Chapter 13: Guess Who

JADE:

“Why do you think I’m feeling this way, Jade?... Do you happen to know?...”

“I... Uh…”

I looked at Liam, and he looked back at me. I cannot utter a single, sensible word. I was too focused on my own heart beat.

What is he saying to me? Did he really say what I think he said?...

“Do you...” I began to say, but before I could continue, my phone rang, making my heart jump in surprise and in disappointment at the same time.

It was my mom. I immediately answered it.

“Jade, how are you? Why does your voice sound nervous?”

I looked back at Liam and smiled half-heartedly before I walked a little further into the balcony to get a better phone signal. It’s amazing how my mom could read my emotions just by the sound of my voice.

“No, I’m fine. What is it, mom?” I wanted to tell her that the call was in its worst timing, but what can I say?

“We’ll, did you see the news? A student from your university was found dead.”

“I did. Don’t worry, mom. I’ll be careful…”

“Are you sure you’re okay, honey? You could just go back home, you know,” my mom said.

I wanted to sigh deeply, but I didn’t because Liam was right there, and if I did, it will be one long discussion again of why I should never stay alone in a dormitory by myself.

Sure, living alone is overwhelming, and at times like this, a little scary. But I was already nineteen, and I wanted a little bit of freedom. I know my mom is always worried, but given all the liberty and comfort that I was just starting to enjoy, no matter how little they are, I won’t trade them back.

Especially now that I was staying in the room right next to Liam…

Nonetheless, my mom started to enumerate a long list of reasons why I must go home and stay there for the time being.

I willingly spaced out through most of it. I didn’t want to argue with her, and I really didn’t want to continue commuting again.

“And you know Jade, about Kix…”

Suddenly, the familiar name pulled my mind back into full consciousness. I asked, “What about Kix?”

“No… It’s nothing, sweetheart...”

The silence on the other line was unnerving. Unable to control my dwindling patience, I sighed.

“Mom, listen, I’m okay. I like staying here. It’s practical and convenient. I’m already in my third year of college, and my schedule is turning hectic too. I’ll be even busier in my senior year. I know you worry about me, but I have to do this. More than anything, I want to graduate with a little less stress. Lastly, about Kix…” I can feel my brows furrowing as I said my words. “Let’s not talk about him, okay? As far as I know everything about him is over… Let’s not try to open up old wounds, shall we?”

There was a short pause. When my mom’s voice went back on the line, she sounded nervous. “Alright, Jade… Make sure you don’t skip any meals, and be careful… Call more often too, alright?”

“I will. Thanks, mom… Bye.”

I went back to Liam, who was still in the kitchen. It seemed like he was deep in thought. Thank God, he didn’t hear my mom’s crazy ideas especially that bit about Kix, right?

“Sorry, Liam, that was an emergency… Um, about the project, let’s talk about it tomorrow. It’s getting pretty late already.” It was actually more than late. The clock showed that it’s eleven in the evening already.

“Yeah, sorry about that,” he stood up from the chair, and I walked with him a bit until we reached the doorway.

“Jade,” he said, looking back around me before returning to his room. “If you have any problems, you know I’m here… Let’s not be strangers, okay?”

I smiled faintly back at him. His presence right here, right now, just after I had a fall out with Dianna was comforting enough, but how come he knew how to melt my heart even further? Why does he know all the right words to say?

“Likewise, Liam,” I said, maintaining my weak grin.

Perhaps, if I had a friend like Liam back then, everything wouldn’t have happened…

“See you in class tomorrow, then,” I said as I shut the door of my room, trying to hide my eyes that were getting heavy with tears.

**********************

The next day, I left my dorm room early, hoping to bump into Liam along the way.

When I opened the door to walk outside, the corridor was deserted. I felt a bit sad.

As much as I would like to knock on his room and ask to come with him to school every day, I restrained myself. I don’t want to oblige him to be with me just because we were dorm mates. I think it’ll be much better to leave things like this to fate…

Anyway, it was still an hour early before our actual class time. I wanted to stop by the library and get started on the project Liam and I will be working together. I still haven’t thought of a good topic for it…

The walk from my dorm to my school was only fifteen to twenty minutes. It was still early, so I’d probably be the first person in the library. Maybe I should stop by somewhere to eat breakfast first.

I was still contemplating what to do when, suddenly, a pair of hands had grabbed me by the face, obscuring my vision. It was so swift that I didn’t have time to flee or retaliate.

“Guess who,” the owner of the hands said.

I wrapped my fingers around the hands that seemed to have covered my whole face and tried to remove them, but they would not budge. Whoever that was didn’t seem willing to let me go easily. He rested his somewhat heavy arms against my shoulders while still obscuring my eyesight, restraining my effort to walk forward.

“Liam,” I said tentatively.

I can feel panic starting to rise at the pit of my stomach. “Let go...”

I tried to claw the hands away more firmly this time, but I still failed. These arms definitely belonged to a male. Except for Liam, I don’t really have any other male friends.

“Nah… You have to correctly guess who I am… No cheating, Jadey…”

My blood curled at the sound of his voice. It was oddly and creepily familiar.

I started to hyperventilate as I realized who this person might be.

“K-Kix?...”