TOXIC OBSESSION

APART.

Lian sat on the couch already fed up by his best friend's questions; he had answered as many as he could but yet questions kept flowing in. “For the thousand and one times he drove me to the bus stop, end of story" he folded his arm, hoping the interrogation ended there.

“That's it? nothing happened?” Nick asked in a disappointed tone, Lian nodded not sure what else he wanted to happen between them when they had just met. “You're the worse! even when you're drunk, you still couldn't have fun” he rolled his eyes as Lian.

“I don’t understand, what did you expect? I just met him for crying out loud Nick, am I suppose to throw myself at the first person that approaches me?” he asked, with his eyes on him.

“I know that, I'm aware you're a good for nothing but I expected more from him, those eyes he gave you at the club were something else, then you come telling me nothing happened? You both need to get your heads checked" Nick said as he picked up his phone to check Cobi on i********:.

“He's a gentleman unlike you, you're a beast and a f*****g heartbreaker, that's what you are. I can't count the number of girls that have had their hearts broken by you” Lian said as he got on his feet walking off to his room, he started arranging his things for his afternoon shift at his part-time job at a cafe.

“I may be an asshole but am glad I'm not a virgin boy” Nick said laughing.

“It only means I'm pure and holy. I may be the only one amongst us going to heaven” Lian said as he put his black bag pack on his back.

“Why in heavens name, are you going to work?"

"How many time do I have to explain to you, Lucas can't handle the customers alone and I'm a human unlike you" he replied rolling his eyes.

“Oh really, so I'm a monster right now, after everything I've done for you! Lian how could you?" Nick said wiping his invisible tears

"Silly!" Lian threw a pillow to Nick which he caught.

"OMG! Lian, come see this" Nick said almost screaming, Lian had no choice but to rush over to Nick, who showed him his phone, Lian gave it a glance and could tell it was Cobi’s page on i********:. “Our boy is not just loaded but can buy this country and everyone in it. he is the son of Mr. Greber and he's just 21" he voiced in excitement.

“That explains his house, wait his 21?" Lian said as he observed the pictures

"Yes, he just 21. You were drooling over a youngster"

"I didn't expect him to be that young" Lian spoke with his eyes still on the pictures.

"Wow! I'm impressed: Lian I never expected this, your Man is the sole heir to the Greber's wealth” he pointed out which made Lian swallow hard.

“I can see how happy you're about this, anyways see you when I get back, Mr. f*****g Nickolas" he rolled his eyes at Nick and gave him the f**k you sign before leaving.

“That was what you would have done yesterday but you couldn't" Nick yelled making sure Lian heard his every words.

Lian got to the cafe just few minutes past 9am, the cafe was already having its morning rush as usual “Good morning Lucas” Lian greeted as he helped him with the plates in his hands

"Lian? Why are you here? I thought I gave you the day off?” he asked wondering if he wasn’t clear.

"I know that but I can't leave you when I know how busy we get" he gave him a smile as he delivered the plates to the table of the rightful owners of the orders. Costumers kept flooding into the cafe till 12pm, Lian could finally breath

"Thank you" Lucas thanked Lian who had always been his life saver since he started working; at the first year of school, he gave him a can of Sprite along with a piece of cake.

"It's nothing I know how our morning rush can be, I don’t want you to stress about it" he replied, Lucas was two years older than Lian, he was the owner of the café.

"How's your night out with your friends?" he asked watching Lian shove the food quickly before answering Lucas's questions.

"It was fun, Nick dressed me up" Lian said pulling out his phone to show Lucas a couple of the pictures and videos he took from the outing last night.

"Wow! I never knew you would be this hot" Lucas complimented as he scrolled along watching the pictures with a big smile on his face.

"Would you stop it, I already got teased last night for wearing that, now you're doing the same thing" Lian pouted he was already feeling a bit shy because his thoughts went to Cobi.

“I'm sorry but I have to admit, I have never seen you in a dress like this and it looks so good on you, you look like a model" he complimented with a smile.

"I guess so, if it wasn't for Nickolas you still wouldn't see me in that, I felt so uncomfortable"

"I could tell, who's this" Lucas asked showing the picture of Cobi to Lian.

"Oh, He's my new friend, his name is Cobi"

"Your friend?" Lucas asked, he had known Lian from his first years in schoo,l he hardly made friends except they were Nickolas's friends, he hadn’t seen this person before which meant he was a new friend.

"Yes, he is my friend, we met recently" he explained.

"I must say he's something else, he looks good" Lucas added, finally handing over the phone to Lian before returning his eyes to the café, the smile that was on his face seemed to be fading away.

"Yes, he is good looking” Lian started to fantasize about Cobi, indeed Cobi was good looking, tall handsome with a pretty set of lips he wanted to have a taste of again.

"What's with the look Lian" Lucas voiced as he had returned his eye back to Lian who hardly complimented people, unknowingly to Lian he was subconsciously biting his lips just thinking about Cobi.

"What look? I'm just hungry" Lian lied before walking away, avoiding the subject with Lucas but there was something that made Lian a bit worried, he never exchanged contacts with Cobi, he wasn't sure if he would see him anytime soon. Lucas had to let Lian off, he could handle the cafe till it closed.

“Why don't you ask him out" a voice distracted Lucas from watching Lian leave.

"Are you serious Gavin? you know he only sees me as a brother and nothing more" Lucas said, he also had a secret he was keeping from Lian, he has had a crush on Lian since the first day he came to look for a job at the café.

"You would never know if you don't try Lucas, what's the worst that could happen, he would reject you and that's all, in this time and age rejection is only normal, think about it” he advised, Gavin worked at the cafe as a chef, he prepared all the pastry that were served at the cafe, he was also a very good friend to Lucas.

''it's not that easy Gavin. Just look at him, so innocent and harmless, I don't want to hurt him. He deserves better" he spoke.

"Deserves better? Can you hear yourself talk right now, you sound dumb! you like him, TELL HIM! and spear me that bullshit" he added tired of repeating the same thing to his friend every day.

"You know I hate you right?"

"Yes I do, but I'll always be here, so hate me all you want. That reminds me, it's me and Sophie's house warming party PLEASE BE THERE!!" Gavin informed, he didn't want any problems with Sophie, she was ready to bury him six feet under if Lucas didn’t show up for their house warming, she adored him more than anyone else in the world.

"I will, I won't miss it"

"You better not, you know how your sister can get, I don’t want her getting pissed" Lucas laughed he had lived with her for the better half of his life and it was a relieve to see her out of his hair.

*** *** ****

Cobi was in a haste to leave the presence of his father, he needed to have a mental rest after spending all day will him, his phone buzzed indicating he had a text message, ‘I found him! Lian Brock works at Dewberry café, he rushed outside but suddenly remembered he drove here with his father.

''Just great" Cobi said to himself as his mind wandered what next he was going to do, he turned trying to hail a taxi but no one seemed to be stopping, his eyes cut a glance of the no parking sign close to where he stood, without hesitation he walked forward before been able to get one.

“Dewberry café” he voiced getting in.