SOLACE

eighteen

We were interrupted when the bell rang and we had to go to our classes. Cali looked guilty for blurting it out and realizing she slipped on her words.

"I'll just explain it later," I answered as I bowed down my head while I went to my class.

I saw Kai entering the room fifteen minutes late with a busted lip. I instantly wanted to go to him and asked how he was. His eyes caught mine and he looks away immediately as he sat on the back corner of the room. I slumped on my seat as I just waited for the class to be over.

I couldn't even focus on my class because I was overthinking what I should do after this, it's not like I could stay with Henry forever. I was also thinking where Kai is staying now and what really happened when I left, seeing that he had his lip busted.

I know he wouldn't lift a hand on our mother, even if she was like that to us. Kai still respected her. We have always been scared of her and nothing has changed till now. I always texted him if he was safe or okay but his replies were always, 'Don't worry about me.'

After absentmindedly attending my classes, it was time for our lunch break. Cali and I had a class together and so, we went to the cafeteria together and waited for Franco on our usual table.

"Please, don't tell anyone. Kai will get mad at me," I pleaded when Franco sits silently with us.

"Can you just tell me what it is already?" Franco irritatingly says. I pursed my lips before I responded.

"Uh, well. Kai's my half-brother," I confessed, looking at their reactions.

"And you just decided to tell us this now? We've known each other since freshman, Ady!" Franco ranted. Cali just sat quietly as he watched Franco's reaction.

"I'm sorry but it wasn't my decision to make! Kai didn't want me to tell anyone about us," I looked down as I explained to them.

"Well, I just want to say you really hid it well, You had me convinced you were an only child," Franco says with a tight-lipped smile.

"You guys never even glanced at each other at school or at the parties," Cali commented.

"So, why didn't he want you to tell anyone else?" Franco asks.

"I don't even know why he wanted to keep it between us, he never answered that question," I mumbled.

The never-ending thoughts of why he asked me to do that. I never bothered to question it before but now it has mind occupied for quite some time already.

After going to my last class, I waited in the library for Henry who still had basketball training for another upcoming game.

I was already an hour into the book when my phone vibrated, my heart pounded thinking it was my Mom, but it was just Kai. I answered the call after its third ring.

"Hey, don't go to our house yet, okay? You tell me if you plan on going there," He began. I was silent, I wasn't even planning to. I was still scared.

"You understand me?" He adds when I didn't answer, I absentmindedly gave him a nod before I responded with a short yes.

"I won't, I promise," I muttered, keeping my voice low since I'm inside the library.

"Just stay safe," He hesitantly replied, his voice full of concern before he ended the call. My heart softened hearing those words come from him. I slipped my phone inside my bag and continued to read again.

I was nose-deep into the book and I didn't realize I finally finished Lolita after neglecting it more than a few times.

"Figured you'd be here," I turned to look at my back, it was Henry with a small smile on his lips. He was still wearing his basketball shoes on but he was already fresh with just a plain shirt on and gray sweatpants, seems like he took a shower already.

"Hey," I whispered, my lips slowly turned into a smile. "You finished early?" I asked when I looked at the time.

"Yeah, let's go, it's so quiet here," He chuckles lightly. I shot up from my seat and followed him out of the library.

I buckled my own seatbelt this time and the side of his lips rose when he saw me did it. He started driving away from school and turned in a different direction.

"Are we going somewhere?" I asked, glancing at him.

"Just wanted to show you something," He smiles softly as he looked at me when he stopped on the red light. I smiled back at him and looked at my side of my window

I suddenly remembered we weren't able to celebrate his win last time, maybe in the finals, I could make it up to him? A sudden rush of guilt came to me as I bit my lower lip.

I swear I'll make it up to him.

It was an hour drive and it was a bit far from the city. We already went past the trails and finally, we already caught the sunset when he parks the car near the edge of a cliff, it was overlooking the city.

He got off the car and went back to the trunk and grabbed a blanket. I watched as he laid it down on the hood of the car, as I followed him outside.

The swift wind blows my hair and it got chilly. I slipped on the hoodie over my head and looked at Henry.

"This is beautiful," my eyes creasing as I smiled at him, he offers his hand and pulls me to his side. We sat there together at the hood of his car quietly.

"I knew you would like it," He whispers as he returns the smile to me.

I wrapped my arms on my knees and leaned my chin above it. He taps my arm and hands me the other piece of his earbud.

I silently took it and put it on my ear as I leaned my back to the car and listened to the soft tunes of Southern Nights playing.

His hand lightly brushing mine as we witnessed the lights from the buildings turning on and the sky turning dark above us. The cold air comforted us and the only thing we could hear was the music.

I didn't realize we were only inches away from each other when I turned my head to him. My lips parted as I stared at his face while he was looking at the view.

I licked my lips when he suddenly looked back at me. I didn't even look away. I slowly felt the warmth on my cheeks when he momentarily glanced on my lips.

That made me look away, I cleared my throat and went back to look at the skies instead as I leaned my head.