Stumbling Over Love | ✓

Chapter 11 (Part 2)

_Chapter 11-2~ Reconciliation_

          The trash picking ended before long. The police officer dismissed us fairly easily, telling us to come again at four o'clock sharp tomorrow. He also discreetly commented on how much of a lousy job I did today— the nerve right?— and instead of retorting something like I usually would've, I kept my mouth shut and promised to do better tomorrow. Soon, I was making my way towards the nearest bus stop, tracing the sidewalk down the road.

           From behind, I heard footsteps following me. I knew it was Ryu, but I didn't have the courage to turn around to say anything. It was kind of hard to, mainly because of the guilt still gnawing at me.

          You shouldn't even feel guilty, a voice in my head hissed. He deserved it.

           But I kinda was being too harsh, I shot back. I mean, even if Ryu was the cause of all my struggles and pain lately, joking about the stuff I did wasn't mature at all. It wasn't like there was a guarantee Ryu's life was any better than mine. And he sounded so dejected; maybe he had a history with dead people...

         I bit on my lip hard.

         I know I did spend the last few years blaming all my misfortune on those around me (which I still can't deny were responsible for most causes), but maybe it was because I said horrible stuff like this my life was so crummy?

          Curse my volatile personality when things got rough. I needed to learn to be nicer...

           When I finally arrived at the nearest bus stop, I whipped out my cell phone and clicked onto an app to check to see when the latest bus would arrive. '6:15 PM' stared back at me and I made a face. A half hour from now? What would I do for half an hour?

          I glanced around my surroundings but I couldn't see a shop or any signs of productivity. I turned my attention towards the bench nearby. I flopped down into the seat furthest to the right, and, on my phone, searched around for other possible buses I could take.

         My tapping came to an abrupt halt when somebody collapsed into the seat on the other side of the bench. Instantly, my body was stricken. Swallowing hard, I didn't even want to avert my gaze to check to see if it was Ryu. From the corner of my eye I could already affirm it by the orange I saw. He was most likely taking the bus too.

           Shaking my head, I focused my attention onto my cell. The peace was soon obstructed when barks filled the air. I turned my head sideways to see a golden retriever come trotting down the sidewalk. The owner was nowhere to be found, which surprised me. Was it lost...?

           I expected to merely ignore it but it was to my shock to see the dog scamper up towards the bench I was sitting on. Startled, I watched carefully as it approached Ryu, staring up at him with its large, beady eyes.

         Ryu was caught off guard, more so when the dog's once frivolous expression shifted into one more hostile. Then, without warning, it began barking.

         "What the...?" Ryu asked, moving away as the dog attempted to shove his leg with its snout. It was almost as if it were trying to get him to move.

         After it began growling, the dog's barks became more incessant. Although he shifted his legs around a bit, Ryu didn't budge from his seat. "I'm not moving," he declared to the dog.

         The dog barked in response, as if not to back down.

         "Not. Moving."

         Another bark.