Chapter 157: Birthday

Rewen stood in a daze as he felt his surroundings change rapidly. It was a very strange and uncomfortable experience. He tried to comprehend the happenings but the next thing he knew was him standing on the same spot before he went to the [Heart Domain].

The grade-schoolers were still playing soccer unbothered by the whole event.

Rewen lowered his head. 

The thief was also in the same spot except that a large pool of blood was masking his head.

"Everything there was fake except for ourselves," Rewen muttered slowly.

The cop and Famin heard him and nodded slightly.

The cop took out his smartphone. 

"Yes, we have captured him. However, in the process, two civilians were involved… yes, come quickly."

He cut off the phone, then looked at two young men. "Can both of you step back?"

Upon realizing that they were standing near a corpse, Rewen quickly stepped back. Famin, however, was staring at the middle-aged cop with an intense expression.

"What?" The cop was confused.

Famin didn't answer. He reached for his pocket and took out a finger-sized blank sticker. "Please take this. I got this on my route."

Rewen became interested and came forward to look. He was a bit disappointed with how 'bland' it looked. 'This doesn't look like something that has special abilities.' He thought but didn't say anything. The fact that Famin was willing to give his findings was admirable. It would only be disrespectful if he went on to talk about how uncool it looks.

The cop smiled, then took the small sticker. "Although I don't think this is anything special, I thank you for this. We will surely compensate you."

Famin nodded, then stepped back.

"Uh, can I ask something? When can I go home?" Rewen wouldn't have minded staying here if it wasn't for the important event he had to attend.

"Are you in a hurry?" The cop asked.

"Yes."

"Just give a verbal statement about how you were trapped in the [Heart Domain]. I'll tell them that your mental state wasn't good after coming out of the [Heart Domain]. But we do have to interrogate you some time."

Hearing this, a smile appeared on his face. "Come to my place tomorrow in the afternoon."

Rewen recorded himself on his smartphone while Famin was sitting on a public bench watching him.

After finishing recording, Rewen remembered an important matter. "By the way, I'm Rewen." He still hasn't introduced himself to Famin.

"I know. I'm Famin." 

"Famin. I should have said this earlier but I'm sorry about that time. I'm not the calmest person." Rewen was talking about the time he gave consecutive slaps to Famin.

"It's okay."

***

Klofar Residence.

Rewen came back home.

'That was one hell of an adventure. Well, from the looks of it, this won't be the last one. Better get used to it.' 

He could feel himself slowly getting used to the chaos surrounding him.

He rang the bell.

*Ding*

No one answered.

Rewen's face changed. 'Could something have happened?' Under normal conditions, this definitely wouldn't be the first thing he would think of when someone didn't answer the bell. But because he was so  this definitely wouldn't be the first thing he would think of when someone didn't answer the bell but because he was used to unusual things happening around him, he immediately made that assumption.

'Should I go from the back door? Never mind, I'll just take some precautions.' He stabilized his state of mind and touched the knob of the door. 

'It's open.' His eyes turned cold. The main door is always locked no matter what the time. 'Since it's open, that could only mean that something did indeed happen. Shit Shit. Shit. I made the mistake of revealing myself by ringing the doorbell. Do I go by the back door? But then again, the back door is cranky, makes a lot of noise and also located in an unfavorable place. Not to mention, there's also surveillance cameras all around the house.'

He took a deep breath. 'No matter what I do, I would always be monitored. In that case, why not just charge straight? If something happens, it is easier to run from here.'

Mentally preparing himself, he slowly turned the knob of the door. 

'It's empty.' His hallway was silent and empty. 'Nothing looks unusual.' He slowly stepped inside.

Tack!

Something burst above him. 

Rewen was about to run away when he saw colorful papers falling over him.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, REWEN!" 

Several people revealed themselves from the guest room near the main door. Standing from the left, there was Junar, Gill, Evans, Salica, Denny, Svety, Kesha and Bianca.

First, Rewen heaved a sigh of relief. Then, he confusedly looked at them. 'My birthday? It's not today. Ah… it's my predecessor's.'

At this moment, Salica chuckled. "Just look at him. He probably forgot his own birthday. I thought people like him didn't exist."

Junar laughed and placed his hand on Rewen's shoulder. "Team girls have specifically prepared your favorite cake for you. You likely won't get a favor of this level again. Make full use of it."

By this time, Rewen's mind had calmed down. He smiled. "Team girls have given me a favor. What does team boys have in store for me?"

Junar's face immediately turned sour. "We are bros. The word 'favors' doesn't exist in the dictionary of bros."

"Update your dictionary."

Everyone started laughing.

***

"Rewen, you have to have this. I wasted two hours to make this for you." Kesha had a piece of chocolate cake in her hand and pushed it towards Rewen's mouth who was sitting on the sofa.

Rewen vehemently shook his head. "No, Kesha, I can't. Keep it in the refrigerator. Who told the four of you to make different flavored cakes? Why not just make one? Anyways, I can't have this."

Salica laughed from behind. "Leave him be. He fell in love with my vanilla." 

"Is that so?" Kesha's face appeared downcast.

Rewen was about to say something when the chocolate cake in her hand splashed on his face. 

"Hehe! Just kidding!" Kesha said, before running.

"Fucking hell. Just you wait!" Rewen picked up the entire cake and threw it on her face.

"Wait! Rewen! That's going overboar-"

Splash!

"HAHAHAHA!" Gill approached her while laughing and swiped his finger across the cake on her face and then ate it. "Hm… tastes of heavy make-up."

"You seem to like the taste!" Kesha said before rubbing her face with his.

The others looked at each other and smiled. 

No one was weirded out by this level of intimacy because they were a couple!

Junar: "This isn't your bedroom. Please behave!"

Gill and Kesha awkwardly separated.

"Oh come on, we were just getting into the good part." Salica sighed and seemed disappointed.

Rewen again laughed, then observed the others.

Bianca and Denny were talking about something in the corner. 

Svety was preparing the beverages for everyone.

Evans was chatting with Junar and Gill.

The room was by no means quiet. It was as chaotic as it could get.

Strangely, Rewen felt peaceful.

"Right, where is Zel?" Looking towards Denny, he asked. Only now did he realize that someone was missing.

"She would be coming a bit late."