The Kiss, Alberick Sy [books to get back into reading .txt] 📗

for a month because we almost burned our neighbour’s house. But even with that, we got ingenious and we made a line made of yarn where we talked. Now, whenever we see each other in the hallways, I move towards the opposite direction to avoid him and our class got a whole lot quiet now that I don’t make much noise. Sometimes, if things get too much for me to handle, I’d ditch class to compose myself. I decided to break the ice and went to his house. ‘Hi Mrs Ferrer! Is Karl home?” “I haven’t seen you in a while Allen. Karl’s upstairs. Go ahead.” My heart was pounding so hard that it felt like it was going to explode. The door was slightly open so I knocked softly, took a deep breath, and entered into the room to what felt like walking towards certain death. I saw him sitting in front of the computer looking at me with the same expression he had the last time he was in my room one month ago. “Can I come in?” He nodded. I sat on his bed and he fixed his chair so that he was facing me. I didn’t know what to say. Then he spoke. “I’m sorry.” I was surprised. I couldn’t say anything. He continued. “I shouldn’t have walked away when I heard you say what you said. I was caught off guard and I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to talk to you the next day and tell you that it’s all ok, that I’m still your friend but you started avoiding me.” I could tell that he was holding back his tears. “No. I’m sorry. I was afraid of what you’d do so I decided that the best way to do would be to avoid you.” We hugged for a few minutes with tears falling. How I missed him. He asked me when I started to have feelings for him and what it felt like being gay. I answered everything truthfully. That I have always loved him and that I’m still the same. I just happen to like boys. I asked him if he felt the same way I feel for him. He sat there quietly for a few minutes and said he wasn’t gay. I was hoping that my dreams would finally come true but I decided to just be happy because he is still a part of my life.


Chapter 8


The next day, he introduced me to his girlfriend. She was pretty… for a girl. He could do better. I’m way better than her in every way. But of course I can’t tell him that. I don’t want him to know how jealous I was to see them hold hands and so sweet in public. I just put out a fake smile but deep inside I was secretly hoping I was the lucky one. As the day dragged on, I found myself hating the girl more, getting irritated with every little detail about her. The way she laughed, the way she tossed her hair. Everything! But I decided to work hard to get close to her and wait until they break up then he will come back to me and he might change his mind about me. For the next couple of days, I would always tag along with them and tried to be the same old me but something changed after I told Karl the truth. Deep down, I wanted him to choose me over her. I would easily get mad at him for no apparent reason and would be overly sensitive at what he says. At first he was cool about it, he would be the first one to apologize and would try to make things better even though at times I would really make it hard on him. But as my jealousy grew, things got more and more complicated between us. I was starting to feel that I’m losing my friend and it makes me do things out of desperation. But in the end, we would make things work and we go back to the way it was, though probably the crack in our friendship was starting to grow.


Chapter 9


Prom night, I managed to ask a girl to the prom. Her name was Macy or Stacy. Whatever her name was, it didn’t matter because I plan to tell him how I feel for him before the night is over. Maybe this time he will give me a chance so that we could be together. The girls went to the ladies room and we were left alone on the table. I decided that it’s now or never. “Karl, I have something to tell you.” He looked at me and didn’t say anything. “I love you. And I don’t know how long I could just stand here and not tell you this. I was hoping you’d give me a chance. Break up with Janice and be with me. I know I can make you happy.” He didn’t say anything. He just sat there silently looking straight at me, and then all of a sudden he stood and went out. I followed him and asked him to talk to me. He looked around and when he was sure no one was there. He shouted “Are you crazy?! I thought we have been over this before. I love you but only as a friend. I want to spend my life with Janice. I love her” “But why won’t you try to love me too. I have been jealous of her since I first met her and I wished everyday you’d break up with her to be with me.” Tears were starting to well in my eyes. “I’m sorry that you feel that way Allen. But I just can’t be with you the way you want. And if you can’t accept that then I guess we should go our separate ways.” Then he went back to the party.


