05

the bad boy confides

AKARI GRABBED THE bag of medication she got from the pharmacy, stuffing it in her bag as she walked her way to the campus cafeteria for lunch.

Her morning class had just finished and her thoughts consisted of only a particular man and the few conversations she had with him the past few days.

"I have classes tomorrow." Akari said as she handed him a cup of water. He drank from it, eyes never leaving hers before nodding. "Ok." He answered. "I can wait for you to return."

"You will be alone here." Akari said. "Just in case you need anything, you can call me using this phone." She pushed the device into his hands. It was a spare old phone she had used with a working number.

"Alright." Julian nodded. "You will become a really good Doctor one day." He added, lying back on the bedsheets and Akari's eyebrows raised at the sudden compliment. "You take care of me well."

Akari's eyes widened before she stood up from her bed and walked to sleep on the couch instead.

Sleeping on the couch wasn't as bad as Akari thought it would be. It was cosy, comfortable and Julian was already sleeping comfortably on her bed, deep wounds still healing.

Although many questions circled her mind, she was afraid to ask them and she can tell he was hesitant around her, almost as if avoiding her from asking any questions by sleeping and eating and asking for water the entire time.

They both were avoiding the important questions in the air and it seemed like they both were in a silent agreement to just avoid them at all costs. It seemed too scary to ask or answer.

Back to the present, Akari bought a new batch of painkillers as she was running out of them. She wondered what he was doing in her room now just as she entered the Cafeteria. Spotting Ha-eun waving at her with Fleur and their senior Rebecca, beside her. Akari made her way towards them.

"Got you your favourite black bean noodles." Ha-eun smiled proudly, pushing the bowl to Akari and she didn't hesitate to dive right in.

"Hi Fleur, Ha-eun has been talking about you all—." Akari was cut off with a kick in her shin and she coughed, giving her best friend a cheeky smile as Fleur laughed, a slight blush adorning her cheeks.

Rebecca, who was fiddling with her phone, looked up at the sudden laughs before looking back to her phone.

"What's got you so interested in your phone?" Akari teased, and Ha-eun followed her lead. "Another fling?"

"I'm reading the news." Rebecca shrugged like it was an obvious thing.

"What news?" Fleur asked.

Rebecca scoffed. "Don't tell me you all haven't heard." She looked at all three of the clueless girls who sat there exchanging glances. Fleur leaned towards Rebecca, eyes widening in curiosity and Akari's spoon paused mid-way entering her mouth while Ha-eun asked, "What haven't we heard?"

"This is why I'm telling y'all to make more friends." Rebecca shook her head before placing her phone down for the girls to see—which Ha-eun grabbed immediately to have a better look.

Blocked from viewing, Akari groaned, hitting Ha-eun's shoulder roughly to make her show whatever's got Fleur and Ha-eun's faces so shocked while reading.

"Show me!" Akari squealed, hitting Ha-eun again before taking the phone from her, which this time, Ha-eun didn't clutch tightly.

"You are telling me, we have a murderer on the loose?" Ha-eun whispered. "One from our University?"

Whatever Ha-eun said next was blocked out of Akari's ears as she read the lines on the article, heart pattering against her chest and she suddenly found it difficult to breathe.

STUDENT FROM OAKLAND UNIVERSITY MURDERS HIS FATHER

In a grave incident, a student identified as Julian Jones is under investigation for the alleged murder of his father, William Jones, aged 52, last Friday. Law enforcement authorities are actively engaged in scrutinizing the case, emphasizing the severity of the matter. Authorities caution both university students and residents in the surrounding neighbourhood to remain vigilant in light of the escaped individual, Julian Jones. The lifeless body of William Jones was discovered shrouded in...

Akari's ears rang and her chest heaved up and down as her world blurred, a surge of confusion and anger flowed through her and she wanted to throw up, losing her appetite for the half-finished food in front of her. She placed the phone in front of her and grabbed her bag.

"I need to go." Akari stood and she ran, hearing Ha-eun call her name after her. Akari couldn't hear them. She had a class after lunch but she wasn't keen on attending it. She doesn't think she can sit for two hours anywhere right now without getting her anxiety to spike up badly.

So, she needed answers. Now.

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"WAKE UP!" AKARI slammed the door to her room open, storming in as she threw her bag on the couch before looking at an alarmed Julian Jones trying to sit up on her bed slowly as he looked at her.

