I can carry it all by myself!" I told him,my hands trembling. The packages were already becoming heavy.
Then he walked away from me. Was I too forward and rude? I know this game doesn't fits me, but it's playfight , I guess.No physical violence.
I ran towards him,"Hey... I'm sorry for acting rudely towards you...I think I don't have the stamina to act nonchalant!"
He nabbed the packages from me and we waited for another trambus.
" Thank you!"
I smiled, gazing at him. I wondered why he was acting this cool. Maybe, that's also the good aspect of him and I cherish it, even though he's not that communicative as a friend- to-be.
" Stop staring at me with those big eyes!" He muttered.
I looked away," Sorry". But do I really have big eyes? Mom and Dad said I have attractive eyes,why is Liam saying something different? Well, whatever!
" How about that basketball stuff?" He asked.
I widened my eyes at him," Basketball?Heh, I'll try it on Monday with Xander. Will you like to join?"
He was silent for a while.
" How will a pro join amateurs in the same field?"
I arched my eyebrows," You know how to play it very well?"
He sighed," Will you learn from me or him?"
I smiled," You,of course!" I touched his biceps," A pro? No wonder you look athletic!"
" Don't touch me." He said.
" I'm sorry!" I pulled away.
He pulled out his phone from his pocket and gave it to me," Add your WeChat number so we can conclude a perfect time to engage in the basketball practice."
" Okay!"I scanned my WeChat account and added my number in his phone.
" What did you save your number as?" He asked.
" Childhood Enemy!" I jabbered." Is it okay for you?"I asked handling his phone back to him.
He shrugged,with a weird smirk.
"I won't be busy this evening..." He said.
I glanced at him," So...the basketball practice, at your home?"
" You don't want to learn it?"
I stuttered," Your parents warned me not to visit you again. I don't want to disobey them. Maybe we can try the practice in the school sportsfield..."
" Then forget it!" He snapped.
" Fine... I'll visit!"
" Better!" He said.
Better??? Meaning?
A trambus stopped and we entered.We sat closer each other.Can't believe we would be this close together and peacefully, unlike like our childhood days when it felt like flame to play together.
Lily must be right. Our friendship is real, but weird sort of.
A guy was passing by our row, and had almost hitted me with his knuckles, before Liam pulled me closer.My heart skipped.This was the very first time he touched me, just to protect me. Well, it's something normal. We're friends, aren't we?
" Are you okay?" He asked, looking away.
" Yes!" I smiled," Thank you!"
He pulled me away and touched the nape of his neck.
" Do you still have sore there? " I asked him.
He shook his head," No. Don't bother." He said.
**********
Later that evening...
I went to Liam's house, but cautiously. Everywhere changed from when last I visited him at six.Flowers was more bountiful around and birds chirped kind of noisily on the acacia trees that had always been fresh.The balcony had new staircase and terrazzo floor.
I knocked on the door indistinctly,my hands shaking.
There was no answer. Back then,even if I didn't knocked, someone inside would know that I was at the balcony. So...why was it different now?
I knocked again and the door slowly opened.
I walked inside.
I saw Liam.He sat on the bigger couch. He wasn't looking steady; he was looking dull, like he was ill.And it seemed like his parents weren't around.
" Are you okay?" I asked him, standing by the door.
He said nothing but fidgeted. I approached him and felt his temperature.
I widened my eyes," You are hot!"
I ran to the bathroom and got a bucket of water and a face towel.
I sat beside him and tried to press the soaked towel around his face, but he took the towel from me and said," I'm fine."
He cleaned his face by his, shivering.
" Isn't there drugs here?" I asked him.
" No." He stuttered, trembling.
The situation was really getting serious and I was becoming hot.
" Where's your phone?" I asked him.
He pointed at the smaller couch and I quickly reached for the phone. I dialed my uncle's number. He was a certified doctor and owned a big hospital approved by the government.
He finally picked," Hi. Who's this?"
" It's Chloe,uncle. Please order an ambulance to 13th Roof, there's an emergency situation going on right now!"
He replied," They're on their way, Chloe!" He said and hung the call.
************
WARD 311...
I watched Liam lying on the sick bed for more than an hour now. The nurses said he would be fine, but I was really worried.
His phone rang. It was his Mom calling.I picked the call.
" Hello,Liam!" His mother had snapped.
" Good day,Ma. This's Liam's friend talking with you. He's sick and has been admitted to the hospital. Ward...311!" I said,with some confidence stroking deeply in each word I said.
