Gabriel rang the bell and knocked on the door, but no one came to open it even after several minutes passed. Restraining a sigh, he pressed the doorbell again, keeping his finger on the button a bit longer, and hit the door a few more times, but the result was still the same. No one seemed to be making their way to the front door. However, there was definitely someone at home; he could hear noises coming from inside, the loud music making the walls tremble.

Feeling his mouth twitch, Gabriel took out his cell phone from his coat pocket and tried to call Stephan for the umpteenth time. But then again, his friend didn't pick up, and all he heard was the dial tone. Why wasn't Stephan picking up today of all days? He was usually glued to his cell phone, peeking at it every second. So how come he wasn't answering?!

"How many missed calls does this make?" wondered aloud Misha, furrowing his brow slightly.

"Dunno. I stopped to count after ten," shrugged Masha before glancing at Gabriel, asking, "What should we do now?"

"Well, we don't really have a choice. We need to talk to him today, whether he likes it or not, so let's just go in and search for his whereabouts. Someone forgot to lock the door," sighed Gabriel as he turned the doorknob, opening the said unlocked door. "Anyway, I'm sure Stephan is inside. His parents are not the kind to turn the music up so loud; only he would do that."

Among the three, not one was shy, so they casually went in, their heads held high as if they weren't currently trespassing. They all knew Gabriel was right, meaning that they couldn't postpone today's discussion. The next time Gabriel would be able to go out was unsure. In the end, Angela could always change her mind, saying that she didn't like the idea of her son spending so much time with someone who had brought him to death's door—because one day per month was still too much, too risky. What if he fell from the third floor this time, crashing headfirst onto the asphalt driveway?

Besides, who knows if Angela wouldn't assign him a chaperon in the future instead of locking him up. With an extra person tagging along, how could they openly talk about time travel and their plans for the future with Stephan? Whatever they said would travel back to Angela's ears. So, yes, they would use today's golden chance to corner Stephan, determined not to waste it, even if they had to trespass.

Once inside the house, the music was even louder, making Misha reflexively cover his ears with his hands, his small face twisted into a grimace. He thought that if he stayed here for too long, his eardrums would burst. In his past life, the Stephan he knew wasn't very fond of loud, boisterous music. No, the bar always had a calm atmosphere, no matter the time of the year.

As the group passed by the living room, Gabriel noticed Stephan's cell phone carelessly abandoned on the table. So he didn't have it by his side; no wonder he didn't answer. It was near impossible to hear the ringtone amid all the noises.

Looking around, Gabriel couldn't help but squint his eyes, feeling a little exasperate deep down. The state of the living room was alarming, to the point where it almost made him feel bad for the cleaning lady, who would have to clean up after Stephan. There were many bottles of alcohol scattered everywhere and even pieces of clothing, while empty bags of ch.i.p.s and popcorn littered the place, accompanied by several snacks forgotten here and there. It also seemed like Stephan had knocked a few glasses of alcohol while intoxicated, dirtying the floor and whatnot. In other words, it was a mess.

"Well, looks like someone had fun yesterday while their parents were out," snickered Masha, glancing at some p.a.n.t.i.e.s left on the back of the couch. "Do you really think that playboy will be able to keep his d.i.c.k in his pants? That's harder to imagine than time traveling, to be honest."

Because the music was too loud, Masha almost had to scream her lungs out to be heard, standing not even an inch away from Gabriel and Misha. But even then, they could barely hear her, having to guess most of what she said.

"…Probably not," admitted Gabriel with a sigh.

"He definitely won't," seconded Misha. "Anyway, where is he?"

"Probably snoring in his room. When he's wasted, he doesn't wake up no matter how noisy it can get, even though he's usually a light sleeper."

That being said, Gabriel showed them the way to Stephan's bedroom, and as they walked upstairs, getting farther away from the living room, the music became less painful for the ears, even almost pleasing. They stopped in front of a door and flung it open, but what welcomed them wasn't exactly a snoring Stephan. Although he was indeed in bed, he was busy doing some… exercises in it.

One girl laid n.a.k.e.d under Stephan, her pale, long legs spread wide open, while a man was on top of him, tightly gripping his h.i.p.s as he went in and out. The sound of flesh flapping against flesh resonated throughout the room, as well as low, enticing m.o.a.ns. Bright and paler love marks dotted their skins; there was not a part of their bodies that had been spared, reflecting their passionate night.

