Kenneth's pov
Previously on The Football King ~
What the!!!!!
The girl I gave my number, the girl I wanted to try to date again to test myself and even try changing my sexuality if it would work because I found her attractive.
"She's your cousin?". I asked dumbfounded.
"Funny how you are only just finding out". He smirked.
~~
"She's been blabbering about you to me for days," he continued calmly. "My cousin is obsessed with you right now. I can see it in her face-the way her eyes light up every time she speaks about you. That flicker." His lips curled. "That's how someone in love looks."
I stiffened.
"But I won't allow her to end up with someone like you," he said flatly. "Someone who carries this much hostility for no reason."
He stepped closer.
"So we're going to make a deal. You want me out of your way? Fine. Then I don't want you anywhere near the things that matter to me."
His gaze hardened.
"Stay away from my cousin. That's the deal."
I exhaled, slow and heavy like the air had been knocked out of me.
"Fuck! I didn't see this coming". I said
Of course he's a deal maker.
Maker of deals. ( internal eye roll )
Turning things into terms and conditions. Pfft.
"Then if you want her, you don't push me away, take it or leave it ". He said.
I didn't even press further.
"Fine. I will stay clear".
He didn't respond. Just stared at me for a long moment...too long like he was waiting if I would change my mind then he finally turned and walked away.
I watched him go, unable to read his expression.
But the silence he left behind weighed heavier than any words he could've said.
******
It was the closing hours and I was about to enter my car when my phone started buzzing in my pants pocket. I flipped it out and checked the caller ID, it was Noelle.
What should I do?
Ignore the call?
Damon's words kept ringing in my ears; stay away from my cousin.
But it's just a fucking phone call. Uggh, this is so frustrating.
I was battling with my thoughts when I felt a hand spun me around only to see her standing there in front of me, her expression was quite helpless and I felt that she had caught me blatantly ignoring the call.
"Why didn't you pick up?". She asked and narrowed her brows a little. "You were contemplating whether you should answer".
Here we go.
"I was just um...you know what. Just get in, we'll talk during the ride". I smiled at her and her expression didn't change a bit, still with the same questionable look.
I opened the car door for her and she got in. I walked over to the driver's side, stepped in and turned on the ignition, the engine roared to life and the tires screeched along the tarred road till we mounted the express lane.
"So where do you live at?". I decided to break the awkward silence.
"Angelcove avenue". She replied. "You haven't answered my question Kenneth". She turned to stare at me.
"Oh about that... I um...was thinking about something else and totally forgot that I had a call. My mind just drifted for a moment like I was fucking distracted". I explained though I think I'm really bad at cooking up lies.
The lie is just so obvious. Fuck I'm screwed!
"And I should believe that?". She asked giving me the look like 'i knew you are definitely lieing'.
"Would I lie to you?". I rolled my eyes.
"I never said that you lied". She retorted.
"Could we drop this topic, let's not bore the moment". I said.
"Okay so we didn't have our night out the time you promised because of your leg sprain so...I think we should fix another time for it". She said and the color immediately drained from my face.
How am I supposed to tell her that I wanted to end this friendship.
Her asshole cousin fucking made a deal with me.
"Noelle I don't think I would be able to spend time with you again". I said staring straight ahead, as I focused on my driving not daring to meet her gaze.
"Why? Did I do something wrong?". She asked, her voice now sounding less cheerful.
"No, you did nothing wrong. I'm just... you know... saying we can't be friends". I said.
"But we were cool. Where is this coming from?". She said looking downcast.
"I just don't want your aquintance. That's it. I don't think I have a proper answer to your questions".
She quickly grabbed my hand almost making me loose hold on the stirring wheel. I turned to stare at her bewildered.
"What are you doing? Are you trying to get us killed?". I snapped.
"I'm trying to get an explanation from you. Tell me why you said all that without a valid reason". She said.
"Because I just don't want to be friends with you. Must there be an explanation for my choice". I almost yelled at her out of frustration.
"Kenneth you can't just say that. I already have deep feelings for you, I like you Kenneth, I'm totally into you ". She said, her eyes already moist.
"That's way overboard. Don't develop feelings for me Noelle, it's a mistake I wish you wouldn't make". I said and she burst into sobs the moment the words left my lips and I froze.
Was she crying?
What the hell am I supposed to do now!
Fuck I so much hate this kind of situation.
"Don't cry Noelle, you will find someone who is worth it please don't waste your tears on me". I said but she didn't reply rather the sobbing increased.
I didn't know how to soothe her next.
We were already at Angelcove avenue but I didn't know the exact house she was supposed to stopped at.
