Healing words

-So you just came to apologize and suddenly saw me changing and looked away immediately. Is that it?-, Emma asked while looking down at Nyco. The poor teenager was on his knees with his head looking down as a way of showing regret in his actions.

-Yes. It was all just a little misunderstanding. I never intended to spy on you-, he claimed. Emma sat down in front of him and lifted his head up so she could see him eye to eye.

-Wha… what are you doing?-, he asked.

-You’ve never been able to fool me. I can tell if you are lying just by looking at your eyes, so stay still-, she demanded. 

Emma was too angry to feel the awkwardness of looking at each other straight in the eyes at such a short distance. But Nyco wasn’t, so his cheeks started getting a light pink color.
“She is too close. I can see her little freckles… Her big green eyes… I have to look away”, he thought.

-Hey, look at me-, she ordered, making him look into her eyes. -Mmmm, you are not lying but you are omitting some information. What is it!?

-Nothing. I just flew here to see you and when you started taking your shirt off I looked away.

-... How long were you looking at me before I started… you know. For how long were you looking?

-... Maybe a few seconds-, he lied. Emma gave him a light smack on his head to demonstrate she knew he was lying.

-Auch. There was no need for that. Don’t do that agai… Auch! Ok ok. I saw you dancing for a bit, that’s it. Maybe for 2 minutes-, he confessed.

She gazed at his eyes and assented because he was telling the truth. A sense of relief spread through her body. At least he didn’t hear her gossiping about him with her friends.

-See. Isn’t it easier when you tell the truth?-, Emma asked.

-... Yeah. I guess you are righ- Auch! Don’t pinch me.

-That’s what you get for not answering my messages.

-Auch!! Stop

-And that for being so dumb as to jump into my father’s office.

-Auch!. Your nails are too sharp…-, Nyco complained.

-And that for flying at such heights. You know how dangerous it is!!

-... I had to talk to you and didn’t want to come across your dad-, the boy explained.

-That’s fair. But honestly, next time, call me or send me a message-, she said standing up and going for a glass of water. -Do you want something to drink?

-Yeah, thanks. I’m a bit thirsty after…

-Did I say you could get up?!-. Nyco automatically assumed the seiza position again.

-But my knees hurt!

-Good-, she smiled

After a few minutes she came back with two hot chocolates.

-Since it is cold outside I thought this would warm you up.

-Thanks-, Nyco said while getting the cup Emma offered. She then asked him to sit on her bed in order to rest his knees for a bit. She felt the hot chocolate warming her throat and asked him if it was good.

-Mmmm, very tasty, yes. Thanks. A bit hot though-, he said. Emma took his cup and put it on top of her nightstand. She then put hers next to his so they could both cool down a bit.

-Ok so what happened to your nose?-, Emma asked looking at his little bandage.

-Oh this?... I just bumped myself into a wall when I was flying here. It is hard to fly with the boots…

-Do we have to repeat the same process as before? You know you can’t lie to me.

-Sheesh, what a pain you are. Ok I made someone mad and he punched me. But you should have seen how the other guy is. He won’t be messing with me for a while.

-I saw my dad’s recordings, Nyco. I know it was him. Why do you cover for that old man?

-And why do you ask if you know the answer? Are you testing me?-, Nyco asked heatedly.

-Yes, and you failed. Let me see-. Emma got close and tore the bandage off only to see a small cut. -That jerk…

-It’s only a small cut, it’s not going to leave a mark or anything, so don’t worry. Thankfully this bandage segregates some kind of ointment that helps with the swelling. And how about you? Why do you have that bandage on your forehead?

-Ah this…? Yeah, it’s a secret-, she said not wanting to admit she had an accident flying.

-It wasn’t that bully Lasson no?

-What? No! He did nothing to me.

-Good. I could not forgive myself if he had… Is it serious?-, he asked, feeling relieved.

-It’s just a little bump. Tomorrow I’ll be fine.

-Good...good.

A small silence filled the air. Nyco didn’t want to but, he felt he should tell Emma why he went there tonight.

-Look. I came here tonight because I wanted to speak to you about something.

-Okaaaay? What is it-, Emma asked lifting an eyebrow in surprise

-The thing is... I can’t… Mmmm. How do I?… After what happened today I don’t think I should… I don’t want to get you into trouble so I think it’s best that we don’t see each other… for a while-, Nyco said. It was taking every bit of strength in his body to say this to her. He looked up at her but could not read her expression. -I always end up making stupid decisions and it ends up impacting you so… Yeah. I won’t be going to school for a while to see if things calm down with Lasson. So after that I won’t be asking any help from you or anything. We shouldn’t talk to each other… It’s for your own good…-.

Nyco could have sworn that something grabbed his heart and squeezed it. Telling this to Emma was one of the hardest things he had done. He had practiced how to say it but in the end it came out worse than he thought. He looked at her to see if she was angry or something for what he had said. All he found was a blank face looking at him.

-Is that all? Is this what you came to tell me?

-Yes… I think I’m a trouble magnet. You’ve seen how unlucky it was to enter your father’s office. I think someone gave me a curse or something. So that’s… what I came here to say.

-Ok. Petition denied. Would you like to play a little 5-S?-, she asked standing up and going for the helmets.

-What? What do you mean petition denied! I told you we shouldn’t see each other.

-I heard what you said. And the answer is no. You are not going to come here, out of the blue and say that to me after what just happened a few minutes ago. You owe me for being a little creep and I’m going to collect that debt in its entirety-, she assured him.

-Hey, come here. I’m being serious-, the boy said, grabbing her hand to prevent her from running away from the conversation.

-Did my father make you say this?

-What?

-Did he?!-, she demanded to know.

-Well… Maybe, but I agree with him.

-You agree with the man that just punched your face?

-That’s neither here nor there-, he argued.

-The answer is no. Let go of my hand!-, she said pulling away.

-Emma. It’s not like I want this. Think of your future. Everyone at school sees it. I’m just not good company.

-Don’t you say that! Don’t let my father’s words get to you. Yes, you get in trouble but I know it’s for a reason. Tell me, why did you pour water over Lasson today?

-...

-Tell me!-, Emma ordered.

-... He made fun of the new kid and threw his shoe over the fence so… I poured a bucket of water over him from the first floor.

-See? I know you don’t mess with people just because. You have a good heart and that’s what I care about, not what people think of you-. Emma leaned closer to him and grabbed his hands with care. -You could have been smarter and not let yourself get caught. But hey, we all have our strengths.

-Hey-, he smirked as he calmed down.

-I don’t care what my dad says or what the school says. Your problems are my own. Ok? Rely on me.

-... It’s just…

-Shush. Just listen to me. You are not a nuisance to me, Nyco. I want you and need you. Don’t say anything like that again.

Nyco looked up and saw her face filled with kindness. He felt a warmth in his chest. “Forgive me Lord… I don’t think I can live without her”, he thought. None of them wanted to separate their hands, they just seemed to fit together perfectly. Their hearts started racing as they looked each other in the eyes.