[14] His little kitten 🐱
1538 Words
At the hospital
*Annie's POV*
'He's avoiding me like plague'
No matter how much I try, he just won't talk to me.
I dropped him a text saying I was sorry but he didn't respond to that either.
Pete has never been so mad at me. I could understand he was hurt but how do I fix this?
I went to the cafèteria to take a break. There, I spot Pete sitting at the corner table, gazing outside the glass wall.
"Hi", I took the courage & sat opposite to him.
"..."
He didn't even look at me.
'Wow! That hurt'
"Pete?"
"..."
He took out his phone & started laughing at something without saying a single word to me.
"Why aren't you talking to me?", I asked, grabbing his hand.
"Do I need to?", he scoffed, shaking off my hand.
"Ofcourse, you do! You're my best friend, Pete. I love y...."
"Oh? Cut that sh*t."
I was deeply hurt by his curt response, "Why are you talking to me like that?"
"Don't act like you don't understand anything"
"I know I should've told you that I was gonna be late but...."
"I don't wanna do this, Annie! Not here, not ever. I don't wanna be anywhere near you for a while atleast", he stated while getting up from his seat.
I had no words. I was shocked to see this version of Peter. We have been friends for so many years but he has never behaved like this.
I saw him leave as if he was walking away from me, from us, our friendship. I hurried & followed him to the parking lot as I didn't wanna create any scene in my work place.
"Pete, WAIT!", I grabbed his hand, holding him back.
He turned back, suddenly coming closer to me.
"What are you doing?", I started backing away.
Pete was acting different today. This isn't him. There was a glint of malice in his eyes that sent shivers down my spine.
"Back off Pete!", I glared.
"Why? Don't you like it?"
"What the hell?What are you saying?"
"Why? You liked it last night with the guy you met 2weeks ago"
I was speechless.
Before I could think of anything, my hand landed on his cheek.
"How dare you? Who gave you the right to judge me? What if I liked it with him? Does that give you permission to behave like an animal? Who do you think I am? I'd have never imagined you like this. Think of it, you are the one to talk about Zack! You know what?....Nevermind"
I walked inside the hospital, leaving Peter in the parking lot. I couldn't stand seeing him for a single moment right now.
Further at night, while I was leaving the hospital for home, I found Jin waiting outside the front gate.
Jin: "Hey"
Annie: "...hi"
Jin: "you okay?"
Annie: "yeah, why?"
Jin: "uh...you didn't respond to my texts or return my calls... I was worried...so thought of dropping by... sorry if this..."
Annie: "No, it's fine & sorry for not responding. It's been a long day for me"
Jin: "Did you have your dinner?"
Annie: "not yet.. but I'm hungry. Didn't have time for lunch either"
Jin: "I have some dumplings. Got them after practise. Would you like some?"
Annie: "sure... what practise?"
Jin: "uh...Na-m-j-oo-n... ha-d...a...m-e-et-ing... we were pr-ac-t-is-ing for that. I was helping him o-u-t"
Annie: "It's okay if you don't wanna say. I wont force. But don't lie"
Jin: "hmph"
Annie: "so?"
Jin: "huh?"
Annie: "dumplings?"
Jin: "oh! It's in my car. Let's go.. you can have it on the way"
Annie: "To where?"
Jin: "To your house. I'm gonna drop you there. It's pretty late. Lets go"
Annie: "I...can go by myself, it's fine"
Jin: "You want dumplings or not?"
Annie: "I do"
Jin: "Lets go then"
**********
*Jin's POV*
Something seemed off about her tonight. She said she was hungry, but all she did was play with the food.
"Are you not feeling well?", I ended up asking.
She looked at me with gloomy eyes saying,"Nah, I'm fine. Just tired"
"Oh.. okay", I knew that wasn't the truth. I wanted to ask her more but then I was hiding something too. What right do I have to ask her more than she was letting on?
"You can talk to me anytime if you want", I assured her. She nodded softly.
******
*Third person's POV*
Jin stopped the car infront of Annie's house.
"We're her...", he paused midsentence when he saw her fast asleep in the passenger seat, curled up like a kitten.
He couldn't help admire her.
