Authority, Compassion, and the Victory of God’s Kingdom
The ministry of Jesus was marked by many miracles—healing the sick, raising the dead, calming storms—but one of the most striking aspects of His work was His authority over demons. Again and again in the Gospels, we see Jesus confronting evil spirits and setting people free. These moments weren’t random displays of power; they revealed who…
Midnight.
It had begun to rain; the rolling carpet of falling drops, the sound of billions--trillions--of tiny crystal fragments hitting the ground and joining together to form a whole, flowing mass.
I had just began to get ready for bed. The usual nightly rituals: brushing my teeth, cleaning up, having a glass of water and the like.
My housemate lies on her own mattress, asleep. Yuri and Jet, the puppies that she had brought here with her, both raise their heads at me in silent curiosity(or is it attentiveness?) as I walk through the living room and turn off the lights.
As soon as darkness sets in, lightning flashes, casting the inside of the house in momentary gray light when its brightness passes through the windows. Thunder murmurs from afar, a god running his fingers through wisps of heavy clouds.
I think I'm not so sleepy after all.
My bare feet take me to the bottom of the staircase where one of many windows lie open, fresh air billowing the curtains with a calm grace that you would not normally find in a storm. Sitting in the bottom step, I peek into the world outside. A world I have not seen since last year, when the rainy season passed over the country slowly, uninhibited.
I prop my elbow on the sill. The open glass jalousie is painted with beautiful crystal dots, the white fluorescent light from the home just across the street bouncing off their insides in a dazzling display only highlighted by a blur that the glass panes provided. I stare, admire them for a moment and find myself smiling. As I set my eyes further out, past the light theatrics before me and on the old, high fence that held many a raindrop, a breeze, steady and light, begins to blow. It was crisp and fresh and chilly, something you would expect during a storm, almost Death's breath itself if one wants to be morbid, if not for the tender way it ghosts over my skin like a lover's whisper, swirling behind me and melting into the warmer temperature of the room. It smells of damp soil and wet dust, watered grass and the cut bark of a young tree. I love it.
Outside, the heavens dance in flashes of crackling electricity. Lightning. Thunder. Nature, in one her many displays of incomprehensible grace and power, turns the midnight sky into late dawn repeatedly. So bright are these bolts of beauty that for one, frozen moment, time has advanced hours ahead--or perhaps backwards--as the dark, desaturated brown-gray of night instantly becomes the light zircon of early morning or that of an overcast afternoon.
I continue to watch the world glisten and gleam under the solemn downpour. People are still walking about, how ever few of them are, at this hour. For some odd reason, I always find rain calming, be it passing showers or slow, cruising storms. As I shift in my seat, my hip bumps softly against something--Jet and Yuri, as I discovered when I turn around. The sweet little things had lied down next to me when I was lost in the magnificence beyond my window. Stroking their uneven, juvenile coat, I return to the view outside, return to my thoughts.
I wonder who else feels this way around rain? I'm sure a lot of other people do.
How are my friends online doing, I muse. And then I realize I'm actually kind of lonely. Maybe that's why I do nothing but sleep the past few days during the rare hours that I wasn't busy.
But that doesn't matter right now--the rain keeps me content.
Some people dream of lavish, extravagant things, but this time, right now, spent watching the world revolve under the evening drizzle with my dogs is a piece of heaven for me.
...Oh, and my housemate’s snoring.
"Welcome to your second home!" he announces, sweeping his arm to showcase his dark ashy home. Rolling your eyes you enter the nostalgia tugging flat and head straight for the bathroom to change. Down the hall and through the first door on the right you lock the bathroom door behind you. Unzipping your bag you dig through it and hope none of your extra clothes are drenched. Luckily none are and you change quickly, or as quickly as your dripping clothes allow, into a comfy pair of pajama pants and an oversized sweatshirt (another one of Chen's-you really had an issue with taking his stuff).
Shaking out your hair you carry the wet clothes away from you, dumping them on the heating vent on the floor to dry out beside Chen's neat pile. Placing your bag down on the kitchen table you wander into the living room to find an impressive fort of blankets set up at the center of the room. Chen pokes his head out from the fort and beams proudly.
