Forrest

FORREST

“GOOD TO see you again, Forrest.” Dr. Diana Reed sat back to her chair after our handshakes.

“You too, Dr. Reed.” I took a seat on the couch across hers while she was taking her notes and pen.

She smiled. “So, what brings you here today?”

I rested my arms on my thighs and linked my fingers together. “I don’t know.”

She studied me for a while before she asked. “Have you been having trouble sleeping lately?”

“No.” I hated it when people tried to read me, but this woman helped me a lot over the years. Alan usually gave me a long speech to visit my therapist if he knew constant nightmares were keeping me awake, but this time, I came here willingly. For what reason? I didn’t know.

“Something’s bothering you.” She smiled knowingly. “Let me rephrase. Is someone keeping you awake?” She must have noticed the dark circles under my eyes.

I licked my lips and shifted on the couch. I always kept everything under wraps, but I didn’t have an excuse when it came to my therapy. I had to talk about it somehow. “What made you say that?”

“I am your therapist, Forrest. You said you don’t have trouble sleeping, then this might be something new. Tell me about it.”

“I can’t say that she’s a bother though.”

“But?”

There was definitely a but. Of course. I opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn’t put what was bothering me into words. So I shut my mouth again.

“Okay. Tell me three things you think first thing in the morning.” She scribbled on her notes, then glanced back at me.

Fuck. Me.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Forrest.”

“I am not ashamed, Dr. Reed.”

“Then you knew everything we discuss here is just between you and me. It’s normal to feel something toward a woman, to be sexually attracted over someone. And you’re young and good-looking.”

“I know. It’s just. It’s not about myself I am troubled about.”

“It’s normal to worry about someone.”

“Yeah. I guess so.”

“Let us think that you’re not talking to your therapist right now. Think of me as someone you trust.”

“I trust you, Dr. Reed.”

“So you have feelings for her.”

My gaze snapped at her. Her? Do I have? ”I am not sure.”

you care about

Something kept me from not doing so, instead, I crossed my legs, resting my

me about it.”

just don’t know if she knows that I’d been watching her. We don’t talk, I mean we exchanged his and hellos a couple of times, but we never got a chance to have a long

“Why not?”

nothing in common. We have different perspectives

believe that two opposite people attract?”

Yes. ”Maybe.” I shrugged.

made you say that you two have different

I know it sounds creepy, but

alright. Tell me about her.”

enticed me...” Enticed? Jesus. I wanted to hit myself in the head. “...is her loose-tongued sharpness. I know not most men like that quality in a woman, but I like her just the way she is.” Whatever her reasons for avoiding a relationship, I wouldn’t stop until I figure out. “I have different views about sex. I want a deeper intimate connection with my sexual partner as much as possible or at least I trust her with

Go

couple of one-night stands. It’s because I couldn’t escape, but I’ve been in a serious relationship as well. I can handle the temptation, I am good at that, but I believe sex has more meaning when two persons share it with special connections, with trust at

you believe that she doesn’t believe in

so. She’s a commitment-phobic.

“And it’s bothering

sighed. Why does it hard for me to

“How so?”

I can’t just tell her to open up to me, besides, she already questioned my motives on why suddenly, I am talking to her.

her trust for her to open up to you?”

I’d been watching her, and I was satisfied with that arrangement. But lately, I couldn’t just watch her as she ruined her life with whatever she was trying to deal with alone. She needed someone. She needs me. Does she now, dumbass? I wanted her to need me and consider me as her friend.

was it, but I was completely wrong. Something flipped inside me and told me to do something, and that I never

was right, it was immensely bothering me.

“I wish it’s

just have to

***

nearly satisfied, and my mind was somewhere else most of the time. The Fleur Gym was just next door from the tattoo shop, also owned by Alan. I didn’t know what I was doing here, the fact that I had a mini-gym in my pad. Perhaps, I

weird. Over a coffee? Yeah, I kinda knew what coffee she liked. Just the word talk made me wince in embarrassments of not having guts to ask her. Every time I saw her number on my phone, my brain

the bench, lied down flat, and did a few bench pressing. Then, I placed the weight back,

down at me. “Try sharing. It’s not bad to talk to someone and ask for help once in a while. Just don’t ask me for

raking my fingers through my damped

fixed his 3C hair with the black headband. “Grow some balls already and just do whatever you are planning to

said I’m fine.” Pissed, I stood up and walked away from him.

your balls, Wood!”

“Your balls need

last thing I wanted. It would complicate things. I kept reminding myself that many times for a week now, but it didn’t help. I realized it was too late. My life

any good, but this was me. I had to embrace what I’d become. Nothing was going to change my past. I was happy with it, until recently

grown on me, and I liked the feeling that I cared about someone more than myself. Damn it, Megan!

screen that had my heart leaped over my throat. Speaking of the devil. How did she get my number?

unusual message. I don’t even know what I am doing at the diner across the tattoo shop, but here I am. Waiting...

after reread her message. It was really from her because I had her number saved for almost

are you doing here, Megan? Wanna get

air, rereading my message if it was right

you think? I don’t

rolling her eyes.