Chapter 1: Family

Nine’s Point of View

The birds are chirping like a harmonious a Capella, the bright and very astonishing green trees that cover the whole campus were dancing gracefully as the wind blows. The very few students passing through are the only noise that disturbs the tranquility of ambiance of the Apo University.

It’s a conflict-free campus right now as we’re on a two-week break. After this break we need to go back to the old ways and habits as a student. The eat, study and sleep cycle. We may a sophomore student but the pressure and expectations are very unbearable but we need to bear with it, why? Because we don’t have any single choice. And quitting will never be our choice.

“Nine, let’s go. I’m hungry” Aya whisper to my ears like she’s teasing me like idiot, I may get irritated sometimes but I can’t deny her soothing voice to my ears, it’s like a fallen angel sent from above, a demon in short.

I burst a laugh of my own thoughts and all of a sudden Aya thump my shoulder with her heavy hand. For pete sake, an angelic girl like this has a heavy hand, well she half demon.

“Aya, you know what? ---” while stepping close to her to revenge for what she did. Close enough to hear her heart that beating so fast. 

“Why does your heart beat so fast?” I lift my eyebrows and ask her like I don’t know what’s going on, pretending I don't have any idea about it. I mean I know from the very start that this girl in front of me, my girl, I mean, the girl I described like an angel, likes me.

Aya is my friend, a friend that hold a special place in my heart and how should I not know about her feelings towards to me.

“What?” She said with a high pitch tone. Her turn red as tomato as I look at her eyes.

“We need to go, you’re hungry, right?” and grab her hand, going to her favorite fast-food chain so that the conversation will end. I don’t want to dig deeper about it this time, it’s not the right time to talk about it again. We need to wait for the right time to tackle this thing between the two of us.

As we reach our destination, we order Aya’s favorite meal, the chicken joy and spaghetti. I treat her, of course. Looking to Aya’s face while she’s enjoying her food is very nostalgic. These how we first met.

“Hi, is anyone occupy this sit” a girl approach me while I’m eating my lunch in this fast-food chain, she wears green oversized hoodie, matching with her very short shorts.

“None." I said without any emotions, I even eat faster so I can just rid of her. It’s just, I don’t want to interact with anyone I don’t know, and I’m not comfortable with.

“Chill man, you may get choke for eating fast, calm down” the stranger girl said in the middle of chewing her chicken.

I didn’t respond, I just let her talk and do whatever she wants not until there’s a guy approach him and starting to harass her. Guy is about to slap her but I stop them, I grab the man’s hand away to this girl.

I don’t like mingle anyones issues and problems but this one is different.

“What are you doing man, stop poking your nose to my business” he says it with an irritated face.

“But your business is harassing someone” saying it with no expression.

“Oh my god” the last voice I heard after I see nothing but color black, and feel something watery in my back head.

When I regain my consciousness, I see the same girl, still here huh?

“Doc, he’s up now” she shouted but with a shaky voice.

“Can you please don’t shout Miss” I requested.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m sorry” see the pea size of tear in her eyes. She’s about to cry.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean everything, I’m really sorry” and burst to cry.

My heart pound so bad, seeing her cry, I don’t know why but I feel uneasy and I want to comfort her but my body don’t have the enough energy to do what I want.

The doctor came and check everything, especially my head where I got beaten.

“We scanned the brain and found that it was little swollen with some hemorrhage and aside of that you have nothing to worry you just need to buy this medicine for your further medication” the doctor said and hand me a piece of paper where the list of medicine that I need to buy when suddenly this girl grabs the paper.

“Doc, I’ll buy it, I’m responsible what happened to him” she say while wiping her own tears, doctor just nod and he remind us to what to do next then he excuse his self.

“I’m Aya, by the way” giving me her hands.

“Aya…” I murmur.

“Yes, anything wrong?” Aya ask me out of nowhere.

“Ha? I mean, you need to eat fast we need to go the library, I need to get something important there” recovering the wandering mind that I have.

After that day, we became close friend, the chaotic meeting became one of the best thing that happened to my life.

Aya brought the sunshine to my life, she became my other half, the one who listen to me when I need someone to talk to, she became my shoulder when I need to lean on, she became my hanky that I need every time I cry. I know we feel the same way to each other, the feelings that we hold individually towards to each other is a thing that I’m not that ready enough to talk about, I can’t afford to lose Aya, I can’t risk what we have right now.

 “Nine, I heard from other faculty that the University’s Ambassador and Ambassadress Search will start next 2 weeks, after our break” stating while chewing her food.

“Yeah, why?” I respond like I really care about that event. It’s not my thing.

“Hmmmm” while sipping her drinks, it gives me hint that she wants to join that contest. I know this girl.

“What?” looking to her eyes. I know if I do that, she will tell me.

“I want to join, please” while making her face cute, No, Aya. Stop that I can’t resist of your charm. Please stop that.

“Yeah, sure, why not” I said with a monotonous voice. I don't want to show how I affected with her charm.

She smiles with her teeth, showing her white and perfect curved teeth.

After we eat, we went to the school library go get the books that I need for my assignment and also to let Aya wander to Architecture Faculty Building just for a little while, we even stay there for almost five hours.

Ensuing that I got the books and let Aya enjoy, I drove her to their house, usual, nearly 8 in the evening when we reach their house. When we’re approaching near to their house's gate her father and her mother just also arrive, maybe they’re from work.

Aya and I get out of the car as I we reach the gate. I don’t want to let Aya’s parents wait for us, even just couple of seconds.

“Good evening Nine, come inside, let’s have a dinner” Aunty Anya said, Aya’s mom.

