What if?

Chapter 71: Space between us

Michael

[Flashback]

“Hey, why are you speeding up?” I asked Nick to make him feel lighter. I am not just doing this to make fun of him but also because I want him to feel even better after what happened today in the foundation.

Not all the time I think for fun even though I really am thinking that way at this moment. But at least it has something to do with Nick because it will make him better. 

“My throat is dry. I have to get some water and drink that is why.” Nick said and then he opened the door that was next to him. 

“Really? Ah! That is why.” I tried to reply to him. So that he will not leave the room. I want to stay longer with him here and have fun. 

“Shut up.” Nick said in a serious voice. After he replied, he immediately closed the door. 

“Hey!” I shouted as soon as he closed the door. He did not even care to open the door back. 

“Hmm… At least he is now feeling better than it was before. I hope I made him feel lighter and better. I don’t know what else to do so I stick with what I always do with him every day. 

He might be annoyed with me now but now he might have forgotten the thing that happened so it is okay for me.

This is what I want. His attention on me and not on that guy.

“I have to go down and have more fun time together with him.” I said as I excitedly went out of the bedroom. 

I walked, then reached the door and opened. I then continued to walk excitedly downstairs. I went straight to the kitchen because that is what he said he was going. 

“Hi! Where is Nick?” I asked Maria, Leonora and Theresa that are in the kitchen. As soon as I went straight to the kitchen my eyes searched for Nick’s presence but it turned out that he is not around that is why I asked them.

“Oh! Nick, by the way, can you help me with this?” Maria asked for my help all of a sudden. She did not even try to answer my question first yet he is now asking for my help. 

“Well, maybe she needs help at the moment.” I said to myself and decided to help her first then ask her about my question a while ago.

“What am I going to do?” I asked with a smiling face. “This one, can you help me put these plates on the cabinet?” Maria said to me. “Yeah, cool. Am I going to give you the plates and you will put them on the cabinet right?” I asked so I will know what I am going to do.

“Yes. Thank you in advance Michael. You are such a kind boy.” Maria said. “You are welcome and thank you?” I said as I was hesitant to answer her because she complimented me and said thanks. 

“Hahaha… okay come on let us start.” Maria said after laughing. I like the laughter of people that are laughing because of something good. Not like an evil laugh but a good laugh like what Maria just did and in that foundation.

To be honest, I want to go back to the foundation again and if possible I want my birthday party to be held this year. That is only if I will be given a chance. I am not sure if Nick and Jake will still talk with each other. Well, I don’t think I can talk with Michael on that part because we are not close. 

Nick and Jake are not that either. As Jake said a while ago in the foundation, at least they talk with each other every day because he mentors Nick in guitar playing. 

“Now can you pass the one with flowers?” Maria said which made me wake up from my imagination. I was talking with myself while I was continuously passing the plates with her.

“Oh. Yeah of course.” I replied and looked for the plates with flowers and passed it to her.

A few minutes passed and we finally finished putting all the plates inside the cabinet.

“Yayy!!!” Maria and I shouted because of joy. “Now, what was your question a while ago again?” Maria asked. So she heard me asking a question. “Why do I feel like something is off? Ugh! Leave it be, focus on looking for Nick now.” I said to myself as I tried to make myself focus. 

“Nick? He is with Janice in the living room.” Maria answered me. Finally I heard the answer. Even if she did not tell me I would have gone to the living room because that is the place where Nick usually stays. He also likes going to the garden but it is already dark and Janice will be mad if she knows that Nick is still there so Nick is not going to be there. The only option is the living room. “Oh! I forgot, also the toilet next to the kitchen too.” I said as I almost forgot where Nick usually goes.

Nick has a very sensitive stomach. There are many times that he will mix up some foods that make his stomach unwell. 

“I see. Thank you, I will go there.” I said and immediately walked to the living room. When I went there I saw Janice and Nick together.

“Thanks Janice.” I heard Michael say to Janice and stood up. 

