Bandage Love

Chapter 4

Ash observed her before he opened his lips saying, "I thought you've kept your pace together with me," Sharia's lips are open, she gulped and her eyes blink few times, "When I left you'd better follow me back because when I turn around you must be there, you dummy." Ash told and hit her forehead with his finger.

"Ouch," Sharia moaned while putting her hands in her forehead.

"Tsk, what a tardy," Ash grumbled. His face was filled with annoyance. He yanked Sharia's wrist and Ash was walking at his pace while Sharia is shuffling. She didn't remove his hands on her wrist and just let him pulled her whatever he wants.

Ash and Sharia went into the library and took their seat together side by side. Ash brought out his laptop and opened it and started to begin typing. While Sharia brings out her pen between it beside her between the gap of both of them.

She took her notebook out of her bag and put it on the table.

Sharia shook her head under the table and placed the bag. When she raised her head she was hit, "Aw..." She mumbled caressing her head that hit the table.

Sharia lifted her head up and avoided getting hurt again then she saw the pen was on the edge of the table. She stretched her arms. She was about to take the pen with her hands.

"Thud," The pen fell on the floor when the student had bumped the corner of the table.

Both of them stared on the floor and decided to move. They both leaned down, reaching the pen on the ground.

Their hands touch each other's skin. Sharia's face was in crimson but their head unexpectedly bumped into each other. She moaned in pain because of the impact. She took her attention on her head patting it to reduce the pain.

While Ash took the pen from the ground and lent it in front of Sharia. Her pupils were locked into the pen and looked back to Ash's face. She tried to smile and accepted it. "Thank... Thank you..." She stuttered in her words.

Ash went back to his laptop while Sharia put the pen on the top of her notebook and she pressed her hands together in both of her cheeks in embarrassment.

A few days later had passed.

It noon, it was striking 2. Ash was at the balcony standing, his hands are placed in his pocket, and he inhale the breeze, he smiled and accidentally spotted Sharia, she coming out of her house, she was wearing a shaded mental black sleeves and skinny cement gray jeans. She held her phone in her hands bowing her head and ran off.

Ash furrowed his eyebrows and decided to go downstairs.

Sharia was walking from her pace within a distance, he leisurely followed her without knowing that he did. She rubbed her hair in rough, as glanced around her and sighed before bowing her head at her phone. She bumped into a person with a fine hair cut, chest out, patterned coat and leather boots, his lips are dried and his eyebrows are narrowed.

"Hey watch where you going miss!"

"I'm sorry, sir..."

She bowed her head and the man hissed before shaking his head, rashly stride away from her.

"Teens these days." He mumbled.

Ash's lips tighten watching her actions, Sharia put her palms in her forehead and turned to another part of the narrow street, where two men hitting cigarettes and making discussions.

"Pst, dude look."

One of them stated as he hit his elbow to the waist of his other friend. They both smiled and approached her.

"Miss, are you lost?"

"Wanna join us...?"

They offer as she take a step back.

"Um... No. I'm jusy gonna ask for directions..." She replied as they laughed.

"Sure... Wanna let us lead you to happiness?" Her hands were shaking.

"Come on... It would be fun!"

Sharia bit her lower lips, Ash noticed those men, he balled his hands into fist he dashed and yanked Sharia's wrist, he kicked the man's stomach and he groaned, sitting on the ground.

"F*ck!"

The other person run towards him and he give him a quick jab, his face landed at the wall.

"Let's go!"

They quickly ran away, he glanced behind them and found nothing before hiding to another narrowed spaces.

"WHERE IS HE?!"

"DAMN HIM! HIS GONNA PAY FOR WHAT HE DONE TO MY FACE!!!"

Sharia was pinned at the wall while Ash was in front of him, footsteps filled their ears. Ash face her, avoiding the men passing through. Sharia's hands was placed at her chest, her heart was beating so fast, so as her cheek turning red in sudden.

Ash his head was lowered on her, their face were so close, enough to touch each other's lips. Ash tighten his lips and shove himself away from her. He bit his lower lips.

"Where... Where you going...?" He stuttered and Sharia opened her lips and sighed.

"I was just looking for drugstore..." She replied lowering her head at her phone.

