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.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzm16sSqbYX
"Nya, why did you leave?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTn0tl0QZP5
"You didn't say I couldn't," I answered. Stupid excuse coming from a stupid girl. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKi62cG0Du
"I'm very sure you knew that I wouldn't have wanted you to go, and what if you got someone else sick?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYRW2rqn96
"How are you so sure it's contagious?" 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpsrXc9CVa
"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."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEEnHBFAMq
After that, I wasn't allowed - haven't been allowed - to leave the house.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe8jWqTBi2
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. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjVc2S9JW7
And he refused to let it go.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSwmimuWe3
"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.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRzoHlve1Y
"Where are you going to get oxtail to cook?" I asked him.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjRNmaeyBq
"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."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZnMpSwffr
Like mother, like daughter. But how does she even afford that? Come to think about it... what does Akatua do as a job? 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DMvGxcuOW
"No," I refused, shaking my head fiercely. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAZnLy3HZk
"Nya," he warned.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFdq96ssKF
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.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32cGvHVQXE
"What?" I ask him, pulling the bone from my mouth.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5E5eUETXT
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. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisn43uSukE
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.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOiOdNIVRP
"Thank you again, Kwamé" I say to him, preparing to take my plate to the kitchen. Of course, he beats me to it.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GEl4LDSco
"Sit," he commands, and for some unknown, God given reason, I am compelled to obey.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsGZnW2CTs
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. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyHPlaTpC6
"About seeing my mother," I start.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEdDewz6Z6
"I haven't told her anything. I figured that you'd want to tell her yourself."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5gBQp3hXE
I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't realise I was holding.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T1NGYieGa
"You're right. Thank you." 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qry2sA9kL
"Well, it's your right," he says, bringing me some chewable vitamins and sitting on the couch beside me. "Are you feeling better?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfVuHyB79y
"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. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfVw42ojPO
"That's considerate of you, but what will you be doing here in the meantime?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O15dSzXXB
I chew my lip and think about that.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D6oGO1CSV
"Binge watching something?" The idea sounds pathetic to my own ears.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaeeAHoDXU
"How about we play a game?" he asks gently.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OKktD44b5
"What game?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTZSWUpNU7
"An honesty game. It's a way of getting to know each other." 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpkYCih5DS
"I thought you said that you didn't want to be friends." Not that I mind being his friend. I'm just confused. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3DP6osla0
"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. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoEllWMe6R
"So you're like an almost friend?" I ask hopefully. That's getting somewhere, right?909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJKsOliHmP
He cocks His head to the side, thinking about it, before showing off a half smile. "I guess."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9991cfSS2
"So how does this game work?" I ask him, intrigued.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnO4fircej
"You ask the other person something, and that person must answer honesty. It's also about trusting each other to be honest."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNZhXmeDyh
"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.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwmrir0H8l
"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.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KA6LgMt2X
"I would always celebrate my family members' birthdays. You?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUsNszsBMG
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.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEC2YNwgsm
"Giving my mother a second chance."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXW5TPjh2P
That stops him cold.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluYLZFU4cu
"You expected me to be nicer, didn't you?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3DYDv0imP
"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.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG18s8tmHK
"Well, uh, why don't we both find something nice to do? Something selfless."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yxndU8014
"Why?" I ask in complete confusion.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7sqWZIYKm
"People say that it feels good."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfIYtEeDZr
"Do you really believe that it would do that for me?" I question him, my voice thick with doubt.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH31o7UJvQu
"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?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFv6nugmeB
"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.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH2iBfnndh
He looks at me darkly.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNP55GHqtdX
"There is no redemption for me. I've told you that already. Now, let's find something good to do with ourselves."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03RQ9NUaIf
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.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3YXJswPL4
"To being charitable."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgseWC8y3s
"From the bottom of our hearts," he says, also raising his glass, and then touching it to mine.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpi4nEh5sB
He smiles at me and then clears his throat. "Back to the game."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksfpDXOiCS
