Chapter 6: Bucket Of Water

|| Arabella ||

“God, I hate Theo. He is a stupid, brainless, idiotic, dunderheaded jerk, who needs to be obliterated from this planet,” I cursed as I hurriedly opened my locker in order not to be late for my first class.

Coral, my best friend, arched an eyebrow in amusement. “I know you love Theo, but what’s with the sudden raining compliments?”

I frowned. Coral always teases me about Theo, knowing it annoys me to no end. She was friends with him since they have a few classes together. Thankfully, I didn’t have a single class with him this semester. “He didn’t let me eat my breakfast and made me late,” I complained.

Coral laughed. “Since when was your aunt kind enough to let any of your acquaintances steal your breakfast?”

Oops.

I didn’t tell her about what happened yesterday at all, starting from my aunt kicking me out. I just sent her a photo of my short hair last night, which she said looked astonishing.

“How’s your mom now?” I asked to divert her attention. Coral’s mom has been in the hospital for the last few days after going through a kidney transplant, that’s why she has been irregular to school since then.

“She’s doing good. The doctor said they will release her next week,” she informed.

“That’s great. I’ll pay her a visit tomorrow.”

Coral hummed and we started walking to our first class in a hurry. She was also late. Once we were seated in our usual place, she asked again, “So how did Theo deprive you of your breakfast?”

I sighed. “Because I’m kind of living with him?”

“What?” she exclaimed in surprise. Everyone, along with our teacher who just entered, glared at Coral, and she shot them a sheepish look. She lowered her voice and started whispering to me, “What? How did that happen? Give me the details, girl.”

I gave her a flat look.

“Don’t tell me you guys secretly got married.” She squealed silently.

“Even if he were the last person alive on earth, I still wouldn’t consider marrying that prick.”

“Then tell me the real reason, or else, I’m going to the marriage registration office to either confirm or make it true,” she urged excitedly.

“Chill. I’m telling you.” With that, I told her the entire story of yesterday.

“Oh, my God, Ara. I’m going to fill your aunt’s mailbox with cockroaches and earthworms. That bi—” she stopped from cursing when I glared at her. She sighed and put on her teasing look. “But in a way, she paved your way to two hot guys. I would kill to be in your shoes.”

I snorted. “Please, that’s the only good thing about it.”

“But you said Wyatt is nice.”

“But he doesn’t want any part in Theo and my matter. He's lazy.”

“I will have to check it out myself. When can you invite me over?” she asked eagerly.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to ask if they are cool with my friend coming over today,” I told her.

“Hey, you two!” Coral and I flinched at the sudden voice of our teacher. “You have been whispering to each other since the start of class. Do you want extra homework?”

“No,” we exclaimed and started paying attention to the class.

———

The day went by as usual with all the boring classes and chatting with friends. I texted Wyatt if I could bring my friend over and he said yes, so now Coral and I were now walking towards the apartment.

I was hoping that Theo hadn't come home yet because I had a feeling that he had something planned for me.

“You really hit the jackpot, Ara. This building seems so expensive. I'm sure the apartment is nice too,” Coral chirped beside me.

The door was already open, which meant either Theo or Wyatt was home. Coral hurried before me and pushed open the door first. And I was glad she did.

Because as soon as she stepped inside, a bucket of water fell on her head, drenching her from head to toe.

Theo jumped out from behind the door, laughing victoriously. “Hahahah. Got you, Annabe—” His eyes widened when he saw Coral. “Oh, wait, you aren't Annabelle! You’re Coral!”

“That's right. I'm here,” I announced and flashed him a tight-lipped smile from behind Coral as a horrified look took over his face.

“Oh, shit…” he let out.

“Coral, you go to my room and change,” I instructed and she nodded, her hard gaze fixed on Theo. I leaned down to her ear and whispered, “Not shipping me with him anymore, are we?”

Coral shifted her glare at me before she strutted towards the first room she found.

“No, wait, that's Wyatt—” Before I could finish, Coral already opened the door and let out a scream. “Oh, God—” I was about to run to her when my leg slipped due to the water on the floor.

I landed on the ground on my back with a loud yelp. “Argh!” I felt like I had broken my spine—hopefully not.

When I heard a roar of laughter, I glared at the boy in front of me. So without hesitation, I kicked his legs, making him trip backward too.

Now it was my turn to laugh as he groaned in pain.

“Tit for tat.” I stuck my tongue out at him as he tried to sit up. Laughing, I also tried to sit up, but when I felt a sharp pain in my back, I froze. Please tell me I didn't snap any of my bones.

As Theo was getting up, I extended a hand to him and said, “Help me up.”

He glared at me. “You trip me first, and now you expect me to help you?”

“Hey, you're the reason there's water all over the floor,” I pointed out begrudgingly.

“Why don't you get up on yourself? You aren’t an old lady, are you?”

“I think I hurt my back,” I murmured.

A strange look appeared on his face. “Really?”

I nodded, and he sighed.

“Just this one time I'm helping you,” he grumbled and carefully stepped over the water to reach my side. He put a hand behind my shoulder and grabbed my right hand with another one, pulling me up. With each movement, pain struck my back, but I restrained myself from screaming. “Can you stand?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I can't take any more of your help.”

He rolled his eyes, and in a swift movement, I was in his arms.

“What the hell are you doing?” I exclaimed.

