CH: 39 MET HIM (part 2)

We made our way out of the hospital when he spoke, "what is your name, by the way? I never got a chance to ask that."

"I am Jacob," I replied, without making eye contact with him. But I was still able to see how his mouth formed in an "O" from my peripheral vision. I had to admit he was a very kind, and helpful person.

"I am Eddie, you can call me Ed." He said taking his hands out from his pocket and gestured it towards me, as he wanted to shake hands, but I didn't want that so I walked quietly ignoring the fact he was still standing there.

"Oh! You are kind of a savage guy sometimes, you know." He said not getting a handshake from me as he made his way near me.

"So where you live, I will drop you." He popped another question, he was a talkative person too and the more I talked to him or stayed in his company the more I was getting comfortable but still I was afraid that after knowing the truth of my family and he financial condition, he will leave me as if we never met.

"There is no need for that; I'll go there by myself," I replied making my pace faster so that he won't ask me any other question.

"Hey! I swear I won't do anything to you, I just want to drop you home safely." He shouted a bit so that his voice could reach me because I was a bit further from him,

"But why you want to do that?" I questioned as I stopped walking and turned to look at him who was still walking to stand near me, "listen there are many reasons for that like, FIRST you are injured and you can't go to your house alone, and even if you want I won't let you do so. SECOND, my mom told me to drop you home and take care of you, THIRD, you said to me that you don't have money so how will you go there as you are injured too, FOURTH you are my friend and I want to help you, FIFTH..."

"OK! OK! I don't want any other reasons but still, I don't want you to drop me." I replied interrupting him from making his big list of reasons.

"How old are you I mean tell me when you were born?" he spoke out of nowhere.

"Um... 28 February 1999" I replied hesitantly, waiting for his response.

"I was born on 12 January 1999. So I am older than you so you have to follow whatever I say." He said as proudly as he can. And I couldn't help but laugh at his logic.

"Hey don't laugh I am not joking here." He said acting annoyed and smiling at the same time.

"Ok! I won't but what was with your logic," I said taking a break between my laughter.

"That's called ED'S LOGIC and you have to follow it." He replied still looking at me proudly, and this time I couldn't help but nod at his statement and allowed him to drop, me home as I was enjoying his company a bit.

"So now tell me where you live." He asked.

"You can leave me at the 3rd sector bus stop. I would go home from there." I replied still keeping my home's address a secret.

"Ok! I'll agree with that." He replied without interrogating or arguing any further.

It didn't take much time to reach there and we were already there, after bidding our byes and me saying thanks, I made my way to my home after assuring that he was gone.

When I reached home I knew dad wouldn't be there so I completed my school work and cooked something for me but, the thought of my father coming back and seeing all the bandages were sending shivers to my whole body, because I was sure that he would beat me again thinking that I spent money, so after finishing my work, I removed my bandages and threw them somewhere he couldn't find them.

~~

The next day, I made my way to my school, I was walking slowly as my leg was no better from yesterday and maybe it was getting worse because I got an infection on my injury, but I still dragged my feet in the direction of the school as I didn't want to miss any class.

I was walking slowly when suddenly a bicycle stopped near me, I slowly turned my head to check who the person was, and it turned out to be Eddie, "he was wearing a smile same as the day before,

"Hey! What are you doing here didn't my mom told you to take a rest at home, you know your injuries are quite serious." He spoke or can say scold me, for my ignorance towards my injuries.

"I don't want to miss any class so I decided to come to school," I replied fiddling with my fingers and looking towards the ground.

"Ok! Hop on I'll drop you to the school I am also going to school and from your uniform, I can tell that you go to the school which is beside mine, and please don't deny it, I want to drop you there." He said with his signature smile on his face.

It was the first day we started our friendship officially and since then he came to pick me up regularly even though I asked him not to do so, he slowly became a part of my life an important one, and I started opening to him, he became my secret holder and a person who helped me to survive in that condition, his family didn't know anything about my dad but still whenever I visited them they treated me as their son and never let me feel that I was not a part of their family.

FLASHBACK END

I still think sometimes what would've happened if we m

ever met back then, what if he was one of those persons who didn't care if I was injured and would've passed by me like others. What would've happened if I've never met him, would I be able to survive? I smile at the thought of him being in my life,

"Hey move fast you lazy ass, I am so hungry." He shouted while I was still in my thoughts and brought me back to reality.

"I'm coming you are so fast how can I catch up with you?" I replied as he giggled and stopped at his place waiting for me to match him.

"so what are your plans for the rest of the day," I asked out of curiosity.

"I am not telling you it is a surprise," he replied