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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKGo2A3AoD
"Nya, why did you leave?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutyEfKJ5IN
"You didn't say I couldn't," I answered. Stupid excuse coming from a stupid girl. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FRtsDX7Ji
"I'm very sure you knew that I wouldn't have wanted you to go, and what if you got someone else sick?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ9FBUMUNe
"How are you so sure it's contagious?" 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCClc8re5o
"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."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2xuv4WD6y
After that, I wasn't allowed - haven't been allowed - to leave the house.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpFRpP2Pdd
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. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5H5qckzEB
And he refused to let it go.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVR7iCLJ0Y
"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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wqTogzbvy
"Where are you going to get oxtail to cook?" I asked him.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv4jW5ZnbS
"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."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAE1wFHwrM
Like mother, like daughter. But how does she even afford that? Come to think about it... what does Akatua do as a job? 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1Ui7AzNyy
"No," I refused, shaking my head fiercely. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5Qh0u6rXT
"Nya," he warned.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKHdYDAbN5
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXegzHmr5zt
"What?" I ask him, pulling the bone from my mouth.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB0MwtH2p1
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. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4hCNm6OI1
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26pyJc0wub
"Thank you again, Kwamé" I say to him, preparing to take my plate to the kitchen. Of course, he beats me to it.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qpIq5G49g
"Sit," he commands, and for some unknown, God given reason, I am compelled to obey.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9JcC6Or9m
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. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfxfUnfwmH
"About seeing my mother," I start.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdKHaMkokB
"I haven't told her anything. I figured that you'd want to tell her yourself."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrWgDeDtcp
I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't realise I was holding.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo77VyHJkj
"You're right. Thank you." 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbaIeoioxA
"Well, it's your right," he says, bringing me some chewable vitamins and sitting on the couch beside me. "Are you feeling better?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxc6aOxkJFp
"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. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgam2kPknH
"That's considerate of you, but what will you be doing here in the meantime?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReWfBjNCdo
I chew my lip and think about that.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRQUm6JMBF
"Binge watching something?" The idea sounds pathetic to my own ears.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JZ608z5G4
"How about we play a game?" he asks gently.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHNGuFo8pG
"What game?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN2i6Gy2UA
"An honesty game. It's a way of getting to know each other." 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgynSqwxamX
"I thought you said that you didn't want to be friends." Not that I mind being his friend. I'm just confused. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs4Lzjl5U5
"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. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv0u3U8xlM
"So you're like an almost friend?" I ask hopefully. That's getting somewhere, right?828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrlg1qEEc3
He cocks His head to the side, thinking about it, before showing off a half smile. "I guess."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVcbEMYKJM
"So how does this game work?" I ask him, intrigued.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWD7Mei5Hm
"You ask the other person something, and that person must answer honesty. It's also about trusting each other to be honest."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUkJUluvLw
"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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuKg0dqPT0
"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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDoXc9tFlr
"I would always celebrate my family members' birthdays. You?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcQhqwh6Ox
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux222wZN4O
"Giving my mother a second chance."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYBHnQczb9
That stops him cold.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQV2b2wK1x
"You expected me to be nicer, didn't you?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7jmYQYdbj
"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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtXwuYOHEt
"Well, uh, why don't we both find something nice to do? Something selfless."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5bKi3OQD2
"Why?" I ask in complete confusion.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnNy9u4Yjr
"People say that it feels good."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZXcohOxnw
"Do you really believe that it would do that for me?" I question him, my voice thick with doubt.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ67lB6jJep
"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?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqCyFykfZ8
"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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDFKRCBqrq
He looks at me darkly.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYImx23jVzG
"There is no redemption for me. I've told you that already. Now, let's find something good to do with ourselves."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B5cVuM76V
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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtmgooLXJ1
"To being charitable."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMreKs9jXhM
"From the bottom of our hearts," he says, also raising his glass, and then touching it to mine.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPkInt9UzS
He smiles at me and then clears his throat. "Back to the game."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvvd6pieQL
Right," I reply. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdjO0turJF
