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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKigRhki69k
"Nya, why did you leave?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFIC7N9YrM
"You didn't say I couldn't," I answered. Stupid excuse coming from a stupid girl. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKbpJiii2A
"I'm very sure you knew that I wouldn't have wanted you to go, and what if you got someone else sick?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJsxnx8J7g
"How are you so sure it's contagious?" 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡife6nUvns3
"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."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GRhUJAVAJ
After that, I wasn't allowed - haven't been allowed - to leave the house.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXDSqKQJnq
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. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGokqm7EImH
And he refused to let it go.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvDXw304PF
"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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVLnBgbCM4
"Where are you going to get oxtail to cook?" I asked him.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OdvYqfETF
"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."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOmvKiq1dD
Like mother, like daughter. But how does she even afford that? Come to think about it... what does Akatua do as a job? 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Oau6brmJa
"No," I refused, shaking my head fiercely. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoTbWbxub3
"Nya," he warned.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ijFyV8OLW
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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliZlpwkhwu
"What?" I ask him, pulling the bone from my mouth.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAxaNVvYUO
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. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlkmWsESIu
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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7DMHd2Y4n
"Thank you again, Kwamé" I say to him, preparing to take my plate to the kitchen. Of course, he beats me to it.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrupnZKGye
"Sit," he commands, and for some unknown, God given reason, I am compelled to obey.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g7kVJKAi4
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. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd5qYApcUL
"About seeing my mother," I start.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAYiUouRxn
"I haven't told her anything. I figured that you'd want to tell her yourself."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbDe6YMCJv
I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't realise I was holding.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjLqWw2xQ9
"You're right. Thank you." 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡay6C3WwAfl
"Well, it's your right," he says, bringing me some chewable vitamins and sitting on the couch beside me. "Are you feeling better?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4TlfeFSkr
"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. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVAefh5WkO
"That's considerate of you, but what will you be doing here in the meantime?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o2M4vRUz5
I chew my lip and think about that.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGY8dCxWDN1
"Binge watching something?" The idea sounds pathetic to my own ears.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjYVvEW8ww
"How about we play a game?" he asks gently.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8lgHAYYC2
"What game?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3euJ7bZmb3
"An honesty game. It's a way of getting to know each other." 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbvVB24TIj
"I thought you said that you didn't want to be friends." Not that I mind being his friend. I'm just confused. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26HdLfqDnr
"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. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXkVjjN1Gk
"So you're like an almost friend?" I ask hopefully. That's getting somewhere, right?814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EunBcwzL3
He cocks His head to the side, thinking about it, before showing off a half smile. "I guess."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEhqT2gGIN
"So how does this game work?" I ask him, intrigued.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepLhvlZ3VX
"You ask the other person something, and that person must answer honesty. It's also about trusting each other to be honest."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxUspJlVu3
"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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWvAPK2GeM
"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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgHw5f9Uka
"I would always celebrate my family members' birthdays. You?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUFvuTLBaP
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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8628GAiLk
"Giving my mother a second chance."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOIMuAnjZe
That stops him cold.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TwCDQ2rYE
"You expected me to be nicer, didn't you?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMogqjBzh7A
"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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhCVwyyH8Z
"Well, uh, why don't we both find something nice to do? Something selfless."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42PTgXAn1T
"Why?" I ask in complete confusion.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmW4x6GcXZ
"People say that it feels good."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiFzhuz0Pc
"Do you really believe that it would do that for me?" I question him, my voice thick with doubt.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdorA1PAb4Z
"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?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcskRrK8eXw
"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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxsyY3Te88
He looks at me darkly.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Tsa4ThH8G
"There is no redemption for me. I've told you that already. Now, let's find something good to do with ourselves."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEc6qpc7Dal
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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGlJl3sdKG
"To being charitable."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEINTXw6cS
"From the bottom of our hearts," he says, also raising his glass, and then touching it to mine.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3L1VanAoif
He smiles at me and then clears his throat. "Back to the game."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJrcZ0uKxQ
