I Refuse this Late Chapter 08
Jolene nodded in understanding. “Why don’t I bring you out and about? Don’t worry, I know my way around-it’s been six months since I moved here.”
I was simply bemused. “Out and about? Where?”
She stood on her toes and flicked my forehead. “To get some furniture, of course. And did you think you’d improve if you didn’t touch grass?”
“And don’t worry-leave the talking to me. You just need to stand by me. Don’t have to rush things.”
It was strange, but I didn’t feel repulsed by her touch.
I also remembered how I was forced into a thousand meter sprint back at high school, and she was the only one cheering for me, and helping me to my feet when I reached the finish line.
There was no exasperation, no impatience-only warmth.
As I looked into her tender gaze, I was nodding before I knew it.
I used to have a crush on Jolene.
Even life in high school wasn’t great back then, and discrimination was rife.
Because I was poor and wore Grandpa’s old clothes that were trimmed down to my size, they called me a geezer. I stood out like a sore thumb when standing beside their fashionable selves.
Though the girls wouldn’t talk to me, Jolene was willing to hang out with me and talk to me between classes, so that I didn’t have to be so lonely.
When the other students tried to frame me for stealing money, she stood up for me.
She had plenty of other friends she could hang out with, but decided to stick with me to protect my sensitive heart that was stricken by inferiority complex.
She had been my sunshine during my school days-how could I not fall for such warmth?
Still, she transferred during a new semester without telling me, while I slowly forgot those memories of her later.
And now, I felt comfortable enough to hang out with Jolene over the next few days, and she had a tacit understanding not to mention the past.
As for me, I started to feel at ease and gradually let my guard down, eventually becoming able to talk to the hot dog stall owner.
One day, I was lounging on the couch and watching TV when I smelled something burning.
After a while, Jolene stepped out of the kitchen with a plate of something black.
I refrained from smiling and asked, “What’s that?”
“Roasted chicken wings,” she smiled exasperatedly, brushing her hair behind her ears. “I still remembered that you liked it when I brought you extra lunch boxes… But I just can’t get it right.”
Hearing what she said, it suddenly felt like we had never been apart since high school. In fact, all the warmth I felt before was coming back as she would come over every day after work to care for me.
When the Sullivans brought me home, I yearned for my parents’ affection and imagined they would dote on me, taking care of me meticulously.
Instead, the first thing they told me when we first met was that they would keep Uriah, but Uriah never once showed any inclination to visit Grandpa…
Even as those messy thoughts occupied my mind, she picked up her plate of chicken wings and took them to the bin.
“I guess I’m not much of a chef,” she sighed. “What a waste of chicken.”
I came to my senses and took the plate off her hands. “Then let’s not waste it.”
Bewildered, she cried, “Wait, stop! It’s burnt-your stomach will hurt!”
Still, I used my height to my advantage and avoided her grasp, and shoved one chicken wing into my mouth.
Although it was a little charred, it wasn’t horrible at all.
She huffed, “Don’t blame me when your stomach hurts.”
I smiled as I looked into her eyes. “It’s the best chicken wings I’ve ever had.””
She blushed a little, but soon narrowed her eyes into a glare, and I tactfully turned away.
And to no surprise, my stomach started hurting in just thirty minutes.
