Can't Help Falling in Love with the Opposite

Twelfth Encounter

I was able to sneak back in my room without anyone noticing. The letter I left in the study table for Baba Nancy is already gone. She must've kept it or threw it before anyone else can see it.

As I wash my face to remove my make up, tears won't stop from falling. I am not crying because Chad did not keep his promise. I am crying because the way he earns money is through hurting himself. I feel like my heart is shattered to pieces when I saw him being beaten by the huge guy.

I change my shirt and jeans to fresh clothes and lay down on my bed. My phone buzzed and I check who it came from.

From: Chris

Hope you're doing fine. I know you are still in shock of what you saw.

I ignored the message and stare at my ceiling full of glow in the dark stars. Why is Chad so desperate in earning money? Not long after Chris' text, my phone buzzed again. This time it is an incoming call and it's from Chad. I immediately sat up but I just stared at my phone until the ring vanished.

What am I going to say? Should I be mad? Of course you have to be mad! But he is hurt. Argh! This is frustrating.

My phone rang again and this time I answer it with my trembling hands.

"Emily..." His soft voice lingers on my ears. "I'm sorry..."

I bite my lower lip to prevent myself from crying. "Where are you?"

"I can't face you right now."

"Where are you, Chad?"

He did not answer. Only his breathing can be heard.

"I want to see you," I whisper and a tear escaped from my eyes. The other line remained silent but I know that he is still listening.

I decided to go to the balcony of my room to get some fresh air. I feel like I can't breathe from the situation right now. As I am about to open the door to my balcony, I saw a shadow of a person. I knew it was him.

"I can't face you." I heard him say in a hush tone of voice.

"Why?" I open the door to my balcony. His head turned to me as I did. "Why can't you face me?"

His eyes stared at me deeply. The hood of his jacket is draped over his head, phone still on his ears. "I can't face you like this."

I ended the line and walked closer to him. My heart crushed as I see his wounded face. Fresh bruises and blood still visible on his face. My hands went up to cup his cheeks carefully. His eyes closed to my touch.

"You promised me," I whisper.

"I needed the money," he responds as he opens his eyes.

"For what?"

"For us," he holds my hand and brought it to his lips. "For our future."

"This is not the way, Chad."

"I can't think of any other way. I needed the money fast. I want us to be together."

"I want us to be together, too. But your way is not right. I don't want to see you hurt, Chad. I already told you that."

"I want to be with you," his voice hoarse like he wants to cry. "And if you'll be with me I need to give you everything you want."

I step closer to him and face his head directly at me. "You're all I want. I don't want anything from this world, Chad." I said, giving emphasis in every word.

His eyes stares intently at me. Digging through my soul and it captivates me. "I love you..." He whispered and I smile.

"I know..." I tiptoe and kiss his lips. He holds the back of my head and deepens the kiss. Our tongues fight for dominance and I am breathless.

He leans his forehead on mine. His breathing fast and his mouth ajar. "Please, Chad. Let this fight be the last." I literally begged him.

"I promise..."

I distanced myself a little from him to look directly into his eyes. "I hope you mean it this time."

He smiles that boyish smile and for the nth time my heart raced so fast. "I do. I promise."

I placed my hands on his chest and bury myself in his warmth. He wraps his arms around me, kissing my head as he did.

••••

I don't know if I'm just paranoid or what but I keep on noticing the stares and whispers of every students. I feel like their eyes are all on me. Every time I look at some students, they immediately look at other direction.

"Hey, Em." Katie greeted me as she saw me placing my things in my lockers.

"I feel weird. I feel like they are all watching my every actions," I said as I look at another student who happen to avoid my eye contact, too.

"Don't you still get used to it? They do that everyday. They look up to you, Em," Katie said like she's reminding me of my status here at school. The perfect student who always gets excellent grades. Well, I am aware of that. This time, their stares are different.

"Don't just mind them, Em," she said when she noticed I am still looking around, still feeling uneasy. "Let's go. Class is about to start."

"Hey, Grey! Want to hang out with me later?" A guy, no let me rephrase that, a maniac like guy said as we are about to leave our lockers. He and his friends laugh after.

"What's your problem?!" Katie defends me like she always does.

"That's enough Katie. Let's go." I pull her away from the rude guys.

"Come on, Grey. Hang out with us like how you hang out at an illegal fight."

That made me stop from walking. How did they know about that?

"What's your deal? My friend will never hang out with someone like you! And she will never be in a place like an illegal fight!" Katie shouted which starts to draw attention from the other students.

"Oh yeah? Then how can you explain this?" The guy hand out his phone with a picture -- my picture -- on the screen. It is me being dragged out of the place. Katie looks at me suspiciously.

I looked at the guy. No, actually I was glaring at him. "Where did you get that?"

"Is that the real question, Grey? Or should the question be What is a student like you, who everyone looks up to, doing in a place like that?" The guy smirks.

Ms Emily Grey, please proceed to the Guidance Office. The intercom echoed in the school twice.

"Uh-oh, someone's in trouble." The guy smirks more.

I look at Katie and she gives me a what-is-happening look. I know what's gonna happen and I don't like the sound of it.