Right," I reply. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9aFWifDiO
"My turn," he states. "What's your date of birth? You know mine, but I don't know yours."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB5RM9nRvs
"July 7, 1997," I reply. "We have the same birthday."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7V77aycTA
"Huh. That's cool."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayBKVtxRAM
"Um... favourite drink?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafrHIabseW
"As a cow or human?" he asks.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h6kST8Rsy
"Both, I guess."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykve2g2h9y
"Um, as a cow, I like water. Clean water. As a human, I like Red Stripe, 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK36VMshrUQ
909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas72fesm05
Sorrel or lemon flavor, depending on my mood."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj78RKoGAm
"Wow," I murmur. "Same for me. As a human, I mean."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR5jq46KR4
He grins at me, the smile lighting up his face. "I guess we're not that different after all."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDkMBK1PKa
***909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis7qBWeflS
"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. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP6JluL0a4
"Well, it's not like we're used to doing this," I defend weakly, the excuse sounding pathetic even to my own ears.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNqTEMSTSG
"There has to be something," he replies. "What about food?" he asks.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9bBNg76Sz
"People have food allergies, and celiac, and stuff like that."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6IONs5ci2
"So we buy a variety of foods."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wIOHz0rdp
"With what money?" I ask him. Has he forgotten that I'm a waitress?909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdFGs87nm0
He sighs in frustration.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgldWZsJ0f
"Well, we could go to a children's home and read for them," I suggest.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4dtwLFl9o
"I hate children."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpwzXjKOuX
"It's not about what you like, Kwamé."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjCOHKUkug
He grumbles incoherently under his breath, screwing up his face like a spoilt child.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44MaZ8XdLo
"You must be able to get over your distaste of children for one day, just for the sake of charity."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqmGTDJhMm
"I don't know if I can," he grumbles.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpLqES3CX6
"Yeah, you can. You just have to try."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXA4GesVE7
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?909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UpA22GWUR
"Fine. What day?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo9ValmA5b
"How about next Wednesday?" I suggest hopefully.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5NoJ62gH3
"Okay. I'll bring some books."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrqqWwWuEC
"You aren't reading?" I ask him.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu315hA0IBS
"I've forgotten how to read."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF56Axb3i0
"That's crap. You were using my phone this morning."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuWVy6pjZm
"I swore that I wouldn't let you see me like this again."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX37Ri2XiUF
"That's a terrible excuse. And how would you bring the books?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesp0yXAW8I
"Cart," he replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM82RF2kMe
"Kwamé-" 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLA3pW0JOu
"I'm not good for children."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjQS4se0pL
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. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0xCaN93Xf
"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."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqQIJthu42
"I'm evil," he reminds me.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR99cWS51C
"Don't start with that again," I scold him. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyIQy6gE3o
"Children can sense evil, you know." 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFyKNaG6Ns
Yes I do. That's how I knew that my foster mum was off, not evil, but far from good. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOdMmUkw7X
"Just be your normal, sweet self. They'll love you."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqO2yRyMZ9h
"You think?" he asks me with great skepticism.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0ry2rHPYI
"Just be nice. Trust me when I say, they'll love you," I tell him again, as if repeating the words will convince him. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk6nJ8UNW7
"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. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtF2UzK5Cz
"I think I'll be good to visit my mother tomorrow. The day after at latest."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqQ8LcfXfx
"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."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmGiqo88nS
"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.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KkpoOfB6q
"So... what do you want to talk about with her tomorrow?" he questions, taking a sip of his fruit punch.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBqqJy4Acf
"I don't know. Probably try to find out exactly why she left me. She was pretty vague last time."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC96Rz23VRc
"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." 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCWJDTJH7F
"More magic?" I ask him cautiously.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByTYRxsUKK
"Way too much for you right now."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Bpnop6AtZ
"I can handle it," I insist although I'm far from sure.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqmrKvUIVr
"Well, you can ask her, but I doubt that she'll tell you."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGUzIKKSDH
Sighing, I rest my head against the back of the couch.909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRhnunuBGn
"Well, it's her decision as to whether or not she wants to open up to me."909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFCtHYFmbg
"There are other ways to open up to someone," he insists, trying to defend his friend. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBewL8csV6
"Okay fine. I'll accept her decision, but I'll still ask. That's okay?"909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iNqXsGigf
"Yeah," he replies, nodding his head in agreement. 909Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEy6N7rVzbT
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?
ns216.73.216.32da2
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