CHAPTER 5

Alex's POV:

It seems that lately Gin has been avoiding me, and it's not the type of avoiding eye-contact, it's the type that is way too obvious.

His behavior begins to annoy me. A lot.

Every single time that I approach him, he jumps in surprise and runs away. He has been keeping his distance as well. He stopped talking to me, touching me and even being here- in front of me.

I can feel his gaze on me when I am out and about but that's the closest that he has been for the past two weeks- Weirdly enough, my father doesn't seem to notice or he simply doesn't care.

Yesterday, father left to a business trip again, though this time it's for three months long.

I sigh. What am I gonna do about this?

I look behind me to find Gin spying on me from behind a tree that, mind I tell you, I passed five minutes ago.

He is just that far.

Maybe I should fake my death for him to finally approach me. A thought runs in my head. I shake my head and shake the stupid thought away.

I ignore him and keep on walking to the university. Lately, I don't feel like driving so I spend half an hour walking to my school each morning.

Luckily, no one has noticed Gin spying on me. Even though, his uniform is eye-catching no one has commented or pointed fingers at him.

I sigh again. I have been doing that quite often lately. There's no such day that has passed by without at least ten sighs. A sigh escapes my mouth once more.

I should stop doing that.

"Yo, dude. You seem down, you cool?" Max steps in front of me. I gasp in shock.

"Shit. Dude, you scared the hell outta me."

He points an innocent finger at himself. "Me? I have been calling your name for the past like.. ten minutes and I got no response."

"Oh shoot. Sorry. I was in my own thoughts."

"I could guess that much. So what were you thinking about so hard to make you miss our classroom?"

"Huh? Miss? What do you-" I look around and indeed, I missed our class. I am in a completely different hall. "-Shoot. What time is it?"

"It's late. Might as well skip." I sigh. I learnt that I can't trust everything he spits out of his mouth.

I take my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans and check the time. I cock an eyebrow and stare at Max.

"It hasn't even started yet."

"Well, I saw the teacher come in."

"Doesn't sound very convincing. Let's go, we have whole ten minutes to spare." Max groaned in frustration.

"Why can't you just skip, at least once."

"You are gonna thank me for forcing you to attend. Trust me." A deep and long sigh escapes his mouth.

"Fine. You win."

"As usual, you have fallen victim to my manly charms." A laugh erupts from his throat.

"That's right. I have fallen deeply." He slaps my bum before rushing off to class, knowing full well that I was chasing behind him.

*><*

"Well, that was interesting."

"Chemistry is never boring, Max."

"For you." I role my eyes and at his comment. "-Well, anyway, what should we get for lunch?"

"I was thinking of staying in today actually."

"I agree. The weather-forecast said it will be stormy today." We both look outside, the darkening clouds start to gather. "- Let's head to the cafeteria." I agree wholeheartedly.

After awhile, we have finally found an available table. We sit comfortably and begin enjoying our meal.

"Hey. Look, I know it's none of my business but can you tell me what's going on? You haven't been quite yourself lately." Max looks into my eyes, searching for answers.

I shake my head.

"It's not a big deal. I'll take care of it."

"I still wanna hear about it though. Is it a girl? Huh? Do you have someone on your mind?"

"Well, you can say that but she has been avoiding me lately and I don't know what to do.." I sigh annoyingly. I run my fingers through my hair and slump in my chair lazily.

"What did you do to make her avoid you?"

"Well, lets say that I expressed my thoughts in the wrong way and she got the wrong idea.."

"How so?"

I sigh again. "It's complicated, Ok?"

"I am all ears, darling. Let me be your mom today."

"Ew."

After a few moments of silence, we both burst out laughing.

Feeling a bit at ease, I spill the bins to my best friend.

"Ok, mom. So it all began-"

"Don't. Just get to the chase, idiot." I chuckle and nod.

"Basically, she wanted more but I couldn't give it to her so-"

"So your idiot self, rejected her."

