Family Problems

“What do you mean your father is in trouble? What kind of trouble exactly?” I looked up at him a little shocked. His eyebrows came together in a deep V shape. I could tell he was contemplating on telling me anything more. My hunch was proven right when he finally responded to my questions.

“Just what I said. Why can’t you just leave it at that?” His voice was getting louder by the second. I was taken aback by his volume. 

“How can I help you if you won’t tell me what exactly is happening?” I demanded, crossing my arms in front of my chest. He scoffed in response. I didn’t like the way he was acting, especially since it reminded me of the hot-headed teenager he used to be. I was fighting every instinct to run.

“How can a weak, naive girl help me with this?” He laughed dryly and ran his fingers through his already messy hair. I rolled my eyes and began chewing on my lower lip while I gathered up my purse and heels. “What do you think you are doing?” He asked, bewildered. This time I chuckled sarcastically. 

“What the hell does it look like I’m doing? I’m fucking leaving. Since apparently I’m just a fucking weak and naive girl!” I stated angrily. I made my way towards the private elevator and pushed the call button. ‘Why don’t things ever just arrive like they do in the movies?’ I thought to myself when all of a sudden I felt Koa’s hand embrace my arm just above the elbow, gentle yet firm. I went to shake his hand off but stopped when his grip tightened so instead I settled on just ignoring him. He spun me around when I wouldn’t look at him so that I had no choice. I kept my eyes facing straight ahead, which happened to be right at his chest due to the height difference. 

“You will get in trouble if you go home tonight.” I rolled my eyes and bit harder on my lip so that I could manage not saying anything more to him. He let out a deep growl in frustration. “Look at me!” He demanded, I continued to stubbornly ignore him. “Little Dawn...please, look at me...I’m sorry…” His voice was much softer now with a hint of worry mixed into his tone. 

I looked up at him, connecting my hazel eyes with his blue ones. “I told you to stop calling me that. And since I’m just a weak girl to you, then I don’t want to bother you any longer. After all you are still the same Koa that left me-I mean my family all those years ago.” I steeled my response for the anger that normally followed when someone told him he was being rude. The yelling and shouting was what I was prepared for, but what he did instead caused me to stiffen in surprise. He pulled me closer, hugging me to his chest tightly. I could smell the hint of Axe Apollo body spray, and feel the warmth and strength emanating from him. 

I went to pull away, but he stubbornly held me closer every time I struggled against his hold. “I’m sorry...I’m sorry for calling you weak. I’m sorry for yelling and always getting mad. I’m sorry that we parted like we did. I’m sorry that my father and I ran away seemingly like cowards. But I’m not sorry that you only know part of the story. By doing so, I know you can remain safe. I’m not sorry for what we shared. I’m not sorry for wanting to remember the shy girl I used to be able to call mine and only mine. Even if it was a secret to everyone else.” I felt the stinging from the tears building up behind my eyelids. I closed my eyes instinctively as I listened to the steady beating of his heart. I couldn’t let him see me cry over him.

As he pulled away from the embrace, I felt his lips gently grace my forehead with a light kiss. His eyes were red-rimmed and pained looking. He began to walk back into the front room where the piano sat when I remembered what he had just said. “Koa. Wait. What do you mean I don’t know everything?” I followed him back into the other room. “Did something else happen back then?”

He heaved a deep, heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I shouldn’t be telling you any of this...We had to leave. I had to leave so that you would be safe from them.” His voice was rough sounding like his throat had suddenly become as dry as the desert. He dropped onto the bench in front of the piano and buried his face within his hands. 

“Koa..” I began but was cut off by his dark chuckle. He looked up at me from his hands and his eyes were now damp with the tears that he was desperately attempting to fight off. 

“Do you know how many times I had to fight off the urge to feel your touch again? I continued to keep an eye on you. I couldn’t help it! I even went to the hospital the two times that you-that you tried…” His sentence fell off at the end when I instinctively felt the slight sting of the scars on my wrist underneath the sleeves of my jacket. “Why? Why did you try to do that? Why couldn’t you just move on? Why did I have to be so weak?” Before I could really comprehend my actions, I was kneeling in front of him, my hands resting on his knees. He tensed under my touch.

“I’m sorry…” Was all I could choke out before I felt the warmth of my tears sliding down my cheeks. I had been drinking to stay numb after he left. He shook his head at me, his eyes flashing pain and disbelief. 

“Why?” he whispered.