Chapter 9: Sí, sí, nel mio penare!
They stared at each other for a moment, all thoughts reeling away into the blankness of confusion. Finally—
"What," Asa seethed, "do you want!"
"I want to talk to you." Manfred tried not to avoid his eyes.
"Alright, go ahead, lie—sorry, talk, to me, then."
Manfred closed his eyes exasperatedly. "I'm not going to lie to you."
"Oh, why not?" Asa shook out of his grasp and glared at him. "Why ruin a perfect run? Do you even realize how much you hurt me?" Asa's sharp eyes were shining wet. "No, you probably didn't," he answered himself, running on as Manfred opened his mouth. "Now you're upset I'm not with you, is that right?"
Manfred said nothing.
Asa stared off at the parking lot, mid-afternoon sun cooking the cars left out all day. "Well, you know what?" said Asa quietly, "You broke a promise, too. That day we promised ourselves to each other. You remember that, don't you? You should."
Manfred nodded, but Asa wasn't paying attention.
"And then you were just overcome by these feelings… and you blew it." Asa blinked at him sarcastically with full, lustrous lashes. "You were being a complete dick." Manfred's eyebrows furrowed at this new attack, but he still remained silent. "You had absolutely no regards for me.
"How do you think I felt? Standing there, watching the man who had promised himself to me, kissing another boy? And a complete idiot with no sex appeal at all, to boot!"
Manfred bit his tongue.
"And you're standing there with nothing in your defense. What exactly are you here for, Manfred Bloor? Just tell me, so I can forget you and get on with my life."
"I already told you," Manfred began sincerely, "I just wanted to tell you that I was sorry, and I still am. I'm sorry you're still hurting over this. I don't know what to do or say that would make it right."
He was kneeling at Asa's feet now, begging. "And if you sincerely want me to go now, I'll go. I'll never bother you again."
There was no response.
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End Chapter.
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