Blue Flower

Chapter 57

-Chester-

My phone blinked thrice paired with a flat, redundant beep. I grabbed it from the bedside table and read the message. Michael wanted to meet up with me for some coffee. I sat up and leaned on the headboard. I don’t know if I should go because he’d be asking me about Naomi, which turned out to be so bad.

After she was picked up by her brother and I got beaten up, I weakly stood up and walked back to our apartment. I didn’t go to work the next day to get some rest and when I did, I gave Mr. Cartwright my resignation letter. He understood my reason and gave me my separation fee. I used that money to come back to Chicago.

Neither my mother nor sister welcomed me when I arrived. They just looked at me as if I came from school. But after a few days, we got along easily again.

I tried to contact Naomi but her phone just kept on ringing. It’s been like that for days, and I’m getting tired of it. When I tried to call her an hour ago, the service operator said she was out of reach.

Where did she go?

Mom opened the door of my room and handed me a piece of paper.

“Do you mind buying that for me? I’m going to use them tonight.” she said as I rolled the paper. As usual they were baking ingredients. It’s quite a long list, and I felt it’s the right excuse to see Michael.

“Sure.” I stood up and prepared myself.

“Take care.” Mom said. I turned and smiled at her. I didn’t expect her to say that despite the rift we had. I left my room and headed for the grocery.

While paying the stuffs I bought, Michael called me up.

“Where are you?” he irritatingly asked from the other end.

“I’m still at the store. Can you please wait for me?” I answered while handing the money to the cashier.

I heard him sigh. “Okay.” With that said, he hung up.

I rushed to the usual coffee shop Michael talked about, the one when I was soaked in the rain. I parked my bike near the doorway and headed inside.

Michael sat at the table nearest to the counter. With him was another guy whose back view I couldn’t recognize. His face lit up at the sight of me and pulled the vacant chair reserved for me.

“I thought you’re not coming.” he said.

“Yeah, I’m sorry for being late. I bought baking ingredients for Mom.”

“So, how’s it being my boyfriend?”

“Andrew?”

He grinned. “Hi, Chester! Do you think you can get away with that?” he said playfully.

I remember the story I made up to Clarisse and Nick. Naomi must have told him about that. I laughed and patted his shoulder.

“I’m sorry. I just can’t think of anybody else.” I gingerly answered.

“Do you know that she’s grounded?” Michael interrupted.

“Really?” I said. I saw Andrew stand up to go to the counter. When he came back, he gave me a cup of Frappuccino that he ordered. 

“Thanks.” I mouthed at him.

“It’s been five days. Noah’s getting cruel at her sister.” Michael sipped his coffee after saying that while I locked my hands around the cup, letting the warmth of it burn my skin.

“That’s why I can’t contact her...”

“None of us could. She couldn’t go out of her room. Even talking to anyone is forbidden. She’s suffering a lot.” Andrew added.

“Her brother hates me.”

We fixed our gazes at him. Was he connected to Noah?

“Why?” I asked.

“He had a best friend, and that guy confessed his feelings for him. The problem is he hates gays, and his girlfriend broke up with him.”

“Then?”

“I don’t know if I could say this, but that guy is me.”

Andrew almost choked up on his coffee while I tried to keep my balance with the cup. It was pretty unbelievable for a guy like him. He told me this story before, but I never thought that the guy he once loved was Noah. That’s why I never saw them together. Same forces repel, eh?

“That was epic.” I said.

He smiled. “Indeed.”

“Now here’s what you do. Prove to Noah that you’re sincere with Naomi. Do everything you can. Engage in a man to man talk to him if necessary.” Michael suggested.

“Man up, Chester. You’re the strongest person I ever met.” Andrew said.

I was touched by that. I smiled at them when an idea popped in my mind.

We parted ways at six in the evening. Mom gave me a beep telling me to go home. I hurriedly pedaled my way back to the house. She must be ranting heavily about my delay.

I parked the bike near the gate when Robert stood up from sitting on a brick. I balled my hand tightly into a fist, reminiscing all that he did to me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked with anger mashed up in every word.

“Chester, I’m sorry for everything. Look, I know I’ve been so selfish and mean to you but I’m willing to pay for it. Just tell me what I have to do.”

“You don’t have to do anything. It doesn’t matter anything to me now. If you get out of my life, that’s it.”

He reached out to me and attempted to touch my shoulder. I jerked away before he could land his hand.

“One thing.” I said then punched him on the face. I hope it would make up for all the hardships he caused me.

“Now get out of here before I could kill you.” Those were my parting words and went inside, leaving him wiping the blood on his swollen lips.