Don't Let Me Go <A Paranormal love story>(Wattpad Only)

{Sixteen} Layla

"He looks like Santa Claus," Suba whispers leaning close to me. I try to suppress my laughter. The bald guy’s dad stares at us. He has a red towel around his shoulder covering his body and a white dhoti. He even has a long white beard making him look a lot like Santa. The tiny red mask was doing him no justice. He adjusts his glasses and asks his son something in Kannada. I only catch the word "want" from it. Suba butts in and tells him something making him scowl at her. Suba and I exchange looks. His son tells him something pointing at us, "They....boy.....foreign." I try to keep a smiling face. The father shakes his head as he scratches his chin. "Uncle, please, we really need to find our cousin. Tall guy. Lived with his grandfather."

    "Mmm Therila. I am had so much tenants. You think I to think all of them?" He snaps. The son tells him something again while the father rolls his eyes and takes his coffee cup. He looks at me as he takes a sip of his coffee. "Suddenly, why you see him?"

   "We uhm-" Suba cuts me off and starts speaking to him in Kannada. She joins her hands together begging him with a sad face. "Please!" The old man nods and places his cup down. "Is you talking about Raju?"

   Suba and I exchange looks again. "We called him RJ. He was homescho- he didn't go to school. Studied at home. No parents. Lived with his Grandfather. Parents they beat him and hurt him bad so Grandfather took him. His dad was English.  Anglo-Indian." I try to explain in simple terms hoping to jog his memory.

   "Yes. Raju," he replies and nods. "He's dead," he nonchalantly says. Those words steal all the air from my lungs.  

   "A-are you sure?" Suba asks and he nods.

   "Yes. That boy. He poor boy. Grandfather died young. He was alone. Corona came and died. Why you no come then?"

  Suba replies but I don't pay attention. The voices around me start blurring out. No. No. No. It can't be. I find it hard to believe but then I remember...The way Michael looked that night. Shocked. Sad. Like something happened. Like he lost something. Lost him again...

   "Layla!" I startle and look at Suba. I find myself sitting on the platform. How did I get here? I look around and see Michael's house behind me. "Are you okay?" I shrug. "Girl you just walked out in the middle of the conversation. I ran out to find you sitting here looking possessed and shit." 

   "Oh ."

   "C'mon Layla, we don't need RJ or Raju or whatever his name is. Michael will wake up. We will figure the book out."

   I shake my head as I bury my face in my hand. I cry, "But what if we can't Suba?! What if Michael chooses RJ? Chooses death!"

   "Hey. Hey, don't say that." She rubs my back. "Michael will wake up. I promise. You were his first best friend. The girl who has always had his back. I'm sure he will choose you."

   I shake my head knowing that's far from the truth. "RJ has been looking out for Michael even before me. He was his pen pal. Not me. Michael was the only person RJ was comfortable with. They had something special. Michael doesn't even love me," I tell her.

   "Don't say that Layla. You have no clue how many times he mentions your name whenever we call. How his face lights up. I don't know why he told you he doesn't like you but-"

   "It is because of RJ. I'm sure. He has always loved him. HE LOVES RJ," I yell and stand up. I feel a million thoughts swirling through my brain. That's right, Layla, who would ever love you? Daniel didn't love you. Michael doesn't love you. You are only a hindrance to Michael. If it wasn’t for you, Michael would have come here earlier...