The hangout spot picked by Kaia was the cafe Juan frequented with Oren, much to everyone's pleasant surprise. It didn't take him long to arrive, so he waited by the door, kicking pebbles aside in boredom.
"Juan!"
He faced the source of voice, a smile on his face, "Oren! Glad you could make it. A reply would have been good, you know?"
"Sorry, sorry." Oren huffed, "Why did you suddenly want to meet here?"
"Oh, my friends wanted to meet you too. So I thought we could all hang out here."
"...your friends? They're…coming here?"
"...yeah. Sorry I didn't tell you in advance." Juan frowned, "...why are you pale? Are you sick? We can always reschedule this so let's go to the hospital—"
"No!" Oren escaped his grip, clearing his throat, "I don't want to meet your other friends, Juan."
"Oh…may I ask why not?"
"...they're your real friends, after all." Oren looked away, sadness lingering in his gaze, "...I don't like that—"
"Juan! He's there guys! " Seraph's voice rang a few feet away, Juan ignored it, his attention on Oren, who progressively looked worse at the thought of meeting his other friends.
Was it that bad?
"What are you even talking about?" He sighed softly, "...you're my best friend, Oren. There's no need to feel that way. I'm sorry if I made it look that way so please just talk to me, okay—"
"Hey, idiot!" Seraph appeared behind him, Kaia and Caspian in tow, "What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Me?" Juan muttered, pointing at Oren, "He's the one who looks like he's seen a ghost. Anyway, Oren isn't feeling well, so I'll take him to the hospital. Sorry, guys. Let's meet some other time?"
"Uh…sure?" Kaia looked confused as she glanced beside Juan, "...but who are you even talking to, Juan? Where's your friend?"
"He's right here." Juan blinked, "Can't you see? He's turning paler." Juan muttered, "I'll see you guys later. Let's go, Oren—"
"Juan," Caspian grabbed his arm, his face expressing something that could be a mixture of confusion and doubt, "...there's no one."
Juan stared at the three blankly, his thoughts racing miles per minute. Were they really pranking him right now? When Oren looked so sick? He sighed in agitation, "Guys, he really looks sick. Don't play these jokes." He turned to face Oren, "Let's go—"
"..."
"...Juan.." Kaia muttered softly, "...are you okay?"
Juan was quick to brush off her grip, "Where did he suddenly go? Did you see him?"
"..."
When they didn't answer, he pulled out his phone with a curse, "That guy, seriously! If he's sick, he should have just said so! It's not like I'd force him—" He scrolled on his phone with a scowl that deepened as seconds passed by, "Where did his number suddenly go?"
"Juan." Seraph snatched his phone, "..are you drunk?"
Kaia hit his head, intense worry on her features. Juan wasn't joking with them, she could tell. His hands were shaking and he looked so worried for his friend…a friend…none of them could see.
"No, Juan." Caspian now seemed to have realised the situation and spoke, his voice trembling, "There was no one standing from the beginning. You've been alone here the whole time."