One Touch

29: Binds and Betrayal

“He asked you out on a date, huh?” I said, sitting in front of Atlanta . We were on her bed with a bowl of chips and M&Ms to the side.

“Mhm.” Atlanta cupped her cheeks to hide the blush that never went away after we began the topic of her crush. “He doesn’t know why I have to wear the gloves whenever I’m with him, but he doesn’t mind. I like him so much.”

“Hey, I don’t know why you wear the gloves either,” I said, popping an M&M into my mouth. “Caspian wears them at dance, too. He thinks I should wear a pair, but I said hell no.”

Atlanta sat up, crossing her legs and putting her chin on the heel of her hands. “By the way, doesn’t Caspian mind being your partner? He would’ve done everything to get Amber back.” I felt queasy for a second, knowing how oblivious Atlanta was to the relationship Caspian and I had.

“We’re surviving,” I told her.“But he can be a jerk at times. You don’t have to worry. If something bad happens, I’ll be the first to make a move.”

Nothing had happened that required a severe change, and the sole reason was that both Caspian and I had faith that we could handle it. We went through some tough times, and our relationship was super unstable. But it was worth the risk.

“So, you’re leaving when he rings the doorbell?” I asked. She fidgeted with her fingers in anxiety, tucking her hair behind her ear for the hundredth time.

Caspian was hesitant to allow Atlanta and Ronald to go on another date, but I knew why he gave his consent. Today was the day I was would introduce him to dad. Rick wasn’t home, and neither was mom, leaving us the perfect opportunity to slip in. If Atlanta knew, she’d want to come with us.

The bell rang and Atlanta bolted up. She didn’t move for a few seconds, and I had to give her a boost. I patted her back in encouragement as we went downstairs. Atlanta was such a cute button, and her nervousness was adorably endearing. This wasn’t her first date with Ronald, yet both of them had profound feelings for each other that never seemed to end. Though I deemed love to be sketchy, theirs was true love.

That is, if Caspian didn’t come in their way. I saw him on the living room couch, taking a nap as we passed by. He didn’t wake up until Atlanta opened the door, and when he approached us, she avoided looking him in the eyes.

“Hi, Ronald,” Atlanta greeted her date. He smiled in return and gave her the yellow daisies he had in his hand. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”

“Hey,” Ronald said to Caspian. Caspian didn’t react beyond a blink and I felt bad for the poor guy as he led Atlanta outside. “Hi, Eve,” he said to cover his embarrassment.

“Hello,” I said, and then said something that would surely pique Caspian. “Take as long as you want, but make sure Atlanta has a good time. Maybe take pictures, or whatever you couples do.”

Both Atlanta and Ronald blushed and Caspian gave me a threatening look. I had no knowledge about love and the activities couples did. We, Caspian and I, were a deranged couple so that didn’t help me at all trying to give Ronald advice. I wanted to see how their relationship would unfold.

Once they left, I prepared for Caspian’s scolding as he went back to his nap on the couch. While lying down, he told me that they were bringing their hopes up by going on dates, but in the long run, they’d be crushed when they couldn’t be together.

“Why can’t they be together?” I demanded, my hands on my hips as Caspian closed his eyes. “You and I are together. What’s the difference for them?”

Caspian opened one eye. “Don’t bring us into this.” I was about to speak when he added, “Or we’re done.” My heart began to pound in fear. Was he being serious, or was it to make me stop talking? I must’ve stood still for a few minutes, afraid to talk, because Caspian stood up and stretched. Pecking me on the nose, he said, “We have to go meet your dad, right?”

“Y-yes.” Goodness. That scared me. And I was a bit lightheaded with the little action he gave me. It wasn’t big, but he never kissed me on the nose, or acted in a way an ideal prince from a castle would. He wasn’t the ideal prince. He was more like a solicitous demon.

Caspian went to go change while I waited on the porch, staring at my house and imagining how dad would react. Would he even care? With the Energy God module and the two subjects of his experiment being Caspian and Atlanta, this proved to be a bad idea. But I wasn’t thinking about the practical components of it, because the bond between dad and I was emotional. I wanted him to know how important he was to me. I hope he understands.

Once Caspian was ready, we headed towards my house. My every step was an anxious stamp on the ground, and I became unsure the closer we went to dad’s room. I checked three times to make sure the house was clear and it was only dad we’d see.

“Why are you nervous?” Caspian asked me while we walked up the stairs. “I’m the one meeting him and I’m perfectly fine.”