"Give me that." Ash snapped and grabbed her phone. He examined her phone and slide it, his brow drew together and glanced at Sharia's face.

"You're facing at the wrong direction." says Ash, Sharia blinked for a moment.

"Maybe because of... The man I bumped into...?" She rubbed her hair and Ash poke her forehead.

"Fool," Ash blurted and sighed.

"Come on," He pulled her arms, Sharia raise her eyebrows while they started to sauntered slowly in the street.

"Where are you taking me...?" She asked and he wiggled his head, the corner of his lips lifted.

"Probably at the fool's destination." Ash commented and gave her a wink, Sharia's eyes narrowed as they continue to saunter.

Moments later, they've reached their destination, Ash crossed his arms, he grinned and pointed out the drugstore. While Sharia was muted, watching his action that he express.

"There you are."

She rolled her eyes before she entered the drugstore. Ash was left outside standing outside watching her actions. Sharia had a small talk with the pharmacist. After a while, the pharmacist gave her the medicine. Before she faces the door. She froze in her position as if she was drawn back to her action.

Her hands was about to touch the door, she took deep breath before she had a courage to move and leave the drugstore. She pass over him and he followed her back.

"Whom you bought medicine for?" Ash questioned while Sharia stopped at her tracks and her smiles are tight-lipped.

She tilts her head on him, "It's... Nothing, it's just for my mom..." She informed while sweating her drip down her cheeks while Ash furrowed his eyebrows.

"Okay..." He just nodded and he sniffed.

"How did you manage to go to the drugstore while you don't even know how to go back home?" Ash raised a question. Sharia shrugged her shoulders and forced herself to smile.

"Well, when we're just about to move in I managed to take a research about the drugstore nearby... Also... I'm not good at remembering things... I have a bad sense of direction. That's why I tried to use GPS... Right?" Sharia clarified making Ash nod.

"Yeah and you still badly mess up." Ash mentioned making her to glare, "Alright, maybe we should go back. It's getting dark." Ash announced.

Sharia suddenly pouted while Ash gave her a stare, "What's wrong with you?"

"I still don't want to go home..." She uttered.

"So you want to waste more time?" Ash inquired and Sharia nodded in response Ash pressed his lips together saying, "Fine, would you like to watch the sunset?" She nodded and plastered a smile on her face.

They had arrived at the sea. Everything was filled by silence except for the bubbling water from the wave. They were sitting in the rough sand by the shore. Sharia peacefully watching the ocean waves and observe the reflection of the sun in the water.

While Ash was staring in the sand and balled his hand into a fist and suddenly had driven his tears to feel from his eyes. Sharia glanced at him and she noticed that Ash was rubbing his eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong...?" Sharia asked out of her interest.

Ash hissed, "There's just dirt in my eyes." He reasoned. "Can you just focus on your business? You don't have to interfere with mine." Ash ordered.

Both of them look away and Sharia avoided Ash gaze, she rubbed her hands. Both of them just waited for the sunset. For a moment, Sharia smiled at being amazed at the beauty of the sunset.

Ash suddenly stood up on his feet. Sharia turned her head on him and stared in his face. "Sooner the night will bite. I think we should head back home."

She nodded and stood up on her feet.

Ash steps away from the place while she is still watching the sunset for a second. She smiled before she turned her back and followed him.

While on the way Sharia watched Ash's back, she swing her arms and stare into his eyes saying, "Thanks for bringing me there. I'm really touched."

She testified, he stayed still for a moment and faced her. He hissed and Sharia giggled before they took their path until they reached home and separated.

The next day in the morning, they were birds flying freely in the sky. Cloud was peacefully watching them from the view of his balcony holding a cup of coffee in his hands.

Suddenly he sighed lowering his head. His thoughts were creeping to his mind, he raised his hand sipping in the cup of coffee.

The taste of chocolate and cream mix into Cloud's tongue then he bends his arms back. His surroundings are filled with silence, except for the tweeting birds from the trees and in the sky.

There was no sign of the person except him.

"My father must have been busy... He must take care of himself even if he doesn't care about me..." He muttered to himself and sighed.

"Having such workaholic parents is a pain." He whispered.

He and his family barely talk, nor have a family bonding together. That feels like he was so far and a line was drawn between him and his parents that he can't cross. Cloud sighed deeply before he shoved himself back inside his room. He took a pace towards his bed and take the cellphone from the nightstand then flopped into the bed.

