GUM

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight ~~ Meeting You (Part 2)

Maxine

When I heard the water that splitted upon my drop I was lost in the dark abyss of the river. The cold stingy water rushed inside my skin paralyzing my body which was in pain due to the fall. I was swallowing a lot of water and there it was, I was starting to black out when I saw a guy above me. He was holding my hand. He had a worried look on his face which made me wonder who he was. Then it came to me, he was that silly seatmate had who was annoying me the whole time whenever he sees me. We floated up but I was still wondering how this silly boy made me follow him. 

We both gulped a large amount of air upon reaching the surface of the river. I was calmly floating myself on the surface when this douche bag suddenly hugged me. But this was another type of hug because I was so surprised on what he said.

"Help me! Please! I don't know how to swim." He pleaded.

I was thinking about pushing him away and leave him there and just let him drown. But I'm still human, you know. After all, he did saved me, kinda. I grabbed his shirt and swam our way to the shore.

"What were you thinking? Do you want to kill yourself?!" He yelled at me trying to spit out all the excess water he drank.

"Look Mister-trying-to-be-a-hero, first of all it is my decision if I would kill myself and second, I did not ask you to save me. You were the one who jumped off the bridge trying to save me even though you know deep within you that you don't know how to swim!" I blurted out.

"Look Miss-suicidal if ever you die, my conscience would kill me for letting you kill yourself while I was there watching you die." He replied

"You belong to the school's Basketball Team right?" I asked. He gave me a puzzled look probably wondering why I suddenly changed the topic.

"Uhh...Yeah. Why'd you asked?" Still puzzled.

I bit my tongue trying to stop myself from laughing. I turned my back on him and covered my mouth with my hands to stop myself. Then suddenly, I couldn't help myself. I let out a series of loud laughs.

"Hahahahahahahahaha. Hahahahahaha. Sh*t man! Hahahaha!" I was holding my stomach which aches due to too much laughing.

"I'm sorry. I'm kinda lost here. What's funny? Hey Gates! What are you laughing at?" He was slightly angry.

"Don't you get it? You are! You're the one who is funny. You're the reason why I'm laughing. Hahahaha! God, this feels so good. I haven't laughed like this in years. Hahahaha!" I kept on laughing for some time until he started to show a poker face.

"Done?" He asked, expressionless.

"Nope. Hahahaha! Hahahaha! You're an athlete but you don't know how to swim?! Hahaha! How ironic is that? Hahaha! Dang it! Hahaha!" I just couldn't help myself from laughing.

"Basketball has no relation to Swimming, Gates." Still expressionless.

"Well...yeah. But the fact that you're an athlete yet you don't know how to swim? Tell me it's not funny. Come on!"

"Well it is not funny!!!!" He was now angry.

"Tsssss...Of course it is!" I still continued laughing.

"Uggh! Whatever Gates!" He turned his back and started to walk away from me. He was murmuring something yet I don't have a single clue what he's trying to say. I felt bad for what I did. After all, he really did saved my life.

"Hey! Thank you." I told him. He stopped walking and started to face me.

"You're welcome. Now, let's go. I'll fetch you home."

"I'm not going home." I turned my back on him.

"Why not?"

"Because...Ugh! It's none of your business so bug off!" I raised my voice.

"Hey! What's wrong with you?  A moment ago you were laughing and now you're raising your voice. Sheeesh! You don't need to shout, Gates. Come on, you have to rest." He grabbed my arm and pulled me.

"Where are we going?" I asked him.

"To my apartment. It's not far from here. You're not going home, am I correct? But you still need rest and it's not safe for you to be alone here in the streets especially in this hour. Stop babbling things and just follow me. I have no bad intentions towards you, I just want to help." I didn't know what was going on inside my head but I followed this jerk. I let him lead the way but I was surprised that it was okay with his hand intertwined with mine. For the first time, I felt that it was right but I don't know why.

We arrived in front of a three-storey building which I assumed where his apartment was located. We climbed up the stairs and finally entered his room. It was during this time when he let go of my hand. I don't know why but it seemed like I liked the warmth his hands were giving to me. Obviously Pat and I held hands a lot of times already but he was different. It felt like I was safe when he's with me. Like I was someone special. I wish I could hold his hands again.

"Stef?" He faced me, amazed. Maybe because I called him with his first name for the first time. 

"Thank you." And with that, I gave him a smile, a genuine one.