Kwamé has been here with me for the past three days. He's basically moved in, even carrying his own overnight clothes and toiletries, and he's given me more attention than any human has in it entire life. Then again, he isn't human. But that's not the point. The things he's done for me and the way that he's gone out of his way for me is truly touching. It's so serious that I had to sneak out to go to school yesterday, and while lying in bed, attempting to absorb what I had just read, he came in in just a towel hanging around his waist, looking quite upset.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9jJf0eY7x
"Nya, why did you leave?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHbEb9XIYW
"You didn't say I couldn't," I answered. Stupid excuse coming from a stupid girl. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rG3SIFSne
"I'm very sure you knew that I wouldn't have wanted you to go, and what if you got someone else sick?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIKdiZ0f41
"How are you so sure it's contagious?" 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4BAJOzkdT
"You have the flu," he deadpanned. "Don't bother using "I've never been sick" as an excuse. You did CAPE bio and you're doing courses now, so I'm pretty sure you know the symptoms."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlbxJ8CbgR
After that, I wasn't allowed - haven't been allowed - to leave the house.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQhQodGSJs
I wonder how I'll ever be able to repay him, but then I remember that he's dead, and probably won't need much help with anything. He's been at my beck and call, and even when my pride keeps me from calling him, he somehow knows that I need him and comes to help me. An example of this is the time that I tried to cook myself breakfast. I've never been a great chef, but I refused to let him cook for me. I'm a grown woman, after all. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjsTFL0J2V
And he refused to let it go.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQMuyg9GVa
"You can barely stand, Nya," he said to me yesterday morning. "Let me cook for you. Oxtail, your favourite." He probably figured it out because of the amount of times I brought it home.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAIW69CcZp
"Where are you going to get oxtail to cook?" I asked him.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqygvmQ9JXI
"Meat shop," he said as if it should be obvious."And I don't need to, anyway, because Akatua has loads of it in her freezer. She eats it almost every day for lunch."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT9Y6K6Gfw
Like mother, like daughter. But how does she even afford that? Come to think about it... what does Akatua do as a job? 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4j0lNNOJ1O
"No," I refused, shaking my head fiercely. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1pcCxviMl
"Nya," he warned.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMI89mbdTX
So of course, I caved. The same thing happened this morning, and here I am, sucking on oxtail bone in a way that only I can. I look up at him and notice him staring at me, as if I'm some peculiar specimen in a lab.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMZQEuurvu
"What?" I ask him, pulling the bone from my mouth.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QbbyJ6bD8
He smiles to himself. "Nothing... You're just kinda cute, you know? In a fluffy bunny kinda way," he clarifies. I feel my cheeks beginning to heat up at the compliment. I'm not used to compliments on my appearance. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfva092Cq9B
As a way of non-verbally changing the topic, mutter a quick "thank you" and then commence sucking on the bone again while looking at my plate. I do this with all the bones for approximately three minutes, before wiping my hands and mouth on the paper napkins on the tray.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW75CpHknum
"Thank you again, Kwamé" I say to him, preparing to take my plate to the kitchen. Of course, he beats me to it.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yTnsPDlFs
"Sit," he commands, and for some unknown, God given reason, I am compelled to obey.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeho5a8CsUc
When he returns, he sits across from me, looking at me, waiting on me to speak. He probably sensed from my energy and read from my expression that I have something to say. And I do. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZg8xBqyMa
"About seeing my mother," I start.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpEbfu1j8s
"I haven't told her anything. I figured that you'd want to tell her yourself."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDuWjXrUvf
I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't realise I was holding.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2bc66VjMD
"You're right. Thank you." 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnOqJme8aq
"Well, it's your right," he says, bringing me some chewable vitamins and sitting on the couch beside me. "Are you feeling better?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkx0JbrvM2
"Yes," because of you, "but I don't want to visit her until I'm one hundred percent." I actually care about her health. I might have some resentment towards her, but I don't hate her. What Kwamé said to me about possibility infecting others stuck with me. I was so concerned with getting the answers that I wanted, I didn't think twice before going to UWI and spreading my germs all over the school. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94534Lbqj7
"That's considerate of you, but what will you be doing here in the meantime?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvRs1gqYY4
I chew my lip and think about that.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTsS5uXkSI
"Binge watching something?" The idea sounds pathetic to my own ears.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiPzPOHrNj
"How about we play a game?" he asks gently.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKbxZ29WGb
"What game?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvcjFGBoPw
"An honesty game. It's a way of getting to know each other." 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlObfbbQc6Z
