CHAPTER TEN
MALAKAI
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Pierce gives me only until the end of the day to make my decision, but I mean, how can anyone possibly respond to what he's proposing?
And time seems to be going by too fast today, how is it the last period already?
I'm going crazy.
I feel soulless as I gather my study materials from my locker.
"Hey,"
I jump at the sound of the voice, the most unbelievable person is standing in front of me.
Lana.
"I've been looking for you all over the place."
Her words tense me up. Can it be that she recalls the last time? I'm already panicking because of Pierce, if it gets worse than this, I may be having a cardiac arrest.
"The teacher told us to work on the assignment together, but you just left."
This is it?
I'm so relieved that my muscles feel weak. How's she supposed to know that I didn't hear a fucking word the teacher had said throughout the entire class?
Hell, I didn't even know she was my partner, in fact, I'd been too distracted to even notice her presence today.
"I can do it a...alone, you don't have to b...bother about it"
Shit, why am I stuttering so much?
And why is my voice in such a terrible high pitch? Does she think that I'm making a fool of myself?
"You don't want to work with me? Or are you upset with me? I kind of notice the distance between us, is it because..." She pauses, her voice lowering to a whisper.
"It was you that night, right? I remember it now,"
My heart slams hard in my ribcage.
Does she remember everything? Then she knows that I had kissed her?
Or had she seen it when Pierce had kissed me? I don't even know which one is worse.
Lana's head is bowed, and her eyes are shimmering with unshed tears and my heart prickled with shame and guilt.
I open my mouth just to apologize, but she surprised me yet again.
"I haven't been able to stop thinking about that night, You've to see me like that; I feel so embarrassed, you probably think I'm cheap." She whispers.
She mentions nothing about the kiss, can it be that she doesn't remember that?
"I don't even know why I acted like that, trust me, I'm not always like that, maybe I drank too much, I... I just... I lost control of myself." Lana is crying so hard that it just crushed my heart.
This is my Lana.
I've ignored her for so long because of Pierce. She's the most important person to me, and I can't bear to see her looking this sad.
I want to comfort her so badly but I clench my fists to my side. I desperately crave a hug from her too, I need to hear that everything is going to be fine... With us.
"It's okay, you don't have to explain yourself, everyone makes mistakes sometimes, it's not as if I'm perfect either."
My stupid mistake has led me to this present situation.
"How can you not be perfect? I mean you look like you've got everything in your life in order." Lana says.
My heart feels heavy, she trusts me so much, if she finds out about my side activities...
"Please, don't spread rumors about me, If word gets out about what happened... And Pierce even broke up with me this morning, I still don't even know what I did wrong, I've only ever tried to please him." Lana buries her face into her palms; her shoulders are trembling, and she's crying again.
Pierce broke up with her?
I guess he's already keeping his promise about leaving her alone.
Now, it's left for me to make my decision...
"You're so beautiful, Lana. Don't let him break you; I'm sure there are other people who really deserve your love."
The word ' I love you ' nearly slips from my mouth. If I confess to her now, will she think that I'm taking undue advantage of her emotional state?
Lana moves closer and suddenly wraps her arms around my neck.
She is hugging me!
I close my eyes and inhale shakily, this is exactly what I need, and I want to savour this moment for as long as I can.
"Thank you for understanding, even though it would seem that you barely pay attention to the things around you, you're still better than most people. We should hang out together sometime."
I'm speechless.
Is she asking me on a date...? My heart throbs with life.
I stare at her in a daze, I think life must be confused about whether it wants to be good to me or simply fuck me over.
This has always been my dream, going out with Lana, but now that the opportunity has presented itself, I suddenly feel reluctant.
Why now of all times?
My life just seems so complicated already.
No, I've waited my entire life for this. Fuck Pierce, I will not let him ruin this opportunity for me.
For Lana, everything is worth it, at least my suffering won't be in vain.
Pierce can keep my secret, if he wants to have sex for whatever twisted reason he has, I'll just go along with it.
I'll make sure to tell him that It's just going to be a one-time thing. I'll try my best to forget it ever happened.
Lana is my prize,
This is also my way of protecting her from him. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to pay.
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