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.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK9pejSApp
"Nya, why did you leave?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKj7lfLXVm
"You didn't say I couldn't," I answered. Stupid excuse coming from a stupid girl. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HJHGu7ixn
"I'm very sure you knew that I wouldn't have wanted you to go, and what if you got someone else sick?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo7eEfqrBi
"How are you so sure it's contagious?" 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWaIl6Qumz
"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."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuNDWo5x7m
After that, I wasn't allowed - haven't been allowed - to leave the house.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8GoHxnEOF
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. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2Z1dgbUkG
And he refused to let it go.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZx2mjCtc7
"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.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF6pYxEONA
"Where are you going to get oxtail to cook?" I asked him.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuSMy0b1lH
"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."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYU9COHN9RC
Like mother, like daughter. But how does she even afford that? Come to think about it... what does Akatua do as a job? 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSf3XnupiL
"No," I refused, shaking my head fiercely. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJshXtrsmB
"Nya," he warned.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJn0jjq29b
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.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ruAIiLvvf
"What?" I ask him, pulling the bone from my mouth.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTK6RwFChw
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. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo95bxhhjR4
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.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRKx5ama5C
"Thank you again, Kwamé" I say to him, preparing to take my plate to the kitchen. Of course, he beats me to it.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfTlDCGcqX
"Sit," he commands, and for some unknown, God given reason, I am compelled to obey.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbVBvg0za1
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. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjBhKWc41U
"About seeing my mother," I start.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvrbNXM43A
"I haven't told her anything. I figured that you'd want to tell her yourself."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPfnik02eE
I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't realise I was holding.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4BJdrtF2w
"You're right. Thank you." 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfark4ZxN7
"Well, it's your right," he says, bringing me some chewable vitamins and sitting on the couch beside me. "Are you feeling better?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6igtds7cp
"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. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQuF9S96oK
"That's considerate of you, but what will you be doing here in the meantime?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7MgC1BSjT
I chew my lip and think about that.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pgcihhh2t
"Binge watching something?" The idea sounds pathetic to my own ears.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfHxnyi9Pu
"How about we play a game?" he asks gently.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwqihGkQpD
"What game?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNTEs3PtOb
"An honesty game. It's a way of getting to know each other." 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzezNsP7Rc
"I thought you said that you didn't want to be friends." Not that I mind being his friend. I'm just confused. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweHVaxxfJx
"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. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNn25hcgbRd
"So you're like an almost friend?" I ask hopefully. That's getting somewhere, right?908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuDh7McoGw
He cocks His head to the side, thinking about it, before showing off a half smile. "I guess."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyax1rFckXG
"So how does this game work?" I ask him, intrigued.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaybyLzmnLy
"You ask the other person something, and that person must answer honesty. It's also about trusting each other to be honest."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1htEM37kgr
"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.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86Kv1mFb0h
"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.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvqKMQ1eCp
"I would always celebrate my family members' birthdays. You?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2bbLe8cLU
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.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLqgf6nxVB
"Giving my mother a second chance."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh29prtt0za
That stops him cold.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fCRiijh5M
"You expected me to be nicer, didn't you?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXYEeeGTmt
"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.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9fpR4Srvo
"Well, uh, why don't we both find something nice to do? Something selfless."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SIl4uOYgu
"Why?" I ask in complete confusion.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLU0ythoEo
"People say that it feels good."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7gUK964WJ
"Do you really believe that it would do that for me?" I question him, my voice thick with doubt.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlYBTd2bnv
"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?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi9o1mi1Nh
"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.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Zpy5B782E
He looks at me darkly.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG4K8DnInO
"There is no redemption for me. I've told you that already. Now, let's find something good to do with ourselves."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq2Ie05K5T
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.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0xtKhCif2
"To being charitable."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLdz7MMsNO
"From the bottom of our hearts," he says, also raising his glass, and then touching it to mine.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMebxZbxufT
He smiles at me and then clears his throat. "Back to the game."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6EPsYYpnJ
