Chapter Forty Nine

CYNTHIA

"I don't believe in love, Cynthia. That fairytale part of me died a long time ago."

Those words suddenly appears in my mind, reminding me that if I end up falling in love with him, it won't be reciprocated.

But then I wave it off, knowing that even if he doesn't love me or won't love me, he is attracted to me. And that's a start.

It's not until Sam pulls one of my finger that I break eye contact from him.

I look down at Sam and see that he is trying to touch my hand, the one that is attached to the IV so I pull him back and sit him on the bed properly.

Grace is now seated next to me on the bed and Femi is standing beside her. Wole and Peter have taken stools to sit on, leaving Michael who is still standing and staring down at me, his hands in his pocket.

Now that I think of it, he is the only one who came empty handed into the room.

Where's his basket?

Grace squeezes my hand, diverting my attention and I give her a smile,

"Hope you're good?" She asks.

I nod, "How about you?"

"I'm good too. Aren't you curious to know what happened that day?" She asks and I glance up at Femi who is also looking at me.

"Yeah, that's true. How did I end up at the hospital?" I ask, turning to the others.

"After you left in a daze, we were having the discussion about what had happened at that party two years ago with Michael because we were not aware of it." Wole begins to explain.

I glance at Michael at the reminder that he isn't totally innocent for not telling me the truth about what had actually gone down at that party and he gives me a remorseful look.

Wole continues, "And then this guy came out of nowhere and said some guys took Grace and that you were already on your way to rescue her."

I look at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue.

"At first, we didn't want to believe him because we just saw the both of you leave the stadium and his story was doubtful. But he kept on insisting that you guys were in trouble so I urged the others to follow him and see if he was actually saying the truth." Femi adds.

"And I still get angry whenever I remember what we saw that day." Peter puts in and I look at him expectantly, waiting for him to elaborate. The subtle glare Michael throws at him when he speaks doesn't escape me. I know they are not always on good terms but I can't help wondering if something else has happened.

When Peter doesn't explain further, I turn to Femi who I know will be more than willing to go into details.

"What did you see?" I ask him and he tenses. His hands curling into fists.

"We saw both of you injured on the ground, covered in blood, surrounded by predatory looking guys who were doing nothing but just watching with a bored expression and those girls... God, those girls..." He trails off and face palms. I glance at Wole for confirmation and he also looks annoyed.

So they weren't worried that I could have died and they could have been held responsible? Were they going to leave me to bleed to death?

"How did I get involved with someone like Chika in the first place? I should have realised how much of a bitch she is." Femi continues bitterly. I'd have been amused by how annoyed he looks and the words he was uttering if it wasn't such a serious discussion.

"What's a bitch?" Sam asks innocently and everyone in the room turns to look at him. To think that I've forgotten that he is here.

I give Femi a scolding look for saying such words in front of Sam and he gives me a sheepish look in response.

"A bitch is a female dog." I explain quietly to Sam who still looks confused.

"That guy called Chika a bitch, does that mean she is a female dog?" He asks and I nod.

Femi comes to stand in front of him and smiles, "I have a female dog whose name is Chika and I was referring to her." He tells him and I stifle a laughter. Grace doesn't bother hiding it as she lets out a light chuckle.

Seriously?

That answer seems convincing enough to Sam as he nods and doesn't ask any questions again.

"Were you able to get them?" I ask none of them in particular but I was looking at Michael. He hasn't said a word since he entered the room but I've felt his gaze on me since we started the conversation.

"We got the guys and I don't think they will be causing any trouble again." He finally responds and I stare at him with narrowed eyes, knowing they did more than just get them.

"What did you guys do?" I ask, glancing at all of them.

"They beat them up so bad and took them to the police station with the video from their camera as evidence." Grace whispers in my ear all of a sudden, causing me to jump.

"Why are you whispering?" I ask and she gestures to Sam with her head. She doesn't want him to hear.

"But you guys could be arrested for assault." I turn to them and Femi grins.

"Why do you think we are friends with a Senator's son?" He asks and I shake my head with a sigh.

These guys.

"What of Dorcas and her friends? Cat was the one that hit me with a stick." I tell them and they all frown.

"I knew they were lying!" Femi suddenly shouts, startling Sam and he quickly gives him an apologetic smile.

"The camera didn't record when you got hit on the head because it got spoilt when you went for the cameraman and the boys have refused to testify against Dorcas and her friends. All of them kept saying you tripped and hit your head against a stone." Wole explains and I give them an incredulous look.

