The Rewritten Memory

CHAPTER 8: One stone Two birds

Then, after a pleasant evening, the only sounds in Alex's room were the soft click-clack of his fingers flying across the keyboard, doing his project while his other hand grabbed nearby potato chips, and his gaze was glued to the screen.

The quiet click room's silence was broken by the door creaking open. "Alex... why have you been avoiding me? Not answering calls and not texting back?" Wyatt's voice emerged in the pleasant room as he stepped his legs fully into Alex's room.

Alex didn't flinch his eyes, just focusing on the screen, his jaw clenched tight. He is struggling to control his inner erupting volcano fury, remaining utterly, stubbornly silent, still his fingers didn't stop typing.

"Alex....  Alex, talk to me!" Wyatt roared, his patience snapping. He slammed Alex's laptop down with a soft crack, and then he leaned over the desk and flapped his hands like questioning in front of him. "What the hell is your problem?" he asked.

"Problem!" A disgusted smirk twisted Alex's lips as he shook his head slowly, disbelief etched onto his features. His gaze shifted upwards and locked on Wyatt's eyes. "Are you sure, Aldric Calloway? " His tone was decent and laced with sarcasm.

"What? "Wyatt whispered, his hand ran over his head. He rolled his eyes for untold reasons. "Shit! He is always being dramatic, that makes me fuc*ing furious...."

"Why do I have to answer your unwanted question?" A disapproving smile tugged on Alex's corner lips, "Whatever I say... You're never going to listen to my words... never....."

"Alex?" Wyatt called out.

Before that, " Aldric...  I am not your brother, or your dad, but I am your best friend.... Just stop.... I said just stop what you're doing right now," Alex warned, his voice mixed with concern and pain over Aldric's action.

Alex... I want to be good, but..." Aldric began to explain, but Alex cut him off.

"I don't want your fucking explanation. This is not the right path, you have chosen... We are in a movie or something. You can't cheat an innocent girl... just for your fucking time pass. You can't cheat another woman while you are already in a relationship. " Alex groaned, still his eyes reflecting the anger in his gaze and his words. "How dare you, man? How dare..." his words slurring in disbelief of his action.

"Alex... I can't break up with Lyra!" Wyatt interrupted, his voice low, pleading as he reached for Alex, making him understand Wyatt's situation.

Alex didn't hear his unnecessary reason and raised his hand to stop the conversation, and he began, "You can't? "he asked, raising his brow like a threat.

Wyatt shook his head in disagreement.

"Then, breakup with Astrid?" Alex's voice was ice-cold, his words striking like a sudden thunder, leaving Wyatt without choice.

"Huh?" Wyatt was stunned by Alex's uncompromising words. What? What is he talking about? How can I explain to Alex..... he felt confused, his voice started slurring, his eyes wandering here and there and searching for the perfect answer. "Alex.... I can't do this either.... She healed me when I was completely broken... She's kind of my drug when I was shattered into pieces. She's the reason I am still alive." 

 Alex punched the wooden table with a sharp thud, making the conversation tense.  "This is your f*cking problem, man.... You are just playing with the two hearts.... You know what? Astrid doesn't deserve someone like you. She deserves better!" he confidently voiced the truth in front of Wyatt, leaving no room for argument. With a disappointed smirk, "Your behavior just proves why girls are afraid of entering relationships..."

"Alex! Try to understand me!!!! It's not my fault... You know we loved for 5 years.... When Lyra broke up with me, I was in miserable pain. That time, I got into another relationship. I got some unexpected care, love, kind words, and an understanding person.... This's my fault... Even a blind man never leaves a girl like Astrid. She is a kind and humble woman I have ever met... " Wyatt explained his situation, his voice softening with genuine regret in his words when he spoke about Astrid and trying desperately to make Alex understand him.

Alex remained silent, noticing the sudden flash of Aldric's excitement and concern in his words while talking of Astrid. "Then... cut off your connection on Lyra!!!!! Is the only choice you left...." he declared, his tone firm and demanding justice.

