Periclum (old version)

Chapter 23

He looked tired.

Not the same as he did a couple of days ago. Mia could feel that something happened to him. That bruise lying painfully under his eye told an unforgettable story. What happened to him?

Sam, that was the most genuine, and kindest person Mia knew, had a swollen purple, blue bruise under his eye that didn't even belong there in the first place. His black hair was knotted on his head, hiding behind a basketball cap, probably keeping that graze at no eyesight. She could tell that he was wearing the same outfit that he was wearing last time. Perhaps he didn't feel like changing clothes.

Mia wouldn't judge him for that.

But still, Mia couldn't help but think, what had happened to him to have him turn around like this?

As Sam's forest-green eyes looked up at her, he blinked at her but he flinched as soon as her eyes met his.

Her heart shattered painfully. Why did he react like that?

Mia swallowed thickly, "Sam?" She asked again when he didn't answer. Sam wrapped his arms tight around his binder and avoided Mia's eye contact by staring at the floor.

She pursed her lips, she didn't know what to say. He looked so vulnerable, one word wrong would have made him a crying mess. Mia couldn't keep her eyes away from the bruise. It looked fresh like he just got it before he met her. Was it because that he was in a hurry? Was he hiding from someone?

"Hi," His voice was hoarse, it almost sounded like he hadn't been talking for a long time.

Mia averted her eyes away from Sam's bruise. She noticed he looked uncomfortable with her wandering eyes of his exposed scrape. She didn't want him to feel uneasy. "How are you?" She asked sweetly. She didn't know how to start the conversation in the best way she figured this was the only reasonable path.

It was rude just cutting the small talk and asking about what happened to his face. Maybe he just didn't want to say. By the look on his face, his eyes were spotted with fear, Mia understood that he didn't want any interaction by that.

"I-I'm fine," his eyes wouldn't meet hers as he hugged himself closer by his sweatshirt-clothed arms. His answer was short, and he didn't attend to make the conversation going.

This wasn't the Sam she was used to seeing. 

Mia kept her distance and crosses her arms behind her back. Perhaps he didn't want to talk to her. It was quiet for a while, neither said anything, mostly because words left Mia. Her mind was blank from loss of words probably because Sam didn't dare to keep eye contact causing Mia to believe that he wouldn't say anything.

The hallway was empty. She should have known that everyone was on their way to their classes but Mia couldn't walk away, knowing that Sam looked miserable. Although he didn't say anything, she sensed his displeasure. She felt it, it caressed her skin like a cold summer day.

With a struggled swallow, and a hand movement to tuck in a piece of her hair behind her ear, she spoke, "I won't ask."

Her voice was so quiet, she wondered if Sam even heard what she said. But with a jerk from him, his wide eyes traveled up to hers as they scanned her silently. Still, he didn't say anything.

"But... know th-that I'm here for you... um, in case you want to," Mia felt her cheeks getting hotter the more she talked and the more he stared at her. The look felt judgmental.

Her eyes looked up at him shyly as she could see the corner of his lips tugged upwards, in a weak attempt to form a smile. His eyes glistened, maybe he was happy that she said that but she wouldn't know when he didn't say anything back.