Kindly and inconspicuously, his best friend Ryan had welcomed Chrys into his house. His best friend Ryan had just insisted that Chrys stay with him while he was sorting out the issues at home. Well, insist was an understatement. When he had packed up and left, there was nowhere for him to go. Both of his uncles had gone on a trip to Australia and wouldn't be back for another month. After an hour or two of walking, he defaulted to spending his time in a nice, 24 coffee shop. Once settled down in the coffee shop, he texted Ryan that he was staying in a coffee shop because of home issues. In what Chrys had suspected required speeding and reckless driving, Ryan got to the coffee shop from his apartment, a drive that should've taken twenty minutes but took ten for his best friend. Then Ryan grabbed his bag and dashed to his car, forcing it into the trunk and refusing to give it back unless Chrys got into his car. Since then, he had been staying with the Takahitas.<br/><br/>Of course, he didn't want to be a deadbeat body in the house. Chrys had been raised by his mother to never disrespect those who respected him, and it was on her strong morals that he was built on. He had been graciously given a guest room in the house without a fuss, and he wasn't about to let the kindness go unpaid. So Chrys had helped out in whatever way he could. He folded the laundry. Sometimes he walked their huge chocolate Great Dane Lucky around the neighborhood, before settling down. Other times he sat down with the youngest Takahita sibling, eight-year old Mark, and played Uno for hours until he was content. Occasionally, he cooked meals for the whole family. He kept his room clean, using only enough space that was necessary for him to live. In a few days he had fallen into the rhythm of the Takahitas, figuring out what they needed him to do without being asked.<br/><br/>The monotony of his days gave him time to think about his family, and what he was to do. Save for eccentricities that came with walking their dog Lucky, such as pulling Lucky away from another dog while Lucky was furiously humping, there was little change in his daily routine. When he thought about his father, Chrys felt uncomfortably tight around the chest. He had loved his father and respected him deeply as a patriot that served and protected his country, but when his father had confessed to his mother his affairs, the affection he had was replaced with rage. It had been then that he realized just how little he knew about his father - all he knew about his father was what he had been told by his mother, as well as the few interactions he and his father had over the years. The flickering resentment that he had for his father for leaving only served to kindle his rage into an inferno, when Chrys thought about how often his father had been absent in his life. In all of those absences, he was busy fucking around with others, sleeping around like his mother meant nothing to him. The thought made him want to punch his father in the jaw again, even if it would earn him another punch in the jaw too.<br/><br/>Chrys didn't want to tell anyone about what was happening, not even Ryan. It was something private and it was meant to stay private. Fortunately for him the Takahitas, with the exception of Ryan, were understanding of his desire to be discreet and didn't press any further on his domestic affairs. Even when his mother and father called him on his phone, begging him to come home so that they could talk, they turned their attention away and let him deal with it how he needed to. In return, Chrys would try and be the best house guest he could.<br/><br/>This afternoon he decided to go to the store to buy ingredients in order to make the Takahitas one final dinner, to show them how grateful he was for their hospitality. His uncles were on a flight back to Australia and would be back by night - which is when Chrys decided to move his accommodations into one of their houses. Chrys wasn't one to brag, but he thought of himself to be a good cook; he could whip up a good meal in no time. Salad rolls with sauce, he thought. Using mom's recipe. That'll be good. I think they'll like it, and it's easy to customize to personal taste.<br/><br/>In his basket he already had all of the ingredients. Lettuce, carrots, chives, rice vermicelli, kale, chicken thighs, and rice paper for the salad rolls. The sauces he had already made, and Chrys had them jarred in the fridge. Now he just needed to think about dessert. He didn't know how to make many desserts, and it would have to be something that he could whip up in an instant. Rice pudding with banana flambé. I think they'll have all the ingredients. I just need the bananas since I ate the last one... oh, that was a really good banana. He hopped over to the banana display, where bunches of bananas laid stacked on top of each other. Damn, all of these bananas are perfect.<br/><br/>He had just picked the largest, ripest bananas when he turned to see a familiar face greeting him. Chrys could recognize the man, but it didn't stick in his mind where he knew the man from until the man began to talk about being one of his father's friends. A smile spread across his lips. "Oh! I remember now," he said with a little laugh. "You're Mr. Reyes, right? My father introduced us at that dinner a couple of weeks ago. Sorry I didn't recognize you sooner. My memory's bad." Chrys placed his bananas in his basket, gently setting it on top of the chives. Seeing Niegel made me remember a conversation that he had with his father.<br/><br/>After they had been introduced, his father had pulled him aside into an empty hallway and began to talk to him. "Son. You know that man I just introduced you to? His name is Niegel Reyes. Years ago he had been captured... and tortured. You remember that on the news years ago, right?" Ronald had asked. Chrys nodded. "I suggested to the higher ups that he get a honorable discharge, because after what happened, he's been a little crazy, yeah? If you ever have to talk to him, be as nice and polite as you can be. But be a little careful." The way his father had talked about Niegel was strange, as if there were something foreboding behind his words.<br/><br/>"My old man? I haven't talked to him in a while... I've been living away from home, you see," Chrys replied, with a hint of sheepishness. "I saw him a couple of weeks ago. He looked pretty good. He also called me a week ago... so, he's still breathing." He eyed the bananas, then Niegel's basket. "Why don't you get a bunch of bananas? They look really good this week. I know a good banana when I see one."