Chapter 11

She came closer and for a second our eyes locked.

It was getting awkward so I said ,"Um , do you want to play video games or anything?"

She looked around her and said,"Sure . I heard you are a fan of Pokemon"

"You want to play Pokemon games?", I asked.

I never thought she would want to play that.

"So odd", I said.

"Why? Do you think I can't play? ", she said.

"No , I mean. You're so smart and advisable , I never thought you would want to play kid games", I said.

She once said that Pokemon games were for kids and I got angry at that.

She poked me on my ribs and said,"You're saying this because you don't want me to beat you"

"Okay", I said and gave her my phone to play

"Thanks", she said and smiled.

Her smile was sweet and I always loved to see her smile. It made me smile too.

Then I looked at the clock and suddenly I remembered that my mom told me to change my bandage within 12 hours.

It was more than 12 hours .

I went to mom's room while Melis was playing peacefully and took the bandage out. While I was going to take out the antiseptics , I found a locket . It was beautiful with a blue coloured stone (I think it was ruby) on the centre . I examined it closely . It was shining. I remembered mom telling me about the locket . Dad gifted it on their marriage and she said that it meant a lot to them and I remembered how excited I was to see that locket when I was small but mom refused to show it .

I wanted to keep the locket with me but I didn't want to steal it maybe because I knew that mom loved the locket more than anything but she never used to wear it which was quite odd.

If she really loved it so much , why didn't she wear it even once?

Anyway , I took the antiseptics and bandage and went to my room.

Since , I wasn't left handed it was quite difficult to apply the antiseptics with my left hand and I struggled a lot with the bandage too.

Then Melis knocked at the door and came in.

"I thought you were upset because you just lost. I made the new high score", she said.

"That's great . Congratulations ", I said and continued my fight with the bandage.

"Let me do it", she said and took my hand.

She turned my hand and chuckled . The bleeding had stopped but still it looked disgusting.

"Why are you so shy? You could have just asked me to help you out", she said.

"I didn't want to disturb your' playing and beating me time' ", I said

She smiled her perfect smile .

While she was bandaging my hand , she said,"Seriously, Zach . What would you have done without me in your life?"

She didn't look at me.

I said,"I am not sure . Maybe nothing" and I really meant what I said.

"What about you?", I asked.

"What about me? I wouldn't have been in this world without you", she said.

I looked at her.

"Whoa , you don't mean that, right?", I asked.

Obviously she didn't. She was kidding. Why did I ask her then?

She looked at me and said,"Done . Antiseptics and bandages"

I looked at my hand and said,"Thanks, doc"

"But still you didn't answer my question. I mean, yeah you were kidding, I know that but that joke was new", I said.

Yeah , she used to repeat her jokes sometimes but when she said it was funny all the same.

"If you think I am kidding, then I am", she said.

"Can't you just answer it simply?", I asked

She didn't answer for some time .

I kept giving her 'what's wrong' look which she couldn't resist.

"Ok , yeah. I mean it meant it seriously", she said irritated

"I know you don't mean it", I said.

She shrugged.

I was confused.

"You know I am a girl , right? I mean I am Abigail, not Zacharias", I said.

"Which is the truth", I added though I felt odd saying it.

She made a confused expression and said,"You never told me you're a girl. Why?"

I was more confused .

"Hey, do you think I don't know you? I have known you for years , more than Alex knows you".

She waited for me to say anything.

"I don't understand", I said finally.

"I thought so", she replied immediately, again irritated.

"I fell in love with you knowing that you are a girl", she said

I was taken aback for a second.

I opened my mouth to say something but i forgot what I was going to say .

She kept looking at me waiting for a reply.

We had been friends for like 5 years , why didn't I understand it since then?

When I started saying something, she turned her attention towards me.

"So .... don't mind me saying this but did you fell in love because of my boy looks?", I asked.

All the girls loved my looks.

"No, I am not like other girls, you know that.

I just love how you talk like boys and you're active like boys , so..." , she said

"I am sorry", I interrupted her.

She was suddenly surprised.

"Why?", she said.

"I shouldn't have been a boy when I was with you and..", I said

"No , don't think like that . I fell in love with Abigail first and then ..... with you, Zach" she said.

"So , I don't care if it's Abigail or Zach", she said.

"It's okay for you to love Alex", she said.

"I know you're not what I am", she said after some time .

I already knew what she was so I didn't have to ask.

"I know Alex and you deserve each other, he's so caring while I am nothing to you .... but we can be...

"Shut up", I said.

"Best friends . Anyway, I think I'll have to go do my homework . I just wanted you to know that but I didn't expect you to know it this soon "she completed and was going to leave

I wanted her to shut up. Like her, I still wanted her to know that she too meant a lot to me.

I grabbed her hand while I was going to leave and without looking at he , I said," What do you think? You don't mean anything to me? Well then you are wrong . I .... " I closed my eyes" love you too"

For a minute, it was awkwardly quiet and then she said slowly,"If you lived me , why didn't you tell it before?"

I didn't know the answer .

She sat beside me and pulled me close and said,"What took you so long to say this?"

"I am sorry... I ..

She put her index finger on my lips and said .l, "There's nothing to be sorry about. Especially, when I made the same mistake"

She pulled me so close that I could feel her hot breath on me . She closed her eyes and then she closed mine and I felt her lips on mine. I wrapped my right hand around her brown hair.

Then I opened my eyes and she said, "Sorry , I didn't mean to kiss you ..

This time it was me who kissed her but I was interrupted because someone opened the door.

I turned towards the door . It was mom.

I was startled and by mistake I bit her lips and then she looked at mom.

"Um .... I think I should go", mom said.

"Mom , wait", I said but she closed the door.

And it was Melis and me alone in my room again.

"I love you", she said again.

"I love you too", I said.

"Ok, get well soon and I want to see you in school tomorrow", she said.

"I will try to", I said closing the door behind her as she went home.