"Do you like it? I had some free time so I decided, why not build a fort? I have snacks too!" he calls ducking back inside.
Free time indeed…
The fort was made in a way that the blankets were hanging in the air. One central blanket was set up in the middle while others hung vertically to the floor on each of its sides, boxing you in. Save for the side facing the large window of his balcony, creating a clear view of the pounding rain. You can't help but smile at the immense effort he put into it, despite the opening to the storm. Just like when you were kids he still always went that extra mile to make whatever he did memorable and great.
"This is pretty awesome." you comment, eyeing his handiwork as you settle yourself beside him.
"Thank you, my fort appreciates that. It's amazing what fishing line, hooks in the ceiling, blankets, and some time can do." he replies popping a piece of popcorn in his mouth. You nod distractedly, grabbing a plain pocky from the large assorted bowl he put together. Nibbling at it you tried to keep your mind off the oncoming storm, wind kicking up a notch while rain persisted heavily.
“Look, look, look!” Chen shouts excitedly, grabbing your arm and pointing out the window. You feel your heart sink; flashes of light were beginning to dance about the pitch black sky. Lightning was going to strike soon and thunder wasn’t far behind it.
Stay calm, don’t do anything stupid…
“This is going to be great! Why haven’t we thought of this sooner?” he chirps, springing up and pressing his nose against the glass.
Because I’m terrified of storms, you dork.
“I guess you’re not as smart as you think you are, storm chaser.” you mutter, focusing on the pattern of the blankets opposite of the window. Anything to keep you distracted without tipping off Chen about your anxiety.
“Says the one who thought it was Tuesday.” he retorts sticking his tongue out at you.
“That’s not fair! I was half-awake so that’s an invalid argument!” you retaliate, throwing a handful of popcorn at him.
“Hey! No need to get violent with small food pieces!” he shouts, holding his hands up in surrender. The two of you grin at each other, storm forgotten as you enjoy your shared nonsense. It was moments like this that reminded you just how much you cherished the friendship you had, that you were close enough to be content even after something so little and pointless. That’s why you agreed to help him; you couldn’t stand him silently carrying the burden of guilt he felt after each turned down confession. That is, after all, what best friends were for.
“Hey, Chen, I wanted to-”
He’d never know, and neither would you, a loud crack of lightning making you forget what you were even saying. Instantaneously Chen whips his head around to behold the ensuing storm as you clamp your mouth shut and bury your face in your hands. You can barely hear his excited calls over the increasing sounds of the commotion outside.
You’ll be fine. You’ll be fine. You’ll be fine. It’s all you can do to try and keep yourself calm, not to mention sane, repeating the phrase until you believed it.
Why did you ever agree to this? This was a terrible idea; you should’ve seen this coming from the beginning. You should’ve come up with some excuse, even if it were a weak one, then stayed shut up in your room until-
“Hey, are you alright?” Chen asks, putting a gentle hand on your shoulder. You can’t bring yourself to look up, settling with nodding.
“Y-yeah, I’m fine...” you stutter, clearing your throat, “Fine.”
“You’re the worst liar ever. You can’t be shaking this bad and be fine, I’m not an idiot I can tell that much. Are you cold? Do you need a blanket? Maybe even one of my world famous hugs?” he jokes halfheartedly, trying to lighten the situation. Cold, you could work with that.
“Yeah, I’m freezing; you should really consider raising the heat, snowman.” you manage with a small grin, looking up to see Chen’s concerned face in yours. He gives you a partially relieved smile and flits out of the fort, for what you weren’t sure. One thing you did know was that he’d left you alone in a dark room with a vicious storm going on like it wouldn’t stop until the building fell over outside.
Chen you idiot, get back here!
Thankfully you heard him coming back within the next minute, at which you had to restrain yourself from either hitting him or throwing yourself at him for comfort, or both. Keeping still you were startled when he appeared at the entrance of the fort and threw a large pile of blankets on you. Caught off guard you fell over onto your back and tangled into the layers of blankets covering you.
“There you go! Be warm and watch the storm in peace!” he declares, voice muffled through the mass of fluff on top of you.
