My Bubblegum King - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

"It's okay if you hate me now, I completely understand," Diego said, relaxing on the wall away from me.
It's been minutes since he told me he was once in the frat participating in the so called godforsaken tradition that dug up my worst fears from the pit of hell I thought they were buried in. I didn't say anything to him and I still haven't. He waited and when he saw I wasn't responding he left me to my space and finally found his way to the bathroom, definitely to go wash up the red stains on his body. Now he was out and after silently watching me for more minutes, he was finally speaking.
"I'm sorry," he said again when I said nothing. "I guess I thought when I got sick of it all and left, everybody stopped but that didn't happen. I never ever wanted this to happen to you Paxton, I swear and I'd do anything to pay for it."
"What did you do?" I asked, my voice coming out hoarse and dry like I swallowed a handful of sand. "W-when it was your time, what did you have to do to get in?"
"Uh—"
"You know what? Don't tell me, I don't want to know."
He sighed.
I did too. I couldn't imagine Diego, the lovely Animal loving Diego that I knew and had come to adore so much could participate in such a thing. I couldn't even imagine him chasing an innocent person down and hitting them and trying to—
"I was stupid then. Young, foolish and just very stupid. I wanted to fit in so bad, I wanted my own people, I didn't want to feel lonely anymore and then the frat looked like the best place to be. I have no excuses even but I swear Paxton, I'm not that person anymore."
I abruptly got up, holding it the pain I got from my sides. I swallowed, I didn't know what do to, I couldn't think straight. I knew he wasn't the one who attacked me, I knew he was good and I knew he cared for me. But at the moment I couldn't stop imagining him doing the same to some other innocent guy and I couldn't stop being angry. "I have to go."
"Paxton," he called my name with so much pain. It hurt me too.
"I'm not angry," I lied. "I just have to go. This is a lot to take in now and- and I'd rather be in my dorm."
Diego stayed silent for a while before I started hearing him moving. "Okay, whatever you want. Can I drive you?"
"No, I want to go on my own."
He nodded and went around gathering my things and handing me my bag. It pained me that I couldn't bring myself to look at his face but I knew I'd only hurt myself more by doing that. I took it, along with my phone and headed for the door.
"Freshman?" I stopped. "For what it's worth, I'm really sorry."
I know.
I opened the door and left.
*
I never knew Sim and Ry could be so pampering. Ry basically came to sleep over at your dorm and Sim would continuously ask about me every hour that I wasn't sleeping. It was wonderful, they made me feel really loved and less lonely. Sebastian even chatted me up, he apologized for not calling back — I couldn't even remember when he was supposed to — and explained how busy he had been. I could hear the tiredness in his voice and all I wanted was to be his arms. And just fall asleep listening to his heartbeat, perceiving his bubblegum scent and feeling his warmth on me.
I consoled myself with the fact that things like this won't happen if Seb was here with me and even if it would happen it would be much better to do deal with. I just had to wait a little more. But then Diego is here and I probably wouldn't be here today if not for him but then...
Paxton! I face palmed, I can't believe I'm counting on other people to save me when I get into shit. I sighed, I have to be able to save myself when worst comes to worst. Diego, Sebastian, Percy even Ry isn't always going to be there. The thought scared me so bad, I almost teared up. But Percy was right, I can't punch for shit. The last time I punched someone, I broke my hand in the process and it's not like they fell down or anything. And I don't like fighting, I won't say I'm a complete pacifist, I just wasn't built to fight. All the fighting genes if my parents had any went over to Percy.
I stood up my bed and went over to the mirror. I was just in my boxer shorts, nothing else. My brown hair was sticking out in every direction, my hazel eyes looked pale and drained. My pale skin looked okay from what I could see, still very pale and I was still very lean. There's was a healing black spot around my eye and I had purple bruises scattered around my body from being kicked.
It's tradition...
Highschool was fucked up. I guess some parts of college are too.
Diego... I closed my eyes and memories of our time together flashed beneath my close lids. We at the eat-out and his weird burger eating style, his smile that showcased his wonder set of white teeth, made his eyes crinkle a little and his beautiful green eyes come to live like a forest. His piercings, the way he carried Barney around in the clinic, talking to the dog and laughing with it. Us taking frozen yogurt, us in his car, us bantering, us shopping, us on the plane.
When my eyes popped back open they looked more alive and teary. Yeah, Diego probably hurt people before but the Diego I knew was kind and loving and wonderful and the best person I could ever wish to meet in this strange jungle of a campus. Everybody has done shitty things in the past, me included. Smiling to myself, I go back to bed prepared to pick up my phone and call him when the door opens and a noisy Ryder and Sim walk in.
They went grocery shopping. Apparently because of my incident they've started bonding more especially in the kitchen matters.
"Pax Pax, you won't believe it," Ryder said immediately she set her eyes on me, shoving her grocery bag to Sim and running to me.
"The kitchen is just over there," Sim whined, eying her. "Gossiper."
"It's urgent and this is news, not gossip," Ryder replied him, jumping on the bed beside me and eying him back.
"It's not urgent and you're talking about someone behind their back, Gossip."
"Everyone on campus is doing it."
"Doesn't change the fact that it's gossip and you're lazy."
"Shut up Sim," Ryder said, pouting at him before turning back to me and then her eyes widened again. "Pax, you won't believe it."
I chuckled, "I bet I would. Hit me."
"School is buzzing with news. Apparently the day you got hit, the day before yesterday, Diego," Ry called the name slowly, wiggling her brows at me and pronouncing every letter. "Attacked a frat house."
"What?" I blinked. "What do you mean 'attacked'?"
