Love Pretends -Summers Brothers

CHAPTER 8 NO EXPECTATION, NO HURT

Xiennah's POV

In spite of the students' being judgmental and their usual spread of gossips about me, I never thought going to school would be exciting. My life was boring shit. I went to school on the daily basis, work part time every night, and another job for the weekends. I have to work hard for my mother and myself. My mother has aids and she has her daily medication. My abusive step father claimed he loved her but he didn't even find a decent job to support her. He's a drug pusher and he leads a group of gangster in our place. We're just lucky enough he never taken drugs. But still he had lots of vices so no wonder why he couldn't support us financially. I'll not be surprised if he'll get ill someday with alcohol poisoning. He drank alcohol as if he's just drinking water. Worst, I got a step sister. We're not related by blood. She's two years younger than me. She's the result of my step father's affair with his mistress. She stayed with us since her mother died. And she's definitely my step father's daughter. They always both made my life a living catastrophe.

As I was saying, my life a big shit until he came. He gave me reasons to smile and be happy in spite my cruel situation. He was always there for me. He told me he was lucky to have me but I think otherwise. I'm far luckier to have him. We're best friends, relying on each other. It's been a month now since our first meeting but our friendship stayed and definitely becoming stronger. Because of this, my fear of losing him escalated to the point that I decided not to tell him my little secret. Even until now, I still felt the same way. I still like him and it never faded a bit.

I'm not the usual early bird. But since meeting him, I always look forward in going to school to the point that I'm usually too early. Our professor arrived and it was also almost time to start our first period class but he hasn't yet here. He's usually on time if not earlier. I wonder if he was alright. Our teacher started discussion so I paid attention and took down notes. Yes I'm a bitch and I'm not fond of school but I always forced myself to study because I also have a dream. I wanted to become a writer. I wanted so many things in life, simple things but unfortunately impossible for me to have. I dreamed to be in a different situation with my loving family and a circle of friends would be nice. I dreamed to be a different person, someone that people could easily accept and easily get along with. But I'm not, so instead I wanted to write all of those things because an author can do anything she wanted to since there's no such thing as "too impossible" for a mind of a writer. At least a rebellious bitch like me in an imperfect reality can dream to be someone who's actually the opposite me, to be a person capable to trust and care for others, hope for a positive future and believe that love is actually real; a character me that is only be existent in a pad of paper. I wanted to write all the things I couldn't say and all the emotions I always concealed, all my heartaches and pains. In writing I could pretend everything will be fine or I could even show the real me, all pretends were set aside since no one will care, no one will judge me there. I really wanted to become a writer and I hope I'll be.

I'm still deep in thought when I heard Chole spoke suddenly. He was late but he didn't even look worried. He murmured his greetings to our teacher then sat beside me. Our professor didn't do a thing but just frown which was very unusual since he hated it when his students were late. I stared at Chole who just smiled back at me as if reading what I'm thinking. "Connections..." He smirked and so I just rolled my eyes. "You're such a spoiled brat," I whispered back at him. "No I'm not." He pouted and I find it cute so I pinched his cheeks. He frowned and tried to move his face away from me. We're teasing each other when my stomach suddenly made a sound. He laughed. I remembered I haven't eaten any dinner last night and I just eat a biscuit this early morning. Chole suddenly raised his arm. "What is it, Mr. Summers?" Our teacher asked. "Sir, I haven't eaten anything this morning and I easily get sick when hungry. It's so sad I need to skip your class but it's a necessity, I hope you don't mind sir," he said crossing his arms together. Our professor frowned and obviously didn't like Chole's bratty attitude but didn't say a thing. "Okay, you can go." Chole stand but then he grabbed my hand making me to stand too. I was confused. "And by the way sir, I couldn't eat without my best friend so thank you for your utmost consideration," he said smirking. We left before our teacher could even say a word.

"You just sit there, I'll order our food," he said then left. He returned with a tray filled with all my favourite foods. I just stared at it. "Well, what are we waiting for? Shall we eat?" he said smiling. "I'll get sad if you're shy. It only means you're still not comfortable around me given the fact that we're already best friends." He said as if reading my mind. I smiled and started eating. I was surprised when he suddenly took a picture of me. He was laughing. "Xiennah you look like you haven't eaten for a year! Your mouth was too full." "Give me that!" I nagged. "No way! This is epic! But no worries, you still look cute here," he said but added "With a cheek this big, anyone will find your picture cute." "Is that praise or an insult?" I said crossing my arms. "It depends," he said trying so hard to be serious but failing miserably with the twitching of his lips. "Whatever!" I said as I bite another fried chicken leg. "Anyways, Xiennah are you available this weekend?" He asked. "Remember this nearby cafe just outside our school? I'll start working there this Saturday," I said. I noticed he looked disappointed so I added, "But I can tell the owner that I'll start this Sunday." His face brightened up. "Glad to know that. I wanted you to come with me. I wanted to visit someone," he said smiling. "I wanted to introduce you since you're special to me", he said. "I-I'm s-special?" I asked not sure if I heard him right. "Yes you are. You're the only girl here whom I can trust my life with and the only girl I love," he said annoyed. "You love me?" I asked unbelievably. He frowned obviously confused. "Of course, I love you. You're my best friend remember? I don't have any family here, they're all in State. Well, except this someone you'll about to meet this weekend. So, literally you're the only one I trust here. And I truly love you, in fact I think not as a friend anymore..." He said but more to himself. "Not as a friend, you say," I repeated. I don't want to assume things because I always end up hurting myself. "I think I love you not as a friend, but more of a sister now." He smiled. I kept quiet for awhile. "Are you alright?" He asked worried. I smiled at him. "I'm always right when I say I shouldn't ever dare assume things, nor jumped to conclusion," I said sadly. "What do you mean?" He asked frowning. Maybe he was confused as how my statement became related to what we we're talking about. "Nothing, I'm just saying," I said dismissing the topic.