It’s been an hour since Kevz left but Kale is still nowhere to be found. I’m starting to feel bored so I started playing music on my phone again.
A few moments later, a cab stopped right in front of the studio’s gate. I was expecting it was Kale but my body stiffen when I saw the silhouette of the passenger.
Even if it’s just his side profile, I’m very familiar with him. So even before he could step out of the cab, I quickly run inside.
I entered the restroom, closed the door behind me, and made sure to lock it. Seconds after, I heard someone sit on the couch.
I thought he came back because he forgot something. But it seems like he’s here to stay. I tried looking for my phone in my pocket but I recalled that I left it outside as I was in a hurry.
Ten minutes passed and there was no sign of movement. I was startled though when someone started knocking and Drew spoke.
“Leslie I know you're in there. Please come out,” he even tried to turn the knob. My anxiety shoots up as I really don’t know how I’m going to face him.
It was already hard to face him when everyone was there. What more if it’s just the two of us? Besides, whenever I look at him, I was reminded of what he looked like when I caught them earlier.
It disgusts me. It sets my teeth on edge. It makes me want to rage.
"D-Drew! Do you need to use the restroom? Sorry, I might take a while, I’m having diarrhea,” I answered back. It’s humiliating but I can’t come up with another excuse as to why I locked myself inside.
I felt relieved when he didn’t answer. I put down the cover of the toilet bowl and sat there. But awful events come flashing back to me.
Thankfully, Drew spoke again and the flashbacks were disrupted. “Leslie, I’ll go ahead. It looks like it’s gonna rain,” he said after minutes of silence.
“S-Sure, sure. Sorry, my stomach’s really painful.”
Five minutes after I heard the screen door open and closed, I stood up to check myself in the mirror. My face is drenched in sweat so I decided to wash it first before I go out.
“I thought you’re planning to sleep there,” Drew commented.
‘I thought he already left?’
I was about to go back in but it was too late. He already grabbed my hand and pushed me to the wall next to the door of the restroom.
He placed both his arms right next to my shoulders, leaning on the wall. ‘Now how can I escape this jerk?’
I bowed my head as I can’t stand the intensity of his stare. What he did next surprised me though. He inched closer, rested his forehead on mine, and forced me to face him.
We’re forehead to forehead and it’s rather awkward. I’m about to lose my breath as his face is so close to mine.
‘Oh, those eyes! It's super close.’
If I’m out of my mind, I would have looked straight into his eyes. But I’m sane right now and in a panic.
I can feel he's breathing heavily while looking straight into my eyes. ‘How can he do that when I become crosseyed when I tried?’
He pushed himself away from me before holding onto the railing of the stairs, with his other hand on his waist. He then heaved a sigh and faced me.
“To be honest, I’m not supposed to be doing this as I don’t really care about you or what you saw,” he started. He just got started but I already want to punch his nose.
‘He doesn’t care about me? For real? And here I was thinking we're at least friends? Does that mean he doesn’t care about me even if we’re bandmates? That hurts!’
“So I don’t know why I have to apologize to you whenever you see me doing something inappropriate. But I guess Kevz is right, you’re still a girl and you’re still our bandmate. So here, for the last time, I'm sorry if you saw me and Anne in that situation.”
He pulled his hair lightly for an unknown reason. Or maybe he feels frustrated for having to apologize all the time.
He’s looking annoyed and I’m starting to get infuriated as well. It wasn’t my fault and he’s not supposed to be doing something like that here in the first place.
I was about to say something but he suddenly turned to face me and I froze in my place again. He stared at me for a while but that was enough for me to see the mixed emotions in his eyes.
It was screaming sadness, fear, worry, and anger. I know he’s mad, but what is the sadness, fear and worry about?
“Try to make a sound when you see something next time. Just so I don’t feel guilty and you’re being a distraction as well. I don’t care about you but I still need to respect you since you're my friend’s cousin,” he was firm with every word and as soon as he was done, he turned on his heel, leaving me dumbfounded.
I stayed in the same spot for a few seconds more before I walked over to the couch and sat on it. I tried to reprocess everything he said, as I might have misheard something.
But everything that replayed in my head is exactly what he said. And as my brain’s done reprocessing everything, I feel the warm tears streaming down my face.
He said it again, he doesn’t care about me.
Fine then! If he doesn’t then don’t! Then again, why am I crying? Who cares if he doesn’t care about me? It’s no big deal.
But really? Is it really not something to be concerned about? If it’s something small, then why is it painful?
Don’t be dirty-minded, I’m talking about his care. Does his lack of care really not a huge deal?