Chapter 113
This time it was my dad. He was trying to look nonchalant but I could tell that he was curious about what my answer would be. I tried not to tense up at his name but my grip on the cutlery in my hand tightened. I tried to cover it up by cutting up the piece of meat on my plate.
"He's good." I answered curtly, trying to drop the topic and move on from it. I didn't want to remember what happened it didn't sit well with me and I didn't want to lose my composure in front of everyone; especially my parents.
However, my mom was either oblivious to that fact or straight out ignored the signs I gave out.
"Well, has his memory of us came back yet?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. It took everything in me not to give her a tight smile and leave the restaurant. I tried my best to keep my body language pleasant by simply shaking my head and keeping a decent amount of eye contact.
"He doesn't remember me, Mom," At least not as his girlfriend.
A small frown formed on her face as her eyebrows drew together, expressing her disappointment.
"I don't understand why you wouldn't just tell the boy. I know for a fact that you love him, Case." I tried not to keep myself from snapping.
All the while my dad remained silent with his eyes locked on me as if he was silently asking the same questions. I couldn't tell my parents that the reason I didn't want Adam to remember me was because I was a danger to everyone around me. They were completely out of the loop about Bryant joining a gang thing and the street fighting thing.
I didn't want to spoil the image of their deceased son with such information. Their memory of Bryant should remain untainted because that's all he deserves. He deserves to be remembered as a
flawless person because he's been nothing but the perfect son and brother.
"I can't, Mom." I forced out and I purposely let some of my despair slip through my facade so that they'll back off a bit. Unfortunately, with my mother, it was like she was living in her own bubble.
"I'm sorry, honey. I didn't mean to get you upset. It must be hard on you but you know that we're here for you. It's just that I don't want you to be late in realizing that something good may be slipping through your fingers right now. If that boy can make your father take a like him, he's one of a kind." My mom ranted on and it took a deliberate squeeze of the hand from my dad to finally shut her up.
Thank God that at least one of my parents have the courtesy of knowing when to drop things.
"We're just worried for you but we're happy that you've settled well in your university." I nodded with a small smile, thanking my dad silently before continuing to eat my food. The rest of the dinner went on in silence after that and when we do talk, my parents avoided talking about Adam at all costs.
I was grateful because no matter how pleasant the memories with Adam were, the thought of it all being memories actually brought along a pang of hurt. Then there's that memory of him accusing me of murdering Carla. Just the thought made my eyes sting with tears.
When dinner ended, we went home and I decided to open up some of my textbooks to get myself a head start on the lessons I was going to study this semester. I opened up my notes and was ready to spend the next few hours studying when I suddenly remembered the fight schedule I took earlies. I opened up my bag and took the paper out.
My next fight was in two days. I could feel myself getting jittery. I didn't know why I felt nervous but I knew it won't do me any good to feel so. I took a few deep breaths and reminded myself I gave training my best and that I'll be okay. I have to be okay. No one is going to get hurt because of me.
No one but the boy whose brother is going after your loved ones because you injured him badly during one of the fights.
My mind flew to the psycho dude who blackmailed me. I won't lie; I'm scared. Not because I felt threatened; no matter how much I didn't want to die, I believe that death was inevitable and it will happen when it happens. I've accepted that for myself; but it was a completely different case when it comes to my loved ones.
I don't think I'll ever be able to properly cope with the death of a loved one. Not when I've invested so much feelings in them. I was scared because my family and friends' lives were at stake. It wasn't just my life on the line now, it was everyone around me too―and I didn't like the odds that I was facing.
