Saturday, January 16, 2010 | 6:22 PM |

Chapter 13

Friendship or love?

No POVAaron hasn’t come out of his room for a whole day, and no one knew why. Wu Chun and Calvin had tried to persuade him to come out and ask him why he wouldn’t come out of his room, but all he did was sit there and stare out of the window.
Selina was very concerned and kept going in to talk to him, but when she did, he didn’t respond.
Hebe and Ella went in to persuade him too, but he wouldn’t budge. He just kept on staring at Hebe. That’s all.
Jiro decided that he’ll have to do it. After all, he is Aaron’s best friend.
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Jiro’s POV
I entered Aaron’s room and looked around. His whole room was in a mess. Aaron looked tired and worn-out. It was as if he had aged a year in a few hours.
“Are you okay?” I asked, sitting down on the armchair next to him.
Aaron stared at me, and then looked back out the window.
“Aaron! You can’t keep staying in your room. Do you have any idea how worried everyone is about you?” I shouted piercingly.
“Worried? Really?” Aaron turned to me and asked harshly.
“Yes.” I creased my eyebrows. What did he mean?
“I know what you did.” Said Aaron coldly.
He knows… what happened between Selina and me?
“You know wbout it?” I asked softly.
“Yes.” Aaron whispered angrily.
“I’m—” I said, the words choking me. “I’m sorry.”
“…Sorry?!” Aaron shouted, furious. I could see the heat rising I his eyes.
I suddenly felt anger run through me. Aaron never treated Selina well, who was he to shout at me?
I shouted back, grabbing the front of his shirt, “DO YOU LOVE HER?! If you don’t, it’s none of your business what happens between her and me.
Aaron pushed me away, the anger suddenly gone. His eyes were clouded, and he looked down. “It doesn’t matter whether I love her or not. Do YOU love her?”
I was caught off guard by his question. But seeing that he already knew what happened between Selina and I, I decided to tell the truth. Looking at him in the eye, I answered him.
“Yes. I do.”
Aaron looked at me, his eyes full of anger again. The next moment, I found Aaron’s fist crushing against the side of my jaw. A throbbing pain overcame me.
This was the first time Aaron and I fought.
Looking at him walk out the door, I felt as if he had broken the tie between us with that punch.
Thinking of Selina, I wondered if she was really worth sacrificing Aaron’s friendship.
…
Aaron’s POV
“Yes. I do.” I heard Jiro’s words pounding repeatedly in my ears. Jiro loves Hebe?
I felt anger run through me again, clouding my brain. Without thinking, I threw a punch at Jiro, hitting him squarely on the side of his face. I felt horrified. Overcome by this strange feeling of anger and sadness, I could no longer control my actions.
I calmed myself down and quickly walked off, afraid of what I might do next.
I ran out onto the balcony and screamed into the night. “What’s wrong with me?!”
That’s when I heard the voice of the person I least wanted to see call my name.
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Wu Chun’s POV
Hearing shouts coming from upstairs, Ella and I raced upstairs. We saw Aaron walking away from Jiro’s room, with clenched fists.
…Did Aaron and Jiro fight?
The statement sounded impossible, but upon entering Aaron’s room, I could see that it was true. Jiro lay on the floor, with a dark bruise on his left cheek. I quickly helped him up.
“Are you alright?” I asked, concerned.
“I’m fine.” Jiro answered. He laughed. “Looks like Aaron’s been working out.”
How can he laugh at a time like this? “What’s happening, Jiro? You guys are best friends. You’ve never fought before. But now, Aaron’s acting as if you don’t exist, and here you are, acting as if nothing’s happened. WHAT HAPPENED?” I screamed.
Ella looked at me, worried.
“I don’t know.” Jiro said. “Sometimes, you just have to make sacrifices.”
“What is worth sacrificing your friendship with Aaron?!!” I shouted.
Jiro didn’t answer.
He walked out the door. A moment later, I heard the sound of a car starting.
Was he really going to keep running away from this?
“Give him some time.” Ella said, looking at me.
I smiled at her. I’m never going to let their friendship fall apart like that.
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Aaron’s POV
“Aaron?” Hebe called.
I didn’t answer.
“Aaron!” Hebe shouted.
I spun around. “WHAT?!”
Hebe looked shocked. “What’s wrong?”
I laughed coldly. “What’s wrong?! Everything.”
Hebe looked at me, puzzled.
“It’s wrong to care so much about you.
It’s wrong to not be able to control my actions.
It’s wrong to feel this way every time I see you.
It’s ALL WRONG.”
I was breathing hard. My sharp intakes of breath were all I could hear in the silence. I fixed my gaze on the floor, not wanting to see her face.
We stayed like this for a few moments before I looked up. All I could see was Hebe’s back view, growing smaller and smaller with every step away from me.
Anger slipped from my mind.
Now all I felt was sadness.
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:o Jiro thinks Aaron’s talking about Selina when he’s talking about Hebe.
What’s going to happen next?
And Aaron sort-of confessed to Hebe. What does Hebe feel towards Aaron?
Bebu <3
~colourful-raindrops~

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