Unwanted Attention

     I didn’t want to get up. My body felt like it weighed a ton, and my head hurt so bad, I thought it might burst. Every sound outside my door made me flinch. Even the sunlight sneaking through the curtains made my skin feel too warm.

Then came the knocking.

At first, it was soft.

“Liam?” That voice again. Damien.

I didn’t move.

He knocked again, louder this time. “Liam, open the door.”

I buried my head in my pillow. Maybe if I stayed still long enough, he’d leave.

But the knocking turned into banging. “Liam! If you don’t open this door, I swear—”

I dragged myself off the mattress and unlocked the door just in time to see him about to slam into it with his shoulder.

He stopped. His eyes widened. “What the hell, Liam...?”

I blinked up at him. Everything was spinning. “What... are you doing here?”

“You didn’t reply to my texts. You didn’t answer your phone. What's going on with you? Did you cry? You look like shit”

 I ignored whatever he was saying and stared at him like he had two heads.

    “You have my number?” 

He face palmed himself like that was the dumbest question.

He reached out and touched my forehead. “You’re burning up.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.” He didn’t wait for permission. He stepped inside, holding a bag I didn’t notice before. “Sit down.”

“I don’t want—”

“Sit,” he snapped.

Too tired to argue, I sat.

He pulled out a container and opened it. The smell of warm porridge filled the room. “Eat.”

I stared at the bowl. “I’m not hungry.”

“I don’t care,” he said, pushing it toward me. “Eat or I’m not leaving.”

“Damien—”

“I’m serious. Eat.”

I took the spoon, hands shaking a little, and slowly ate. The porridge was still warm. It felt nice against my dry throat.

I hated that he was here. I hated that I didn’t have the strength to make him leave.

After I’d eaten half, Damien got up and walked to the tiny shelf where I kept my things. He picked up the medicine pack he left the other day.

“You didn’t even open it,” he said quietly.

“I forgot.”

“No, you didn’t.” He came back and stood in front of me. “Take them now.”

I sighed, but I took the pills, drank some water, and handed the cup back.

“Good.”

I must’ve fallen asleep after that because when I opened my eyes again, it was dark outside.

I sat up too fast. My heart raced. There was a shadow sitting near my bed, and I screamed.

“Hey, hey—it’s just me,” Damien said quickly, reaching over to switch on the small lamp.

The soft light lit up his face. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

My breath came out shaky. “Why are you still here?”

“I stayed to make sure you didn’t pass out in your sleep.”

I blinked at him.

“I also ordered food. It’s over there,” he added, pointing to the small bag on the table. “Eat again and take your meds.”

I didn’t ask why he cared. I didn’t even have the energy to pretend I didn’t need it.

We sat in silence while I ate the warm food. He watched me closely, like I might fall apart again at any moment.

And maybe I would.

When I finished, he stood.

“You don’t have to care, you know right?” I whispered.

He looked at me for a long second. “ Give me your phone”

“Why?”

He didn't respond, he just grabbed my phone from the couch. He unlocked it with my fingerprint and fiddled with it for sometime.

  “There, I've saved my number. Call me if you need anything.

I watched as he left, still confused.

Monday came faster than I wanted.

I still felt a little weak, but I forced myself to go to school. I couldn’t afford to miss more classes—not when I was already behind and drowning in work.

The campus was noisy as always. People moved in groups, laughing, shouting, talking like nothing could ever go wrong in their lives.

I kept my head down and walked straight to my class.

When lunch break came, I found my usual seat at the back corner of the cafeteria, away from the noise. I brought out my water and bread from my bag and quietly started to eat.

Then everything went silent.

Not literally, but I felt the shift. Like all the energy in the room suddenly turned in my direction.

I looked up—and there he was.

Damien.

He walked straight toward me, holding his tray of food like he did it every day. And then, without asking, he sat right next to me.

Right next to me.

I froze.

People stared. Whispers filled the room like a sudden breeze.

“What is he doing with him?”

“Isn’t that Liam?”

“He actually sat with him?”

I could feel every single pair of eyes on my back. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

“What are you eating?” Damien asked casually, looking at my bread like it was some kind of disease.

I didn’t answer.

He frowned. “You didn’t bring real food?”

“This is real food,” I muttered, turning away.

He sighed and dropped something from his tray in front of me. A small bowl of fried rice.

“Eat that.”

“I don’t want it.”

“Tough.”

I clenched my fists. “You’re causing a scene.”

He leaned closer. “Let them stare. I don’t care.”

But I did.

I stayed quiet for the rest of lunch, and so did he. But he didn’t move. He just stayed there, eating beside me like we were friends. Like it was normal.

Later during P.E., things got worse.

We were playing dodgeball, and the teacher told us to form teams. I tried to slip to the back, hoping no one would notice me.

“Liam’s with me,” Damien said loudly.

I looked up, startled. His eyes were already on me.

“Come on,” he added.

I walked toward him slowly, keeping my head low. The other students looked at me like I was some kind of alien. Damien didn't seem to notice—or maybe he just didn’t care.

When the game started, I did my best to stay out of the way. But even when the ball came flying toward me, Damien would step in, blocking it with his arm or his back.

“What are you doing?” I whispered after the third time.

“Protecting my teammate,” he said like it was obvious.

“I don’t need—”

“You do.”

I didn’t reply. My face was

burning, not just from the running, but from all the eyes. All the attention. I hated it.

After class ended, I changed quietly and left before he could follow me again.