“Chen you are such an idiot! Help me out of this!” you sputter, twisting to get out of the covers. You can hear him laughing-you couldn’t blame him, you had to look absolutely ridiculous-then a sudden weight fell across your legs.
“How about I just lay here and see how long it takes for you to get out on your own? You’re a big girl, you got this.” he suggests, settling himself more comfortably on your lower half.
“Chen when I get out of here I am going to throw you out off the balcony!” you threaten, growing feverish from your continued effort of trying to find your way out of the cage of blankets.
“Now that’s just mean and highly unrealistic. If you’re going to threaten me make it something you could actually accomplish in your existence, ever.” he criticizes disapprovingly. Letting out a noise of exasperation you concentrate your energy on worming out of the blankets instead of talking pointlessly with him. After a good five minutes you finally uncovered you face, inhaling fresher air. You wiggle out from under Chen and the rest of the blankets and immediately throw them onto him.
“Take that you no good-”
Crack. Boom. Crack.
A succession of lighting and thunder cuts you off, a loud yelp escaping your lips. The scuffle with the blankets had kept you distracted enough to completely forget about the horrific storm. Tossing off the blankets Chen pushes them aside and looks at you quizzically, head tilted slightly to the right in confusion.
“Did you make that sound? Or was that a-” Another chorus of crashes sounded drowning him out, the room flashing white. With a small squeak you curl into a ball and clutch the sides of your head.
You'll be fine. You'll be fine. You'll be... Fine... You'll... Be fine..? Will you..?
Something prods your shoulder and you can hear someone calling your name. Shaking them off your shoulder you ignore the voice and try to fall back asleep. The prods turn into sharp shakes, the voice closer to your ear. Seeing as whoever it is isn't going to let up you groan irritably and wave your arm to keep them away.
"Alright, alright I'm up! What is it?" you complain squinting at the blurred lines of Chen's face.
"It's Tuesday, you slept in through our exam. It's been a few days since I last saw you so; I came to check on you. Make sure you didn't disappear or die somehow." he explains, face completely serious.
"You were late, that's what you get." Chen says tapping your nose, scrunched in annoyance, with each enunciated syllable. You swat away him away as you stand, going to your room to gather your things for the "storm study" you'd also slept in on. Taking your time you pick out essentials for the trip, having to take this short time to prepare yourself for the inevitable storm. As you do you pause, a thought occurring to you.
"How did you even get into my apartment?" you ask poking your head out your door. Chen's taken your place on the couch, stretched out haphazardly and making the couch look even smaller.
"I picked it open with a paperclip," you roll your eyes and carry on with packing, "actually, you're just an idiot and left the door hanging open." he finishes disapprovingly
Oh, you must have forgotten to close the door correctly, and then of course lock it. Not that anyone was going to come into your apartment to steal anything; there was nothing of value in your small home.
“Well, I’m your idiot so you’re just going to have to deal with it.” you retort. You hear him snort but he doesn’t respond. That gives you a chance to properly pack without being distracted.
"Hurry up, you're so slow! We don't want to get caught outside in this!" Chen whines ten minutes later, probably still on the couch. Normally you would've ignored him, maybe even slowed your pace. But he has a point. You really don't want to get stuck out in a storm. Not today, not ever. Doing as he says you finish packing quickly then zip up the bag. Tossing it onto your shoulders you walk out of your room, ready for the unavoidable plans. Seeing you exiting your room Chen grins from your little kitchen and holds up a few boxes of snacks.
"Pack these and we can go!" he says through a mouthful of pocky. You roll your eyes but hold out your bag to let him tuck the treats safely inside. With that settled you leave the sanctuary of your apartment, lock it tensely, and unwillingly allow Chen to pull you out into the darkening night. It’s drizzling, a persistent pitter-patter of small droplets now. That would change within an hour, according to an enthused Chen.
Great.
The trip to his flat is a short walk to the campus wide bus stop then another short ride to the entrance of the campus. Unlike you he can actually afford a flat in the city surrounding the university. Not to mention a pretty nice one at that. The view of the city-thankfully facing opposite of the university-is amazing and probably a twice the size of your tiny apartment.
It reminds you of home.
