Unexpectedly Bad

5: Because I'm Melting

                                                                          L   U   N   A

     6:30 pm

     I was walking back home from a convenience store after I bought myself some snacks and ice creams. It was kinda windy out here, but I had been stressed out about school and some family problems lately, so, I thought ice cream was the only thing that could help me calm my mind.

     The cold wind brushed my hair gently as I walked with my grey hoodie wrapped around my body. I was carrying a plastic bag full of ice creams and snacks while my head was replaying the scene that happened in my house a couple of minutes ago.

     "Honey." My mom said in a soft tone, "I would like you to meet Charles tomorrow. He invited us to his house for dinner."

     Me and my mom were in the kitchen making dinner. It used to be me, my mom, and my dad before he left us. I didn't know where did he go and I didn't ask either. It was the worst thing that had ever happened to me. I was a daddy's girl.

     "Charles? Who is he?" I paused, "Oh, wait, I remember. He's your boyfriend." I continued as I rolled my eyes.

     "Honey, I know, this is hard for you. It's also really hard for me. But, I want us to move on from the past. Dad's not here anymore, Luna. He'll never be back. I ju-"

     "He'll be back. I know he will and I would never, ever, ever accept another man as my father, including your boyfriend. He can be your boyfriend, he can be your husband but no one will ever replace dad for me. I only have and will always only have one dad and no more!" I said as I stormed out of the house.

     I tried to remove my thoughts, but I always failed. I knew my mom couldn't be alone forever but the thought of having another dad was killing me. The worst part was, if they got married, they would be having kids and my mom would care less about me, I would be more abandoned. I didn't want to share my mom with anyone else, I lost my dad, and I was not planning on losing my mom too. Not to anything, not to anyone.

     I took my phone out to see the time, it was 6:41, which meant I had been walking around for 11 minutes.

     I started humming my favorite songs while my eyes were wandering around. It was not as crowded as usual; less cars were passing by the road and less people were walking down the street. My eyes were landed on a figure that was seated on a bench a couple of feets away from me. The figure looked familiar to me, but I couldn't see the face because it was too dark. Unknowingly, I walked closer to the figure until I was able to see who it was.

     "Aiden?" I said almost in a whisper.

     He was seated on the bench with his palm on his face as his elbows were rested on his thighs. I could tell it was him by his hair. His brought his head up when he heard me called his name.

     My heart were beating faster the moment our eyes met. I could see flames were burning in his eyes. Something must had happened to him. He was angry. I was debating with my brain whether I should sit next to him because he looked like he needed someone to talk to or just walk away because we kind of, sort of, maybe, probably didn't get along with each other.

     "Knight in shining armor?" He looked up to me.

     What the heck.

     "You should've let that go already." I pouted as I sat next to him on the bench. "Stop bringing it up."

     I finally decided to stay and sat beside him.

     "How can I forget my knight in shining armor who saved me from a fight two days ago." He said with his signature smirk.

     "I was expecting a simple 'thank you'." I said as I rolled my eyes, "Because, if it wasn't because of me, you'd be killed in the principal's office by the principal herself."

     "I doubt I'd be killed."

     I stared at him in confusion.

     "'Cause my knight in shining armor will save me from the evil queen." He said, grinning.

     "I doubt she will save you." I said proudly. "I think your knight in shining armor will be the one who digs your grave before you're even dead."

     He chuckled.

     I found myself smiling at him. In front of me was an adorable handsome-looking guy, chuckling at the comeback I just said. I could see his dimples.

     "What's with that smile?" He said when he was done chuckling.

     I blushed. "Nothing." I said as I looked down to my lap and fiddling my fingers.

     "What happened to you? You look awful." I said.

     He didn't say anything. His face darkened, his jaw clenched, he gritted his teeth, and his breathing was getting heavy. He kept on looking straight to the front of him, completely avoiding my gaze. I sensed something wrong. My eyes then landed on his clenched fist on his lap and it was turning pale white.

     I couldn't stop what was happening next; I placed my hand on his fist and drew circles on it gently. His body stiffen at the sudden contact, then he looked me in the eyes as I offered him a smile. His face soften as his heavy breathing finally calmed and then he smiled back.

     "It's okay if you don't want to tell me. It's a touchy subject, I get it." I smiled, still looking into his eyes and my hand was still on his.

A   I   D   E   N

     The moment she asked me about what was happening, I suddenly remembered all the things that just happened a couple of hours ago between me and my dad.

     I was about to roar out loud and punch the tree next to the bench I was sitting on before I felt a hand on my clenched fist, it was warm and soft. I turned my head to my right and looked down at her. She was smiling. I suddenly felt so calm and it felt ike everything that was messing with my head disappeared the moment she placed her hand on mine. The way she drew circles on my hand made me way more calm and the anger inside me was slowly fading away. Then, I smiled back at her.

     No one had ever been able to control my anger, no one could control my emotion, no one could control my feelings. When I was angry and I felt like punching the living s**t out of someone, then I did it and no one could stop me. When I was sad and I felt like yelling at someone to let out my anger, then I did it, no one could stop me. It was strange that this girl had this affect on me. It was like I needed only her at times like this, because no one had ever done the things that calmed me down. I didn't need anyone or anything else. Just her.

     "It's okay if you don't want to tell me. It's a touchy subject, I get it." She smiled, still looking into my eyes and her hand was still on mine.

     "Why aren't you scared?" I asked her.

     "Scared of what?" She asked.

     "Me."

     "What do you mean?" She frowned, I bet she's confused.

     "People would usually get scared of me and leave whenever I start getting angry." I explained.

     "If I get scared and left, you'd probably harming yourself." I stared at her blankly. "And I don't want you to do that." She continued.

     "Why do you care?"

     "Because, Aiden, we all are human beings, we all have feelings. I've been through shits in my life too, just like you. I don't know what's actually happening to you, but I can see that it's bothering you so much and I know how it feels." She said. "You need someone to be there for you, you need someone to listen to you, and you're here all alone, so, I thought that maybe I can stay and be the one who listen to your story. Trust me, Aiden, no one wants to be alone."

     I found myself smiling at that.

     She smiled back.

     "It was just my father." I said. "I can't tell you what's actually happening, we just started talking to each other two days ago and I can't-"

     "You can't trust me. I get it. I'm not an easy person to open up to someone too." She smiled again before looking away.

     "You should stop smiling like that." I said and she turned her head to face me again.

     "Why?"

     'Because I'm melting whenever you did that.' Something inside me said but my mouth refused to say it out loud.

     "Just don't." That's what I said instead.

     "Okay." She said and looked away.

     Usually, whenever I was at my worst, people would push me to tell them what was happening to me and when I didn't tell them, they would eventually leave. But, she didn't. She just stayed there in silence. She was the first person who actually understood.

     That was exactly what I needed, that was exactly what I've been looking for in someone; someone who would just be here with me and hold me, no need to say anything, just to make me sure that I had them with me, that they were here with me, that I was not all alone like how I felt all these years, someone who simply did understands. I had been looking for this kind of person all these time.

     And then I found her.