Hide (Sequel to RUN)

Chapter 13

"You defending her like that."

"I can't defend women now?"

"You never did before." Maki finished off the last of the milk and tossed it into the open recycling bin. Nothing but net.

"Yeah, well. People change, Curtis," Maki pointed out, turning back towards his room. "I have to go and make sure Lekia is okay."

Curtis shoveled his eggs onto a plate and stabbed a fork into them.

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Maki entered his room, closing the door behind him. It took him a second to hear the sobbing voice floating above the sound of the water.

"I don't understand." Lekia's voice. Coming from the bathroom.

"I'm tired of pretending like I do, 'cause I don't. I'm glad it was me and not anyone else, but why? What purpose did it serve? Why won't it just go away?" Maki ran into the bathroom, positive that someone had somehow gotten in there. He pulled back the curtain to the shower, ready to pounce.

But it was just Lekia.

She looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes and tears welled up in her eyes. Her hair had plastered itself to her scalp.

"Did you hear me?" she whispered, her voice quavering. Maki nodded, mute for the time being. She nodded back at him, meeting his eyes for a brief second before seeking the white tiles across from her.

Maki's heart melted for her. Before he even realized what he was doing, he was reaching towards her.

"Scoot up," Maki muttered, climbing under the stream of water behind Lekia. He sat down criss-cross and pulled her onto his lap. As he pulled her tighter, she clung onto his shirt with an iron fist.

And then she was sobbing.

Maki had seen Lekia disoriented and in panic mode, but that could never have prepared him for this. She sobbed and contorted as if she was in pain.

"Why?" she screamed, creating goose-bumps on Maki's arms despite the warm water. "Why would He let this happen?" Maki shivered.

"Who?" Maki questioned, holding her even tighter. "Lekia, who?"

She didn't respond.

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I threw the last article of clothing over the closed curtain of the shower before sticking my head under the stream of water to wash out the conditioner.

"I'll throw these in the dryer," Maki called from the other side of the curtain. "Do you want some kind of breakfast?" I grunted as an answer. My lips just didn't want to form words at the moment.

"I'll take that as a yes. Eggs?" Another grunt. I waited a few seconds, staring at the white tiles across from me, before peeking out from behind the curtain. Maki gathered up the soaked clothes I'd thrown over and snuck out the bathroom door, his wet pants clinging to his hips.

He turned and caught me staring at him just before he closed the door. His eyes met mine, and my breath caught in my throat.

All he offered me was a silent laugh before closing the door behind him. I sighed, closing the white curtain with a flourish.

All of this was so confusing.

I gently fingered my lips, remembering the feel of his on them. A warm feeling bubbled inside.

But then some other part of me pushed the bubbles back down again. Then they'd rise up again.

Did I just like the feeling of being comforted? Or was it Maki that made me feel this way?