"Annie, it's time to wake up", he said tucking her loose hair behind her ear.
"Mmm", she mumbled, rubbing her face against his hand.
"You ARE like a cat! Heh", he said caressing her face with the back of his hand, "Now wake up little kitten. You're home"
She finally opened her eyes to find Jin smiling at her, caressing her face.
She suddenly backed off & sat straight up, "I am so sorry! This is so embarassing"
"What is?"
"I...uh...."
"It's fine to fall asleep, you know? Get some rest & don't push yourself too hard. Okay?"
Jin's kind words were enough to lift Annie's mood. She didn't need anybody to buy the moon for her. She hated sympathy! She needed a person in her life who'd value her without judgements. Somebody who'll see her for who she is.
"Thank you", she said leaning towards Jin, lightly pecking his lips.
Soon, it was time for them to part ways.
Annie got out of the car & turned to leave after wishing him goodnight. Jin was looking at her back while she was walking towards her front door, when suddenly Annie collapsed on the floor.
"Annie!", Jin came running, picking her up, "You okay?"
"I...uh...the keys..."
"Huh?"
"....my purse"
"Oh", Jin searched her purse looking for the keys.
He opened the door, carrying Annie inside. He laid her down on the couch,"Wait, I'll call a doctor"
"Wait", she held him back, grabbing his hand, "I'm fine. Just get me some water & there are some chocolates in the freezer"
"Okay. Where's your kitchen?"
"To the left", she pointed.
He quickly went to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water & some chocolates, "here"
After a while, Annie slowly sat up, holding her temple, "ugh!"
"Stay put! You don't have to get up"
"I'm fine now. It's nothing."
"No, you're not. Take some rest, I'll make something for you to eat", he said, combing her hair with his fingers.
He got up & went inside the kitchen to prepare a quick meal for her.
After a certain time, he walked out of the kitchen with a tray of food, "I've quickly p.....Annie?"
Annie was no where to be found in the living room. He kept the tray on the table, covering it & started searching for her.
"Annie??.... Annie?"
"Where are you ....Anni..."
He finally found her in a room, coming out of the bathroom in a robe.
"Where were you? I was so worried", he asked
"Oh! I..uh..."
"Sit down now. I'll get your food. Don't move"
"Yes, mom!"
"Really?"
"What? You're behaving like one ?"
*******
Jin walked into her bedroom with the tray.
"Here. Sit down & eat..... aish! Your hair's all wet"
"Duh.. I just took a shower"
"Where's your hair dryer?"
"In that drawer, why?"
Instead of answering, Jin took out the dryer & started walking towards her, "turn around"
"I don't like using hair dryer"
"Why do you have one, then?"
"I bought it when I was in college. I got it on a whim, not necessity", Annie shrugged.
Jin asked sighing, "Well where's your towel then?"
"In the bathroom. There's a rack"
Jin came back with a towel & started blotting her hair.
Annie: "Jin?"
Jin: "hm?"
Annie: "You're like a mother hen, you know?"
Jin: "mhm. Sure. Now finish your food before mother hen gets angry"
Annie: "haha. Yes, maa"
After finishing her food, Annie stood up to carry the tray to the kitchen when Jin stopped her saying, "Take rest. I can manage"
"I'm fine, Jin. You're treating me like a sick child. It was nothing"
"Sure. You wait here till I come back"
********
After a while, Jin returned with a glass of water & kept it on the bedside table.
"Here's water if you need some. Now lie down. Take some rest"
"What about you? Did you eat?", Annie asked.
"I'll eat at the hotel. Namjoon must have ordered something. I'll leave once you sleep. Now close your eyes, come on"
Annie fondly looked at Jin.
Something was happening to her. She decided to never fall in love again. A feeling she buried in the depths of her heart, long ago, was now, gradually surfacing.
'Am I allowed to?', she thought, 'Will he be any different or just like HIM?'
"Why are you so nice to me?", she asked.
Jin chuckled.
"Sleep", he said, bending down, kissing her forehead.
"Goodnight, little kitten", he whispered.
"G..o...o......d...nhhhh", she hardly mumbled.
********
To be continued...
*******
- Writer