"Where's your house?". I asked.
"Just stop the car". She snapped slowly wiping the tears with the back of her palms.
"But... You haven't told me...".
"Stop the fucking car". She yelled making me freeze at the pitch of her voice.
I slammed on the breaks hard bringing the car to a jerking halt. She fumbled with the door handle, yanked it open and alighted. She turned to give me one last look, the silence stretched long and the the brutal slam of the door was the next deafening sound that shattered the silence.
I sighed as I watched her walk away, when she was far gone, i kicked-start the engine again and zoomed out of the avenue.
So many thoughts running through my mind.
I hate it when people cry because of me. It makes me feel like a bad person.
I feel so fucking shitty right now, I need a break.
********
7:30pm.
Eastwing bar
I walked up to the bar attendant to order a few bottles of whiskey. I got home to get a change of clothes and decided to come to my favorite spot to clear off the ugly memories that's trying to workup my brain.
"Here's your order". I took the four bottles from him and went to sit down in a quiet section of the bar that was noise free but I could watch literally everything that was going on from there. The sound from the jazz was less prominent here, I didn't need any noise just want to have a little peace.
I've already dawn two bottles of the whiskey when suddenly a guy walked up to me. He was on all-black outfit having an intimidating aura and intoxicating presence. His hair was neatly styled to the side and his look were entirely breathtaking.
I rolled my eyes at how his aura matches so much with that of Damon.
Both looked like they had walked out the cover of a five-star magazine but Damon is way more handsome more like an Adonis.
"Hey you are alone. Care for a company?". He asked as he stopped few inches away from where I sat.
"No. I'm fine, I won't appreciate anyone invading my personal space". I said staring at him in the eye.
"Jeez. Calm the fuck down. I just want to get to know you. I saw you when you walked in and I got kinda attracted". He smiled at me.
"Bad news. I'm straight". I said and popped open the third bottle watching him from the corner of my eyes.
"Good news. I'm into straight guys too so you aren't an exception". He said and came to sit beside me.
Audacity!!
"I won't tolerate any form of violation of personal rights from you. I already told you I don't want you here". I said and moved a little farther from him on the seetee.
"Can't you just at least, give me small of your attention and hear me out". He said.
"No. And I'm trying my best to be polite, please leave if you don't want to get embarrassed".
He just stared at me for a while and stood up.
"Fine. It was nice meeting you but this meeting won't be our last. I guess you are not just in a good mood today, I absolutely get it". He said and turned to leave.
I glared daggers at his back.
What an asshole!!
I was still dawning my drink when my gaze met a familiar side view of a person. I looked closely and what!
It was Josh.
Making out with some guy whose face I couldn't quite see clearly.
The make-out session was so fucking intense and wild that I felt like I was watching a real life porn. My eyes was bewildered in horror.
My junior Kenneth was starting to twitch in my pants and I cursed out.
"Fuck! Those two fellows should get theirselves a room or something ".I hissed.
And Josh.
So he wasn't straight but bisexual.
That quite makes sense that he has a crush on Damon.
Speaking of Damon. "That guy he's making out with...why does his features looks so much like that of..." The words died on my lips when I caught sight of his eyes. There's no way I can mistake those ocean blue intoxicating eyes anywhere.
Damon.
Our eyes suddenly locked and I felt my whole nerves stopped working for a freaking goddamn second. The color drained out of my face, my fingers tightened around the bottle I was holding.
I looked away first, making efforts to steady my breath. I dawned the remaining contents of the whiskey in my hold, slammed the bottle on the table and clenched my teeth hard.
I stared in their direction again. He was still staring. I quickly averted my eyes.
This is a joke!!
I stood up, adjusted my shirt and walked out to the exit of the bar like I had not just seen something that made my whole world to collapse around me.
Damon making out with Josh.
What the hell is going on?
I need to wake up from this terrifying nightmare.
**********
Spoiler for next chapter
I watched him leave like he had seen something that made him weak to his bones because I saw the change in his expression. The shift in his gesture. The way he moved like his legs were about to become paralyzed.
Did it have an effect on him.
Was he... Jealous.
I smirked in-between the kiss.
He was the reason why I was here in the first place. I'm glad we met here in this manner and this time I was the one watching him walk away hurt just like he always does with me.
I broke the kiss and stared at Josh, the history that found it's way back to my present life.
I wouldn't be this vulnerable to him if I wasn't drunk, but now the only thing I can think of is Kenneth and not the history sitting right in front of me.
"Hey. Let's fuck". I smiled and scooped him off his feet without waiting for an answer.
*******