𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃

17

Song:
mirrors- justin timberlake
slowed + reverb

LEENA

The moment that I saw Angel break down in front of me, I realized he wasn't as emotionless as I had believed.

It was a moment where I remembered that even he had his limits—even he had his weaknesses.

The pain was even greater because he was someone who always kept his guard up, never allowing himself to be vulnerable in front of anyone.

Why couldn't he understand that he's allowed to be vulnerable? He's allowed to be human and show human emotions. He's not a fucking machine.

As we step into the quiet house, he closes the door behind us. I glance around, observing the living room and the small photographs adorning the walls.

I'd never been in his house before, now that I think about it.

"Are your parents here?" I ask, my question causing him to still. I turn to face him, noticing how closed off he's become once again. I thought that I had finally gotten him to open up, but we're back to square one.

He turns around, a sigh escaping his lips. "No, they're not." He moves past me towards what looks like the kitchen and I follow closely behind.

I can't stop the next question from slipping out. "Where were you?" He had avoided answering when I asked before, making it clear he didn't want to talk about it. What could have kept him out of school for days?

His one worded response has a frown forming on my face. "Sick."

I could practically sense the lie in his words. "Are we forgetting that just a moment ago you completely broke down? You don't seem very sick to me." I watch as he opens the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water and turning the cap before bringing it up to his lips to take a sip.

"There was something in my eyes." His sentence has me laughing humorlessly. Did he seriously think I would believe that? I wasn't that fucking stupid.

I take a couple of steps towards him, taking the bottle from his hands and placing it onto the counter behind him. "Tell me the truth."

He peers down at me, his brown eyes connecting with mine. I don't miss how he swallows nervously as I wait for him to speak up. "At the hospital," he pauses before continuing. "I was at the hospital."

Why was he at the hospital? "Why?" I step closer, closing the distance between us. "And tell me the truth, don't bullshit me." I knew that he would either try to avoid the question, or lie, which was why I had to back him into a corner and make him give in.

I was tired of the lying. I wanted to be let in. If he was going to push me away, he left me no choice but to push my way in.

His eyes shift between mine, and his shoulders sag in defeat. I remain standing there, patient and unwavering, waiting for him to say something.

Eventually, he begins to speak. "My dad overdosed." I still, stunned by the revelation, as silence fills the room. Angel seems to notice, his gaze fixed on me as he tries to read my expression, which reveals nothing.

After the initial shock leaves me, worry takes its place. "Is he..?" I trail off, the implication woven into my words.

Angel shakes his head, grabbing the bottle of water. He steps around me and heads to the staircase that's by the living room. I wanted to ask more, of course I did, but I didn't want to make him uncomfortable. It was clearly a sensitive topic for him and I already pushed his barriers by coming here.