Max

She's still not picking up her phone.

Max leaned on the railings of the flyover, staring at the traffic below him and smoking as the events of that day flashed through his head.

Why did he say those things? How could he say those things? He hardly knew much about her and he still dared to lecture her about how she handled everything.

I'm such an idiot. I wish she would at least come to school.

School has become incredibly dull, nothing he used to like interested him anymore. Not sports nor programming, something he would do with so much passion before.

Every day he kept a lookout, hoping that maybe Kaia would come that day.

But she didn't.

Every day he dared to hope and every day his hopes were crushed. All his calls were ignored and he felt miserable.

He's been smoking more often too. Aliya's not going to be happy when she finds out nor are his family. But he just couldn't stop.

"Hey. Moping, brooding guy, smoking over there. Catch."

Max caught the packet of gum in his hands, his cigarette hanging from his mouth.

Oh, it's that boy from the hospital.

"Great catch. No wonder you're the sports team captain." He complimented.

What was his name again? Do-something. Doooren? Something like that?

"From the way you're looking at me, let me guess, you don't remember my name." He looked a little too cocky for Max's limiting patience so he decided to ignore him, even if he is right.

"My name's Dorran."

Ah. I was right.

"No, you weren't. You definitely weren't right." He kept insisting like a child.

Is this kid a mind reader or something? And what happened to all the cocky demeanour from before?

Whatever. I should go. Maybe call Kaia again.

He cleared his throat and something about him changed again.

"You know how bad you are at hiding what you're thinking? Everything's just clear as day with you. No wonder Kaia said that about you."

He stopped walking and slowly turned to that boy.

"Kaia?" He asked, maybe he heard wrong.

"Yeah. I met her just a few minutes ago at her house. You might want to check up on her, she doesn't look like she's doing too well."

So, she did talk to him. But why him? I hate him. No, wait. Hate's too strong a word, I don't like him.

"What's it to you?" He asked, snuffing out the cigarette on the pavement.

"Nothing. I'm just wondering if you would like to know about how she's doing." He replied nonchalantly, swinging his arms around.

"I do but I'll hear it from her. Not from you. Goodnight. Thanks for the gum." He popped one in his mouth and walked away, again.

"You know. She'll need your help."

"Look if she does need my help, she'll ask me for it. She knows that we're always here for her, all of us."

"Does she though? She called me tonight, with a request. It was a little dangerous request. She only called me because it has something to do with me."

"That's between the both of you, it's got nothing to do with me." He tried to control his temper; tried to pretend like he wasn't affected but he burned on the inside.

"Come and stay at my place. I don't know when it'll be but she'll need a friend and you're the only one I can call."

"What about Caitlyn? They're closer."

"They might be closer but I'd rather not let them meet just yet. Listen, Kaia is getting more unstable, something's bothering her even when she's awake. I don't know what it is but I can see it in her eyes. She's going to break soon and she'll need you. But then it's up to you. You be there only if she asks and when will that be?"

He walked to him and tucked something in his shirt pocket. "Call me if you change your mind."

And he walked off.

♣

"Max, are you ok? You haven't touched your food." His adopted mother asked as Aliya looked at him from across the table, concern in her face.

"I'm sure he's just tired from all the practice, right Max?" She tried to cover-up for him.

"Huh? Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine ma'am, thank you." He went back to his absent-minded state, playing with his food.

Aliya's aunt and uncle exchanged concerned looks with each other but didn't say anything else.

♣

"What was that, Maximus?" Aliya scolded him. "Did you see how concerned they were? You've been acting weird ever since the day at the hospital. I understand that you're concerned about Kaia and so am I but while worrying about other people, you shouldn't make others worry about you."

"Yeah, your right." He mumbled. He's not been fair to his adoptive parents or anyone at the moment.

"What's going on, Max? What's actually going on? This isn't just about Kaia or her father dying is it?" Aliya sat down beside him on the bed as she said this. "Is it about the other thing you can't tell?"

"Something like that. I don't understand Kaia at all. It's like I don't know her anymore." He flopped back onto the bed, hands on his hair.

"Really? It seems like Kaia's the same to me. A little more careful maybe but she's still the same." Aliya patted his chest, hard, continuously. "Don't worry. She's just going through a lot, she'll be fine. Goodnight."

"Ouch. Aliya." He tried to grab her but she was out the door in seconds, laughing.

He flopped back onto the bed, Dorran's words still echoing in his head.

