The wooden stairs lead me to the highway that serves as a separation of the seashore and the populated locality in the face of hundreds of rainbow coloured townhouses.

I can't help thinking how long and draining today has been. It's a pure miracle that I'm still functioning.

The light creaking that accompanies each step of mine is all what I can hear in the world that resembles a paused movie.

"Holy crunchy pies, maybe I shouldn't skip PE classes this year." I mutter, generously panting, before realizing that Pimp – the lazy pug that I've taken for a late night walk – stayed still and stubborn to move at the very base of the ladder whereas I've already conquered almost the half of it. "You, fat beige troll, are you also trying to test me?!"

Having descended back with a grunt, I hastily lift up my pet and start carrying it all the way up.

The last staircase turns into a peak I hardly manage to reach, feeling like quite an underrated champion.

"And the award goes to-" I triumphally place Pimp on the ground and-

Momentarily freeze in caution.

"Why does it always take so long?! Answer, when I'm asking you...you...argghh...jin-jja!!" 

Getting cut off by a desperatly whining voice, that makes me stop in my tracks with one of my legs still levitating in the air.

What an actual gingerbread.

"Don't think too high of yourself!!" Continues the shadow while banging its head against the bench it is lying on a few meters away "I flippen hate you, J-Dae!! Your buttercream tastes like a sweaty shoe's i-insole by the way!!!"

I grow wary and edgy instantaneously. 

As if I haven't gotten enough of craziness this evening. 

In fact I've already experienced more interaction with humans than during the whole summer break.

Okay, I think. 

If I act carefully enough, the stranger won't even notice me and Pimp while we are passing by, and it will be a definite farewell to all the midnight adventures of mine from now on.

"Never ever will get myself into a weird situation like this again." I whisper-promise to myself, having this vague premonition that there's something unreliable about this statement.

Cautiously looking over at the already calmed down drunk guy, I try to hide behind my own slightly risen shoulder and move my feet fast. 

Tugging on the pug's leash, I make sure not to create any noise while whispering dog's way "You'll protect me if something bad happens, right?"

Wiggling his tail in delight, Pimp approvingly barks what sounds like a clap in the empty concert hall. 

With an ear-splitting echo.

My heart doesn't just get dropped to my heels' level. It descends all the way down to the Lucifer's underworld.

"Who's there?!" The head unexpectedly for its obviously wasted condition rises, only to fall back with a growl of despondency coming out of the guy's throat.

I accumulate the remnants of my courage to take one more step further, dreaming of getting back to my parents' house safe and sound like never before. 

The junkie then incoherently complains about something to the bench, when I've already reached the end of it, moving along my own parallel.

"You, J-Dae, me, Sukjayyie, you, crappy talent, are trapped together for foreverrrr!! So treat me like a family member!!" The dark haired boy ends his rant with a loud thud, his poor head with two little ponytails hitting the bench once again.

I wince, almost crawling at the pace slower than snail's. 

Saint paint tools, just let me survive and forget about this.

The guy mutters something else and that's when his tone changes. He immediately starts blubbering unstoppably and so loudly that it sounds like it's not going to end in the nearest hour.

I sigh, in some way relating to his feelings.

But then I make an attempt to convince myself because it's getting harder and harder to stop the initial impulse

Don't interfere, dumbnut. It's none of your business, got it?

I cast the last glance to the weeping dark figure on the bench and proceed on going, loathing Pimp is following.

With its perfect timing the bulb in the streetlight burns out with a timid crack, leaving the spot where the guy crashed in the absolute darkness.

I roll my eyes, being genuinely sarcastic out loud "Now everything's arranged for a perfect breakdown, thanks, higher power."

Not more than a second later I notice an unsettling feeling already freely drilling in my chest. And as if to complicate the situation-

My eyes widen when I see how terribly slowly I acted.

Because instead of being a biddable boy and quietly sticking to me, Pimp has crashed all of my expectations like nuts in a nutcracker by running up to the guy and summoning the last bits of his consciousness.

Still crying profusely, the tall guy suddenly sits up and bends in his seat to repeatedly tap my pet's forehead, quietly sniffing in sad adoration.

I feel how my fists clench as anxiety hits hard again.

My increased pulse shows that it's a bad idea. The wasted dude is a complete stranger. Just strange maybe...

But since Pimp for some reason has approved him-

That's why I have no other option but to follow suit in approaching the one who might have had a muffed up day and as a result got tipsy to the point of booking a therapy from the world class psychoanalyst – the bench which is mainly occupied by grandmas in the afternoons.

That said, there is no need for a second Niagara Fall in this twisted reality anyway. 

Especially when it's tearful.

So each step of mine becomes steadier.

"Hey, you alright there, buddy? I...errr am here to walk you home." I hesitantly reach the crying his balls out guy and gently touch his trembling shoulder.

All of the sudden all the sounds ever existing or, may I note, exiting the guy, disappear and the threatening silence falls upon the area, letting my worst fears out.

Was he just...acting? What on Earth is even-

I don't get a chance to evaluate the situation. 

When my left hand is harshly snatched, I feel like I've gotten myself into something I'll definitely regret.