Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Romance

            Chapter 6
          Eric hurried up the flight of stairs, all the while, keeping an eye out for Chris.           As he was jogging towards the library, he noticed Chris causally strolling out of the library. 
          "Chris!" Eric called out to him as he finally caught up to him. Thank God, he had managed to find Chris before he left.           
          "My eyes aren't failing me, right?! Eric is skipping class?!" Chris had a look of incredulity, he even exaggerated by rubbing his eyes to ensure he wasn’t seeing things.
          "Why haven't you been picking up your phone? I've been trying to get you." Eric asked.
          "Oh!” Chris exclaimed in sudden realisation. He shot Eric an apologetic smile as he explained, “My phone died." 
          Eric looked like he didn't believe him one bit, scrunching his face in disbelief. 
          Noticing Eric's expression, Chris half grinned, he wasn't lying, it wasn't an excuse. "You don't have to look at me that way. You know l would never lie to you." Chris said as he tossed Eric his phone, which Eric caught and immediately tossed it back to Chris, not bothering to check. 
          "I'm not here because of your missed calls." Eric said. Walking as they talked. 
          "What is it then?” Chris asked as he slid his phone back into his pocket. The fact that Eric actually took the time to come looking for him, Chris reckoned it must be something urgent and of great importance. 
          Wasting no time on hesitation, Eric asked, "I wanted to ask you how are you going to convince Bea to participate in the event?"
          "Would you help me if I told you what my plan is?" Chris asked excitingly. His eyes lit up in anticipation. He was utterly grateful to have such a helpful friend like Eric. He knew he could always count on his best friend. 
          Eric had a weary look on his face as he said, "I've decided to keep an eye on you. To make sure you don't go doing stupid things." Eric thought that the smile on his friend's face was stupidly bright. 
          Chris’s smile erupted into a laugh. He flung am arm over his friend’s shoulder. Chris knew that Eric's tongue may be sharp but he knew that Eric cared about him. "You're so dishonest!" Chris exclaimed. The sudden act of intimacy caught Eric by surprise. But then again, Chris has always been this spontaneous.           
          Bummed, Chris told Eric, "Just earlier, I met Sarah and she couldn't help me. I guess I've only got you left." The overly pained expression Chris was wearing on his face made Eric seriously doubt the sincerity of Chris’s words.
          "It’s no surprise she wouldn't want to help you. It's amazing how you guys are even still friends." Eric loosely replied. The moment the words rolled out of his mouth, he immediately regretted what he said. It was a slip of the tongue, he shouldn't have said that.            
          It was too late, Chris had already stopped dead in his tracks. 
          Eric’s statement received a frown in displeasure.          "What do you mean by that?" Chris asked, as he retracted his arm from Eric's shoulder. 
          Chris and Bea had both agreed that everything was just for fun since the very beginning and things ended on good terms. Why won't they be friends?           Has he been oblivious to the truth all this time? If that's the case, then Sarah......          
          Chris's train of thoughts were interrupted by Eric.          "I don’t think it’s possible for you to convince Bea in such a short period of time." Eric mentioned hurriedly as they started walking again. He purposely avoided answering Chris’ question by changing the subject. 
          “Trust me, I can do it. There’s more than enough time.” Chris assured Eric. He didn't understand what Eric was so worried about.
          Eric was glad that Chris didn't linger his thoughts on his slip of tongue and dwelled on Chris’s words. Finally, unsure of what Chris was scheming, he asked, "……Enough time for what?"
          "Enough time for me to get her to fall in love with me!" Chris exclaimed with beaming confidence.
          Eric almost tripped over nothing.          He stammered. "W-what did you say?"           He stared at Chris in disbelief. He didn't hear it wrong right? He couldn't have, Chris was loud and clear.
          "What's wrong? You don't look so good." Chris asked, concerned that he friend's complexion was growing paler.           
          Eric has always regarded himself as a sensical being and being as intelligent as he is, he still couldn't figure out what Chris was thinking. He has known Chris as someone who likes to crack a joke or two but even his jokes made sense. If this was joke, it made no sense, whatsoever! 
           Chris is a simple guy and to Eric, a very transparent person, someone he had no problem seeing through, but right now, Eric could not figure out what was going through his friend's mind.
          "I’m fine.” Eric brushed Chris’s concern off. “……What has getting her to fall in love with you got to do with anything?" Eric asked, he doubted he managed to hide his irritation in his tone well. It was hard to digest what he had just heard from Chris but Eric had hoped it was just another one of Chris’ jokes.
