Mending Wounds

Chapter Nine

10 minutes and 43 seconds, that’s how much time was left before I have to meet with my friends and awkwardly answer the reason behind what I really happened and why I disappeared. I haven’t spoken to any of my friends yet. Not ever since I disappeared. Surprisingly that wasn’t that part that sucked the most about classes and being here; what sucked the most is that I used up all of my absence percentage, which meant that I have to attend all the remaining of the classes I have for the semester and have to be there on time as well or I will be kicked out of the course.

“Please be aware that you are required to hand in your major selection form to the registration by next week” Mr. Jones announced “You will not be able to select or register to classes next semester if you haven’t even selected that major they fall within”

I sunk into my seat at his announcement at the reminder of a decision that I’ve been pushing to the back of my brain for the past three months. At this point of the semester, almost everyone else around me already picked their major, me being one of the very few that didn’t since I couldn’t make a choice of which of the two majors I wanted to take. I had three different choice, which meant I would take three times the time to choose what I want to take.

“If you have not made your choice yet, make up your mind or just settle by choosing the winner during a game of rock paper scissors because you are running out of time” he said then held up the stack of papers “The forms will be here on my disc, so please pick your up on your way out. Class dismissed”

I took my time packing my things and watched as everyone walked out of the class. When I finally finished slowly packing my things as I tried to delay meeting Kamila, Lina and Adam in the food court like every other week, I got up and walked toward the disc. Mr. Jones watched me with a smile as I walked up to his disc.

“I thought you disappeared for while there” he smiled “Are you doing okay?”

I nodded “I got sick during the break and wasn’t really feeling myself up there” I said as I tapped on the side of my head with the index finger”

“I’m glad we have you back” he smiled, he then picked up the form for me “Still haven’t made up your mind?”

I shook my head and I took the form from him “Not really, a game of rock paper scissors doesn’t really do it for me” I smiled politely “I’ll choose something eventually”

“My recommendation?” he asked, I nodded “It might sound cliches, but I recommend making a list of pro and cons then weighting it”

“Will do” I smiled “Thank You, and I’ll see you next Monday”

I walked took two bathrooms stops on my way to the food court, steps growing slower after every stop. I even took the stairs to the second floor instead of taking the elevator as an attempt to waste my break before next class. Time wasn’t on my side though, I felt like it wasn’t moving fast enough as I hoped it would. I even hoped that they’d be sitting in some corner so I wasn’t able to find them and would have to look around for them for a while, but when I walked into the food court, they were sitting on the first table across the only entrance to the place.

Knowing that there wasn’t anyway out of it, I took a deep breath then walked to the table like I haven’t completely disappeared and cut them off for a while. I ended taking a seat to Adam as I usually do, throwing my bag on the empty chair behind me with a frustrated sigh.

“It’s only my third year here and I am already considering dropping out every time I remember I have two more years left of this none-sense” I said.

“Assuming you are one of the lucky ones that will finish on time without flunking a couple of classes here and there” Adam pointed out, then gave me a small smile.

Kamila and Lina just steered at me.

“You two are steering at me like I’ve grown a pair or horns since the last time you’ve seen me” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“I think they are steering because you’ve grown uglier” Adam pointed out as he threw a French fry at me “It’s nice to have your ugliness back to the group”

Before I could throw a comeback at him, Lina Gasped as she pulled the form from on top of my notebook.

“Oh my god, Sophia” Lina said “You still haven’t chosen a major? They announced there a month ago and been talking about the whole semester”

I snatched the paper from her hand “It’s a big decision that I would like to take as much time as I can to choose. This literally effects the remaining of my life, so I want to make sure I choose the right things”

“What did you guys choose?” Adam asked.

“You are looking at the next most successful and most famous Marketing Consultant of the 21st century” Lina said.

“And I am officially one of the newest member of the Human Resources Management Major” Kamila announced “Make sure you don’t mess with me, because if we end working in the same company, I’ll make sure I keep cutting your salaries and be an asshole about your work attendance”

I laughed at them.