"So, you're trying to say they are going scotfree after everything they did? They brought in guys into the school, tried to have them take advantage of me and Grace and even attacked me and yet, they won't be punished?" I ask, turning to Michael now and he sighs, looking regretful.

"They were in a part of school where there are no security cameras and we know that well because we created that secret entrance. The guy that came to get us didn't see Dorcas and her friends, he only saw the guys when they were carrying Grace and as for the cameraman, his video only focused on what that boy was doing to Grace and when you started to fight the guys off. It's as if he was instructed to not get them on camera because none of them were there." Michael explains and I only stare on in shock.

"They are also suspended from school, remember? So, they didn't attend school that day, they only came in through that fence." He adds and I shake my head disbelievingly.

"But don't worry, I'm going to deal with all of them my own way. Dorcas' dad is a politician in my dad's political party and I know some of dad's friend. It won't take much to have him kicked out." Michael finishes a bit contentedly but for some reason, it doesn't sit well with me.

"Let's not drag their families into this. We'll deal with them another way." I tell him and he gives me a look of protest. I shake my head at him, telling him not to push it and he keeps quiet but he doesn't really look satisfied.

Nanny walks into the room just then with a bag in her hand and she's followed closely by a nurse with a tray of drugs in her hands who looks alarmed as she stares at all of us.

"Why are there lots of people in this room?" She asks then shakes her head, "It doesn't matter, I want everyone out of the room except her Nanny."

Michael comes forward while the others starts to stand from where they are sitting.

"We'll leave now." Femi smiles at me. "Bye, Cynthia. Use your drugs and get better soon."

"Yeah, see you." Wole adds as he pulls Femi out of the room.

"I'll be back later." Grace says and carries Sam from the bed, following after them.

"Take care of yourself." Peter smiles.

"I will." I reply and watch him leave the room.

Michael has now gotten closer to me and he is looking at me with a very serious expression.

"I know there are lots of things we still have to talk about but for now, just take care of yourself for me, okay?" He demands and I nod in response. He then gives me a kiss on my forehead, surprising me, before he turns to leave.

After he is out the door, I let out a loud sigh and notice Nanny's questioning look. I glance at her and see that she also has an amused expression so I give her a look that says "what?!"

She shrugs and says nothing but she doesn't hide the smile on her face.

I'm going to get bombarded with lots of questions later. I can feel it.

"Your boyfriend is really good looking." The nurse who is still in the room comments with a smile as she detaches the needle in my hand from the IV and I chuckle.

"He's not my boyfriend." I correct her and she raises an eyebrow.

"Then I'm guessing he'll soon be." She winks but I don't say anything in response.

Maybe because Michael ending up as my girlfriend seems too good to true.

"I'll come back after thirty minutes to give her some injections. Let her eat and take her drugs before that." The nurse says to Nanny and she nods.

After the nurse leaves, Nanny places a small table on my bed and starts to arrange the fried rice which she served with some salad and fish for me.

Out of curiosity, I decide to check my WhatsApp messages to get some updates on what has been asleep while I was passed out.

I discover that a group including all of us has been created by Femi and apparently, the purpose of the group is to pray for me. I go through the messages and can't stop laughing.

Another message from John enters my phone just then and I go back to see what it is.

If not getting to see you for just a day can make me miss you this much, I can't even imagine what will happen if you aren't in my life.

Not knowing what to think of the message, I leave it on read and go to our school's group messages for updates.

As I go through the messages, I think of John and how I can't take any of his words seriously anymore. Not after knowing that he has lied conveniently to me for two good years.

No matter what he says or does, it will all seem a lie to me and I don't want that to happen because even though I just found out he was a liar, he was someone dear to me.

We need to talk so I can find out why he lied to me and maybe his reason may be good enough to forgive him. But for now, I am not having anything to do with him.

I'm still going through the school's group messages when Nanny snatches the phone from and gestures to the food.

"Eat."

***

I had gotten discharged on Sunday and after answering all Nanny's questions concerning the guys - a lot of questions - and about Michael especially, she finally allowed me breathe.

I also made a deal with her concerning school as I don't want to go to school in crutches but she had insisted that it doesn't matter. She then told me that if I didn't go to school on Monday and Tuesday, I would have to go on Wednesday till the end of the week.

If it were up to me, I'd rather not go until Thursday when the bandage on my leg will be removed but Nanny wouldn't hear that so I had no choice than to agree to her deal. I decided that being at home for two days is better than going to school throughout the week so I agreed to stay home Monday and Tuesday.

