Chapter 10 — Feelings
“HEY, Audrey, aren’t you going home?” Rose asked when she noticed that she’s walking on the other side of the street.
Audrey faced her. “I’ll visit my Aunt Maria,” she said. When Rose was about to speak, she added, “you don’t have to come with me. I know you’re busy at home.”
Rose narrowed her eyes. “You don’t want me to go with you because someone’s gonna be with you?” she said with an arched brow, passing her gaze over her shoulders. “So, you’re that close now?”
Audrey turned around and saw Justin standing on the sidewalk just a few meters away from them. The man turned his head at them and waved as soon as he saw her. He even strode towards them.
“Oh, no,” she said in a panic. She doesn’t know what to do. “I didn’t invite him—”
“Maybe he invited himself.” Rose waved at Justin. “Hey, you have plans?”
Audrey wanted to nudge Rose, but she controlled herself. She looked at Justin shyly and smiled. After he visited their classroom a while ago, all her classmates were glaring and gawking at her as if she’d made a terrible mistake. She’s not used to getting so much attention from other people, and she never wanted to experience it either. All she ever wanted is to be an invisible student until she graduated.
“Yes,” she heard Justin answered without a hint of hesitation.
Rose nodded slowly. “So, you’re going with Audrey to visit her Aunt Maria?”
Justin knotted his forehead. “Who?”
Audrey cleared her throat. “He’s not coming with me, Rose,” she said. “I’ll go alone.”
“I can come with you, Audrey,” Justin insisted. “Melinda and the musical department students are not yet suspended. I can’t just let you walk alone in the streets. If they managed to bother you inside the school, what more in the streets?”
Rose released a low squeal. “You’re so sweet, Justin!” She jokingly pushed Justin’s shoulders. “Yesterday, you caught a slamming chair for Audrey and now you’re protecting her! Tell me, do you like her—?”
“Rose, stop it!” Audrey glared at Rose that made her took a step back.
“Chill, Audrey…” she said, a bit surprised with her reaction.
Audrey’s vision is starting to blur again. She’s losing focus on Rose’s face as if something’s squeezing her eyeballs.
“Audrey.” Justin’s voice pulled her back.
She looked up at him, startled. “Huh?”
“Are you okay?” he asked, his tone was a bit low.
“Audrey, don’t look at me like that ever again!” Rose caught her chest. “Jesus, you scare the hell out of me!”
“D-did I glare at you?” she asked on a knotted forehead. “I’m sorry…”
Before Rose could reply, Audrey started walking away from them. She has to do something with this before it could get any worse. She bit her lip. What if it became uncontrollable? What if Althea started to hurt the ones she loves the most?
“Audrey!” Justin caught her arm and pulled her to stop. “Are you okay? Tell me, did you feel it?”
Audrey looked at where she left Rose, but her friend was no longer there. “W-Where’s Rose?”
“She left.”
She lowered her head. “Did she notice?”
“I guess not,” Justin replied. “She just told me to never leave your side.”
Audrey bit her lower lip as she struggled to fight back her tears. “I-I don’t want to hurt Rose…”
“It wasn’t you, Audrey.” Justin’s hand captured hers. “Stop worrying about it—”
“It’s me, Justin…” she said. “Althea is the other side of me. She’s in me…”
Justin heaved a sigh. “I know that there are ways on how to handle your alter persona, but we have to confirm it first from a professional,” he said and gave her hand a squeeze. “And whatever it is, Audrey, I promise that I will never leave your side.”
Audrey looked into Justin’s eyes. “Why are you doing this, Justin?”
The man smiled. “Is there anyone else that you want to do it for you?”
Audrey thought for a moment, then sighed. “I don’t have other friends… Only Rose and…” she hesitated. “You.”
“Then, it’s me,” Justin tugged her hand. “And, besides, I am capable of taking care of you because your case is in my field of study.”
My case…The word echoed in her mind.
“So where do you plan to go?” Justin asked, still holding her hand.
“I’m planning to visit my Aunt Maria and ask her about my childhood memories that I can’t remember,” she said, feeling safe and sound with his hand intertwined with hers.
Audrey never felt comfortable with anyone like this before—it’s because she was an aloof person and seldom talk with anyone in the school. Only Rose dared to speak to her in the canteen and told her that she looked like her baby sister. Audrey laughed, and since then, Rose stuck to her side.
“I can’t remember mine too,” Justin said. “It’s normal to can’t remember your childhood memories, especially if you were so young at that time.”
“But my mother also refused to tell it to me,” she said and looked at Justin. “My father died when I was three. I kept asking my mom what happened to my dad, what’s the cause of his death, what he was like when he’s alive… But she also kept her mouth shut.”
“Maybe it was still hard for your mother to talk about it,” he said. “To grieve for someone you loved might take a lifetime.”
“I know… But I am their daughter, and I deserve to know about my father, right?” Audrey heaved a sigh. “I shouldn’t be telling these things to you… I’m sorry, Justin. I don’t intend to sound toxic—”
“Hey, it’s okay, Audrey.” Justin squeezed her hand. “Honestly, I’m glad that you’re opening up to me. It’s a good start for our friendship.”
Friendship…A part of Audrey protested about it.
“Where’s your Aunt Maria’s house?” he asked, changing the subject.
“I changed my mind,” she said in a low voice. “I think the one that we should talk to is Dr. Edward.”