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.596Please respect copyright.PENANA2hyXAc8xWY
"Nya, why did you leave?"596Please respect copyright.PENANAIxU82qRwLP
"You didn't say I couldn't," I answered. Stupid excuse coming from a stupid girl. 596Please respect copyright.PENANAAZMqEUx8T2
"I'm very sure you knew that I wouldn't have wanted you to go, and what if you got someone else sick?"596Please respect copyright.PENANAOiHNfAupJb
"How are you so sure it's contagious?" 596Please respect copyright.PENANAPOqZPl3YRJ
"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."596Please respect copyright.PENANAz4m7mc79eW
After that, I wasn't allowed - haven't been allowed - to leave the house.596Please respect copyright.PENANAs59KQKd4aq
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. 596Please respect copyright.PENANAuldIIfVFUz
And he refused to let it go.596Please respect copyright.PENANA7pWKcln1t6
"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.596Please respect copyright.PENANAGxh8qQzCZC
"Where are you going to get oxtail to cook?" I asked him.596Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6jJ5gDaJI
"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."596Please respect copyright.PENANADohdMdmTZl
Like mother, like daughter. But how does she even afford that? Come to think about it... what does Akatua do as a job? 596Please respect copyright.PENANAVunnCUWNMJ
"No," I refused, shaking my head fiercely. 596Please respect copyright.PENANApASxqIDalK
"Nya," he warned.596Please respect copyright.PENANAfNVfxBqBZr
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.596Please respect copyright.PENANAJSdSOXWnEI
"What?" I ask him, pulling the bone from my mouth.596Please respect copyright.PENANAvb4VotSOs3
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. 596Please respect copyright.PENANAZmLyJzQyNV
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.596Please respect copyright.PENANAvwE44uQB4d
"Thank you again, Kwamé" I say to him, preparing to take my plate to the kitchen. Of course, he beats me to it.596Please respect copyright.PENANAemtcbEHwFy
"Sit," he commands, and for some unknown, God given reason, I am compelled to obey.596Please respect copyright.PENANAlwgZezzYSN
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. 596Please respect copyright.PENANAMaHeDiFqqY
"About seeing my mother," I start.596Please respect copyright.PENANAcWN24TXUaX
"I haven't told her anything. I figured that you'd want to tell her yourself."596Please respect copyright.PENANALR40YPT9vy
I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't realise I was holding.596Please respect copyright.PENANAeYrJKLySUd
"You're right. Thank you." 596Please respect copyright.PENANAci1jOsRgWJ
"Well, it's your right," he says, bringing me some chewable vitamins and sitting on the couch beside me. "Are you feeling better?"596Please respect copyright.PENANAXp07e1er6y
"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. 596Please respect copyright.PENANA6tgH1yZP45
"That's considerate of you, but what will you be doing here in the meantime?"596Please respect copyright.PENANAvCzoXQiGm2
I chew my lip and think about that.596Please respect copyright.PENANAQT63x8VqtH
"Binge watching something?" The idea sounds pathetic to my own ears.596Please respect copyright.PENANAOUtTDaywPQ
"How about we play a game?" he asks gently.596Please respect copyright.PENANAej3YMZrePa
"What game?"596Please respect copyright.PENANAmG03wxmf4X
"An honesty game. It's a way of getting to know each other." 596Please respect copyright.PENANAHxdAK0Rzjt
"I thought you said that you didn't want to be friends." Not that I mind being his friend. I'm just confused. 596Please respect copyright.PENANA53JgXDReHM
"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. 596Please respect copyright.PENANAugH92xTXsq
"So you're like an almost friend?" I ask hopefully. That's getting somewhere, right?596Please respect copyright.PENANA5KzuDk1SEJ
He cocks His head to the side, thinking about it, before showing off a half smile. "I guess."596Please respect copyright.PENANATg7E6sLQRe
"So how does this game work?" I ask him, intrigued.596Please respect copyright.PENANAn0B1sAOsPT