Janice looked at me. “Don’t tell him. Okay?” I mouthed without sound and made an okay gesture. I guess she understood because she nodded as an answer. 

“So this conversation is done. I have to go to the kitchen so I can help Maria, Leonora and Theresa.” Janice said and messed up Nick's hair.

“Ohhh… I don’t want people doing that to me. Not even mom and dad are exempt but I guess Nick is liking it because he did not say anything nor it is seen in his face that he doesn’t like it. Knowing Nick? He is very expressive.” I said to myself.

“Nice.” I said and tipped toe at the back of Nick. I really tried my best not to make a sound because one mistake will ruin my plan.

“Okay.” Nick replied to Janice then she walked out of the living room.  

As soon as Janice walked out of the living room. I did what I wanted to do before it was too late.

“Boo!” Michael startled me. “What the hell are you up to now?!” Nick asked while shouting at me. 

This is very predictable. He always asks me this whenever I do something with him. He might shout at me or say it in a serious tone but it does not affect me anymore. This is what you call immunized. I have been receiving a lot of what that coming from him.

“Shhh! Your voice is too loud.” I said and jumped on the sofa from his back. 

“How long have you been in here?” Nick asked me straightly. Did they talk about something important with each other? Or maybe he told Janice that he was sorry.” I said to myself as I thought of all the possible reasons why he is asking me these questions. 

“Why? You are shy?” I answered Nick by asking him another question. 

“Yes. So tell me, when did you get in here?” Nick tried to ask me again. 

“So I was right. I know him really well.” I said to myself before replying to him.

“It is a secret.” I replied. I have to play well with him more before I tell him.

“Okay.” Nick said as he walked out of the living room. “Wait, where are you going?” I asked him a question. “It is a secret.” Nick replied and copied what I answered a while ago to him.

“s**t!” I cussed on my mind. I am left with no choice but to tell him now. If only I could play more with him.

“Fine, I will tell you.” I said to Nick as soon as he walked a few steps away from me. “So what was it?” Nick asked. 

“Why is he in a hurry?” I asked myself before answering his question.

“I came inside the living room when you said ‘thanks’ to Janice. She saw me coming in the living room and I gave her a signal not to tell you I am in the living room already then she messed up your hair. Good now?” I explained everything to him.

After I explained everything to him. I saw him release a deep sigh. 

“What was it?” I asked myself again. I kept feeling that something is off today or maybe it is just me. 

“Good. They are preparing the dinner. I will watch a movie here first.” Nick said to me. 

“I see. That is great so what are you going to watch?” I asked Michael. 

“It’s a secret.” Nick said to tease me. “Whaa! Are you still up to that?” I asked him because I thought we are finished with that already. 

“So this is how you want to play now, okay.” I said to myself. “Well, basically yes!” Nick said and turned on the TV.

He really wants to play huh?

“What? Hey. I will still be here though and watch with you.” I said and stuck my body on his. 

“What the hell are you doing? There is a freaking huge space on this sofa.” Nick said to me while pushing me away from him. 

I am not going to move now. I will eventually but as of the moment I have to have more fun.  

“I told you. I will watch too, right?” I replied to his question. 

“I do not need you to be like this. You can still watch with me without doing this to me.” Nick said and continued to push me away. 

“No, I want to be like this.” I insisted to him to make him feel more annoyed. He should learn from his actions. This is his consequence of starting things with me.

“How are you going to watch comfortably being like this? What you are doing is so uncomfortable with me.” Nick said.

He might be cussing in his mind to me now but I don’t care.  

“Still not going to move.” I said and Nick stood up all of a sudden. I even almost lost my balance because of his sudden movements. 

“Then you watch on your own.” Nick said to me. 

I smiled as I could not take away my enjoyment. “I have to stop now.” I said to myself.

“Stop. I am just kidding. I will sit here.” I said to Nick.

“Ugh!” Nick exclaimed and sat again on the sofa. 

Then I moved to the edge of the sofa. This is more space between us. He was right, I cannot watch comfortably like that. I like spaces like this more. That was only for fun.