Hate To Love You: From Enemies To Lovers

Ch. 42 | Their Hurtful Experience

"That's exactly what I wanted to know, Jax. I've been hearing his name several times when Antaios was talking to his Mom." I said.

"Kevin. He was our childhood friend."

"He was the most clever friend I've ever had, actually. I, Samuel, Dylan, Jace, him, and Antaios were best buddies when we're in high school, although Jace and Dylan were a bit older than us. I, Kevin, and Antaios were 13 years old in 8th grade while Dylan is in his 10th grade, Jace was in his 12th grade and Samuel was in his 7th grade. We separate classrooms, but every lunch or recess we meet somewhere so we can eat together. Every afternoon we hang out like going to karaoke, going to the gym to play basketball, and going to an arcade." He started explaining.

"We're like that every day but we separate when we go home because of Antaios' and Kevin's parents. They were business rivals. Kevin rarely told us everything about what is happening to him. So one day, I and Antaios were walking at the back of our school to explore the garden made by us. But when we headed to the back of the bathroom, we're both flustered when we saw guys bullying Kevin. His glasses were broken, his bag and his things were scattered on the ground. I didn't hesitate to shout at them. I was really angry that time but they tried to irritate me more. So I punched them. I can't hold myself anymore because I can't bear it to watch him like that."

"But then, A teacher saw us. What's worse is, it is the headteacher. She didn't hesitate to bring us to the Guidance Counselor's Office. The teacher saw a violent mark on the face of the guy I punched. So they told me to call my parents. And so the others. What pressured and flustered us the most is, the time that all our parents met. My Mother is just some store owner while theirs was company owners at that time and I felt small. But I didn't blame my Mother for that. When the teacher said "your son committed a violent action", Julianna stood up for me but what she said was "it was my brother's fault at all.". Julianna was also one of those who bullied him badly."

"Antaios mother claimed that she was the one who sent those bullies. So Kevin would stay away from Antaios. While Kevin's mother said that she's being too arrogant. And they started pulling each other's hair. The teachers said that they need to fix their own personal problems and work it out but Antaios' mother walked away while grabbing him. But that time, Kevin ran away to her mother and sister. I followed him to where he is going, and we ended up going into a bridge. I was very startled when he jumped off the bridge and fall into the river. I called out for people desperately, and when he was rescued, he stayed at the hospital for a month because of a comatose. Antaios didn't show up that's why I started hating him so much. Your brothers showed up that time too, but Kevin's mother won't let us. That's when the quarrel between us formed. And we all blamed Antaios because of that. Although it's really not his fault."

"I'm pathetic, right? Blaming others who didn't do anything wrong at all." He sighed.

"N-No! You're not. It's something that you didn't know at all! I pitied you because they also blamed you, never knowing that you just did that to protect Kevin." I suddenly said.

"That's why I started getting along with Antaios today. He was never at fault. We faked our relationship to you and to the others. We pretended that we two are good friends. We also tried to get along that time but we didn't succeed. You suspected us right away because you saw everything that happened to both of us but we denied it. Remember what he said? "She was the one who keeps meddling with our own personal business" he referred you that time. But I knew he didn't mean to say that because he was just very angry at me."

"Is that so. Do you know that I'm classmates with Kevin?" I asked.

"We already know that. We also knew that the video you posted is him. Although he's not shown in the video. We knew it because of the watch. He always wore that when we're still young. It was Antaios' gift, I think." He said.

"I protected him because I saw him being bullied and I hated it when I saw someone being bullied." I said then. "I'm sorry for making your handkerchief dirty. I'll keep it so I can wash it for you."

"You don't need, actually." He smirked.

"No. I need to. My tears are dirty and disgusting, Jax." I giggled.

He laughed a little at my joke. "Okay, if you wanted to." He said then stood up. "If you cry again, my handkerchief is at your hands."

I stood up too. "Thanks, Jax. Please get along with Antaios and also with my Brothers. I hope you went back to what you used to be." I smiled then tapped his shoulders. "Goodbye then!" I waved at him as I got farther.

Their experience hurts me. They might all look like brothers back then. It's so sad that they end up scattering.

Kevin's watch. It's still with me. I need to bring it back to him no matter what. His childhood and friendship memories are in it. Although he might get very mad at me.

My phone rang. It was one of Demi's texts.

Hey, Where are you?

Don't tell me you're crying right now

Hey! Down to earth Selena!

Please reply, dear.

Please tell me he's not dead!

She texted nonsense messages to me. It's obvious that she'll text more if I don't reply, so I replied.

Let's meet outside.

That's the only thing I wanted to say to her. I'll wait till Jaxon moves in again. So we'll stay there. It's refreshing there and I wanted to stay there a little bit longer.

After he went away, I ran there so I can see a sight of Demi. After few minutes, she went running to me. Wearing a luxurious trench coat and heels. Looks like she came from a gathering or something.

"Selena! Is everything okay?"

I can't decide what to say. Will I say "I just heard something that I need to hear"? or should I say "I think I just pitied him"?

"I'm okay. But Antaios isn't" I sighed.

"What?! Did something bad happened to him?!" She asked worriedly.

"He's suffering, from depression. He's suffering emotionally, Demi"

Demi was silent for a while. She just tapped my back while I was becoming teary, again. But I tried to hold it.

"All people aren't really like what they are. They are being like that because they suffered from something, physically, emotionally, or even mentally. Sometimes their experience affects their attitude. That's what's worst in being a human." She said.

"I know, Demi. I shouldn't have treated him like that. I should have let him treat me like this. I knew he changed. He wanted to get along with me and be friends. But I can't help but think that he might be pulling a prank, that he might want to play tricks with me again just like when we're young. Different negative things about him always travel through my mind. I didn't even know that he's all alone when it comes to situations like that. Grayson and Spade, his best friends did a really great job." I can't hold but cry, once again.

I cried a lot, for and because of him.

I and Demi had a talk. After a little while, I said goodbye to her because I was pretty tired. But what's more tiring is thinking about Antaios' feelings. I pretended that I'm gonna go home, But I can't help but visit him once again.

I covered my head with my hood once again so no one would see or notice me. But I can't see him inside. I was pointing my feet so I can reach the window and see it clearly, but I can't. He's nowhere there.

Did he got discharged? Why too soon? Does his injury heal so fast?

But clumsiness went into me again. I slipped, never knowing that the floor is slippery.

I feel like I was slowly falling down. Oh god. I'm about to crack my head open!

I closed my eyes. But suddenly, my body was stopped from falling. Someone caught me behind. But when I got to see his face, he was...

"Hey, Shorty. Why are you so clumsy?"

***