Alienated [✔] » k.th

32.

Joey

   V trusts me. Honestly, that's a lot to take in.

Time was running out and I had to do something to rescue my sister and her kids from the clutches of V's brothers.

I looked up when I heard a knock on the door. I looked through the peephole and then opened the door.

   "Hey Ricardo." I said as he greeted me with a hug.

   "Hi Joey. I'm glad you're safe."

   "Why are you here? The two of you aren't together anymore," V fussed when he appeared by my side.

   "It's nice to see you too, V." He replied. "I actually came by because... Someone wanted to see you." He held up a pet carrier and inside were Sunny and Pincher.

V's eyes widened and he squealed with joy. He took the carrier from him and went to the bed to take them out of their cage.

   "So... How's it going?"

   "I'll be fine." He answered with sort of a shrug. "What about you?"

   "I'm okay. So I'm guessing they're showing no signs of leaving."

   "No. Looks like they'll be there for a few more days. Is V doing well with all of this going on?"

   "He's being himself."

   "I guess that's good." He chuckled. "Well I have to go. I don't want to miss my flight."

   "Flight?"

   "Yeah, I'm leaving." He scratched the nape of his neck.

   "South Africa?"

   He nods. "Alright. Be safe." I hugged him, because honestly, I thought this would be the last time I'd ever see him. When he tried to pull away, I wouldn't let him go.

   "Thank you. For everything."

   "You're welcome," he replied and kissed my cheek. We took one last look at each other before he walked away and I closed the door.

   "Why did he yiss you? I thought you said that the two of you weren't together anymore."

I turned around to face the curious alien.

   "It's called a kiss, and he does that to close friends."

   "So, you're both just friends now?"

   "Yeah."

   "But, I thought I was your friend!" He crossed his arms and frowned, seeming highly offended.

   "I can have more than one friend." I explained. "Besides, I won't be seeing him for a while anyway."

   "Because he's going away to South Africa."

   "How'd you know?"

   "I have heightened senses. Plus, this room isn't that big."

I sat down on the bed, across from V.

   "Do you ever think that your brothers will give up on trying to find you?"

   "Sometimes I hope that they will. But, I know that they won't."

   "So, we could be doing this forever."

   "Doing what forever?"

   "Running. Hiding. I can't live like this. I can't live my life knowing that one day you could be taken away from me. Or that one day you'll get angry enough to destroy the whole damn city."

   "We shouldn't have met." He mumbled, but I still heard him.

   "What?"

   "We shouldn't have met. Then you wouldn't have met me. I wouldn't be so much trouble for you. You could just live a normal life and I wouldn't--"

   "You wouldn't what?"

He hung his head. What was he going to say that made his whole demeanor change?

   "Nothing." He shook his head and continued to play with his pets. 

I sighed. This conversation wasn't worth continuing.

   "I'm going to order some chinese takeout. Do you want some?"

   "Yes. Thank you," he said not looking up from Pincher as he played with him in his lap.

I already made up in my mind what had to be done. I just wish that it didn't have to come to this.