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15: “I don't owe you anything”
The men in the living room have every girl confused, except Diamond who's ecstatic as she tells them where to put the rug, chairs, TV and tables of different sizes.
“Diamond, what's happening here?” Annie goes to ask Diamond while we trail her.
“Can't you see what's happening?”
“I can see what's happening, but what I don't understand is... Did you buy all these?”
“No. Charles did.”
Charles? Her boyfriend.
I can't believe how easy Diamond is; this guy literally pounded on her, leaving bruises that prevented her from leaving the house until they were completely healed. Rather than dumping his ass, she's here smiling like it's totally normal to be pulverized by your fellow human being, as long as they've got money to satisfy your needs. It's quite s
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Finding Us 16: From a different perspective
All that rings in my head is, “I don't owe you anything, so no”, thus, making it hard to grasp a word Eric is saying.Maybe it's true he doesn't owe me anything, but I simply can't get over his straight face and the tone he used. It's what's messing with my brain. It's what has me realizing Eric will never see me as someone more than just a friend. It's what has me understanding that I should just give this whole thing up.Eric lets out a groan, his eyes shut tightly as he leans back to look at him.I stare at the equation he's been trying to teach me for the past thirty minutes, refusing to meet his gaze because I know I'll only see the frustration I'm causing him.“What's wrong?” he asks, shutting the book I'm staring at, and it forces me to look at him.I return my gaze to the book.
Finding Us 17: What are you scared of?
I can't sleep.Not because Eric is right beside me, but because my latest revelation won't stop taunting me. It makes me feel stupid. No wonder Eric will never like me. I'll only be weighing him down.This thought has had me up for a long while, only staring at Eric when he takes a deep breath. Why in the world did I think a guy like Eric will like someone like me? My brain cells aren't even complete, neither are my facial features something to write about.If I'm a guy and I have to choose between myself and Mariam, I'll definitely go for Mariam. Not only is she beautiful, but her brain cells aren't as dormant as mine.“You can't sleep?” Eric's voice startles me.He inhales deeply as he turns over to lay on his side, his fist under his cheek.“I
Finding Us 18: Scared of the worse
The look Annie gives me when she opens the door prompts me to explain myself in details. However, she stops my rambling with a snicker and tells me I don't owe her an explanation. Then she walks away and starts to sing aloud.Amanda's voice is loud in prayer while Diamond's Bluetooth speaker is turned up so that it somehow overshadows the girls' voices. It's the usual noise I'm subjected to every morning, but this time, it doesn't annoy me. Instead, it makes me smile.I woke up feeling better. Although there's the fact that I'm a useless friend to Eric, I don't know, something about our conversation last night makes me feel a little... useful.The girls are all finished and are on their way to school by the time I'm done, so we leave together.“Ehen, Zhaki came last night to tell us that we should
Finding Us 19: Almost
I wish I never answered the call that came in a few hours later.Eric left to submit his assignment to his course rep., so I had to go to the canteen alone. I'd just bought my food and taken two spoons when my phone rang.The number was unknown. Unfamiliar. I assumed it was someone I knew. Someone I shouldn't miss their call. I should've known better.“Hello.” I swallowed my food before saying.“My beautiful.”I froze. My heartbeat progressed to an erratic state as I struggled to believe what I heard. My heart pounded so hard, it desired a quick escape.Mr Victor has been showing up for his classes these past few days, but I've always been abl
Finding Us 20: Be your brother's keeper
“It seems like you don't like to hear word,” Eric tells me. “Where did you drop your phone?”“It's in my bag.” I unzip my bag to take it out, then I see the ten calls I missed. Five from Eric. Two from my mom, two from my dad and one from my sister. “Yikes.”“What were you doing with that guy?” Eric nods sideways.“Who? Caleb? We were just talking.”“I thought Harry warned you to stay away from him.”I look over his shoulder at Harry standing afar, his hands in his pocket as he stares ahead.“He told me, but he never said why.”“So it's until you have a gun to your head or a knife close to y
Finding Us 21: There was a caught
My speech starts with a stutter, then a quick pause before it progresses with a ramble that has Annie and Amanda giving me looks.Diamond, who is the recipient of my advice, doesn't even move a muscle. Her eyes are trained on me like a hawk's, her arms folded over her chest. Though she remains still when I'm finished, it's clear a storm is brewing within her and I can already tell Annie and Amanda, who are standing behind me, hate me for dragging them into this.A chortle is what breaks out of Diamond first as she shakes her head and regards me with those stormy eyes.“Come let me ask you,” — she gestures at me before interlacing her fingers — “Did I, in any way, mention, even if it was by mistake o, that we're friends?”“Shebi I told you,” Ann
Finding Us 22: Higher power
It takes time before Annie stops crying and collects the handkerchief Amanda brought from her room. She cleans her face, blows into the handkerchief and sniffs.“Are you okay now?” I ask.She nods but doesn't say anything. I'm at a loss for words, Amanda likewise. We both sit by her, exchanging glances as we wait for her to feel better and maybe tell us why she cried.When she finally speaks, her words stun us into deeper silence. “My dad drowned when I was eleven, and I saw it happen.” She sniffs, wiping the tip of her nose. “We had been on vacation and were at the beach that day. My dad was a surfer and decided to hit the waters for a couple of minutes. The ocean was calm, so he started smoothly, impressing everyone watching with a few stunts. I was so happy watching him.”
Finding Us 23: Truth hurts I
Classes ended minutes ago, but I spent most of my time (during the class) trying to get Eric on the phone. The fact that he's not in the hall when I later searched for him and he's not answering my calls makes me very worried.“Your friend's still not picking?” Caleb asks from beside me.I glance at him before staring down at my phone. “No, and I don't know why. I've searched everywhere in the hall, but I can't find him. Eric has never missed a class,” the last part I murmur as I dial his number again.He still doesn't answer.I recline with a loud sigh.“Maybe something came up at home, so he couldn't make it in time,” Caleb says. “He'll probably show up later.”“Maybe.”But my mood sours, my excitement fading away wi
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