When I agreed to the deal, I had thought the Sports day is on Thursday and totally forgotten that Wednesday is the actual Sports day. But Grace's excited message yesterday night about how she really hopes to win a medal today had served as a reminder that it is indeed Wednesday.

And now that today is Wednesday, I really, really do not want to go to school.

I mean I'll just end up sitting and watching others run and win the medals that I'm supposed to win. Thinking of it is already kind of depressing.

There's also the fact that I'm still not ready to face John. He had sent a lot of messages over these couple of days but I replied none of them.

He got so worried that he even texted Grace to know if he had done something wrong and I had made Grace promise me that she wouldn't tell him anything.

I'm still not ready to talk to him.

I'm currently lying on bed, smiling at the good morning message Michael sent to me. We've been exchanging messages between us since I've gotten discharged. But they aren't much or serious. Just mostly 'how are you's', 'have you eaten', 'have you taken your drugs', etcetera.

Today is actually the first day he will send me a good morning message and it's a rather simple one.

Good morning. Hope you had a great night and you are feeling better? Can't wait to see you today.

Although it's a simple message and he just expressed his desire to meet me today, I still don't want to go to school today.

I stop staring at his message and drop my phone next to me. I should stand up now to go take a shower but I can't bring myself to move from the bed especially since it's so difficult with the crutches.

I swear I can never get used to those things.

I contemplate giving in to sleep for five more minutes and I'm just about to do that when I hear Nanny's loud voice from downstairs.

"Sam, go upstairs to wake your sister." She calls out and I groan into the pillow. She should just allow me sleep.

I quickly pretend like I'm still asleep, hoping that he doesn't notice anything but I know deep down that it's futile because nothing gets past him.

I, however, lay still on the bed and close my eyes tightly remembering to make my breaths sound as even as possible. The door to my room opens slowly and I hear his footsteps as he approaches my bed and climbs it. I expect him to tap my leg to wake me but instead I feel his breath on my face like he is staring down at me closely.

My nose chooses that moment to start acting funny and before I can help it, I quickly cover my mouth and let out a loud "Achoo!".

Knowing my cover has been blown, I open my eyes slowly and find Sam sitting and staring at me, his face scrunched up in disgust.

"Your eyelids were shaking so I already knew you weren't asleep. Nanny asked me to wake you up." He tells me.

"Go tell Nanny that I'm still asleep." I respond in a dead serious tone and he gives me a look of protest. "If you tell Nanny that I'm awake, I'll make sure you are unable to watch PJ masks again."

He glances at his watch, a PJ mask watch and looks at me with alarm. He is obsessed with them, I swear.

"Why aren't you in your uniform?" I ask as I notice that he is dressed in a t-shirt and shorts.

"Because I'm going to your school."

I give him a dry look. Everyone seems interested in going to my school except me.

"Well, shoo. Go tell Nanny what I asked you to." I wave him off.

"Alright, I will and you should go and brush your teeth. Your mouth stinks." He comments making me reach out for one of my pillows to hit his head with.

He immediately jumps off my bed and head outside, leaving the door open. I roll my eyes at his absentmindedness, knowing I will have to close it myself. I'm still struggling with the crutches when I hear Nanny's voice again.

"Is she awake?"

"No but she told me to tell you that she's still asleep." Sam replies.

I freeze, wondering if I've just heard right.

Did he just-

I drop my crutches and fall back on the bed, grabbing a pillow to my face and screaming into it.

That little brat.

I hear Nanny's laughter from the living room and I groan, knowing she's going to make her way into my room herself to make sure I get out of bed.

The doorbell rings and I momentarily sigh with relief, knowing she is going to have to get the door instead. My relief however isn't for long because I soon hear Grace's cheerful voice.

"Nanny, good morning. How are you?" She greets.

"I'm fine dear. Oh, I see you brought your friends." Nanny replies and my eyes widen.

Friends? What friends??

"Cynthia, get your lazy butt off your bed because I know you're not up yet. Don't let me meet you in bed or I'll send Michael up there and in case you are wondering, they are all here with me. All four of them." Grace calls out as she approaches my room. I know that because her voice keeps getting louder.

She can't be serious.

"Do you want me to come with you?" I hear Michael ask and my heart skips a beat.

He is really here!

I glance down at what I'm wearing - a tank top and a shorts - and immediately know that he can't see me like this.

