Peter is Not Afraid(1)

After my playful scuffle with Jack and Peter, I started to move away from them for today's objective. As I started to move while thinking of different things to say to convince that 'man', a hand suddenly grabbed my shoulder.

Usually, I would not be surprised like this, but today I was so immersed in my thoughts that I didn't even notice someone coming close to me. My body automatically entered combat mode, I instinctively punched at the back of my head to knock the other person but I suddenly stopped when he called my name.

"Dus-Dustin"

My fist was nearly 5 inches away from the jaw of the other person, If I didn't stop my instinctive action when I heard him calling my name I would have severely injured him.

He had fallen to the ground due to fear, his face was sweaty and he was taking deep breaths to calm himself. His eyes were filled with confusion as he looked at me.

I didn't want to hurt him, it was an instinctive action due to sudden surprise. Maybe it was due to the tension and pressure I had been feeling since I came to know the fate of this world or it could be I was too immersed in my thoughts.

The reason now didn't matter, it wouldn't change that I hurt my friend nearly. I could blame that it was his fault for suddenly grabbing me but it was the act of a criminal to give logic to his crime.

He tried to stand but his body wasn't listening to him, I looked at him who was trying so hard to stand up and thought of giving him a hand but decided against it at the final moment.

"Why are you here" 

I asked him in desperation in my voice, I thought he had gone with Jack after we separated but why did he follow me, if he at least didn't follow me then I wouldn't have...

"I-I wanted to give you this"

He said this as he put his hands on his picket and brought a candy, I didn't understand. He came all the way to give me candy, is he joking and if not then why didn't he give me before?

"You wanted to give me candy, if that's what you wanted to do then why didn't you give it to me before!"

He looked confused at my words for a second, in his eyes I was probably acting unlike I usually do but it was understandable for him to be shocked when I was acting so cold to him.

This side of me I have only shown this to Leila, Jack, and Thomas so it wasn't a big deal for him to be surprised. I knew better than most people that everyone likes to beautify others but when you don't meet their expectations they hate you.

Of course that was not the case for Peter, In fact, the fault lay entirely with me but I didn't have the guts to ask him for forgiveness as I was afraid he would say he feared me.

I didn't know when everyone here became a part of my heart, even if the other villagers were someone I didn't like and I thought for a long time that I would not give a damn about anyone in this village other than the old man.

"I was afraid if I gave it to you in front of Jack he would eat it so I planned to give it to you alone but-"

He finally composed and collected himself, I was speechless for a moment at his answer. I could have said that Jack is not that kind of person but he was certainly that kind of person.

This was because of that ape-looking bastard-if someone didn't have looks they should have at least a brain. I have decided I would rank Jack higher than my sister in the marathon for the best ape.

My cold mind calmed down when I thought of Jack and my sister, I looked at his hand which was still up offering his candy, To be honest, I wasn't surprised he valued candy this much.

It was normal for the kids here to not receive and eat candy for years. Kids are generally lovers of candy and still, he was giving me his candy, You would only know the preciousness of things when you don't have it.

"I thought Jack was your best friend so why are you giving me this, we don't even talk much"

Even if we are friends we generally do not talk much due to Peter being of a shy nature and me being socially inept. I know that Peter was someone to go with the flow and he didn't have the courage to go against the crowd.

The reason he was even friends with me was because of Jack and Adrian. 

I wouldn't be surprised If he didn't give me any eye when we were not with Jack and others.

"I already gave Jack all of the candies and Dustin y-you ar-are my FRIEND"

He called me a friend while shouting, I was surprised by his courage to shout at me. I didn't want to argue with him so I didn't even look at the candy and turned and prepared to walk away.

Suddenly he grabbed my leg with his both hands, I had nearly fallen due to his action but somehow balanced myself. A vein popped up in my head as I glared at him.

He was still lying on the ground but this time he was lying on my legs while grabbing them. If you are so afraid of me that you can't even move why are you stopping me I wanted to ask him but being a failure in conversation I couldn't ask him.

"I am not afraid of you- I was just shocked that's all"

Suddenly he spoke these words in a clear tone unlike before filled with conviction, These words of his somehow got through the defences of my heart.