Pitbabe S2, Chapter 27 pg 3

 Pitbabe S2, Chapter 27 pg 3

   “What’s weird about getting some cuts when you’re dealing with knives and fire?” I asked.

   Even with these wounds.

   “It’s not weird to have some, but there’s barely any space left for more bandages,” Kenta said, shaking my hand like a sports coach. His face looked utterly displeased, even though the wounds were on my hand, not his head. “Let’s take turns, at least to give your wounds time to heal. You can’t keep getting new ones every time.”

   “You talk like I want these wounds,” I said.

   “I know you don’t, that’s why I’m saying we should take turns.”

   “And when are you going to find time to cook? Your dad’s calling you all the time.”

   “I’ll figure it out,” the Japanese guy insisted, sticking to his offer. I never thought my cooking injuries would annoy him this much. It seems like he’s the type who can’t stand seeing clumsiness.

   “He doesn’t call me that often anymore. He’s probably up to something again, keeping it all hush-hush.”

   “What do you think he’s doing?” I couldn’t help but pry when it came to Tony. It’s unavoidable when every move that old dog makes is tied to the life and death of so many people. “Is it about The One?”

   “Probably,” Kenta replied. “The researchers seem to have gotten some kind of data. It must be important. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be shutting me out like this.”

   “You’ve got to find out, don’t let him pull anything behind our backs again.”

   “I know, I’m trying.”

   “Warn Babe too.”

   Kenta went silent. Though his face remained calm, his eyes flickered. He was probably startled that I suddenly brought up Babe, after pretending to be oblivious every time they acted secretive for a while now.

   “You know something?” Kenta asked, still perfectly controlling his expression and demeanor.

   “I don’t.”

   “Don’t lie.”

   “I really don’t,” I insisted earnestly. “I don’t know what you and Babe are up to. I just know there’s something, because you two aren’t subtle at all.”

   The Japanese guy let out a heavy sigh. I couldn’t tell if he was exasperated or relieved. Honestly, I didn’t want to reveal that I had some inkling of what was going on, but since we’re together every day, I couldn’t help but speak up. If something bad happened one day, I didn’t want to sit there blaming myself for not doing everything I could. Regret over things that can’t be fixed is the kind of regret I hate the most.

   “I didn’t mean to hide anything from you…”

   “I know,” I cut in, because I didn’t like the guilty look on Kenta’s face. Especially over this, when he hadn’t done anything wrong. I figured he must’ve apologized countless times for things he wasn’t guilty of when he was with Tony. That’s why I didn’t want him to feel the same way with me. “Some things are riskier the more people know. I get that.”

   I spoke casually, not wanting Kenta to feel like talking about these things with me was a big deal. Even though, in reality, it was a big deal.

   “But I just want you to get used to the fact that you’re not alone anymore.”

   I’d wanted to say this to him for a long time. I’d hesitated, unsure how to tell him, how to say it without making him feel like I was destroying his peaceful sanctuary, how to become part of his lonely world without scaring him.

   He didn’t love solitude; he was just too used to it.

   He didn’t hate people; he just always believed people hated him.

   He wasn’t born cruel; the world was just crueler to him than to anyone else.

   He didn’t want to carry the whole world on his shoulders alone; it’s just that no one ever taught him how to ask for help.

   “If you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to. I’m not going to pry. But if you do want to tell me, don’t hesitate. Don’t assume I’ll be annoyed or bothered.”

   It might take a while for a stray cat to get used to being a house cat. Right now, he knows when he’ll get fed and who’ll pour the food. From here on, we just need to learn together, to train until our hearts connect, letting the trust between us grow strong. And when that day comes, I won’t just be the guy who fills his bowl and water. I’ll be his first real, safe home.

   “You might not be used to it, but that’s what friends do.”

   “Friends…”

   Kenta mumbled, repeating my words. He sounded like a toddler hearing the word “friend” for the first time.

   “Yeah, friends,” I said with a smile, firmly standing by my words. “You don’t get it now, that’s fine. I’ll teach you bit by bit what being friends is all about.”

   Kenta stared at me, frozen, like he’d just locked eyes with Medusa. He seemed to half-understand, which wasn’t surprising for a kid raised on orders instead of love.

   In this harsh, real world, he was a boy whose age had stopped, his body growing while his mind was forced to skip steps. His heart, frozen, could only feel so much. That’s why he never had the chance to learn how much his heart was capable of.

   “I know what a friend is,” he said confidently.

   “Good. You won’t be confused when we get to the practical lessons.”

   I replied with a grin.

   “Hm…”

   

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