I stand up hurriedly and rush to the door that is still open - as quickly as I can with my crutches - but unfortunately, I get to the door just as Grace gets to it and she immediately gives me a weird look.

"Have you seen how you look?" She says in greeting. I lean on my crutch and check to see if there's drool on my face while she pushes me aside and comes into the room.

I try to sneak a peek downstairs from my room to see if Michael and the guys are really in my living room but Grace closes the door.

"I don't think it'll be a good idea to let him see you like this. Why aren't you all dressed already?" She asks and I roll my eyes.

I walk back to my bed and sit on it, looking at her. She is already checking through my wardrobe, probably looking for my sports vest. She's going to have a hard time finding it because I've hidden it very far away.

"Why aren't you dressed yet?" She asks again and I groan.

"Because I see no reason to be there." I reply and she gives me a dead look. "And why the hell did you bring the guys here?"

"They wanted to come. It was supposed to be just Femi and I but the others just followed. Peter seems even enthusiastic to come. I was surprised but then he also looked kind of sad." She replies with a shrug.

I throw one of my pillows at her and she turns to me with her eyes widened.

"Ow! What was that for?" She asks.

I roll my eyes at how dramatic she's being. I'm sure it didn't hurt her.

"For bringing them here without telling me first."

"I know you are only paranoid because of your crush on Michael. Calm down, it's not like he is in your room yet." She winks and I frown at her utterance. There are so many things wrong with what she just said.

"Firstly, I don't have a crush on Michael." I lie and she snorts, earning a hard glare from me. "I'm only just beginning to like him." I add.

"Yeah, right. You're only fooling yourself. Just admit that you like him. A lot." She smiles and I shoot her a dirty look, choosing to ignore her again.

"And you'll definitely not bring him into this room. I know Nanny will never accept that in the first place." I continue and she gives me a dry look.

"If you don't get your ass of that bed and go take a shower, I'll have to bring him inside this room and I know Nanny will take my side and won't disagree." She counters and I glare at her.

"I don't even know where my vest is." I whine so she'll get off my case but she gives me a victorious smile.

"You mean this one?" She asks as she comes closer and waves the green cloth in my face.

How the hell did she find it? It was pushed far beneath my other clothes.

I groan and fall flat on the bed, knowing I no longer have any excuse. "I'm not going."

"Come on, it's the first time I'll be taking part in the sports and I need the support of my best friend." She pouts. I close my eyes, refusing to look at her.

"I'm just going to be a burden to all of you. Have you seen my leg?" I ask and she sighs.

"But it's only for today and besides, all you have to do is just sit and watch the show, you don't have to move around at all."

"Exactly, I will have to sit and watch others do things I'm supposed to be doing. I'm just going to come back depressed."

I hear her soft chuckle before she speaks, "You are the last person I know that can suffer from depression. Just do this for me, hmm?"

I know she is right and apart from my injured leg, I really do not have any reason to not go but maybe it's because I don't want others to see me using crutches.

Especially Michael.

I sigh heavily and open my eyes to see Grace staring down at me with a sour expression.

"I'm guessing we are going to have to do this the hard way." She says and heads for the door.

"What do you mean?" I ask with alarm.

She narrows her eyes at me, "I'm sure you know already. And I shouldn't say this but you should do something about the drool on your face." She responds and closes the door. I stare at the closed door blankly before I finally realize what she had just gone to do.

Oh, shit.

I quickly stand and with the help of my crutches, hurry to the bathroom. I brush my teeth and rinse my face, quickly cleaning it with a dry towel. I'm busy adjusting my braids when I hear a quick knock followed by the door of my room opening.

Oh My God! Michael is in my room.

My stomach twists excitedly and I feel my heart pounding in my chest. I stare at my reflection in the mirror and tell myself to breathe.

"Cynthia, where are you?" He asks.

I walk into the room, feeling self conscious with my crutches and what I'm wearing. I'm still in the tank top and shorts but he isn't even looking at me.

He is standing at my bedside table, checking the framed pictures that are on it. That's about the only personal decorations I have in my room since I'm not really a fan of wallpapers and stuffs like that.

I watch as he takes the first picture, one of me and my parents. It was taken when I was four years old and sadly, it was the last picture I took with them.

"She looked so cute when she was small." He mumbles with a smile and I find myself smiling too as I watch him.

He drops it and takes the second one, it's one of me and Grace when we were still in JSS2 and I laugh silently, knowing we looked considerably younger and silly. It was taken when she was celebrating her twelfth birthday. We are both grinning to the camera with party caps on our heads.

