||NOAH||

I could feel Brad's suspenseful vibe as we stood in front of Damian; though, Damian seems to maintain a cool expression, unfazed. He heaves a sigh and looks like he was about to speak with his mouth slightly croaked open. He looks at me, "I-I..." he murmurs with a bit of hesitation. Looking at Brad, he seems confused as I was. Damian lets out a small pitiful laugh, shaking his head and rushes his front hair with his hand as if frustrated, "Can't even apologize properly..." he mutters to himself. My eyes lightly expanded as apparently, he's trying to express regret? Brad stayed silent, but I could feel his body stiffen with defense. Damien tried again, "I'm sorry Noah," he frowns.

"Why so promptly, why now?" I said, dejected.

Damien fell silent again, he actually seemed a bit uncomfortable; his eyes remained low and was avoiding mine. "I-It's just that... I... I want to stop making further mistakes, how I've treated you. I gave thought to what Annabel said before..." his hands clenched. I let him take his time to explain, but I could also tell that Brad didn't want to deal with him anymore. "Things in my life which happened a while ago made me rethink my actions, that's why I want to say sorry to you, about everything," he looked genuinely sincere. I only nodded with the same sullen look. Damian started to turn and take steps away, "I understand if you won't forgive me, but I just wanted to tell you that, goodbye..." he said before he jogged away again.

Staring at him retreating in surprise, Brad placed his hands on my shoulder and leaned slightly downwards to look at me within eye level, "are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah..." with a quick glance to where Damian  had directed to, he had already disappeared out of our sight.

"Authentic words or not, I still don't like him," Brad growled as he shut his eyes then sighed. I didn't say anything. I also did not like him, nor did I hate him with a malicious grudge, but if he were to talk to Annabel like that, she would have walked away in a blink. "Anyways..." Brad stood up to full height and reached out his hand. Looking at it, I take it and we both held each other.

For a while, he leads me around the place and eventually into a dirt trail where a few other individuals were also walking. Both of us were just enjoying the silence and the growing sound of chirping crickets as more vegetation surrounding us. Later on, after walking for about five minutes and lesser people in the area, in the distance, I could see a rather old, rickety, and huge fenceless wooden bridge in front of us; it almost looks wide enough fir vehicles to pass through here. As soon as we got closer, I just noticed how the bridge is suspended incredibly high above a narrow valley with a rushing river down below. Why does a place like this even exist? "I actually come here sometimes whenever I want to be alone," Brad brought up as he walked towards it. I didn't know whether to cling onto him or stay petrified in this spot. Brad let out a chuckle, "it's okay, this thing may look scary but is actually stable. Just stay away from the edge. I know you're terrified of heights, and honestly, I wouldn't want you to get too close to the sides either," Brad nodded and was already on top of it, making a creaking sound. Seeing how brave he was as sat down literally on the rim. Taking into consideration, I went with him with the recommendation of staying in the exact center of the way. Out of curiosity, I carefully crouched and snagged a view of just how horrifically high we are. The height could almost compare to the Ferris wheel we rode about a month ago. The river is violent. "Aren't you scared?" I said with both my voice and body trembling, observing him as he just sat down calmly.

"Just don't lean forward," he grinned with his hands strongly gripped behind the rigged surface behind him. I remained in the back, not daring to go any closer and tried to relax with my legs crossed together. Brad decided to rest his back and lay down next to me, his legs dangling. "Cars don't go here anymore I'm guessing?" I said to which he shook his head.

"Nope," he just murmured. We just gossiped about things: he also told me the news that his parents didn't like the idea of him going with me to Germany, which I understood but also was let down to know. We kept talking and talking and were also conversing about our friends. Curious, I wanted to get to know the others as well via Brad's perspective, "say..." I started, "Any recent juicy stories or things about your buddies?" I asked.

Brad blinks at me before taking a good stare at the nice cloudless sky. Tapping his chin, he then places his arms behind his head, "Zack and Andrea are now dating," he said.

"Called it," I said cheerfully which made Brad laugh, "wasn't it obvious that he liked her for so long?" I was invested.

"Yep, so painfully clear," he added. Then, his face morphed into an irresolute one. I raised an eyebrow at him. "And erm, Jackson... I don't really have the facts but... he might have certain indescribable feelings to one of your pals," his lips tightened, pushing inwards to his cheeks.

I gawked at him in surprise, "does he have a crush on Kate?" I could barely hold my laughter at the thought of being able to tease her this time for her having a secret admirer. But that wasn't the case when Brad shook his head. I looked at him with uncertainty. My mind forwarded to the thought of Jackson liking Annabel, which would just be immensely awkward. "But..."

"Ethan," Brad just blurted out suddenly, and my head scrambled, even more, processing the information.

"W-wait... what?" My eyes went wide, "are you being serious?!" I raised my hands crazily.

"There seems to be hints leading to the theory, but it's just a guess," Brad sighed.

Woah... I slumped down. I fell into deep thought within myself. This is absolutely bizarre.