Chapter 4

Edited by bookiesfan

Shy

Thank god today is Saturday and I don’t have any classes on weekend. I decided to stay in my hostel lazing around doing nothing. Well, maybe watch some movies or clean up my room. Yeah, I’ll be safe from bumping into Nate this weekend and I’ll find a way to avoid him next week. He already knew who I am and will definitely  try to talk to me again. Well I’m gonna do my best to avoid him, not that I’m scared of him, its just that I don’t want to bump into him and give him the chance to bully me again. No, no. By noon my roommate Anna was up and getting ready to go out again. Anna was from Houston and taking the same courses as me i.e. Business studies.

“You’re going out again?” I asked her. She came back very late last night when I was already in my dreamland.

“Yeah,” she said smiling, “I met this wonderful guy at the party last night and he’s asking me out for lunch today.”

“Wow, you’re really fast,” I laughed at her.

“You’re not going out?” she asked.

“No, I’m too lazy to go out, I’m just gonna laze around,” I told her.

“What are you gonna do with that?” she asked pointing at a bulb in my hand.

“I’m gonna change the light bulb,” I explained, “If not, we will be in the dark tonight.”

“You should ask some guys to do it for us,” she suggested.

“No, don’t worry, I’ve done this a thousand time,” I assured her pulling a stool and  I climbed up, twisting the old one out from its plug.

“Ok, then, if you say so. I’ll see you later,” she waves goodbye, opening the door and suddenly she screamed. I looked at her and saw Nate was at the door.

All of the sudden I’ve lost my balance, “Aargh,” I screamed and started to fall down. I saw Nate ran towards me, trying to catch me from falling and I landed on him instead.

“Ouch,” we both moaned in pain and I realized that I’m facing him face to face. Our lips were just inches away and his hands were nicely wrapped around my waist making me shiver. I quickly pushed him and got up.

He was still lying on the floor with both his hands spread widely, “Ouch,” he whimpered.

“Get up Nate,” I said sternly looking at him lying on the floor.

“I can’t,” he said softly, “You have crushed me. I think my back bones are broken.”

I put my hand on my hips, “I didn’t crush you, idiot. Now get up,” I told him.

Anna came around looking worriedly at him, “I think you have, Shy,” she said softly and knelt down at Nate, “Oh, you poor guy, let me help you,” helping him up slowly. Putting his one hand around her shoulder and laid him down on my bed.

“Thank you, you’re so kind,” Nate said to Anna stroking her cheek softly, obviously flirting with her. I rolled my eyes at both of them.

“Oh, you’re welcome,” she said smiling sweetly at him.

I cleared my throat, “Don’t you have a date to go Anna?” I reminded her.

“Ah, yeah, I have to go,” she said softly to Nate, “I’ll see you again, I hope.”

“Yeah, sure,” he said smiling but still lying on the bed, “Anna, right,” and she nodded, “Thank you again,” he continued.

She smiled and stood up, “God, you are one lucky girl,” she whispered into my ears, winked at me and dashed out the door.

My hands were still on my hips and looked at Nate, “Get up Nate, stop pretending as if you badly hurt.”

“It’s really do,” he winced, “You are so heavy do you know that?”

“I’m not,” I stubbornly told him. “Anyway, who asked you to rescue me? You should have just let me fall.”

“Well, I can’t let anything happen to you. Everyone, back home including your parents trusted me to look after you while you here,” he said still wincing with pain.

“Yeah right,” I rolled my eyes, looking at him who looked like he was in real pain. I started to get worried and sat on the bed next to him, “Are you really in pain?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he replied and winced at the same time, “You think I’m pretending? I have a back problem from two years back when I fell from a tree trying to save Mrs. Scott’s cat.”

I look at him debating whether to believe him or not. I sighed, “Turn around let me have a look at your back,” I said to him and he slowly turned around pulling his shirt up to his armpit.