"I thought you said that you didn't want to be friends." Not that I mind being his friend. I'm just confused. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag4tcN3EfA
"This doesn't make us friends," he points out. "However, your social life is sad. You can't have binge watching and playing with your parrot as your only options." The way he says it makes me sound so... boring. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEoNVC1W9j
"So you're like an almost friend?" I ask hopefully. That's getting somewhere, right?780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbMG31blVA
He cocks His head to the side, thinking about it, before showing off a half smile. "I guess."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV5IHOhGiO
"So how does this game work?" I ask him, intrigued.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSZAPcSbzN
"You ask the other person something, and that person must answer honesty. It's also about trusting each other to be honest."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q3dq5RQZ7
"Okay. That sounds easy enough," I tell him, sitting up straight. "Truth or dare without the dare." He nods, then gestures for me to start.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgiQObrC8Q
"What's the best thing you've ever done?" I ask him. He looks off to the side pensively for a moment before turning back to me to answer.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9cAzaXkoA
"I would always celebrate my family members' birthdays. You?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhxFMgS8Ot
Once again, he surprises me. I wasn't expecting to hear that. His unexpected answer throws me off, and it takes me a minute to recollect my thoughts.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFptbrABTn
"Giving my mother a second chance."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTxdxfcQXJ
That stops him cold.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxeoSjSjOg
"You expected me to be nicer, didn't you?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGz0ebLF8D
"I didn't say that," he tells me, looking away. I know that he was expecting something like "feeding the poor" or "giving back to the children's home that I came from", but I'm not a nice person. I'm not bad either; I'm kind of neural.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjaj2nRmGJ
"Well, uh, why don't we both find something nice to do? Something selfless."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgURAOkzXk
"Why?" I ask in complete confusion.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraF2oYkzNs
"People say that it feels good."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS2y56vNYP
"Do you really believe that it would do that for me?" I question him, my voice thick with doubt.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSquBbBwTs
"I don't know. To be honest, I've never tried it, but apparently, neither have you. So why don't we try this together?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUYJErpfEG
"You think that it might redeem you?" I ask gently, not wanting to push him to talk about something that he doesn't want to.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6YUJwZUag
He looks at me darkly.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpmz1BKrk2
"There is no redemption for me. I've told you that already. Now, let's find something good to do with ourselves."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIQBSIhRb1
I don't want to let it go, but I don't want to push him either. I want to try my best to not be a bitch. With that thought in mind, I nod in agreement, and raise my glass.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV8BUzzqS9
"To being charitable."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxebOOAChP3
"From the bottom of our hearts," he says, also raising his glass, and then touching it to mine.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqjqBC4mT1
He smiles at me and then clears his throat. "Back to the game."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooEtOR9V69
Right," I reply. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd3PMn0WAT
"My turn," he states. "What's your date of birth? You know mine, but I don't know yours."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJkDvUvtKa
"July 7, 1997," I reply. "We have the same birthday."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNytd5LAmy
"Huh. That's cool."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnjEwluhnI
"Um... favourite drink?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCMPo4ma0o
"As a cow or human?" he asks.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzdAapSVkF
"Both, I guess."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRI6FyYaYTC
"Um, as a cow, I like water. Clean water. As a human, I like Red Stripe, 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyDmZU63nU
780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5eunt9ymF
Sorrel or lemon flavor, depending on my mood."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed8djYG0eQ
"Wow," I murmur. "Same for me. As a human, I mean."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dFLT7QiDs
He grins at me, the smile lighting up his face. "I guess we're not that different after all."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAavrUo0H5s
***780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52qzVflifN
"We must really be awful," Kwamé mutters. We've been staring at the table for over an hour, a blank sheet of paper for "ideas" laying in front of us, each with a glass in hand. He has fruit punch, I have ginger ale. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCpdI2ttOz
"Well, it's not like we're used to doing this," I defend weakly, the excuse sounding pathetic even to my own ears.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhib6rjTUE
"There has to be something," he replies. "What about food?" he asks.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxx7JppUfh
"People have food allergies, and celiac, and stuff like that."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBXNBMwMtE
"So we buy a variety of foods."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcK3NgXXm7
"With what money?" I ask him. Has he forgotten that I'm a waitress?780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9x1JAp18f
