Page 62 of Encounter

“When I’m not feelin’ like shit, we can get back to the gym and start workin’ with some weights. Boxing, too, once you feel up for it. Keep goin’ with the running, though.” I waved my finger at him as a warning.

After that, we just sat there, watching TV for a while. When I had to do my obnoxious, painful breathing exercises, Galen took the opportunity to get a notepad and a thick textbook out of his bag to start working on his school stuff.

Watching him, I couldn’t help but wonder if his life really was as hard and pitiful as he thought. Coming from a wealthy family might not equate happiness, but it sure makes life easier in a lot of aspects. Galen was smart, too, and a good guy. Maybe a little too shy and quiet, but... that might not be as bad. Maybe it was just his way of survival.

Looking at him, I figured all he needed was probably love, and for someone to support him.

I remember how fucking marvelous it felt to have someone like that. How healing and satisfying and so damn addicting that was.

Around nine o’clock, Galen started checking his phone.

“Does your pops know you’re here?” I asked, eating from the box of Chinese takeaway we ordered.

Grimacing at me like I was mad, Galen shook his head. “No, of course not. He would kill me if he knew about this. I mean... he can’t know,right?” he paused, glancing at me hesitantly, waiting for my response.

“I doubt he’d appreciate knowin’ who you spend your time with,” I admitted with a snort. From what I’d seen of his father and our brief conversations, he was exactly the type of person who would create a self-doubting, submissive kid like Galen. A rich white guy, ruling his company to boost his own damn ego, controlling everything. He wasn’t the kind of man who would understandthis.Whateverthisis.

“Yeah.” Crushing his wild, puffy hair back, Galen ran his other hand through Kitty’s thinning coat. “I told him I started... going to the gym. He was glad,” he murmured in a bitter tone. “Said that at least I dosomethingphysical, instead of just sitting in my room. I mean— I’m locked in my room studying, so that he doesn’t moan at me about my grades, but... he doesn’t really see the hypocrisy.”

Damn. Seeing him getting so low made me feel like shit as well.

“Well, it sure ain’t good for your head; I know that much.” Feeling a wave of second-hand frustration pass through my chest, I was forced to get a cigarette out to get some relief. When Galen gave me a look, I rolled my eyes and wanted to chuckle, but as I breathed in the pain spilled into my ribcage, making me cough. “Fuck! Ugh, fuck this,” I groaned and got up, holding my side. “I know, I know. This is the last one,” I lied.

He looked so damn worried for me all the time, like I was helpless.

It was sorta endearing, though...

While I opened the balcony door and stood there, lighting the cigarette, I heard Galen rustle his things. “I’m... going to go home now,” he announced. “I’ve already booked a taxi. Should be here any minute. Do you want me to come... like this again?” He tried to sound like it was nothing, but I caught the suspense in his voice.

He wanted this to continue. We both did. For a reason I couldn’t understand, it felt goodexistingnext to each other. To Galen, it was probably better than sitting in his big, fancy room, alone.

I smiled. “Sure.”

“Mondays and Thursdays are my shortest days at school, so...” he said after a few minutes of awkwardly sitting there and waiting. Putting his bag over his shoulder, he stood up and hesitantly shifted on his feet.

After saying goodbye to Kitty—who followed him like a meowing, grumpy shadow—he paused at the main door and turned to me. Our eyes met, and we just stared at each other for a few moments. I didn’t really understand why. “See you then,” I finally spoke, resting the cigarette against my lips. The sound of the tires stopping down in the street made me turn. “Go on, your taxi’s here,” I rushed him playfully.

Galen nodded and walked out of the door, closing it with a barely audible “Thanks.”

When he left, I leaned back against the balcony railing, this time facing the apartment, and let out a long, painful sigh. Accompanied by annoying, sharp meows, Kitty came up to me, constantly headbutting my leg, staring at the door, almost like she was asking for him.

Goddamn cat.“What’s up with all that, ey?!” I frowned at her, chest still full of bizarre, confusing sensations which might as well have been my lungs filling up with liquid and slowly killing me. Most likely, it was that obtrusive feeling of nostalgia creeping me out. And the doubt.

I didn’t look down when I heard Galen open the taxi door.

I was only helping out some kid. Why did it feel like so much more? Why were the parallels and those dull, painful memories, buried for so many years, all I could think about?

The thing he told me at the gym... About believing in him. Was it really so similar to the moment I had with Lydy outside of her school, or was it my messed-up mind trying to connect something that wasn’t there? And when Galen was here, did I feel good because I was lonely, or did it remind me of those beautifully wasted evenings I had with Lydy when we visited each other after we started dating?

He had this shy, modest smile, and it made me feel so many things...

“Why? Why do you like him so much?” I asked as I stared at Kitty, desperately wishing for her to actually be able to tell me. Letting out another meow, she sat down and started licking her paw.

Looks like I’m not gettin’ any answers any time soon...

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