Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Chapter twenty six.

Zack's POV.

Till the day ends, I never got to understand James' behaviour. The way he acted all through seems suspicious, and he wasn't his normal self. It was like something was bothering.

One thing that made me so sure is when he went to the guest room, and stayed in there all night. It really is confusing when I think about it, and it troubles me. I just wish he will see me as someone whom he can talk to when in distress. Because of this, I left him alone, and didn't even bother him when it was lunch, and dinner.

In a way though, I think I understand his actions. I think I understand why he acted the way he had.

**

It is a new morning, the sun is absent in the sky, leaving the whether to a cold one. It had just finished raining, so the outside is not so friendly.

Today is my appointment to go for the interview, as my consultant had mentioned in that mail. I roll off of bed, and hurry to the bathroom to get myself ready.

Susan will be going out today to her place of work, so I might just use that opportunity for her to drop me off before she goes to her destination.

In a matter of half an hour, I am done with dressing up. When I look up to the wall clock, hanging just above the mirror, I see the time to be eight in the morning. I still have an hour before my interview begins.

Oh, God, please come help your child, I say inside my head as I hurry out of the room. This is just so cruel of the company no matter their excuse. I mean, it doesn't mean that because their boss is changing they should inconvenient us that are the selectees for the new posts. It just doesn't make sense. What if I was still stuck — they way Susan has called it — at James', will I have lost my supposed job then? That will be very devastating. It's like I just wasted my whole time for nothing.

Anyway, since that possiblity hadn't come to live, I just have to let my irritation go. At the living room, I find Susan there, just finished preparing sandwiches.

"Hey, morning." I greet her, and come to seat beside her. I'm wearing a thick blue shirt enough to have caused me heat if it hadn't been for the cool weather, and a black jean. On top of he shirt, I put on a black cotton coat, long enough to reach just below my knees.

Susan does not greet back right away, but first access me and hums, "you look...nice." Nice? Just nice? Oh, yeah, just nice, my subconscious laughs out loud.

There is my typical cousin. She will hype her demeanor, making you think she has something grand to say when it's the opposite, or let me just say, less-than-elegant.

"Thank you, ma." I say back to her, and grab one of the sandwiches. "when will you be leaving for work?"

"Around eight-fourty, but I'll be branching at a friend's place till ten."

My eyes roll side ways, as I think her statement. "Who is the friend?"

She laughs, thinking what I am not thinking. How do you know she's thinking what you're not thinking it you hadn't been thinking it? Says my subconscious.

Oh, God, what kind of inner mind is this? Should he not be defending me? This is just so cheap of him to say.

I shove him back in, and focus on Susan at the time she reports, "it's a she, first of all. And she's also an actress. We both met at the industry, and decided to get to know each other more. That's just it." She tells me, and I groan, and back off.

"Okay, you win against me. I thought it would be a man."

"Ah, nope, you know your Susan does not fornicate." She state, closing her eyes as an effect to make it look like the truth. Recap the keyword there "like". Does she take me as a fool here?

So, she's saying that she wouldn't sleep with men until she gets married, where then she will be faithful only to her husband?1

I have no choice than to laugh at the thoughts inside my head. "you are unbelievable. If no one is fornicating in this world, you will be an exception." Just when she gasp, her mouth agape, not believing her little cousin, I add, "because you're unfaithful, and for that, I don't trust you."

Before she can reply, most likely to blast me, the door to the guest room opens, a creak emitting right before James comes out. I am surprised at him, being fully dressed.

He is wearing a knit-made purple cardigan that has a fluffy design at the neck area just to create more heat for the wearer, and a brown jeans, coupling it with black sneakers. For the first time since I met him, he dressed in a somewhat different way. Well, he's dressed cowboy, and kind-of-thuggery before, but not this sharp, and good boy looking. Him, usually looking like the bad boy is now gone, replaced with a new appearance. I like this new look though, makes him look like Mr. Innocent...yeah, I know he is not.

"He's hot." Susan whispers into my ears, causing to roll my eyes. I hope they don't remove one day.

"Morning guys." He says, smiling cheekily. Oh, someone is not offended by some thoughts anymore. He is now the normal him, I guess. His temper is gone, I assume.

"Good morning, James." Susan say in time I greet James back. "The cloth looks fit on you." Oh, don't mind me for forgetting. So, yesterday, in one of the nylons, Susan bought James some clothing just to last him for today, being that she thought he won't last more than that before now he's changed his mind.

Speaking of clothing, a new idea booms in my head, "Since you'll be around for a while, we should get you more clothes then, right?"

"No, you don't need to take matters into your hands now, I'll sort that out myself. And em, I was thinking of getting a new apartment for myself. But anyway, it will nice to have you around, you know, helping me with shopping." He tells me, and my heart flutters. I blush, and lower my eyes. He just confirm to me that he likes having me around. That is so cute of him.

"Okay. No problem then. Anytime you need me." What? Do I have to say it that way? Oh, no, I hope he doesn't think if it another way.

Like you don't want him to?

After slapping down my subconscious, leaving him to cry in the imaginary pit of darkness where his voice will not be heard until I unlock him, I go back to eating.

"So, are you going somewhere?" I ask him, and he nods.

"I'm taking you to your interview." He state simply, making Susan and I to look at each other. I offer him two sandwiches, which he collects with an innocent smile. Maybe his bad boy self seems even more trusting than this version.

"You don't need to worry. I'll have Susan do the work for me."

"It's not up for argument, Zack. I'm offering, please." He sounds both desperate, and nonchalant. It is such a confusing tone. I don't know which now.

I nod anyway, "okay, thanks." The fact that Susan is awfully quiet is not good at all.

She stretches out her clothes when she stands, clearing her throat in the process, "since I have nothing more to do here, I guess I'll leave." Instead of leaving, rather she rambles away, leaving me to the pure in-the-outside-dark-on-the-inside James.

"When you are done, please let's leave. I'm sure you don't want to get there late." He commands me in such a way that it seemed he hadn't. Shivers runs down my spine, as I await what his next actions will be. He is a freak this morning.