“I’m not nervous,” I denied. Every creak the rickety stairs produced sent a troubled jolt through my body. “Okay, I am. This is…this is something that is very important to me. It’s a risk even. I just don’t know how he’s going to react. I’m more scared that he won’t care at all.”

“You like me a lot, don’t you?” he said. I frowned, my steps slowing as I stared at him in disbelief. He grinned, grabbing my hand as he pulled us towards dad’s corridor. “I feel the same. Don’t get in a twist.” I sure hoped he wasn’t lying, with all that we’d been through.

He let go when we faced dad’s door and Caspian knocked without hesitation. I wanted to continue holding Caspian’s hand, or arm, or anything that would stop me from shaking. Dad didn’t respond, but there was a shuffling from the other side. Then, absolute silence.

“Dad, it’s me, Eve,” I spoke softly through the door. “I want you to meet someone. I think, you might, want to see him.” No reply. Caspian and I shared a look and we waited for about two minutes. My eyes dropped in disappointment. “We should go.”

“Wait,” Caspian said, stopping me from turning.

The knob rattled and turned, and the hinges of the door creaked as it opened an inch. I saw one of dad’s eyes, moving from me to Caspian. I reckoned he never saw Caspian before, or he’d have a different reaction.

“Dad, um, he,” I began, uncertain with my words and how to start this introduction. “I thought you’d like to meet, um…” Dad’s brows pulled down and I became afraid.

Caspian noticed my stumbling and proceeded with his own greeting. “Hi, Mr. Evans,” he said, stretching out a hand. Dad’s eyes relaxed, as if he approved of Caspian’s first impression. “I’m Eve’s boyfriend.” Wha—wait. What?

Why did that sound so foreign, like the word was alienated and untrue? Everything seemed alright and smooth with the way dad took Caspian’s hand with caution. But a storm was spiraling in my head, trying to comprehend how blunt Caspian was.

Caspian shot me a side glance, noticing my astonishment. “What, is it not true?” he asked, his voice sweet and innocent. My stomach felt light with embarrassment and I was bashful for a second before I focused on dad. Damn. I had to stay on track.

“I thought you’d like to meet him,” I told him, clutching my hands in front of me. “He was the first…the first…” Caspian was amused as he watched me, an indirect way of deriding me. I swore I’d punch him later for it. “We were together for a few weeks.”

“Felt like months,” Caspian said under his breath. Was that a bad thing?

Dad hadn’t said anything yet, and I couldn’t read his face as he stared at Caspian with deep muse. Caspian wasn’t uncomfortable, but there was nothing but silence between us.

“Is something the matter?” Caspian asked him. How was he so professional and immaculate with this? Had he had lots of experience before or was he born with it? I’d never know, and I had no intention of asking. “I had wanted to talk to you for a while now, Mr. Evans.”

“Me?” dad said. His eyes pierced immediately, and the corridor filled with an unpleasant aura. “What’s your name, gentleman?” Wow, I never saw dad’s courteous side. I was learning many things today.

Caspian tensed beside me. “Sir, my name is Caspian.” Dad’s mouth opened in a perfect ‘o’. “Caspian Cage. Nice to meet you.” The minute Caspian stiffened, I knew something terrible was about to happen.

Dad’s eyes dashed to me, and back to Caspian. They moved back and forth until his mouth turned into a frightening snarl. His wrinkles deepened, creating distorted shadows across his stubbly face.

“Who are you?” dad said, his voice loud and demanding as he looked Caspian right in the eye. Caspian didn’t respond. “Who, are you?” dad repeated, louder and deeper than before.

“Dad, what—” I began, but Caspian put a hand on my shoulder.

Dad’s frown intensified and the door swung wide open. Was it because of that stupid Energy God module and after hearing Caspian’s name? Honestly, what was so shocking about Caspian?

“You,” dad spat at him, “take your hands off of her.” Caspian’s hand tightened over my shoulder.

All of a sudden, dad lunged for Caspian, grabbing his collar with both hands and bringing him face to face with incredible speed. I gasped as dad glared at Caspian in utter loathe. Caspian didn’t try to pull back or act against dad. It was as if he expected the attack.

“What do you want with my daughter?” dad hissed. Caspian turned his face away from dad’s thundering voice. “Speak!” he boomed. That was the point I interfered, tugging on dad’s hands and trying to get him away from Caspian.

“Dad, what the hell?” I said, trying to pry his hands off. Dad ignored me, pushing Caspian to the wall. “Caspian, why are you just standing there? Dad!” Why did it end up like this? “Dad, please let go!” I cried in desperation.

