Absent

Chapter 17: Not-so-last days

Alex's POV

"How's your first relationship going?"

"You can ask to where it is going."

"Where is it going?"

"To hell."

I sigh frustrated and swear under my breath. Galileo sits beside me and types on his phone. I rub my face to try and calm my anger, but it's visibly growing. I can't stand being near Heather, but at the same time, I hate her absence and hate the emptiness that exists inside me because of her. "Is there a way to decode women? How am I supposed to know if I'm doing something wrong?" I ask.

"Decode... Sorry mate, that's not in their vocabulary. You either guess right or you face the consequences like a man. They might not even like if you accept defeat." Galileo answers simply, sighing as well.

"How's everything between you and Lindsey?"

"Well... It could be better, I guess. She's been... numb. But the nurse says she always asks for me." He answers and glances around us. "I was never a one-night guy like you."

"Don't even mention that again." I reply immediately, shifting uncomfortably.

"I can't believe it. You used to loathe the girl that placed your dad on jail. And now you're asking for advice to how to repair your relationship."

"And you didn't even know that she was the sister of your girlfriend." I slap back. He glares at me, but dismisses it. "I never hated her. My dad deserves to be where he is."

"If you say so."

We spend the rest of lunch in the cafeteria, and I watch everyone's motion absently. My transplant is in a few days, and I don't know how to prepare myself for it. Anyway, who could possible miss me? Richard is my cousin, but he has the bakery shop to consume his time. And Heather's... Oh, I don't know anything about her. The bell rings distantly, but it's enough to get me to my feet. I'm walking down a corridor with my exam on my mind, when someone holds me back. I stare at her, puzzled with a faint recognition of her face.

"Alex. Have you forgotten about me? Your dearest, dearest Gissy?" She jokes, with an air of grace and beauty, mesmerized by the innocence that doesn't quite fit her seductive voice. I free myself from her grip, clearly taken off my guard. Dearest, dearest Gissy... Oh, shit.

"Yeah, I remember you." How could I not. Gissy, the bitch that I loved in my childhood, who laughed at my face when I confessed in a letter. It started with Dearest, dearest Gissy. If I'm out of my mind for loving you, then insanity is meant for me, as much as you were created to allow my eyes to be enchanted day-by-day with the beloved pleasure of contemplating you. I frown and push that section of my life away, in some corner where I'll never let myself stumble into again. "What do you want?" I ask coldly, and she notices the ice in my words. She smiles and walks closer.

"A night." She whispers, leaning to reach my ear, so that no one else can hear. I gulp but reject her without hesitation. I'm over that phase of me as well. I shake my head, disapprovingly. Before I tell her to go away, Heather interrupts and hits Gissele on the face. She grins victoriously.

"Let's go." I tell her, before driving Heather away with me somewhere she can be safe. The second I've stepped into the bakery I can't contain my fury any longer. "You just got suspended, Heather! What do you want? To get expulsed?"

"Well, why were you talking to her?"

"That's none of your business."

"It is! I'm your girlfriend."

"Oh really? I thought we broke up for how you acted. Are you miserable being with me? Then say it and we're done."

"Don't turn this against me, Alex. Don't you dare."