Chapter Twenty-three— Hurt again?!

"Oh! It's nothing. He met me at the farewell, we talked and he asked for my forgiveness. That's pretty much all about it." I explained.

"Yeah? Then why was he calling you yesterday?" He retorts, "and not to forget the gazillion texts he sent." He crossed his arms watching me steadily.

Oh! I didn't check my phone in the morning.

"He called yesterday after you were gone." I confess.

"WHAT?" He yells

"Yeah! He was talking rubbish Alex, I didn't want to bother you." I reply, my voice taking a pleading tone.

"You should not keep something like this from me," he rakes his hand through his hair. "You know I hate that guy with every bone in my body." He groans.

"You sounded stressed about the meeting and you came home late. Honestly, it didn't even matter–"

"IT DOES!" He shouts. "It matters to me–he has no right over you. And why did he ask for your forgiveness? It's been so many months, where was he? He is just a selfish prick!" He rants, agitatedly pacing back and forth.

I move towards him, "Look, you don't have to be jealous." I say taking hold of his arm.

"Jealous?!" He asks bewildered, "That is not what this is about Kara!" He yanks his arm away from my grip.

"Then please don't get upset." I plead

"I am not jealous. . . I just can't stand him being in your life." He fumes.

"HE IS NOT! You have to trust me." I say, my voice cracking with emotion as I stare at him.

"I don't trust him," he looks away from my stare, "he has been constantly bothering you, begging you to take him back. I mean how is that even okay?" He asks. I see the anger radiating from his face as his brows contort together and forms a unibrow.

"I will just ignore him, you know why? Because he does not matter to me." I say stressing the words

"You should not even be in touch," he accuses. "That guy has hurt you so much, he is not trustworthy." He adds taking a seat on the couch.

Oh jeez! I had no idea he would get this mad.

"Hey, hey! Don't you think I know that? Why are we arguing because of him?" I remark taking a seat beside him as I place a hand on his thigh.

"Because I don't want him in your life. I will not see you suffer because of him." He barks, and I see hurt in his eyes.

"You won't! His existence does not matter to me anymore. I have not seen my phone, and when I do, I will not call or text him back– you should know this." I reply calmly.

"I know, I know." He states.

"Look, I won't stay in touch with him AT ALL, just don't be upset with me." I whispered.

He takes a deep breath and releases it, "Fine! I don't want to see you get hurt again." He says.

"I am with you right here!" I exclaim. "I know you will never hurt me, I don't even want to talk about Blake."

"Hmm okay." He agrees, but his tone says otherwise.

"I hate seeing you disturbed like this." I protest.

"I don't know what I am mad at more?" He gently shakes his head, "You for not telling me about it," he sneers as he turns my way, "or at him for saying all those things to you." He barks out, hitting his formed fists on the hand of the couch.

"I am sorry, that was harsh." He apologizes, closing his eyes.

" It's fine. . . You were upset." I answer.

"It's not fine." He groans.

"Let it go." I say, "I don't like the fact that he is causing a tension between us." I bite my lips nervously.

"I need some air Kara. . . I got to go." He states, rubbing a hand over his face as he opens his eyes

"Please don't!" I quake.

With that he just got up and left the house leaving me alone.

—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—

Later that evening, Sara and Max came over to see our new apartment and we planned to watch a movie together.

"Your new place is awesome, girl!" Sara exclaims looking around as though she was invited to a fancy looking five star hotel. "I love it." She adds.

"I appreciate Alex's taste." Max chimes in.

"Thanks!" I say with a chuckle.

"By the way, where is he?" Sara asks after her brother, looking in my direction.

I should have been expecting this question from them, I groan inwardly. But I didn't think it would be this soon. So is that why am I trembling? Of course she would ask that, I mean after all he is her brother.

What should I say?

"He went outside to. . . Umm", I state nervously as I trail off looking for an excuse to say, "I am sure be will be back soon." I reply.

I don't do very well under pressure.

"Uh huh! Don't you know?" Sara asks with a questioning brow raised.

"Come on, let sit." I say dismissing the subject, ushering them towards the living room couch.

After a while, I was listening to Sara and Max's vacation plan for next month. Although I was hearing them talk, my mind was on Alex and the argument we both had earlier.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

ALEX'S POV

I came out of the gym after blowing off some steam. When I was about to leave, I instantly caught sight of Blake. I could not resist confronting him, so I stepped out of my car and went towards him.

"Hey!" I call

"Hi. . .," Blake slurs then hiccups. "I have seen you somewhere." He adds staggering a bit.

He is drunk!

"Think again Blake." I say menacingly.

"Alex!" He said with venom in his voice.

"Don't you dare bother Kara from now on." I ordered, warning him.

"Really? What are you going to do about it?" He sneers.

"I won't tolerate it, you hear me?" I bark.

What does he think of himself, Blake wondered.

"She was my girlfriend first, you came after me. She loves me!" He grunts, blinking twice a few times.

"I would watch my next words if I were you." I caution, my hands forming fists.

He laughs, "dude, I still love her and I don't care who you think you are. I LOVE HER MORE THAN YOU EVER COULD!" He boasts with a smug grin.

"Oh yeah? Is that why you cheated on her?" I demand.

"Things happen, it was a mistake, GET OVER IT!" He rolls his drunken eyes before continuing, "anyway, I was her first! NOT. YOU." A smirk appears on his ugly face.

How dare he?

I punch him on the face.

Blake winced in pain.

"YOU BETTER STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM HER OR I WILL END YOU. . . YOU HEAR THAT?" I bellowed.

But before Alex could go, Blake called him and this time he sounded sober.

I shouldn't have said that to him, the thought ran through Blakes mind.

"Alex!" He called.

Alex did not bother turning around but Blake came to stop him.

"Hey man, listen!" He placed a hand on his chest to stop him.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

"I am sorry. I was– I was not in ny senses." He states.

"I can see." I fold my arms waiting for his next words.

Looks like the punch helped enlighten him. I don't mind enlightening him often.

"Losing her has changed me," he starts, "and not for the best, I might add." He releases a deep breath, "it's killing me! I can't help but blame myself for sabotaging everything." He adds.

"You should!" I hiss.

What? I am not going to tell him he isn't at fault here.

"I know, and that is why I am in so much distress. I am drinking my sorrows!" He announced. "And for the record, I called her when I was drunk– I don't even remember half of what I said, and I am embarrassed now." He acknowledged, rubbing his neck with his left hand.

"She is a good person and I lost her, even as a friend. She told me she is with you and not to ever call her again, but I just didn't listen. . . Man, I promise I will go far away from her life, I have realized my mistake."

"But you be good to her," he puts a hand on my shoulder, "don't hurt her like I did. She deserves better." He says bitterly, "I hope she can find it in herself to forgive me someday." He said finally.

Alex just stood silent as if he was figuring out whether to trust him or not.

Blake took a step back and got inside his car and left like he was never there.

"I don't know how much trust his statement held but he was right about one thing, I should never hurt a girl like Kara," I berate myself. "And I was such a jerk this morning. I should not have argued with her!" A hand finds its way into my hair, "and then what did I do? I got up and left, leaving her alone at home."

DAMN IT!

I hate myself.

I should go get my girl and apologize!