Our Way Back

Episode 8

I was walking back from school when I stopped by a convenience store to buy stuff. I was handing some candies and potato chips to the counter.

It was already a week after our parents came back from their retreat; and a lot happened after it. First, I had my cast removed and though my hand was still in bandage to let the wounds fully heal, the doctor said that the bones were fine and it would be okay for a few more days. Second, everything went back exactly where it should be. Raegan stopped coming over on a regular basis and he went back to not talking to me at school; as a result, the girls from his 'fan club' stopped harassing me, though the normal bullying was still there. I was also back to commuting because I cannot drive my bicycle yet.

"It would be 346, sir." I turned to the guy and gave him my phone. He swiped my phone and returned it back to me immediately after.

This has become a routine for me. I would take a bus after school and take a forty-five minute walk to the subdivision. I will pass by a convenience store and go in to buy foods and snacks.

I was walking halfway from the convenience store when a black Audi stopped in front of me. It was Raegan's car.

He immediately went out and smiled. "Third."

/

"Here." He threw a packet of ice cream to me which I easily caught, before sitting on the seat across the seat I took.

"Thanks." I said, opening the ice cream. "Oh, chocolate-flavor."

He started eating his share too and went silent for a few minutes. He just said he wanted to talk but instead of talking, we were just sitting pretty, eating our ice creams. Not speaking, even a single word.

"Hey." I sighed after eating everything, even cleaning up my popsicle. "You said you wanted to talk, but you're not even saying a word." I said checking on the back of the stick of my ice cream, 'Oh, its winner.'

"Well..." he replied, shyly scratching his nape. "I wanted to apologize." he sighed, "Maybe I am just indulging my pitiful self." he said, "You know I can only act like this when I'm with you."

"And you know full well that I hate being used." I grinned, "But I don't mind if it comes with this." I said referring to the ice cream. "So, you're here to complain, right? Spill it."

"Well, it's just that ... I'm worried about you." He said, "I heard that your cast was removed and you're healing perfectly fine but I can't be so sure unless I see it."

I immediately showed him my bandaged hand. "It's healing perfectly."

"How about Axo?"

I shrugged, "Well, we can't expect him to tone down because you stopped acting like a knight." I said, "I expected him to act more rashly, but so far, he's docile."

"It's good that he's not doing shit." He said, "I'm seriously afraid that uncle would kill Axo if anything more happens."

"That's why you should just continue keeping your mouth shut."

He grinned, "That's what I'm doing, right?"

"Anyway, did I mention that I have a classmate who was also our classmate when we're in middle school?" I said, referring to the guy I'm trying to catch a timing to talk to. "Though I'm not sure what his name was."

He laughed, "You've never been good with names, so I understand." he said keeping his 'lose' popsicle and his garbage on his bag. "But, isn't that ..."