Chapter 27: Garber’s and Luis' POV

Garber’s POV

“You left the hospital only to get into a fight?”

My mom hadn’t gotten over the situation from the hospital after I called her to come pick me up by the side of the road.

Luis’s constant jabbing had torn at my wound so badly I thought I would die.

So even if she had sent her gigolo, I couldn’t be mad.

After all, he was the one who saved me from 24/7 confrontation because when my mom wasn’t with him, she was by my side, tending to me and scolding me for getting into a ‘fight.’

Of course, she would never know the full story.

“I’m sorry, Mom. The cast will heal soon.” It’s been three weeks, and we’ve been going back and forth like this.

I sighed as I leaned on the side of the car.

“But you’ll be resuming with bandages.” No doubt she was worried about me. She never ran out of strength for that.

“Oh, my baby,” she turned to me with tear-filled eyes, but God forbid they drop and ruin her makeup. “You won’t be able to play any games. Your grades…!”

She was gasping between her pauses, but I could tell from experience that she had a whole lot more to say.

I couldn’t sit back for that.

“Stop exaggerating. I’m fully recovered.” She was basically killing my morale on the first day of school.

“Just be careful at school, okay?” She finally relented as she gestured to the driver to unlock the car. “And call if you need anything.”

“You too, be careful, Mom.” I said as I pushed the door open before stepping into the busy parking lot of the school. She sighed and lowered her head. I noticed her counting her breath before she looked up to me with the brightest and most unbothered smile.

From one nagging to another. I had no doubt there’d be girls and everyone swarming around to know what happened.

I hadn’t stepped out of the house since the party.

I turned back and gave her a look of worry. She might look strong, but I was sure that getting the divorce finalized with my dad must have hurt a lot.

“You think some divorce can shake me just because he’s the love of my life and we’ve been married for 28 years? Hmph!”

“Mom…” I was genuinely worried, but I knew she’d bounce back with Rolly by her side.

“I have my Rolly.”

Of course.

“I can also be with any man I want. Fuck him!”

“Okay. I’ll leave now. Take care.” I said.

Resuming a new term after having not hung out with my friends for most of the holiday felt so weird and strange.

It was the first time since we moved to this town, but it also gave me personal space I didn’t know I needed.

Space to think and reconsider a lot of things.

“Hey, man.” I felt someone bump into me. We were on the same soccer team, but I honestly wouldn’t remember his name unless he was wearing his jersey.

“That’s hurt.” I groaned.

This was the perfect excuse to avoid body contact, even though I was perfectly fine.

“Oh, I thought the cast was for fun…” he scratched his head and chuckled nervously. “You’re really injured,” he said, his eyes suddenly widening in shock when he got no reaction from me.

I just stared at him.

Or rather past him while my eyes roamed around for signs of Luis.

“Obviously.” I rolled my eyes when he jumped and blocked my line of sight.

“I guess the rumor that you escaped from the hospital after an accident and got into a fight was true.”

Who the fuck spread that rumor?

I didn’t want to start with the thought of that.

“Shut up!” I commanded, ready to sidestep him and focus on what really mattered.

I was fully healed now, so Luis and I needed to have that conversation again.

“Okay, man, I have class. Let’s go,” he said and tried to shoulder-hug me, but I stepped aside.

“You can go ahead,” he tried to say now but thought against it and shook his head while I watched him turn around from not receiving any attention.

I felt enlightened at that as I made my way to the second place I was sure to mistakenly run into him.

“All alone in this art room because I know he’ll pass by. Because despite how things ended, I can’t get over the fact that he truly blocked me on all social media and blacklisted my number.”

I stared at my phone then at the unfinished painting in front of me while wishing telepathy was a thing. Becauee I knew he wouldn't appear in front of me but we needed to talk.

Even though I feared being seeing by others, especially my mother, the thought of having him hate me bothered me.it made me wish he'd understand and accept my situation as it was.

Luis’ POV

“Why did he resume with a broken arm?” was the first thing I thought of, despite all the promises I made to myself.

I promised that I wouldn’t think of him, yet here I was, stealing glances at him through the window of the art class.

What was he doing here all alone?

Who was he waiting for?

My curiosity mounted. I had a million questions when he was none of my business.

I was sure I’d gotten over him, sure I wanted nothing from him, and that was why I made sure I couldn’t reach him on social media by blocking him on all platforms.

But here I was, unable to control my legs, or my eyes, or my brain. Or my thoughts, in fact.

“Loser!” I heard someone say from behind me and immediately turned to see a group of guys, about five of them.

Remembering Rolland’s words from last time, I straightened up and looked right into their eyes.

They could only bully me if I let them, and I wasn’t about to let that happen. That was until my gaze met Chen’s, and all my confidence quivered.

When I looked at him, he didn't have the gaze of aa bestfriend. The look in his eyes, the way he stared down at me made me feel like he was looking at an enemy he despised the most.

Bestfriends to worst enemies.

He had also blocked me on all social media, and when I texted his sister to beg her to clear my name, I’d gotten threats from him and a promise to sue.

“Chen, let’s talk about this,” I stepped even closer, ignoring every one of them.

The one I needed to face was my best friend.

He was the only friend I had.

“Don’t come close, you bastard.”

“You need to believe me. I didn’t do it. What you saw was—”

He stepped away when I almost reached him. And it hurt a lot more than I thought it would.

“You should be fucking grateful I didn’t tell others the truth.” he stepped closer, sneering at me, "you dont deserve to stand here." And honestly I understood his rage except it was misdirected.

“You asshole. How dare you betray your friend?” One of the four guys said as he stood in between me and Garber.

I frowned before shoving him, and thanks to Clarissa constantly bullying me to work out, my push had some impact, and he staggered away.

“I just came to warn you because I don’t ever want to cross paths with you again.

The next time I see you, I’ll expose your dirty linens in public,” he sidestepped me and shoved me aside with his shoulders.

And I couldn’t do anything other than stare till he disappeared from the corridor.

“This is a mess.” I groaned and buried my face in my palm.

“What was that about?” The sudden presence behind me made me jolt.

The plan was to steal a look and leave, but it all failed with Chen suddenly showing up.

And now, I was caught.

Caught in the arms of the last person I wanted to run into.

Yet my breath hitched and caught in my throat. His presence so close had sucked in all the energy and o needed to lean in to remember how to breathe. How could a man have such an effect on me.

He was mu crush for four years but in just four weeks of interacting, he had turned my life around and made me reconsider almost all of my life choices.