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.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2DIY1y9qJ
"Nya, why did you leave?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGvCeD0Dmn
"You didn't say I couldn't," I answered. Stupid excuse coming from a stupid girl. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLVxJH7IsP
"I'm very sure you knew that I wouldn't have wanted you to go, and what if you got someone else sick?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovCcgKwUZE
"How are you so sure it's contagious?" 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR98ur3g3U
"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."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VxOXybfMU
After that, I wasn't allowed - haven't been allowed - to leave the house.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7OWhN0A6A
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. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpU7q3gIoU
And he refused to let it go.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1lmd7bhyY
"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.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfGoeRCX1C
"Where are you going to get oxtail to cook?" I asked him.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnswaP3lqnG
"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."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8G1TCScKr
Like mother, like daughter. But how does she even afford that? Come to think about it... what does Akatua do as a job? 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpFVTvwjMg
"No," I refused, shaking my head fiercely. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuYQfrWGg3
"Nya," he warned.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaA29YCELh
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.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6h2IjFRNf
"What?" I ask him, pulling the bone from my mouth.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENmSD1tkjY
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. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTczTG2bmN
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.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKBKM5f4QV
"Thank you again, Kwamé" I say to him, preparing to take my plate to the kitchen. Of course, he beats me to it.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9X5Kk0t5q
"Sit," he commands, and for some unknown, God given reason, I am compelled to obey.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuVTfJmDN6
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. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdil7VdU3EH
"About seeing my mother," I start.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCE60AhwYX
"I haven't told her anything. I figured that you'd want to tell her yourself."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtlBkIDkcI
I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't realise I was holding.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5swMtLXUc
"You're right. Thank you." 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSNjB8JQpi
"Well, it's your right," he says, bringing me some chewable vitamins and sitting on the couch beside me. "Are you feeling better?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6z6pQG3qJ
"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. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZABulcDod
"That's considerate of you, but what will you be doing here in the meantime?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U4nhNixpB
I chew my lip and think about that.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydvypjqaOY
"Binge watching something?" The idea sounds pathetic to my own ears.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEPZYI7sgH
"How about we play a game?" he asks gently.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxO4DLtonTa
"What game?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQcbyUSHC2
"An honesty game. It's a way of getting to know each other." 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfxAVJu7lN
"I thought you said that you didn't want to be friends." Not that I mind being his friend. I'm just confused. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLTeeMqpZF
"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. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA8q9EjZ0a
"So you're like an almost friend?" I ask hopefully. That's getting somewhere, right?786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xpNE8NNcy
He cocks His head to the side, thinking about it, before showing off a half smile. "I guess."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmoUxY5Dmk
"So how does this game work?" I ask him, intrigued.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCLSsaMZhx
"You ask the other person something, and that person must answer honesty. It's also about trusting each other to be honest."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgl8Co3W5f
"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.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ45fSqGr9z
"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.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QRv7Kk5Pm
"I would always celebrate my family members' birthdays. You?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGKlNMdZKr
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.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8wFNJe4ve
"Giving my mother a second chance."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLW0jdduwG
That stops him cold.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVOBOc9G6A
"You expected me to be nicer, didn't you?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RzThU9tjz
"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.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwdzmgKXru
"Well, uh, why don't we both find something nice to do? Something selfless."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQl7pmYaBE
"Why?" I ask in complete confusion.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr01keuHRz
"People say that it feels good."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjggliotIa
"Do you really believe that it would do that for me?" I question him, my voice thick with doubt.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7kKcRkGlU
"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?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao07XMb8rs
"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.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoVK8h58EB
He looks at me darkly.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdzSoDGNO6
"There is no redemption for me. I've told you that already. Now, let's find something good to do with ourselves."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7l0VXOOLbc
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.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl61n9mMt76
"To being charitable."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOx0dNT3Jd
"From the bottom of our hearts," he says, also raising his glass, and then touching it to mine.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1StbxOrzgw
He smiles at me and then clears his throat. "Back to the game."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLBIcDP4Dk
