CHAPTER 63: MALIK

Well, I didn't go and find that guy again and instead drown everything in alcohol and music until either Chuck or Scooter dragged me back home. I fall to my bed and groan. My stomach feels weird and my whole body aches. Chuck, bless his heart, tries to get me out of my clothes and into my pajamas. Even when angry and disappointed, he still takes good care of me. How predictable, I chuckle to myself.

"C'mon, Lee," Chuck groans as he has me sitting up so he can take off my shirt. My jacket is already somewhere on the bedroom floor and so are my shoes which I kicked away once we entered.

I comply, albeit unwillingly, and he changes me after some struggle and awkward touches from his part. He probably sees the mark left by that guy. Well, who cares. I just want to sleep.

I slept like a log until Bianca kicked my leg to wake me up in the morning. I look around deliriously and find Chuck nowhere to be seen. "He's in the kitchen packing the food," she looks down on me with an unapproving look, "go shower and change. We'll have breakfast and then grandpa will take you to the station," Bianca tells me before walking out of the room. I nod to no one before willing myself to do everything she tells me to do.

We have light breakfast since it's still very early. Just half past seven in the morning. And then I go back to my room to pack the stuff Chuck's parents gave me and the rest of my clothes. Chuck's stuff is already neatly packed so he decides to just help in the kitchen. Avoiding me, clearly.

That's a good thing. That's what I want. I feel bad, of course. He's my friend after all. But I suppress that feeling. Because it'll do no one any good if I keep being, well, me.

We travel back to uni in complete silence. Not even when we eat lunch on the train. Not even when we drive back from the station to our dorm, though Chuck still drops me off first before going to his. Not even a goodnight.

Just when I'm about to enter my room, Allen appears next to me looking anxious and relieved at the same time. I chuckle and turn towards him, smiling. I push open the door and let him enter first before closing and locking the door behind me. I don't even bother turning the lights when I strut towards Allen and push him onto the bed, startling him.

I kiss him ferociously. Hmm… I missed him. Truly. I missed his smell. I missed his shape. I missed everything him.

We soon find ourselves tangled under the sheet. He seems to miss me too. Or at least my body, he spares no effort nor energy to devour every inch of me. Good thing the lights are off or else I'll have to explain the marks left by another man. I don't want to do that. Not yet. I want to enjoy him as long as I can.

We fall asleep soon after, both exhausted. Me especially since I did just travel cross-country. I hug him and marvel in his being. Feeling satiated.

I wake up in the morning and not bother with breakfast or even waking Allen up, I get ready and leave for uni to report for the first day of the new semester. I walk towards the administration building and hand in the rest of the papers needed for the internship before heading to my first class of the day.

I went through the morning ignoring calls and texts from my closest friends. That includes Allen also, by the way. I just send them one text telling them I'm busy with classes, which is not totally a lie. I just want some time without me having to dig my fingers through my palm and feeling like I'm going to suffocate.

I eat lunch alone in one of the gardens in the literature department. I bought some bread and milk and sat down on the stone table under the tree while opening my tab to check my works and my papers. I have a few assignments already and I'm going to do them as soon as I can so that I can focus more on other things, namely, getting a haircut.

I browse through images on the internet for some hairstyle reference and thinking about what I should do with my already too long hair. I mean, I don't look bad with long hair, but it's slightly messy and has no shape whatsoever so I at least need some trim.

"Hey, Lee," Jamal sits down across from me, smiling brightly and I smile back at him while waving my half-eaten bread in his face.

""Sup," I greet him back, chewing messily and he laughs at that.

"Whatchu doin' here? Got a job at lit?" he asks, eyeing my tab.

"Nah. Just want a change of scenery." I grin at him.

"Whatchu lookin' at?" he asks again, nodding at the tab in my hand and I hand it to him.

"I'm thinking of getting a haircut. Still not sure what kind, though," I tell him, hoping he can give me an advice or two.

"You look good in anything, Lee," he grins at me before browsing through while I roll my eyes at him and chuckle.

"Thanks," I tell him, feeling even better than this morning. I keep smiling so widely but for once, I don't feel like my mouth is going to split.

"You know what, my cousin Malik just opened a shop at the mall, why don't you go there? He's good," Jamal tells me and I raise my eyebrow, intrigued.

"The mall?" I ask, thinking. Maybe I should do some shopping too?

"Yeah. What time you finish today?" Jamal asks and takes out his phone and starts typing.

