A Night to Remember

This isn't the first time something like this has happened. It's not the first time that a taken girl, unhappy with Ken's behavior, goes to complain to her toxic boyfriend about how Ken made advances on her, ignoring the fact that she was reciprocating.

And it's not the first time that said boyfriend decides to take it out on him by beating him up. Therefore, Ken can hold his ground quite well in hand-to-hand combat. The problem is, this time his opponents are not one or two, but a group of six guys. So, he was beaten really good.

"Next time you'll think twice before laying eyes on a taken girl." The guy who seems to be Amy's boyfriend spits at him, before signaling the others to leave and abandoning him collapsed on the cold concrete of the street, covered in bruises on his face and probably many other parts of his body, though he's lucky enough to not see them as they're all covered by the winter clothes he's wearing.

He tries to move slightly to get up, but a moan escapes his mouth as he realizes that even the slightest movement causes his legs to ache.

I can't go home in this condition... and I can't make Will worry more than he already is... ugh...

There's only one place left for him to go.

It's the place that has become like his second home lately, inhabited by one of the people he trusts the most. He manages to reach Rebecca's house with some difficulty, even though he's slightly dazed and the adrenaline has dulled the pain a bit. He rings the doorbell. He's not sure about the time, but he thinks it's not too late, and luckily for him, she might still be awake. He's so tired that even standing still makes him wobble, and he leans against the wall to avoid the risk of falling and worsening his situation.

"Oh god! What happened to you?!" Luckily for him, as soon as Rebecca opens the door and sees his condition, she rushes to grab him and hold him close to her.

"Heh... You'll never guess what happened..." He tries to play it down. He's much heavier than her, but she still takes his arm and tries to support him, leaning him against her back as she brings him inside and closes the door with her foot, with some effort. She lays him down on her bed before cupping his face with both hands and turning it between them to check for serious injuries.

"You absolutely need to tell me everything. And I mean EVERYTHING that happened!" She gently brushes her fingers over the bruise forming on his cheek.

"It's a funny story actually..."

"Stop joking! This is serious." She starts unbuttoning his parka to check for more bruises or abrasions on his torso and arms.

"W-wait..." He's too weak to protest any further, and she manages to remove his hoodie too, revealing his bare torso. As she had suspected, he has bruises there too.

"Did you eat?" He shakes his head. "Do you want me to make something for you? You're probably a better cook, but I can't let you cook in this condition..."

"I'm not hungry. Actually, I'd like to ask you something else."

"Anything you want."

"I don't want to be too much of a bother after all you've already done for me, but if you could let me sleep here just for tonight, I would be immensely grateful."

"Only if you tell me what happened. I can't risk helping a potential criminal." She jokes, and they both laugh.

"Alright. But you sleep with me." He looks her directly in the eyes.

"You want me to sleep in the same bed? Wouldn't you be more comfortable-"

"Please? It's your bed after all, and besides, you'd be able to keep an eye on me better if you're in the same room."

"...Alright." She makes her way around the bed to lie down on the other side, next to him.

"I'll keep you company until you fall asleep." She whispers.

"I got into a fight..." He admits, and she turns onto her side, facing him.

"A group of guys beat me up. It was six against one, so I couldn't defend myself."

"But that's terrible! You should report them!" She continues to look at him with furrowed brows.

"I won't. My family can't find out, especially because... it's not the first time it's happened."

"What?!"

"You know, unfaithful girlfriends and their jealous boyfriends... I'm a good guy, I swear!" She raises an eyebrow, playfully using air quotes while saying 'good guy'.

"I'd never do things like that! Neither hitting on taken girls nor getting into fights with anyone!"

She chuckles softly. "I know. Now I know." The second sentence is whispered, but he still hears it given their current proximity.

"What do you mean 'now'? Didn't you think that before?"

"I was kind of... intimidated by you. You're quite famous, being the charming playboy of our school." She reveals, mimicking quotation marks with her fingers when she says 'charming playboy'.

"So, in the beginning, you were avoiding me? You weren't just shy?"

"Now I understand what Will means when he says you're dumb. But I would call you more oblivious."

"Hey! You can be oblivious too."

"Huh? When have I been?"

"I-I can't remember." He turns his face away, avoiding her gaze, blushing.

"Then your point isn't valid." She lies back down on the bed and stares up at the familiar ceiling of her room.

Neither of them continues to speak, and silence settles between them, only the sound of tires on the road and the rustling of the wind can be heard through the slightly open window of the room.

Is it a good time now?

He turns towards her and looks at her intently. She's still lying on her back, but her face is turned the other way, so he can't see it.

"Bibi...?" He says, almost in a whisper. She doesn't move at all.

Has she fallen asleep?

"I like you." He manages to whisper. He closes his eyes.

"Goodnight."

That's okay. He falls asleep too.