Chapter 10


I didn’t expect it to end this way. I was hoping that before the night ends, we would be a couple. I was crying so hard. I just didn’t know what to do. I decided to go home. I was walking towards the car when someone I felt something poking me on my back. “Give me your car keys and no one gets hurt.” This day just keeps getting worse. I didn’t know what to do. “Hey! What are you doing to my friend?” I know that voice. It was Karl. I accidentally dropped my keys to the ground and then I felt a sharp pain at the back of my head and I blacked out. Next thing I remember I heard strange noises and I heard someone crying. It was my mom. I opened my eyes and she hugged me. I asked what happened and they said someone tried to take my car and that Karl came and tried to stop the thief. Suddenly I remembered everything and I asked them what happened to Karl. They didn’t speak. My mom cried some more and I knew something bad has happened to him. I demanded them to tell me what happened. They told me he got shot while he was trying to stop the thief. I told them to bring me to him. He was in the Intensive Care Unit. I saw his parents outside and hugged them. I asked if I could see him and the nurses allowed me but only for a short time. He was awake when I got there. He smiled at me weakly. And I cried. I said “sorry you got shot because of me and I’m sorry about what I said to you earlier.” He just smiled at me and said “you don’t need to be sorry. I’m the one who should apologize. I came out to talk to you when I saw the man held you at gunpoint.” “You shouldn’t have been shot if it wasn’t for me. I’m really sorry.” “You shouldn’t cry. You look ugly when you cry.” He joked. “And you look handsome no matter what you wear.” I said. We talked more before the nurse asked me to leave.


Chapter 11


Before I left, he asked me about the night I kissed him. I told him I was captivated by his beauty and I didn’t realize I kissed him. He told me that kiss made him feel the love I have for him. He may not feel the same way for me but he said that with that kiss he felt that he mattered to someone. Then he asked me something I never expected from him. He asked me to kiss him again on the lips. I was surprised. Here he was telling me he didn’t feel the same way but now he asks me to kiss him. He said “the kiss doesn’t mean I feel the same way for you. The kiss is just to remind you that you are loved no matter who you are and also to remind me of how much you love me. Girls can kiss each other on the lips and not be called homo so why can’t guys kiss too.” I wanted to say it was society’s way of being stupid and closed-minded but I couldn’t argue with him. After that kiss, I always wanted to have another chance and this was the chance that I have been waiting for. I leaned forward and kissed him. It was a short kiss but I felt his love for me. We said goodbye and he said “I love you friend. Don’t ever forget that.” “I love you too. Don’t you ever forget it too.” And I went home with my parents.


Chapter 12


The phone rang and I woke up. I was wondering who it could be. My mom answered it and I decided to get up and visit Karl in the hospital. As soon as I finished showering, I changed and went down to eat breakfast. I saw mom and dad sitting in the living room. “We need something to tell you.” I went in and sat. Mom said that it was Karl’s mother who called. Then she burst into tears. My dad hugged her and he continued what she was trying to say. “We don’t know how to say this to you so we’ll tell it to you straight. Karl died a few minutes ago.” I didn’t know what to do. I was in shock. They were talking to me but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. The only thing echoing in my mind were the words “Karl died” the world seemed to slow down. And I was completely blank. I just remember getting in the car to go to the hospital. The drive going to the hospital felt like it took hours. When we got to the hospital, I saw his mom and she hugged me tight. I was still completely numb. It was hours before they brought him to the funeral home. I saw his casket and saw him laying there. I just stood in front of his coffin without moving, looking at his lifeless body. He was still beautiful. But now he’s gone. I didn’t say anything the whole time during his wake. I just sat there quietly even as they buried his coffin. I was completely shocked. It was days later when I snapped out of my shock. And shock turned to anger. I was angry at the world again for the second time in my life. I turned to drinking and smoking for companion. I even did drugs. My parents got worried and tried to talk to me but I was still very angry and didn’t listen.


Chapter 13


It was days later when Karl’s mom came