~Banana 23~

                                    

                                          
Ibe has left and Eiji's tears has also dried. 
                          
Maybe I should head back? It wouldn't be good to be out for too long and have them suspicious of me. Eiji thinks and he nods his head in agreement to himself. Just as when he was about to turn to a corner that leads straight to the dining hall, he makes a 360° turn.
                          
I should wash my face first. Yeah, that'd be my first move.
                          
Eiji quickens his pace and at last he reaches his room. When he got in, the door automatically closed behind him. He spins around only to turn around again.
                          
"A-Ash." He nervously calls out while fixing strands of his hair that had stuck to his wet cheeks. "What are you doing here?"
                          
"I could ask you the same." A shiver runs down Eiji's spine hearing Ash's serious tone.
                          
"What were you talking about with Ibe-san?" 
                          
Eiji's heartbeat stopped for a second. Lie, Eiji. You can't break a promise you just made.
                          
Eiji inhales a long breath and he could feel himself shaking as he breaths out. 
                          
"It's about my work. He hasn't heard from me for quite a while so came to check on me. Man, I'm surprised he found me here much more pass Yut Lung's gates in one piece." Eiji was able to maintain a steady voice but all was in naught when his laugh cracked.
                          
Sensing that Ash is not believing him even one bit, Eiji starts to walk to his bathroom door where he thinks he can lock himself to temporarily escape Ash's interrogation.
                          
"You can head back first. I'll use the toile---" Eiji is put steady on his feet when a hand slammed on the door from behind. It was Ash. And even though Eiji isn't looking, he could feel Ash's blazing fury burning his back. 
                          
Eiji attempts to twist the knob but Ash's other hand stops him. 
                          
Don't make things harder for me, Ash. 
                          
Eiji calms his nerves before he turns to face Ash. He has prepared words to tell Ash but he lost all those when he met Ash's eyes. Eiji couldn't decipher the emotions behind them. It was as if they were questioning him. A mixture of anger and pain. Guilt and lonliness. Those were only some of the emotions Eiji could see lurking in those envy green orbs.
                          
Don't give in, Eiji. 
                          
Eiji lowers his head down for a brief moment. Then he bites his lips. Eiji looks up to Ash again and smiles widely. 
                          
"Really. You don't have worry about anything. We only talked about work and if ever you're suspicious of me, let me just say that I also did not spill any information about you. How can I when I don't even know anything?"

                          

That's not what I meant, Eiji. Ash clenches his fists as he steps aside to release Eiji.
                          
"Eiji, I---"
                          
"Ash, Emergency!" The door suddenly bangs open, revealing Sing behind it looking so panicked.
                          
"Our two bases---" Sing pauses to suffice oxygen his lungs are craving for, "--- has been attacked by that man." Together with Sing, Ash immediately flees the room, leaving Eiji to contemplate on things.