Odd but, well, you figure Chen reminds you of home. That and the entire flat looks like his room in the house you'd spent most of your childhood playing in. The dark charcoal walls trimmed with a stark white, the slight smell of musk and rain is so achingly familiar you wonder if Chen ever feels the same way.
Rain is falling harder now, relentless fat drops drenching you in minutes. Why didn't either of you bring an umbrella?! You’re close to the flat, barely a block and a half left. Chen grabs you by the wrist and starts running, pulling you stumbling behind him.
"We're almost there, just don't think of how much time it's going to take to dry off afterward." he calls over his shoulder, voice carried by the heightening wind. The two of you push into the tall building of Chen's flat, greeted by a friendly blast of warm air. Chen’s hoodie is sopping and a burden clinging to your cold skin.
"Well, aren't we just dripping with good looks?" Chen says with an exaggeratedly cheesy smile.
You roll your eyes and follow him to the elevators, pressing the top floor button, twelve, once inside.
"Chen you are such a dork. Such a dork, in fact, I really don’t understand why girls confess to you at all.” you tease nudging his side with your elbow. His smile instantly falls, pouting slightly as he scuffed the elevator's floor with his shoe.
"I don't either... It's not like I did anything to get them to even notice me, let alone confess. I just... Why can't I-ugh," he rubs his eyes with the heels of his palms, exasperated, "I'm sorry, again, about the cafe. You can just tell everyone I was just messing around or something." You should feel relieved, glad even, that he’s letting you clear up this situation to let you carry on with life (without hordes of girls plotting to ruin your "relationship"). But, you can't help feeling sympathetic toward your fed up friend.
I'm probably going to regret this...
"No, if it'll stop the confessions then I'll play along." you say, wanting to help. He snaps his head up and stares at you bewildered, disbelief plain in his features.
"A-are you sure? I can just deal with them-"
"Nope, you're not dealing with anymore Mr. Refusing-to-date-because-of-reasons. Besides, you said we were in a four year relationship. It'd be really stupid to be caught lying about that." you interrupt, holding up a hand. It’s your turn to be stubborn; prepared to argue until you he gave in. Opening and closing his mouth repeatedly Chen studies you for a moment before grinning and pulling you into a cold, wet hug.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the best person alive! My savior! Ah, seriously, you can have a box of pocky for this." he exclaims, truly grateful. You shove him off freezing, having your drenched clothes pressed against you wasn't exactly what you found to be "thanking."
"I deserve more than a box pocky, you dork. I should get a whole basket of pocky if I'm getting pocky." you joke. Chen’s grin grows as the elevator dings open. Walking out you head to for the very end of the hall where he pulls out his small silver house key and twists the doorknob open.
You bring your drink back up to your lips and take a long sip to process his offer. There isn't really a way out of it, seeing as he has a point and you have no plans. There’s no reason for you not to go. In Chen's mind, that is. As for you... You could go without Chen figuring out about you fear of storms.
Ideally, he never will.
"Well? Come on! It'll be the most fun you've had all week! Plus, I can show you why they're so great!" he whines tugging your-technically his-sleeve incessantly.
"I don't think... Ah, what I mean, uh, well... I just..." you trail off, unable to come up with a feasible excuse. Chen shakes his head disapprovingly at your lack of one.
"See, you've got nothing. So, my place at, say, eighteen-hundred hours?" he questions grinning knowing you had no idea what time that is.
"Chen, you know I hate it when you use military time!" you complain uselessly. He isn't about to tell to what time that is no matter what you said.
Moving to a closer table you discreetly watch the confession and silently commend the girl for her timing. The girl fidgets with her hands behind her back and rocks on her feet while muttering into her scarf. Chen's lips press into an uncomfortable line, realizing the girl's intent. He opens his mouth trying to speak, only to get cut off by her sudden burst of courage.
"I really, really like you, Chen oppa! Will you... Go out with me..?" she nervously shouts, words blurring together as she holds out a box of chocolates, an unnecessarily gaudy bow smack in the center. Chen's discomfort only becomes more prominent, a small step back taken to distance himself. You wait for him to start rambling about something unimportant when he catches your eye. You stick your tongue out at him and smile in smug satisfaction. Something in his demeanor changes though, his stance suddenly more relaxed and comfortable.
