In My Hands, Know Suffering

12: Cheap Kisses

Weeks have gone by quickly and with Abrielle's prying ears, she somewhat held Castellone's death sentences at bay. Not like he wanted to actually murder the first stranger who talked to them, but the longer she was with him the more she noticed that Castellone had a bad habit of cursing people to die whenever his temper was corrupted. She could never understand what brought about that drive of wanting people to die nor could she understand how it happened according to his will.

Her guesses on the matter were stagnant. She knew the only person who had the ability to sense someone gifted was still within the institution. She felt a prick at the mere thought of letting that person loose. How she wished she was never put to test. How she wished she was a different person. How she wished everything rolled differently. And the unadorned kisses...

She lost count of the number of times she had to do something she really didn't want to. They didn't really do it in places where everyone's eyes can see, otherwise people would get the wrong idea about them. She'd immediately do it once they were alone. Quick and expressionless. There was no point in adding anything to that.

Kisses were meant to be given to the heart they deemed worthy. Not give it casually to someone she didn't even felt a tad of heartbeat to. Of all people, she had to sacrifice her virgin lips on that kind of person. She just hoped it was all worth the effort of stopping him.

She didn't know when Castellone would ever stop or how he gathered such torrential urge on his temper that cursed them. She found it unusual. That gave her all the reasons not to leave just to make the others safe despite her other responsibility. They both tied her neck with an unforgiving leash. Fate had bounded them together. But where Castellone was adored by many despite his apathetic character, she didn't quite fit in with the people around. That was the downside of things.

On the other hand, Castellone had grown accustomed to having her tag along. Classes, lunch breaks, library and research or homework sessions, even the casual times in between. She was always there.

Some students asked him once whether she was his servant since they knew she wasn't really his girl. He only gave them a vague answer and left them guessing what their relationship really was.

He didn't mind her tagging along as long as she didn't really pose as a burden in the work they had to do academically. On certain days, they'd even help each other out. But most of the time, they were silent and wouldn't so much let each other hear their breathing.

Whenever she kissed him, those were the times he really grew stiff. Something ached inside him that he couldn't point out. He just wished she'd stop doing those so it won't bother him any longer. He'd frown right after the contact.

He was preparing to leave the dorm one day, and Genon had sneaked in his room just to check on him. He was packing his books drowsily that time and hadn't sorted which books he actually needed for the next class that morning.

"Hey, Llone." Genon said while rummaging around the small fridge for a can of Pepsi.

"What?" Castellone said without minding his friend and placed a book in his bag.

"Do you remember Lerra from high school?"

"Ugh...I don't remember shit ever since we graduated and I don't really care?" The sarcasm in Castellone's voice only urged Genon to talk.

"She wanted me to tell you something." Genon said before popping the can's mouth and taking a sip.

"That is?"

"'I like you.'" Genon said.

Castellone glanced at him. He didn't reply to that for a moment while narrowing his gaze on his friend. What was with that comment? For some reason, he was grossed out especially because the one involved didn't really said it to his face.