The final chapter for this story. It's 2.27am right now, my energy levels are zilch and I've just completed it. My bad, and I'll try to release all the chapters at once for a story next time. Have fun.
*****
"Jake."
I turned to look at the person who'd called out my name. Keisuke was standing several paces behind me, an unreadable expression on his face. I stared at him icily. "Who did you say you were again?" Then, I just left him eating the dust as I stormed towards my next class. He looked positively crestfallen and hurt was evident in his eyes. Well. Not my problem anymore.
After my little confession a few weeks ago, he'd ceased speaking to me. He'd just ignored me and pretended that I didn't exist. I couldn't even begin to describe what I felt back then. For the first time in my life, I'd fallen in love. And I'd fallen hard. I'd never imagined that there would come a day when I would say those words to anyone.
I was the tough kid who grew up picking fights on the streets and picking pockets to survive. None of that helped in dealing with the pain of being abandoned by Kei.
Ever since he'd started ignoring me, I'd indulged in a good dosage of alcohol and fights. Pain has never failed in making me forget things I don't want to remember, and alcohol is such a numbing bliss for trash like me.
It was stupid. My mind wouldn't stop thinking about Kei unless I forced it to with drugs. I didn't even know why I'd professed my love even before we'd gotten to know each other on a deeper level. And how the hell could I fall for someone in less than a month? Pure idiocy, I know.
Still, I hadn't expected that reaction from him. I'd half-expected a "Huh?" or a "Go fuck someone else" reaction instead, which made this annoying ache a real pain in the balls.
I tossed my books to the bed, and looked at myself in the mirror. "Well. No wonder that bastard deigned to speak to me again. I look like shit." There were dark eye bags from lack of sleep, messy hair and mismatched clothes. The bruises on my face and my swollen blue-black left eye made it plain what I'd been up to recently, not to mention that throbbing ache in my head, symptoms of an impending migraine.
Kei's guilty conscience must have eaten at him when he saw me like this. Sure, I'd been depressed for awhile, but I'll survive. This is the reality I should face, not some goddamned fairy tale where I whisk off some fair princess away on a white horse. I'd get over him, even if it kills me to do so.
I was shaken out of my reverie by the feel of someone's eyes on me. Ignoring the regretful expression on Kei's face, I continued dabbing antiseptic at my bruises with a cotton swab.
"Look, Jake. I'm sorry. It was just too sudden and I didn't know how to react to it, that's all." His eyes pleaded with me not to ditch him. Ironic, considering I was the one who was left behind.
"Kei. Stop. PISSING. Me off. You're the one who fucking reacted that way, and you think you can just crawl your way back into my good graces? Well, guess what? I'm over it. I don't give a shit about you and your highborn life anymore." I scowled at the little twerp and left the bathroom, putting on my earphones. Ah. Last Resort by Papa Roach.
Rich boys and their fucking games. They think they can twist anyone around their little fingers just because they're all that.
My resolve faltered a little, though, when I snuck a peek at Kei. I'd expected him to look...unperturbed by it all, but he looked half as bad as I did, if not worse. His usually silky locks looked a bit lifeless, and he'd lost some weight. Dark circles and exhaustion marred his pretty face.
Frustration was visible on his face as he ran a hand through his hair, struggling for words and an apology. I must admit that I was at least slightly moved by his current condition, but that didn't mean that I could forgive what he'd done so thoughtlessly.
"Jake, I...I was scared. Fuck! Do you think this is easy for me? I know the fault was mine, but you just caught me by surprise, okay?" He looked away from me, glaring at the wall.
I smirked. "Look, you want my forgiveness? I don't give it away that easily. You'll have to earn it. Think of a way to pacify me and just
maybe
I'll forgive you. But for now, I'm still pissed as hell and you'd best stay away from me." With that, I turned my back to him and closed my eyes, listening to more of Papa Roach's songs.
Kei didn't say another word. We allowed our own thoughts to steer us to sleep.
The following day, he waited at my locker. I gave him
the stare
but to no avail. I was getting tired of this. "Are you my personal stalker? At least give me some room to breathe. God."
Before he could respond, someone swept him up and gave him a wet, sloppy kiss. Right on the lips. "What the –? Chet? What are you doing here? I thought you were in Japan with –" Kei was shushed up by "Chet" who placed a finger on his lips.
Red. That was the color I was seeing right now. I managed to regain composure by counting to ten and clenching my fists. I drawled coolly and started assessing the tall blonde from head to toe. "Aren't you going to introduce lover boy to me, Kei?"
Chet slung an arm casually around Kei, doing his own slow perusal of me as well. Nerd. That was one way to describe him. He wore those thick-rimmed corporate glasses, and strangely, they seemed to match well with his checkered shirt and faded jeans with holes at the knees. To give him credit, he did look slightly better than your average nerd, and he was pretty tall; a six-footer. Still, no one that Kei would have bothered hanging out with. And since they seemed so intimate, I was starting to think that he was an ex. Great.
"Jake, this is Chet, my best friend from childhood. Chet, meet my roommate, Jake." Kei seemed to have forgotten all about me by now and was enthusiastically shooting questions at his buddy, who was eyeing me thoughtfully.
"Have fun with your rendezvous. Ciao." I was so close to losing my temper and beating the living daylights out of someone who only
might
be an ex. I wasn't about to humiliate myself in front of Kei again, seeing that he didn't give a shit about me. I stalked off in the opposite direction, heading towards the cafeteria for some chips.
If I'd turned behind to look at Kei, I would have had confidence re-installed again. Although his hand was on Chet's arm, he was looking woefully at my retreating back, pain apparent in his gaze. What he didn't see was Chet watching him watch me.
I was enjoying a little snack with my chips in hand under a shady tree when I heard someone approach me.
"Hey."
I ignored the human insect and continued to munch. Maybe if I focused hard enough, he'd go away.
"You're Jake, right? Mind if I share the space with you?" Nice. Focusing is a waste of time.
I stared him down. "Yes, I do mind because you'll be breathing my air."
Chet sat opposite of me. "So. Are you naturally sarcastic, or are you just in a bad mood?"
"Chet." I smiled at him. "It's obvious that I'm in a foul mood right now. That phrase you just so carelessly spouted would have landed you in the hospital some time ago."
