I woke up so sick that I felt waking over a hangover. Yeah. I went to a birthday party and drink lot. So that’s it, why my head is about to burst.
“So why do you have to hit him with a metal pole? What if—what if there’s hemorrhage, a clot or concussion in his head?”
“Alex, you’re worrying too much. He is going to be fine. He was just unconscious for five hours and that’s normal. He’s fallen asleep, the man is drunk. I—I just have to make him silent at the woods. I mean he is screaming and shouting your name over and over. What if someone was still there, not just the three goons which you put away. I mean, Alex, it is your life at stake.”
“Okay, Ruth. I am going to thank you now, but in case he doesn’t wake up on the next hour, you should take him to the nearest hospital. I don’t want to see another man dying infront of me.”
“Alright. I see that you’re supposed to come out and tell him that yes, it’s you who saved him from the guys who are about to kill you soon. That he knew already what you are and he is trustworthy. May be even dependable than me. Jeez. Alex, don’t you feel what I feel now? I am afraid at the same time, I’m disappointed in you.”
“I’m so sorry. But I swear, before this happens he already knew and he didn’t tell anyone.”
“Oh, yeah? Not even his bestfriend-slash-brother-slash-roommate. But still how did those people knew you were here? I can’t explain that, can you?”
She lowered down her head and sit on the couch.
I woke up from the bed and slowly walk across the floor.
“Hmm.” I cleared my throat to let them know I just woke up from my temporary comatose. “I am fine Alex,” I looked at her on the eyes and she’s surprised to see me smiling. “It is okay that you don’t trust me. Well, that matter about her isn’t just something about keeping a secret. It’s her life, all about her. I clearly understand that the more people knew, the more killing and dying happens”
Ruth stepped forward offering a hand. “Sorry, we didn’t have introduction earlier at the party. I am Ruth, Alex’s sister. I wasn’t really related to the celebrant. Jason invited me.”
I smiled at her and gave her a handclasp. “It’s not his birthday though; still he has the audacity to invite. So, I’m sorry about last night.”
Alex gaze at me releasing a deep breath. “That’s what we need to talk about.”
“But not here in your apartment,” Ruth grabbed her coat and Alex’s. “I haven’t told Jason about my super extraordinary sister’s existence either.”
“Where’s Jason? Do you know what happened to him last night? Is he alright?”
“Has fallen asleep. I got him boxed since he’s too nosy asking why were we in the woods, why were you lying on the ground and his ultimately drunk amped up testosterones boiling,”
“Alright,” I just nodded.
Alex’s grabbed her coat from the coat-hanger and opened the door.
Before the door shuts, “We have to talk.” Jason is walking out from his room with his bare shorts and a swollen upper lip and bruised cheek. “We do, we all do.”
“Jason?” Rather than relief that I have seen him, I felt a little nervous and taunted with those peering looks. “How are you?’
“Oh buddy, I’m so fine. Very well so far.” He shrugged his shoulders and slightly opened his lips. “My girlfriend or pretence girlfriend was on a mission to kill me. Of course I’m freakin’ so distorted and living in supreme pain six feet underneath,” he answered seriously, batting his lashes rapidly.
Ruth on my back stepped in on his sight. She’s smiling playfully, “you just got lucky I didn’t rip your head off.”
Jason laughed instantly and stared back at her. “No. You just got lucky I didn’t kill you first.”
She twitched her lips and patted his back. “Have you forgotten, we’re a family of beast?” Ruth clutched her cost on her chest and pouted. “You’re pissing me. Do you know that? Alex, will you please eat him.” It’s a command.
Alex slightly opened her mouth but with a glint. “No. I’m just going to tear him. Starting with those mocking swell.”
“Damn!” He suddenly stepped backed out of shock reflexes. “Oh God. No. Did you just say that you’re really a beast?”
“No. She’s a mannequin, totally functioning as a real human.” I tried getting into the chat.
He gazed at me like a child thinking nothing. “Come on man, your sarcasm is too bad.”
I smiled. The tense on his eyes was gone. “Where do you think it came from?”
“Not from me,” he denied with no accusation. “From your ex-roommate or friend?”
“Jason, we’ve been friends and roommate for over ten years now.”
“Excuse me,” she’s smiling but she does sound a little impatient. “Are you gonna do this ‘how many years you’ve been friends’ thing?”
“Yes.” He responded to Alex plainly. “We are doing that. Since you interrupted, not anymore, thanks for that. Now I could tell my twelve years friend, that it’s been twelve years two months and two days old.”
That blew my mind. “You counted?”
“Don’t be all jumpy-happy. He guessed.” Ruth said edgily.
Alex nodded. “A sheer guess.”
“I call it hypothesis.”
“Seriously, Jason?” I gnarled infront him.
He stared back. “Yes. I’m serious. I saw she’s beast, who beasted you.”
“But she didn’t kill me, she didn’t kill us.”
“Not yet,” he shrugged.
“Preferably,” Ruth whispered. “it’s just gonna be you, Jason. Only you.”
“Alright. May be I can be scrumptious. Depends if you have a good table manners.” He turned to Alex.
Alex gave him a bit of smile. “I can’t believe you’re not taken aback. I’m glad you’re taking this easy, Jason.”
“Alex, are you serious? It is not easy for me to take all of this. It is not easy to know that my bestfriend whom I treat as a brother loves a beastie woman like you, that I have been sleeping with a beastie’s sister… and that I am talking to you glibly now and that you have not eaten me yet. Not yet…”
Alex hid her sigh, I know she’s got that pinching pain in her chest behind those beam on her little crimson lips. I thought a have fallen a bit from my firm stand when Jason told Alex that I love her, which I don’t want to deny because my heart beats so fast right now. Like a drum roll from game show. It only takes a sight of her then here comes my heart pumping gazillion blood all over.
“Jason…” I walked near him holding his shoulder. “I’m sorry for making this secret. I can’t put her in jeopardy.”
He seems to be very angry but calm still. Well, I say he has the right to get mad. He should be freaking out right now. “But is right for you to hide this from me? This is what you’ve been lying about? Those cuts and bruises? So, it is okay for you to get yourself in danger instead,” he shrugged then put on some shirt. “I get it,” he nods.
“Please Jason, Jackson just did it for your safety,” Alex’s added.
“No. Because I got hurt before knowing this, before knowing who you are. So thank you for making me stupid and clueless.” He’s starting to freak out now by waving, shoving and slapping his palm and hands on the air like some kind of a nerd explaining a hell of complicated scientific problem. “You are really a cool bestfriend, Jakey.”
Ruth walks in through her noisy high heel sounds on the tiled floor. “Are you some kind of stupid mammal? We are talking big, bigger danger in here. If I didn’t get in that forest in time, surely you’re six feet under now. No one will ever know worms been eating you underneath. Alex is being hunted by some big out of the ordinary beastie obsessed division.” She stared at him, making him feel reprehensive. “Those people are after her capabilities, strength and power. They want to have experiment on her and anyone who knows about her, dies. Anyone who gets on their way, dies. So, please, don’t feel very bitter because we’re making you a favor. You must’ve thanked me for getting you unconscious.”
Silence reign for a moment then Jason rises from the couch. “No way I’m doing that.” He walked fast to his room, slapping the door hard behind him.