"Four," I tell him, still thinking.

"Well, he's booked until seven, but after, he's all yours," Jamal tells me, "that okay?" he asks.

"Seven… Well, I can do my assignments first and do some shopping…" I tell him slowly.

"Great!" Jamal says excitedly, "He's really good, you know." Jamal starts typing again.

"Stop convincing me, Jamal." I laugh, taking my tab from him. Jamal looks up from his phone and stares at me. Studying me.

"You seem kinda different, byt the way," he tells me and I 'Oh?' at that. "I don't know… You look good," he says, shrugging.

"I always look good." I roll my eyes and laugh as he rolls his eyes too.

"Whatever," he stands up, "don't forget. Seven at Trip and Trim," he tells me as he bids goodbye.

"Thanks!" I wave back at him before continuing to eat the rest of my lunch.

I have one last class after lunch until four, just like what I told Jamal. After that I'm going straight to the mall and do some shopping first before settling at a cafe or something to do my assignments before my appointment with Jamal's cousin.

I text my friends, telling them that I have dinner appointments with some people so that they won't call me and possibly offer to come with me to the mall. I need some room, to be honest.

At precisely four, I take a cab to the mall and head straight to my favorite clothing store and start picking clothes that I normally wouldn't have given even a glance. I feel like doing and wearing something new. I still have some money from my jobs and splurging a little won't hurt. I can always take on more jobs and make more money after this.

I bought a pair of tight-fitting black denim pants, a faux leather jacket with studs that fits perfectly on me, an oversized wool sweater in peach, a see-through long-sleeve outerwear, a very punk-rock looking long-sleeved shirt with holes on the shoulders and a very low back, a few comfortable looking long-sleeve shirts and some T-Shirts, as well as a pair of black trousers.

I walk around the mall with my shopping bags, deciding on where to spend the rest of the afternoon before my appointment when I suddenly catch something that makes me stop. A piercing and tattoo parlor. I stop right in front of the shop and an idea comes to me so suddenly. I'm both excited and scared as I enter the shop and greet the employee.

"Good afternoon, how may I help you?" a nice looking girl comes up to me and I smile at her widely.

"How much is for tongue piercing?" I ask and she smiles wider as she guides me to the counter and starts explaining.

It's not as expensive as I thought so I immediately sign the waiver before she takes me to one of the private cubicles and starts preparing. I'm so excited I think I'm vibrating right now. I'm not even scared when she comes back wearing latex gloves carrying a bottle of something along with what looks like a big needle.

It doesn't take long either, and by the time it's done and I got out of the shop, all I can feel is slight pinches every now and then. But nothing I can't handle. It looks good too. But I think Marsha and Chuck will have a heart attack when they see it.

It's almost seven so instead of going to a cafe, I head straight to Jamal's cousin's shop. It's a nice looking shop with eight seats for the customers and three long cushioned-benches for the waiting area. The decoration is mostly in black and white with a touch of red brick-colored ornaments.

I get inside and am greeted by a tall girl who looks like she can be a model for how beautiful she is. "Hi, I have an appointment at seven with Malik? I'm Levi," I walk to the counter and give her my information.

The girl, named Sisca, looks towards the station and smiles at me, "he's about done. If you'd please wait a moment?" she gestures towards the waiting area. I thank her and walk there, dropping my shopping bags and myself onto the bench, sighing. Shopping is quite tiring, as it turns out.

"Levi?" a melodic voice rings from above me and I look up from my phone to a stranger very much looking like Jamal. Only more handsome and taller and definitely older.

I stand up, holding my hand out to him, "It's Lee, nice to meet you."

"Malik." He smiles at me and guides me towards the washing station and has me sit down. "What would you like to do with your hair?" he asks as he starts to wash it.

"I just need a trim I think," I tell him, still unsure.

"Do you want to keep it long?"

"I think so." I look up at him, smiling, "I've never kept my hair this long before but I think it looks good."

"It does." Malik smiles back at me, "maybe a little trim and make it more wavy? Your original hair is wavy, right? It shows when it's longer like this. It looks good," he tells me.

"Thank you," I tell him, smiling, "Well, then, I'll leave it to you." I grin at him and sit down in front of the mirrored-wall.

Malik works with my hair skillfully as we chat. Mostly about his shop and my studies. But after some time, I don't know how our conversation turns into flirting. Not that I mind, though, he's a handsome guy.