Chapter 03: How About a Hug?
1119 Words
"Isn't it just my preference, just like how you like getting into fights?" I shot back quickly because he was mocking my interests.
What’s so wrong with enjoying romance novels? I’m the one with the wild imagination, right? Stories make me smile, and imagining myself as the heroine is thrilling.
"You're such a lonely kid," Caleb said, shaking his head at me.
"I'm not lonely! It’s you who's—mmph!"
Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz...
"What's up, Phoebe?" Caleb quickly covered my mouth and answered the call. "I'm free. Why? Really? Sure, no problem at all. But honestly, you could just leave it. Yeah, yeah, stop complaining. It's annoying. Alright, I'll head over now." Caleb hung up and squeezed my mouth tightly as if he’d forgotten I was there.
"Mmph!" I protested, trying to pull his hand away.
"Sorry," Caleb said, removing his hand. He seemed different—sad, even.
If this were one of my novels, he’d be the heartbroken lead about to face the person who hurt him. It had to be that. My intuition never fails. Wait... am I overthinking this?
"I'll go see a friend for a bit," Caleb said, driving away from the building next to my apartment. His face was tense, like he was carrying a lot of stress.
Several minutes later...
"Want some chocolate, Caleb?" I unwrapped a piece and offered it to him. Since I’d gotten into the car, he’d been sighing constantly before falling into a heavy silence. He seemed so stressed that I offered him some of the candy I always carry around.
"Eat it, and you'll feel better," I insisted, doubling down on my belief that sweets can momentarily make you forget your troubles.
"Really," I said, holding it up to his mouth.
"You keep eating like this, no wonder you're this size," he muttered. He bit the chocolate from my hand but still couldn't resist commenting on my figure.
"Why are you so obsessed with my weight?" I retorted, unwrapping another piece and stuffing it into my own mouth. He’s always fussing over my size.
"It's good that you're just being yourself, Adeline. Don't think you're strange," Caleb said suddenly. "If someone doesn't want to be your friend, that's their problem. You're a good person; if they can't see that, it’s their loss. This world is harsh. You can't just imagine yourself as a princess surrounded by friends. Stop putting yourself down. Those who talk behind your back are beneath you. Don't care, and don't dwell on it. Be who you want to be. Do whatever you want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. If you keep worrying about what others say, will you ever be happy? You only live once—make it worthwhile. Ignore those nasty comments."
What possessed Caleb to say all that?
"There must be something weird in that chocolate to make you so chatty," I joked, turning to look out the window. This guy knows me too well. Just because he’s my brother’s friend, he thinks he can act all sentimental.
"Fatty."
I stayed silent. He's pretty much the only one who calls me fat without making me angry.
Why don't I get mad? Well, my mom always said: don't take crazy people seriously, and don't argue with the drunk. And this guy is both crazy and drunk sometimes.
One hour later...
"Wait in the car, I'll be back," he said, parking by the roadside.
"I can get back on my own," I replied. It was getting dark, and I had no idea how long he’d be.
"I told you to wait. If you don't, you'll regret it," he warned as he got out and walked toward a large house. Then, he disappeared inside.
Why do I have to wait for him? Why is he bothering me? Or... does he secretly like me?
"No way. That guy has tons of girls, and they're all gorgeous. How could he like a girl like you, Adeline? You're just daydreaming," I muttered, arguing with my own thoughts.
Ten minutes passed...
I sat awkwardly in the car until I saw him walking back. The streetlights caught his face, and it looked like he had tear stains. He stopped at the car, opened the door, and climbed in. The tears were gone now, or maybe I’d been seeing things. But probably not—his eyelashes were still wet.
Who could have made him cry? Was it Phoebe? I’d heard rumors about her from my brothers—the daughter of a university partner, stunningly beautiful but sickly. I’d never met her myself.
"Are you okay? Do you need to vent? I'm here to listen," I said, caught up in the moment. "Think of me as a sounding board. I promise I won't tell anyone; it'll be our secret. Or... how about a hug? People say my hugs are warm."
He really didn't seem okay. He looked devastated. He turned to look at me, so I gave him my biggest, most encouraging smile.
"Here, take this," he said, tossing something onto my lap. I picked it up and saw a necklace with an engineering gear pendant—the "heart" of an engineering student. He must have been called there just to get his necklace back.
"Wow, do you actually like me?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Quit dreaming, fatty. I just gave you the gear; I'm not proposing."
Ugh! He totally shut me down. Who would even want to be the wife of a thug like him anyway?
"Well, I don't know... your heart is with me now," I teased. I’d heard the upperclassmen say that an engineer's heart is in their gear. Since he gave it to me, his heart was technically mine.
"You're just imagining things," he said, shaking his head before driving away from the house.
"I'll take good care of it, don't worry!" I smiled at Caleb. He was heartbroken, and I just wanted to see him smile again.
"That's your problem, I don't care. You can throw it away if it's bothering you, or I can toss it out the window right now."
"Don't touch my stuff! It's mine now, and you're not allowed to mess with it," I snapped, stuffing it into my bag as Caleb slowed the car and reached for the necklace.
"Daydream all you want, but don't imagine I'm your girlfriend, because that's impossible."
"Please! You think I want to be your girlfriend? Keep dreaming. I wouldn't take a guy like you as a boyfriend, Caleb. Too much drama with your herd of women. Besides, I can't run from your enemies; I'm too out of shape for that."
"Your imagination is running wild again. Stop it right now."
- Writer