Suddenly, she stopped.

He doesn't seem like a murderer.

To her.

She sighed, one hand on her forehead, the other hand getting her phone out before searching for the article.

"What's going on—"

"Shut up." Akari cut him off, never taking her eyes off the phone until she found the headlines. She tossed her phone to the bed while standing in front of it, watching his expression closely as he grabbed to look at whatever's on the phone.

Slowly, she could see his features harden, jaws go tight, a stormy expression taking over his face as he went rigid with shock.

It was pin-drop silence after that.

"Akari." He paused, placing the phone down before looking back up. The intensity of the coldness in his eyes made her take a step back. "You have to believe me."

"What do you mean by that?" Akari asked, crossing her arms across her chest as her voice raised by an octave.

"I know." Julian breathed out. "I know this is going to be hard for you but you have to believe me. Please." His eyes turned soft, almost pleading, tone earnest with despair.

The palpable tension in the room was so strong that Akari couldn't stand it. "How would you expect me to believe you? I barely know you. We are strangers."

"Is that really what you think of me?" Julian asked, "Even after the last two days."

"I took care of you." Akari reasoned. "You were just my patient."

"Then why did you decide to not tell Ha-eun about me?" Julian slowly sat straighter on the bed, voice desperate to want her to understand him. "Why did you not call the police when you realised the bloodstains weren't mine?" Julian's voice was soft yet his question was so loud that it etched onto Akari's mind, "Why didn't you kick me out right after I woke up?"

"I-I..." Akari was speechless, eyes meeting his and she felt her heartbeat wildly hot and in anticipation of the tense moment. The questions were dangerous and she felt like she was lit on fire as her gaze never left his. The pounding was incessant and she could tell that his heart was matching her speed too.

She immediately caught herself, gulping before closing her eyes shut and letting out a deep breath. "I need you to answer a question honestly, Julian Jones." Akari firmly spoke the sentence, loud and clear in the room. Julian's eyes never left hers and he nodded.

"Did you or did you not murder your father that night?" Akari asked, eyes, a piercing gaze and breaths quickening.

"I didn't." Julian looked at her right in the eyes as he answered. "I didn't do it. Please believe me." His eyes were begging her and Akari remained silent, calculating his every movement, his every intake of breath, noted the way he seemed like his world was coming to an end. He seemed desperate— so maddeningly desperate like he needed her approval or he would just break into pieces.

"I believe you." Akari said, surprising both herself and him as he flinched, expecting a different response but was deeply surprised.

Akari trusted Julian Jones.

"You do?" Julian asked, surprise clear in his tone.

Akari gulped, hands tightening and then opening up again. She swallowed again, feeling parched all of a sudden as her mind reeled, going back to the night she saw Julian Jones in front of her door. "The article read that he had punches delivered to his face before his death. That night, when you came to me, your knuckles weren't bruised. Your fingers didn't have any redness on them." Akari said, heart rate slowing down as she saw relief flood Julian's face and the tension in the room disappear. "So, I believe you."

Julian sighed in immediate relief, hands brushing through his hair before a slow smile made its way across his face. He quickly seemed to realise what he was doing, eyeing Akari before sheepishly looking down at his feet.

"Don't smile yet." Akari pointed at him, tone stern. "The police are searching for you. Everyone thinks it's you. You are currently a criminal." She said.

"Yeah." Julian scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "I understand if you want me out—"

"I will help you." Akari surprised herself with her answer once again as she sat on the bed, words tumbling out of her mouth like a prepared speech. "I don't know what happened that night but knowing that you are innocent is enough for me to help."

Akari was always that little annoying kid, even when she was young, always wanting to help others in places and situations she didn't necessarily have to. It sometimes got her in trouble and gave her enemies but she had been a nosy helper and it's a habit that's going to be stuck with her until she dies. One time, she helped a woman discover that her husband was cheating behind her back— which got her into a little trouble but she just couldn't help herself. It's why she wanted to become a Doctor in the first place. Helping people just makes her tick. Especially the ones that needed it. Akari finds joy and assurance in it, even sometimes hope.

So, Julian Jones, the handsome tattooed guy is receiving her help no matter what, because only she knows the truth while the world exclaims otherwise.

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FIRST OF ALL, having a wanted criminal man stay in her room was not on her bucket list for the year. But, life is life and it's always going to throw situations at you that you never in a million years thought would happen to you. It's just weird and Akari tries her best to adapt to the scenarios that play out in her life.

