Ambivalent

27. I Won't Give Up

Akara

The flat had more stuff than Rune's. A bed for two was leaning on the wall where Rune had his sofa, there was a small yellow sofa under the window and a wooden rectangle coffee table was in front of the sofa. The kitchen part was the same as Rune's with identical white worktop and grey cabinets, but the fridge was bigger.

I pushed the cumin yellow curtains aside and opened the window so that the stuffy air caused by being empty for months would disperse. Then I checked the small bathroom and was delighted to know that there was no repair needed. After cleaning around, the flat would be ready.

Luckily, the superintendent said he could arrange someone for me to clean during the day, so I left the key to him and went up to Rune's flat again.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Rune almost screamed, seeing me at the door.

"Checking on you," I said as I pushed my way in. Rune tried to block me but to no avail.

"I will call the police if you don't leave," he said, his hand holding his phone threateningly.

"For what reason? For applying ointment?" I asked with a frown and pushed him lightly on the sofa.

"I don't need your help!" he snapped at me and attempted to stand up, so I grabbed his leg, pinning him down. Then I got the small bottle from the coffee table and opened the lid with my teeth. Folding his pyjama cuffs up, I applied a generous amount on his knees. Though Rune tried to hold it in, I could see his face was contorted with pain and it broke my heart. I wanted him to be like in the old days; scream the place down as he wished... but I guess it was too late...

"It is done, now leave."

I heaved a sigh and put the bottle aside, "how about breakfast?" I asked softly, being fully aware that he didn't eat anything.

"Why do you act like you care?!" Rune snorted as he jumped on his feet. He turned his back on me, pretending to look out of the window. However, from the movement of his shoulders, I could see he was trying to suppress his emotions.

"Because I really care about you," I said firmly and stood behind him.

"LIAR!" he turned around abruptly and punched my chest with his fists.

I grabbed his wrists, not because he was hurting me but because he would hurt himself. Looking straight into his eyes, I said, "I am not lying. If you give me a second chance, I will prove to you that I lov... care for you sincerely."

He looked at me coldly, "you had that chance but you chose to betray me," he said equally coldly and saved his wrists from my grip, "now fuck off!"

Swallowing a sob, I said "I won't give up, Rune... not until you have a happy life" and left the flat before Rune broke down.

Leaning on his door, I rubbed my face a few times to vent out my frustration and went to buy a late breakfast. As I had no face to stand on his door, I hung the bag on the doorknob and ran away after knocking a few times.

That day, I didn't disturb Rune again. As I didn't want him to ride on buses or take taxis everyday, I bought a third-hand old Honda from a gallery and returned back home with two sets of dinner. Like in the morning, I went up to hang the food on the door, but I saw that Rune didn't take the breakfast.

Sighing, I knocked on the door and Rune opened it with a bored expression.

"Now what?" he asked me, crossing his arms on his chest defensively.

"What fault did the poor breakfast commit?" I asked as I raised the bag.

"You touched it, it is enough."

I sucked up a deep breath, "if you eat them, I will leave you alone for the rest of the weekend, but if you need anything I am staying at 404, right below you," I said, trying to be reasonable.

He gave me a strange as well as a horrified look, "wh- whatever," he said in the end and got the food bags from me hastily and closed the door to my face.

As though the universe heard Rune's plea, not only during the weekend but also during Monday I couldn't bother him.

Why?

Let me start from the beginning.

On Sunday night, bastard Panit called me and ordered me to come to the mansion. Once there, we took Panit's BMW and he drove us to a fancy club. In the VIP section, he met his already-drunk friends and my torture began.

For three hours, I stood in front of the VIP section, guarding the door while Panit and his friends were drinking as if there was no tomorrow.

As Panit was a walking trouble, he had to cause some problems. Ignoring all my pleas, he went out from the back door to smoke. The area was a dead-end street with no street lights. Indeed, I was guarding him, but when ten bastards appeared from the darkness, we were cornered. With horror, I saw two guys blocking the club's door while the others besieged us. I pulled Panit behind me, so his back was on the wall.

"Give all the valuables," their leader threatened us as the knives were drawn.

"Do what they say," I urged Panit who was laughing like a mad man.

"Fight themmmm! I pay... pay for serviceeee!" he mumbled almost incoherently.

"They are ten, for god sake!" I tried to talk sense but he was too drunk for that.

"No moneyyy for pimpsss!" Panit shouted and spat at the leader before I could stop him.

"GET THEM!" the leader shouted, pissed and the fight began.