He notices a radio upon one of the windowsills, as he receives no response from her. Feeling frustrated at the situation he's thrown in makes him feel guilty as she doesn't as he thinks she doesn't deserve seeing him lose his mind one day and just let it all out.
If she managed to live through whatever this is all on her own, wouldn't his existence be nothing but redundance in hers?
He tries to ignore the thoughts gnawing at the back of his head and proceeds to take the radio, turns it on and as expected, nothing but static sounds come off it. She just stands there, watching his actions, not really judging him, no. Her gaze felt more like someone watching a scene from the television and not giving it much thought.
His thought however, were broken when the radio crackled once, twice, the sound filling the room before what seemed to be a young man's voice, coughing at first, then giggles like a kid starts talking in a clear voice, with a calm tone that somehow, made it seem like everything's just normal.
It is far from that.
"This is your one and only DJ, Nen, because for obvious reason you might have a hard time looking for another station to listen to. Anyways, no big deal but, this shall be my last moment to play music to treat your quiet days and evenings mates, so I'm starting much, much earlier than usual. Be grateful or you'll die alone. Just like me. In my own days I would be playing something playful or, flirting, right? But, I do believe that there's enough chaos surrounding us now so, or should I say emptiness at this point? I have made a playlist to calm down your nerves everyone. Probably won't work, but still, who cares, we're all fucked up anyways, so bear with me this one last time. For anyone out there who's still hanging on, may you wake up to see the end of this long dream."
Music starts playing, sound of jazz comes in, but the sound of sirens and stomping feet echoes inside her head instead, eating up this moment of normalcy.
Their eyes met as the music continues, and for some reason, they both tear up.
--
Nen has been listening to this radio ever since he was in college, back when he had almost given up in trying a lot of things just to help with his sleeplessness. Being able to actually work in it upon graduation felt like a dream come true, and now he's the only one left operating it, or trying to. For the remaining nights it wasn't about how many were listening, but the hope that it reached anyone who needed it.
Even if there's only one listener left.
And while pondering, he remembers the request that came in through a piece of paper stuck in the station's window, and it made him think again of other people who have decided to stay for the sake of others who might need them, not for themselves alone.
Can I see you? - Sai
He doesn't bother adjusting the sound as he doesn't need to talk through it anymore, but rather, set the system in a way that it'll be able to keep on playing for hours and hours to go.
Before he could manage to be embarrassed or scared to do anything, his recklessness which is both his bane and boon, has already pushed him to go instead to the place where he knows one of his listeners will be waiting.
He gazes at the broken windows of the coffee shop that is now empty, most if not all stores are, and the owner of this one is the only one he knows who has stayed out of stubbornness.
But where could they run to anyways?
The other notices his presence and approaches the entrance, not bothering to remove his apron nor worrying about the coffee stains in front of his shirt from practicing latte art that he wasn't able to do before.
"Oh… you've actually came."
"And you're still actually here?"
They've crossed paths several times as the coffee shop was actually just a few minutes away from the station where he had also made into his makeshift home. And most of the other songs he played were the requests the older one had made through the little notes he left, the short messages that came with it being something he had been looking forward to every single day.
But despite seeing each other and the connection they made through those slips of papers, it'll be the first time they might actually talk with each other directly, if nothing goes wrong.
And he expected to feel nervous as he's only interacted with other people most of the time through the calls he received through his work when others requested specific songs or just ranted about life. Back when everything was still normal.
But for some reason seeing the other in front of him made him feel at ease. Perhaps he's just trying to hold on to his sanity, and Sai's presence makes him hold on to the last bits of it.
To whatever's left of it.
"Huh? Of course I'll be here, it's my coffee shop. You're still here too and you've even granted my request, since you're in front of me right now."
"I just got curious after seeing that message, so I decided to come here. Not much place to go to anyways."
"Hmm. Want some coffee?"
"…sure. Can I make a request?"
"Of course, if you don't mind me taking my time to make it. Since you're the only customer here now. I've practiced a latte art too, so I guess I have no choice now but to show it to you."
They both smiled and laughed, genuinely, tension dissipating as if they'd known each other for years.
"Nice. Then I think I'll have… an iced mocha… no make it iced pumpkin spiced latte with lots of whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles."
"…a regular latte it is."
"You look like you're judging me."
"No, just, do you actually drink that?"
"… no, but I'm curious when people kept buying even if it was not just seasonal anymore. Would I like it? Maybe not. But who cares, really. No one would judge me to – oh, you're here. Right."
Giggles. Light and uncaring.
"I really want to say one pumpkin spiced latte coming right up, but I don't think I have enough ingredients for that right now, so do you mind if I make your first choice instead?"
"Fine, an iced mocha it is. But add more whipped cream."
"Of course, and chocolate sprinkles too."
He takes one of the tall chairs and sits by the counter, watching the other make his order, then takes a glance at the quiet road now lined up with empty stores once bustling with life.
I'm still not used to this amount of silence.
The other smiles at him then takes his phone, connects it to the speakers in the store and a playlist filled with songs he had added as recommended by Nen when he was still playing music in his station.
He laughed at the gummy smile that filled the other's face as soon as the first song fills the store.
"Is that…?"
"Yup, I told you I'm an avid listener."
"You really are!"
"Why, you thought I was messing with you?"
"I thought, well, that you just did it out of boredom because no one will come here on their own now."
Sai pauses for a bit, before continuing making the last order he'll make.
"Hey Nen."
"Yes?"
He notices how the smile feels more forced this time.
"The generator I'm using here is enough to last just until tonight."
"…and what's your plan for tomorrow?"
"Actually, I don't know."
Laughter, once again. But the mirth doesn't reach his eyes once again. The first drop of tears runs down his cheek despite the smile being forced to come out, he fails and he ends up crying.
Like the presence of another pushed his dam of emotions to break and spill over.
"Sai?"
"I'm scared. I'm actually scared. I don't want to die yet. But I'm exhausted. And I might be selfish to want you to come here just because of that. I'm just a coward."
The taller one didn't know how to respond to it, as he himself has his own fears of what they're about to face in the future, if there is still one. His last words during his last play might sound like he's given up, but somehow, somewhere at the back of his mind, he doesn't want to. Not yet.
The next thing he knew, he finds himself holding the older one's hand, trying to assure him with his presence.
That he's not alone.
"I'll be here with you until I can or if you decide to be alone, the same way you were with me during my downtimes. Even though you don't realize it now, you were the best company I've ever had."
And with those words he notices his own voice break, a few tears also streaking his face. He moves around the counter to sit beside the other and hugs him tightly, while he snuggles close into the crook of his neck, whimpering, both fear and comfort conflicting within them.