My god, his body was nicely tanned, well, that was just looking at his back. I wonder how he’s front looks like. God, what am I thinking? I’m supposed to hate this guy, I scolded myself. I took a lotion from my drawer and started rubbing his backbone and spine, “Ahh,” he moaned.

“Sorry,” I said biting my lips, “You should go a see a doctor if it’s worsen,” I suggested.

“No, it ok,” he said, “I think I’ll just lie down for a while. The pain will go away slowly.” He said turning to his back and laid up facing me. I look at his masculine body and couldn’t help staring at his broad chest. Wow, I wish I could run my hands on it.

“Like what you see?” he smiled jolting me from my thought, “Want to feel my muscles?”

“No,” I shook my head denying him. Standing up and I sat on the chair next to my reading table. “My boyfriend has better body than yours,” I lied to him. No, Mike body wasn’t as masculine as him. Mike doesn’t play sports at all.

“Really?” he smirked sitting up facing me pulling his shirt down. Thank god.

I rolled my eyes at him. “What are you doing here Nate?” I asked changing the subject totally. “Didn’t I tell you to leave me alone?”

“Well, yes, but I can’t do that,” he shrugged.

“Why not?” I sternly asked.

“Because too many people have asked me to take care of you while you’re here,” he smiled.

I snickered, “Yeah, right,”

“Yeah,” he simply replied. “My parents, your parents and your “prince charming”,” he pressed on that word, “Neil kept asking me to look for you and take care of you. That’s what I’m doing right now,” he explained.

“You don’t have to do that,’ I simply said to him.” I can take care of myself, thank you.”

“Yeah right, as if you can,” he chuckled, “I have already saved you twice.”

“No, you didn’t,” I argued.

“Yes, I did,” he pressed.  “Thursday night and just a few minutes ago that make my back hurt so much,” he reminded me.

“Maybe that’s due to bad luck of seeing you again,” I smirked. “I never had any problem before.”

“Bad luck?” he chuckled, “Hey, girls normally have good luck when they with me,” he said proudly.

“Stupid girls or bitches, maybe,” I smirked back at him.

He laughed and then looked at me seriously, “It’s good to see you again Shy. We all missed you especially Neil of course.”

“I know, I’ve talked to him last night,” I told him. “I missed your parents too, How are they?”

“They fine, still a loving couple as always,” he said. “Don’t you miss me?” he asked.

“No,” I simply responded showing my irritated face at him.

“Don’t tell me you still holding grudges against me?” he stunned. I just looked away from him trying to ignore him.

I heard him sighed, “Shy, that’s was 6 years ago and I was a small naughty boy. That’s what boys are. Naughty and playful but they didn’t mean any harm. I never meant to harm you. I’m just trying to get your attention that’s all.”

“Get my attention?” I couldn’t help myself asking the question.

“Yeah, “he responded, “You always treat Neil so nice but mean to me.”

“I’m mean to you because you are cruel to me. You always bullied me with your evils friends.”

“Well, I’m sorry then, if you felt that way. I regretted everything that I’ve done to you. Can’t you find a space in your heart to forgive me?” he asked looking sadly at me.

“No,” I simply replied.

“See, you are cruel,” he complained. “I asked for forgiveness and you don’t want to forgive me. Who is cruel now?” I glared at him.

“Shy,” he continued, “Why don’t we let bygones be bygones and we shall start all over again. Let’s be friends. Let me show you the new grown up me. I’m matured now and I don’t bully people anymore. People come to me for help. I even saved you twice and helped you and your group with your assignment.”

“I appreciate what you’ve done but I still don’t want to be your friend.” I simply told him.

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t trust you,” I stressed.

“Why?” he pressed.

“I just don’t,” I said.

“See, you don’t even have a reason why you don’t trust me,” he whined. “Please Shy, let’s give us a chance,” he looked at me with pleaded eyes.

“I need to think about it first,” I said at last and he smiled.