Chapter 23: Chapter 23

(Ethan POV)

I woke up pretty early this morning, around 07.10. I didn't know how on earth could I wake so early though. I usually woke up around 08.00.

Usually I would continue my sleep but this time I didn't. I wanted to see Linda's face. She would just woke up or having breakfast.

Wait, breakfast? Damn. I should've woken up earlier to prepare breakfast. It was Brian's job but I remembered he was still in Washington.

I quickly grabbed my T-shirt and went out of my room. I looked for the kitchen but it was empty and there was no sign someone had been cooking. Maybe she was still asleep?

I walked to her room and knock softly. "Linda? Are you awake?", but there was no answer. I tried to knock again but there was still no sign of her.

I slowly opened the door and peeked inside. Her room was empty. The bed had been made and her bag was gone meaning she had gone to school.

I closed the door again, confused. Why did she go so early? Maybe she was avoiding me?

After last night, she didn't say any words to her and so was I. I was too chicken to face her.

I went back to the kitchen and tried to made breakfast for myself.  I couldn't concentrate on my cooking making it looked bad.

I finally manages to make an omelet and some bacons. The omelet wasn't in the perfect shape but at least it was cooked well. But for the bacons, they were too much oil.

After breakfast, I went to living room to watch some news. But later, my eyes started getting heavy.

I knew I would be asleep soon so, I turned off the TV and laid myself on the couch.

I didn't know how long I was out until I heard someone opening the door. I was still sleepy so I thought maybe it was just my imagination.

I tried to close my eyes again but later I opened them wide when I heard voices. Was it robbers?

In front of me was a table and under it, me and Brian placed a metal baseball stick. I slowly grabbing it with my still sleeping position.

The voices got louder and they sounded like... girls voice?

"Keep it down. I don't know if he's home or not ", I heard someone shout whispered. I recognized the voice and it was Linda.

I took a glance of the clock in the living room and it was still 09.45. What was she doing here? She should be at class.

"I think there's nobody here", I heard the other girl voice that I didn't recognize.

"OK, now where's the medicine cabinet? We need to clean you up now", The other girl said again. She sounded mad.

"I don't know. I think it's in the kitchen. Come on, help me up", Linda said to the other girl.

Wait, was Linda hurt? I got up and walked to the kitchen. Linda was sitting on one of the chair. I saw her bleeding knee making the stocking she was wearing was torn and blood everywhere around the knee area. Her blonde friend was opening all the furnitures.

"What happened to you?", I asked worried making both of them jumped and turned their heads to me. Both of them were looking for each other, nervous. What the hell was going on?

"Linda?", I asked softly.

She looked at me and her eyes told me everything. "Y-yeah?", she stuttered.

"How is this happen?", I asked again as knelt down checking her knee. It looked pretty bad but I didn't think it would need stitches.

"Well?", I asked again, locking her eyes into mine.

She stared at me for a some time but soon recovered. "I,uh... I fell down", she said lightly but I knew she was lying.

"Don't lie to me", I said still locking her eyes. It seemed to be her weakness.

"She was hit by Mike", her friend said to me.

I looked at her like she was crazy. "What? Is it true?", I looked at Linda but now she was scowling her friend and she just shrugged.

"He hit you?", I asked angry now.

She didn't say anything and kept her head down. So it was true. I was on fire now. He's gonna pay for this.

"Where's this son of a bitch now?", I asked her friend. I couldn't keep my anger anymore.

"I-in his dorm I think? Class is over now", she trembled on every words. She looked scared of me. Of course she was. She had no idea what I could do when I mad.

I got up and headed to the front door. I'm gonna finish this son of a bitch once for all. How dare he laid his hand on my Linda.

I got to the dorm. I asked everyone I met about Mike and where was his room.

Finally, someone knew him. It was a boy with glasses and from his appearance, he was a nerd.

He knew Mike who happened to be his classmate. He directed me to his room. I thanked him and walked exactly what the boy just told me.

I got in front of his room. Room number 3892. I tried to knock the door. But no one answered. I knocked harder this time and he opened the door.

"Geez, what....", he said but couldn't finish it because I punched him right to his left cheek.

He fell down to the floor and groaned holding his cheek. It started to bruise. He looked at me confused.

"Who are you?", he asked still holding his cheek.

"You don't remember me? I'm Ethan. You came to my place once", I said and he still looked confused.

"Let me recall your memory", I said grabbing his collar and punched him again and again. Now his nose and mouth were  bleeding.

"Remember now? I can do this all day", I said, smirked evilly.

"Wait, wait stop. I remember you. You're Linda's friend right? You're living with his brother?", he said.

"Bingo", I said and gave him a finale punch. He was now laying on the floor groaning in pain.

"Stay away from Linda or I won't hesitate to come and kick the shit out of you",I threatened and leave the property. My hand was slightly hurt from the punch.

When I got home, I didn't saw Linda nor her friend anywhere. She must be in her room then I thought.

I slightly opened the door and saw her laying on bed. She'd changed her outfit into a sweater and shorts. She closed her eyes but I knew she wasn't asleep.

I went in and sat on the edge of the bed making it dripped. She opened her eyes and looked at me surprised.

"How's your knee?", I asked softly while I tried to examine her knee. It had been given medicine.

"I'm fine", she muttered. "Hailey's treated it"

"Are you sure you're fine?", I asked again. She nodded.

"Where were you?", she asked suddenly.

"Nowhere", I looked away.

"Tell me", she said holding my hand. Once again, I felt sparks.

I couldn't lie to her. "I had a little chat to that jerk", I sighed.

"Really?", she raised her right brow.

"And maybe some fists", I said and she laughed but then she winced in pain.

"What's wrong?", I asked worried.

"Nothing", she said but she kept holding her stomach.

"Lift up your shirt", I said.

"What? No", she said her eyes widened.

"Lift up your shirt, Linda", I groaned but she still refused. I didn't have a choice but did it myself. If Brian knew this, he would definitely punch me.

I lifted her sweater and gasped. There's a large bruise near her left ribs. She slapped my hand and lifted it down.

"Did he do this?", I asked ready to ruin that jerk's face.

She nodded and I was about to get up to give him some lessons but she held my hand to stop.

"He's not worth it", she said looking deep into my eyes.

I was bewitched by her beauty and my anger was dropped. I did something that I really wanted to do since she came back.

I hugged her tight avoiding having contact with her bruised ribs. My muscular body making her seemed small against mine.

Surprisingly, she hugged me back. I buried my face in her hair and kissed her forehead.

We stayed like that for a while and pulled back. "You need to rest", I said.

I kissed her cheek making her blush. She was adorable. "I'll be in my room if you need me", I said before I left her room.

I swear I was smiling like an idiot for the whole day.