Williams abruptly came to a halt and slowly retracted his hands from Glen's wrist with a grimaced expression.
"Don't give a thought to what Chloe say or do to you."
"Why…do you say so?" He responded grasping his wrist to cover the bruising.
"She does that every time she finds out that I li-" He halted in his sentence and took glimpse at Glen's perplexed expression.
I can't tell Glen I like him yet…I don't want to force things on him, or push him away by saying I like him.
He continued despondently. "Chloe has always liked me ever since we were kids, but it didn't work out for her because we're cousins."
It happens to almost everyone, some people tend to have a crush on their cousins but as they grow up they realized is was just a childhood feeling.
Chloe was only seven at that time she met Williams, while he was nine years old. Their family held a meeting and that was when they saw each other for the first time.
Chloe immediately took an interest in him and would ask her mother to let her visit him from time to time. She became pretty clingy but then, Williams only thought she was being that way because she was younger.
They grew pretty close and attended the same schools and did almost everything together.
It was an innocent relationship between them until they they became teenagers.
Charlotte confessed her feelings to Williams in a stay over at her parent's house.
"What? That's not going to work you know?"
He baffled because they were cousins.
"I don't care! All I know is that I like you Williams!" She yelled, crinkling her brows furiously.
"Chloe. We're still kids, plus we're cousins and-"
"No!" She cut him off with a yell pouncing on him.
Williams was extremely agitated by Chloe's feisty behavior.
A sudden frown was apparent on his face and he said. "Chloe, get off me."
A warm drop fell on his face startling him, followed by more drops. Chloe was already sobbing on top of him.
"What are…why are you crying all of a sudden?" He grabbed her by the shoulder torn.
She wiped the tears bubble wetting her lashes. "I really like you Williams…we can give it a try can't we?"
"Enough. Please get off me." He held her hands to move her off his body but she thwacked his hands away from hers and violently initiated a kiss on him.
Williams eyes widened and his pupils dilated—conflicted by her forced sloppy kiss.
He pushed her by her shoulders abstained.
"Chloe stop!"
Her mother abruptly swung her room door open and saw them in the compromising position.
Chloe was on all four on top of Williams and sobbing.
Chloe's mother gasped covering her mouth with her hands. "What are you two doing?" She enquired with a loud voice.
Williams scowled—anxiously pushing Chloe away from his body and She fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Aunt, its not what you think!" He yelled defensively.
— -
Her parents sat both of them down on their knees pressing them a miffed glare.
"Since when have this been going on?" Her father asked incredulously.
"Aunt, it's a misunderstanding. Chloe jumped on me."
William said tightening his fist on his knees anxiously. Sweat beads trickling down his temple.
"Mom, dad…I like Williams…" she cooed and began sobbing again. "Why did he say it won't work?"
"Dear, you two are cousins, that kind of relationship is abnormal, plus you're only thirteen…why don't you wait till you're 16?" Her mother said agitatingly.
Williams was quite stunned that her parents didn't only consent her behavior but are giving her options.
"But I only want Williams!" She yelled and got up storming out of her room with heavy steps—wailing loudly.
Williams was flummoxed by her behavior staring at her direction, he could still hear her loud footsteps trailing off before her father's voice startled him.
"Williams. Please pardon our daughter's behavior."
"S-sure…" he stuttered still incredulous about the whole situation, but at least they didn't think he was that kind of person, and it turned out Charlotte was just spoilt due to over pampering.
When she turned 16 her behavior only chose to become and impediment to William's daily life.
She would throw her self at literally anyone she sees on sight with him. She wanted him to give in to her feelings so bad—but he didn't really care as long as he didn't like those people she entered her short relationships with.
It went on until she found out he was a dating a boy his age at that time. She was stunned that Phil liked men and that it was probably the reason he didn't reciprocate her feelings. She later learned that he also liked girls.
She used the fact that he liked men to threaten him, but he didn't seem to care because his parents already knew about him being a bisexual.
Somehow she managed to seduce his boyfriend at a point even though he was gay and they had sex.
