Shadow
1061 Words
Emon
At first, I thought it was just me overthinking things but now, I was sure that there was something between Albert and Professor Edward.
Why was he here?
Why did he seem to be overly concerned about my boyfriend?
Why was he always near us?
I needed to find out.
I looked at Al as he also looked at the older man with surprise in his eyes.
“How are you?" Professor Edward asked Al but Al didn't answer.
It's either he didn't hear the question or he was indignant.
“What are you doing here? Why are you here?" Al shouted.
He was angry and I could tell even when we were in the car but had kept it bottled up.
“Al… I…”
"Why do you keep following me? Can't you see that I don't want to see you?" Al added.
Ah, so, did that mean that they knew each other from another place?
That's what came to mind because ever since this man appeared in the university, I had never seen him and Al together. This meant that they knew each other from some other place.
“I live here," finally, the older man said and he seemed… why wasn't he looking at Al? If I didn't know better, I would think that he looked guilty.
It was as if he had something shameful to Al and now, he was wondering how to face him.
“What? You… you live here?” I blurted out.
I was surprised because… wtf? Didn't professors have housing in the university?
He didn't look at me as all his attention was on Al.
Al held my hand and squeezed it and my gaze fell to where our hands were clasped and I smiled. Then I felt a chill run down my body and I raised my gaze and I met the old man's gaze that would have burnt me if he could. I saw hostility in his eyes and I wondered why. What was I missing?
“Whatever. Just stay away from me and my boyfriend," Al finally said and pulled me to the elevator.
I felt that gaze searing on my back but I ignored it.
Right then, I needed to find out what was happening and then after that, I would come up with a way on how to deal with it because I couldn't lose Al. I would never allow someone, anyone, no matter who, to take Al from me.
Once in the elevator, I attached Al's lips and he didn't struggle but opened his lips to meet mine and then wound his hands around my neck. We kissed without a care in the world and I kept him there until the ding of the elevator telling us that we were at our floor.
“What's wrong?" Al asked once we were inside and I had pushed him on the wall again.
"My heart is hurting," I said in a hurt voice because I needed his sympathy.
I needed him to forget that man who seemed to affect him in more ways than he cared to show but I had known him for a year and I could tell when he wasn't in the right place in his mind.
“Why would you be hurting? Didn't I promise to be with you?" Al asked and I wanted to smile at that but I swallowed it behind a hurt facade.
“You did but… why do I feel like Professor Edward is here to take you away from me?” I said and observed his gaze to see if I would read anything.
"Why would you say that? He isn't and I wouldn't go with him,” he said and this time, he avoided my gaze and I knew that there was more to it like I had thought.
"Al, do you know him?" I asked as I held his hands.
Al kept quiet for almost half a minute and then sighed.
“If I said I don't know him, would you believe me?" He asked and I shook my head. I wouldn't.
“How would I believe you and the man seemed to know that you are allergic to pineapples and even had medicine for you when I didn't even know about it," I said and I saw the guilt that ran across his facial features.
“I… sorry. It's hard for me to get sick and I usually forget that I am allergic to them and if it had not happened tonight, I swear I wouldn't even have remembered. It's not that I didn't want to tell you, I swear,” he said and I leaned in to kiss him.
"Who is he?” I ask again since it's like he doesn't want to talk about the man.
"No one,” Al says and I didn't push it.
"Really?” I ask I hug him and I encompass his small body with mine and he sighs as he leans in me and closes his eyes contentedly.
"Really. Don't mind him," Al adds and I smile sinisterly.
Of course I was going to mind about him.
“Go and take a bath and go to sleep. You need it for you to recover well. I know your throat is sore," I tell him and for the first time ever since we started living together, Al doesn't ask me to help him or take a bath with him but obediently walks towards the bedroom.
I wait until I hear.the bathroom door close and I make sure that the bedroom door is well closed and then I go to the balcony.
I take out my phone and then call Shadow.
“A man named Professor Edward Green at our school. Find all you can about him as soon as you can," I say and then hang up.
I take out a cigarette and light it up and then lean on the balcony.
I think someone wants me to come out of my self imposed retirement even before time.
I had been hiding from my dad but if keeping Albert by my side will require me to go back home, then I will.
“Why are you smoking again?” Al asks and he's only in a towel and my pupils constrict as I start undressing him with my eyes.
- Writer
