To Love You Again | c.v

05

05 - NINA

"Why are you wearing sunglasses inside?" Joel asked, chuckling at the sight in front of him.

"Don't you do the same?" Nina responded with a low murmur, her voice coming out muffled.

"Well yeah but you never do. Are you sick?"

"No, do I look sick?"

"Kinda? You never liked wearing sunglasses and now you're wearing them inside?"

She wanted to conceal and suppress the thoughts she had running through her mind but the concerned eyes staring at her broke that willpower.

"You're right," she squeaked softly despite her quivering lips. "I hate them."

Nina's tears was a sight Joel quickly realized he dispised seeing. Nina didn't deserve all the pain she was feeling, especially with it being about a boy who she gave her all to.

"Nina," he pleaded softly. "Please tell me what's wrong."

"It's-it's Chris." She stammered through her suppressed sobbing. "I look sick because of him."

"What did he do?" He said, his voice hardening upon hearing the culprits name.

At this point Nina didn't care if they were in public because the pain was inexplicable. She felt used, stupid but most importantly desolated. Why didn't he warn her? Why can't he just tell the truth?

"He didn't come home again."

"He what?" Joel repeated one disbelief. "Again?"

With tears streaming down her face, Nina hummed in pain, asserting his question. "Yes. He didn't even tell me he would be home late."

"What an inconsiderate ass." Joel huffed in return. "Did he at least text you today?"

Nina weakly jeered, "no. I guess I'm not that important as I thought I was to him."

"Don't say that. Maybe he stayed with Erick again."

"One day is fine, Joel but two? Two fucking nights and he can't even bother to shoot me a text so I don't drown with worry? It's 11 o'clock and no signal of life?"

"Come," Joel urged with hand motions. "You need a hug."

Nina stood up and childishly slumped against Joel, hiding her face into his chest. The realization that she was crying in public finally dawning upon her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, gripping his shirt and silently whimpering.

"I think I'm overreacting aren't I?"

"I think you're reaction is completely reasonable. Nina, it's okay to feel like this."

"He hasn't even texted this time." She continued crying shyly into his body. "No apology this time."

Joel felt awful seeing the girl cry, she was too sweet to be going through pain. From the day he met Nina he knew she was a fragile but loving person. He saw it in the way she took care of Chris and how she loved him unconditionally. He saw how she gave it her all but the other person is giving her nothing.

"Ok," Joel sighed under his breath before pulling her body away gently. "Let's go somewhere."

"We are somewhere." Nina mumbled as she wiped her stained cheeks.

Chuckling, Joel poked her left cheek with a small smile. "Funny. I mean let's go somewhere else. How 'bout the aquarium?"

Nina stared at him amused but nevertheless smiled at him. "We aren't too old for that, right?"

The Mexican boy scoffed at her question, "no one is ever to old to go to an aquarium."

"You're right. Let's go." Nina smirked as she wrapped her cookie and stuffed it in her purse. "Oh, let me text Zabdi. He told me he wasn't sure if he was gonna come but it's too late already."

nina
Hey Zabdi, at this point I don't think you're gonna show up but it's okay 💙 Joel and I are going to the aquarium ☺️

"Did you bring your car?" Joel asked once they had stepped outside in the cold.

"No," Nina breathed out. "I was a crying mess and driving like that is dangerous so I took the bus."

"Great. Let's go in my car then."

"Well, duh."

"Oh shut up," Joel said but his smile wider than ever. "One more snarky remark and I'll-"

"You'll what?" The girl challenged, stopping where she was with her hands on her hips.

Stunned by her change of mood, Joel grinned as he mirrored her posture. "I'll make you pay for the tickets."

A small gasp faintly left her lips at his response, glaring at him as he walked away. "Rude."

Zabdi
No problem reina. You two have fun 😉