CHAPTER 13

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"What was that?" Noah asked when we entered our hangout

"What was what?"

"Yeah, I thought a drama was going to take place, like, you know, what usually happens between us. But, you just looked at her and walked passed her" Justin said

We sat down and I crossed my legs

"There's nothing that usually happens to us, Justin" I told him

He scoffed

"Yeah, tell that to someone that was just given birth to. Even it won't believe you" Justin said

"You don't call a baby it, Justin. They have a gender"

"Oh, yeah, that's right. Sorry baby" he said

"That talk is for another time" Noah said

He leaned forward putting his strength on his hand that was resting forward on his legs. he looked at me

"What happened Friday night?" he asked me

I placed my arm on the arm rest and rubbed my eyes

I'm so tired of that day and the consequences that followed me since then

"What do you mean what happened?" I asked

"Your mom called our parents and asked if you were with us" Justin said

"I wasn't"

"We know, that's why we are asking where you were. What happened?"

"I could have been anywhere, Noah. I'm turning nineteen this year, remember? And besides I'm a growing male. Where do you think I would have been?"

I really hated the idea of talking too much

"No where of what you are insinuating, Aiden. if you say that to someone else, they might think what you want them to think, but, not us. You've never even had a improper fling"

"That doesn't mean I decided to not have one forever"

"Yes, but, it also means that since you're trying so hard to make us believe that, you're trying to dismiss the subject"

I was losing my patience

"Look, Justin, I can go and do whatever I want to do, okay? Stop it, you're bothering me"

"Bothering me? I'm trying to look out for you and you're ..." he straightened and his voice was louder

"And I'm telling you that it's unneeded, okay? Cut it out"

As usual, being the one that loves peace, Noah spoke before things get a little complicated

"Okay, guys. Calm down. This's nothing to get so worked up about"

I signed, he was right

I stood up

"I'm going for some air" I said and made my way to the rooftop to cool

I needed it

ἀἀδδδδδὰὰ

I signed as the cold air moved against me. I was fully clothes but, it could still reach my skin, and I was grateful for that; I really needed it

Appreciative and relieved, again, for how my semester schedule was set up, I signed and leaned on the wall. I couldn't concentrate and I knew I had to get my senses back before third period. Throughout the first period, it was as if I was in a daze all through. Nothing the teacher said made their way into my ears or head. I was just in the class physically but, I wasn't there mentally at all. I couldn't even notice Kim

"Where are you right now? I've been trying to get your attention for centuries now" she told me in the class

She had been tapping me and snapping her fingers severally before shouting my name even though we were in class and a teacher was teaching. We had to apologize both to the teacher and the class

"What's wrong? Is it about this morning?" she asked and I could feel her confusion.

I understand; for a viewer, nothing even happened but, that was so not the case for me. I still think he's going to spill

"What are you doing here?"

I opened my eyes and they landed on him. His thumbs were hooked on the pockets at the front of his jeans

"I wanted some air" I stated, grimly

He didn't say anything, he just went to the railings and leaned on it, his back facing me

"Thank you" I told him

He turned to me but, didn't say anything. He just looked at me, still leaning on the railings. Since I knew he wasn't going to say anything, I continued

"Thank you for not saying anything. My heart was beating as fast cause I thought you were going to say something, especially when you stood in front of me. But, thankfully you didn't so, once again, thank you. Also, for the other day. I'm not sure I thanked you but, if I did, I still want to thank you again" I rambled

He stood for a while without saying anything

"Which day?" he asked

I looked at him, confused

What does he mean?

"'Which day?' What do you mean?" I asked him

"That's what I'm saying. Why are you bringing it back up? Didn't I say we should both forget?" he asked

All grateful feelings I had for him completely vanished immediately

I scoffed

"You sure are a jerk" I told him

He raised an eyebrow

"A jerk?" he asked

"Yes, a confirmed and professional one" I said standing up

"Then, did you think I was going to jump off the roof with joy when you said thank you?" he said with a sneer

"You should have just done what I said" he added

I was sure I never felt so angry and ashamed of myself for even attempting to thank him

"Well, I guess it's my fault for being human. I should have just not cared for being a burden to .."

"A burden?" he cut me off and asked wryly

"Do you really think you are worthy of being a burden to me? Think again, peanut, because you are nothing worthy of even being diddly to me" he said

I saw red

"You ingrained boor!!" I spat with vehemence

I raised my hand to slap him hard but, unfortunately, before it could reach his face, he held my hand, stopping it

I looked straight into his eyes. I saw his eyes blazing with fire but, I couldn't care less

He took a step closer to me

"Just because I let you off the first time, don't think you will get away with it the second time. You have no idea what I would have done to you"

I retrieved my hand back to my side

"Oh please, there's nothing you could have done to me. Apparently, and unfortunately, nobody else thought to bring you back to your place" I told him

"Watch it, peanut" he said, with his face reddening

I rolled my eyes and walked past him. I stopped and swirled back to him with a deadly glare when he held my hand

"Let go" I told him trying my very best to ignore the red that was beginning to cloud my vision

"You are just like him" he said and I couldn't help but to arch my eyebrows in confusion

"What did you mean by that?" he asked and I was more confused

"The day on the rooftop, when I was with Kim. You said that statement, 'You are just like him'. What did you mean by that?" he explained seeing my confusion

I traced my memory back to the rooftop. It was when he was blabbing nonsense about Kim. I looked back and him and snatched my hand away from him

"None of your business" I told him

"It is very well my business" he said blocking my path to the door. I tried to ignore him but, I couldn't, he was blocking my path no matter the direction I took

I stopped and took a deep breathe

"Can you move?" I asked him

"Sure, when you answer"

"Move" I ordered

"Answer"

"I told you it's none of your business"

I tried to move, but again, he stopped me

"For goodness sake, Aiden, get out from my way. I told you it's none of your business!!" I shouted at him.

I pushed him away and left immediately

I hated it. I hated that moment. I hated how remembering anything that could relate to that moment made me feel. I hated living because of that moment. I hated my life. I wanted to die but, I knew I couldn't. My mother and brother were here and I couldn't leave them.

I couldn't stay anymore for class, so, I just took my bag from the dark room and went home straight, not even asking for permission