It was a very quiet afternoon, until the doorbell began to ring non-stop, and the panther immediately knew that there could only be one person who would ring the door like that. “I wonder what’s up.” The door swung open so fast and so sudden right after he unlocked the door it almost frightened him. Xoray opened his mouth slightly as he was about to complain about the childish behavior with the doorbell, but he was interrupted immediately when his best-friend put his already opened smartphone right in front of Xoray’s face. His feline eyes widened and his jaw dropped when he gazed upon the most beautiful, delicious looking ice-cream picture of all on Rocky’s phone.

Rocky was amused of the way how Xoray was acting. “They’re selling this new ice-cream today. I’m actually about to head there to try it out,” he said, moving his phone very slowly in different directions on purpose.

Xoray kept his eyes fixated on Rocky’s phone like he was completely hypnotized. “Uhh!…” And just like that, Rocky closed the screen of his phone and put it in his pocket.

“And I’m not telling you where, or invite you to come along with me,” he said, smirking at his best-friend.

”Huh—! Wait—you’re not?” Xoray asked shockingly.

The white tiger was fighting the urge not to laugh at his best-friend’s shocking reaction. He needed to get it together in order for his plan to succeed. Rocky shook his head and simply answered, ”Nope!” A somewhat devilish smile had appeared on his face. ”Consider it a punishment for not calling me today.”

“B-But… I just finished taking a shower and—”

“Excuses won’t help you,” Rocky interrupted. “Well, I’m off to that ice-cream shop by myself. I’ll send you a pic of me while I’m enjoying devouring that delicious new ice-cream. See-ya lateeer!” He waved then turned around and took one step forward.

“ROCKY!!” Xoray quickly grabbed hold on Rocky’s hoody. “Please! Take me there with you! Pleeeeeease!”

Rocky put his index figure on his headband and pretended like he was thinking deeply. “Hmmmm, I dunno… *someone* I know didn’t bother to ask about me today.”

“Please… Rocklight… my pal…”

The White Tiger grinned as he decided to take advantage now that his best-friend took the bait. “Welllll, I could take you there, but in return…” he turned around to face Xoray, who just grabbed his arm so he wouldn’t think of leaving without him. “You will let me stay over at your place for the whole weekend. I want us to play video games and watch a horror movie together.” Rocky continued.

Xoray released his grip. He didn’t expect Rocky to make that kind of demand. “You…want to sleepover…this weekend”—His eyes narrowed with suspicion— “I see. So that’s your plan; you’re using my love for ice-cream as a bait for your scheme.” And his suspicion just became a certainty because the visible smirk on Rocky’s mouth just got wilder.

“I have no idea what you are talking about, bro,” Rocky responded, wiggling his eyebrows purposely

“You’re face is telling otherwise,” said xoray. The idea of having his best-friend to spend the night didn’t cross his mind. At least, not this time. Rocky did try to persuade him many times for a sleepover, but Xoray thought that his best-friend had given up with the whole sleepover idea by now since it never even happened. Xoray would like it to spend more time with his best-friend, but not during night time, because Xoray had been having difficulty to sleep ever since he lost his beloved uncle *Sion* in a terrible airplane accident. The shock of losing his uncle, his only family, had effected him mentally in a way that he no longer could feel his Glowing Power within him anymore. The Glowing Power to Xoray was like his miraculous gift that he got it after he encountered a majestic Blue Dragon at the lake named “Taniyn,” his first ever person who made love with back when Xoray was 18-years-old.
Those two issues were really troubling Xoray, making him emotionally unstable when he is by himself. Most of the nights he just lay on the bed and his mind kept reminding him of those events, making him unable to sleep from crying all night by himself, and he didn’t want anyone to find out about his night struggles; not even to his best-friend.
Xoray thought it through as he stared at Rocky, I should…turn him down…gently… Xoray opened his mouth slightly and was about to give his answer, but close it when he saw how Rocky showed a hopeful expression on his face. That look on the White Tiger face made him realize that he was being unfair to his best-friend. Perhaps I should allow him—I can’t turn him down forever, he thought.

“You better give your answer quickly,” Rocky began. “Otherwise, the new ice-cream might get sold out for today.”

Xoray gasped louder. There was no time to think it over. He grabbed both his best-friend’s shoulders then said immediately, “Let’s go! Now!”

The White Tiger blinked repeatedly. “Will you agree then?” Rocky asked.

“Yes! Yes… You can sleepover… if… you take me with you… please.” Xoray got grabbed by his both shoulder right after he finished begging and his best-friend was now jumping slightly in front of him.

“WOOHOO!!” Rocky was delighted. His plan really worked. He hugged his best-friend tightly.

Xoray didn’t realize that this whole sleepover thing meant a lot for Rocky. “We’re gonna have so much fun! You’re finally allowed me to sleepover at your place.” When Xoray heard what Rocky just said to him over his shoulder, he remembered what Godfrey, Rocky’s butler, had told him about how Rocky had a very lonely childhood because his father was treating him harshly and wasn’t allowed to leave the Armstrong state, nor invite anyone over back when he was a kid.

“I’m so excited!” said Rocky happily as he hugged the Panther more tightly. His tail was swaying behind him.

Xoray‘s smile slowly appeared on his face as he slowly got a little excited himself. He also never had a sleepover with a close friend before. Having Rocky around for the weekend would be unique first time experience, and maybe, just maybe, he could sleep peacefully for the first time in a while. “Me too,” he said back in low tone.

Rocky faced and beamed at Xoray before he released his embrace. With a quick motion, he rushed to the front door, locked it, slipped the key in Xoray’s pocket, then grabbed hold on his best-friend paw and started to run while dragging Xoray with him. “We have to run to the station,” said Rocky excitedly. “ We need to ride the train to get to the ice-cream shop, it’s very near to Crystal Mall. Let’s not waste time!”

And so, at the ice-cream shop…

*Xoray Pansar
*Rocky Armstrong
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