It all started when I turned 18

5

"Okay," I agreed, deciding not to push him further.

"How is the food, do you like it?" he asked.

"Yeah, It's okay" I answered, the truth being I didn't even touch my food yet and he failed to notice. His mind was really not there. I sighed. And then we went back to an uncomfortable silence.

    *        *          *         *

"Can we talk about it now, I don't think I can wait any longer.... what's bothering you? you're not yourself today, I'm worried about you," I insisted after a little while.

"Don't be, don't worry about me. I don't deserve to be worried by you," He said in a low voice that made me question myself if I heard him correct.

"what!!?" I asked him.

"I-I figured maybe I was leading you on by my actions so I thought I should make that clear today," he said and released a big breath before continuing "But I want you to understand first, I don't mean to hurt you or anything. You are beautiful and nice, any guy would be happy to have you but I just.." he hesitated and looked down, away from me.

"What is it?" I asked him with a poker face. Although I already knew the answer I still wanted to hear it direct from him. I was trying to hold back the tears that was threatening to fall. I couldn't cry then, not in front of him.

"At first I wanted to ask you out because I figured out that you like me but I realised that I can't do that to you when I don't feel the same way," He said in one go and let out a big breath and I could see him relieved for eventually letting that out.

'How could you? And you had to do it on my birthday when you definitely knew that it is my birthday?  If you don't mean to hurt me then why do it? Its not like I asked you to be my boyfriend or anything...you y-you Asshole!' I wanted to say that, I really really wanted to say that but I couldn't.

I mustered all the strength I could and say instead "T-that's so nice and considerate of you," I fake smiled. "The dinner was nice, thanks." I rubbed my lips with a napkin as a sign that I was done eating.

"Kayla..." he started but I cut him off.

"Thanks for the nice dinner and all but I am afraid I have to go now," I didn't wait for his reply, I picked my purse and walked away. To say I was hurt would be an understatement of the year, I was more than hurt. I was broken.

I walked so quickly, tears were running down on my face but I didn't make any attempt to rub them away. I could feel people staring at me but I didn't care. I just continued to walk to God knows where.

After a while I felt someone was following me. Is it a stalker? What if it's a kidnapper? Or worse a serial killer? I increased my pace as those thoughts ran in my mind. But he was faster, I could feel him right behind me and just then I was grabbed and turned before I could even think of running.

I breathed in relief after seeing that it was Luke. For a second I was happy that it was him before everything that happened that night flashed in my mind and I removed my hand from his hold.

"I want to be alone!" I said looking down, not wanting him to see my tears.

"Let me at least take you home and I promise I will leave you alone, It's dangerous to walk here alone," he said while inspecting my face. He must have noticed that I was crying but chose not to say anything about it.

"And why would I let you take me home? Last time I checked we were in no relation to be taking each other home," I snapped at him. I could see him hurt by my words and I fought the urge to comfort him and take back what I said.

"Please stop this. If you want me to get over you then do me a favor and leave me alone," I said as calmly as I could before turning and walking away, leaving him standing there speechless.

I walked in a dark, not knowing where I was heading. After a long walk I saw a bus stop, I went and sat there waiting for a bus if there was any at that time. I didn't know where I was and couldn't see any Taxi around, plus my legs were already hurting from all that walking.

I looked where I came from and then I saw a familiar car at the opposite side of the road, not far from where I was sitting. Was he following me all that time? How come I didn't notice his car? Now he is really pissing me off, didn't I make it clear that I want him to leave me alone? I looked at his car tires and wished for them to get punctured so that he wouldn't follow me anymore.

My eyes were distracted by the sound of a bus. I noticed a bus in front of me which I didn't even see coming. I got up and got in the bus and went to sit at the back seat on the corner of the bus, there weren't many people in it. As the Bus started to move I peeked outside the window to see if he would still follow me and then I saw him outside his car talking to the phone while inspecting his car tyres, something must have happened to them.

I left the bus window open so that I would be distracted by the wind and forget all that I went through that day, on my birthday.

I took my phone out to see if there was any call from Betty but there was none. 'Perhaps She didn't get my voice message yet' I sighed.
I put the phone back and closed my eyes, letting the cold wind hit my face.

"This is the worst day of my life!!" I cried.