“You said you hurt your back,” he stated and started walking towards the living room without listening to my protests. Somewhere in between, I couldn’t help but stare at his sharp jawline before my eyes went down to his collarbone and inhale his musky cologne.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Coral pacing around in front of Wyatt's room with her cheeks flushed red, still in her wet clothes.

Theo placed me on the couch on my back, putting a cushion behind my head. “Thanks,” I murmured quietly.

“This wasn't how it was supposed to go,” he grumbled with a pout and went towards the kitchen.

I almost wanted to laugh at how horribly his prank went. The water was supposed to fall on my head—a harmless prank. And look what happened. He now has to tend to me.

Coral came to me, fidgeting. “Oh, my God, Ara! You won’t believe what happened.” She was biting her nails. “I walked into the wrong room and saw Wyatt changing.”

“What?” Why was our luck so damn amazing? “How much did you see?”

“He was shirtless and was about to take his pants off,” she explained, and I released a sigh in relief.

“Stupid. You should've waited for me to tell you which one's my room,” I scolded her.

“I know I'm an idiot,” she admonished herself.

Just then Wyatt walked in, fully dressed up.

Coral jumped to apologize to him. “I'm so sorry—”

“Oh, it-it's fine. Y-you don't have to apologize. I'm just not used to having g-girls at home. I-I should have locked the door,” Wyatt quickly said, stammering quite a bit.

“Really? It's okay?” Coral asked, and he nodded. A smile bloomed on her face as she relaxed. “Cool then. By the way, I'm Coral, Ara's unbest friend.” She put her hand forward.

I had already told Wyatt about her, so he took her hand with an awkward smile. “I'm W-Wyatt. Ni-nice to meet you.”

“Why are you stuttering so much?” I piped in, and Wyatt startled.

“W-what are you saying, Ara? Did you forget that I have a s-stuttering problem?” Wyatt said. That was news to me.

“You do?” I furrowed my brows.

“Yes, yes, I do. It's a disease of stuttering in between speech sometimes,” he said to Coral, a little too forcefully, and sat on the armrest of the couch. “What happened to you though?” he asked me.

“Just hurt my back by slipping on some water, thanks to your wonderful cousin,” I complained, and Coral laughed at me shamelessly.

“That moron,” Wyatt cursed.

“I'm gonna go get changed,” Coral said and this time I told her which one was my room.

After she was gone, I gave a playful look to Wyatt. “You have a crush on Coral?”

His ears turned red. “N-no.”

“C'mon, it's obvious. From what I've seen, you're always so chill, but you got so awkward around her just now. You even stuttered,” I nudged.

“This is exactly why you hurt your back,” he chastised and went back to his room while I laughed by myself.

Wyatt and Coral would make a nice pair though, but he would have a tough time winning her over. Plus, she was afraid of relationships. That's why she doesn't even acknowledge me as her best friend 'cause she fears it would jinx our friendship.

“Creepy,” I heard Theo comment when he approached me with a bag of ice from the kitchen.

I scowled at him.

“Make Coral put it on your back—” just as he started to say, Coral came out of my room, dressed in one of my outfits.

“Ara, I need to go to the hospital right now. My dad came to visit, and now Mom's health has deteriorated,” she let out in a panic.

“Oh, my God, let's go—” I tried to sit up but another sharp pain shot up through my back.

“No, it's okay. You stay. I'll go,” she said.

“If you want, I can drive you there,” Wyatt offered as he came out of his room.

“Thank you. That would be a great help,” she told Wyatt. “I'll get going then, Ara.”

“Update me!” I hollered as she sprinted out the door with Wyatt.

I slumped back down and put my forearm over my eyes, tension starting to cloud me.

“Why did her mom's health deteriorate from seeing her dad?” Theo asked in confusion.

“They are divorced, and her dad is a horrible person,” I answered.

“I think I can relate to her,” he muttered.

“On what?” I asked, removing my arm to see his face.

“Nothing,” he shrugged. “Turn around. I'll put the ice on your back now that your friend's gone,” he instructed. I obeyed and laid on my stomach.

“Good thing it's Saturday tomorrow, or else, I would snap your neck for making me skip class.”

“Chill. You will be as good as new before Monday, no matter how much I don't want that.”

“Of course, you would have been happier if I had broken my skull,” I jeered.

“Yep.”

“Why don't you put the ice in already?” I grunted as he still didn't put it.

“Um, pull your top a little bit,” he mumbled.

“I can't reach it. My back hurts,” I reasoned.

I noticed him gulping over my shoulder as he hesitantly reached his hand on my back.

“What are you, a virgin?” I commented off-handedly, and he flinched.

“What? That has nothing to do with this!” he protested and instantly regretted doing that.

Now this is interesting.

“Is that why you are hesitating so much? Because you never touched a girl before?” I smirked. I know I was talking big, even though I, myself, was a virgin, but I couldn't resist the urge to tease him about it.

“Whatever,” he grunted and pulled the hem of my top a little bit before placing the cold compress on my back firmly as I guided him. He did it so quickly as if making any more contact with my skin would contaminate him. “Is it alright?” he asked.

I nodded. “Can you get my phone and bag from the door?”

“No.”

“So you are a virgin, huh.”

He flustered up once again. “Okay, okay, I'll get it. Shut up.”

I laughed, knowing I wouldn't let Theo live it down that easily.