Chapter 4
Dad got me two days off to recover at home.
Since that day, Andre hadn’t sent me a single message.
I tortured myself by turning on “Do Not Disturb” for him on Facebook, but I couldn’t help but check my messages again just a few minutes later.
By the time I returned to school on Wednesday, there still hadn’t been a single message from him.
During my first morning back at school, I was racing to catch up on all the subjects I had missed.
At lunch, Andre asked me to join him, but I declined. “I already asked my deskmate to bring me lunch.”
Then I pointed to the test paper in front of me. “I need to catch up, and my foot still isn’t completely healed. The doctor said I should try to walk as little as possible.”
Andre frowned, looking uneasy. “Why don’t I bring you lunch?”
.
I kept my head down, focused on checking my answers. “It’s fine. It doesn’t matter who brings it.”
Our classroom was empty except for the two of us. The only sound was the soft scratching of my pen on the paper.
Andre spoke up again, “Let me help you study.”
“I don’t need that.” I instinctively refused. “I can just look at my deskmate’s notes.”
Andre’s patience was running thin. He snatched my pen away and tossed it aside, speaking firmly. “You’re upset with me.”
Finally, I looked up at him. After two days of tormenting myself and feeling sorry for myself, I managed to calm down.
I said honestly, “It’s not like that. I’m just wondering if our relationship should end here.”
Andre’s expression suddenly tensed. I quietly asked, “Do you know I sprained my ankle?”
He nodded. “I overheard your deskmate talking about it.”
His eyes were calm, like a quiet night, but his expression showed he didn’t realize he had done anything wrong.
For so many days, I had been in a silent battle with myself. I sighed and said, “I used to think that being with you was enough. But then I became greedy, and I couldn’t help but want more. When Sherry scraped her knee, you would even take her to the hospital to get checked. I sprained my ankle, and you knew but didn’t even ask how I was once.”
My voice dropped, almost a whisper. “I don’t want a boyfriend like that…”
Andre voice became a bit strained, but he spoke more quickly than usual. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were waiting for me to message. I didn’t ask because I thought your family would take good care of you. You wouldn’t be in any real trouble. But Sherry isn’t. like you. She only has me.”
I couldn’t continue the conversation, so I redirected my focus back to the test paper.
Andre didn’t take my pen again. He was so quiet that I almost forgot someone was standing in front of me.
I don’t know how long it was before he spoke softly, almost like he was trying to soothe a child. “Is your ankle still swollen?”
“Can I see it?”
Chapter 4
I instinctively pulled my foot back and shook my head silently.
Suddenly, I lost the desire to talk to Andre. The passion I had for him seemed to be dwindling. But for some reason, the words “break up” got stuck in my throat, and I just couldn’t bring myself to say them.
That evening, I waited until the crowd thinned out before slowly packing my backpack and leaving the classroom.
Andre followed me closely. “Can I help you walk?”
After a bit more walking, a sharp pain shot through my ankle, and I had to stop and rest for a few minutes. Looking down at my toes, I felt a bit defeated. “What are you doing now? I’m almost fine…”
Andre stepped in front of me, subtly blocking the wind. “I know it’s a bit late for me to make it up to you. But this is my first time in a relationship, and I don’t really know how to be a good boyfriend.”
#
I had never heard him speak so gently before. “Can you give me another chance?”
“I’ll care more, Betty.”
LA
J
He adjusted his height to meet my gaze as he leaned down slightly. I couldn’t help but doubt his intentions. But in that moment, it was easy to see the sincerity in his clear eyes.
That day, I still didn’t agree to his request, but I also didn’t push him away.
I allowed him to walk me out of the school gate.