He sighs in frustration.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseH5Tbp3GF
"Well, we could go to a children's home and read for them," I suggest.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJ7ugvgGx1
"I hate children."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYYeHEywyN
"It's not about what you like, Kwamé."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tpzosLaFs
He grumbles incoherently under his breath, screwing up his face like a spoilt child.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22J3GmwvRZ
"You must be able to get over your distaste of children for one day, just for the sake of charity."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VHEjBkePQ
"I don't know if I can," he grumbles.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAujYr7csF
"Yeah, you can. You just have to try."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ4F3ia3QP
He sighs heavily, as if I've just asked him to make some great sacrifice. It's not that serious. I mean, what does he even do with himself, apart from running up and down as a bull?780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLNKGqXsDP
"Fine. What day?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTnTjeNMIa
"How about next Wednesday?" I suggest hopefully.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqU0LhPnq4
"Okay. I'll bring some books."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeA6Rh48S8
"You aren't reading?" I ask him.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5AJoy9aDH
"I've forgotten how to read."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtpTxQZKmD
"That's crap. You were using my phone this morning."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdQDKec5K9
"I swore that I wouldn't let you see me like this again."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrJs2M9pjk
"That's a terrible excuse. And how would you bring the books?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaGqNyBO19
"Cart," he replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyk3SQDQHOY
"Kwamé-" 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9lQt9Q2Ri
"I'm not good for children."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIpGkQkQvK
Ahh. That's why. It's in this moment that I realise that even though he planned on helping me to organise the charitable act, he didn't want to help me execute it. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSyDRJkUGu
"You're not some demonic entity that will cause the children to vaporise," I tell him, although I know what he means. "The kids will be fine."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoJFDRPqpi
"I'm evil," he reminds me.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7aKWSvKXo
"Don't start with that again," I scold him. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVD0xYP7rB
"Children can sense evil, you know." 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7zY5wHiCT
Yes I do. That's how I knew that my foster mum was off, not evil, but far from good. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMtiyd29xv
"Just be your normal, sweet self. They'll love you."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tfa7CJwHF
"You think?" he asks me with great skepticism.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkalh2Q4m9
"Just be nice. Trust me when I say, they'll love you," I tell him again, as if repeating the words will convince him. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lW09CMDCJ
"Okay," he concedes in a tone that tells me that me that he doesn't want to talk about this anymore. In an effort to ease his discomfort, I talk about something else. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9o1YrfAMsm
"I think I'll be good to visit my mother tomorrow. The day after at latest."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI6wH6jmaj
"She'd love that," he says earnestly, seeming genuinely happy about my newfound desire to see this woman. "She's not pleased about the way that things turned out the last time you two spoke."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduRwXPypn9
"Nor am I," I confess, looking down at my fingers. If I'm going to be truthful with myself, I'm a little bit ashamed of my behaviour. Looking back, I was a little overdramatic. It doesn't matter; I'll try to make an effort from now on.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwRHzlP2f1
"So... what do you want to talk about with her tomorrow?" he questions, taking a sip of his fruit punch.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnSz1lPMD4
"I don't know. Probably try to find out exactly why she left me. She was pretty vague last time."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98IOuHv8kD
"I don't know if you're ready for that yet," he tells me, setting his glass down as if ready to have a serious conversation. "With the way that you reacted last time, I'm not sure how you'll take it." 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi53qV8TKzA
"More magic?" I ask him cautiously.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCOwIgCtZD
"Way too much for you right now."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTg3RqYsIB
"I can handle it," I insist although I'm far from sure.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O1HlWliqK
"Well, you can ask her, but I doubt that she'll tell you."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeRsRRMUVR
Sighing, I rest my head against the back of the couch.780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YhOugnJjR
"Well, it's her decision as to whether or not she wants to open up to me."780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbQUlucuyy
"There are other ways to open up to someone," he insists, trying to defend his friend. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgthjB1X97W
"Okay fine. I'll accept her decision, but I'll still ask. That's okay?"780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9fRnbNdWp
"Yeah," he replies, nodding his head in agreement. 780Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcDbUjSpGa
I'm glad that he's conceded, but I can't help but wonder why he's being so strange about me finding out. I mean, how bad can it be?
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