Chapter 48 - Scaredy-Cat (1/2)

Darren closed the door behind him and changed into a pair of home slippers. He was about to turn when his eyes caught the view of a certain pale-faced best friend. Seeing him moistening his dry lips and looking vigilant, Darren could tell that Dylan had heard his conversation with Xiu. At least, half of it which involved Xiu's ghost story.

Because only that could explain why Dylan seemed on edge. Dylan could be defined as a superstitious person. And his belief in ghosts was way beyond one's imaginations. Darren could recall a very recent event where Dylan was supposed to leave for Italy but came back halfway to the airport. The reason he gave was, ”A black squirrel crossed my path.”

”So?” Darren had asked.

”So? There is a high chance that I'll have a stroke of bad luck. I'm not going.” Dylan announced like a grumpy kid.

”Was the squirrel adorable?” Darren asked and Dylan nodded in response. ”Then there is an even higher possibility that you'll have a stroke of probably adorable luck.”

However, Dylan was persistent with his superstitious mind and canceled the whole trip altogether.

Anyways, coming back to the present where Dylan was still zoning out with the word 'ghost' ringing in his mind...

Walking towards him Darren placed his hand on his shoulder and Dylan was startled. He was about to scream but Darren blocked his mouth with his own hand.

”Put a leash on your imaginations. It's only me.” Darren looked calm, bright and a bit jubilant.

Dylan, on the other hand, looked depressed, uncertain and mostly helpless. ”Daz, thank God it's just you.” He placed his hand over his heart and breathed deeply.

Darren walked further inside towards the kitchen as he said, ”Of course, it's just me. Who were you expecting? A ghost?”

Dylan tried to keep his fear from showing as he said, ”Daz, don't talk about ghosts. You know I don't like hearing about them.”

Darren took a water bottle from the refrigerator and uncapped it to take a sip of cold water. ”I also don't want to talk about it. And besides, there is no such thing as ghosts. I've been telling you that for years now.”

Dylan, however, wasn't very keen on believing Darren's words. His fear of ghosts wasn't really far-fetched. It was real because of the prank his school fellows played on him in his childhood. They had dared him to walk inside the supposedly haunted house in their town and after he did, they locked him inside.

After that incident, Dylan had developed a fear of ghosts and according to him, they were as real as humans. Dylan's eyes wandered around Darren's apartment carefully and cautiously as he said, ”I think... I should go back.”

”You just got here. Don't run like a scaredy-cat.” Darren spoke to stop Dylan from leaving. ”I had already pre-ordered a movie for us. Also, the pizza is on the way as well. We'll have fun tonight.”

”Really?” Dylan turned back. ”What's the genre of the movie?”

”Horror.” Darren's answer made Dylan's face to lose all colors as he glared at his best friend.

”You know what, I'm leaving.” Dylan decided for real and turned on his heels to leave but Darren held him back while laughing.

”Ms. Li is right about you. You're a big baby.” Dylan scowled at his words. ”You're twenty-seven and still believe in these ridiculous things.”

”Ghosts are real.” Dylan insisted again.

”Yeah.” Darren snorted and added, ”Now, you'll say werewolves and vampires are also real.”

Dylan gave a reluctant look as he said, ”They could be. Since witches are real. They could also be.”