The Engagement | COMPLETED

ELEVEN.

Warning: Sensitive topics discussed.

ALEX.

Thank god I've got the day off. Going back to the office and seeing him is the last thing I want right now. I've been playing ninja with him for the past few days and could definitely go a few more without the sight of him.

I was staring at my laptop, trying to write my paper on children's temperament and how it affects their social interactions with others but it's all in vain. I've been stuck at the 200-word count mark for the longest time. Realizing that this wasn't getting me anywhere, closed my laptop shut and leaned back in my chair, pressing my hands to my face.

As much as I hate to say it, I've been thinking about him. What was he doing? How was he? Did his face hurt after that slap? Will it get harder to face him the more I avoid him?

Maybe I was a little too hard on him, a little too hard on myself for trying. Where did all this go wrong?

I looked up at the ceiling that I've been staring at the whole time, in hopes that it will give me some answers to my questions. All this was bound to end so why am I on hung up on this exasperating person? I'm way too nice for my own comfort.

"I see your essay is coming along fine."

I turned my head, hoping that it was Aunty May. Disappointment hit me right smack in the face when I saw the person I wanted to avoid. Guess my happiness was short-lived.

"Aren't you supposed to have a business meeting?" I questioned, mentally cursing myself for remembering his schedule.

He smirked. "Cancelled it. Had something more important to deal with." He looked around my room. "May I? I wanna talk to you about something."

No point asking him to get out now. "Sure. Whatever."

He walked in and sat down on the bed while I turned around in my chair to face him. He had his fingers interlocked with each other and was looking at anywhere but me, seemingly uneasy at being in here. It's as if the confident and stuck-up Nathan went into hiding the moment he stepped into my room. 

Remember how I mentioned that we would have this deafening silence between us? We are currently having one of those moments right now and this needs to stop.

"Aren't you here to talk?" I asked, breaking the silence. "Well, go on. What are you waiting for?"

He straightened his back and was finally looking at me.

"Right, let me start." Pause.

Instead of giving my usual snarky remarks, I decided to keep quiet for once. Give him time, Alex.

"Well.. I don't usually share this with anyone," he started out, "but I wanted to try with you." He ran his hands through his hair. "Damn it, where do I start?"

"From the beginning. If this is gonna work, I need to know all the details," I stated. "Now, talk or I'm out."

"Alright, alright," he surrendered. "I didn't exactly have everything a normal kid would have when I was young. I was placed into a foster home when I was 13."

That caused me to raise an eyebrow. "Why?"

"For predictable reasons. My case here ain't anything special."

"Trying to brush it off here is not gonna work. Come on," I tried to get him to talk more, my tone a little more gentle and patient. "Tell me."

He kept quiet for a while as if trying to find the words to explain. When he couldn't, he stood up instead. "How about I show you?"