How to Kill a Man in Thirty Seconds

Chapter 16:Intent

I found Adrian in the backyard of our school, in the little corner beside the line of trees, crouched on the floor. I saw him from a distance and I halted when I did, watching him. He was on all fours, desperately arranging the torn pieces of card beside each other as if they were jigsaw pieces, in an attempt to fix it back into its original state.

"No. no. no. Please, no," I heard him murmuring under his breath in a distressed tone as his hands fumbled with the shreds until, realizing that the task was impossible- what with half of them missing- he cried out in frustration, slumping onto the floor. His head fell into his hands, and he stayed there, unmoving as if all the energy had been drained from him.

I felt as if I was doing something wrong. In fact, standing there, I felt like a complete peeping Tom, because I was sure that no one- least of all I- was meant to see this.

He didn't hear me as I approached him, my heart pounding and my hands clammy in my uncertainty. It was only when I sank to the floor a meter away from him that his head lifted and his gaze landed on me. I swallowed the lump that had formed in throat, nervously avoiding his gaze as I slumped against the wall, pulling my knees up to my chest.

Maybe this was a stupid move. Yes, it was a very stupid move, Charley.

Well, it was too late now.

He didn't say anything and I myself felt too nervous to return his unwavering gaze. I stared straight ahead, hoping he couldn't hear the thundering 'lub dup' of my heartbeat. I wanted to run. God, I wanted to run so bad. Finally, after what seemed like forever of awkward silence, I glanced at him.

He was still staring at me, his expression a mixture of bewilderment and despair.

There is nothing shameful about what I'm doing. This is just me repaying whatever little I owe him.

I reached into my pocket and retrieved the handkerchief I owned. I placed it between us, staring straight ahead as I avoided his gaze.

"Don't read too much into it," I muttered emotionlessly, feeling his exhausted gaze on me, "I really don't care, but..." I swallowed, "your nose. It's bleeding."

I glanced at him to see him blink twice, before his hand slowly lifted to touch his face. The sight of crimson on the tips of his fingers seemed to surprise him for he began dabbing at his face almost instantly. "Just use the handkerchief," I told him with a sigh, my face expressionless as I glanced away, and added, "It's just a piece of cloth. You won't owe me anything."

He stilled. With no reply, I saw him reach out to take it. When at last, he spoke, he sounded unsure, "Do you think he'll be okay?"

The question caught me off guard and my gaze flickered to him almost instantly to see him staring at me in despair. For the first time, I sensed worry, perhaps even guilt in Adrian's expression. "Probably," I finally replied, "He's beat up pretty bad but... Owen is Owen, you know. I've known him for a long time." I met his gaze, nodding more to myself than to him, "He'll survive."

Suddenly, the sound of a siren cut through the air. The police had arrived.

The effect it had on Adrian was almost instant. The air rushed out of him and he hugged his knees tighter to his chest as if that could somehow shield him from what was to come. I assumed Adrian was underage. Luckily, that meant he wouldn't be thrown behind bars but his parents would have to be ushered to the police station. Principle Harrison would probably have him expelled.

"What are you doing here, Charley?" the question was laced with bewilderment.

I opened and shut my mouth, dumbfounded. What was I doing here? I had no idea, really. After all he had said to me, did I really owe him anything? Then what was it? I swallowed. Was it pity?

"I don't know really," I finally replied, and he glanced up as if he had forgotten I was still here, "I haven't forgiven you. I don't know. Maybe I just pity you."

Adrian scoffed bitterly, "You pity me over the guy bleeding over there in the parking lot?"

"I think you do too."

My reply caught him by surprise, and he said nothing. His expression told me everything.

It was when I spotted two police officers approaching us in the distance that I quickly turned my gaze to Adrian, who was still staring at me.

"Adrian," I said calmly, turning towards him fully, "Why did you do it?"

His gaze flickered over to the scraps of card that littered the ground beside him, now caked in dirt and grime.

But before he could answer, one of the police officers grabbed him by the arm, tugging him to his feet. "You best come with us, son, before this gets any worse," He warned Adrian in an admonishing tone.

Adrian halted.

He didn't glance back when he spoke, "Sometimes, there is no good reason as to why people do the things they do," he told me in a low tone, voice laced in disappointment, "The sooner you learn that, the more hurt you'll save yourself from, Charley."

Without a backwards glance, Adrian allowed the officer to lead him away.