Chapter 8: Housewarming Party
"Seven!" Lupin runs and hugs the Reaper who is completely confused at the moment.
"I thought you're dead."
"How could you leave us just like that?" He punches the Reaper in his stomach.
"Did you two know each other?" Mallory innocently asks.
"Do you remember the teddy bear that you fixed, Mallory?" Lupin points at Reaper. "He was the one I was referring to you, the one who gave me Ted."
She gasps, remembering that Lupin mentioned that his friend died two years ago. She glances at the Reaper, who is confused at Lupin. 'Maybe he doesn't remember his past life?' She thought.
"Did Seven mentioned we've been friends for as long as I could remember?" He puts his arms in his shoulders.
"I-I'm sorry." Seven stands up and about to walk out when Mallory stops him.
"It's okay." She whispers.
"Dude, what's wrong with you?"
"What are you doing here, Lupin? I thought you are too busy moving in?" Mallory asks, changing the subject.
"Oh, right! I was just passing by when I saw a live stream video of you guys singing." He pauses. "I came here as quickly as I could hoping that it was really you, I saw."
"I missed you, man. Let's hang out together, okay?"
"Sure."
"See you later." Lupin bids his goodbye before going back to his car.
"Why didn't you mentioned you know Lupin?"
They walk together towards the playground. "We don't have memories of our previous life." He pauses. "But when we touch someone we can see the past lives of that person."
"I saw some part of my life a while ago." He said as he sits on the swing.
"I become friends with Lupin since high school. That guy is trouble, Mallory." He chuckles. "He's cocky, stubborn, arrogant, and hot-tempered as hell but he starts to change a little bit when I beat him up in a contest."
"Seems like you did a good job beating him up." She chuckles. "Lupin doesn't like losing but he respects other people when they see him equally."
"That's right."
She stops and looks at his eyes deeply. "Is it alright if I-I call you Seven from now on?"
"Sure." He ruffles her hair. "Let's go back now."
When they arrive in front of the hotel, they spotted Bella and Lupin walking across the street. "Give me the rest, Bella. I don't want you to trip over while walking."
"Thank you but I can handle this one."
"Suit yourself." He rubs his cheeks awkwardly and mumbles something.
Mallory tries her best to avoid the two but Lupin saw them. "Eh, Mallory? Seven?" He yells.
Mallory tracks on her tracks and waves awkwardly at them. "H-Hi, I didn't see you there." She lies as they cross the street.
"Seven I want you to meet Bella.." He smiles proudly while turning Bella around saw he can see her.
Bella smiles at Seven but then she later drops her groceries as her face starts to look pale.
"Eh, what's wrong?" Mallory asks looking at them.
"I told you, you should give them to me a while ago before you can even drop them." He grumpily collects her groceries that are now lying on the ground. "We can't use this anymore. The eggs are totally crack. And the milk-" When he looks at Bella, she is still staring at Seven.
"Hey! Don't look at other guys when I'm around." He covers her face. "I mean don't look at them even if I'm not around."
Seven laughs at his friend's childish rants. "Are you okay, Bella?"
"Yes, I'm good. Sorry about that, I'm just a little stressed." She looks at Mallory. "How are you, Mallory?"
"I'm good." She smiles. "What are you two doing anyway?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I'm having a housewarming party at my place today."
"Party?" She asks excitedly since she never got to any parties before.
"That's right," Bella replies. "I was helping Lulu do some groceries."
"C-Can I help as well?"
"Sure." Bella ruffles her hair. "I heard you're a great cook. I can't wait to try one of your dishes."
"I'm not really that great." She blushes as they all head to the elevator but then Lupin yells.
"Wait! We can't ride the elevator yet."
"What's wrong, Lupin?"
"N-Nothing." They look at him weirdly before Bella hits the elevator button. Lupin gulps as they all went inside the elevator, he looks at the camera then makes a hand signal.
Before Mallory could even ask what his doing, the lights suddenly turn off and the elevator stops. "What happened?"
"The elevator stops." Seven checks the button.
"Let's wait for a little bit, I'm sure it will work anytime soon."
"Y-Yeah, that's right." Lupin brings out bags of chips. "Do you want some chips?"
Mallory shakes her head. "I just want to sit."
"We should call the authorities to inform them." Seven suggests as he sits next to Mallory.
