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.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXhjUJYFfe
"Nya, why did you leave?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH47nsmw9rH
"You didn't say I couldn't," I answered. Stupid excuse coming from a stupid girl. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiq6g4CKwm
"I'm very sure you knew that I wouldn't have wanted you to go, and what if you got someone else sick?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD0mzo4QSi
"How are you so sure it's contagious?" 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenQwTO90yn
"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."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0KA2CyDXh
After that, I wasn't allowed - haven't been allowed - to leave the house.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3k0t4MWAc
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. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRhJV2ToJr
And he refused to let it go.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3UBGuzsdi
"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.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEzs0qbmHY
"Where are you going to get oxtail to cook?" I asked him.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRIz9iHgnW
"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."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvjCDT69WL
Like mother, like daughter. But how does she even afford that? Come to think about it... what does Akatua do as a job? 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNgg2hXZ5s
"No," I refused, shaking my head fiercely. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rofK2zoYu
"Nya," he warned.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIE1kGfUhkw
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.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fKBxnXDw0
"What?" I ask him, pulling the bone from my mouth.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Sm38w1w44
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. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc7UKOxZna
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.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkjKuVyUaK
"Thank you again, Kwamé" I say to him, preparing to take my plate to the kitchen. Of course, he beats me to it.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMku9xLLMiC
"Sit," he commands, and for some unknown, God given reason, I am compelled to obey.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOfdWzSy4t
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. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f3PWGkvdw
"About seeing my mother," I start.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JHUq2xsBx
"I haven't told her anything. I figured that you'd want to tell her yourself."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNV4Rf9ZXs
I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't realise I was holding.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqSFa7NNdC
"You're right. Thank you." 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVZCGDGoYF
"Well, it's your right," he says, bringing me some chewable vitamins and sitting on the couch beside me. "Are you feeling better?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5htCWQi9Bf
"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. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDELAkXwWI4
"That's considerate of you, but what will you be doing here in the meantime?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XQk3EBgoy
I chew my lip and think about that.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlECAlrJUJ
"Binge watching something?" The idea sounds pathetic to my own ears.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6EDIUCuUi
"How about we play a game?" he asks gently.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpDVO7gMc7
"What game?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROczjBG68m
"An honesty game. It's a way of getting to know each other." 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH9NTIesdE
"I thought you said that you didn't want to be friends." Not that I mind being his friend. I'm just confused. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XIyTBil0B
"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. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjF19qbq9P
"So you're like an almost friend?" I ask hopefully. That's getting somewhere, right?913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGCKCNfXpO
He cocks His head to the side, thinking about it, before showing off a half smile. "I guess."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYLHiQYav1
"So how does this game work?" I ask him, intrigued.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFstbSgwZdf
"You ask the other person something, and that person must answer honesty. It's also about trusting each other to be honest."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCmyqEGHBS
"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.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oYxwaTaTp
"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.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpVFhOn6wa
"I would always celebrate my family members' birthdays. You?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0ieOTNnCB
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.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2E95mWLn1
"Giving my mother a second chance."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYCIptKfni
That stops him cold.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6nA8JFc5w
"You expected me to be nicer, didn't you?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfM6AL3jTAX
"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.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxFPYQDJiX
"Well, uh, why don't we both find something nice to do? Something selfless."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzXkYji2o2
"Why?" I ask in complete confusion.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjaAuVdSZ9
"People say that it feels good."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpDVM8jdJI
"Do you really believe that it would do that for me?" I question him, my voice thick with doubt.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxMsEM0XeB
"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?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jugN0ToKF
"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.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB5FnI2GUf
He looks at me darkly.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqHLv1vnvp
"There is no redemption for me. I've told you that already. Now, let's find something good to do with ourselves."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqVoTL9E2p
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.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlEcyWflNM
"To being charitable."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq44rOa9eO
"From the bottom of our hearts," he says, also raising his glass, and then touching it to mine.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmHRmMCFJn
He smiles at me and then clears his throat. "Back to the game."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kPJjZCPR7
