A Broken Soul

Chapter 5

Akira's POV

The next day, I decided to go a bit earlier to our hangout than was planned. We were supposed to meet at 1:00 PM but I decided to go there right after breakfast and pick something up for lunch on the way. I don't know why, but I guess I just wanted a break from the normal routine and just wanted some time to think by myself. You know I also love to write stories on this app called Wattpad. I feel like when I write, I just get lost in a new world and just forget all my problems. So I basically inhaled my breakfast, grabbed the wood, paint, chisel and my car keys and ran out the door. I drove to the hangout and went in. I was thinking about how we could make it as I set all the things down in the corner of the area. Suddenly I heard a voice behind me. "What are you doing here?" I could tell who it was without even turning around. "Well, I could ask you the same thing, Akshay. But I'm here because I'm waiting for my friends. This is where we meet." I told him. "I've never seen you here before and this is where I come to think, although I haven't come here in years." He said as if he was in a daze. But he snapped out of it as quick as he got in it. "Oh well, don't tell the others I told you this since it's supposed to be secret but now I sort of have to since you found this area first. Is it ok if we build our secret hangout here?" I ask nervously since if it was me then I would never give up a place like this to a random person from university. "Yeah, sure. But... on one condition." he said. I became very nervous. "What..." I asked hesitantly expecting something so awful that I would back out. "I'm allowed to become part of your gang too. With my friends. So it'll me you, Zara, Ishika, Sameera, me, Aarush, Abhimanyu and Vikram. That's my condition. Do you accept?" He said. I was very shocked. I couldn't decide this by myself, I have to discuss this with my squad. Also, why would Akshay Singh, one of the university's bad boys, want to be in MY squad?! Like, has he gone mad?! "Umm, I'll have to discuss this with them first before I tell you anything." I say. "Yeah, of course." he replied very politely. Is he actually ok?! Why is he being so nice to me? He was the one who's friends called me names and who I beat up!

I just needed to clear my mind so I decided to sit by the river, my feet hanging off the side and just observe the area while listening to the calming rush of the water. This was the first time I actually realized how beautiful this place really is . The trees were tall and provided the perfect amount of shade to cool of on a hot summer's day. The grass was lush green that contrasted very beautifully to the patches of dirt at the root of the trees. The small rocks by the tiny waterfall making patterns in the water as it runs down the stream. The flowers that have sprung up from the ground at the most random places just tying everything together. It really was beautiful. No wonder Akshay came here to think. I pulled out my phone and started reading 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'. I was re-reading the 'Harry Potter' series again! It's just soooooo good!!! "Ugh! Is that 'Harry Potter'?" Akshay said behind me. Apparently he was reading over my shoulder. "Yes, yes it is. Any problem?" I asked. No one can insult Harry Potter in front of me and live to tell the tale. No one. I think Akshay could tell that he was getting into trouble so he immediately said, "No, no problem..." I mentally laughed.

There was an awkward silence covering the area and I wanted to break it. "Soooo, when you came here before what did you used to think about? I mean I never took you as the calm, thinking type. You know, because of your cool, rude, 'I'm so popular' kind of behavior." I said trying to start conversation. His face fell. "Don't judge me on the chapter of my life you just walked in on." He said as if he was very pissed off. Which he probably was given his tone. "Woah, woah, woah, I wasn't judging you I was just observing you. I mean come on you did the same to me when I first got here. I still remember your gang called me scarface and then me and my friends beat you up. No hard feelings though, you got your punishment." I said trying to crack a joke and lighten the mood. He stayed silent for a long time. "Can I trust you?" he asked me. "Of course you can trust me! Whatever it is I won't tell anyone, I promise." I say truthfully. "I first found this place when I had sneaked out of the house when my parents were fighting for what seemed like the millionth time that week. At that time I was 8 years old. They never noticed I was gone. Not then, not ever. I started coming here everyday. Came in the afternoon after school and went home by nightfall. No one ever payed attention to me. I was never the smart kid in school so I got ignored there too. At some point I guess I just snapped. I couldn't take it anymore. So, I started to act very rude. I knew it was wrong in my mind but I wasn't listening to it. I was getting attention and I was happy about it. I didn't realize that I had built a reputation for myself. When I was in 10th grade, I wanted to change. I didn't want to be the mean kid anymore but no matter how much I tried people managed to call me names. If I acted kindly, then people would say that I was two-faced and if I acted rudely then people would say that I was mean. I didn't know what to do so I kept the charade going on. Somehow, Aarush, Abhimanyu and Vikram saw through my mask and we were best of friends ever since. Vikram was the one who got to me first though. The real me. He said that he knew something was up with me and that he would find out. He said that I should learn to show the world who I am and not care what people's opinions are. Vikram hasn't found out my secret until now. You're the only person who knows. Oh and I'm sorry for calling you scarhead, I had just gotten an earful from my parents again that morning and I was just looking for someone to get my frustration out on and I happened to find you. You must be wondering why I wanted to be a part of your friend circle. The reason is because you do show the world who you are and you don't care about their opinions and I need to learn that. You are an amazing person and I want to be your friend." Akshay confessed.

I couldn't believe my ears. I can't believe that he has been bottling up all that hate for more than half of his life!! I don't think he realized but he had tears running down his cheeks. I wiped them away, made him look at me and smiled. He just laughed. We just sat there in a comfortable silence after that, thinking about random things.