"Kinda." Max sighs.

"What am I gonna do with you, my poor idiotic child."

"Mom, that was rude." We both laugh again.

I check the phone.

"Time to head back. Come on mom, we have an entire day to have mother-son talks."

<_<

"See ya, dude." Max waves goodbye and walks away but he turns around before completely disappearing in the crowd. "-It seems like a storm is really approaching. Be careful on your way home, bud."

"Will do. See ya."

As soon as classes are over, everyone rushes out to get home on time before the storm.

By the time I got outside, the parking lot is empty and the sky rumbles, warning me of what's to come.

I sigh.

"I am doomed." I neither have a car, nor an umbrella.

I better make my way home quickly before the weather is going to change for the worst.

I step outside of the building and quicken my pace. A few moments later the sky rumbles and lightning strikes.

I jump in surprise, understating that my time runs short- I begin running.

Lightning accompanied by thunder struck the sky multiple times, making the entire ground shake.

Just two more blocks and I am safe but luck isn't on my side today.

The sky turns instantly black, the wind picked up and rain showered the entire region. The powerful strokes of the rain, make it hard to see and ,sadly to say, painful on my skin.

I know that running in such dangerous weather is bad but I want to get home as quickly as possible.

A moment later, as if the devil pulled at my feet, I fall to the ground with a painful groan.

"Shit." I am not just soaking wet anymore.

I feel upset. I want to cry. Dark thoughts run through my head. Does rain always make people feel like this?

A minute later, still laying on the ground, a rough hand grips my arm.

"Stand up." I stare at the man who I haven't seen this up close for over two weeks.

I feel tears run down my cheeks. A shocked and worried expression crosses Gin's face.

"What d-did I do wrong?" I mumble, my voice cracks.

"It's not the right time to vent your emotions, Alex."

I felt my blood start to boil, anger exploding instantly in my body.

I slap his hand away and stand up, glaring into his eyes that are void of any emotion. His once beautiful bright gray eyes, are now empty and expressionless.

"I DECIDE WHEN AND WHERE WE TALK! I DECIDE WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO AVOID ME, STOP TALKING TO ME AND TOUCH ME! I DECIDE WHEN YOU DO AND HOW YOU DO IT AND YOU HAVE NO SAY IN ANYTHING!! So why... Why are you doing to me?"

I end up clinging to his chest, my fists are tugging tightly at his shirt. Tears running down my face.

One second he is staring at me, dumbfounded. The other second, his arms wrap around me.

"I am sorry." We stay in that position for awhile until a sneeze escapes my lips.

"We better get going." I nod but say nothing.

^×^

It was so embarrassing! I actually cried in front of my bodyguard for avoiding me!

"Alex, you ok?" He wraps a thick blanket around my body and hands me a warm drink.

I nod but say nothing. Gin sits next to me on the sofa, staring at me instead of the movie that is playing on the T.V.

"We need to talk."

"Yes, we do."

"Hey, Alex." A few moments of silence later.

"Hmm?"

"Please look at me." I do as he requests and silently stare into his burning eyes.

"I am sorry. I was childish. I sincerely apologize. It wasn't my place to act this way."

"I think that I should be the one apologizing. I gave you the wrong idea. I am sorry."

He nods with a smile before extending his hand. "Friends?"

I smile in return. "Friends." I shake his hand.

When I realized that our hands have been tied together for too long, I try to break away but Gin wouldn't let go.

"Gin, let go."

"Alex... I can't do this after all."

"Huh?"

"I want more than just being friends with you, Alex."

"Gin... I-"

"Forget it." He completely shuts me off when he sees the conflict in my eyes but the fury in his worsens.

"You should go to sleep, Alex. It's late." I nod before heading towards my room.

Arriving to my room, I walk to the full-body length mirror, staring at the person that I barely recognized.

"I want more than just being friends with you, Alex."

My cheeks turn red, my heart skips a beat and I feel hot.

What's wrong with me?