A Rift Between Us

Chapter 36 - A Clash Of Wills

His thumbs froze.

"It's the girl that's been getting me in trouble with Mr Dodge today. The new girl."

Aggnus stood still with the tray in her hands, her face partially obscured by the steam.

"I've never seen you text anyone before apart from me. Anyway, why do you have her number if she's negatively influencing you?"

Two sharp coughs jerked Alfie's body, causing his mattress to tremble. He clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain. A deep groan escaped his lips.

"I didn't give her my number."

She set the tray beside him, the scent quickly filling the room. The golden, brown skin of the chicken glistened in the light, highlighted by dark grill marks.

"Drink the tea first. It will soothe your throat, I promise."

The mattress popped as Alfie struggled to sit up, a sudden pain lancing through his head. He pressed his hand on his forehead, his eyes squeezing shut. Aggnus' eyes drifted down to his phone, which sat casually in his left hand. Keiko's messages were still visible on the screen.

"What does she want?"

He moved his hand away, batting his eyelids repeatedly.

"She wants to revise with me tomorrow at lunchtime."

Aggnus' head tilted back, a bewildered look plastered over her face.

"You won't be going to school in your current state. You have to rest and recover."

Alfie's hand clenched around his phone, inadvertently locking the screen.

"It's just a little cough, Mum. I have to go. I'm gonna need as much help as possible to pass these final exams."

She folded her arms, her mint-coloured nail varnish coupled with tiny rhinestones reflecting the light from the ceiling. The soft glow highlighted the meticulous care she had taken with her appearance, each nail a tiny work of art.

"No. Your well-being is far more important. I want to see you drink the tea, come on."

Alfie picked up the mug, his face twisting in distaste as he watched the swirling, yellow liquid. It looked like someone had urinated in it.

She doesn't understand. We're too close to exams for me to be missing school.

Alfie raised the mug to his lips, stopping just short of taking a sip. The heat warmed his lips, making him lick them reflexively.

"I'm well enough to go Mum. It's not that bad."

Aggnus shifted her weight onto her right leg, bending her knee and letting her arms hang limply. She glanced up at the ceiling, shook her head, and subsequently met Alfie's gaze.

"Alfie. You couldn't even make it to the dinner table. I had to bring your food to your bed. There's no way you're walking all the way to school in that state."

Her voice was sharp and assertive, momentarily making Alfie's thoughts stumble. The bottom of the mug gently touched the tray, full and unconsumed.

"Mum, by tomorrow I'll likely be fine. I need to get into college. I need to pass these exams. Me missing school isn't gonna help my case."

He held out his phone, pointing at it with his right hand.

"Do you remember what happened to my photos? They're gone for good now. Studying cyber security at college will be the answer to solving these types of problems in the future."

Aggnus' lips puckered, her brows tightly packed together as she listened to him speak.

"But I can't do that if I can't pass my exams, which will be here in about a month."

Aggnus crossed her right arm over her abdomen and raised her left hand near her face, palm open.

"You're sick, Alfie! I'm not letting you go to school tomorrow, and that's final."

She turned around, her heavy footsteps echoing through the apartment. She slammed the door shut, the impact sending a shudder through the room, causing the overhead light to flicker.