The three were so engrossed in their love-making session that they didn't immediately notice the arrival of three more persons in the room.

"The hell! You're f.u.c.k.i.n.g like bunnies in the middle of the day?! Guys, come on! Wait at least until evening!"

Casting them a disdainful look, Misha grabbed Gabriel's and Masha's wrists before spinning on his heels, adding as he dragged his sister and Gabriel into the corridor, "You have fifteen minutes, no more! We'll be in the living room, so don't you dare make us wait for too long, or I'm gonna come back to kick your a.s.s. Got it?"

"…Got it," answered Stephan in a somewhat hoarse voice, still shocked silly by the sudden appearance of his childhood friend, Masha, and a little boy he didn't know.

Humphing, Misha slammed the door behind him with his feet, pulling Masha and Gabriel downstairs to the living room. Then, he rummaged about to find the radio and turned off the music, heaving a sigh of relief once silence had befallen the place. That was better.

"Why do I have the feeling it's not the first time you stumble upon Stephan in this kind of situation?" asked Gabriel, indicating to Masha that she should sit with a tilt of his head.

"Because it's not," grunted Misha, rolling his eyes. "It's quite a familiar sight, actually. You don't want to know how many times I found him in a compromising position at work. That guy is worse than a cat in heat, for f.u.c.k's sake! And whenever I surprised him playing around with his one-night stand, he more often than not invited me to join them, not at all ashamed."

"…Did you accept?" wondered aloud Masha, c.o.c.king an eyebrow.

"Why the hell would I?! If he hadn't been my boss, I would have beaten him to death or cut that useless thing between his legs. But, seriously, every time I had to go to the toilet, I was afraid to hear m.o.a.ns and whatnot. Even Dereck lost patience once and threw him out, not caring if he was half-n.a.k.e.d or not."

Misha paused, a smirk stretching his lips, before adding with a giggle that dripped with schadenfreude, "Stephan came back the next day with a nasty cold. Autumn nights can be quite chilly, especially when you're wandering outside wearing only a pair of b.r.i.e.f.s. Well, he was calm for a few weeks after that, hehe."

Hearing this, Masha and Gabriel glanced at each other, silently agreeing on never angering Dereck. People who were usually calm, gentle, and patient sometimes became fearsome monsters once mad, and it appeared that Dereck belonged to that kind of person. He threw out his boss in the streets, from the bar he owned to boot. What wouldn't he dare do?

As they talked, Stephan's buddies passed through the living room to reach the front door, embarrassedly nodding at them before hurrying outside. Not long after, Stephan appeared, wearing a fancy bathrobe. He wobbled to the sofa and slumped into it, just beside Masha. Smacking his lips, he then poutily said:

"Why didn't you call before coming?"

"I called you. At least twenty times," coldly answered Gabriel, staring at his friend as if he was dead meat.

"…And who is this? He looks like a little angel," replied Stephan, quickly changing the topic.

"He's my little brother," sighed Masha. "And he's more of a devil than an angel, you should have realized that."

"He's still adorable. Makes me want to pinch his cheeks."

"Gaby, can I punch him?" politely asked Misha with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Go ahead."

"Wait, wait, wait!" stuttered Stephan, lifting his hands as a sign of submission. "How about telling me why you're here? Hm? Let's not get violent, let's be civilized!"

"Says the beast," snorted Misha, glaring at the teenager as if he was worth less than dirt.

"…" Stephan shed silent tears as an answer.

After Misha finished venting his pent-up frustration, Gabriel undertook the task of explaining everything. He knew it was hard to believe, so he also showed Stephan the video. It was once of the most convincing proof they had as the holographic technology incorporated in the wristwatch was too advanced for their time. Misha's message also revealed many things, and despite his appearance, he didn't appear to be a child, making it more believable that he was an a.d.u.l.t in a kid's body.

Once the video ended, Stephan was silent for a second before turning his head toward the boy. Then, he raised an eyebrow and pointed Gabriel, asking in a somewhat deadpan tone:

"So, you're in love with that guy? You've got bad taste, dude."

"Oh shut up!"

_____________

Mini theater

Stephan: So, Author, are you using me to fulfill your smut cravings 'cause you can't currently do that with the MC and ML?

Author: Are you going to complain?

Author: Sure ~

MC: NO WAY IN HELL! KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS, YOU STUPID DOG IN RUT!

ML: *sighs*