Right," I reply. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95d0t6NM7z
"My turn," he states. "What's your date of birth? You know mine, but I don't know yours."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMLVnMCHfY
"July 7, 1997," I reply. "We have the same birthday."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOC6xSO6Wp
"Huh. That's cool."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYO1Uq6XNA
"Um... favourite drink?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyDgkiohnn
"As a cow or human?" he asks.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBp1NjA332
"Both, I guess."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP13mECEuXx
"Um, as a cow, I like water. Clean water. As a human, I like Red Stripe, 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbtdkOXeZW
908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTNElHbrvY
Sorrel or lemon flavor, depending on my mood."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCijZ1BdD2s
"Wow," I murmur. "Same for me. As a human, I mean."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oyXA1tgTY
He grins at me, the smile lighting up his face. "I guess we're not that different after all."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1BlaenvOl
***908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GWeQ6EGsB
"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. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAZqT66Vdf
"Well, it's not like we're used to doing this," I defend weakly, the excuse sounding pathetic even to my own ears.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFdHA5V8rP
"There has to be something," he replies. "What about food?" he asks.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIrb6zglxm
"People have food allergies, and celiac, and stuff like that."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJn2gM6YeX
"So we buy a variety of foods."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF7PyqD5NS
"With what money?" I ask him. Has he forgotten that I'm a waitress?908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSUzBDTQiR
He sighs in frustration.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9p2ilErIYT
"Well, we could go to a children's home and read for them," I suggest.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC1BgI0HWr
"I hate children."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlYqOwgi34
"It's not about what you like, Kwamé."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ka9MqXa2D
He grumbles incoherently under his breath, screwing up his face like a spoilt child.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUDmmZ7M75
"You must be able to get over your distaste of children for one day, just for the sake of charity."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOh1NMUEJ7Y
"I don't know if I can," he grumbles.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcrkmp0yCC
"Yeah, you can. You just have to try."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aH8SEX5DM
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?908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPe51hjMq7
"Fine. What day?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRM2zHgKQN
"How about next Wednesday?" I suggest hopefully.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QFkM2x3k2
"Okay. I'll bring some books."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUku42sJPo
"You aren't reading?" I ask him.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbHNeecY9Y
"I've forgotten how to read."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDUqQeVsoD
"That's crap. You were using my phone this morning."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8bYfIlaeq
"I swore that I wouldn't let you see me like this again."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucicqVFnWb
"That's a terrible excuse. And how would you bring the books?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64GqlM15qw
"Cart," he replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hM9Obj7hH
"Kwamé-" 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7GAbjS8Qd
"I'm not good for children."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvlI4PmmCM
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. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6xWnVRQMx
"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."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQSgwXOGm9
"I'm evil," he reminds me.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP8XsaU34W
"Don't start with that again," I scold him. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlbK7js3rd
"Children can sense evil, you know." 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L1F3CWbP6
Yes I do. That's how I knew that my foster mum was off, not evil, but far from good. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIGLbNKJjK
"Just be your normal, sweet self. They'll love you."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZGmBjRs6c
"You think?" he asks me with great skepticism.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdL9CnnCBd
"Just be nice. Trust me when I say, they'll love you," I tell him again, as if repeating the words will convince him. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0Mtqk0IoH
"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. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsLRCzrzKq
"I think I'll be good to visit my mother tomorrow. The day after at latest."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6mNyylZ5S
"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."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ4N7e3dOW
"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.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflCsdrrRcj
"So... what do you want to talk about with her tomorrow?" he questions, taking a sip of his fruit punch.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8TKoMkq9D
"I don't know. Probably try to find out exactly why she left me. She was pretty vague last time."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VUjf6YDnr
"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." 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGMJp6yn3b
"More magic?" I ask him cautiously.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpYe5OmqCv
"Way too much for you right now."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSvmMWOIVq
"I can handle it," I insist although I'm far from sure.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXBiQSB9zN
"Well, you can ask her, but I doubt that she'll tell you."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dULzdGJQN
Sighing, I rest my head against the back of the couch.908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyBEPVBYkG
"Well, it's her decision as to whether or not she wants to open up to me."908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO0YRrqGaT
"There are other ways to open up to someone," he insists, trying to defend his friend. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeqJMcZWut
"Okay fine. I'll accept her decision, but I'll still ask. That's okay?"908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoif7q08jI
"Yeah," he replies, nodding his head in agreement. 908Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXVcCgptpZ
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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