✓ Never Is A Promise, p.js

06 | mend the broken hearts

06. MEND THE BROKEN HEARTS

— ANAIS POV

Anais thought the tension between her and Jay had eventually died down the first time they stepped into the elevator's of her apartment, but the intensity of heart beats quicker in her veins when the silence grew louder in the thin air. She gulps another lump in her throat, trying her best to start a small talk with her new friend about anything. Before she could even mutter a word, the male spontaneously snaps, "So you're living alone...?".

She shakes her head relentlessly before pulling out the keys of her apartment, "I live with my mom and little brother actually. But since she's getting some treatments at the hospital, my mother isn't always around. On the other hand, my little brother will come back once in a while from his dorm".

Jay nods his head in return slowly. Though he wasn't responsive enough about Anais' current condition, she's pretty sure that Jay is being very mindful and sensitive about her family—the whole stuffs about her mother being admitted in hospital, working part-time and being left alone. She couldn't solely read his mind but his body gestures speak volume of the boundaries he shouldn't crossed with her, especially when they just knew each other.

"My mother has a weak heart. She will receive health treatments from time to time at the hospital". Anais eventually blurts out the truth that may ease Jay's curiosity while pushing the entrance door wide open.

"—I am really sorry to hear that, Anais. . ." Jay responds in a tone that is rather apologetic and soft. The tone is almost flat enough not to hurt her feelings. To her, she's used to people telling her some pitiful words about her mother's condition.

"Please don't be sorry. She's fine. My mother will be healthy again soon" Anais says before ushering the male to come in. She switches the lights on in the pitch-black living room and warmly invites Jay over to make himself comfortable. "So this is my home. Please have yourself comfortable, yeah? Before we can start the revision, I will make you some coffee first".

Jay drags his feet across the floor and drops his stuffs next to the leather couch while scanning around the room. The first thing that catches his gaze while looking around at the living room is the picture of Anais with her mother and her little brother. The picture was taken at the beach years ago. "So that's your mother and little brother, huh? Your brother looks so much just like you". Hearing that makes Anais giggles slightly, "You think he looks like me? He'd deny it most definitely".

"Deny it? Why though?" Jay curiously asks while scanning longer at the image right before him while having his arm rested on the couch.

"He said I just look.. white? But I guess that's not the case. He just doesn't want to admit that his sister is attractive just like him. . ."

"For sure, that's a fact. You are attractive, Anais" Jay mutters, before he could continue again. "—I-I mean not just from me. I am pretty sure other people will have the same mind. About you.. Being the prettiest in school".

Anais' cheeks is slowly heating up by the male sudden compliments while she's busy making the drinks. "Other people, huh? Like who?" Anais asks curiously. The quietness between the two of them slowly forms again while she's waiting for the male's unexpected answer.

"Perhaps... Lee Heeseung?" Jay's lips agapes as he releases a response and a low sigh under his breath as he turns to stare at her. Anais shrugs it off while stirring the creamer inside the cups. Yet again, the tension grows. "He doesn't think of me that way. . ."

"Then why are you with him?" Jay blurts out within a second. Right after that, his face screams for a load of remorse with how much of a meddle he was, so he purses his lips together from saying more. "—sorry, I should've not asked that—"

"I was with him." Anais corrects him. "We have already ended the relationship. I don't think he's ever been in love with me that way. . ." Anais retorts while taking the cups in her grip to serve for Jay. He's just blankly staring the walls as if he's searching for the right words and phrases to say to her again.

"I mean, what's with this tension, huh? Should we start the revision now?" Anais says. Jay finally returns her the sheepish smile and nods, "Right. No more tension moments, okay? I think we should begin on the Theories chapter first".

"What the Theories were all about again?" Anais snaps while taking out her supplies from her tote bag. Jay bursts out a tiny giggle from her question, "Did you ever pay attention at all Anais?"

"Nope, that's why I am asking".

"The Theories such as Functionalism, Symbolic Interactionism, Social Conflict...? I heard these are some that will be covered in the test"

"Well, we should revise on that first then".

The room is filled with nothing but the eagerness of Jay's tone to gush about all these Sociology facts, terms and theories. Though Anais might've paid her hundred percent attention to the male right before her, from time to time, she would have her head in the clouds when he wasn't looking or when he was jotting down something on a sheet of paper. She started to feel this vibe around Jay— determined and committed. His explanation was clear and precise enough that he's making sure that she will understand him.

She couldn't believe that she has to play dumb with him right now as if they just didn't get pulled away from the circle to be in the Seven Minutes in Heaven at the party. She still vividly remembers how she was drown away under his warm touch that night, but things are just too complicated in her life at the moment. With all those Heeseung's issues, she tried to act like nothing ever happened between them.

"Do you understand?" Jay snaps her out of her dazed thought. His gaze remains calm on hers. Anais nods slow.

"Yes, but could you please explain on the Social Conflict again. I just thought that subtopic can be a little bit tricky to grasp—" She was cut by the doorbell of her apartment.

The both of them immediately shift their heads to the door and exchange odd expression, curious as to who'd come by at this hour. "Who'd it be?" Jay asks.

"I don't know. My little brother said he'd come home until tomorrow. Let me just see". Anais rushes to the door of her apartment until she heard the familiar male voice from the outside. "Anais, please open the door".

It was Heeseung.

Before Anais could even open the door, she's panicking as she turns to Jay's direction. The male, in fact, has the same fright as hers. Clumsily he gets off from the couch and mouths, "Where should I go?". While the two are panicking inside the room, Heeseung keeps banging on the door, convincing Anais to open the door for him.

"Go to my room! Hide inside the closet" Anais mouths and points her room's direction to Jay. He quickly runs off to her room and hides inside her wardrobe as he's told to, quietly.

Anais finally catches the door for Heeseung, only for her to be greeted by his sudden embrace around her neck and the alcohol smells that tucks around his jacket that's causing her to jerk slightly, "I miss you, Anais" He mutters bluntly.

"Great. Are you drunk?" Anais pulls herself away from him and holds both of his arms to stabilise him in her position. Instead of answering her, Heeseung continues to pushes her slowly back into the apartment and pins her against the wall at the entrance. "Are we really over, babe? You really don't love me anymore, do you?".

"I don't know Heeseung. You tell me about it" Anais nervously stares at the drunk Heeseung blankly.

"If you ask me about it, I am in fact, still in love with you, Anais" His answer comes with a quick kiss on her lips after. "Why don't we fix us now huh?" He keeps on planting kisses all over her slowly while waiting for her to respond. As infatuated as he was, Anais responds to him by latching his lips with hers. She pulls Heeseung's head to her closer than ever as she continues to nod, "Yes, let's fix it". She mumbles in between.

Again, she's not quite sure whether or not this is the right decision to make. Because as much as she wants to hate the man that she holds in her arms, she knows she'd lose it immediately as soon as she's under his touch. Or when he's acting all vulnerable around her. Maybe giving a chance wasn't a bad step for a start. Perhaps, could this be the change for both of them to mend their broken hearts again. . .?

THE END OF CHAPTER