I didn’t know what I had expected him to answer and say. It was obvious that he didn’t speak English primarily since he and Mr S spoke to each other in a different language. But I didn’t expect to hear a sleepy, husky voice on the line murmuring words I couldn’t make out.

“I only speak one language,” I reminded him although he wouldn’t have been able to tell it was me calling. “But continue to show off that you’re bilingual.”

“Multilingual,” he corrected. “I am a polyglot.”

“Show off,” I muttered. I had always envied those who could speak more than one language. I could have been able to do so if Peter hadn’t pulled me out of school to make sure I didn’t. He’d told me that the one he spoke was the only one I needed to learn and no more.

“Zedikai, why are you calling?”

Was it wrong of me to enjoy the way he said my name in his accent? “You don’t sound happy to hear from me. Did I wake you up?”

“Yes, you woke me. I did not expect to hear from you again after you so candidly refused my help and told me not to approach you. Why are you calling me now?”

I took a swig of the beer. “I wanted to vent, and I thought you might listen to me,” I said honestly. “You did want to help me, right?”

“But you are not looking for help,” he reminded me.

I huffed. “Are you going to listen to me rant pathetically or not?” I asked, feeling brave since I wasn’t able to see his face. The alcohol was supplying some of that bravado. He probably would have cast me one of those subtle glares that made a chill run down my spine.

Mr A sighed heavily. There was a bit of rustling before he said, “Proceed”.

“Okay, so, as you know, I’m not living the best life,” I said. “I’m about to be homeless – like, for real this time – and I don’t know what to do. I only have one option and that’s to live with my… my…” I sighed. “I don’t even know what to call him. This guy I’ve had sex with for years is saying I should live with him when the time comes, but he also wants a real relationship with me.”

“Is the thought of a relationship with this… uh, friend so repulsive that you would prefer to be homeless?”

“Well, he’s not only wanting that from me. He wants sex too, just like now. He just wants to play house while we fuck and I’m not into that. I’ve never been in a real relationship, and I don’t think I’d be able to stay faithful. It would get boring fucking the same person over and over again.”

“I disagree with your way of thinking. But did you not have sex with this man for years? Are you too bored of him already to enter into a serious relationship?”

I forgot this man didn’t fuck around. He was probably the type to look down at the people who did. “That’s kind of different. I had sex with him for years, yes, but I’ve slept with a lot of other people too, so coming back to him every now and again isn’t so boring. At least, it wasn’t at first. Now, I’m starting to think it’s not enough anymore. I’m getting bored. See why I can’t be in a relationship with him? He can’t give me what I want in bed and the love of sex is the only thing we have in common.”

“Do you really not have any other option besides this friend of yours?”

I gulped down the rest of the beer and made a perfect shot throwing it in the bin a few feet away. “No. I have an idea of a school friend’s home life and I wouldn’t be welcome there. I mean, she’s great and her parents sound great, but they’re a bit too perfect for me. They have money, everyone is so smart and hardworking and achieve only the greatest. I’d have to lie my way in the door. Besides, I’d need a place to stay indefinitely while I got my shit together. I couldn’t impose on them.”

“You are in such a predicament, yet you still do not want my help. Why?”

I stood from the swings and had to steady myself. Two bottles, one right after the other, was probably not the best idea for a lightweight. The alcohol truly had taken effect and I hadn’t realized just how much.

“I don’t know who you are or what you want with me. Hell, I don’t even know your name. What I need help with is a place to stay for a few months. No, I cannot get an apartment, and your place is just strange.”

“Strange? Well, I suppose since you know nothing about me or my… housemates, then you would find us strange.”

“What was that?” I asked, pausing on my way towards the slide.

“What was what?” he asked.

“You hesitated before you called them your housemates. Is something fishy going on with the three of you? I mean, you and Mr S are living with a little human boy, so maybe that’s enough of a red flag to find you highly suspicious. You could have kidnapped him for all I know.”

Mr A laughed, a deep sound that made my heart respond funnily. He had been so serious during the times we met that I couldn’t even imagine him smiling. Maybe it was because I woke him up that he wasn’t being himself.

“We are supposed to be talking about your situation, not mine. Did you call me just to vent or do you want my advice?”

I sighed. “If your advice is to trust in you, I don’t want it.”

