23 THE BODYGUARDS (1/2)
Lirzod's pressed his lips harder and cocked his head forward. (Wait, how do they know my name?)
”Hehe,” Younger Darling snickered. ”The cashews were good, so we'll treat you good as well. You can come out.” The brothers exchanged glances and smiles, and it was too plain to see they didn't mean what they said.
”I gave you more valuable food than what I took from you two, did I not?” Lirzod's voice was loud enough to reach their ears.
”Huh? You hurt our men and expect us to let you go for just giving a small packet of cashews?” Younger Darling waved his hand.
Lirzod didn't know what to say.
”Maybe, if you give hundred of those,” Younger Darling glanced at his brother before he continued, ”we might forgive you after you deeply apologize that is.”
Lirzod frowned. (Deeply apologize for what? For not serving you lot when I'm not at all obligated to?)
”Your time is over,” Elder Darling stepped ahead with a frosty look.
A line etched between Lirzod's brows before he shook his head and stepped to the side, revealing himself. ”Hundred is out of the option.”
The Darling Twins both froze in their places — their postures humped and necks bent forward. (He is!) A tingling sensation spread throughout their chests.
”I can give another one if you want. That's the best I can do,” While maintaining eye contact with them, Lirzod bent to the side and pulled out an almond packet from the shelf and walked out of the room.
Their hearts drummed and worry gnawed their visages as he stepped closer, making them step back reflexively.
”However,” Oblivious to what the Darling Twins were experiencing, Lirzod continued his speech, ”you both must also promise me to show the way to… What's that, Test Hall? Is the deal okay?”
The brothers exchanged glances before hesitantly nodding, only just a little.
Lirzod was elated but in a controlled manner. (It worked! Hehe, I thought I was bad but these guys are even worse at bargaining.) He tossed the packet to them and locked the room without wasting another minute.
The brothers murmured to themselves. ”Is he Lirzod?” Younger Darling frowned.
”I don't know! Let's just ask him,” Elder Darling approached Lirzod, ”Ahem, are you —”
As he was about to ask, Lirzod went to Sariyu's room and knocked on the door twice. ”Hey, I'm heading to the Test Hall. Want to tag along?”
Two seconds later, the reply came, ”No. But when you come back, tell me about it.”
The brothers exchanged glances in astonishment.
Lirzod glanced over his shoulder at the two. ”Shall we go?”
”Ye-yes, sure.” Younger Darling was quick to respond as he hurriedly got to Lirzod's behind. Seeing that, his brother's mouth snapped shut and he cut the distance between them at his own pace.
”How far is the Test Hall?” Lirzod casually asked.
”It's just eight blocks away.”
”Oh. It takes some time then,” Lirzod took out some nuts from his pockets and tossed them into his mouth one by one.
”Uh…” Younger Darling plastered on a smile and asked in a tentative manner, ”Do you know the girl next door?”
Lirzod paused a moment. ”You mean Madame Mustache?”
”Madam Mustache..?” Younger Brother's face warped into an ugly mess. ”You were talking about the girl you just interacted with, right?”
”Yeah,” Lirzod replied as he did his best to suppress himself from laughing.
”Madame Mustache… But she didn't seem to have any mustache.”
”Because she shaves it.”
Younger Darling's nose crinked and throat burned. (Is she…) With all speed, he took a few steps back and stopped beside his brother. ”I've changed my mind, brother.”
”About what?”
”About that girl. You can propose her first.”
”Oh, why the sudden change?”
”Just felt like doing it,” Younger Darling's gaze laid on the cashew packet in his brother's hand. ”In return, I'll be taking this!” He tried to snatch it but miserably failed.
”Once the toss is done, the result must be respected,” Elder Darling let out a playful grin.
Younger Darling's eyes bulged and he hid his face at breakneck speed. (So he heard us.)
”You are a hundred years too young to fool me,” Elder Darling let out a booming laugh.
Meanwhile, Lirzod looked around and found literally nobody on the street. ”We are going in the correct way, aren't we?”
”Yes,” the brothers replied in unison and reduced the distance between them and him.
”Why isn't there a single soul roaming outside?”
”Uh, sometimes they all go to work.”
”Work? I was expecting to find some beauties, but…” Lirzod kind of got a bit impatient. (At this rate, I wouldn't get sleep at night.)
At that moment, he saw the entrance to a large room which grabbed his attention. Since the door was open, he stopped right at it and looked inside. He could see many males sharing it. ”Why are there so many people sharing this room?”
”These are dorms for Hollows,” Younger Darling said. ”If you are looking for a good companion, you can find them here.”
”Companion! Yes,” Lirzod entered the room at double quick speed.
Unlike the single rooms that were given to the entries, this Dorm was almost a hundred times bigger and there were hundreds of layered beds each on which can be used by multiple Hollows. Seeing Lirzod being backed by two hulking men, the Hollows got their full attention on him.
Whenever Lirzod's gaze met with someone else's gaze, they showered a fake smile and Lirzod was forced to smile in return. He averted his eyes from the stares and avoided eye contact. (I'm looking for beauties, but what's with these mustaches and beards? There aren't even any babyfaces. What should I do? I'm looking for girls but I also fear the lack of those would ruin this whole journey. You damn duality... You haunt me in this ship as well?) He took a deep breath and attempted to look at some others. Every person his eyes laid upon happened to be males with either beards or mustaches. Some of them were shirtless while some other were just on innerwear. Given how carefreely those men were living, it was made kind of obvious to Lirzod that there would be no girls anywhere around.
”Are you looking for someone?” One of the Hollows dared to finally approach him.
”Yes, where are the female dorms?” Lirzod hurriedly asked in anticipation.
That guy paused a moment and tried to best to not laugh. ”Only decks above number hundred have female Hollows.”
”And which deck are we on?”