Original Love

Episode Six

“Yeah, I am,” Bradley answers him with a nod, “Research class is open for both sophomore and freshmen students. It’s a class that makes both years collaborate with one another to make the freshmen comfortable with their seniors.”

It was the only class where I’d get to be close with Bradley’s batch mates too. They’re all really nice and approachable. I didn’t find it hard to adjust with them. And research class, amidst being stressful with all the homework, isn’t really that so bad. It was the best class where I’d get to mingle with the best people in our course.

“I see,” Austin mumbles back, suddenly sounding too far away from reality. What is wrong with him? “Glad, there’s someone I could trust who got her back now.”

Even hearing Austin says that doesn’t make me feel he really means those words.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m also really looking forward to knowing Sam this year.” Bradley tells him back, and I turn to him with startled eyes. “I like her.”

Somehow, that made the entire moment demented. He didn’t really say that.

Immediately, Austin made a grunting noise of disapproval next to me as he stops walking and glares in Bradley’s direction.

“What? What did you just say?” He snaps at him. “What do you mean you like her?! What the hell, dude?!” He sounded like he couldn’t believe he just heard him say that.

“I like Sam. Isn’t it obvious?”

I couldn’t even bother to speak for myself in this situation. That innocent expression on Bradley’s face suddenly looks so unrealistic to me. He sounded so sincere that anyone would have really believed he was telling what he truly feels. But then, of course, I already knew what he’s really up to—it is definitely something that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable now. He doesn’t really mean any of those words he just said. He’s trying to manipulate Austin this time and I’m getting all too nervous to figure out what’s hiding beneath that flawless face and in that mysterious head of his.

“Stop talking nonsense, would you?! Who do you think you are telling that to me?! Do you think I would even let you go near her now after saying that?! I can’t believe this!” Austin continued to bicker on, not seeing past through that facetious look on Bradley’s expression, while we gain more attention from the strangers that pass us by on the road.

“I’m just saying the truth,” Bradley explains with a stoic face, sounding reasonable. I couldn’t believe he still even managed to look so calm and innocent that it only made Austin more frustrated.

“The hell with that truth! To be honest, I don’t really trust you since the beginning!” Austin shouts back at him with threatening eyes, “Don’t you ever dare talk to her again. Come on, Sammie!”

Austin made a forceful grab of my hand as he walks us away from Bradley who stood at the same position watching us with still an innocent confused expression. What the hell? That person is one entirely hard mystery to solve.

“That bastard, who does he think he is? Saying he likes you…” I hear Austin grumbled angrily in front of me, still walking as fast as he can.

“I can’t believe I even let you go to him.”

We stopped in front of a convenience store. The afternoon gloom made the entire sight of the road in front of us looked like a landscape. I watch Austin stare from afar, with a deep-set of eyes, looking like he was deep in thoughts.

“Never talk to that guy again, you hear me?” he orders me with a hard stare.

I look back at him, feeling unsure. “What about the deal?”

“Forget about it!” Austin said a little harsher than normal. “I shouldn’t have even offered you that in the first place. If I knew he was like that, I would have never forced you to do it. Don’t you ever go near that guy again, got it? He’s not the person everybody seems to think he really is.”

I know I should be nodding back at him. But this scenario was entirely so strange it made me feel a bit anxious for a second. Why is Austin so angry? Shouldn’t he be pushing me towards Bradley now? After knowing Bradley likes me, shouldn’t he be happy? He’ll be getting a chance with Emma if that’s the case, right? He’ll make the end of the bargain done. What is he really trying to make me do?

I wonder if I was being too presumptive or was it really that look on his face that makes it hard for me to agree with him. Aside from being weird, Bradley isn’t really that bad.

“Austin, aren’t you a bit too mean about him. He’s just being nice and a—“

“Nice? He’s not nice,” Austin snorts back and smirks bitterly, “He’s just the same with all the guys out there, Sammie. He’s just only after you for one thing. All guys are only after girls for one thing.”

Yeah, he was right. I know that. Everyone knows that. But isn’t he also one of them?

“Don’t sound so sure for yourself, Aus. Aren’t you being too much of a hypocrite now? Isn’t saying that makes you… What?”

Austin flushes at what I said and he retreats a step back as if I had stabbed him. Why would he even look like that if it was him who said it all in the first place?

“Sammie, I didn’t mea—“

“Yeah, I know, Aus.” I cut him off, “I totally get it all. Are you also saying that you’re just after one thing with Emma?”

The look of hurt on Austin’s face didn’t even stop me from saying the rest of what I wanted to say.

“I thought you were my friend. But here you are telling me to stop being friends with a really nice guy. After all… Guys are all the same, aren’t they?”

I left in a rush, knowing I had hurt him so much with those words. But what can I do? He had been that way all this time. Telling me not to be too weak in front of a guy. Telling me how he loves Emma so much. Telling me I was only his cute little sister. Telling me that he would always stay by my side but he was never there when I needed him the most…

Sure, he went on with my lie and all but he didn’t agree with it not until I accepted his deal. It was him who did this to me and to us.

It wasn’t all my fault that I told him those things there… It wasn’t my fault that Bradley told him he likes me.

It was all his fault. It was all because of that stupid deal.

And now, I lost us because of it.