Chapter 07

Andrew POV

I couldn't believe what Pauline was telling me. 

“How could she actually face me and tell me to do the one thing I am trying my best to stop myself from?” 

“I can't do it, Pauline,” I said as she shrugged. 

“Come on, Dad, I begged you to join the basketball team and become our coach. So you can't just do this one favor for me? You know how Sage is important to me and she's so traumatized from everything that happened in the past. I just want her to have somebody who she can rush to in her times of need. Her parents aren't even around; they are hardly ever around, and that alone is more than enough to traumatize her. I just want her to be happy and her mind at peace. Nothing else,” Pauline again added as I felt like I was now placed in a tight spot. 

If only she could understand the one reason why I don't want to do this, the one reason why I was trying to keep my distance, then maybe she would have stopped all this rubbish persuasion. Maybe because I always listened and accepted whatever she wanted that gave her the thought and the chance to think I would continue acting that way. 

“Fine, I'll think of it,” I said without even realizing what had come out of my mouth as she smiled and hurriedly rushed to hug me tightly. 

“Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. I know Sage would also be happy to know that she has somebody more like a guidance who would help her in her most wanted needs,” 

she said and then she looked around, noticing that Sage was still turning to the other side, and then it turned on her. 

“I need to get refreshment for Sage. I know the kind of person she is. She would be so thirsty by the time she opens her eyes,” she said and then rushed off, leaving me alone with Sage. 

And just at that moment, I saw Sage’s eyes spring open as she saw me, surprised. Or should I say she was placed in shock, unable to apprehend her surroundings. 

“Why? Why am I here with you?” she said, and of course, the way she sounded was so awkward. How would I explain to her that I ran in search of her, took her to my house, and yes, she was? Then she realized where she was actually in my home. 

“Oh, Pauline. Pauline must have been so worried about me. Someone. Someone was actually luring me around, trying to place me into a trap, and I was so dumb to fall for it. I guess I lost consciousness out of the shock that came with what she did,” Sage said as it made me a bit suspicious. 

“How did you know it was a female?” I questioned, sitting beside her, my interest keen on what she had just said. 

“It's obvious she is a girl; she can't run as fast as I could, and I could hear her little heels clicking as she followed me. It was a trap. Even though she was intentionally running slow, she was trying to trap me, trying to make me fall into the hole. But I avoided it,” Sage said as she held one side of her head like she was trying to fight a banging headache. 

“My head aches,” she said, and I sighed. 

“Of course, it's obvious. Pauline went to get you something for the meantime. Relax,” I said to her and then slowly pushed her back to lie down, but she was proving stubborn. 

“I can't relax. Thank you so much, though, for... for helping me and for bringing me here without second thoughts. I know if some people, they would want to know more about my guardians and maybe take me home, but my home is even more vulnerable than any place,” she said as I nodded, accepting her thanks when I recalled Pauline's words pleading with me to get to know Sage very well and help her. 

I then moved closer to her and stared keenly at her, she not breaking the eye connection between the both of us. 

“I have another thing though that I really want to know. Why? Why are your parents not around at the moment? What happened? I need more details on what happened, why you are in such a situation where you are facing such a deep trauma,” I questioned her as her little smile from earlier quickly changed to a deep frown. 

She sat there, her hands folded, not uttering a word. 

“It's not something I can share,” she said and instantly broke the eye contact between the both of us, looking away as I put her face back. 

“No, don't tell me that. I have to know everything you have to tell me. At least share it with me,” I said again as she then nodded. 

“It's a long story, but I think you are the only one who has tried to know what really happened. Everyone keeps blaming me, saying that it was my ego that got in the way. Even my parents refused to listen,” she started, only for Pauline to open the door suddenly. 

Even I was taken aback, and she noticed the atmosphere and stopped at the door. 

“I am sorry. Was I distracting you?” she questioned as I stood up, my hands in my pockets, walking away. 

“It's fine, Pauline. I think you should stay with your friend. We have some discussions between each other and would continue another time,” I said, making sure Sage understood before walking out. 

Was it really going to be about her past trauma experience I would be talking about? I know something else might happen. I just have to get ready to be able to control myself.

I just hope I do or else i might just lose my self esteem and everything that comes with it.