I want to help her but I don't know if she'll want my help. If she'll want to even see me.

He pulled at his hair.

Why did this have to be so hard? Why couldn't it be simple? Why can't she have a normal life? Hasn't she suffered enough?

As he laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling, he remembered the first time he met her. Caitlyn kept talking and praising her so he formed a very unrealistic image of her. And he instantly didn't like her. The image he had of her reminded him too much of his real parents.

Then Caitlyn introduced her and he was pleasantly surprised. She was nothing like he envisioned. She didn't have the most beautiful face in the world, or smile or even hair like he expected.

He realised that Caitlyn had never described her outward appearance, only inward, and based on that, he formed this image of her that wasn't who she was.

That's how he got interested in her and the more he spent time with her, the more he could see what Caitlyn was so intrigued about. She struggled through life as she is, not paying much attention to whoever made mean comments about her.

He believed that she was so strong and unaffected.

He admired her for who she showed herself to be and she gave him that hope he didn't have.

Then incident in the hospital happened and, when she finally told him everything that's when he realised that he made a big mistake.

He never really got to know who she was. What she's actually feeling, what are the things that bother her. Nothing. He never bothered to ask her.

I need to correct the mistake I made.

♣

"I'm going to be staying in a friend's place for a while. I hope you don't mind." He spoke to his adoptive parents the very next day, right after getting off a call with Dorran.

"Do we know this friend?" Aliya's aunt asked concern in her voice.

"No. I haven't introduced him to you yet. But he's an ok person."

They glanced at each other and nodded. "Ok, we trust you. You've never disappointed us and we know you never will. Just be safe, ok?"

"I will, ma'am. Thank you, sir." He got up from the couch and walked to his room to pack up.

"Where are you going, Max?" Aliya peeked into his room. "How long will you be gone?"

"Just with a friend. I won't be gone long, take care of yourself ok? Remember to-"

Aliya hugged him from the back and mumbled, "No matter where you go or what other people say, you are and always have been my brother. Even if you don't feel like you belong here."

"Hey." He turned around and sat on his bed, facing her. "You'll always be my little sister. This has nothing to do with that ok? I'll be back soon."

"Promise?" She held out her pinkie finger.

He laughed and intertwined their pinkies. "Promise. Take care of mum and dad for me ok? Someone else might need me."

"What if they don't?" She pouted. "We need you here."

"They've always been there for me, now it's my turn. I'll help them even if they don't want my help. Mum and dad have you while they have no one. Is that ok with you, Aliya?"

"I guess. Just come back fast ok? I'll have no one to fight with."

"Ok. I'll try." He picked up his bag and walked out with Aliya, meeting them at the door.

"I'm leaving now, ma'am and sir." He bent down to Aliya. "I'll be back soon ok?"

"Ok."

With a nod to his adoptive parents, he made his way out without a glance back.

♣

"Max!" Dorran welcomed him with a bathrobe on and his hair bundled in a towel. "So glad you could make it. It's a spa day. Come, take a bath. Oh, father!"

A man that looks eerily like Dorran appeared in the living room, with a face mask on and another bathrobe.

"This is my friend, Max." He pushed a stunned Max to his father.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Max. Do join us for the spa day. Dorran rejected the full treatment just for a bath instead. He says he's busy." He raised his fingers to the word 'busy', in a mocking tone.

"He would love to father. He must be tired, coming all the way here."

"No, I wouldn't." Max whisper shouted at him. "We live only thirty minutes away by car, why would I be tired."

"I need you to distract him. I have to make my way to Kaia. She sent a very distressing signal. I also need to take some of his bodyguards."

"What do you say, Max? Would you give me the honour of your presence?" He held his hand out at Max.

Max looked from Dorran to his father then to his father again and forced a smile. "Sure."

"Marvellous. Sae! Please prepare another mask for my son's friend. He'll be joining me for the spa in place of my son." He called out.

"Right away sir!"

The maids appeared out of nowhere and pulled Max to the other room. Dorran just watched him be lead away like a lamb to sacrifice.

"Have fun!" The moment they were out of sight, his smile disappeared and he ran outside to the car as fast as he could.

"Alex! We need to get to an address. Now. Call the men at the vicinity to get there as fast as they can." He looked at the message he got from Kaia and sighed heavily.

"Yes, young master."

"Quick." He bit on his nails as he felt panic rising.

Please don't let me be late. Please.