"Sorry," he starts, the girl's face crumpling, "but, I've already got a date tonight."
What? Oh, no he didn't just-
"A date? With-with who?" the infatuatedly heartbroken girl asks, bottom lip quivering.
No, don't look at me. Don't do anything to drag me into this. Don’t. You. Dare.
Sure enough Chen turns to you with his signature smile, eyes dancing with mischief as he approaches you. "Her." he states simply putting his hands on your shoulders firmly.
As soon as the two of you are outside you were going to punch him as hard as physically possible.
"I knew it!" the girl half-shouts accusingly.
You stare at her incredulously, even Chen’s grip on you jumping at the claim. "Knew what?"
What is there to know?
"I knew it, the reason you kept rejecting me-and everyone else-it was because of her! How long have you been together?" she demands, voice steadily rising. By this point half the cafe is watching your conversation, a few other girls murmuring to one another in the same boat as this one.
"Together?! What-what? Alright, what exactly-"
"It's been a while now; I'd say at least two, maybe even three years? I mean, since our third year in high school so, four." Chen cuts in with a steady grin.
That's it; you are going to kick him in the teeth until they get lodged down his throat.
You take a quick glance around the cafe. To your dismay it's packed (it is a Friday after all). There are quite a few girls you recognize as previous confessors, their expressions mirroring the look of utter mortification on the current confessor's face. You could feel stares on you from all around the cafe, probably all those girls, and you shift uncomfortably.
"I-is that true..?" the girl asks shakily, box of chocolates crushed in her trembling hands.
Ready to deny it you make to respond when Chen covers your mouth, just as ready to stop you.
"Yes, it is. She's just a bit shy about it but, our anniversary is today and we'd like to spend it alone. Bye now." Before anyone else could respond he hoists you up and locks his arm around your waist. Keeping you close to him he leads you out the cafe from the disbelieving group of your peers, considerate enough to have grabbed your half-finished latte in his other hand. Yet, not considerate enough to keep you out of this mess all while refusing to let go of you, despite your protests.
Once far enough away from the cafe he releases his grip on you and expels an amused laugh. "Well, that was fun wasn't it?" he says handing you your latte. You ignore the drink and eye him incredulously.
"F-fun? Fun?! That was fun?! Chen, you just said we were in a four year relationship! In front of those girls that confessed to you! Four! Don't you get what that means for you? And now me?" you sputter furiously, still trying to process what he just did.
His grin is replaced by an expression of realization, then apology. "Oh, no... You're going to get hassled, aren't you? Ah, I'm sorry! I just thought this was the only way to get them to stop! I didn't want to deal with confessions anymore! I'm sorry!" he explains guiltily, your latte now clutched tightly in his hands.
"If you wanted the confessions to stop why didn't you just-"
"Chen! Chen! Did you forget about our study group?" a boy shouts not too far back. You give Chen one more pointed glare, getting an apologetic shrug back, then study the newcomer to see if you recognize him. He doesn't look like a university student, heck he doesn't even look like a high school student. You do recognize him as one of Chen's other friends though, a round baby faced boy named Xiumin, if you recall correctly.
Rushing up to the two of you he gives you a quick friendly smile before grabbing Chen by the ear. "Yah, what the heck are you doing wandering around? We were supposed to start ten minutes ago! You do have your notes though, don't you?" he scolds, tugging on his ear roughly.
"Ah, ah, ah stop! Hyung, I'm sorry! I've got my notes, now get off!" he complains trying to pry his hyung’s hold off him.
Oh, that's right; Xiumin is older than us...
The fact seems to slip your mind every time you see him, which isn't your fault. Seriously, the guy doesn't even remotely look university age whatsoever, at all. You’re sure others did the same around the squishy faced boy.
"Good, now come on, the others are waiting!" Xiumin says replacing Chen's ear for his sleeve, "It's nice seeing you again, by the way! I promise he won't be long, we'll get him back to you before your date, promise!" he adds grinning teasingly at you as he pulls your friend away.
