Chapter 50
1531words
It's been two days since I last saw Brandon, I've been doing everything possible to make sure I don't bump into him. Of course I do reply to his messages, he checks up on me from time to time.
"Are you sure you want to go back?" Nao asks.
"I'll be fine."
I hug her and then leave.
* *Our Apartment* *
I take a shower and lay down on the bed, taking a deep breath in and out.
I call Xander.
"Look who decided to call."
I smile at the sound of his voice.
"Hey Xander, how are you doing? I miss you."
"What's wrong? I know something is wrong when you use that line."
"I'm just..." I pause. "Has Brandon called you these past few days?"
"Uh,yes, why?"
"It's just, anyway,it's nothing. How've you been?"
"Don't do that Kim, you're my friend, you can tell me anything, I'm here for you."
My emotions start to get the best of me, my eyes water and I can't stop thinking about that picture.
"But you're also Bran's best friend," I whisper and there's silence on the other end.
"So this is about Brandon?"
I suck in and let out a shaky breath.
"It's hurting Xan, I don't know what to do or how to make it stop."
"I can help you if you tell me what's wrong."
I'm about to speak when I hear the entrance door open.
"I have to go, goodnight Xan," I cut the call without even waiting for his reply.
I go to bed and pretend to be asleep, the door opens and there's a pause, then he starts walking and i can feel his footsteps getting closer to me. The bed dips beside me and a hand brushes my hair back, he pauses, his thumb runs over my cheek and then his touch is gone.
He gets up and a few minutes later, he's next to me in bed. I can feel him watching me, so I turn around in my fake sleep and breath deeply. The light goes off and that's when my eyes open, some time passes and he's finally asleep.
* *Morning* *
I wake up to breakfast in bed, I look around and see Bran standing at the window with his hands folded over his chest and legs crossed at the ankles.
I sit up and he turns his head in my direction, he's fully dressed and as usual, he looks handsome in his black long sleeved shirt,black jeans,gold rolex and white shoes.
He walks to the bed and sits at my side.
"Goodmorning," he greets.
"Goodmorning."
I eye the breakfast and my stomach rumbles.
He smiles but I don't smile back, I just dig in and start eating. He watches me, then suddenly, his hand reaches out and his thumb brushes my bottom lip. Our eyes meet but I'm the first one to break the contact, I finish eating and he takes the tray away.
"Do you want me drop you off on campus?"
"No, I can manage."
"Okay."
I stand and head to the bathroom, I take a shower and go to school.
* *Campus* *
I try so hard not to smile but I know it's showing.
"See? I told you I can make you smile."
I look at Matt, he's not too bad after all, at first I didn't like him because men with big egos who think they can get whoever or whatever they want are not my type of people.
I once overhead his conversation with his friends, they were betting on how long it might take him to get into one of the famous girl's pants from Business Management.
So, the time he approached us in the café, I figured he was up to something.
Then he started following me around and trying to befriend me, I wasn't and will never be part of a stupid game of assholes sleeping around for their own satisfaction and dick ego boosting.
"So, friends?"
I sigh.
"Not yet, I still need to be sure that you're not up to something."
"Oh come on, what do I have to do to make you believe me," he steps closer. "To make you believe that this," he points at the left side of his chest. "What I feel towards you is real and not some game, I would never play you like that."
I lift a brow.
"Okay fine, at first it was, but then things changed,the more I got to study you,the more my intentions changed. I'll get anything you offer, even friendship."
He holds my eyes and I don't know why, but I believe him.
"Rule number one, no making moves on me, because friends don't do that. Rule number two, no more breaking girl's hearts for fun. And to add on, you need to apologise to that girl from business."
"That's it?" He asks.
"That's it."
He smiles.
"Anything to be close to you. Now where is that Sera girl?" He rubs his hands while looking around and I shake my head, smiling.
Yep, he does remind me of Xander,but Xan is totally irreplaceable, he's too charming and hilarious without even trying.
*Later*
I stand at a distance,but close enough to hear. He apologizes to Sera, who throws water in his face and walks away.
I approach him with a smile.
"Does she have to be so mean about it?"
"Well, you deserved it, I mean, you deceived the girl and humiliated her."
I hand him a napkin and he wipes his face then stands. He holds the door for me,we walk out of the cafe, laughing about the whole thing and how he deserved more that what he got when my eyes meet Brandon's. He looks at me and then at Matt, standing next to him is Xander.
I smile at Xander and give a small wave, he returns my smile and eyes Matt carefully.
"Let me guess, one of them is your boyfriend?"
I sigh.
"And I'm guessing it's brunette guy over there."
"I'll meet up with you later, I need to go."
"Sure,see you later."
He turns around and heads in the opposite direction. I approach them and give Xander a hug.
"Hey, you didn't tell me you were visiting," I smile.
"It was a surprise."
"I see," I look at Brandon. "Hey."
"Hey."
"Who was that?" Xan tips his head in the direction Matt went.
"Uhm, a friend."
Brandon's phone rings and he excuses himself.
"Are you and Brandon okay?" He asks.
"Xander, do you know what Brandon's been up to lately? Has he told you something over the phone?"
"No, not really. Why?"
I contemplate whether I should tell you him or not, he is his best friend after all.
"Kim, you're both my friends, I won't pick sides, you can trust me."
I take in a deep breath.
"I think Brandon is seeing someone else."
There's a few seconds of silence between us.
"You know something?" I straighten. "I can see it in your eyes Xander, you do know something,don't you?"
"Look, Kim, it's not my place to tell you anything,but as your friend all I can say is, don't be quick with jumping to conclusions, if you have a problem ,you have to talk about it, confront him. If you don't approach him and just keep ignoring him, he won't know what's wrong or how to fix it."
Deep down,i know he's right, that's what Sam said too, I need to confront him. Brandon comes back and Xander quickly changes the subject.
* *Apartment* *
It's late at night when Brandon's phone rings, the shower is running, i look over and Brent flashes on the screen.
I ignore it but it rings for the third time, I'm about to ignore the whole thing when a thought crosses my mind.
Brent never calls this much, maybe it's an emergency. I get up and start heading to the bathroom to hand Brandon his phone when a text comes through.
Brent: Please Bran, we need to talk.
I frown, Brent would never text like that.
The phone rings again and I pick it up.
"Bran?"
A female voice speaks.
"Hello?" She repeats but I don't say a word.
"Babe? I can't get you, it must be the network or something, let me call you back."
Then she hangs up.
Marisa.
My heart starts to burn, she called him babe, he saved her as Brent, why did he save her as brent if he has nothing to hide?
Tears flow down my cheeks and I don't bother wiping them, I squeeze his phone in my palm until my hand hurts, i place it down and stare at the wall. How could he do this to me?
The bathroom door opens and he steps out in nothing but sweatpants. He pauses and then after a few seconds,he comes closer and crouches in front of me.
"Hey," he lifts my face to meet his but I still look at the wall. "Why are you crying?"
My eyes meet his worried ones and then I ask what has been eating me away.
"Are you cheating on me?"