"You ask the other person something, and that person must answer honesty. It's also about trusting each other to be honest."596Please respect copyright.PENANAcqdSKo6dXf
"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.596Please respect copyright.PENANAsW2Ul5YbbS
"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.596Please respect copyright.PENANAzTZOdoc7o8
"I would always celebrate my family members' birthdays. You?"596Please respect copyright.PENANACK5ynWccVn
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.596Please respect copyright.PENANAVmHsorm3X9
"Giving my mother a second chance."596Please respect copyright.PENANAXphXwzxOQY
That stops him cold.596Please respect copyright.PENANAkTaYPEmFF7
"You expected me to be nicer, didn't you?"596Please respect copyright.PENANAMUuGS5XBcu
"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.596Please respect copyright.PENANA6mWLcnkVRz
"Well, uh, why don't we both find something nice to do? Something selfless."596Please respect copyright.PENANA0fdIGAmFxB
"Why?" I ask in complete confusion.596Please respect copyright.PENANAL0BT80EWwt
"People say that it feels good."596Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4efFJaNdT
"Do you really believe that it would do that for me?" I question him, my voice thick with doubt.596Please respect copyright.PENANAWrzPqwfQqD
"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?"596Please respect copyright.PENANA9JeqCxwdrx
"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.596Please respect copyright.PENANAhOvtD7tjAj
He looks at me darkly.596Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5RkzwDauB
"There is no redemption for me. I've told you that already. Now, let's find something good to do with ourselves."596Please respect copyright.PENANApqXB1x6101
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.596Please respect copyright.PENANAg1nah2zxgG
"To being charitable."596Please respect copyright.PENANAmdcIgfO4Un
"From the bottom of our hearts," he says, also raising his glass, and then touching it to mine.596Please respect copyright.PENANAr7cInIndgP
He smiles at me and then clears his throat. "Back to the game."596Please respect copyright.PENANAKWjTlTAfhk
Right," I reply. 596Please respect copyright.PENANA7GKorC2FRy
"My turn," he states. "What's your date of birth? You know mine, but I don't know yours."596Please respect copyright.PENANASXL8vS5iIj
"July 7, 1997," I reply. "We have the same birthday."596Please respect copyright.PENANAkLyncaTaHT
"Huh. That's cool."596Please respect copyright.PENANAAvfiI4YoM5
"Um... favourite drink?"596Please respect copyright.PENANAPhgWkbPqZX
"As a cow or human?" he asks.596Please respect copyright.PENANAMMJrGI3g3D
"Both, I guess."596Please respect copyright.PENANAiSyaGKGPxt
"Um, as a cow, I like water. Clean water. As a human, I like Red Stripe, 596Please respect copyright.PENANAC9ILjyQLLP
596Please respect copyright.PENANAs3hR5zAxYe
Sorrel or lemon flavor, depending on my mood."596Please respect copyright.PENANAoQ3hj6gUOP
"Wow," I murmur. "Same for me. As a human, I mean."596Please respect copyright.PENANATkCbNV1FLP
He grins at me, the smile lighting up his face. "I guess we're not that different after all."596Please respect copyright.PENANA8C1ODk04uA
***596Please respect copyright.PENANALVUDn9c9JB
"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. 596Please respect copyright.PENANAXI4ky06bWz
"Well, it's not like we're used to doing this," I defend weakly, the excuse sounding pathetic even to my own ears.596Please respect copyright.PENANATwgxzOcTFO
"There has to be something," he replies. "What about food?" he asks.596Please respect copyright.PENANAqipIa9URPZ
"People have food allergies, and celiac, and stuff like that."596Please respect copyright.PENANAY7o5zOiTaP
"So we buy a variety of foods."596Please respect copyright.PENANARSh6neIpuQ
"With what money?" I ask him. Has he forgotten that I'm a waitress?596Please respect copyright.PENANAAoip6pWqFM
He sighs in frustration.596Please respect copyright.PENANAdXlElanonD
"Well, we could go to a children's home and read for them," I suggest.596Please respect copyright.PENANAuME0649F3P
"I hate children."596Please respect copyright.PENANAkECkYsx9pK
"It's not about what you like, Kwamé."596Please respect copyright.PENANAxjJ8D2HqhH
