LOVE IMPERFECTION

4*

Kendrick's POV.

Lily cruise is strong, I know she is, but something else is stopping her from finally standing up for herself. Maybe she just need to find her strength and confidence, atleast she's better than me in every way.

I have always been noticing her, I know her because the whole school knows her for being the everyday victim of those mean chicks. So many times, I wanted to help her but I can't. I am just a shy miserable boy that fate has been unfair to, I can't even help myself, all I am left to do is cry and cry only.

It's not always about Adrian Miller that makes me cry, it's because am a fool, I cry because everyone is better than me, even lily. I can never do anything right, am nothing but worthless and a coward. That's what my aunt never gets tired of telling me.

Yes, my aunt rose and her husband Bosco, here in Austin. My parents died when I was five, I had no one left except for aunt rose, who took me in not as her cousin but a houseboy.

Maybe I deserve to be treated a little bit better living with my aunt, her husband and son in an expensive apartment. Unfortunately that's not the case, although they both earn very well, they only take care of their son grey.

I only get clothes to wear when Grey's clothes are old, that's why I told lily that we don't have similar lives because her's is way better.

Maybe she doesn't sleep in a basement and only get food after doing all the chores. After school, I was given 5mims to walk back home and any minute more to that is punishment.

Irrespective of the first period test I had, I knew I was up for a lot of punishment which include starvation too.

"Kendrick". I heard an abrupt scream from the kitchen.

I swallowed, lips unusually dry as I ran to the source of the voice.

"Kendrick I told you to wash these plates before leaving this house today" she shouted with her hands on her hip.

"Yes you did, bu..but I had a math test today, I wanted t..." My voice was shaky, I bit on my tongue.

"You wanted to what? that you left my plates in the sink all day. Is this in accordance to what I told you". She stared at me with cold eyes.

My heart was racing, body ready to bolt, I would have missed my test if I had stayed to do chores, but she would never understand that. "I will do it now" I said. I kept my bag on the floor and headed for the sink when she grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"Am not done talking, you useless fool, finish these plates and go weed my garden, am I clear?" She twisted my right ear hard.

I yelp and nod continuously.

"Good, am going out with grey, cook dinner too before I come back". She let go of my ear and washed her hands.

" OK". I say and she turn and left.

I quickly got to work and washed all the plates, by the time I was done, my stomach grumbled. I rinse my hands and opened the fridge to get something to eat when someone yank my hand from behind.

"Who gave you the right to open this fridge?" Grey asked.

My face creased. " Am hungry" I said.

"Hungry?, Oh! All you did was wait for mom to drive off before stealing food" he accused. "That's right, I stayed back to watch you".

"That's not true!".

"Did you finish the chores, what about the garden?". He asked taking an apple from the fridge.

"I will do it later, now am very hungry". I told him, feeling belittle to him.

He laughed.
"After chores brother or I will tell my dad". he gawped at me, threw the apple in the air caught it, took a bite and went off.

I stared at his back till he disappeared. Sometimes I get so jealous of him, he has his parents with him and everything he would ever ask for and I have nothing. I love my aunt but still I wish she didn't treat me differently or like a servant.

I quickly weed the garden to avoid all conflict, I trudged to the basement, where I sleep to study.

My stomach cried again making me lose concentration. I wasn't allowed to eat anything if aunt isn't home, it's considered stealing. And am afraid if I take anything out from the fridge no matter how hungry I am, uncle bosco will hit me or make me pay for it.

I sneaked out of the house to take a walk before it's time to cook dinner.

I had no friends in Austin, no one wants to befriend a coward, that just makes me wonder why lily would continuously talk to me, she even stood up for me. It scares me.

I walked down the street and towards the park engulfed in thoughts. My stomach grumbled again and I clutch onto it not wanting to embarrass myself.

Someone caught my eyes, lily was sitting alone crying under a tree. I tilt my head to see if there's anyone coming or going from where she sat. But there's no one, then why is she crying.

I bit on my lip, my hand deep into my curls as I stood there watching her debating whether to proceed to her or not.

Go say hi.
My mind spoke.

Will you really just walk away and pretend you didn't see her.

I release a loud breath and walked towards her with my head bowed down and hands in my pocket.

"Why?" I asked, unable to start a normal conversation with a girl.

She looked up and her mouth made an "O" shape.

"Why are you crying?" I asked again, more like a soft whisper.

She kept quiet wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

"Can I sit here?".

She didn't reply but rather moved a little to make room for me under the shade of the tree. I sat and crossed my legs.

"You told me not to talk to you" she began.

I just nod with my head down, I can't keep eye contact.

"Then why are you talking to me?" She sniff.

"I just saw you crying". I replied.

"Why do you care?"

"I don't, but i thought those girls from school did something that made you cry". I admitted.

We remained silent for a while before she speaks first.
"They can do whatever they want, I am not scared of them".

That's when I raised my head and look into her big dark eyes through her glasses. She laughed.

"What?" I frowned.

"Its the first time you actually look into my eyes for more than a second, you are such a shy boy" she elbowed my arm playfully.

I tore my eyes off her, turning my face away I said, "If you aren't scared of the mean chicks, why don't you do them what they do to you?"

That died off her laughter.
"Because there's no use, am a nobody".

"No one is a nobody". I said softly.

"Then why don't you stand up to Adrian" she asked.

"Because I am a nobody" I said the exact same thing did without even thinking about it.

"No one is a nobody". She cracked a smile.

My stomach cried again, I felt embarrassment washed over me. lily started laughing hard, I clutch onto it frowning.

"Here, have this". She offered a small plastic food box. I searched her face.

She nod "Take it, I wasn't gonna eat it anyway". She gave me an approving smile.

I took it without thinking and dug into the smashed potato making sure to control myself and not to eat like a starving animal.

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