'Til The Day You Fall

VI: Bitter Memories

"Run? And why would I run?" I asked her, but let her pull me until we are both out of the alley. "I can fight them back!"

 "Not in all cases have to fight! They have guns, didn't you see?"  she replied without stopping or even looking at me.

 I looked back and when I didn't see the goons, I stopped.  "We're far away. We can stop now."

 I watch her pant and wipe the sweat from her forehead.  "You... I have no words for you."

 "What?" I asked, frowning.

 "That was reckless of you! Don't you think?! Why are you next to someone you don't know? You could have gotten yourself killed, stupid! What are you up against with their built and guns?"

 Angry? No. I am livid! She puts himself in harm's way because of her curiosity!  Is she hoping for some dude wearing a cape with his underwear out to rescue her? 

 "F***!" I cursed loudly and kicked an empty trash, causing people to stare, but I only glared at them. 

 "What are you upset about? Did I tell you to follow me?"

 "Is it still my fault?"  I laughed heartily at what she said.  "You really are something, Cantaloupe." I started with a shake of my head and left her to go back to my car.

 This is what you get for caring for her, Kilton.  Hah, un-f******-believable.

 I slammed the steering wheel of my car. My hands gripping it tight, feet itching to step on the gas to release my anger.  My annoyance only subsided when my cell phone rang.

 "What now, Milt?"

 "Hello to you too, Brother."  he said sarcastically.  "Where are you?"

 "Outside beside Starbucks."  I answered simply, not in the mood for long conversations. 

 "Why do you seem annoyed? Did you fight with someone?"

 I snorted a laugh.  "Just some stupid fruit that doesn't know what danger means. I mean, can you believe her? I saved her and she has the guts to be angry at me." I ranted with a groan and my annoyance came back. 

 "Cantaloupe? Why, Brother? What happened to her? Is she okay?!"  Milton asked worriedly, which surprised me.  Why is he so worried about her?

 "She's fine. I don't know, I left her there."   I answered, not really caring about it. 

 "What?!"

 I opened my mouth to snap at him for shouting at me, but he dropped the call.  I frowned at my phone. What's wrong with my brother?  He's usually calm, but why was he so angry now?

 I threw my cell phone in the back seat out of annoyance, not even caring that it is the current model of iPhone.  I started the car, but when I looked at the side mirror. I saw Milton running towards Cantaloupe who had not yet left.  I saw how he crouched in front of her. I saw how they talked. I saw how Cantaloupe shook her head and smiled at my brother. Smiled.  She actually f*****g smiled at him. 

 The heck?  Am I missing something here? And what is that? She's always ready to fight me, but she's smiling at my brother?

 I gritted my teeth and my grip on the wheel tightened, but wait, why am I so angry? I forced myself to calm down and drove my car home.

 They can f*** each other for all I care, but once she hurts my brother, I will follow her even in hell and hurt her myself. 

 S***, THIS CAN'T BE happening... again.

 I stared at her from across the room. If I was sitting in the chair, she would be sitting on the floor while hugging her legs as if protecting herself from me.  Which is ridiculous because I won't do her any harm.

 Why are we in this situation again, you ask?  Locked up inside a room and no one else can hear us unless someone is actually looking for us?

 Let’s start the story by saying that I was too stupid to follow her to the basement of the Fine Arts student’s building.  I just want to talk to her about my brother, who would have thought that someone would play a prank on us and lock us up here? If I get my hands on him or her, goddamn it. I'll wring their neck. 

 I sighed and shook my head.  I looked at my watch and saw that it was almost seven o'clock. We have been locked here for an hour and no matter what knocking and shouting she did, no one hears.  It’s also annoying that there’s no signal here. 

 "You're not going to scream again and accuse me of rape, are you?"

 Instead of answering my question, she glared at me. "It's your fault! If you don't follow me, we will not be imprisoned!"

 "Me?"  I taught myself.  "It's my fault again, that's it? Do you have to always blame me? Didn't you think that maybe someone really wanted to lock you up here and I just felt sorry for you?"

 F***, this bickering has to stop.  When we were together, we always just bark at each other like dogs.

 "Look, can't we just at least be civil with each other? It's tiring. I mean, with my brother you're not like that."

 "Your brother is different from you." she retorted without beating around the bush. 

 Okay, that one hit a spot and I don't even know why.

 "Why don't we try all over again?"  I stood up and approached her.  I sat across from her and held out my hand.  "Hi, I'm Kilton Algarotti. Nice to meet you."  I introduced myself with a boyish grin. 