Hey, good morning. Anyway... Do you mind if I had a small time with you right now?

-Cloud

No. Not really... But around 9:30 I'll be needing to head back home.

-Ash

Cloud yawned before staring at the time and saw it was about 6:54 in the morning. He smiled in excitement.

Sure, that not a problem. Wait for me at your house.

-Cloud

Cloud stood up and decided to take a bath. He rubbed hair in the towel before changing his clothes and left home. For a long time walking in the road, he stopped by in front of Ash house. He knocked and the doorknob turned and the door swang open. Danielle grinned.

"Oh, it's Cloud! How are you?" Danielle questioned and gave him a wide smile.

"I'm doing just fine, uncle Danielle." He responded.

"Come on in! My house is wide open for you. Feel at home." Danielle offered and Cloud shook his head before entering inside the doorway.

"Is Ash upstairs, uncle?"

"Yeah, have a seat."

He sat down the couch and stare at Danielle's actions. "Son, you have a visitor!"

Danielle shouted before he shifted his gaze back to him. "How's your parents?"

"Same old, busy." Cloud replied and the both of them laughed.

"So what both of you are planning to do early in the morning?" He raised his eyebrows and then he sat beside Cloud.

"Well, we will just have to spend some time, uncle. Maybe stroll around or hang out at my house. But we will be back before 9:30." He explained and Danielle nodded.

"Alright, when you get back here... You should just head to our neighbor's house and accompany her daughter. You should at least get to know them too. Don't be late." Danielle enunciated then he patted Cloud's shoulder.

"Sure, uncle." He answered and footsteps had come from the stairs, both of their head tilt at the stair and Ash popped out.

"Have you seen the money I gave you?" Ash only gave his father a cold look in his face and nodded, then Ash glanced at Cloud.

He waved his hand at Ash with a grinned in his face and he winked at him.

"Bye, I'm leaving." Ash vivid goodbyes before Cloud stood upon his knees.

"Let's go then." He exclaimed and walked towards Ash's direction.

Ash turned the knob open, he stepped outside the door. Cloud stood in the doorway holding the knob. He looked back behind him saying, "Bye, uncle."

He brought Ash to his home, he opened the door as Ash entered into his place, he sat down on the couch while Cloud was greeted by his cat. "Hey, Shadow!"

Cloud kneeled down, the tiles were like painted with beige, he patted Shadow's head and pick him up and placed him near his food can. Cloud filled it with cat food before Shadow dug in.

"So, what on your mind?" Cloud questioned Ash seeing him writing something in his notebook.

"Nothing," Ash answered, "How's camping?" He quickly questioned.

Cloud glanced up the ceiling while biting his lower lips. "Hm... Oh well, kind of pretty tiring."

"Writing a story?" He added.

Ash's eyes are so focused, he glanced at Cloud and lowers his head. "Yes, so what's up with you?"

He questioned then he went back to his business.

"It's nothing, I just felt like lonely," Cloud explained while he was patting Shadow and he glanced at Ash.

"Oh, I see," Ash muttered moving his hand on his notebook.

Cloud watched his gesture and decided to sit beside him and Cloud's pupils traveled around the words written in his notebook.

"I heard you had a neighbor."

He changed the subject, he saw Ash hands halt for a second and changed its movements.

"Um, yeah..." Ash stated and aura started to change.

"Looks like someone has to say much of a speech but chooses to swallow their words." Cloud teased plastering a smile on his face.

"Your neighbor's daughter is whom you need to accompany to school...?" He added Ash just nodded and went his work.

Cloud suddenly got something in his mind making him smile and gaze on Ash.

"More like it..." Ash whispered.

"Is she pretty?" Cloud questioned and received pain in his head, he patted the spot where Ash hit it, making him pout.

"Shut up, playboy!" Ash scolded and gave him a glare.

"Something smells fishy..." Cloud murmured in himself. "You should just say you like her, be specific." He hissed and rolled his eyes, Ash pupils flared.

"What? Did you say something I need to hear?" Ash observed Cloud carefully.

"I said I'll stop," Cloud responded. "Acting like a deaf as if he really didn't hear it,"

To Be Continued.