His Rebound

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"I'll miss you so so so much." Chloe said embracing me so hard that I was literally making my lungs go out of oxygen.

"You are choking her." Hayden complained while trying to remove Chloe's arm from my shoulder.

"I can't even imagine that you are leaving me." Chloe sobbed resting her head on my shoulder.

"She isn't going forever she'll be back soon, please leave the girl alone." Hayden pleaded and finally the grip of her strong arms loosened a bit making the air to reach the lungs again. We were at the airport, the announcement of my flight's boarding has already been made, and I was saying my final goodbyes to Chloe and Hayden but Chloe made this whole situation a bit emotional and I started crying too with her.

"You have to call me every day, okay?" she told in an authoritative tone and I nodded. As she left me, I reached for Hayden who was right beside Chloe.

"So...finally...it's time." He said in an awkward tone scratching his neck.

"I guess it is." I smiled genuinely.

"I bought this gift for you, umm... for your birthday." He added and gave me a box wrapped in my favourite colour red and I took it happily but as I was about to open it he stopped.

"Nooo...don't open it now. Open it on your birthday a-and if you don't like it then please throw it somewhere away and forget it happened...okay?" he said nervously making me giggle.

"Why would I do that? You are the only person who bought me the gift so whatever it is I know I am definitely going to love it." I said looking at Chloe who didn't buy me anything. She scrunched her face, held her ears, and mouthed sorry and I chuckled.

Hayden was still standing there and I didn't know what to do. So I hugged him reaching up on my toes, to erase his nervousness and make this moment a bit light. He hugged me back and let me swing on his neck.

"I am going to miss you a lot." he said softly in my ear and I smiled genuinely.

"I'll miss you too." I said and we broke the hug to look at Chloe and she winked playfully.

"I'll text you when I'll reach okay?" I ignored her as the second boarding announcement was made.

"I got to go....bye." I said and waving the final goodbye, I left to board the plane but Hayden stopped me once again.

"Yes..." I said.

"I...um...When will come?" he asked hesitantly.

"I really don't know Hayden." I said sadly.

"Umm...I may be going to Sydney to meet Mom..." He said scratching his neck. His parents moved to Sydney a long back and he hadn't even met them once. He really doesn't like to be around them as they hardly give him their time.

"That's so good." I chimed.

"Yeah..."

"What's with you all...why you all are leaving me here alone?" Chloe almost cried.

"We are not leaving you alone...we will be back sooner than you can think." I added trying to explain.

"Now you go..I'll explain her everything later." Hayden told me as much as it pains me seeing Chloe hurt, but I have to go.

Finally, after 16 long years, I am going home and every passing second was just making me more excited!!!

The journey was a long one, 7 hours to be exact but those 7 hours seemed to be like an eternity because I have to admit that I am not a good traveller. I was feeling nauseous the entire ride back home, and there was a time I had to sit in the washroom for throwing my guts out. By the end of my flight, I was pretty exhausted but the excitement to meet my family kept me high and as soon my flight landed I gathered my luggage and rushed out as I know Ken, my brother must be waiting for me. I just couldn't wait to see and embrace the crap out of him anymore.