Right," I reply. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xqJkUrQ6X
"My turn," he states. "What's your date of birth? You know mine, but I don't know yours."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQOsGNeUop
"July 7, 1997," I reply. "We have the same birthday."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CQGRt5uKq
"Huh. That's cool."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1OxuyBbf3
"Um... favourite drink?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IZEeLj0Av
"As a cow or human?" he asks.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBpcmoqxI7
"Both, I guess."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLUdm1KMFD
"Um, as a cow, I like water. Clean water. As a human, I like Red Stripe, 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jwkjuHqtI
786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm658qbhSIR
Sorrel or lemon flavor, depending on my mood."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYYdenz9Po
"Wow," I murmur. "Same for me. As a human, I mean."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwuYD1qroq
He grins at me, the smile lighting up his face. "I guess we're not that different after all."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BOV3tRA3T
***786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzW0B7jcMb
"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. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0C9UliYB4
"Well, it's not like we're used to doing this," I defend weakly, the excuse sounding pathetic even to my own ears.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabXEZM4OBC
"There has to be something," he replies. "What about food?" he asks.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRP6O77TMn
"People have food allergies, and celiac, and stuff like that."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3ylAaV82l
"So we buy a variety of foods."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVgYZSFsu8
"With what money?" I ask him. Has he forgotten that I'm a waitress?786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegHG4Il3MK
He sighs in frustration.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5xKaZ4rC3
"Well, we could go to a children's home and read for them," I suggest.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxco8D4rElr
"I hate children."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HzLdK2wGJ
"It's not about what you like, Kwamé."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXTxpwr6Ui
He grumbles incoherently under his breath, screwing up his face like a spoilt child.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLHRearCN1
"You must be able to get over your distaste of children for one day, just for the sake of charity."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WsIOnb3Sb
"I don't know if I can," he grumbles.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdqYFoNkS7
"Yeah, you can. You just have to try."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I1DLFldIs
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?786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDcf7spNKe
"Fine. What day?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSNCb7lpqX
"How about next Wednesday?" I suggest hopefully.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMI4T2o0oM7
"Okay. I'll bring some books."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2e8e8grQO
"You aren't reading?" I ask him.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH5v3DVWHu
"I've forgotten how to read."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGtiU3nIHr
"That's crap. You were using my phone this morning."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zy0BKxJlF
"I swore that I wouldn't let you see me like this again."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCEpaatBT7
"That's a terrible excuse. And how would you bring the books?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYIcrtLAAM
"Cart," he replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVBMVj18O8
"Kwamé-" 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmGQI1ue8L
"I'm not good for children."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsFziOjxcR
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. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnMbHEr6Au
"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."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RFIz5ExyI
"I'm evil," he reminds me.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMu32nRIBC
"Don't start with that again," I scold him. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVoL4eh4sD
"Children can sense evil, you know." 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt7WqdRLKr
Yes I do. That's how I knew that my foster mum was off, not evil, but far from good. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnTDl7Vj6k
"Just be your normal, sweet self. They'll love you."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPH4JfxUyGr
"You think?" he asks me with great skepticism.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXThY3nLWCW
"Just be nice. Trust me when I say, they'll love you," I tell him again, as if repeating the words will convince him. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMycqzvnsL
"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. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dy4syBWlT
"I think I'll be good to visit my mother tomorrow. The day after at latest."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd5cHOJt2j
"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."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5HTTNHZLg
"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.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2kIcSei61
"So... what do you want to talk about with her tomorrow?" he questions, taking a sip of his fruit punch.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1ruUpoDHb
"I don't know. Probably try to find out exactly why she left me. She was pretty vague last time."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOkUji6WEX
"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." 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X4jhWYl6k
"More magic?" I ask him cautiously.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDiIN8UgGY
"Way too much for you right now."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlSuecEZuj
"I can handle it," I insist although I'm far from sure.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUg5KXvreIK
"Well, you can ask her, but I doubt that she'll tell you."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSjysH89KJ
Sighing, I rest my head against the back of the couch.786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9swe152hj
"Well, it's her decision as to whether or not she wants to open up to me."786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb050PwdjM
"There are other ways to open up to someone," he insists, trying to defend his friend. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPARxlJPal
"Okay fine. I'll accept her decision, but I'll still ask. That's okay?"786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YefW6Icnp
"Yeah," he replies, nodding his head in agreement. 786Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmICSblpVxy
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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