          "I'm going to earn her trust by becoming someone she relies on. By then it'll be a piece of cake! I'll get her to participate in the event in no time!" Chris proclaimed without a hint of hesitation in his voice.          The amount of confidence in Chris's voice almost had Eric believing that Chris has already succeeded.
          Eric was quick to pull himself back to reality. This was no joke, Chris meant what he had just said.
         "Such a thing is not practical! I absolutely will not allow it!" Eric strongly protested against Chris’s idea.           
          “Do you have a better idea then?" Chris asked. 
          Eric was rendered speechless. Chris was right, nothing seems to be working. Words don't seem to be getting through Bea. But, still…… 
          "What exactly is your goal, Chris?"  Eric felt a pinching pain in his chest.           
          "Isn't that obvious?......To not get suspended ever!" Chris answered as a matter of fact. He looked at Eric like Eric was some idiot. Besides, he needed to fulfil his end of the promise he made with John. 
          "In other words, you'll make her fall in love with you, then throw her away once you've accomplished your objective?" With clenched fist, and in between gritted teeth, Eric asked.           With every second, Eric felt increasingly irritated and agitated. 
          Chris nudged his friend, "Are you worried about her feelings?" He found Eric's reaction amusing. 
          Eric was silent, he had stopped walking then, feet rooted on the ground. Chris started walking as he assured his friend, "You don't have to worry about it. I know when to stop. I won't let her fall for me too deep."           Chris continued, "Besides, I’m not that cruel a person. I promise I won't hurt…..." but before Chris could finish his sentence, he vividly remembers being pulled by one shoulder from behind, forcing him to turn around. 
          Everything happened so quickly, before Chris could react, Eric's fist was all he could see. The blow was sloppy and amateurish, it had almost missed Chris's face but nevertheless, it landed directly on his left cheek. 
          Chris stumbled backwards and hit his back on the wall. He lost his balance and fell on to the ground on his butt.           With one hand on his cheek, Chris stared up at Eric in utter shock. He was surprised to see that Eric looked even more in shock than he did. 
          Eric was staring at his right hand in disbelief. His hand was shaking. This was the first time he has ever laid hands on someone else. His mind completely blanked out when he punched Chris.           He could not believe that he acted on impulse and punched his friend. All the anger he had towards John earlier had built up and he just lost it. 
          "What has gotten......!" Chris shouted, eyes wide in shock. 
          "I won't allow you to toy with her heart!" Eric cut him off again. Yelling at the very confused Chris, who was still on the floor. He couldn’t allow Chris to carry out his plan. To hurt her. 
          This was the first time Chris saw Eric this mad. In fact, this was the first time Eric has ever laid a hand on him.           Chris was trying to wrap his head around the situation. He just got punched. He’s in shock, Eric was initially in shock but now he’s just yelling at him.
          Why the hell is Eric mad?! Chris couldn’t understand! And that made him mad. Mad at Eric's sudden outburst, mad at Eric yelling at him for no apparent reason. 
          Chris was such in disbelief he couldn’t hear a single word that came out of Eric after the punch. 
          Soon, Eric collected himself and calmed down. A few seconds passed in utter and complete silence before Eric bended down and held out a hand for Chris.          "I'm sorry about this. I don't know what got into me."
          Staring down and refusing to look at Eric, Chris reached out his hand but instead of accepting Eric’s hand, he clenched his outreached fist and sent Eric a hard blow to his stomach.          The blow Landed right on Eric's appendix. Unlike Eric’s amateurish punch earlier, the blow Chris delivered was firm and strong. 
          The pain was enough to send Eric to his knees. Eric fell forwards, hugging his stomach in agony.	
         Feeling like the tables has finally turned, Chris stood up, not tearing his eyes off Eric, he said, "That's for the punch. I don't know what's your problem, but I ask of you to cool your head for the time being."
          Staring down at Eric as he straightened up, Chris rubbed his slightly strained hand from the punch he delivered just a moment ago. He then left Eric siting against the wall on the ground, staring down as he walked off, feeling further apart from his best friend than he has ever been.         
           Just a little while ago, Chris though that they were the best of friends, would one normally punch a friend? Chris didn’t recognize this violent and aggressive side of Eric, or rather, he never knew Eric had it in him. Looks like he had misjudged him.
          Then again......Chris never really knew Eric. 

All Rights Reserved © 2018 by Anne Teng

End of chp 6~Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! How is your day so far? I hope you're having a great one!
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