Julian Jones is a man and she does not have the necessary items and materials to successfully recover, heal and hide a man in her room. She might probably even need a gun— who knows right?

Before all that, Julian needs some underwear and sweatpants because she was not letting him get his hands on her lace panties— that would be just funny but Jones would not be a fan. As a doctor, Akari thought of this as 'taking care of a special patient' and it thrilled her. It was exciting almost— something extravagant happening in her bland normal lifestyle.

Akari diverted her thoughts, deliberately steering clear of contemplating the myriad ways this situation could go awry, purposefully sidestepping consideration of potential consequences.

"Do you need help ma'am?"

Akari turned, eyes wide as she looked at the tiny woman looking at her excitedly. Her hair was neatly tied up in a ponytail and her badge was new and clean. She could immediately tell that the woman was very new here.

"Uhhh..." Akari dragged, "Not really," She paused, "But, I do need help with the underpants for males,"

"Oh," The woman named— Emily, courtesy of her badge, smiled, "No problem," She led the way and Akari followed, three plain different coloured t-shirts tucked in her hand.

"Boyfriend?" Emily broke her thoughts, stopping at the underwear section.

"Oh—" Akari gulped, getting flustered, "No, it's just a friend," She gave a small smile. The woman then guided her through the different types of underwear for the male species and Akari was thoroughly shocked to find that there was so much information she never knew about male underwear. Her mind went blank mid-way and she just stared at the woman till she finished her speech.

"So," Emily picked up three types of underwear, "Which one do you want to buy?"

"Which one does everyone buy?"

"Well," Emily scrunched her eyebrows. "This one," She placed the other two boxes on the shelves and shoved one right into Akari's hand. "This one comes with a—"

"Yeah, yeah," Akari stopped her right there. "I think I will just take two more of these and I'm done," Akari nodded, smiling wide and tired of this whole shopping thing already. "Thank you,"

"Alright," Emily clapped her hands, almost chirping with the way she said it, grabbing two more boxes before she led the way to the cash counter.

"It's dreadful what happened to the Jones family," the cashier gossiped to another employee standing beside her. Her shirt clung tightly to her body, almost as if intentionally purchased in the smallest size for a provocative look, showcasing her waist. The bold and bright red lipstick added to her striking appearance.

"Yeah, my Mom filled me in this morning after catching the news. She mentioned how the Jones family used to be quite rich during her time, but something happened — everything collapsed," the other employee responded, chewing gum nonchalantly. For the more credulous residents of this town who rely on sensational headlines, tabloids knowingly propagate misinformation unsupported by facts.

"Tragedy," The cashier said and Akari waited not so patiently for her to notice her so that she can get the hell out of there. Even though the conversation was intriguing, she didn't want to hear any of it. But, in a small town like this, it was not going to stop, it will spread around like fire, an interesting story— a 'young killer' on the loose. "Rich or poor, murderer or not, I have seen Julian Jones and he's hot," The cashier whispered the last sentence, her smile widening a little.

Akari felt sick to her stomach.

"Oh yeah, once I saw him in—"

Akari coughed, cutting the other employee off as both turned to look at her. She pressed her lips into a thin line, having had enough of this nonsense as she looked at the two young women. The cashier immediately started doing her work and the other one walked off. Once everything was paid and packed, Akari let a sigh out of her mouth as she walked away.

The conversation she had overheard didn't leave her mind. Akari lived right in the outskirts of this town, she never indulged in the town's family gossips and neither did her parents. She had preferred to stay in this town for her upper studies in University, right in the heart of the town, several kilometres away from her house, which is why she had opted in living in an apartment with Ha-eun for easier transportation. The thought of leaving the town never really crossed her mind— she felt safe and at ease there.

Though she had encountered various names and town gossip throughout her school life, the Jones—Julian's family—had never crossed Akari's radar. Consequently, it came as a shock to her that everyone seemed to possess some knowledge or sighting related to them. She sealed off her thoughts, ziplocking them away as she briskly walked down the road.

Akari's mood took a nosedive when she realized she couldn't afford a Starbucks on her way home. Grumbling under her breath, she passed by the enticing aroma of the coffee shop, oblivious to the 'wanted' posters featuring Julian's face scattered around.

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What do you guys think? Is Julian telling the truth?

Don't forget to vote and comment. (: