“I don’t think people understand how stressful it is to explain what’s going on in your head when you don’t even understand it yourself!”
……
EJ was lost in his own world of thoughts. He remembered all the good times he had with his dad and how terribly he missed his dad when he left him. Sometimes he remembered his sister Lola as well. He looked at the sky it was dark and empty, it was a no moon day. There were no stars as well.
EJ stretched his leg lazily and yawned, it was time for him crash to bed, either he can drive to his home or to the dormitory but EJ chose to stay there for some more time. He liked the silence and warmth that the place provided him. His mind drifted to think about Kathleen all of a sudden.
“Huh? Was I too rude to her?”, he questioned himself and consoled himself saying that it doesn’t matter when he believes that kathleen was the sole reason behind this chaos with Robert. Robert said that he isn’t ready to talk EJ and never wanna look at him again.
This made EJ furious with kathleen as he thought that she might have told Robert something to tear them both apart. But Kathleen had nothing to do with anyone of them. In fact she hated them both ever since she joined Howard’s. Robert was desperate to win Kathleen’s love while she never thought of him as a boyfriend material.
EJ tried to call Robert again but decided to give him some space to sort this out on his own. EJ did no wrong here and he couldn’t understand why Robert wasn’t talking to him at all. EJ valued Robert and his friendship as he was the person who brought out the best and the worst in EJ.
‘Sometimes family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in our life who want us in theirs. The one who accepts you for who you are. The one who would do anything to see you smile and will love you no matter what’
Robert and EJ’S mom were the only family left for EJ after his dad abandoned him. And Robert accepted EJ as his very own brother, sometimes EJ doesn’t speak anything at all, he is good at keeping things to themselves and at times, they maybe go on for days without a single conversation but nothing changes between them.
They have never fought with each other in all these years and it is like he don’t even need to ask Robert on anything, EJ has always got Robert. He don’t always see Robert but EJ knew he would be there at his lowest and his hardest times. He remembered the first time they were here. Robert introduced this place to EJ, later it became EJ’S most favorite spot.
EJ and Robert together visited this place during the end of their high school days. Robert and EJ used to be friends with some other boys in the school who used to bully others. EJ was a part of it too.
Few years back………
“Man, where are we going?”, EJ yelled as the wind hit his face hard and if Robert continues to drive at such a speed, EJ would fly away for sure. Robert was a rash and reckless driver when it comes to bikes and cars on the other hand EJ was the best one who knew how to handle vehicles.
“To the best place I came across in the recent times”, he shouted back with a grin. His hair danced in the air while he spoke.
“Can you fucking slow down, your impetuous driving would end both our lives for God’s sake”, he signed and Robert chuckled at his comment, driving at the maximum speed.
He stopped at some deserted place near the city’s termination point. EJ removes off his helmet with a confused face.
“What do you have to do in such a place?”, EJ questioned his friend with a stare.
“Trespassing”, Robert winked.
“Come on, what were you doing her in the first place?”, EJ shoots the same question again.
“Like every day, I wanted to get away from home and find my own world. That’s how I ended up here. Thought of sharing my spot with you”, he expressed and climbed on the stone steps that led them to a bench that no one could normally see while passing away by this side. It was hidden by the trees that grew beside them and the big giant uneven rocks made it look creepy but it was indeed an incredible place.
“Oh. my. god”, EJ’S jaw dropped open on viewing the entire city before him sparkling in light. Everything about this place was enchanting, the sunset, the bustling streets and the whole city shining in light to beat off the dark that was trying to engulf them.
“Hey, it is not so far from here”, exclaimed EJ.
“What are you talking about?”, Robert wondered what was going in EJ’S mind.
“Howard University”.
“Yes, I totally forgot about it. So have you applied for the university?”, Robert and EJ planned to join the Howard’s University for their higher studies. EJ doesn’t want to leave his mom alone in DC and Robert never really had anything in mind about his future. So he decided to tag along with EJ.
“Yep and what about you?”, he asked him back.
“Nope, I have to. Man, I’m not really into studies”, he shrugged.
“I’m aware of that”, smirked EJ. Robert never attended classes in high school and he never really prepared for exams. He uses imposter to finish his important exams. Robert just wanted to have fun, party around, drink up and flirt with girls. He lost his virginity a year ago with a girl from senior year. And Robert doesn’t remember her name nor knew who she is with now. He is never really into relationships, all her wanted was flings and no strings attached.
EJ sat on the bench and enjoyed the view that he totally forgot about Robert. And Robert sat beside him gazing the city in silence. EJ was aware of Robert’s life and the issues he went through every single day. Robert and his dad weren’t on good terms ever since Robert’s brother, John died. Robert and his dad doesn’t speak much to each other and he never really ached for a father’s love.
Everything was fine till his brother John passed away and his father blamed Robert and his ignorance for his brother’s death. Robert’s mother gave birth to John when Robert was 10 years old. He was born late into the family. So gradually, Robert’s parents loved him more than they loved Robert. And Robert didn’t seem to mind any of that. He grew like a wild tree and nothing bothered him that easily. Robert neither hated his little brother, John nor loved him. He had no feelings towards anyone.
When John was 5 years old, Robert was asked to take care of his brother and his parents left them alone in the house to attend some party. Robert was not interested to babysit his little brother, that 15 year old teenager wanted to get out of the house. He planned to leave his brother at home and head out but that wouldn’t end well. So he decided to take him to the nearest park and leave him there. He made a quick call to his friends and informed them to arrive at their usual spot.
“Hey, John!! You play here and I’ll be play with my friends on the opposite side of the road”, Robert instructed his brother and the little boy nodded.
“You should stay here till I come to pick you up. Got it?”, he said in a threatening tone and the little boy nodded.
The road beside the park splits the entire area into two different place. On the right was the children’s park and there was a small well left open and it was under maintenance. People were not allowed to that side of the park. And to the left side of the park was a small restaurant and mini bar, where all the teenagers usually hangout.
The park was filled with children and elderly people who were carrying out their exercises, jogging and walks. Robert left him near the seesaw with other children and walked away. He never really knew how to express love to his younger brother and he never really tried to fill that deed.
After an hour or two, he walked back into the park to find it empty, not even single soul was there, everyone including John as well was gone too but where??. His mind flooded with questions and he shouted and ran around the park to search his little brother. Beads of sweat pour out of his forehead like a river. He was tensed and he really had no idea what was going on in the park.
He finally spotted a small crowd at a distance and he was relieved to witness people at last. He jogged towards them, the more closer he gets, the clearer the incident was. People were standing around the well which was under maintenance. His legs and hands shook terribly without a stop, in panic and fear.
“Ohh, I feel so pity of this”, an old man said to his wife.
“Someone call the helpline”, shouted another man. Robert walked near the scene and he could hear indistinct chattering.
“How could someone be so carele-s-s and leave a little boy all alone like this”, an old woman grunted furiously.
“What happened?”, Robert stammered and the old woman looked up at him.
“A little boy, maybe around 5 years, fell into the well and no one was here to look after him”, she explained. Robert’s head began to spin on registering the information into his brain. He thought it has to be his nightmare but no, life turned to be the worst nightmare from that moment on.
Each and every single day, Robert faced a new battle with his parents. Robert and his dad would get into arguments at times and he always blamed him for John’s death. He would at times beat the shit out of him and curse him to die like John, his mother would cry the whole day and she stopped talking to Robert and Robert didn’t try so hard to get their love back. He lived his own life. He began to crash at EJ’S home and EJ got to know it through Robert one day and EJ understood that life never went easy on anyone.
Sarah treated Robert like his own kid and she always loved children. She was aware of Robert’s life as well and did all that she could to do to be there for him and showered him with love and care that Robert began addressing her as mother. He never visited his own house and his parents doesn’t worry much. His dad would credit wholesome amount to Robert’s bank account at the start of the month, so that he doesn’t have to bother them for anything.
…….
EJ lost track of time as he was submerged in the pool of his own thoughts. He gazed at the moonless sky and felt empty inside him like the sky without the moon and the stars.
He flinched when someone placed a hand over his shoulders from behind. He turn around to find his only best friend of his life standing there with a small smile.
“I knew where to find you always”, he smiled and sat beside him. EJ wasn’t really aware on how to start a conversation with him and he is worst at making up things with someone until the other party puts on some effort. He stayed silent like as always and it was Robert who cleared his throat before starting the chat.
“EJ, I’m sorry for acting out like that”, he apologized.
“It’s okay! Robert and….”, EJ was fighting to find the right words.
“And….. I have got nothing to do with kathleen. Trust me, I’ll never come between you guys”, EJ stated and Robert let out a chortle.
“It was stupid of me to think that you were the reason behind my rejection. But no, and EJ you don’t have to lie to me just for my sake that you never had feelings for her on the first place”, Robert smirked.
“Come on, you don’t have to think of me. All I ever wanted was you to be happy Robert and you know I’ll do anything to ensure that”, EJ affirmed and Robert smiled at his statement.
“Likewise, I shouldn’t be a hindrance to my friend’s relationship and I won’t. Anyway from day 1 she was yours and you were hers and the whole campus were aware of it”, implied Robert making EJ roll his eyes.
“No Robert. You don’t have to do this. I can assure you that I have zero feelings towards Kathleen”, he said bluntly.
“Okay enough is enough. Like Barbie said I deserve someone better and she can never see me as anything else other than a friend”, Robert was sure about this.
“And I don’t want to pressurize her anymore on this. Anyways life isn’t a fairytale anymore, if you lose your shoe in midnight, it means you are drunk”, Robert chuckled, earning a stare from his pal.
“Come on EJ ! Don’t do this okay?! I’m sorry for what I did earlier but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop you both from dating”, he uttered with a pout.
“Ummmm, I’m not gonna date her. I don’t know what she feels about me, I’m not clear about my feelings either”, he shrugged. Robert nodded at him.
“And with Beverly on campus, things are gonna heat up”, muttered Robert exhaling deeply. He knew exactly who Beverly was like and what she would do to people.
“But, Kathleen is a queen I can say. So don’t worry about her, since queens will forever stay badder than bitches, she will deal with her for better and worse”, Robert praised her and EJ agreed to him on that.
“Yes Robert that’s what I’m afraid of. Kathleen is a badass with a good heart, never soft and unapologetic. Beverly have to know something before triggering Kathleen”, EJ said rubbing his temple.
“What is that?”, Robert asked in awe.
“That she is the baddest among all and far more worse than Beverly in her past life”, EJ expressed and Robert’s eyes widened in shock.
“What?”, he gasped.
……
Read out the next chapter to find exciting things about each and every characters in the story.