Original Love

Episode Five

“I want to be close to someone I like. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

NO.

“I want to be close to you, Sam.”

No, no, no, no, no… NO!

“I don’t hate you. I like you, remember?”

What? WHAT!? What am I thinking? I shouldn’t be even thinking of what that bastard said to me. He’s just trying to get through me. Knowing that I had beaten him up with what I said that Friday a week ago, he surely just wants to get back at me.

 “Don’t ever drink outside without me by your side, okay?”

Snap out of it, Sam!

He just wants to get back. He’s just trying to get into your nerves. That chivalry act last Saturday and yesterday morning was just a way to make me soften under his manipulation. He’s not really sincere with that coffee and medicine and that ride home. He must have had an ulterior motive.

Yeah, that’s it.

That’s probably what it’s all about. He was so used to being appreciated and worshipped too much that a simple crush on his ego would get him reeling back for revenge.

Damn, my mouth. If I hadn’t said those things back then, I wouldn’t have to face this kind of dilemma right now. Maybe I should tape it close from now on. Maybe by then, I would finally prevent myself from getting into too much trouble.

What am I doing to myself? I knew college would be torture but I didn’t know it would be hell like this. Too much stress, too much pressure, too much drama. Damn it. I want to go back to Dallas.

Well, right. Dallas makes me remember my sisters and mom. I wonder what they’re all doing now.

Veronica must still be in Boston since she said she’ll be staying for good with her husband there. She didn’t send me an email again since that day I told her what I discovered. I wonder if she already knew about it all this time. That thought alone makes me feel in pain. What about mom? Is she still doing that jewelry business of hers and ignoring all my texts? And what about dad? Does he still think suspiciously of me? I wonder if Amanda knew something about it. The last time we talked, she sounded like she knew I was up to something.

Argh! Hell, as if I needed to bother myself more about it. I don’t really care much now. If they all think I was being immature then let them think that way. At least, I was doing something for myself for the first time. At least, I knew this would make me happy. I want to be happy for once.

That doesn’t make me selfish, does it?

“Sam!”

Crap, that voice is the only thing in the world I wanted to ignore the most. Why the hell does he always appear out of nowhere and in the least I expected?

“Sam! Saaaaam? Sam? Saaaaam!”

AAAAAAH! What the hell does he want?

“What?” I turn to glare back at him and noticed a few eyes around us, watching with complete interest. Oh no, this is not what I want. I need to ignore him. I turn around and walk away faster.

“Sam, wait up!” A hand grabs me by my wrist and spins me around to meet the flawless face I wanted to vanish out of my sight. He looks out of breath as he tries to smile down at me.

“Damn, you’re pretty fast,” he tells me in amusement while I try not to notice that he still isn’t letting go of my wrist. “What are you running away from?”

You bastard. I almost said that but of course… I already knew better now, so I didn’t. Good job, Sam. You’re doing pretty well with taping your mouth shut.

“I need to do some errands,” I lied, trying to pull my hand away and Bradley thankfully lets me go.

“Sure, I’ll go with you,” Bradley says to me and I blanched.

“What? No.” I shook my head at him, nervously glancing around to see people trying to eavesdrop on us.

“I want to be alone for a moment, please.” I pleaded back, feeling a bit embarrassed to be watched. These people would surely think of this scene in a very wrong way.

“Now, don’t say that, Sam. Are you seriously rejecting me? I thought we were friends?” his look of hurt made me feel more scared.

What the hell is he saying? I don’t want this! What is happening here? Who said about being friends? I never said we’re friends. Did I? Did I? I never did!

“Come on, Sam. I told you, I want to be friends.”

Did he really say that? I don’t recall anything about being friends.

“I want to be close to you, Sam.”

Was that what it was supposed to mean? Damn it, what the hell is wrong with this guy, seriously? Why would he even want to be friends with me?

“I—“

“Sammie!”

Crap, another thing I’m trying to avoid. What is with this day that makes it all so worse for me?

“Aus, what are you… what are you doing here?”

“I was thinking of walking you home. Aren’t your classes already over?”

That statement alone made me glance nervously back to Bradley who was watching us with a blank unreadable expression. I feel bad trying to avoid him like the plague. But can you really blame me? After hearing him say all of those weird stuff to me, what does he expect of me?

“Y-yeah… Actuall—“

“Actually, I already offered to walk her home. But since you’re here too, why don’t we both just do that, so, in that way, she’ll be safer, right?” Bradley offers instead, and I look at him with an incredulous expression.

What is he saying? I’m practically fine by myself. I can manage on my own.

 So in that way, she’ll be safer? What is he even trying to imply with those words?

“Sure. I don’t mind,” I hear Austin approves back in a neutral tone as he stares Bradley down with a stern face. He must really hate him so much. And I can’t really blame him though. Bradley’s so perfect and ideal. In addition to that, he’s even a very difficult competition to anyone.

Any guy would feel threatened and unarmed around him. And wait… Did Austin just say ‘I don’t mind’?

“That’s great, then. Sam?” Bradley looks down at me with that small smile again and I can’t help but just let them be.

 Anyway, what am I even trying to complain about? I’m going to share a walk with two equally gorgeous guys home. And I bet it is envy I’m seeing from all the other girls we pass by.

I’m very lucky. I should be smiling not sulking like I’m doing right now. Smile, Sam. Smile! There are two handsome men with you!

Ugh, it’s so hard to be happy when you know it isn’t really what people think it is why these two are walking me home. It’s all just ego… Guys. They’re all the same.

“You done with that homework in our research class, Sam?” Bradley looks at me as he tries to bring up a small conversation while we walk on the sidewalk in a row—with me being in the middle of two big handsome sights.

“You two share the same class? Aren’t you a year ahead of her?” Austin interjects from my other side, asking in that tone of accusation as if I had left him out one big important detail. Come on, I didn’t even know he was the Bradley Evans he was talking about not until the second week when someone talked about him behind my back.