“I was going to say that I need to know more about what you want to change first.”

“Well…” I paused. Telling him my plan wouldn’t hurt. It wasn’t illegal and unlike Jeff or Peter, he wouldn’t try to stop me to be spiteful. “I want to leave Earth. I got approved to travel to Othanai for three weeks for recreation, but I’m planning on leaving Earth for good. I need time to learn the language, get into a school, or find a company that will take me with my meagre skills and inexperience.”

“But?”

“I won’t be able to do anything if I’m homeless.”

After a few moments of silence, he asked, “How long do you have before you become homeless?”

“Less than a month.”

“That is not enough time to even find a share house. And you will need to prove you can pay for the room to get one, which means getting a proper job.”

I groaned and kicked the plastic children’s slide. “I know, I know. This is why I’m screwed.”

“I know you may not want to hear this, but I can still offer my services.”

I groaned again. “Dude, I don’t know you.”

“Would you like to?”

I stopped abusing the slide. “Uhm… what?”

“Would you like to get to know me?” he repeated. “You are cautious about accepting help from a stranger. If you get to know me, I will not be so much of a stranger. I would at least be an acquaintance. If you give me time, I could come up with a plan to help you, but since me being a stranger is a hurdle for you, let us get over it first.”

I leaned against the monkey bars. “What plan do you have in mind?”

“I will tell you about it once you tell me where you are.”

“Home.”

Mr A tutted disapprovingly. “Come on, I do not like lies.”

“I’m… I’m at a children’s playground,” I said with a roll of my eyes.

“Are you unable to go home? It is quite late.”

“I’m waiting for my father to fall asleep. He doesn’t want to see or hear me these days, so I can’t go home until he’s knocked out which is around midnight,” I told him truthfully.

There was no use in hiding how pathetic my life was anymore. He didn’t seem to be the judgmental type, just willing to help. That was suspicious but only because of the life I knew. Nobody just wanted to help. There was always an ulterior, self-serving motive. It was also stupid of him. I could be some gold digger luring him in to mooch off of him.

“Do you want me to come and get you?”

“Why? I just told you I’ll be able to go home in a bit.”

“You would rather wait outside to sneak into what is supposed to be your own home and risk angering a man who doesn’t want to be reminded that you exist than come to my hotel for the night and sleep in a warm bed?”

Even to my tipsy self that sounded dumb as fuck. “Will you want to have sex with me if I decide to sleep at your place tonight?”

“No.”

He said it with such conviction that I was immediately sold. “I’m both relieved and disappointed. Will you come to get me where you did the last time?” I asked.

“Yes. Do you have school in the morning?”

I went back over to the swings to get my things. “Sort of. The next week or so is just exams, so showing up to class is optional. It’ll be more like guided revision, but I can never keep up with those. I only need to make it to the exams.”

“You may stay a few days if you want.”

“Don’t tempt me,” I muttered walking out of the playground. The idea of staying at a hotel with a man who, so far, hadn’t been like anyone else I’d met seemed so far out of my reach.

“I am serious. It is part of my plan. You think I, along with my housemates, are strange. If you get to know us, maybe we will not seem as strange. I will admit things were tense the night you came over. It is not always like that.”

I stopped when I reached the road. I could go grab a few things from home without Peter noticing, but did I want to? Spending a few peaceful days in a hotel where I could study sounded nice, but I still didn’t really know this guy. “Is it quiet there?” I asked, remembering that my alternative would be to go back to Jeff’s. He had no respect for how serious I was trying to take my education.

“Well, since Mr S and I work from the afternoon to the night, you will have only the little human boy as your company,” Mr A replied, with a bit of humour in his tone as he referenced what I had said earlier. “He may be curious, strange, and rude, but he will not bother you.”

I turned right to head home. “Alright, do you have a spare toothbrush?”

“Necessities and clothing will be provided if you do not mind wearing mine or Mr S’ clothes.”

Then all I needed to get was my charger and some underwear. “Alright then. Meet me at the convenience store. One more thing though. What is your name? You know mine now. It’s only fair I know yours, Mr S’, and the little human boy’s names.”

“I will tell you when I have picked you up. I will start out now and text you when I get there. This is your personal number, yes?”

“Yeah. See you there.”