" I'll be right there with his father. Thank you!" She said and hung the call.
I sighed.
Uncle entered the room.
" Chloe?"
"Uncle, Good day... thank you for ordering the ambulance on time" I smiled at him.
He nodded, just like he does always," Anything for you!" He teased, shrugging.
I giggled.
" He's your friend?"Uncle asked.
I nodded," Yes. How long will it take him to wake up?"
" Seems like you are really worried, but you really don't need to. His case is just neglible and he'll be fine within some hours." He said.
" Okay. Thank you,Uncle!"
He nodded," I'll order some nurses to bring him some soft fruits, just incase he wakes up and feels hungry." He said and left.
I sat closer Liam, feeling the slow and steady pulses on the chest. He really looked handsome closing his eyes.And his lashes were long. Wow!
Sleeping Handsome?
That's crazy!
I hung my hands on my jaw, deeply engrossed by his handsomeness. Even that lemonade scent drew me closer and closer.
" What are you doing?" That warm voice pulled me back to the seat, like an opposing magnet.
He was awake and was staring weirdly at me," You are awake?" I smiled at him.
He said nothing but laid back on the sick bed with a heavy sigh. He hissed and shook his head.
Why did he do that ? Or the words I said didn't comforted him?
" I'm sorry if what I said was inconvenient to you... but see, you have been on this sick bed for more than an hour..."
" I know!" He snapped, looking away.
What's wrong with him.
" Did my parents called?" He asked me.
I nodded quickly," They'll be here soon."
He said nothing and laid back again.
Two nurses walked in with a tray of different fruits. I swallowed hard, the fruits were looking sumptuous.
" Oh. He's awake." One of them said.
I nodded.
The other one handed me the tray of fruits, smiling politely," You should be the one to feed him these fruits, okay?"
I nodded, returning the smile," Sure."
Liam tried to take the tray from me but the nurses held him back quickly.
" Don't touch me" He told them.
Why does he hate someone touching him? Not even slightly!
" You don't need to stress yourself.Allow your girlfriend to feed you!" One of them said, teasingly.
Did I just hear girlfriend? That's weird!
" I'm not his girlfriend!" I snapped at the nurses.
" Ok, whatever." They said and left us alone.
I gazed at Liam. He was also gazing at me,
" What?" He thundered.
I looked away,my eyes moist.
" Are you hungry?"
" Yes." He replied, sitting up. I like that quick reply, unlike when he would say nothing.
I kept the tray before him and pulled out some bananas. I peeled them and tried feeding him but he held my hand," Don't!"
He tried to take the banana from my hands but I leaned away.
" Just as the nurses said, let me feed you please!"
" I'll do it myself." He insisted and finally took the bananas from me.
He wolfed down the banana and suddenly started coughing. I reached my hands for water and finally fed him the water, placing my other hand on his chest to ease the cough.
" Are you okay now?" I asked him, widening my eyes at his.
He said nothing but stared at me deeply. I wondered what was in my eyes. Flies? Dirt? Something scary?
" A girl?" That voice broke our silent,deep moment. My heart skipped. Who was that now?
Trying to be naive, I turned back quickly and saw Liam's parents. I widened my eyes. Now, they'd think I wanted to seduce their only son.
I bowed before them," Good day..." I said,my voice shaking.
They seemed cool,as if they were happy seeing us together. Isn't that weird?
" He's awake already!" Liam's mother smiled and approached him.
His father glanced at me, with a warm smile. He suddenly tilted his head," Chloe?"
I nodded, feeling hotness around me. Chloe,the seducer!
" You're grown now. You are really a good friend! You go to the same High School?" He said,patting me slowly.
" Yes" I nodded.
" Thank you,girl!" Liam's mother waved at me.
His father snapped," It's Chloe!"
His mother widened her eyes and reached me for a tight hug I never had in my life.
" I never knew it was you! Such a sweet girl! You're now grown up!"
She finally pulled away and I felt relieved a bit. I hated hugs.
" And it seems our son is comfortable around you. We beg you to be his school companion since he has no friend!" His father said.
School companion? Gosh, my heart just soared high!
I smiled at his father," Sure. I'll not just be his friend, but his vanguard!"
His parents giggled.
" Funny girl!" His father had teased me.
" Chloe, we're having a dinner party tonight. You're invited!" His mother told me.
Invited? OMG.
" Thank you,Ma." I bowed at her, beaming in smile.
Well, couldn't believe everything turned out this way. Like something I had been wishing for came to be real.
**********