What if?

Chapter 48: Stairs

Nick

“We are here.” The driver said. “Thanks!” We all said and got out of the car. The driver didn’t get out of the car because he still needed to park the car in our parking lot. After that, we went inside the house. As I opened the door I was so excited to go to my bedroom. To rest a little. “Janice, I will be upstairs.” I said as soon as I went inside the house. “Okay!” Janice shouted that was still outside the house. “Me too, Janice.” Michael also said. I don’t know if I can now rest knowing that Michael will also be there upstairs. I wanted to cancel what I said but I don’t want to have a clamor about it so I just stayed with my plan. Who knows? Maybe Michael will study or play. I can just ask him to wear earphones when he plays. Besides, I still have to go and take a shower before laying on the bed. 

“Hmm… you two must have been really tired today huh?” Janice said as she went inside the classroom. “I learned to play the guitar and I waited for Michael for quite some time and it made me really really tired.” I said trying to make Michael remember what he did to me. “Oh… that is why you were late. And learning guitar? Wow! You must have been really happy about it.” Janice said to me as she caressed my hair. “I was but something happened and I heard his reason and went back being happy.” I said to Janice. 

Michael might really know that I am actually talking about him but he is neglecting it and not saying anything. I looked in his direction. He was spacing out. I don’t know what he is thinking but it must really be something serious of what? I am quite a childish one because I kept on going back to what happened at school and pointing out that I waited. Actually I am doing this to make fun of Michael but he isn’t saying anything. “Haha… Michael must have done something, that is why.” Janice said as she also turned to look at Michael. “Michael, are you okay?” Janice asked Michael as she noticed Michael spacing out. “Yeah, what?” Michael said and turned to look at our direction. Michael is near the stairs and we are just 5 meters away from him. 

“I asked if you are okay because you have spacing out there.” Janice said as she pointed out what she noticed about Michael’s behaviour. “Oh, I am sorry. I was thinking about something.” Michael answered Janice’s question. “I see. Don’t think too much. Remember you are still kids. You two should be thinking about playing and having fun.” Janice said to Michael. “I understand. Thank you for reminding me.” Michael said to Janice. “As always. If you want to talk about something, you can always talk to me when your parents are not around.” Janice said to the both of us while presenting her beautiful smile. “We know and we thank you about that.” Michael said to Janice as he came closer to her and hugged her. 

Michael is correct, Janice has been really good to the both of us. She is one call away and she really is also a good person. I am quite happy that I got to meet a person like her. So positive, cheerful and kind. Mom and dad are not always around but I never felt like what I felt back in the past because Janice is around us. She has been really good to me ever since I came to this family, she also never treated me as someone who is an alien. I will forever be grateful for her kindness but…  can’t do what Michael did to her. That is too cheesy.

“I will be going upstairs already Janice.” Michael excused himself to Janice. “Okay. How about you, Nick?” Janice said to me. I was still looking at them. “Me? Ah… I will go upstairs too.” I said and went upstairs first. I don’t know but I felt a little embarrassed. She saw me looking at them so maybe she was thinking that I also wanted to hug her like Michael did. “Ugh!” I exclaimed as I hurried upstairs. 

“Ouch!” I said as I tripped on the last step of the stairs. “Are you okay?” Michael said as he offered help to me. “Do I look okay?” I wanted to say this to him. Who would be okay after tripping? What a silly question to be asked. I did not reply to his silly question and grabbed the hand that he offered. “Thanks!” I said as I already stood up. I looked at my knee. And it was bleeding. “Your knee is bleeding.” Michael said. “What is wrong with him? Why does he keep on saying the obvious?” I said to myself while staring at him. “I will call Janice, wait here.” Michael said which made me stop him. “Don’t! You don’t have to. Besides, I can just take care of this.” I said to Nick and went inside our room. 

As I took my first step, I almost lost my balance because my right leg was cramped. “See? Let me help you. I will not tell Janice, but I will clean that wound for you.” Michael said as he got my arm and wrapped it around his neck. “s**t! This is awkward.” I said to myself as Michael helped me to go inside the bedroom. 

“You can leave me in this seat. I think that this will go away in a few minutes.” I said to Michael. This is not the first time I tripped so I know that this is just the after effect of what happened to me. “Okay. I will get the first aid kit.” He said and walked towards the closet. He opened the drawer under the clothes and took away the first aid kit. As soon as he got it, he went back to where I was. 

“Okay. Let us clean it.” He said as soon as he came to me. “No! Not yet. I have to take a shower first then we can do that. I am still waiting that I can already stand up a little.” I said to Michael. “No need to wait, I will bring you to the bathroom and you clean yourself already so we can clean your wound.” Michael said with a caring voice. 

I can feel that he is really worried about me. Even though it is not really that serious. “Okay.” I said and wrapped my arm around his neck. He then helped me stand up on my seat and we walked towards the bathroom. 

“Okay you can let go now.” I said after I took my hand off his neck. His other hand is still on my waist so that is why I told him. “Sorry.” He said and totally let go of me. “I will wait here.” Michael added before I closed the bathroom door. “What a wonderful day I had.” I said to myself as I took my clothes off. After taking all my clothes away, I then turned on the shower and made myself we. As soon as I got wet, I cleaned myself with the bath soap. “Ouch!” I exclaimed as I accidentally cleaned my wound with the soap. It hurts, I really don’t like the feeling of how painful a bath soap is to my wound. I totally  forgot that I should not do it. 

After a few minutes, I finished cleaning myself and showering. I knocked on my door to let Michael know. I have my towel wrapped on my body to dry myself. “Are you finished?” Michael asked loudly. Why is he shouting? He actually doesn’t have to shout because he is just near the door so I can hear him clearly. “I am finished. I will now open the door so go away from the door.” I said to Michael. “Okay.” He said. After he said that, I opened the door and took my first step outside. 

Michael then helped me walk as soon as my full body was outside the bathroom. “Okay.” Michael said as he placed me on the bed. I sat on the bed and Michael got the first aid kit. 

He started to apply without saying anything. “Hey, be gentle. It might hurt.” I said to Michael. I was afraid that he might clean my wound without thinking about if I might get hurt or what. “Of course.” Michael said to me without looking at my face. He was focusing on my wound. The wound is still bleeding a little so Michael put a betadine on it so it will stop. He then covered it with cotton and a band aid. “Did it hurt?” Michael asked me while looking up. He is currently positioned under me because he is kneeling on the floor to clean my wound while I am sitting on the bed. 

“Next time, take care of yourself.” Michael said as he stood up and took the first aid back to its place. “Sorry.” I said to Michael. I felt guilty that I troubled him. “Why were you embarrassed by the way?” Michael asked as he turned to my direction. “What?!” I burst as I heard his question.