Right," I reply. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44OFaXthiN
"My turn," he states. "What's your date of birth? You know mine, but I don't know yours."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWh6qpQ7Ota
"July 7, 1997," I reply. "We have the same birthday."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19whad9AA6
"Huh. That's cool."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH1UE156y7
"Um... favourite drink?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESuWHhJgR8
"As a cow or human?" he asks.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpy5kmbhiJ
"Both, I guess."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWH3rkzX65
"Um, as a cow, I like water. Clean water. As a human, I like Red Stripe, 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLdhxodD0I
913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaMIsLfFBI
Sorrel or lemon flavor, depending on my mood."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZjDublXdc
"Wow," I murmur. "Same for me. As a human, I mean."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GOAzVGdNW
He grins at me, the smile lighting up his face. "I guess we're not that different after all."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLbcY1CWpW
***913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7qPfeDlIQ
"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. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbI9wg6D9i
"Well, it's not like we're used to doing this," I defend weakly, the excuse sounding pathetic even to my own ears.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5daKIYq1Ph
"There has to be something," he replies. "What about food?" he asks.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD7FOwjsGs
"People have food allergies, and celiac, and stuff like that."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dd62WSbaO
"So we buy a variety of foods."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK52IHJ715m
"With what money?" I ask him. Has he forgotten that I'm a waitress?913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrbsJ4A9KI
He sighs in frustration.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPo3CTQy0m3
"Well, we could go to a children's home and read for them," I suggest.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9stegR56zM
"I hate children."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOBAqePeEm
"It's not about what you like, Kwamé."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1gHHn6aEV
He grumbles incoherently under his breath, screwing up his face like a spoilt child.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6GhRw53QT
"You must be able to get over your distaste of children for one day, just for the sake of charity."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9GHBHsg3H
"I don't know if I can," he grumbles.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6LzsoDqAl
"Yeah, you can. You just have to try."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQU4Ho2OGRd
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?913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWn8zeIBzw
"Fine. What day?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdNVBXi1Ui
"How about next Wednesday?" I suggest hopefully.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60Hd6Yejte
"Okay. I'll bring some books."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhZPKn7QOu
"You aren't reading?" I ask him.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitkbzH0LTx
"I've forgotten how to read."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFvKfr1fWV
"That's crap. You were using my phone this morning."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3Zkt3RdUZ
"I swore that I wouldn't let you see me like this again."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY2VbB77Q7
"That's a terrible excuse. And how would you bring the books?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2TCp82sk7
"Cart," he replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfHR7Ld0N0
"Kwamé-" 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwaEnwDLFn
"I'm not good for children."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOqO1g0q6I
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. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2anlOGuvaY
"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."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KeV5BpScT
"I'm evil," he reminds me.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBDXzOQCiA
"Don't start with that again," I scold him. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhQAtEHj02
"Children can sense evil, you know." 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDSGDp3ouW
Yes I do. That's how I knew that my foster mum was off, not evil, but far from good. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL0l5lGRWE
"Just be your normal, sweet self. They'll love you."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcN91Qvrsd
"You think?" he asks me with great skepticism.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zTCoJJmXL
"Just be nice. Trust me when I say, they'll love you," I tell him again, as if repeating the words will convince him. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzB4mrY8qG
"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. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScT1cByrbk
"I think I'll be good to visit my mother tomorrow. The day after at latest."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGh9np2O0A
"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."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZFAxE03ea
"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.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLSYHscjJG
"So... what do you want to talk about with her tomorrow?" he questions, taking a sip of his fruit punch.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUPsZ3DHNp
"I don't know. Probably try to find out exactly why she left me. She was pretty vague last time."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7sVNYlKW3
"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." 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoMg6jXw1K
"More magic?" I ask him cautiously.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7x3fqlBXC
"Way too much for you right now."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHzCF787AC
"I can handle it," I insist although I'm far from sure.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiUxxXKPtA
"Well, you can ask her, but I doubt that she'll tell you."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWQFh4PQ4N
Sighing, I rest my head against the back of the couch.913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG8gl81SLv
"Well, it's her decision as to whether or not she wants to open up to me."913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9vbxrihix
"There are other ways to open up to someone," he insists, trying to defend his friend. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMKBAlqVHP
"Okay fine. I'll accept her decision, but I'll still ask. That's okay?"913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG28GSvLb8
"Yeah," he replies, nodding his head in agreement. 913Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9oDh7uWWL
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?
ns216.73.216.190da2
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