"No!!!!!!! I can't! She's my first love... How can a person hate a first love, especially if she still loves me?" Aldric's voice rose in a desperate, high-pitched plea.

Alex couldn't bear Wyatt's words. He let out a deep, controlled breath to suppress his fury within him. Understanding Wyatt's adamant behavior, he was losing his patience and walked away from Wyatt impatiently. " Fu*k!!!!! Go to hell..." he yelled, his posture facing the door, and stopped, turned towards Wyatt, his eyes hard, and resemble a challenge like a do-or-die task hanging in the air" I give one month.... Make a choice, otherwise I am going to tell everything to Astrid...." he ordered, his voice low and deep but sharp with finality then stormed out of the room.

"Ah!!"Wyatt screamed, his jaw clenched, and with his full force, his knuckles punched the wall in raw fury. At the same time, his phone beeped with a notification in his pocket. It must be Astrid, he wondered, immediately pulled out, and noticed the screen with some dread and longing.

"Why have you been avoiding me after our first meeting? Is there any issue? You don't like my looks?" Astrid texted with a confused and sad emoji.

A cold sweat pricked Wyatt's forehead and nose. Avoiding her? No! I can't, Alex... Without waiting, Wyatt immediately has his thumbs fly across the keypad. "No!! You look great, beautiful girl, I've ever seen..."

" Ash...Sorry about my late reply, I was busy with a project and college stuff... Please don't think too much...."

Then the message popped up within a second, "It's okay, Babe... I thought you just abandoned me. By the way, you look handsome than photos...." Astrid replied with a kiss emoji and heart symbol.

A weak, genuine smile finally tugged at his lips, forgetting Alex's serious warning. "You must be teasing me, right? But Thanks...."Wyatt replied with a kissing emoji. "How's your day?"

Typing..." displayed under Astrid's name for a tantalizing moment, stretching like a rubber band for a minute, then a new message popped up. "Nothing... same boring classes and my electronics professor gave a monthly project... Uh!!!! My bad luck, my project partner was male...." she replied with a screaming and disappointment emoji. 

Wyatt's eyes narrowed, noticing a particular word, "Male," a cold knot forming in his stomach. Shit! This is not good.... he thought as he texted back, his finger flying on the keypad in urgency. "Who's he?" 

"I told Ewan Huxley, who looks hot and handsome, every time girls scream when he crosses the other lecture, isn't it? Do you remember?" Astrid ended with a question, unaware of the silent volcano erupting inside him. 

Wyatt's hands ran over his messy hair after reading the text. He let out a deep, jealous breath. This is not a problem... this must be a huge problem... if he gets along with Astrid... he pictured Ewan's looks and smile. He texted back, "Yeah! I do...." Can I ask her how she thinks about him? he thought and texted the same doubt and hesitation.

Astrid is still online, the blue double tick checked, but no reply.

Wyatt's eyes remained on her name. His breath increased, and a sudden anxiety shot through him. Why did she take more time to reply? What if she has a good opinion of him? he wondered. His heart raced against his ribs faster with every delay second. 

Finally, the message popped, "Nothing... I haven't talked much with him, perhaps I can tell about him after his project.... But I can't delay... he was fucking hot!!!" she replied with a face with heart-shaped eyes.

Wyatt's eyes widened in shock after Astrid's text. Once again, he re-read the message with doubt about her compliments. "What?" he whispered in a low, disappointed murmur. "She thinks he is hot.... which means he is really hot? " realization a bitter taste in his mouth. Then, everything went black, dissolving into a swirling pattern of white dots and a blank. Suddenly, everything went blank memory.

Wyatt's eyes fluttered open slowly, and his gaze shifted towards the sofa, Calloway, who sat on a comfortable sofa, his hand resting on his chin, coolly watching Wyatt's face. A proud, knowing smirk touched Calloway's lips. "Welcome to reality, Aldric."