"I don't have a number." She replies, taking a bag of chips at Lupin. "Wow, this one is good."
"Let me try." Lupin opens his mouth.
"Close your mouth or you'll catch flies, Lulu." She offers her chips to Seven.
"How long do you think they'll notice we're gone?"
"I'm afraid no one would notice us except Axel since we're always bugging him. Oh, right! We should call him." Bella pulls out her phone but Lupin quickly snatches it.
"I'll call him." He dials his phone. Everyone was silent as they wait for the other line.
"Hello?"
"Axel!" He whines dramatically. "Help us, Axel. We're trapped at the elevator."
"Why would you even be trapped there?"
"Because we're trapped!"
"You should call the authorities, Lupin. I'm still shooting so I'll probably be late at your party."
"Okay." He sighs and looks at Mallory. Somehow, he successfully made an evil plan on his mind in such a short time. "Then I guess I won't mind being stuck here since I'm with Mallory."
"Did you just say, Mallory?" Axel asks quickly.
"I'm also stuck with Bella in case your wondering." He laughs a little bit. "Man, I can't believe I'm stuck with two beautiful girls. I'm so damn lucky."
"I'm also here." Seven raises his hands.
Bella punches Lupin. "Pervert!" She snatches his phone and turns the speaker on. "Eh? Did he end the call?
"Relax he'll be here any minute now." He winks playfully at Bella. "I bet he'll be here in 20 minutes." He drops his phone and looks at everyone, his eyes challenging.
"I bet he'll be here in 10 minutes." Bella brings out her car keys.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, sorry. We usually bet on things and place our bet in front of us. When someone loses, we get their item for eternity."
"Eternity?" She looks at the car keys and phone. Of course, she immediately realizes that both items are expensive.
'I don't think I'll ever bet with them.'
Seven glances at his watch when he sees the elevator door opening. "That was fast."
"Are you guys alright?" Axel asks concern.
"Yes. Thank you very much." Bella raises Lupin's phone. "I owe you this one."
"Man, you're so obvious," Lupin whispers.
Axel looks at Mallory. "I hope you didn't wait too long." Mallory smiles at him. He was about to say something when he saw a familiar figure beside her. "Seven?"
Seven smiles and waves his hand sheepishly. "Hi, Axel."
"Glad to see you again." He nods at him.
"Wow, this place is even bigger than Axel's house."
"Indeed." Seven agrees as he roams his eyes around the penthouse until his eyes landed on a picture frame. "Is this our graduation picture?"
"Yes, it is." Lupin puts his hand on Seven and Axel's shoulder. "I can't believe it's been a long time since we got together."
Mallory smiles at the sight in front of her. She's glad to see Seven's enjoying things too as he bonds with his friends. "I wish time will stop." She whispers before remembering that Bella needs her help.
"S-Sorry for the wait. What can I do to help?"
"Please taste this for me." Bella gives her a scoop of her dish.
"Wow, it's delicious! What is it?"
"This is Lupin's favorite dessert, Zugar Kirschtorte."
"Sugar Kir... what?"
Bella laughs a little bit. "It's a sugar cherry cake from Switzerland. Rumors said it was the favorite dessert of Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn, and even of one of the Heads of the Roman Catholic Church."
"I don't know them but I bet their big time."
While the girls are busy preparing the foods, the guys talk a bit. "What are you up to these days?" Lupin asks Seven.
"I got a lot of business to do so I'm not always around."
Lupin nods his head. "I can't believe you two are the most boring persons I met." He points at them. "All you do is work, work, and work. You guys should start having fun, you know, go to dates and enjoy life as a bachelor." He wiggles his eyebrows.
"We're not the party type like you, Lupin."
Seven nods his head. "That's one of the reasons why he always gets into trouble."
"Do you remember that one time he tried approaching that hot blonde girl at a bar and how bad he failed?" Axel teases making Seven laughs
"I remember that. I can't believe the owner kicked us out that day. What did you even tell the poor girl?"
"Oh come on. Let's just play a game." Lupin changes the topic and hands both of them a controller. "I'll check on the girls."
Lupin rubs the back of his head as he enters the kitchen. "Sorry, I can't cook but is there something I could do to help you?"