Michael chuckles as he looks at it, "Femi must surely see this." He mumbles and takes a picture with his phone then drops it. He then takes the last framed picture.

This one is of me, Nanny and Sam. It was taken last year when we were at an amusement pack. I smile at the memories and Michael also smiles, using his hand to trace my picture.

"She's still so pretty." He muses and my heart melts. He stares at my picture for a while, probably not knowing that I'm watching him and I find myself wondering what he is thinking.

Deciding it's time I announce my presence, I clear my throat and he startles, almost dropping the picture.

He turns around and smiles at me then turns back to the table, "What do I have to do to have a picture taken with you and have it framed and on your table like this?" He asks as he drops the pictures on the table.

I chuckle and head to my bed with my crutches to sit before replying, "Well, I have to love you a lot."

He turns to me and looks at me with a smile, his eyes fall on my bare legs and I notice that his stare is longer. I unconsciously place my free leg over the bandaged one and clear my throat again.

He scratches the back of his neck as he looks at my face and nods, "And I'm guessing I still have a long way to go, right?"

I smile and nod, "Yeah, you still do."

Never mind the fact that I'm already falling in love with you.

"And oh, I forgot the important part."

He raises his eyebrow, a playful smile on his face, "What's that?"

I watch him intently as I reply, "You also have to love me a lot in return."

His smile drops and he breaks eye contact. He then sighs, "I guess I won't have a right to be on that table then."

I knew he was going to say something like that but part of me was hoping that he would at least tell me he would try or make an effort.

But he just had to remind me of the fact that he doesn't believe in love.

Am I not just putting myself up for potential heartbreak if I continue to feel this attracted to him and end up in love with him?

I don't notice that he has already moved towards me and he is now crouched in front of me.

"Why do you look so sad?" He asks as he reaches out to touch my face, tucking the braid that has escaped the ponytail behind my ear.

Did I make it so obvious while I was thinking of him?

"Was it something I said?" He asks again, his hands still on my face. Softly caressing it.

"Don't do this." I say quietly instead and remove his hand from my face. "Don't do things that will make me fall for you when you won't return it."

He is staring into my eyes now, searching for clues or answers. I don't know.

"Will you fall for me if I continue to do this? Will you no longer like John and like me instead?"

Wait, does he still think I like John? Even after everything?

What would be his reaction if I told him right now that I have stopped liking John way before I found out the truth about the party?

Would that scare him off?

"Aren't you here to convince me to come to the Sports competition?" I ask, deciding to change the subject.

He notices and smiles then shrugs, going along with it, "Not really. I'm just here to see how your room looks like. It's up to you if you want to come to the sports or not. I can't force you." He replies and I find myself frowning.

That wasn't what I was expecting.

"Michael, have you convinced her yet?" Grace suddenly calls from outside.

"I don't think she's changed her mind yet." He tells her and I raise an eyebrow.

"You didn't even try to change my mind." I state dryly and he shrugs again.

The door to my room opens and Grace storms inside. She falters as she takes notice of the two of us then she narrows her eyes at Michael. He is still bent in front of me and I'm still seated on the bed.

Whatever I'm about to say gets caught in my throat and my eyes almost bulges out of their socket when Peter also enters my room.

What's he doing here?!

"Michael, I sent you here to convince Cynthia to come with us, not seduce her." Grace is saying but Michael is looking at Peter, an unreadable expression on his face.

"I think Peter would have done a better job of convincing her and he even hardly talks." She adds.

"Is that why he's in this room?" Michael asks, his voice hard. Nothing like he was using with me just moments ago.

"No. He wants to talk to Cynthia about something." Grace replies and glances at Peter then back at Michael and then at me.

She must have finally noticed something isn't right because she raises an eyebrow in question.

I haven't even spoken a word since Peter entered my room but really, what is he doing here?!

"Can you excuse us?" Peter stares pointedly at Michael, ignoring the tension that's in the air. "I would like to talk to Cynthia alone." He glances at Grace who is still looking at me.

"Is everything alright?" I ask him and he gives me a sad smile.

"It will be. After I talk to you." He replies.

Okay?

Before I can react to his words, Michael is standing in front of him and is grabbing him by the shirt.

"Whoa. Whoa. Calm down!" Grace says, quickly standing in between them. She removes Michael's grip from Peter's clothes and gives Michael an admonishing glare.

