Until You Give In

Chapter 7.1 The Truth Untold

Pete's POV

Sitting on my bed in this dim room while listening to the muted silent of the buzzling city just outside this wall, made me feel somehow nostalgic. Sighing I looked at my watch waiting for the second hand of time to strike midnight. Just waiting like this makes me missed my friend Daili more. Eversince we had attended separate university this nagging feeling of suffocation constantly clinged unto me, even after already making friends at my current school, they still would never compare to the comforting warmth which Daili had given me this passed years.

I was about to stand up when my phone started to vibrate notifying me that a text message was sent, deliberating if I should read it or not but in the end, I swipe the screen and gently press the inbox icon.
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AE: Ai Pete are you still awake?

ME:Yes I am, is something the matter Ae...?

AE:Just wanna check if you're okay

AE: Did I disturb you?

AE: Ai Pete...

ME: I'm okay Ae... Thanks for your concern

ME:No you did not

AE:What are you doing right now?

AE:Why are you still awake?

ME:I'm waiting for someone... A call

AE:Who?!
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I was about to type a message when an incoming call flashed on my phone screen with the name-Daili...

With a smile tugging on my lips I immediately answered it.

"Daili...", I muttered.

"You sound like you really miss me my Khuno...", the sultry voice of a young lady ring unto my ears. Gently shaking my head as if that person on the other line could see me, but regardless I couldn't help it.

"You know that I do young mistress Daili...", I teased he back, it was our habit from childhood till now to call each other like this, it was like our little endearment of one another.

"Then say it like you mean it my Khuno", she leisurely hummed.

"I miss you...",I said full of sincerity, I clutched my chest as it suddenly felt painful,Daili sensing something was amiss, continued to talk.

"Khuno, did you fall asleep on me...?",

"Haha did I, of course not this was the only time that we could talk like before", I told her.

"Khuno...", again she said my name, sighing I could only smile dryly.

"I could never hide anything from you...", I shrugged. Isn't it Daili.

She had only answered me with a soft giggling sound.

"I know you,just like the back of my hand Khuno", she boasted praising herself. I chuckled, she really didn't change at all. Always saying that she knows me.

I wished that were true...

Only if its true...

And yet... does she...

I feel so sad...

"Tell me whats bothering my favorite bestfriend from the whole wide wide world", Listening to her voice makes me want to see her in person.

Swallowing hard, I clenched my hand holding the phone,I turned my gaze towards the open curtain near the veranda, and there I end up looking at the moon currently covered my misty clouds.

"I met Cha'Aim..." suddenly I heard a gasped on the other line. Now I'm thinking if its a good idea telling her this. Knowing her she always been like a protective mother to me.

"Did she do anything to you?", Honestly she sounded much more than my Mom would at the moment.

"No she didn't..."

"Don't cover up for that that arrrghhh that green tea bitch!", she cursed unexpectedly.

"Daili!?", I exclaimed, shocked.

"Sorry Khuno but I'm not sorry for calling her that", Daili was slowly raises her voice

"I know but Daili...", I protested softly.

"But what Khuno...", Daili asked.

"I guess she had changed...", I softly said.

The SHE of that time...

When I looked at her...

That HER was no more...

"A snake can change its skin... but not itself...in the end Its still a snake Khuno..." I can still feel the anger and hurt coming from Daili's voice. It was understandable After all... Daili...

She was your friend...

"I know but what happened in the past...even if we want to change it theres nothing that we could do about it...", I sighed explaining to her.

After saying this, the silence was the only thing that surrounds the both of us, this subject was really a sensitive one for Daili and I.

"Khuno you are so kind...so kind that it scares me...", the last two words came like a whisper and yet I still heard it.

Flinching, flashes of that rainy night clouded my mind. I tried to regulate my heart hoping Daili wouldn't noticed it, fearing she'll worry about me more.

I could only wryly smile.

Don't say that Daili I'm not that kind...

I'm not...

"The truth was I kept on thinking...what if I...", I trailed of thinking of that incident.

"It was not your fault Khuno it never was... Its was all her... All her...if she didn't aiiish", She said trying to console me.

Daili the truth was...

I admire Cha Aim...

She was indeed arogant but she...

She was not a coward...

Not like...

Not like me...

"But... yet still... I... I should have known...", my heart aches for her.

"Khuno...just stay away from her okay...", She said

"But...", I protested, it was easier said than done.

"No buts...I don't want you gettimg hurt again", my dearest friend said in finality.

"Okay  Daili...don't worry about me", thus I could only agree to it. Hearing someone calling her on the background, signals the end of our conversation.

"Then Khuno lets talk again okay... My next class will start soon...so happy talking to you", she said enthusiastically making me warm inside.

"Okay take care of yourself Daili..",

"You too... See you soon Khuno" and with this the line was cut off.

Just hearing her voice and talking to her like this makes me happy. Sighing I grabbed a pillow and tightly hugged it. When suddenly I remembered something I immediately check my phone and saw that Ae had been waiting for my reply almost an hour ago. My eyes slightly widen when I saw the number of text messages he had sent me.

They were... Not one...

Not two...

But...

50 unread messages...!

Really this kid...