Indebted Love

♡ dix-sept ♡

The blazing afternoon heat of December's sun only scorched my skin to an uncomfortable setting, not because Luca pulled me out of the movie theatre to talk, of course.

My heart is only beating faster because I can feel the sun burning every parts of my exposed skin. Even if I lean against the wall in the shadow, just near the entrance of the theatre, I feel the sun crawling to reach me. Not because Luca wants to talk to me of course.

"How are you?" Luca surprised me with his question.

"Good..." I trail on, slowly meeting his brown eyes narrowing at me.

His skin is tanned to a smooth brown, his short hair a little darker and he seems more masculine than normal.

"You look different," he says, taking a moment to inspect me up and down, radiating more curiosity than judgement.

"I had sex." I admitted, chewing the insides of my cheeks.

"I see," I note the pink tint on Lucas's ears and the way he look away from a brief moment. His shoulders slag a little, only a brief sigh of relief escapes his lips.

"How was your trip?" I asked, leaning more into the wall as I got more comfortable being alone with him. It's the first time since he got back from his vacation with his girlfriend Katie.

"It went better than I expected," he confesses, frowning a little before a serious facial expression takes over his face.

"Do you think Katie is bisexual or at least a lesbian?" The blunt nature of Lucas's words didn't surprise me anymore. That's why we're friends.

"Ah..." I pause as a group of girls walked into the cinema, "I suspected as much. Why?"

My voice is wavering a little.

"It's a... feeling or a hunch. I don't know. But I do know how she feels about you." Luca takes a step closer to me.

My mouth suddenly feel like sandpaper.

"I see the way she looks at you. What is it you say? The romance books or movies you both watch- the adoration in her eyes and subtle touches that means a lot more than what's on the surface." He let's out an exasperated sigh. Only then I notice how dark the circles on his eye are.

The way he buries his face in the palm of his hands, shoulders slouching to make his 6 foot height smaller. Defeated.

"We said I love you's, ya know." He announces, dropping his hands to his sides and I watch him clench his jaw. "I meant it, Jalah. Every single letter but Katie... I don't know. Is it pity Jalah? Am I fool to love someone who obviously loves someone else?"

By now, we arms apart. I feel his anger steaming from the skin. His fist clench, fingers running through his hair. He's unhinged. Explosive.

My mouth hangs open to reply, to comfort him because his pain hurts me and I'm mad at myself for not addressing it sooner. But before I even utter a single word, Lucy comes around to us, clasping her hands together as she dissipates whatever feelings in the air.

"We got the tickets," she says, tucking a brown strand of hair behind her ears, making her round face more prominent. "I'm called to summon you," she says, attempting to laugh but one glance over to Luca and her lips is pursed.

"We'll be there," I say clearing my throat and run my sweaty palms over my thighs, hoping my jeans doesn't get wet.

Luca doesn't say anything, deciding to just leave without a second glance. I walk up to Lucy, my gorgeous gorgeous friend I haven't seen in ages. She's mostly Katie's friend from college but I love her just as much.