodded and he fidgeted with his mobile phone a bit. After I was finished with the tea, he grabbed me, this time not flinching or making me flinch. "Just stay and add on to what I say." He whispered and walked up to the counter. Gesturing me to take my phone out, he started to ask a barista, "Um, I think there's one problem, but what year is this?"

I was so confused, but I forced myself to keep a straight face. The barista tiled his head and plucked his eyebrows together, "I beg your pardon?"

"You see, this crazy thing happened with my friend and I. My phone is showing the year 2045," He flashed his home screen, which he apparently tampered, "which I know is the right date but his phone is showing 2020," he grabbed my phone and flashed the date, "so, what date is it?"

The barista was deadpan, but he muttered, "2020."

This is when Kal Callahan returns to the best of his charms. He runs his fingers through his hair and starts to laugh hysterically. Chanting "no, it can't be, how is it possible?" a few times added to the thick plot that he was brewing. Finally, he hunched and screamed on top of his lungs, "WHAT YEAR IS THIS?" which either deafened me or silenced the entire cafe. With that, he grabbed my hand and ran out of the shop.

We ran as fast as we could till all the shops lined up in the shape of a singular dot. I hunched on my knees to catch my breath, but Kal didn't stop.

"Callahan," I tried to let a shout escape with my breath, "you're one heck of a lethal ticking bomb."

His smile just added to fact that he agreed.

~~~
Word count: 2114

A/N

4k words a day? I am god😎
Anywho, I guess I am back on my writing spree again. Last time I churned 10 chapters in a row, so I hope this book gets over in this writing spree.
Excitement and fluff coming through🧡

Also, point out the typos. I wrote this in the middle of the night.