Liar.

I find myself looking for him in the crowd of customers, or outside my lecture room, for absolutely no reason but because I just wanted to be sure he's there, he didn't leave and he's always there, we don't have much to say, I guess we are still awkward towards each other, but he's still there, even in front of my dorm, I don't usually approach him but on this day, I did, I was sitting by the window when his car pulled over, I saw him, he pushed his chair back and relax, it felt kind of sad, he's alone and I felt responsible for that at that moment, he is like me except my parents are still alive, they just don't care, I wore one of my oversized hoodie and stepped out, I knocked on his window and he stared at me, his emotions didn't give anything away but he hesitated before opening the door, I stepped back so he could.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, I looked around.

"I should ask that," I replied. He looked around and shrugged, biting his lips.

"Why do you follow me around?" I asked, and he let out a puff of air and relaxed on his car.

"I told you...

"Don't tell me that ghost stuff, I want to know why." I cut him off, and he ran his hand through his hair. He opened his mouth to speak and then closed it.

"Is it wrong that I don't get you?" I asked, and he frowned.

"Following me around?, watching me?, coming to my dorm? What's the purpose?" I asked.

"I... there's no purpose, " he replied, and I shook my head.

" You're not a good liar," I replied.

"You don't know what you're saying," he replied almost pleadingly, which confused me.

"What do you want to say, Zayden?" I asked, and he licked his lips, looked around like an answer would appear out of thin air.

"Do you feel in danger?" He asked, and I stared at him, He's got a point, but why?

"No, which makes no sense," I replied.

"Trust me, ok.... I don't want revenge. You are the only 1 I feel understands me, my grief, and why will I want to hurt you, you lost someone too, " he explained desperately.

"Do you know what will hurt even more?" I asked, and he shook his head in reply.

"If this is all a lie," I said, I had given up trying to understand what he wanted with me.

"I promise this," he gestured between us.

"Is not a lie," he finished, and I nodded.

"I'll believe you then," I replied, he nods too, and I took a step back. He took one towards me, and I frowned.

"What?" I asked, and he shook his head.

"Uhm,ok." I frowned and turned around, I glanced over my shoulder to find him standing still and staring at me.

Nova was in my face as soon as I walked into the dorm, she seem pissed and talk at length as to why I am making a great mistake trusting him, I choose to not listen to her and follow my intuition.

I walked out of my lecture room and immediately sort him out in the crowd but couldn't find him, I felt a bit disappointed and walked towards the cafe, my shift won't start till the next 1 hour but I don't have a place to go, plus I got my allowance from dad again, that's all they do, send me money and not care if I am actually using it, Kairo crossed my mind as I sat down, enjoying the warm coffee, the clouds dark as usual, I looked out the window and let his thoughts fall into my head.

"Aria?" Kairo's voice echoed, and I refused to look up, I just got picked on again, and I couldn't defend myself.

"You're not going to show your face to me?" He asked, and I sniffed.

"I got popsicle " he mumbled but I refused to look up, I heard him groan a bit and I looked up, he sat on the floor, legs folded and holding the popsicle out, he offered it again and I took it.

"I am sorry." he had apologised, and I shook my head.

"Jude told me," he whispered, and I smiled.

"It didn't get that bad, jude showed up," I replied.

"I should have," he whispered with a frown, and I watched him, He's digging his fingernail into the back of his thumb.

"You're here now." I smiled, and he shook his head.

"Did dad get very mad?" He asked, and my heart sinked. He's always beating himself up for what our parents did.

"It wasn't bad," I whispered again.

"Do you want to go somewhere with me?" He asked, and I chuckled.

"Where?" I asked.

"Away from all of this," he stated, and I stared at him.

"Kairo?" I called, he didn't answer, and I reached for his free hand. He looked up at me, and the pain in his eyes squeezed at my heart.

"I want to be more, to do more...

"You're doing enough." I cut him off.

"I can't protect you or make you happy." he was accusing himself, and it hurt me.

"It's not your job," I whispered, smiling.

"I am your brother, it is," he replied before getting up and leaving me alone.

that's the last proper conversation I had with him before the fire, I should have seen it coming, the pain he held, the weight he carried, I quickly wipe the tears that ran down my cheek and looked down at my coffee, trying not to sob out loud or draw attention, I clutched at my chest, see if the tightness will go away, I inhaled deeply and looked up only to meet eyes to eyes with Zayden and it's like he absorbed my pain because his was the same as mine except he didn't try to wipe his own tears.