The Things We Held On To

4) Subtle Call-outs

I swear he’s ruining my life with how difficult he is. Would it kill him to not bring it up every ten seconds? Is that just too much to ask? Plus, he's the absolute worst to work with. He's basically breathing down my back any chance he gets, as if I'm going to strangle a patient the second I'm alone with them. I get that he doesn't trust, but what he's doing is overkill. Every interaction with him seems to be that way.

“Careful with the paperwork. Then again, you're probably used to working with those. You sure have had a lot of experience with things we didn't through the years,”He remarked as I was just logging in what supplies we used today.

“You sure do have a lot of experience being petty? Don't you?”I shot back, glaring at him from across the desk.

“No. Not until I met you,”He shrugged, though that did nothing to make his demeanor any less hostile.

“I feel so special,”I scowled.

“I’m sure you're used to that feeling. You were probably their favorite, weren't you?”

“For someone who hates me, you sure do like being close to me,”I pointed out, reminding him that he is literal inches from my face.

“Looks like I got my answer.”

“You know what? Since you're just so curious, no. I was never even close to being a favorite. Why would I want to be? I never cared about them the same way I’ll never care about you.”

“For someone who doesn't care about me, you sure do let me get under your skin.”

“I could say the same about you.”

“Who said I didn't care about you?”

“You don't even have to admit it. The way you look at me says a thousand insults.”

“Did you make this many assumptions when you did your precious job?”

“Why are you even here right now? You don't have to be,”I pointed out.

“I’m keeping an eye on you.”

“Yeah. I’m sure you are.”

“Don't get it twisted. It's so you don't screw anything else up. Or anybody.”

“I did not screw you up.”

“Well, you definitely didn't help me, did you?”

“You know, I think I liked it better when we didn't talk.”

“I do too. When this is over I swear I’ll never interact with you. I don't want to be upset over you. I don't want to hate that you're here. I just want to live my life without you in it,”He said firmly, narrowing his eyes at me.

“How kind of you.”

“It’s more than what you deserve,”He insisted.

“And you get to decide what I do and don't deserve?”

“I don't want to decide anything for you. I just want to ignore you.”

“So do I.”

“Oh really? Is that why I caught you stalking me?”He reminded me.

“I was just taking a walk,”I lied.

“It's okay. You don't have to tell me the truth. I know you're not very good at that.”

“You don't know much at all actually,”I insulted, keeping my cold look. With him completely stone face, he stayed where he was, his eyes still burning with hatred.

“Am I uh, am I interrupting something?”Someone asked, knocking on the open door. Turning around, we saw Minho just standing there.

“No. We’re done here,”He said firmly, going to leave.

“See you later, roommate,”I called, essentially taunting him. Not answering, he shoved past Minho, his hands in his hoodie pocket as he glared at the air. I didn't even need to see his face to know.

“So did you need something?”I sighed, glancing over at him.

“I was just wondering if you guys were still here. Clearly, you were though. And quite close to each other too.”

“Whatever it looked like, it’s not like that,”I said firmly.

“So you guys weren't so close you could have easily started locking lips?”

“Did you need something?”I repeated.

“I was wondering why someone was still here when everyone went home. Now I see why though, but I’m pretty sure you could have tension filled arguments on that bed you share.”

“House. Not bed. I would never, ever share a bed with him,”I swore, almost laughing at the thought. I didn't even want to touch him, much less be tangled next to him in the sheets.

“So you're single then?”

“You very well know the answer to that,”I sighed, writing the last of what I needed and shutting the binder. Putting it in the drawer, I then locked it and put the key with the others in the top drawer.

“Just making sure. I mean Gally still-”
“No. I will not listen to you be his messenger, and I doubt he told you to come talk to me”I said firmly.

“He in fact told me not to do that, because he was going to “talk to you himself” but he's not very good at talking to girls.”

“That is not my problem. Now if he told you not talk to me for him, take that advice,”I demanded, strolling past him to go home. Except, oh wait. I absolutely hate it there, and now Aris is tainting the space even more. I didn't think that was possible, but there's a first time for everything. When I sometimes wished I had someone to talk to I was talking about someone dead. I sure as hell wasn't talking about him.

I understand why he resents me. I do, but that doesn't mean I have to like him. I changed everything to get away from my past, and he makes the most subtle comments that sound so innocent to others. I know the truth about them though, and so does he. That's why he looks me directly in the eye when he makes them.

He hasn't told anyone. I still don't know why, and that haunts me even more. He clearly doesn't want me here yet he doesn't reveal the one thing that would get rid of me.

As much as I hate to admit, he’s a true mystery, and I have always been intrigued by those.

Even ones I have no business being anywhere near.