chapter 11 - chemistry quiz
sunday, 2/8/2020
Kineta stared at Mai who was asleep on the clinic bed, her features serene. He clenched his jaw when his eyes drifted to her bandaged head.
"So, are you going to keep on doing this?"
Kineta's attention diverted to Azli.
"Fuck off."
"You're scared, aren't you?" she chuckled. "Remember how you told us about your parents in middle school? We were on a video call and you said it out of the blue."
Kineta pretended not to hear her.
Azli leaned on the wall, her arms crossed. "You're scared of our reactions so you're unwilling to say it seriously. You'd rather have them pass it off as a joke than let them make it a big deal."
"Shut the fuck up."
"But that's not the reason why you're scared of telling her your true feelings. It's the opposite, isn't it?" Azli tilted her head. "You're scared she'd pass it off as a joke. You're scared she won't give you the reaction that you expect her to."
"Fuck you."
"So you're going to do what you usually do. Pretend you don't fucking care. Pretend those feelings never existed in the first place. Become passive-aggressive. You'd probably mention Rod whenever she's trying to talk to you. Something like, 'Is your boyfriend okay with me tutoring you?'" she ridiculed.
"For fucks sake, Azli!"
"You're so predictable."
"Why the fuck do you care about my relationship so much, anyway?" He was about to walk away until Azli gripped onto his arm.
"I don't give a fuck about the relationship, Kineta. I give a fuck about you," Azli snapped, releasing him. "I've seen you done it once. Distancing yourself from the people you care about because you think they don't care about you."
"You don't know shit!" He boomed furiously. "You act like you know shit but you don't!"
"Then, prove me wrong."
"I hate you," he dismissed before he stalked away.
Kineta knocked on Mai's door. The latter opened it reluctantly. "Kin?"
He smiled feebly. "You have a Chem quiz tomorrow, right?" He barged in, passing her.
"Kin," she called as he prepared their materials in the dining room.
"I don't want to handle Brownie at the moment. We'll study here this one time," he continued on, disregarding her.
"Kineta."
"Where's your notebook?"
Suddenly, he felt arms wrapped around him from behind. "I know this is unfair for you." He tensed. "But please be patient for me. It might not make sense now but I promise you won't regret it if you wait."
Kineta chuckled as he masked the twisted feeling in his stomach. "What am I supposed to be waiting for?" He turned around, forcing a grin. "You're not making any sense, Mai."
Mai pinched his shoulder, face stern. "You know. You just don't want to believe it." She pulled away from him.
He pondered. "Hm? I wonder..." he mocked.
She stepped on his foot, her cheeks tinted red.
He flinched before a genuine smile spread onto his lips. "Fine. I'm giving you three days."