"Ah, hyung! It's not really a date, just a storm study with friends! Don't listen to him! I'll see you at six, don't be late!" Chen calls hurriedly as his study mate drags him to the rest of the awaiting group.
"Have fun, you dork! Nice seeing you again too, Xiumin-oppa!" you reply, nearly forgetting to call Xiumin, your elder, "oppa." Waving at their retreating figures you roll your eyes at the odd pair and start making your way home. It’s an uneventful five minute walk, which leaves another two hours and forty-three minutes until you have to subject yourself to a storm at Chen's place.
Wonderful.
You could spend that time to mentally prepare yourself-or sleep. Sleep sounds really nice actually.
Pushing into your apartment you shut the door behind you and throw your things on the kitchen counter. Wandering to your couch, too lazy to go into your bedroom a mere ten feet away, you curl up on the small piece of plush furniture and close your eyes. You immediately drift off into a thick, exhausted sleep.
The ear splitting noise of white hot lightning flashes outside your window, your bedroom lighting up for that split second. You cringe, covers clenched tightly in your white knuckled fists. You hate storms. Hate them. You don’t know what it was about them that make you so incapable of-well, functioning, they just do. It’s the middle of the night, rain pounding down on your little apartment and slathering your windows in harsh sprays while wind howled like lost souls. It didn’t help that you were alone to top it off.
Another sharp crack of lightning fills the room with blinding light. You bring your knees up to your chest and curl into a tight ball, burying your head into your arms. It’s not going to hurt you… Stop being such a coward! You think harshly, no real conviction behind it. You wish you can overcome this-this insecurity during storms, you’ve been trying for years.
No one knows about this fear though. You wouldn’t be able to stand the embarrassment.
There’s a loud and shrill noise that rings through your room. You jump startled, thinking it’s another lightning strike. It isn’t. It’s just your phone ringing on your bedside table. Screen blinking brightly you hesitantly reach for the small device to see who’s calling you at this late (when did it become three in the morning?!) hour.
“Hey! You're awake! Do you see this storm? This lightning is amazing!" your best friend, Chen, half shouts excitedly into your ear. He's always been fascinated with storms, for as long as you've hated them you’re certain. You grimace to yourself at his enthusiasm but, manage to muster up your own, hopefully as animated, response.
"Yeah, it's pretty great-" A loud boom resonates outside and through your window with a rattle, cutting you off. Dropping the phone you let out a small squeak you hope Chen can’t hear. With trembling fingers you bring the phone back up to your ear just in time to hear him rambling about the natural science behind that last thunder clap.
"H-hey, Chen?" you say, clearing your throat to get rid of the slight tremor.
"Yeah, what's up?" he replies, done with his science rant.
"Oh, yeah, encore? No problem.” he says breezily with a chuckle. You actually manage to roll your eyes, shutting them tightly as soon as another boom sounds. Taking a deep breath he started singing softly through the phone, his rich voice melodic and as clear as it can be through your small phone. You sigh, then jump when thunder claps, settling yourself into the cocoon of blankets around you. Placing the phone by your pillow you listen to him sing the gentle lullaby and shut your eyes, grateful for your friend. He did this every storm, where you lived there were more than you were comfortable with, being a good friend to help you sleep-or so you told him.
Technically that’s true, it did distract you enough to let you get through the storm and get some sleep, but, it’s mainly to calm you. Chen has a way of doing that. He can calm you, and anyone else, no matter what the situation. He’s just such a relaxed person people can't help but follow suit. Its infectious, his calm is (unless he decided to ruin it out of boredom).
You’re so lucky to have a friend like him, you really are. Not just anyone would sing at three in the morning through the phone until they’re certain their friend fell asleep. Nope, Chen’s nothing short of a saint in your mind (though devious at times), and many other girls' you’re sure.
That dorky stud. You think amusedly to yourself. Caught up in your thoughts and Chen's voice you no longer notice the pounding rain or howling wind. Allowing your mind to wander as you listen to him sing you drift off into a dreamless sleep.
***
You wake up with a start; you slept through your alarm. Panicking you jump out of bed and throw on the first things you could find, a pair of jeans and old hoodie you stole from Chen (you should've returned it months ago but, it’s comfy and you’re lazy). Rushing to the bathroom you brush your teeth quickly and grab your backpack off your small kitchen counter.