“What do you have in mind?” Kamila asked “You always find yourself stuck when it comes to choosing between two things”

I smiled “Actually, for the first time ever, I’m stuck between three” I told her “Ever I end up in Human Resource Management, end up in Marketing, or worst case scenario I end up in both with a double major”

When Lina opened her mouth to speak, Adam knew that whatever she was about to say was most probably going to be offensive to my end, so he immediately changed the subject.

“How’s the preparation to the contest going?” he asked “You and Derek bring the trophy home?”

“We’re done, just practicing out pitch and fixing things here and there” I said, then rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly “I got good news though, you guys are finally going to meet Ben. I invited him”

“And there’s a party afterwards. Whether we win and lose, we are celebrating at my place” I heard Derek announce to my table of friends, he was standing right behind me as he leaned on my chair “You guys are more than welcomed to come if you want”

“That’s perfect” Kamila said “I was literally about to suggest that we party this weekend since everything has been so dull”

Derek clapped “Great, all in?” he asked receiving a yes and nod from all three.

“I’ll only be there if you have an older brother I can flirt with” Kamila Joked.

I felt my heart skip a beat and the hairs at the back of my neck stand. She was probably joking about it since she doesn’t even know if Derek actually had an older brother, but I couldn’t help not the jealousy and protectiveness feeling that came over me at the idea of Kamila or anyone at all flirting with Cole at the party. I haven’t even thought about the idea of Cole being with someone else here, nor prepared myself mentally to see or be around that.

“Lucky for you, I do have a brother who just moved back here last month” Derek chuckled “But you’re also unlucky because he only has eyes for one specific girl”

I wasn’t sure if Derek was referring to me, or that he was hinting to me that Cole is seeing someone else now. Either way, my heart did this thing where it stung in my chest that cause me to rub over my heart to ease the sting.

“Sophia, you never mentioned that Derek has a hot older brother” Lina said with a grin and a wink.

I rolled my eyes “And I also haven’t mentioned that I pee five times a day” I said “I don’t see how both things are something you need to know and that actually matter”

Adam scrunched up his nose “I didn’t need to know that”

It wasn’t until then that I realised what Derek said. I turned to him, face more yellow that it ever has been “Moved back? You said moved back, Derek? What do you mean he moved back? He’s only here temporarily. He’s only visiting”

For a moment, I swear I saw Derek’s hair turn white at his slip. It was as if he wasn’t supposed to tell anymore, as if I wasn’t supposed to know about this.

He chuckled, but I can hear the nervousness in his voice “Sophia, chill, I meant it as he came back home last month” he said.

“Brother is an asshole?” Lina said “Or is there some sort of history between you two?”

I turned to her and shook my head “Not as asshole and no history there, we just don’t along that well anymore”

From the corner of my eyes, I can feel Derek’s eyes on me. I knew that he was confused at the fact that I was lying to my friends about Cole. Truth be told, I haven’t talked to anyone I know about my relationship with Cole. My friends from uni, my family, my friends from high school didn’t know the first things about my personal life when it came to dating and my exes because I was never comfortable talking about it. I didn’t want to think about it, let along talk about to everyone else and answer all their stupid questions about the failure of my first and longest relationship with my first love that I haven’t moved on from yet.

“Asshole guys are just my type and my luck” Kamila joked again.

“And so are guys that are off limits, which he happens to be” I told her “I’m drawing the line here”

She drew her eyebrows together “Chill, I was just trying to lighten up the mood”

I rubbed my face with my hands as I sighed “f**k, I’m sorry. I just haven’t been feeling like myself lately”

“That’s why need to get you laid by your boyfriend this weekend and get as much alcohol that your body can handle” Adam said “Maybe then you’d be more fun”

“Well f**k you” I turned to him as I faked being offended “I’m plenty of fun. I’m sorry that you grew up with the wrong idea of what fun is and that your mum been lying to you about being fun and funny”

“By the way, no need to drop home today, I’m being picked up today. But text me after class, I’ll walk you to your car. Yeah?” Derek said as he squeezed both shoulders, receiving an okay from me before leaving.