Williams found out and became furious at her deciding to cut ties with her but she came to her senses that she was about to loose her first love and pleaded with him.
He succumbed to her imploring and she promised to stop going after people close to him.
They pretty much went back to being close but it wasn't as good as it was before. She only just resumed her her vulgar behavior with Glen.
"I see…she still wants you to consider her feelings till now…but doing all that, isn't it quite?I should tell her I like someone else…"
Williams eyes blinked curiously. "Huh? Glen likes someone?"
"Y-yes…"
Williams expression glistened eager to know who Glen likes. He thought it was him—but Glen just haven't thought of confessing.
A satisfied grin emerged on his face. Little did he know that the person Glen liked was the trashy Henry.
— - -
Glen was about the leave the school premises when Chloe blocked his part with an anguished expression.
He halted gripping his clutch strap."I'm…not interested in whatever you're doing Chloe." He replied hesitantly with a guilty eye.
"He must've told you." She forced a smile despondently.
"That was all in the past though. I really like you Glen…I'm not about to play games like before…"
He hung his head low, grasping his strap even more—summing up the courage to turn her down. "I-I like someone else…I'm sorry…"
His bit his lower lip crinkling his brow, filled with guilt—awaiting her reply.
"Hah." She lets out an exasperated sigh and continued. "It's okay…well anyways, see you tomorrow!" She said forcing an exaggerated laugh scratching her nape.
"…okay…" Glen replied.
She glimpsed at him pathetically for a few seconds before walking away from him whilst he watched her brooding shoulders.
It was the first time someone ever confessed to Glen and also the first time he ever turned someone down. He really was worried about her wellbeing the moment she left.
I'm sorry Chloe…i really am…
Williams languid voice sounded, startling him.
"It's a good thing."
He turned his head to his direction as he approached and stopped.
"It's a good thing you turned her down early but she's surprisingly chill with your rejection. Let's hope she really won't persist with it this time."
"I…I don't know. But did you feel something for Chloe back then?" Glen asked long-faced.
"No. We're like siblings, the relationship would've been utterly abnormal." He noticed the glum expression Glen had and patted his shoulder softly with a smile. "Hey cheer up, she'd be okay."
"Yea…"
— — -
A year had already passed.
Charlotte told Glen she was officially dating victor. It was really a good turn out of event but Charlotte was acting a bit different than her usual self, Glen sensed something was off with her but he wasn't sure to be upfront with his thoughts.
It was only a matter of time when victor asked Glen to hang out with him at a cafe.
Glen agreed, but he was quite unsure why victor would suddenly ask him to meet at a cafe.
The bright sun hit the roof of the cafe he stood in front of, waiting for victor. He kept glancing at his wrist watch outside the.
Then Victor arrived quite late and they went inside.
Their demeanor was very awkward in silence. It was the first time they ever sat face to face with each other to talk .
Glen pretended to read through his book in pretense to lessen the awkward atmosphere.
Not until victor decided to interrupt the silence.
"I'm sorry I called you out all of a sudden." He said sipping his coffee with a brooding eye.
"it's fine…but why did you suddenly call me out?"
"It's about Charlotte…I'm sorry, but I don't know who else to talk about this to. You are Charlotte are childhood friend aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Phew."
He sighed and relaxed his shoulder.
"Charlotte has been fucking around with guys since we started dating."
"Huh?"
Glen was quite stunned by what he blotted out—he had his doubts because he never knew Charlotte to be that kind of person.
"W-what do you mean?" He enquired.
"I don't know why but she has been sleeping around and would show up to my house extremely drunk."
Even though I have my doubts, victor is not the kind of person to just spew shit about the girl he is dating.
"Hah…I knew something was off about her behavior since her grandmother's death." He sighed fatigued unsure of what to say or do.
"I want you to help me talk to her a bit…you're her best friend and I'm sure she might lean on you more." The look in victors eyes were palpable, he looked desperate.
Glen bore holes onto the table, his gaze went distant for a moment before he replied.
"I'd help out."