Age Is Just a Number

f 

Zara’s POV: 

I wipe away the tears, “Wait here, I’m going to go grab a first aid kit.” 

Walking towards the closet, I grabbed the small white box and made my way back into the room. I clicked the box open and treated Randy’s wound. “You’re really good at this,” he said. “I can barely feel the stinging sensation.” 

There’s a light tug on my lips, “I have a lot of practice.” 

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he responds. 

Silence falls on us while I continue treating Randy’s wound. It wasn’t deep enough for stitches, so that’s good. Randy needed stitches on his wounds once. He 

the hospital. He said he would rather die than to pile up more bills in the hospital. Let’s say I’m grateful that my treatment did not end up with an infection. 

refused to go. 

Once the last bandage was in place, I closed the box and threw away the items. Tugging off the gloves, I threw it in the trashcan and fell onto the couch. 

Randy rests on the other side, “Your house is nice.” 

“Yeah. I guess it’s nice.” Most days.. 

“I wish my house was this nice.” 

“Your future house will be better than this house.” 

He chuckles slowly before covering his face with his arm. Randy groans slightly due to the pain. “I would be happy just to be able to get my own house.” 

“Marry the head cheerleader, and you can get a house.” 

“She’s too good for a bastard like me.” 

“Don’t say that.” 

“I already did. I can’t take it back now.” 

I hear the bell ding, wondering who else is here. “Got it,” Randy sat up. 

“No, I got it. Can you put this away?” I push the first aid kit towards him. 

He nodded and went to the other side of the room. Randy knows where all the first aid and medications are inside my house. 

I made my way towards 

e door and opened it. My eyes widen at the man standing in front of my doorsteps. “William,” I said his name slowly. I cannot believe he is here while Randy is inside. 

William smiles, scratching his head slightly. “Hey.” 

“Why are you here?” I attempt to keep the door as close to me as possible. 

“You didn’t seem well at the hospital, so I got worried.” 

I almost want to laugh at his statement. I got signed out of the hospital, a place where people who don’t feel well stay. Of course, I won’t look good. “I’m fine.” 

“Zara!” Randy’s voice made my heart nearly leap out of my chest. 

William’s eyes narrow, and he tilts his head, “Who’s that?” 

“Just a friend.” 

“Where does the kit go again? The first or second shelf?” Randy unnecessarily questions. 

William places a hand on the door and pushes back. I refuse to move away. He smiles, but it looks scary. “Sounds like a boy friend?” 

I return his smile, “Just a friend who is a boy.” 

“That’s what I said, boy…friend,” he pushes back again. “I can’t meet your friend?” 

“You don’t want to meet him,” I attempt to laugh, but it sounds more like a terrified hyena chuckling. 

“Why not?” 

“Because…Because-” Dammit, Zara! Come up with a good reason. 

“Zara. Don’t you hear me?” Randy is standing behind me. His voice sounds much too loud to be at a distance. 

Without another word, William pushes the door open. I conclude that he could’ve done that at any time because of his sexy Godzilla arms. 

Their eyes met. 

Silence. 

“Why are you here?” William questions calmly. 

I look at Randy, who’s eyes revert to me. 

Quickly, I shake my head. Oh, for Lord sakes. Please, Randy, do not do what I think you’re about to do. 

He smirks, maybe making a mental prayer to God. “For Zara, who else?” 

And he did it anyway. 

Before I can interfere, William raises his fist and punches Randy causing him to fall to the ground. Randy didn’t drop as William was still holding him, raising another fist. 

“William ston!” Ioba. 

softening. I held his fist, shaking my head. 

che 

He’s breathing rapidly, teeth grinding as he glances back at Randy. William threw him back, causing Randy to stumble into the wall. He grabs my waist, pulling me into his chest. “Why is he here?” 

“Randy is my friend, so he is here to make sure I’m fine,” I hissed, trying to get out of William’s grasp and heading towards Randy, but he grabbed onto me tightly. “Let me go, William,” I said in a stern voice, and I can see his eyes falling, lips twitching upward as he loosely releases me. 

I rush towards Randy seeing blood oozing out of his lips and help him walk towards the couch in the living room. I can feel the burning glare behind me, glancing at Randy, I’m sure he feels it too. Setting him on the couch, his face grimaces at the pain. William takes a seat on the chair across from us. I open the box that’s still in Randy’s hands and silently treat Randy’s new injuries. When I finish, I slam it shut, suggesting my displeasure with a specific guy action. 