Dad let go and stormed into his bedroom. Caspian took a deep breath and fixed his collar to its right position. I tried to move Caspian and get him out of the house, but he didn’t budge. Are you kidding me? What was wrong with these two?

Dad returned out the door with some sort of gadget in his hand. It was tiny, yet took the shape of a catapult or a prototype gun. My eyes widened, as a feeling of betrayal, sadness, and anger filled me. I couldn’t move, staring at what dad brought out. I didn’t know what it could do, but it did not look friendly.

“You have one last chance to tell me,” dad warned Caspian.

“Dad, we’re leaving,” I told him, taking Caspian’s hand. “Come, Caspian.” Dad pointing the gadget at us and I had the harshest scowl on my face. “I can’t believe you, dad. I can’t believe this is what I get for introducing you to the first person I ever had true feelings for.”

“What did you do to her?!” dad yelled in horror, his eyes widened at Caspian. Caspian was looking at me, his eyes steady and soft. No one could be as nonchalant as Caspian in this kind of situation.

Dad lifted his little gadget, and shot a paper-thin pin of some sort straight to Caspian’s shoulder. Caspian flinched in pain when it lodged into his skin, and I shouted in terror. A thin string was attached to the end of the pin, and dad pulled it out with drops of blood hanging on its metal surface.

I put a palm over my mouth, tears welling in my eyes as dad held the pin in his hand. I have to get Caspian out of here. I tried to find his hand, and though I was frantic, my mind had shut down as all I could feel was the lump in my throat.

Caspian grabbed my hand and begun running down the corridor. I followed him, running the fastest I’d ever run as we flew down the stairs and out the front door. Within seconds, we reached his house and he locked the door after we came in. Tears were streaming down my face as I saw Caspian lean against the door and clutch his bleeding shoulder.

“Caspian,” I sobbed, “we need to treat that. Now.” Caspian didn’t move, and I knew he was pain. I took his uninjured arm and walked him to the kitchen. “Where’s the first aid kit?” Caspian pointed to the bottom drawer, leaning against the counter to support himself.

I took it out as Caspian watched me with half-opened eyes. My heart was lead, weighing down in my chest and trying to beat the pain away. Why did it come to this? I didn’t want to cry and let my tough wall crumble. It was hard.

“Let’s roll the sleeve up,” I said, my eyes following the blotch of red doused over the fabric. Why? Why? Why? Why did this have to happen? Just why?

“That’s worse,” Caspian said, and used his non-dominant hand to lift his shirt over his head. My stomach churned at the sight of his injury, and my hands clenched.

I began to clean his shoulder. It was a quiet treatment, but I didn’t know how to talk to Caspian and explain my dad’s behaviour. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, a tear running down my cheek as I started to wrap the bandage around his shoulder area.

“It’s not your fault,” he told me. It was. I wasn’t able to judge my dad correctly, and know how he would feel about Caspian. I wiped my tears after wrapping his wound, and apologized again. Caspian moved away from the counter and brought me into a one-arm hug. Another tender action. I rested my head on the left side of his chest, away from his wound.

“My dad is senile, he really is,” I admitted. “After years of supporting him, it hurts to say this, but he really is crazy. He’s a psychopath. I can’t…I can’t take it. It hurts because I love him so much.”

“You don’t think there’s a story behind what he did?” Caspian asked me, his voice calm as his breath hit my head. I didn’t want to think about it and what he did to Caspian. What did he do? He shot Caspian in the arm with what exactly? And why? Why choose such a violent approach?

“Is he overprotective? Is it fatherly love?” I asked in disdain.

Caspian did not agree with me, neither did he give his full support to dad. But all I cared about now was his arm. I didn’t know how and when my care for him burst out, but it did and I had no time to deny it.

“Is it better?” I asked against the surface of his skin. It felt warm. I was in a hot cocoon. I wondered how it felt to sleep in Caspian’s arms, because I sure wanted to now. “Is it hurting a lot?”

Caspian’s arm loosened around me. “Not anymore,” he said, and we pulled back. He didn’t take off the bandage, but the skin around it was not red like before. He wasn’t in pain either. His eyes never strayed from me, like they were searching. Like they were mused.

“H-how?” I said, baffled. Caspian's lips broke into a smile, and he bent so our faces were parallel to each other.

“How, you ask?” he said, his thumb skimming my chin. “Magic.”