Destroy Me Gently:Ex-Enemy Becomes My Lover!-Chapter 138: A lying tongue

**OLIVER WEST**

The next few days dragged by in a blur. More tests, extra classes, the usual chaos of finals approaching. At least William had written down notes for all those weeks I’d been in the hospital. Kieran had taken me to get my stitches removed yesterday, and physically, I was healing fine.

But mentally? I was a mess.

The studying part was hectic, even though Kieran had been fully supportive and helping me out with the areas I found difficult which just happened to be every subject.

Today, I saw Xander in the hallway, and it felt even more awkward. Like I couldn’t even look at him properly, he was really my half-brother?

I’d avoided him and walked past as if I hadn’t spent some time last night in the bathroom, scrolling through his social media pages, for any sign of our father.

I hated that a little part of me felt interested, I wanted to know why his other family was more worth it to stay with.

I couldn’t explain it, it wasn’t that I wanted him back with us or anything, perhaps, it was just curiosity. Or maybe resentment.

"Hey, Oliver. How’s your head?" The voice sounded from behind me and I flinched.

I thought I’d succeeded in ignoring him!!

I whirled around to see Xander, he was staring at me with something resembling concern.

Ah! As if I needed his care, I just wanted him to stay the hell away from me, it would be more comfortable for everyone this way!

"Better," I mumbled, having no choice because he was still staring at me expectantly. "Still getting headaches sometimes, but it’s all good."

" Even though you don’t seem to like me, I’ve been worried about you." Xander crossed his arms, peering at me closely "I don’t get it. Why do you dislike me so much?"

The direct question caught me off guard. My mouth opened and closed like a fish.

He was right.

Why did I dislike him?

Even before finding out we were related, I’d kept my distance. Maybe because Kieran didn’t like him, so I’d followed that lead? Or maybe because of his warning about Kieran, which had made me wary?

"I don’t hate you," I said finally, and I meant it. "I just think it would be better if we stayed away from each other."

Xander nodded slowly, but something haunted flickered in his eyes.

"I was only looking out for you, you know. You didn’t have to show me that... that day."

My eyebrows drew together. "Show you what?"

"Back at that costume party, I didn’t know who you were. I was just having a good time. I asked Alex about you, looked you up online. That’s when I found out who you were." His voice dropped. "I wanted to know you because I was curious about the other family my father had."

The word ’father’ from his mouth felt wrong. Like he was claiming something that belonged to me, even though I didn’t want it anymore.

"Every time I tried to get to know you, possibly befriend you, your boyfriend got in the way."

"He’s a little possessive," I said defensively.

Xander stared at me, then laughed. "A little?"

He studied my face with an expression that made me want to squirm. "Looking at you, I don’t think you have the spine to show me that."

"Show you what? What exactly do you want to say?" I was already growing impatient, what the heck was he beating around for?

"That day I came for tutoring." He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. " Hell, I don’t want to remember it."

My confusion only deepened. "You came for tutoring?"

Xander’s eyes mirrored my emotion, then something resembling understanding dawned in his eyes.

"Didn’t you text me to come early? Which I did. I knew I was right, it couldn’t have been you."

My brain refused to process what he was saying, my palms felt sweaty from anxiety while I forced my mind not to think what those words meant.

It couldn’t be.

I never texted him... And that particular day, Kieran and I had been... Oh God!

NO WAY!!!

The hallway suddenly felt too small, too hot. My textbooks slipped from my sweaty palms and clattered to the floor.

Xander bent to help me pick them up and then he looked at me with something that might have been sympathy in his eyes. "I don’t think your boyfriend is just possessive, Oliver."

-

-

The day was almost over.

I hadn’t spoken to Kieran throughout the drive back home from school.

I’d wanted to ask if he had actually texted Xander with my phone, but each time I opened my mouth, the words refused to come out. They were completely stuck in my throat.

Because then what? Xander had already shown me the evidence of the text message I supposedly sent to his phone, everything was clear, so why couldn’t I confront Kieran?

Did he intentionally make Xander come to see what we were doing? That was completely sick! My stomach lurch with nausea just thinking about it.

"You’ve been so quiet, are you okay?" The familiar voice jerked me from my spiraling thoughts.

My heart sank to my stomach, the words were forming in my lips again, I inhaled deeply, meeting Kieran’s gaze. I needed to confront this truth!

"Kieran."

"Hmm?"

I took a deep breath, meeting his eyes. "Did you—"The words caught in my throat, like a cough that wouldn’t clear.

"—just ask if I’m okay? Well, I’m fine."

WHAT. THE. HELL.

My brain was screaming at my mouth to cooperate, but wrong words kept spilling out like my tongue had a mind of its own.

Kieran looked at me, his lips twitching into a smile. "You looked so serious. I thought you were going to say something important."

"Anyway," he continued, wrapping his arms around my waist as I sat on the dresser, "I planned a little party at Sol’s place. We never got to celebrate our birthday after you got hurt, and you’ve been so stressed about school. Want to go?"

"Sounds fun."

The words came out automatically, along with the world’s most idiotic smile. My internal voice was screaming.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?

I should be asking about pressing issues!

This was it, when we get back, I was going to demand answers for sure!