"What are you doing?" She asks him.

"No. What is he doing?" Michael points to Peter. "He is mistaken if he thinks I'm leaving he and Cynthia alone in this room."

At this particular moment, I can't help feeling that Michael is overreacting.

"Michael." I call him but he's still busy glaring at Peter. "I don't know what you are scared of but I trust Peter enough to not try anything with me. He just wants to talk."

I say in his defense and he gives me a grateful smile.

Michael scoffs, "That's exactly why I'm not leaving you both alone. I don't trust him to be alone with you, Cynthia. You don't know what he is up to."

Grace and I exchange looks and she looks just as confused as me.

She turns to Michael, "Well, I'm Cynthia's best friend and I just allowed you stay with her alone in her room. Peter doesn't even talk and yet he is standing her room, saying he has to talk to her. Don't you think it might be because it's important? And yet, you are acting like a jealous boyfriend?" She asks.

"Grace, you don't understand! This guy here won't even stop when I ask him to stop and-

"Stop what?" Grace interrupts him.

"He won't stop the-

Michael doesn't complete his sentence and I notice Peter's stare harden as he watches Michael, like he is daring him to finish that sentence.

Suddenly, Michael is standing in front of me again.

"Promise me, Cynthia. Promise me that you will go on a date with me even if we don't win this competition." He gives me an earnest look, his eyes pleading, begging me to say yes.

"It doesn't matter if you win or not. I want to go on a date with you." I reply and he breathes out in relief.

"Thank you!" He grabs my head and kisses my forehead. "Thank you!"

I smile at him even though I'm still confused and he returns it. He then gestures to Peter, "I really don't trust him so be careful with him. If he tries anything funny, scream or kick him." He glances at my bandaged feet, "I won't be so afraid if you weren't injured." He speaks like Peter isn't here.

"Michael, stop it." I tell him with a shake of my head, afraid that he's hurting Peter's feelings but he looks like he doesn't care.

"I'm being serious." He insists.

"That's enough." Grace approaches and pulls him up. "We are leaving so they can talk and you are not saying a word of protest." She adds with a note of finality as Michael starts to say something. She then pulls him out of the room.

I watch them leave the room and Michael's gaze never leaves mine until Grace shuts the door, leaving only Peter and I in the room.

There's an awkward silence as we both look at each other, none of us saying anything.

"I don't know why he was acting weird." I break the silence with an uneasy chuckle.

He stares at me intently, "Do you believe him? Do you think I might try to take advantage of you?"

I immediately shakes my head, "Of course not."

And it's the truth. Peter is the last person I think will try to take advantage of me.

A sigh escapes his mouth and he nods, "I'm glad." He then walks to my chair and puts it across from me before taking a seat. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a cigarette from its pack then begins to twirl it in his hand.

I stare at the cigarette in his hand as he plays with it and glances at him.

Is he planning on smoking it in here? And since when did he smoke?

Well, to be fair. I hardly know him.

"Don't worry. I've stopped smoking." He replies like he can read my mind while still playing with the cigarette. "But on days like this, I crave a smoke badly."

Okay, so he used to smoke but he quit. And then something happened that made him want to smoke today.

I have a feeling it's something bad.

He looks up at me with a sad smile, hints of sadness in his eyes too.

I guess I'm right.

"Is something troubling you?" I ask hesitantly. I don't want him to feel like I'm not minding my business but I can't help not asking too. It's the first time I'm seeing him not trying to hard his emotion.

He doesn't reply but his hands are now clenched around the cigarette, crushing it. He is looking downwards, hiding his face from my view. Whatever is bothering him is definitely something serious.

Should I not have asked? But he was the one who wanted to speak to me.

So do I say something or wait for him to talk?

"Uhm... Peter?" I call unsurely since his head is still facing downwards but when he looks up with tears in his eyes, I blink repeatedly in surprise.

Is Peter really on the verge of tears?

Knowing it's the right thing to do, I grab my crutches and walk the little distance across the room to him and embrace him in a side hug.

He stiffens against me as soon as his head falls on my stomach and I wrap my arms around his back but after a moment he relaxes and then hugs me back, pulling me closer.

That's when I hear the sobs.

And I feel my heart break for him.

***

Who knows why Peter is suddenly crying?

What do you think of Peter in general?

I'm so sorry for the late update as usual. I'm tired of apologising sef but I'm still sorry.

I hope the chapter was worth it.

Don't forget to share, vote and comment.

Until next time,

See ya 🥰