Bab 96: Chapter 93
We went to my room. He finished up his assignment while I played on my phone, then he came over and joined me on the bed, lying down next to me with his eyes on the ceiling. I looked at him for a few seconds but he didn't look back, not entirely at least. He did however glance at me from the corner of his eye. The most charming thing about it was the fact that he knew I could noticed. He had always been aware that I knew he was "secretly" watching. The same way I knew that he wanted me to know, he wanted me to realize it. The issue would only occur when I chose to mention it to him, but otherwise it was all good.
" Want a turn?" I offered him my phone so he could also play, but he shook his head and said he wasn't really in the mood for games. My mom brought us two large pieces of the apple pie she had made that morning as well as a rather large bowl filled with a variety of snacks, all the little things each of us liked.
" Do you know what time your mom will come to pick you up Kyle? " My mum asked after she instructed us to eat everything up to the last crumb. He swallowed, then he looked at me from underneath his lashes and I inwardly frowned. It was a special talent of mine to detect when something was up, and at the moment I was pretty sure something was going on with him. He looked at my mom again, she was standing by the door, holding the handle behind her as she looked at us with that same warmth and affection.
" No, she didn't tell me when, "
" Oh, then we'll wait and if it gets too late I'll drop you off at your neighbours' like I did yesterday. "
" Okay. "
Her smiled broadened, she urged us to eat, saying she was just finishing up making some lemonade and she'd bring it to us once she was done. The second she closed the door, I shifted so that I could look directly at Kyle. He pretended to be busy with his food, but I could easily sense the hidden clues that suggested he was tensed. They were just tiny details that were impossible for anyone else to detect,but when it came to me,there was no way to glance at him and not notice them.
" What's wrong?" I asked, idly rotating my plate and looking at the pie. My mom was definitely skilled when it came to baking, and normally, when she baked anything,Kyle was always ecstatic about it. He'd eat whatever it was with this look of joy and enthusiasm,one that was completely different from the one he had on at the moment.
" Nothing. "
That word in itself was said in a time which suggested there was something. He hadn't even played dumb and acted as if he had no clue what I was talking about. Pushing him to tell me was out of the question, he was getting more sensitive with each day that passed.
" You didn't wanna tell me?"
" It's nothing. "
" Last chance, you know you can tell me anything. "
" Let it be. "
If I were asked to name things I hated most in my life, then those three words coming from Kyle would top the list. It was an old habit of his that he had had from the very first day we talked. You could consider it a part of him. Sometimes, those words just came out naturally because they were his first go to when he wanted to evade any uncomfortable subject. Or when he didn't want to stress himself out by thinking about anything. And I'm sure in his head, he assumed saying them would automatically make everything better.
In the past, when he told me to 'let it be', I'd do the exact opposite and nag him till he budged. But this time I just nodded and focused on my pie. My mom brought us the lemonade, and the silence must have surprised her since she even asked us whether we were okay. We assured her we were, then we watched her as she left. Kyle didn't say anything else.
Later on, my mom came over to get him so that she could go and drop him off. I always wanted to go with them but my mom sometimes refused, saying I had homework to finish, or a room to clean. Little things that prevented me from accompanying Kyle home.
Kyle had told us the previous week that his mom had talked with their neighbor, so it was okay for him to go over there until his mom showed up and took him along. He never liked to talk about such things though and I suppose I understood. Kyle was the type of person who avoided feeling awful at any cost. He hated being or feeling sad, and I also didn't like seeing him in such a state. So it was better if we just talked about other things.
After instructing me to clean my room and threatening to take away my video games if I don't, they both left. I had said goodbye to Kyle already and all he had done was give me a small smile. Even after I hugged him. He hugged me back, just as usual, but I was somehow able to sense that something was up.
I found out what that something was later on, approximately three hours later to be exact.
My mom had already come back home, same to my dad. Him and I had been trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle in the living room while my mom was folding the laundry in their bedroom. She had come down the stairs, putting on a coat and asking my dad where he had placed his keys since his car was blocking hers. He had of course asked her where the hell she was going so late, standing up and walking over to where she was. Her eyes had fallen on me, then she looked at my dad and started to button up the trench coat she had worn.
" Kyle just called, apparently his mom won't be going home, he asked if I could go get him. "
My breath caught and I instantly stood up, then images of Kyle, alone in his house, flashed through my mind.
" I'll drive. "
My dad said and my mom didn't argue, but when I said I wanted to go with them they both shook their heads.
" We won't be long sweetie, just a few minutes, " my mom assured me, then she called over the housekeeper and asked her to keep an eye on me. They were gone not more that half an hour, but I hated that waiting. Especially because my mind used that time to think everything over. And when thru finally came back and I looked at Kyle, standing between parents with his head bowed I knew that my suspicions had been correct. My mom went to prepare a room for him, and while she did that, I held his hand and led him to mine. I had been locking the door when he just came over and hugged me. I turned to face him, not asking him anything but rather holding him as tightly as I felt he wanted to be held. Those were the unspoken moments that he always expected me to forget. To bury deep in the ground as soon as they were done. But I was unable to do that.
" How long have you been staying alone?" I decided to ask at last. Going straight to the point because I didn't want to give him an opportunity to pretend he was confused. I made it clear that I knew what I was saying and that I believed it was the complete truth. Which it was.
Kyle didn't even talk to his neighbours, so there was no way he'd be going over there. He hated being around strangers, he wouldn't have survived being in the same house as a bunch of them for hours. So he had definitely been staying alone.
" Not long, " he admitted, his voice sounding weak and a little shaky.
" How long?"
" A few days, four maybe. "
" Kyle, "
I didn't wanna sound angry, but I couldn't help it. I hoped he heard it in my tone.
" I'm sorry. "
His apology made me feel even worse. He had nothing to apologize for, it wasn't his fault, I knew he just didn't wanna be a burden or anything of the sort.
" You weren't supposed to find out, I'm sure she'll be back later this week. "
" Why would she do that to you?"
I suddenly recalled there being no food at his house and I wanted to yell at him, to seriously scold him! Then afterwards I wanted to hold him just as I currently was. That's how crazy he made me. I cared for him tremendously and he knew that, so the fact that he had chosen to do that pissed me off. But I heard him sniffle back a cry and there was no way I could be mad at him.
" This is all that movies' fault! I stayed alone all those other days and I wasn't scared, but today I just couldn't..."
I pulled back, but my hands remained wrapped loosely around his neck. Then I looked him in the eyes, even though he could only hold the contact for short intervals.
" You're still scared over that?"
He nodded.
" Will you be able to sleep alone?"
" Your mom's already prepared the room. "
" That's not what I asked. "
" They'll think it's weird if I..." he let the statement trail off.
" That's not what I asked either. "
" Do you wanna stay with me?"
I was lucky enough to catch that enticing turquoise for a few seconds, and it was when he nodded and told me he would indeed want to stay in my room.
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