2.1 : DID YOU HEAR IT ALL?

Outrageous questions are always met with outrageous responses. And this is exactly what's happening right now. The fact that I was in a situation where such a question even made sense baffled me.

"My girlfriend? Dude, are you high?!" I was just returning from the kitchen and wiping my hands when I was suddenly met with this absurd question.

"What? It's only natural. Why would the most popular girl in our campus visit your place, with no one around, at the time of nightfall?" He had a point there. Even if I did cook up an excuse, it wouldn't last long.

"I don't know. Maybe charity-related services? Working for a social cause?... Besides, to answer honestly, I'm not in any relationship. So please, stop with this interrogation." I sat down on the couch rubbing my forehead in dismay. "You of all people should know that I would be the last person on the planet who would end up in a relationship."

"We both know that you're not one to hold his promises. Time and time again. That's why we're here now." Marcus reminded me of the past we both shared. And I just sat there in silence. There was nothing I could rebut about.

"Anyway, if you say so. As long as you know the repercussions of your actions, I won't say anything."

"Does this mean that your business here is done?"

"Nope. There's one more thing I have to say."

"And that is?" As I signaled him to speak up, he sighed and sat down, looking outside the window and avoiding eye contact.

"My sister, she's coming over to visit me."

"When is it?"

"When is what?"

"The day of her arrival! When is it?" I might have sounded a lot serious than I intended to. I had my reasons for it.

"Dude, look..."

"Give me the date! The number!"

"Listen! I don't have it! She just sent a letter, that she'll meet me."

"Then don't bother telling me that stuff. If she's coming to visit you, then make sure to be with her till the end and keep an eye out for her at all times."I looked at him with a stern look on my face. "And don't you dare...try to...remotely come close to me...during that time. 'Cause I swear, it won't bode well, for the both of us."

He looked at me with a cold expression. "How long do you plan to run away from the past? How long do you intend to bury it deep and live this way? Is this even a life?"

"I wish there was enough credibility in your statements just now. But more than that, I wish if those words weren't uttered from the same mouth that branded me as a monster, and exiled both of us from our place called home."

"I'm sorry man. I had to do everything to protect the ones I cherished. And in this world, I only have my sister. My only blood relative, and the last of my kind. If it were to keep her safe, I wouldn't even hesitate to kill anyone, you included, and even me."

"Funny how you mention your family as if you're the only one in this room with one."

"Well, unlike you, who has a family to return to, I only have my sister."

"A dysfunctional family, you mean."

"I'm sorry, are you discontent with the fact that you have a sibling safeguarded in a place that can keep your sibling at ease? You did everything in your will, to safeguard the life and the future of your sibling, all while dragging down my sister into the path of hell. You think I'll let that slide?"

"She knew what she was getting into. Besides, I don't understand why do you got to be discontent with how I do things? Don't give me the scumbag treatment. You of all people should know that. You've always been like that, haven't you? Your entire life, with that smug face, always taking the best thing right in front of me and rubbing it in my face. Time and time again. Isn't it obvious then, that I'd take the page from your book, and do whatever it takes?"

"Don't rope me with the likes of you!"

"The feeling's mutual."

"And yet, we're here."

"Why is that? I wonder?"

The atmosphere that filled was just one spark away from diving down into haywire. Though, I wasn't concerned about it, and so wasn't he in the slightest. Truth be told, Marcus and I are bitter enemies.

"I threw away my life just so that I could be here, and all because of you."

"Well, I'm sorry that I wasn't sensitive enough to care about how you felt!"

"That's the problem with you, it always has been."

"Don't try to play the blame game! You were the one who showed up here out of your own free will."

"That's because I had no choice!"

"No! You did have a choice. You just chose to ignore it. So how about, you own to your mistakes, asshole, and just leave! I don't care whether your sister is showing up here, or whatever her plans are. I don't care. Alright?"

He got up from his seat and stared me in the eye. We are just separated by a hair length. But clearly, none of us were ready to back down.

"You know, I've always hated you for the longest of time. Ever since the day I met you."

"I wish I could say the same but I really can't. But sorry I can't hate you, since there's someone else I resent. Someone far worse than you."

"Oh! Tell me about it." He stepped back and chuckled. "I think you know why I'm here in this college with you right?"

"It's because you want to kill me, isn't it?" He just gave a smile, picked up his stuff, and went straight towards the exit. I heard a click on the door, indicating that he had indeed left my flat.

SO, DID YOU HEAR ALL OF IT?