“Yeah, you should eat with us Nine, it was long time ago since you eat dinner here” uncle Ysmael seconded what aunty Anya wants.

I’m hesitant at first but he's right, it was a year ago the last time I came inside. Aya’s family is such a welcoming family, one of the reasons why I value Aya so much, her family love her dearly, they didn’t even hurt Aya even once. They may look so intimidating but they are soft and lovely, also Aya’s sisters, Ayeza and Aynna, they love each other dearly, like how dare I am to hurt her, right?

The dinner was served and we’re starting to take a bit of the food and suddenly Uncle Ysmael said “Nine, are you courting our baby?”.

I spit the food in my mouth out of shock, he’s so straight forward. It gives me chill and goosebumps.

“Chill young man, I’m not interrogating you, I’m just asking” he laugh while wiping his side lips and ready to question me again.

“Dad, stop that” Ayanna with a smile with her face, while giving me the tissue for my dirt.

“I’m just asking” with his playful voice, I know you’re teasing me Uncle.

“Dad…” Aya said, like she’s stopping her father to say something that’s not allowed to say.

“Fine” Uncle Ysmael utter like he’s surrendering to her lovely daughters.

“Uncle, Aya and I is such a good friend, and I can’t afford to lose her if ever our relationship will bound to break us.” I profess, with whole-heartedly. I look to Aya and hold her hand “We're young, I don’t know what our future holds but right now, I just want to take good care of her and protect her as much as possible as her friend” and look Uncle Ysmael and Aunty Anya.

Seeing the smile in the face of Aunty Anya, give me relief, I speak the right words, I guess.

“Hmmm, okay” Uncle Ysmael murmur that I almost don’t understand.

The following hour, as we finish the food and I’m about to bid my good byes, Aya call me to their garden.

“Can we talk?” she utters without looking at me.

“What are we going to talk about?” pretending that I don’t have any idea.

“What did you mean by that---” She didn't finish what she want to ask me when Aynna enter the scene.

“Aya, Daddy calls you” Ayanna interrupted her sister.

“Yeah, I’m coming” Aya left me with her sister.

“Hi” Aynna, while she smiles, a teasing smile, of course. She stand near beside me.

Aynna and I aren’t that close, the little thing that I know about her is, she’s the middle child and she’s a first-year law student. She was the one who continue of what Uncle Ysmael had, the path to the Law.

She looks at me from head to toe and “Nine, do like my sister? she asks casually.

I hum and look up to the sky, like I'm prolonging the time. Well, the truth is I can’t tell her directly.

“I understand if you don’t want to tell it, I also get it that you’re not yet ready about such things but one thing that I want to tell you is that, don’t hurt Aya, don’t let her hold on to something that you can’t give her, don’t put her to the situation full of uncertainty. Okay?” and serve me the look full of authority.

Aya is approaching with her another older sister, Ayeza so that Aynna left me hanging.

“Nine, what does Ayn told you?” Ayeza ask me like she know that her sister would probably say something.

“Nothing, we just greeted each other” and smile to make sure she wouldn't doubt.

“By the way, Aya told me that she wants to join the Ambassadress thingy competition in your school. Nine can you tell me about it, is it nice and decent?” Ayeza with her soothing authoritative voice. You know that kind of voice that you'll get scared but you can't deny to listen it?

“It’s indeed a nice and decent competition” I stated factly,  though I do not like the idea of Aya joining that pageant but I can’t stop here to something what she likes.

Ayeza automatically look at back when we heard someone is coming, and it’s their mom.

“What are you talking about, huh? You guys have secrets?” Aunty Anya said it like she’s with our age, acting like she’s not a strict senior Engineer in their firm. 

“No mom, we’re talking about Aya’s plan joining a pageant in their school, like she told us earlier.” she said using her calmest voice that I’ve ever heard. Well, I came here a year ago but I heared her voice every time she calls Aya.

“Ohhh, I see. Anyways, about that thing, Aya can you give me an assurance that you’ll not bring any embarrassment because of that pageant? Your dad and I ho---" With her calm yet deadly tone. There's really something in thier voice that will make sure that will give you fear.

“Mom, I want to join this pageant to boost my confidence and to---” Aya interrupted her mom. 

“Stop cutting me, Aya. Whatever reasons you have, just make sure that you’ll make us proud and never ever embarrassed yourself, me and your dad.” with the same tone she used earlier,  then she walks out as her phone rings and I thinks it's quite important.

“I’m sorry about that, Nine” Ayeza take the embarrassing behavior of her mom. After that she excuse herself.

Im busy looking at Ayeza's back but then I hear Aya’s sobs. I said earlier that they don’t hurt Aya, yeah that’s true. They don’t hurt Aya physically but they put Aya so much pressure.

“You can cry” I told her and smile at her, giving her the comfort that she needs.

“I’m sorry about that” with her trembling voice, trying to stop the sobs that she’s about to release.

"I understand, don’t worry, okay? I’m at your side no matter what happen. You should stop crying, I can’t go home with your state like that” as I hissed her.

“Oh my god, what time is it? You should go home, it late, let’s go, I’ll walk you outside” she quickly shifted her body to check her wristwatch.

“Aya, calm down” I hold her face just to make her calm down though its valid because it’s already 10:30 in the evening.

Eventually I didn't argue more, I drive myself home. When I reach our house, I text Aya as she requested but I added it.

“I’m home, safe and sound. Don’t worry. And Aya, please don’t overthink about that thing. I’m here to support you no matter what, I won’t leave you alone with your battles. Goodnight”.

After that I sleep, knowing next week will be the start of the chaos.