“William, may I speak to you in the other room, please,” I demand, walking towards the hallway, hearing his footsteps behind me. 

I threw the first aid kit in the closet and closed it. Turning around, I was caught by surprise as William slams his hands against the closet door, trapping me. My eyes went from his broad chest towards his darkening eyes. “So, I’m William now, huh.” 

My brows inch closer together. “Of course you’re William, who else-” I pause when he takes a step closer, pressing me against the wall and him. 

“Muffin,” he pauses, inhaling a deep, shaky breath. “You call me Muffin, but-” he took another mere tiny step closing our distance, my chest feeling the erratic beats of his heart.. “In there, you called me William the whole time,” his grip tightened. “Why?” 

I opened my mouth but was unable to speak. My nails dig into the woods of the door. He tilts his head, closing the distance between our lips. “Is he special to you? Do you like him?” I can feel his warm flesh grazing against mine with each word, the air between his lips entering my own. 

I need to change my underwear. 

leaving no space between us. “I know you’re broken–hearted,” He whispers, lips trailing against my neck. “But this isn’t the answer.” 

“What?” 

“Your break–up.” 

What break–up? 

Then, it clicks. “Oh, yeah. I mean-” I shake my head. “No, I’m not hooking up with Randy.” I nearly forgot about my fake breakup. 

Lost in my thoughts, I finally came back to reality when his hand touched my cheek. He tilts his head, eyes gazing affectionately. Slowly, I can hear his hand. sliding down the wood, towards my hands, tangling it together. My body was trembling at his tactics, wanting to remove these damn clothes between us. 

There’s a deep cough to my side, and I turn my head to see Randy, realizing what position I am in with William. He had me pressed up against the wall, thigh between my leg, hands wrapped with mine, without any distance between us. If I was a stranger, at this angle, it looks like we are about to do, um, something. 

Instantly, I push William back and start fixing myself. He stands there, running his fingers through his hair, glaring at Randy. 

“You two were gone for a long time, so I got worried.” He places two hands in the air and step back, “I didn’t know that you guys were, you know,” he rolls his fingers in a circular motion, then makes his hand in a circle with a finger poking through it. 

I feel the blood rushing towards my cheeks, knowing what Randy meant. “No!” I shout. shaking my head. “We aren’t doing that! We were talking.” 

Randy nods slowly, still not believing me. 

My eyes went towards his cut lip. I grab William’s shirt turning us away from Randy. “Apologize,” I hiss. 

“For what?” 

My eyes widened in bewilderment. “For punching him.” 

He folds his arms. “I’m not apologizing.” 

I peek at Randy, who can hear our conversation. “Randy, mind giving us some time alone?” I ask. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Call me if you need me,” he responded. 

“William Yi, I demand you to apologize to Randy right now!” I stated, folding my arms and tapping my foot. 

He ran his tongue through his cheek. “No.” 

I grab his ear, tugging it down, causing his arm to fall on the side. “Ow! Ow! Ow! Zara!” 

“Muffin, you better march down there and apologize or else!” 

“Or else what?” 

“Or else this!” I twist his ear harder. 

He held onto his ear. “Damn it, Zara! That fucking hurts!” He shouts, and I release. his red ear. 

“Go. Apologize. Now.” I shot him a nasty glare, folded my arms, and tapped my foot again. 

He rubs his ear, glancing at me once in a while. “Fine,” he mumbles, stomping down the stairs like a little boy. 

I rush after him to ensure Randy won’t get punched again. I stand there, looking at William overpowering Randy. Randy wasn’t a short guy, no, but William, six feet structure, was threatening. He stands there with folded arms and looks down at Randy. From the scowl on Randy’s face, I can tell he doesn’t like it. 

品 

“Sorry,” he pauses, and I fear what was going to come out of his lips next, “that I beat your ass” William smirks, and I threw my palm on my head, knowing he is not sorry and that was one of the most unconventional apologies I’ve ever witnessed. 

“Apologies,” Randy also pauses, “Not fucking accepted asshole.” He passes William, making sure to brush his shoulder and head towards me. 

“I’m going to go. Call me if something happened.” 

Randy purposely kisses my forehead and leaves. 

Oh, Randy. Why?