Ryder smiled, she could barely contain her excitement. "I mean just that. Literally attacked. He burst right through the door, kicking it open or with his shoulder, anyone. But he burst through the door and punched the first guy he saw right to the ground, punched the next one and the next one all the while shouting for the leader of the frat to come downstairs."
"What if he shouted before punching?" Sim asked, cutting in.
"Shut up Sim," Ryder didn't even bother looking at him. Too engrossed in telling me the story. "The guys attacked him right back of course and he started fighting each and everyone of them until the leader showed. Oh, I heard they were once friends, living like family, something like that. So, back to the gist— the leader and Diego get into an argument about hazing ritual or is it initiation ritual whatever," she broke out again. "Oh, turns out the guys that attacked you were frat guys."
I nodded, "yeah I know."
"You did?" She huffed. "Why am I the last to know these things? Whatever, anyway, so they got into a heated argument and then started fighting. Diego demanded to know exactly who ambushed you, he was red with rage and oh my, you should see the guys face, phew. He looked battered and broken. I just hope Diego doesn't look like that. Anyway, he managed to get kicked out that time but news have it he went back again yesterday and started another fight, the whole things caused a huge commotion, one guy got a glass smashed in his head and one thing led to other and a fire started."
My eyes widened, "a fire?!"
Ryder nodded, "people said Diego did it," she shrugged. "We're not sure."
"Is he okay? A fucking fire?"
"Yeah, he's fine. No one got hurt in the fire, it's just the front part of the frat house that got burnt. Thankfully it wasn't a major fire. Last I heard, Diego and the guys have been called in by the Dean and school administrators. Rumor has it they would probably get expelled."
"Ryder," Sim cautioned.
"What? It's what I heard, you heard it too."
"Fuck, fuck!" I pulled on my hair, going crazy. If Diego gets expelled because of me...
"Don't worry though, Diego won't get expelled," Ryder said, making me look up at her so fast I almost got a whiplash.
"How do you know?"
She shrugged, "doesn't his father kinda like owns half the school or something. He has connections to save his ass."
I sighed, "nevertheless this is bad."
She nudged me, "you sure you are just friends? You and Diego?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, of course I'd do anything for you including setting a frat house on fire but like I've known you all my life. But Diego," she drawled, biting on her lip and shrugged again. "I don't know it's just so much for just a friend."
I wasn't shameless enough to blush. I just stayed quite my mind racing.
"But then who really cares? It's just so hot, a knight in shining armor. Mm!"
I chuckled, "get back to your senses Ry."
She jumped off the bed, heading to the kitchen. "My respect for Diego has shot right up to the roof. Like damn."
I couldn't talk, I could barely think. Did he do all that for me or for his conscience or both? I knew his dad had connections but I couldn't help worrying. He had injuries when I last saw him and then he went back again? Then a fire? I just hoped he was as alright as Ry said.
Taking out my phone, I sent him a text.
Hey. Are you okay?
I don't get a reply and after staring at the phone for twenty minutes I gave up.
Please be alright.
***
Yeah, I am.
I got the text from by 9pm, hours after I sent mine. I immediately sat up, calling him before I could think twice about it. Sim was soundly asleep and Ryder finally went back to her dorm for the night. Apparently she was tired of sleeping in my clothes.
Diego picked up at the second ring and my heart skipped a beat unknowingly.
"Hey," I breathed out. I wasn't really sure how we were. Last I saw him, I left after he confessed something very hard. I was a dick.
I practically heard him smile. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep?"
"Couldn't. I've been sleeping a lot lately and I have school work to catch up on."
"Hm, nerd."
"Right back at you."
He chuckled, "sorry for the late reply, I just saw your text."
"No problem. Are you really okay?"
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
I sighed, "I heard the news..." When he didn't say anything, I added.  “The whole frat fight."
"Tch news spread fast don't they?"
"Yup especially when you have a best friend with a knack for storytelling." Diego chuckled and I did too. “Did you really start a fire?"
"Nope. A fire started but I wasn't the cause. I think someone was smoking and then dropped it during the fight and then some drinks were broken and other stuff and shit just happened."
"Damn. Are you sure you're okay?"
Diego laughed, "yes, I am talking to you aren't I?"
I ran my hand over my face. "Why did you go picking a fight with a whole house full of guys even? Did you want to get killed?" Diego didn't say anything to that and we stayed silent together until I spoke up again. "Don't tell me you did it for me?"
"Did I?"
"Diego..."
"I didn't. Calm down," he exhaled heavily and I heard shuffling around like he was getting up from his bed or something. "It could be because I saw you there lying down and I felt so useless and like I was the one who hit you myself. It could also be because it's been long coming and I just needed the right motivation to do the right thing. Or because when you left, I felt like I deserved a good beating and that was the only place I could get it."
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Leaving like that, I can't imagine what thoughts were going through your mind," I said and he didn't say anything to that. "I don't hate you, I can't."
"But I'm not your favorite person right now." It wasn't a question.
I smirked, "where you ever?"
"Ouch."
I giggled, "I still like you if that's what you're asking and I'd still put up with your ugly face and annoyance."
"Haha."
"I bet you look uglier now with the beating," I said, smiling to myself.
"You have no idea," my smile dropped. "But I look way better than my opponents."
"Diego..."
"I'd see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Diego," I called again.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
I felt him smile again. "Thank you too."
I didn't get to ask what for before the call ended. I smiled, putting my phone away and hoping Diego wasn't exaggerating too much when he said he was fine.
A new text came in and I thought it'd be Diego again but it was my mum.
Baby, you're coming home before your exams kick off right? Tricia's missing you. Come say hi, I want to see how you're doing.
I blinked.
Well that was the plan but then... Shit.