BIG-J

5

As I woke up, a piercing headache pulsed through my skull, forcing me to groggily open my eyes. Blinking away the blurriness, I realized I was in an unfamiliar room. Panic surged within me as memories from the previous day flooded my mind. "Oh, shit. I need to go home," I muttered to myself, grabbing my phone from the bedside table.

Eager to make my escape, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, completely forgetting about my injured ankle. With a jolt of pain shooting through me, I lost my balance and crashed to the floor with a resounding "THUD." The noise echoed through the room, alerting someone nearby.

In a rush, the door flew open, and to my surprise, James entered, his face displaying a mix of concern and surprise. Confusion clouded my mind as I blurted out my first question, "Why am I here? What did you do to me?" I couldn't help but direct my frustration towards him.

Remaining surprisingly calm, James replied, "Ally, yesterday night, you fainted." Suddenly, it clicked. He was the person who had spoken to me in the alley. Interrupting my thoughts, he continued, "I would have left you there, but your condition seemed too dire."

Embarrassment washed over me as I realized I had lashed out at the very person who had come to my aid. James hurriedly moved about the room, gathering supplies. While he tended to my wounded ankle, I took a moment to observe his face. Unbeknownst to me, I must have been staring because he playfully remarked, "Alright there, I know I'm handsome, but I think you need to go home." He winked, and I rolled my eyes, feeling grateful.

With a visible smirk, he added, "You look cute asleep." I couldn't resist the opportunity to call him a jerk before making my way out of the room. As I left, I hailed a cab, knowing that I was in for a world of trouble, as evidenced by the 25 missed calls from my worried mother on my phone.

As I arrived home, it came as no surprise that I was in for a world of trouble. My mother grounded me for a whole month, but strangely, that didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. Changing into comfortable clothes in my bedroom, my mind drifted back to what had transpired between Dominic and me. The memory made me cringe with embarrassment. I had feelings for him, but I couldn't shake the nagging doubt about whether it was the right thing to pursue. It felt like our connection was mostly fueled by alcohol rather than genuine chemistry.

Feeling increasingly uncomfortable and in need of someone to talk to, I realized I couldn't turn to Dominic in this situation. So, I made the decision to call Elinia and pour out my heart to her. She sounded genuinely concerned and offered to come over since I was grounded and couldn't leave the house.

After a few hours, I heard the doorbell ring and my mom letting Elinia in. As she entered my bedroom, the first thing she did was give me a tight hug and apologize, expressing regret for leaving me in such a state. Sitting beside me, she gently asked for the details of what happened between me and Dominic. I could detect a hint of jealousy and a change in her demeanour when I mentioned that we had nearly had sex.

Looking at me, she said, "Well, you nearly had sex with him. It happens. Stop being so uptight and sensitive." I was taken aback by her words. All I had wanted was some comforting words and support, but instead, I heard unexpected remarks. Normally, I would have reacted angrily, but being in a new country with new people, I realized that getting upset with her would only isolate me further. So, I swallowed my pride and decided to let her stay the night. We watched some movies together, hoping to change the mood and create a sense of normalcy. Eventually, Elinia bid me farewell and left.

Despite the mixed emotions I experienced that night, I hoped that with time, things would become clearer, and I would find the guidance and understanding I needed.

The next morning, I woke up with the realization that I had to get ready for school and face Dominic. Taking extra care with my grooming, I left the house after giving my mom a kiss on the cheek. Thanks to James' help, my ankle had improved slightly, and I couldn't help but smile, remembering his sarcastic comments from the previous day.

As I made my way to school, I silently hoped and prayed to avoid any encounter with Dominic. However, as luck would have it, the first person I laid eyes on was him. Trying to ignore him and pretend I hadn't noticed, I continued walking until he stepped in front of me, wearing a concerned expression, and prevented me from moving away. "Let's talk, please," he pleaded.

Not wanting to come across as rude, I reluctantly agreed, and we made our way up to the rooftop terrace. Once we were alone, Dominic spoke up, saying, "I'm sorry." We were both in a messed-up state that night, and deep down, I knew I couldn't blame him for something I had willingly participated in. Uncomfortably, I responded, "It's okay, but I think we need some space."

Dominic looked at me, his gaze filled with understanding, and he reached out to hold my hand. "I understand, but if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you," he said before leaving me standing there in silence. As I turned to leave, I heard another voice break the quietude.

"Having problems with your boyfriend, huh?" The voice sneered, and I spun around to see who it was. To my surprise, there stood James, smoking and casually looking out at the view.

Rolling my eyes at James, I walked over and stood beside him, gazing out at the view. Breaking the silence, I mustered up the gratitude to say, "Thanks for helping with my ankle." James simply nodded in response and continued smoking. Letting out a sigh, I made up my mind to leave, but before I could walk away, he unexpectedly spoke up.

"Don't run until it's healed," he said, his words carrying a hint of concern. I couldn't help but smile faintly at his unexpected advice. Acknowledging his concern, I nodded and left for my class, feeling a glimmer of appreciation for his unexpected gesture.