Pitbabe S2, Chapter 21 pg 7

 Pitbabe S2, Chapter 21 pg 7

   The kid goes quiet. He doesn’t seem to be rejecting it, just maybe confused by my sudden teasing touch. Willy’s face turns red, his expression a mix of liking it and feeling awkward. He seems to be trying to control himself, and the way this kid chooses to do that is by leaning his forehead against my shoulder, like someone who’s run out of energy to fight.

   Making someone crumble at your feet isn’t hard at all. Charlie might have made me feel weak for a moment, but I’m still me. Whatever I want, in the end, it’s always mine, no matter what.

   “Is Willy okay?” Phii Alan turns to ask, noticing Willy slumped with his head resting on my shoulder.

   “He’s not feeling well,” I answer calmly. “He said he has a headache.”

   “Hey, aren’t you letting him go rest?”

   “I told him, but he won’t go. Says he’s scared of getting scolded by Dad,” I lied casually, and Willy showed no sign of looking up to correct me. He sat quietly, breathing in and out as if meditating, while I squeezed and rubbed his thigh like it was a stress toy. “He’s fine.”

   “You sure?”

   “Yep,” I replied with a smile. “Right, Willy?”

   I asked for confirmation from Willy, who cooperated well. The boy didn’t lift his head from my shoulder but nodded slightly as an answer. Seeing this, Phii Alan didn’t press further. He turned to talk about something with the guy next to him, who seemed to have been trying to strike up a conversation for a while. So, the situation boiled down to just me, Charlie, and Willy, who was unwittingly dragged into it.

   Up to now, Charlie kept staring at me. His gaze was even more intense than before. For a moment, I felt like he was about to get up from his chair, walk over, yank Willy away, and pull me into a passionate kiss in front of everyone. Of course, that was just my imagination. If it actually happened, we’d both be thrown out of the event, it’d become a huge scandal, and we’d be cursed out for weeks. That’s not something someone as sensible as Charlie would do.

   Right now, a VTR was playing on stage, hyping up the idol group performing at the event. Taking advantage of the dimmed lights and everyone’s attention on the stage, I slipped out of the hall. I told Willy I was going to the bathroom. The kid looked confused but nodded hesitantly, not asking to come along—probably because I’d been a bit rough earlier, and his foreign kid system was already thrown off.

   I walked out along the hallway beside the hall. It was dead silent here, likely because the entire floor had only this one hall, and everyone was inside. Outside, there were just a few staff members and security guards patrolling. I turned into the men’s bathroom, stopped in front of the mirror, and stared at my reflection. The bathroom was empty except for me, which was good, because I didn’t actually come here for personal business. I just wanted a moment away from prying eyes.

   A minute or two passed, and the sound of leather shoes clicking on the floor grew closer.

   They stopped near me, right in front of the mirror.

   I didn’t turn to look at him, only glanced at the newcomer through the mirror’s reflection. He didn’t say anything, just kept staring at me, the same way he did back in the hall.

   “Not using the bathroom?”

   I asked to break the silence, reaching to turn on the faucet, letting water run over my hands even though they weren’t dirty.

   “Just wanted to step outside,” Charlie said flatly, still not breaking his gaze. “It’s stifling in there.”

   “Thought you’d like crowded places like that.”

   “Since when have I liked stuff like that?”

   “Dunno,” I replied, turning off the faucet and pulling two tissues from under the mirror. I slowly wiped my damp hands, in no rush. “Just guessing. I don’t know you that well anyway.”

   “If you don’t know me, who would?”

   “Probably not,” I say, tossing the crumpled used tissue into the bin by the sink before turning to face my former lover, someone I barely recognize anymore. Even now, standing before me, looking flawless from head to toe, he feels worlds away, like we’re on different planets. “When have you ever let anyone truly know you?”

   Charlie falls silent. His demeanor softens slightly compared to when he’s in front of others, but I can still sense the heavy, simmering emotions lingering within him. Of course, that’s to be expected—otherwise, he wouldn’t have followed me out here like this.

   “Why is you acting like this?” he asks.

   “Doing what?” I counter. “Washing my hands?”

   “you know what I mean.”

   “If you know, why bother asking?”

   Charlie lets out a heavy sigh, my response clearly stoking the warm embers of his frustration.

   “I’m not saying anything,” he finally says, cutting to the chase, though I had to prod him into it. “If you want to talk or get involved with Willy, that’s fine. But isn’t it a bit soon?” His bluntness comes at last. “The news just broke not long ago, and it hasn’t even died down yet. People already think you cheated on me, and now you’re showing up to events together? It’ll be trending again in no time.”

   “And what’s your point?” I ask casually, completely unbothered by his words.

   “I’m worried.”

   “As what?”

   “Your ex.”

   I let out a chuckle. As annoying as it is, I genuinely enjoy when Charlie puts up a fight like this.

   “Alright, that status is acceptable,” I nod with a grin before pressing further. “But is your ex just worried… or is it jealousy?”

   “Whether I’m jealous or not doesn’t matter, does it?”

   “Talking like that means you’re jealous.”

   “And if I am jealous, would you stop?”

   I’ve lied to Charlie about my feelings for him countless times, deliberately and without a shred of guilt. I’ve always stood tall, proud of facing myself. Every time I search my heart, I find Charlie there—Charlie, the imaginary version who’s been with me for nearly three years. I’ve sat down and talked to him over and over. I’ve told him I miss him, I’m sorry, and that I still love him with all my heart. It’s agonizing, and it’s kept me from truly moving on. I’ve accepted that truth and encouraged myself that one day I’ll forget him. I thought I could.

   But with just one sentence from him, my confidence starts to waver.

   “No.”

   I really can’t forget him.

   “Even if there’s a knife to my throat, I won’t stop.”

   Charlie was skilled enough to make me love him, but not skilled enough to make me forget him.

   

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