Sniffling, still with a heavy heart, I got up and walked to my car. When the phone buzzed again with the devil’s name flashing on the screen, I turned off the phone.

I wasn’t important enough for him to tell me anything, right? Let him taste his own medicine now.

SIXTY-ONE: PANIC

Knocking on the door, I waited.

The hallway of the hotel was cold and empty. There weren’t many people around. This hotel’s being so old and deep in the city could be the reason behind it.

This was the hotel Warner was staying at for the time being. He once gave me his address to meet him there, but I couldn’t find time to do so. Well, I had been ignoring him a lot in the last few days, even months. And here I was thinking not to hurt him anymore.

It was my luck to have such a great friend like him. Even after everything, he was here for me.

When nobody answered, I knocked again. And this time, I heard his voice.

“Who is it?” He opened the door, his swollen eyes met mine.

Surprise flashed in them.

“Em? Y-you came?” An uneven smile stretched across his face. “I thought you don’t care for me enough to keep my last request before I go back.”

I frowned. His words totally went ignored by me as I took in his appearance.

Disheveled hair, half tucked button down white shirt, some of the buttons left undone. The redness of his eyes, dark bags under them, and the slur of his voice had me concerned.

“Are you drunk?”

His shake of head was immediate. “Not at all. Was just having one or two glasses.” Rubbing his face as if to make him look better, he held the door wide. “Come in.”

Wrapping my arms around myself, I walked inside. The crease between my forehead formed again.

He had booked a small room with an adjoined bathroom and balcony with it. It’d be cozy if it wasn’t so messed up. Things were everywhere. Some of his clothes were scattered on the floor and on the bed. The cushions of the couch lay on the floor, and the coffee table was upside down. Even the sheet of the bed was half hanging down and half covering the bed.

It seemed like a storm had passed through this room.

I glanced at Warner. He awkwardly looked around the room before starting to pick up the cushions and his clothes.

Did he do this?

“Sorry, I-I was a little upset.” He swayed slightly on his feet. “I thought you weren’t going to come to meet me. I thought I wasn’t going to see you for one last time. But…” A goofy smile tugged at his lips. “You came. I was wrong, you do care for me. I was missing you a lot, you know?”