Crouching by the door, Ghost General was eating when a slight sound of footsteps arose. Turning to look, he saw it was the Drunkard.
He opened his mouth, intending to greet him, but noticed that the Drunkard seed a bit absent-minded, even walking with his head slightly lowered, not noticing him at all.
When he reached the door, his steps slowed, finally stopping completely. He held a bag in one hand and placed the other on the doorknob but hesitated to open the door.
With his head still lowered, lost in thought.
Perhaps it was because the Drunkard’s figure was rather thin; in this long and wide corridor, his silhouette appeared very solitary, as if enveloped by despair and helplessness, making the atmosphere inexplicably oppressive and sorrowful.
It spoiled Ghost General’s originally good mood.
Just as he was about to call out to him, Ghost General clamd up, looking at the Drunkard, who seed in a bad state, sowhat puzzled.
After quite a while, the Drunkard still showed no intention of opening the door, remaining as if frozen, holding that pose without moving.
Finally, he moved, only to gently lean his forehead against the door, still holding the bag with one hand while the other gripped the doorknob.
From Ghost General’s angle, he saw the Drunkard lean his forehead against the door and gradually close his eyes, almost hearing a sigh.
Even though only the shadowed side of his face was visible, Ghost General felt the weariness emanating from him.
Not the physical exhaustion from work and life, but a weariness of the heart, so much so that he felt completely drained.
The corridor lights were bright, yet around him, it seed dim.
Ghost General saw the Drunkard standing still with closed eyes, almost thinking he had fallen asleep.
"Drunkard?" he tentatively called out softly, but the Drunkard didn’t react at all, as if he hadn’t heard.
Ghost General glanced at the Little Gray Cat sleeping soundly on the bed, then stood up, carrying his al, and quietly approached the Drunkard.
Though his footsteps were not loud, they were audible, but even as he reached the Drunkard, he didn’t notice.
He really seed to be asleep.
Ghost General raised a hand, lightly tapped the Drunkard’s shoulder, and softly called, "Hey."
The Drunkard was startled, quickly opening his eyes. As he turned to look at Ghost General, he instinctively hid the bag behind him, the rustling of the plastic bag distinctly audible.
He appeared flustered and his eyes were filled with panic, like a thief caught in the act.
His reaction also startled Ghost General, causing him to step back half a pace, nearly dropping his al.
Originally panicked, the Drunkard relaxed imdiately upon recognizing who had tapped him, though still sowhat shaken, he quickly regained composure.
"Whoa, I thought you were asleep and it scared ," Ghost General started to say but suddenly rembered sothing, lowering his voice imdiately, afraid of waking the little one in the room.
"...When did you get here?" The Drunkard, startled, even had trouble breathing.
"I’ve been crouching by the door watching you for a while, even called out to you, but you didn’t seem to hear at all."
"Why are you crouching by the door for no reason?"
Upon hearing Ghost General’s last phrase, "you didn’t seem to hear," the Drunkard’s heart skipped a beat.
Indeed, he hadn’t heard...
"Eating, want a bite?" Ghost General held out the bowl in front of him.
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