That Makes The Two Of Us

Chapter 17

"Hey Andrea. I just wanted to know if...uh...are you doing okay? You know after that accident and all...how're you holding up?"

I sit there, speechless for a moment. It's John, from Asher's group.

Why is he talking to me now?

After that incident, John has never even looked me in the eye. I don't know why he needs to talk to me today, all of a sudden.

"Um...Andrea?"

"What?" I snap at him,"Why do you care, John? You made it pretty clear that it doesn't matter to you if anything happens to me. Why now?"

He looks down ashamed and says,"You almost drowned and I--"

"I don't wanna hear it John. Why can't you people just leave me alone? I asked you for one thing---- space. You can't even give that to me? What else do you want? Wanna curse me some more? Come on, what are you waiting for?"

"Andrea, I'm really sorry-"

"I don't wanna hear your sorry! I told you, forgive and forget doesn't exist for me. You should have thought of all this before insulting me like that. Guess what? I don't even wanna talk to you. I'm better off without you guys, anyways. You people were unwanted baggage and I'm glad that you aren't there in my life anymore. So please, just leave me alone and get lost."

He clenches his fists by his side and says,"Fine. I won't bother you anymore. Enjoy your baggage free life."

I turn around so that my back faces him as he walks away. I hold my head in frustration.

Why do they need to turn up every time I'm in a happy mood? Why can't they just forget me?

"I'll be back, guys," I say and head out of the cafeteria. I lean against a wall and take a moment to compose myself. I don't know why I get so riled up every time I see them.

Because I still haven't gotten over it.

I realize that now. No matter how much I try to convince myself, I still haven't gotten past that event. That is why I still feel so angry and hurt whenever I see them. If I had really moved on, all I would have felt would be cold indifference.

All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a hand grasps my forearm. I look up to see a very angry Raymond.

No way...not him as well. I don't have the energy to deal with him right now.

"Listen here, Adkins, can we just do this later? I'm in no mood-- hey! What the hell are you doing?"

Without any warning, he starts dragging me by my arm. I struggle to keep up with his long strides, all the while trying to free my arm from his vice like grip. I'm pretty sure my arm's blood supply has been cut off.

Bloody inhuman pig!

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Who do you even think yourself to be? Leave me. I said leave me!"

He ignores my protests and continues dragging me. Finally, he pulls me into an empty room and locks the door.

"Listen, I've no desire of talking to you or anything. But what I have to say is important and it concerns you as well so you better shut your trap and listen to me."

His tone seems a bit too serious and my protests falter.

"Do you know who actually saved you Andrea? It was John-- that same John whom you just insulted like that. He saved your life and this is how he is being treated."

It's almost like a slap across the face. John saved me. It's because of him taht I'm even breathing right now.

"I know what had happened between you all and I could honestly care less, but I can't sit back and just watch when you insult my friends like that. Yes, what they did was wrong but don't you think they deserve a second chance? Those guys have been doing all they can to earn back your forgiveness, yet you treat them as if they are the nastiest beings on the earth. No one is asking you to forgive them but you can atleast give them a chance to rectify their mistake. Do you know why John didn't reveal that it was him who saved you? It's because he didn't want to guilt trip you into forgiving them. But you know what? Everybody deserves a second chance and you are no one to insult them like this when they've realized their mistake and are doing all they can to righten their wrongs. In spite of all their efforts, you're not ready to even give them a second chance. Mistakes are made by everyone-- it's a part of being human. What matters are the efforts that are put in to make things right again. If you can't give them another chance despite everything, then don't go about insulting then like this. They might take it but I won't."