"Yes. Please, step out of the kitchen before you destroy it." Bella laughs as she looks at Mallory. "I remember when Lupin went to my apartment for the first time. He begs me to cook his favorite dessert, you know the cherry cake before, I was glad on his willingness to help but I later realized that it was a disaster."
"What happened?"
"He puts the salt instead of sugar. When I asked him why he did it, he said they all look the same and nothing will surely change if he puts the same amount of sugar but then his hands slip and the entire sugar fell." Mallory laughs.
"You know the worst part?"
"What?"
"We gave it to Axel and the next day he spent 3 days in the hospital. Turns out, Lulu puts different ingredients in the cake when I'm not looking."
"You didn't taste it before giving it to Axel?"
"I was planning to do it but Lulu insists to give it to Axel as a gift because he's feeling down."
"I'm not sure if I'll laugh about that or I'll pity Axel."
"Me neither." Bella laughs shaking her head. "Can you arrange the table for us, Lulu?"
"I already did it when you two were making fun of me."
"You guys seem close, how did you meet?" They look at each other before laughing.
"Sorry, but I can't tell it to kids." He winks playfully.
"C-Come on. Let's eat before the dishes get cold." Bella changes the subject.
"Wow, everything looks delicious."
"I hope Lupin didn't make either one of this," Axel said looking carefully at each dish.
"Don't worry I didn't let him cook this time."
"Mallory, come on let's eat." Mallory looks at the vacant seats, she's having a hard time choosing if she'll seat next to Axel or Seven.
"Here take a seat with me." Bella pulls her beside.
Mallory looks at everyone. For the first time, she realized how good it feels like eating with your friends. She grabs another piece of meat and gives it to Seven while she serves chicken to Axel. "Enjoy your food." She smiles.
"I think you'll like this one." She gives hands her dish to Bella. "I-It's simple but I think you will love the creaminess of that dish."
"Aren't you going to serve me one, Mallory?" Lupin teases.
"Stop picking at her and just get what you want." Axel rolls his eyes.
"You know, I'm still confused about something. How did you guys meet?" Lupin asks giving a doubtful look at Mallory and Seven.
Mallory jumps. 'Oh, no. I can't tell him that we met in the afterlife and his here to accompany me until the hundredth day.'
Seven wipes his mouth. "I met her in the playground."
"Oh, I didn't know you guys are playmates."
"We're more than just a playmate." Seven winks at Mallory making her blush.
"That doesn't make any sense. Why is Axel being a protective dad at her when you two are dating?"
"We're not dating." Mallory quickly denies it.
"Oh, so you're dating Ax- GAHHH! Bella your stomping on my feet!" Bella glares at him sending him a signal that he is making the atmosphere uncomfortable. Lupin instantly realizes what he's doing so he quickly changes the subject.
"You know what's perfect for this occasion?"
"Wine!" Everyone raises their glasses except for Seven and Mallory.
Lupin chuckles as he tries to act as a waiter and serve everyone a glass of wine. "Bon appetit!"
Mallory copies everyone, she also twirls the wine glass by the stem, and finally, she drinks it all in one sip. She closes her eyes at the after taste. "That's not what I expected."
"You may want to hold up a little bit," Axel said concern.
"Oh, please. I'm a big girl. I can handle it." She says.
Lupin gives her another glass of wine, then another, and another until she starts to redden and drunk. "Gimme more! Gimme more!"
"I think that's enough." Seven stands up and goes beside Mallory.
"I think it will be best if she stays here."
"It's okay. My apartment is just across the street. I think I can handle her." Axel stands up and guides Mallory.
"Let me help."
"No, it's okay."
"Uh, guys." Lupin tries to interrupt but the two just glares at each other.
"Let her go, Seven. She's my housekeeper. She lives in my house."
"At least let me carry her."
"No need. I can do it."
"Stop doing it! You're making me puke." Mallory stops and faces them. She holds out her breathe but she still feels nauseous. Until she later heaves and heaves until there was nothing but an empty pit in her gut.
"My carpet!" Lupin silently cries. "It took me 12 hours to find that carpet."
Mallory leaned into Seven and Axel who rubs her back. Bella, on the other hand, offers her a cup of water which she gladly took. "T-Thank you."
"I think you should let her stay here for now. Don't worry, I'll sleep here too if you're worried."
The guys look at each other before nodding their heads. "Then in that case. We'll also stay for the night."
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