 Her eyes narrowed as she looked at my face and turned to my outstretched hand.  She hesitantly reached for it and I shook her soft hand with a smile.

 "Cantaloupe."  she answered blankly.

 She let go of my hand and I gently clenched it, feeling cold all of a sudden.

 "You have a cute name."

 "Shut up."

 I laughed and stopped when we heard a loud knock.

 "Lou? Are you in there?!" I recognized my brother's voice.

 Before I could speak,  Cantaloupe immediately stood up and immediately approached the door.

 "Yes. I'm here, Milton! Help me out, please."

 I slowly stood up and I don't know what's happening to me, but I just stood there and stared at the scene in front of me. I heard my Brother ordering someone to open the door and for her not to worry because he's here. Like a damn superhero.

 And I watched in silence as they hugged each other like they've known each other for a long time.  A hug that only lovers do.

 I know... because I've been there once.

 Three years ago...

 "Just a few months more and I'll be able to drive on my own."  I stated as I stared outside the car.  Because I'm not of the right age yet, Mom and Dad still don't allow me to drive, so I put up with our driver who drives slowly.

Bert laughed at what I said.  "I'm sorry, you know I'm just being careful and that is good to hear, child." 

 Which I understand.  It's been five years since he almost collided with a child, so he's been careful ever since.  Fortunately, my family is still grateful for his twenty years of service with us.

 "I'm sorry, Bert. I'm just really bored."

 "Just be careful. I know a lot of people who died because of accidents. It's cool to drive fast, it's exhilarating, but it's not cool to die because of that."

 "Yes. I will keep that in mind."

 The car suddenly stopped and thankfully, I was wearing my seatbelt.  "What the hell?!"

 "A young woman suddenly stopped just fine and I was able to break right away."

 Annoyed,  I removed my seatbelt and immediately got out of the car to see the woman I hadn’t accidentally embarrassed in front of a crowd while she was speaking at a program. S***, is it bad to correct her grammar?  I'm just concerned about her education. 

 "You! You're the reason this is happening to me!" she screamed at me and threw in front of me the cell phone she was holding and I saw a video I assumed was taken from the program.  "Can't I be wrong because I'm nervous, huh? My grammar isn't perfect, but at least I'm not an asshole like you! Thank you for making fun of me!"

 My eyes narrowed at her insult and approached her.  "Say that again."

 "Asshole."

 I glared at her and let me just say that when I am mad, I look like the f****** Hulk and everyone's afraid. Everyone but this girl.

 Interesting.

 And so, that moment on.  I admitted to myself that I am attracted to her and so I chased her. Although she was often rude to me,  I have never met anyone like her and I'll be damned if I let her go.  Not when she's already stolen my heart. I followed her everywhere like a love sick puppy. I protected her from everyone and claimed her mine to prevent anyone from messing with her.

 Until one day, she finally accepted my heart and love. Man, I spoiled her rotten.  I gave everything she wanted.  I gave her all of my time.  She has me on a tight leash and I didn't mind it one bit.  Because I stupidly thought that what we had was real. That what we had was forever, but was I wrong.  So f****** wrong.

 I kissed her forehead as she leaned on my shoulder.  We are currently sitting in the back of the black Hummer I own.  On the day of my 18th birthday came, I immediately bought it. We looked up at the star -filled sky and could also see the full moon that seemed to greet us.

 "Hey, I hope it's always like this? I hope we're always together. I hope we always have no problems and most of all," I squeezed her hand holding mine and gave it a kiss. "I hope we will always love each other."

 I heard her humming in response and I just smiled.  I'm used to her not being vocal when it comes to how she feels about me because I feel like she loves me too.

 "I love you so much, love."  I smiled at the stars and the moon.  "To the moon and back."

 I frowned when I felt a drop of water on our hands and looked up.  "Is it raining?"  I raised my other hand and without feeling it, I looked at our clasped hands again and felt the drop of water again and it dawned on me that it came from him. "Love?"

 I lifted her bowed head and was shocked to see her crying.  I wiped the tears from her eyes and laughed slightly.  "Are you too touched that you're crying?"

 To my surprise and joy, she suddenly hugged me tight and I cherished it. Loving the way she feels wrapped around my arms. Loving the way her soft body molded perfectly against mine everytime we made love. 

I lifted her face and claimed her lips and right there on top of my jeep and on top of the mountain, I claimed her over and over again, her cries of pleasure echoing around the mountain. 

Who would have thought that the moment we came back, I'll never see her again? That she'll just vanish out of thin air like she was never in my life to begin with? 

And that day, I knew I'll never be the same again.