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He moved aimlessly. Feet leading him wherever they aspired to, without the hindrance of the left side of his brain. "I know I've been a dick to you, so I just wanted you to know I'm here."
Jun observed him in silence, attempting to process the sentences he threw in her direction before the next wave inevitably arrived. He looked unsettled and so unbelievably tired. Not that her worry needed additional footing, but this -the way he spoke too rapidly, the lack of dawn and dusk to his thought process- was deeply concerning.
As she feared, his problem resided beyond.
"I'm going to get it together." He nodded to himself. "You won't have to waste your time on me."
Jun frowned. "Marcus, stop. Stop it." she held onto his shoulder until his pacing ceased.
His head hung low.
"What are you talking about?"
"This!" He took out of his pocket the pills she had given him and showed them to her. "I'm doing this. I'm making you waste your time on my issues. All because I can't control my own goddamn mind."
Jun let go of his shoulder. She blinked. "Do you really think that?"
"That I'm messing up? Yes." He said, resolute.
"No, that you are a waste of time."
Marcus paused for a second, put his mania on hold to look at her. She wanted his honesty.
He did. Even if he would not say it, she knew. Jun could tell by his habit of comparing wounds; because he kept his sleeplessness a secret; because he came to her room to apologize.
He registered that saying nothing had been a mistake when her eyes turned sad, instead of confused. He'd hurt her, somehow.
Marcus turned away. From the dignity he'd left in ruin, from her. A cowardly move, fit for a boy not tall enough to reach courage.
"I don't believe you are a waste of any kind." He heard her say behind him.
"Stop consoling me." He told her. Though it was so quiet, she barely heard it. Marcus wanted to shrink.
"Look at me." Jun pleaded. "You can always tell if I'm lying. Since the day we met, -the bathroom, the roof- you knew. See if I'm lying now."
He didn't turn, so she walked in front of him. If he refused to be, Jun would have to be brave for the both of them.
Slowly, and so confidently, she stated. "I worry about you, not because you are an investment, but because you are a person I care about. Why would you ever think helping you is a waste of time?"
