A Break Apart

CHAPTER 5. Pest

He insisted on walking me home after my workout session and I couldn't tell him off. He was a lot more stubborn than I had been to Mum in my twenty-two years of existence. So far the only person I couldn't win an argument with.

We crossed the highway that didn't require a neck turn from side to side, escaping the merciless sun into the shades of our beautiful street. The trees bowed above our heads as we graced the tarred road like royals, and I welcomed the fresh oxygen their leaves swept into my nostrils.

I mentally thanked the forces of nature that sealed William's lips so I could enjoy the serenity. I guess he was also taking in the healing atmosphere, either that, or his strategy to sneak into my house unnoticed.

"Okay." I stopped, and he did, too. "You can go back now. I'm almost at my place."

"I'm not going anywhere. I want to know where you live," he said, and I felt like a fish out of water from his invasion of my space. "And you should be thankful I'm escorting you home."

"I never asked you to, and I'm not having you in my house!" I yelled.

"But why not?" He faked a sad face.

"Dude! I barely even know you," I said, gesticulating like a crazy person, "and may I know why you desperately want to know where I stay?"

"Hey, chill. I just want to be friends with you, that's all"-for a moment, he looked sorry-"and I'm pretty sure my call is the first you've received this year," he suppressed a laugh. "Let me help your social life."

I was so wrong to think that he could feel an ounce of remorse over the stress he had caused me in the short period of knowing him. Same jerk as always.

I sighed in frustration, palming my forehead. "I really hate you."

"We both know you mean the opposite."

"You wish," I hissed and continued walking again, forcefully throwing my feet and swinging my arms like a paddle trying to speed a boat on a stilled lake, and he followed me like a pet dog.

"So, you're new here?" He caught up with me, but I continued my sprint-walk in the needed silence.

"C'mon... don't be like that."

I made an abrupt turn to my side and he stopped. "Don't you have friends?" The six billion, nine hundred ninety-nine million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine human population had definitely rejected him, hence his desperate need for my attention. He was such a pest, and wouldn't let me inhale the oxygen that was supposed to be free.

"Oh, lots of friends actually. But I know you don't, and that's why I'm offering my friendship to you for free." He stressed the last word, sucking in my angry stare in his deep, brown eyes, the corner of his thin lips perking up. But only a blockhead would pay for the torture he called a friendship, and whoever said free stuff can't be bad?

"Do you ever leave a straight answer like a normal person?" I asked.

"Are you saying I'm not normal?"

"Exactly, you're abnormal," I said with a mean laugh to get on his nerves, giving him a dose of his own bitter medicine.

He chuckled. "We're playing words and opposites now?"

His comeback shut me up and brought to my memory that clowns don't get provoked, and I couldn't do his job better because he was an awarded clown. So I sped up, ignoring his annoying comments the rest of the walk. Although my silence did nothing to clip his parrot beak, a response would have been even more exhausting, so poor me had to endure his voice that should sound sexy on a normal day if he wasn't an annoying freaking jerk!

"And we're here." I backed my house from a short distance. "Happy now? And I'm not letting you in." I made my last statement crystal clear with the tone of a lion that had just sighted an intruder.

"Wow," he sighed as he put his hands akimbo, "how nice of you to finally speak to me."

I threw him a deadly stare.

"Fine..." he chuckled, lifting his hands midair and drifting backwards with a smirk on his face. After creating a little space inbetween us, he yelled, "Mission accomplished!" and then he turned around and started jogging to wherever.

The sigh I let out seemed endless as I pivoted towards the front door. I was finally free from the jerk. But he had my number, and now he knew where I lived. I groaned from the thought rottening my brain.

I removed my tracksuit the moment I entered my room and made it to the bathroom to wash off the gym sweat that had glued to my skin. But for once I had a productive day which was satisfying. Scratch William Jerk out of it.

After showering, I got comfortable in my floral pyjama trouser and loose white vest. I knew my body carried a load of stress when I craved for sleep than dinner as the foodie that I am. But I couldn't guarantee not waking up in the middle of the night to raid the fridge like a hungry rat.

I was about heading to bed when I heard my door open. Stiffly, I turned around to the only face I expected to see.

"You got back late again." Her voice begged for sleep.

Brain, action!

"Uh..."

"Goodnight, dear." She locked my door.

I eased the breath I had held for a few frightening seconds, and mentally scolded my brain for letting me down. I then climbed my bed and pulled the thick, fluffy quilt over my body, hoping Mum doesn't recall this event and ask questions the next day.

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