"My turn," he states. "What's your date of birth? You know mine, but I don't know yours."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIojxeSG1l
"July 7, 1997," I reply. "We have the same birthday."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbscppY8sJ
"Huh. That's cool."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6B5diXT4n
"Um... favourite drink?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbcOBGkKBP
"As a cow or human?" he asks.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVULvpytXsr
"Both, I guess."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7xohFiBG3
"Um, as a cow, I like water. Clean water. As a human, I like Red Stripe, 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWtehR6XZ6
828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8jtZ3EtHx
Sorrel or lemon flavor, depending on my mood."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQta2EEv7u6
"Wow," I murmur. "Same for me. As a human, I mean."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzACKl9mIX
He grins at me, the smile lighting up his face. "I guess we're not that different after all."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvu04pFMeO
***828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0RMFc52nF
"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. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73eIoBilvR
"Well, it's not like we're used to doing this," I defend weakly, the excuse sounding pathetic even to my own ears.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXNq3FyYx5
"There has to be something," he replies. "What about food?" he asks.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5s2lLf1yW
"People have food allergies, and celiac, and stuff like that."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMDdy9i6dG
"So we buy a variety of foods."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcVIUwRByY
"With what money?" I ask him. Has he forgotten that I'm a waitress?828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTatt4cKEQ
He sighs in frustration.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiFFRrqJaD
"Well, we could go to a children's home and read for them," I suggest.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgNMtPGW3T
"I hate children."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeHCysJ6xJ
"It's not about what you like, Kwamé."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchi06KwrUA
He grumbles incoherently under his breath, screwing up his face like a spoilt child.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfJaQ2vnBL
"You must be able to get over your distaste of children for one day, just for the sake of charity."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyz6ycycQyX
"I don't know if I can," he grumbles.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjeQY3U5Fk
"Yeah, you can. You just have to try."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgDiOijLXD
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?828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVlhWES195
"Fine. What day?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8y0Zifeo3
"How about next Wednesday?" I suggest hopefully.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9dZD3uHNE
"Okay. I'll bring some books."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAWA9SFVGj
"You aren't reading?" I ask him.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnzrOaW7GN
"I've forgotten how to read."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAmxGg2rV7
"That's crap. You were using my phone this morning."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ70u4WhwXD
"I swore that I wouldn't let you see me like this again."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91kC5SROA8
"That's a terrible excuse. And how would you bring the books?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpPsVA7Vej
"Cart," he replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbYdCMr5BQ
"Kwamé-" 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo7n7AzILk
"I'm not good for children."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeaSFNg3cV
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. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosJEVUynb1
"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."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGJhJvrjXR
"I'm evil," he reminds me.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrYx4mEAw9
"Don't start with that again," I scold him. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdANkQpepg
"Children can sense evil, you know." 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowCLFhrW8i
Yes I do. That's how I knew that my foster mum was off, not evil, but far from good. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nqTMefRUL
"Just be your normal, sweet self. They'll love you."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYIeHhmkOg
"You think?" he asks me with great skepticism.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaOWMFmRfz
"Just be nice. Trust me when I say, they'll love you," I tell him again, as if repeating the words will convince him. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAhVyghNZa
"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. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nAb2a0DgF
"I think I'll be good to visit my mother tomorrow. The day after at latest."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sRhwenxaK
"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."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAB4G1pBXZ
"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.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ50LEbJtsP
"So... what do you want to talk about with her tomorrow?" he questions, taking a sip of his fruit punch.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacPTYW30RX
"I don't know. Probably try to find out exactly why she left me. She was pretty vague last time."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj7E9AtZvD
"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." 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDFDT23Mqn
"More magic?" I ask him cautiously.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8aVJd8I5V
"Way too much for you right now."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNBMIhTZdC
"I can handle it," I insist although I'm far from sure.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwLEPPqXXt
"Well, you can ask her, but I doubt that she'll tell you."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDI0jQLZBr
Sighing, I rest my head against the back of the couch.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwjorwwRTB
"Well, it's her decision as to whether or not she wants to open up to me."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9QGOGayAZ
"There are other ways to open up to someone," he insists, trying to defend his friend. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1cqziihrW
"Okay fine. I'll accept her decision, but I'll still ask. That's okay?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgVr0MT0jS
"Yeah," he replies, nodding his head in agreement. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmHYfhPzgg
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?
ns3.17.156.98da2
and then Add to home screen.