Chapter 73: Chapter 73

Ethan's POV

Just when I stepped out of the bathroom after taking a shower, my phone rang lying on the desk. Gavin who was sitting there, writing something glanced at it and tilted his head to me.

" It's Grace.", he announced.

" Oh..", I nodded and quickly walked to him, taking the phone from the desk and answering the calls.

" Hello Grace, what's up ?", I said into the phone.

" Ethan, Nate again started cutting ! "

" What ! ", I uttered in extreme shock.

" What happened Ethan ?", Gavin asked jumping up from the chair and looking at me anxiously.

" Grace, you aren't kidding me, right ?", I asked.

" No..he really did Ethan ! He was in an really angry and upset mood since he came back from school and he cut his arm while he was taking a shower. Don't know whether he was cutting since sometime.", She replied in nervousness.

I brushed my hair backward and looked at Gavin in worry. " Michael cut his arm."

" Oh shit ! ", he uttered.

" Is he alright, Grace ? Did he cut badly.", I asked

"I don't fucking know. He didn't show me his arm. I caught the razor on bathroom floor and asked him whether he cut. He got so violent and he pushed me and barged into the balcony. I don't know what to do. He is so mad right now. I'm afraid to go near him. And you know the balcony has low railings. "

The tone of Grace's voice really worried me. Guilt bore its teeth into me. I know it's all because of me. But I didn't think Michael would start cutting again. Maybe he has cut a lot. My heart ached at the thought. What did I do to Michael ?

" Ethan, please come. Only you can do something. I'm afraid he would do something foolish.", Grace said in worry.

" I'm coming Grace. Please keep an eye on him.", I said and already rushed out of the room. Gavin followed me right behind.

Grace opened the door for us even before we knocked twice. " Where is he ?", I whispered to Grace.

" Balcony.", She said lowly whist pointing at the balcony.

" Okay, I'll go talk to him. You guys stay here.", I told them. They both nodded and I slowly walked to the balcony door and opened it.

" Grace..I'm sorry.", Michael uttered in a low guilt filled voice as I stepped into the balcony.

Soon his eyes widened on seeing it was not Grace but me. " E..Ethan..", he uttered in shock. And I noticed his eyes was red and his rosy cheeks had tear stains on it.

I walked to him, gently closing the balcony door behind. He immediately shot up from the wooden deck he was sitting on. " Wh..why did you come here ?", he half yelled at me.

I sat down on the deck a little away from him and stared up at him. " Grace called me and told me you cut. I know it's because of me. I'm really sorry Michael.", I said lowly whilst staring at him.

His lips trembled a little. " It's not b..because of you.", he lied.

" Don't lie Michael.", I said.

He inhaled a puff of air and sat back on the deck, facing away from me. " You told me to s..stay away from you. Then why you c..came ?", he asked.

I slid a bit closer to him. " I'm so sorry."

A small barely audible whimper escaped his mouth.

" Michael...", I called.

He tilted his head and looked at me with teary eyes. " Why are you sometimes a..acting nice to me and then s..suddenly..becoming..mean ?", he asked.

" I just always want to be nice to you, Michael.", I said and slid a bit more closer to him, grabbing his hands.

" l..leave my hands.", he said. But didn't make an attempt to pull his hands backward or squirm it out of my grip. So I intertwined our fingers and smiled at him.

" Why are you s..smiling at me now ?", he asked.

" Why do you hurt yourself instead of just opening your heart to me ? That's more easy, right ?", I asked and he bit on his bottom lip. Seeing he is distracted, I slowly started moving his shirt sleeves up.

But he immediately grabbed my hand with his other hand. " No ! ", he shook his head

" Why don't you show me ? You cut a lot ?", I asked.

" No ! You don't n..need to see."

" Why ?", I asked.

" Why do you want to see ? You don't l..like me ! "

" Who told I don't like you. I like you a lot.", I smiled. I saw a sudden brightness in his eyes but it disappeared very soon.

" You like G..Gabriel.", he then said.

" I like you.", I said stressing ' You' whilst caressing his hands and trying to slowly roll his sleeves up. But he had a strong grip on my hand preventing me from moving the sleeves.

" You told me y..you will hurt me if I hurt Gabriel. I thought you...you hate me now.", he said.

" Did I say that ? I didn't.", I shook my head.

" Yes you did ! ", he accused.

" Really ? Did I say I'll hurt you ? If so, I didn't mean it at all. I'm really sorry. And Michael, how can I hate you when I love you so much ?", I asked and his eyes went wide in shock. Taking the chance I moved his sleeves up.

To my relief, I only saw one new cut above his wrist. His earlier cuts had almost faded away. Before I could look properly at the cut, Michael pulled the sleeves down.

" Look..it's okay Michael. Show me please. You know...I won't judge you. Just show me.", I pleaded and he at last looked away withdrawing his other hand which was firmly holding mine.

I again rolled up the sleeve and looked at the cut. Again to my relief it wasn't a deep cut. It was just a scar, a bit long though.

" Why did you do this to yourself, baby ?", I asked him gracing my fingers beside the cut. His body shivered a little and I saw Goosebumps littering on his arms. He again bit on his bottom lip but didn't turn his face to me.

I smiled and leaned forward to see his face. The tip of his ear had turned red and his cheeks had a crimson blush. " Tell me, did you like me calling you baby ?"

" N..no..", he whimpered.

" But your reaction told me otherwise.", I said and smiled. He opened his mouth to protest but I cut him down. "Yes, You like me calling you baby. And you like to be with me. And you want me to be nice to you. And it hurts you when I act mean to you, right ?"

He broke out into sobs at that. " Wh..why are you d..doing this to me ?"

" Doing what ?", I asked. " Tell me Michael. What am I doing to you ?" He shook his head violently in reply. " C'mon..tell me Michael ! You can't hide it from me anymore.", I raised my voice and he started sobbing more.

" C'mon Michael ! ", I almost shouted. I was desperate to hear it out from his mouth. I forcefully turned his face to me and made me look into my eyes. "Michael...I promise I won't force you into anything you don't like. Just tell it once. Please.. ", I pleaded him desperately.

" I..Ethan..I..", he whimpered.

" Yes..C'mon..let it out ! "

The next moment my eyes went wide as Michael did something I least expected him to do. He leaned in and pressed his lips with mine.

My heart jumped inside my chest and I could hear his heart thump wild. Butterflies took birth in my stomach and all the hair on my body stood up on end.

Michael pulled away from me even before 5 seconds and looked away pressing his lips together. His face was beet red. His fingers fiddled with the hem of his t-shirt.

I couldn't utter anything for a few moments. I was smiling like a total idiot. I couldn't believe Michael kissed me. I only expected him to say he likes me. But he kissed me ! He freaking kissed me ! And it was his first kiss !