Soon the three friends reached Lu Lijun’s home.
Though it was a late-night, Jerome and Martha were awake as Lu Lijun was not home. When the cab stopped in front of the home, Jerome, who was strolling here and there as he waited for Lu Lijun, went to the cab when he saw it.
Jake paid the cab fare and stepped out while Jerome opened the back passenger seat door and looked at Lu Lijun, who slept, resting his head on Noah’s shoulder.
"What happened?"
Jerome asked worriedly, but the next moment he smelt alcohol from inside the car as Noah drank enough to let other people sense it.
Noah realized Jerome understood and smiled awkwardly, "O-Our boy is still weak with alcohol."
Jerome said nothing and moved forward to get Lu Lijun out. The other two helped Jerome, and they carried Lu Lijun to his room upstairs.
When they reached the living room, Martha came out of her room when she knew Lu Lijun was back.
"What happened?"
But before they could answer, she understood and followed them.
Jerome removed Lu Lijun’s shoes, and Martha covered him with a quilt while the other two stood silently at one side as if they were guilty.
Jerome looked at both of them and instructed, "Both of you should change and sleep too," and bowing a little, he turned to leave.
"Jerome," Noah called him, and he stopped.
"We are sorry," said Noah and Jake too agreed as he looked at Jerome.
"Actually, it was my fault as I took these two out," Noah informed.
Jerome turned around to look at them, "It’s fine. No need to apologize."
Assuring Jerome left, and these two looked at Martha, who offered them a pleasant smile.
"It’s okay. Things happen when you are young. He will be fine till morning."
Consoling the two guilty souls, Martha left, and these two gave out a sigh of relief.
Though Jerome was just a butler, he meant a lot for these three. Jerome always looked after Lu Lijun like his son and cared for him. Not just Jerome, but Martha was the same, and Noah and Jake always respected these two just as Lu Lijun did.
Jake and Noah went to the room that was next to Lu Lijun’s room. As Lu Lijun lived alone in this home, Noah and Jake spent most of the nights there and even had arranged everything needed for them in one separate room. They either slept in Lu Lijun’s room or in the adjacent room, which now belonged to these two friends.
Freshening up and changing into night pajama’s, when they both lay into the king-sized bed as they stared at the ceiling, Noah thought about something as he spoke.
"Hey, Jake!"
"Hmm!"
"Why did you drink today when you hated it for the past few years now?" Noah asked.
"Don’t ask dumb questions," Jake countered as he closed his eyes.
"Hmm!" It was a neutral humming that didn’t convey if he said yes or no. It was like he replied for the formality of answering Noah.
Noah realized something and immediately sat in the bed as he stared at Jake, "I forgot the most important part. First, answer me when did it happen, I mean the kiss? And how come I don’t know?"
"It’s an old story and nothing much to talk about," replied Jake as he turned, facing his back towards Noah, indicating he wanted to sleep.
"At least tell me who the girl was? Was she studying with us, or is she a princess from another royal family?" Noah insisted.
"Nobody," came the cold reply.
"You and Lu Lijun, both are the same," Noah frowned as he lay back and asked, "Why did you stop drinking? Was that person a reason?"
"Hmm!"
"Don’t tell me you kissed her when you were drunk, and she slapped you, then you broke up," Noah commented.
"If you don’t shut your mouth, I will throw you out of the room," Jake warned,
"Hmm, okay."
Just as Jake was sleepy, Noah spoke again, "Hey Jake."
"What now," Jake asked annoyingly.
"The first time when Lu Lijun drank and was in the same condition, after a few hours, he started mumbling something in his sleep, and we both couldn’t sleep the entire night," Noah replied.
"Hmm!"
"Do you think this time too...."
With these words from Noah, both got up and ran to Lu Lijun’s room in a hurry. As expected, Lu Lijun was mumbling something, and these two went to him to hear what it was.
"W-why..did you... send me away? Why..did you...."
Lu Lijun was repeatedly mumbling the same thing as he tried to push the quilt away with his legs’ slow and weak movements.
"As expected," Noah commented and moved to fix the quilt while Jake went to the wardrobe.
Pulling out the winter coat from the wardrobe, Jake kept it on the bed in a way so that Lu Lijun could hold it or touch it.
Even though Lu Lijun was drunk and was not in his right mind, the moment he held the winter coat, he stopped mumbling as he held it tightly.
Finally, he was calm, and the other two continued staring at him.
"I wonder what is so special in that winter coat that he never let it go and sleep with it."
"His good memories must be related to this coat," Jake concluded.
Noah agreed, "Hmm. Should we go back or stay here?"
"He would be fine now. Let’s have some sleep,’ Jake suggested, and both went back to their room.
-------
Late in the next morning, Lu Lijun woke up with his head hurting. He looked at the room, and it didn’t take him much time to realize what must have happened.
The blond guy, Jake, who looked fresh after having a bath and wearing new clothes, entered the room, and Lu Lijun asked, "Did I fall in front of them?"
"No," Jake replied, and Lu Lijun gave out a sigh of relief.