Right," I reply. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsOB40gAgB
"My turn," he states. "What's your date of birth? You know mine, but I don't know yours."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPVQGfS2Sn
"July 7, 1997," I reply. "We have the same birthday."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafYKXMMO5k
"Huh. That's cool."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxG9wE2Y0Dl
"Um... favourite drink?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9N4FTmUl7
"As a cow or human?" he asks.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvxD62jFVQ
"Both, I guess."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjCco93Qtm
"Um, as a cow, I like water. Clean water. As a human, I like Red Stripe, 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Mkg4OiBok
814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueTAJDATtu
Sorrel or lemon flavor, depending on my mood."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyvhr89zBd
"Wow," I murmur. "Same for me. As a human, I mean."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwCVXGqbmj
He grins at me, the smile lighting up his face. "I guess we're not that different after all."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3OQEHte6G
***814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXVkvuHrwo
"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. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeydJJv68ZX
"Well, it's not like we're used to doing this," I defend weakly, the excuse sounding pathetic even to my own ears.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡng7xWqIrmo
"There has to be something," he replies. "What about food?" he asks.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmqxRIQroF
"People have food allergies, and celiac, and stuff like that."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLn2I1r0tz
"So we buy a variety of foods."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsquAEExike
"With what money?" I ask him. Has he forgotten that I'm a waitress?814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyHXPNpTCC
He sighs in frustration.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjnB57nBp0
"Well, we could go to a children's home and read for them," I suggest.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpJbygk4od
"I hate children."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmBT8auDvv
"It's not about what you like, Kwamé."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKxTwOmTil
He grumbles incoherently under his breath, screwing up his face like a spoilt child.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fabvxGO5t
"You must be able to get over your distaste of children for one day, just for the sake of charity."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP0xG1K8NR
"I don't know if I can," he grumbles.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDxAVqRJr0
"Yeah, you can. You just have to try."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPsD3PQ1hn
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?814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwqIdB4lOK
"Fine. What day?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qCCUbt7fT
"How about next Wednesday?" I suggest hopefully.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYyBxy7c25
"Okay. I'll bring some books."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmMvSBEGGu
"You aren't reading?" I ask him.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nlJgIBqpZ
"I've forgotten how to read."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3ZJdPwtxE
"That's crap. You were using my phone this morning."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5NlX0KAiZ
"I swore that I wouldn't let you see me like this again."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5uBVx0Z4q
"That's a terrible excuse. And how would you bring the books?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm4d0xh8Er
"Cart," he replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Yo1Yq1703
"Kwamé-" 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFGx4jns7w
"I'm not good for children."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAwruTYlLe
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. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ym3bQrXFF
"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."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ313ZEiZKKi
"I'm evil," he reminds me.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZZoI3hlbE
"Don't start with that again," I scold him. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2fQGb0L3J
"Children can sense evil, you know." 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL7ycLT0JF
Yes I do. That's how I knew that my foster mum was off, not evil, but far from good. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam7yYfBB9V
"Just be your normal, sweet self. They'll love you."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncrWsxib21
"You think?" he asks me with great skepticism.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuWzq3Tu5V
"Just be nice. Trust me when I say, they'll love you," I tell him again, as if repeating the words will convince him. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeXadgSHjw
"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. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYP12PBzwl
"I think I'll be good to visit my mother tomorrow. The day after at latest."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYIVOe2nCt
"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."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQaYsCz4tC
"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.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFajvGDvBgk
"So... what do you want to talk about with her tomorrow?" he questions, taking a sip of his fruit punch.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrsZS9ShHn
"I don't know. Probably try to find out exactly why she left me. She was pretty vague last time."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuevZkIE1q
"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." 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBRhUCWLOv
"More magic?" I ask him cautiously.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXpH6IJDTQ
"Way too much for you right now."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5FKe1LwEQ
"I can handle it," I insist although I'm far from sure.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vWa6Dw86z
"Well, you can ask her, but I doubt that she'll tell you."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl2lrovn9z
Sighing, I rest my head against the back of the couch.814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE54evhxb4
"Well, it's her decision as to whether or not she wants to open up to me."814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgcl6uj8yu
"There are other ways to open up to someone," he insists, trying to defend his friend. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgtXQpun8U
"Okay fine. I'll accept her decision, but I'll still ask. That's okay?"814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4eeKJ5bpJ
"Yeah," he replies, nodding his head in agreement. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡve2fgwsBX2
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?
ns3.16.154.37da2