“I swear if that kid wasn’t three years younger than me, I’d be all over him” Lina said.

I chuckled “That’s exactly why I’m grateful” I announced “And from what I know, he also only has eyes for a certain person that I am yet to meet”

***

I couldn’t focus during the remaining classes. My brain was so distracted at thought of Kamila actually flirting with Cole. My brain was mostly distracted at Derek’s words, the ones he accidentally said when he referred to Cole coming back last month. The idea of him moving back here would be too much for me to handle since I was only mentally prepared for him to come back for a year or so before he leaves for college. It wasn’t as if I didn’t want him to be here, I just haven’t prepared myself emotionally for him to be here every time I went over to Alex’s. It was also selfish of me not to be happy for him; it wasn’t my place to feel like this because it’s his family and his house. I just couldn’t help it.

After classes I walked to the parking lot with Kamila and Lina since we had our last class together. Just as Derek promised when he texted me earlier, he was standing by the gate to the parking lot. A smile crossed his lips when he saw us as he waved, it was as if he hasn’t seen me the whole day.

“Why are you guys so slow?” Derek asked “My ride has been waiting for me for the last 10 minutes”

I rolled my eyes “I told you to leave, you didn’t want to”

“Shut up and walk faster” he said.

I held up my pinky finger up to him since I’d probably get a valuation if I help up the middle on campus. I just gave me a light shove as he started walking beside me. As we walked into the parking lot, I saw his mum’s empty black Kia stopped at the visitor’s parking. The only reason I could tell his mum’s car apart was because of the Crystal snowflake car mirror ornaments I gave her two Christmases ago since her loved the snow but would never get to experience that here.

“Your mum is not in her car” I pointed out confused “I want to say hi to here since it would be rude if I don’t”

“Sophia, my mum isn’t the one picking me up” Derek said awkwardly.

Just as the words left Derek’s eyes, I turned to where Kamila and Lina were looking. I felt my heart drop to my stomach as my eyes landed to where Cole was standing by the bench. He was dressed in black dress pants, white dress shirt with rolled up sleeves, and a loose grey around his neck. When he saw us, he stubbed his cigarette against the bottom of his shoe before throwing it in the trash.

“I suddenly forgot how to breath” Lina said, steering at him with dreamy eyes.

“And I’m suddenly into smokers” Kamila said.

“I think it’s time for me to go home” I told them before I walked away from my friends and toward Cole.

“Hey” he smiled as he tucked his hands in his pocket.

I didn’t even look at him, I just walked pass him as I headed to my car.

“Turn on the car, I’ll be there in a minute” I heard Cole call to Derek then it was followed by the hurried steps of Cole behind me.

When he caught up to me, I could smell the cigarettes reek from him “I tried calling three times and messaged you several times in the past two days” he said “For some reason they won’t go through”

“I know, I blocked your number” I said drily “Why are you here, Cole?”

He chuckled “I was left work early, so I came to pick up Derek on my way home. I threatened him to keep quiet or I will rat on him too” he said “Why did you block my number? I thought we were trying to be friends”

“Just friends don’t show up at each other’s school to talk without notice” I told him “And when did you start smoking?”

“I want to talk to you about something” he said “I didn’t know how else to reach out to you, you literally have me blocked everywhere”

“Aha, thank you for reminding me to block you on LinkedIn too. I haven’t gotten around to do so yet” I said as I unlocked.

He leaned his forearms on top on my open door “Want to unblock my number so I can call you later” he said, more of a demand rather than a request.

“Do you want me to punch you in the face?” I raised an eyebrow, and I turned on the car.

When I turn the key in the engine, it made the weird noise that it usually been doing in the past few days. Every time that I attempted to turn the car in the past few days, I’d have to hold the key turned for longer than it usually require for the car to start and it would make the noise that it would usually does when the battery dies.

“You need to get you car checked” Cole said “That battery won’t last you long. If you don’t have time too, you can bring it by the house, I’ll could look at it for you”

“Bye, Cole” I said as I closed the door.