Rushing out the door you yank up your hood, having had no time to brush your hair, and run to class. You live in an apartment on your university's campus so class isn't too far but, it’s a already been in for a good hour. Weaving around other students you hurry into the tall building and speed walk down the hall. You can hear the ongoing lecture when you approach the door marked M-6.
Before opening the door you peer through the little glass window to try and find a spot to sit. You’d rather not burst in and awkwardly stand searching for one. Your eyes lock on an empty spot in the back row at the very corner of the room. Keeping that in mind you push open the door as silently as possible and pad to the very end of the room.
Setting your stuff down in the empty space of desk, thankfully unnoticed by your professor, you slide into the long lecture hall bench then promptly bury your face into your backpack.
Ugh, why is this happening to you?
Stupid storm...
"Well, you look like you had a terrific night." Chen teases near your ear while poking your side. You didn't even realize the free seat was beside him, too frazzled to even notice who you'd be sitting by. Turning your head to your left you grunt gruffly, a noise mixed with exhaustion and frustration. "Yeah, I figured. By the way I knew you'd be late so I took extra notes for you. Oh, and I still want my hoodie back." he adds pushing over a page of neat and organized notes in his careful writing.
Sitting up you rub your eyes tiredly and glance at the notes guiltily. "You didn't have to-"
"No, I wanted to. Besides, you'd just ask for mine later anyway. I made sure to add a few doodles here and there for your entertainment" he cuts in with a grin. You know better than to protest once he's made his mind (he's ridiculously stubborn) and accept the notes, still feeling a guilty. Chen is too nice, a weakness of his that had girls confessing constantly (although you knew him well enough to know he had a mischievous side that could keep those girls away in the first place). It’s absurd; downright idiotic even. You'd think that as university students these girls wouldn't act like such hormone crazed teenagers about their feelings. Then again, it always is funny to see Chen flounder, spew nonsense, then awkwardly turn them down (in the vaguest way possible). Not that the girls getting rejected was funny, no, just the way Chen handled the situation is priceless.
That awkward dork of a stud.
Class goes by surprisingly fast, probably because you nod off a few times-then get annoyingly prodded awake by an innocently smiling Chen. Stowing your things into your backpack you stifle a yawn behind your hand and slowly follow him out. Grabbing onto the back of his backpack so you don’t lose him, you let him lead you to your customary after class spot: a little campus cafe that has really good lattes. Once inside the quaint store you purchase your drinks and head to an empty table for two. Sitting down you bury your head into your arms once again and let out a loud sigh.
"Hey, you're obviously exhausted; we should go for a run!" Chen jokes playfully shaking your arm.
"Shut up you jerk, I'm just tired from waking up in the middle of the night, that's all." you lie, forcing yourself upright and taking a long, hot swig of your latte.
"Did my singing help at all?" he asks, genuinely concerned.
"Yeah, I'd be worse if you didn't, that's for sure." you reply nodding vigorously, tongue burning from your own stupidity of downing part of your freshly brewed drink.
A large pleased smile grows on his lips. "Good, I'm glad I could put my talents to use."
Rolling your eyes you take another, more cautious, sip of your drink then rub your eyes asking, "How are you not about to pass out? You were up as late as I was, weren't you?"
His eyes light up instantly, no trace of exhaustion visible on his smiling face. "I was probably up even later! I couldn't sleep through such an amazing storm! It was phenomenal! I recorded a few things and my camera actually caught a few good pictures!" he says bouncing in his seat like a kid promised candy.
Suppressing a shudder you grin crookedly and clap slowly in a sarcastic gesture. "Congratulations, pro storm chaser! I applaud your breakthroughs in weather science." you cheer, finishing with a thumbs up.
"Hey, don't get snarky! Why don't you just-wait, on second thought..." he studies you for a moment before nodding with a grin, "Alright, since you're just so enthusiastic about my storm endeavors why don't you come over for tonight's storm, huh? It is a Friday and you've got no plans anyway. You could crash on the couch at my place, or we can fight for the bed, either option is fine." You blink twice, Chen staring back expectantly at you for your reply.