He grumbles incoherently under his breath, screwing up his face like a spoilt child.596Please respect copyright.PENANAVGQjy3E0jD
"You must be able to get over your distaste of children for one day, just for the sake of charity."596Please respect copyright.PENANAC6wmpopWqA
"I don't know if I can," he grumbles.596Please respect copyright.PENANAz2wkgYCb1A
"Yeah, you can. You just have to try."596Please respect copyright.PENANA0uZOkqi1uJ
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?596Please respect copyright.PENANAsyAkhxpuE4
"Fine. What day?"596Please respect copyright.PENANA3GG4Swd1a3
"How about next Wednesday?" I suggest hopefully.596Please respect copyright.PENANAUOneqseS28
"Okay. I'll bring some books."596Please respect copyright.PENANAqDpWUFOTMd
"You aren't reading?" I ask him.596Please respect copyright.PENANAHATX0YjKsN
"I've forgotten how to read."596Please respect copyright.PENANAdBVlVG657E
"That's crap. You were using my phone this morning."596Please respect copyright.PENANAGo2xaW2ev9
"I swore that I wouldn't let you see me like this again."596Please respect copyright.PENANAvBW6NnNNSC
"That's a terrible excuse. And how would you bring the books?"596Please respect copyright.PENANAOFRCUTibgy
"Cart," he replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. 596Please respect copyright.PENANAjxinCyybhx
"Kwamé-" 596Please respect copyright.PENANAHqHJjLZuHF
"I'm not good for children."596Please respect copyright.PENANASBRh7G6odT
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. 596Please respect copyright.PENANA24fMHDuvOg
"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."596Please respect copyright.PENANAHe3Sc9ogTO
"I'm evil," he reminds me.596Please respect copyright.PENANApgbE7RKeVL
"Don't start with that again," I scold him. 596Please respect copyright.PENANAUUEXaMNTGv
"Children can sense evil, you know." 596Please respect copyright.PENANAXOEEWDNucJ
Yes I do. That's how I knew that my foster mum was off, not evil, but far from good. 596Please respect copyright.PENANAUK74uVqWi2
"Just be your normal, sweet self. They'll love you."596Please respect copyright.PENANAo1aZNqOHEh
"You think?" he asks me with great skepticism.596Please respect copyright.PENANArOuaeTcyEr
"Just be nice. Trust me when I say, they'll love you," I tell him again, as if repeating the words will convince him. 596Please respect copyright.PENANADZzLVwqRqA
"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. 596Please respect copyright.PENANAzQS32Q3eSZ
"I think I'll be good to visit my mother tomorrow. The day after at latest."596Please respect copyright.PENANAgvvKoJOVkz
"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."596Please respect copyright.PENANArP9zekEe3S
"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.596Please respect copyright.PENANA6BSFy1ATaw
"So... what do you want to talk about with her tomorrow?" he questions, taking a sip of his fruit punch.596Please respect copyright.PENANAe4ltIiUJF8
"I don't know. Probably try to find out exactly why she left me. She was pretty vague last time."596Please respect copyright.PENANALn3kKNwBD7
"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." 596Please respect copyright.PENANA1HLSA6hGQz
"More magic?" I ask him cautiously.596Please respect copyright.PENANAVN1Zblu26H
"Way too much for you right now."596Please respect copyright.PENANADUuLEvSeY7
"I can handle it," I insist although I'm far from sure.596Please respect copyright.PENANActyeD8OgDv
"Well, you can ask her, but I doubt that she'll tell you."596Please respect copyright.PENANA7WolIfsLkt
Sighing, I rest my head against the back of the couch.596Please respect copyright.PENANAJyftOhv3We
"Well, it's her decision as to whether or not she wants to open up to me."596Please respect copyright.PENANA5FidTuL1Gf
"There are other ways to open up to someone," he insists, trying to defend his friend. 596Please respect copyright.PENANApWk310eICc
"Okay fine. I'll accept her decision, but I'll still ask. That's okay?"596Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZjtjkgzLh
"Yeah," he replies, nodding his head in agreement. 596Please respect copyright.PENANApb0gcXocbc
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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