Chapter 5: Chaos

Nine’s Point of View

“We are okay, right?” I started the conversation, but she just nod her head as her response “Max was just teasing you, Ya. That’s all. Nothing more” I can’t contain my self I hold her hands “I’m sorry about that”.

“Do you like me, Nine?” she ask.

I’m not yet prepared for it, my heart beats so hard, I’m out of words to say.

I bit my lower lip and “Yes, but I think this is not the right time to talk about that. I drive you home, its little late, you’re parents probably worried now.” And I’m about to start the engine when Aya hold my hand.

“I like you too. So what’s the problem? I was jealous, I was pissed by what Maxine did though she’s, never mind. Let’s talk about us. Nine can we clear things out”

“You shouldn’t jealous about that—”

“I must not jealous, because who am I to feel that, I don’t have any right to feel that. I’m right, Nine?” emphasizing the word must and right.

“Aya, it’s not like that. I’m saying that you shouldn’t jealous about that because what Maxine did was nonsense and we better talk about this next time. I’m tired and you are tired. Ya, it’s also late now. Please” I begged

“You’re right, we better talk about it next time” then she remove her self to the car and she’s now starting to walk, slowly walking away with me.

“I can’t let you walk alone, Ya, please let’s go back. It’s not safe there. Please.”

“You know what Nine, we’ve been like this for two years now. I’m not demanding anything that I don’t deserve, what we have right now makes me crazy, you’re making me crazy. Walking here in the dark is no difference being with you without clarifying things” now she’s wiping the little tears in her eyes. It’s another knife in my heart to me. Seeing her cry like that, because of me hurt me so much. I’m sorry Ya. I’m really am.

“Hey, anything wrong, why you’re still here. I thought you’ve left already” Maxine, she’s inside in her car, beside her is Joong.

“Can I go with you Max? Nine will do some stuffs. I need to go home”

“Sure, but can you sit behind. I also drive Joong home, he didn’t bring his car with him. That’s why. Is it okay with you?”

“Of course” without any hesitation she’s now sitting in Maxine’s car.

They bid their good byes, and left me alone. I can’t move my feet, my tears now slowly flowing through my face. I can’t breath.

“Nine, Nine, Nine, open this fucking car” I hear Juancho shouting outside of my car while tapping the window so hard. He can even break it in no time if he will continue it.

“What happened, why are you crying, for pete sake Nine, Let’s go inside. It’s cold here. Let’s talk inside”

I’m still silent, I don’t really want to impose my feelings, this is my responsibility, this was my choice so I should bear with it.

“Juan, can I take a rest. I’m tired. I was practicing the whole day for the pageant. It was very exhausting. And I even need to study, I have exams to take next week” though it’s quite true, that we have exams next week, but the truth is I don’t want to talk with him. He’s still managing a lot of cases right now.

He look at me intently, like he’s reading my mind. If I’m saying nothing but the truth. Then he decides to go out. He leave me in my room without saying anything. And I more thankful that he didn’t force me to spill anything.

I wake up because of the alarm and Juancho’s voice, he’s screaming behind the door.

“Nine, wake up. Someone is looking for you”

I don’t know anyone will come here. Theirs no one said that they will come here, and I don’t allow any one to come here unless I say so, or maybe it’s Aya, she’s the only one I know that fierce enough to come here, especially early in the morning.

I fix my self after showing my self to Aya when “Joong, what brings you here?. I don’t remember that I let you come here”

I’m disappointed ‘coz it’s not Aya, but also quite happy because if it’s her, I still don’t know what to tell her.

“You forgot your T-square in my car”

“How sure you are that it’s mine?”

“You’re an Architect, so?”

“You are an Engineer, you also use that thing, right?

“I know my things, and I’m sure that this is not mine”

“How sure are you? Theirs no name in it, maybe that T-square is Maxine’s”

“This T-square is yours and I’m hundred percent sure that it’s yours because you’re the only one enter and ride my car. You were the only that I drive you home, using that car” the finality and the authority in his voice is screaming.

I lick my lips, I don’t find any words to decline it.

“Nine, invite your friend to eat breakfast with us. I cook a lot” Oh god, Juancho thank you for saving me in this conversation, but wait. What? Invite Joong, breakfast? No. I’m not inviting him, no. But, shit he’s not moving, he seems don’t have plan to leave. I sigh as sign of surrender.

“Breakfast” I ask him simple as that, maybe he will notice that I’m not really inviting him and he’ll decline it.

“Sure” the he walks towards to our kitchen, to our table specifically.

I don’t know why I’m treating him like this, but theirs something telling me that I shouldn’t get close to him. Maxine is my friend and he’s Maxine’s friend, but it doesn’t mean that we should be friends too. Maybe to other it will apply, but to us is a big no.

“Nine, can you introduce me to your friend? Aside Aya, he’s the only one come here. Well you’re not fond of bringing your friends here” Juancho started the conversation

“Juan, this Joong” oh shit, I forgot his family name. No, I don’t know what’s this man’s freaking family name “Joong, he’s my co-representative, he is representing faculty of Engineering. And Joong, this is Police Inspector Juancho Ferrell, he’s my brother” emphasizing the word Police inspector, for him to get scared.

But, that was a wrong move, he’s now more energetic, like he find something to start a conversation between him and my brother.

“I know you, finally nice meeting you Sir” he even now smiling with his teeth.

“How did you know me? Did we meet before? I’m sorry I don’t remember you” Juancho with apologetic smile. What’s with you, you supposedly an intimidating brother. God Juan.

Joong is about to answer Juancho’s question when his phone ring

“I’m sorry, I just take this call.” Then he excuse his self.

I decided to continue eating, and this Juancho seems so curious about what Joong told him.

“Who’s that guy? I really don’t remember him, he’s not probably from precinct. What’s his family name, you did not mention it earlier” while biting a hotdog

“He’s Joong, I don’t really know what’s his family name. I don’t have time to know it”

“I thought he’s your friend?, What kind of friend are you, Nine?”

“First, he’s not my friend and second, I don’t know what kind of friend am I”

Juancho got shock for what I said, he even stop eating.

“What did you say?” he knows what I mean, that why he’s acting like that. He’s about to speak again when he notice that Joong is approaching, he stop.

“I’m sorry about that, it’s my dad” he sit down

“What’s your name again?” Juancho, aiming to hear Joong’s full name

“I’m Jonathan Oliver Chu, but everyone prefer to call me Joong, it’s quite far but, I like it more than my real name”

“Wait, what? Do I hear you right? Chu?” Juancho frown when he heard Joong’s family name.

“Yeah, it’s Chu”

“Chu? What is your relationship with Attorney Nathaniel Chu?”

“You know my brother?

Now, he’s not frowning anymore. I know that face. I’ve seen it before.

“Nine, it’s late now, I thinks you should go. Take your friend with you.

I may didn’t want to invite Joong for the breakfast, but I don’t want to do this to him, but I guess I don’t have a choice. I follow what Juancho wants. I don’t want to explode in front of Joong. Juancho is freaking mad, very mad.

I instruct Joong to go first, drive his car and use mine. He just said okay.

I still don’t have any single idea why Juancho got mad after hearing Joong’s full name, but I guess it’s all about family name. What’s wrong with the Chu? As far as I remember Juan didn’t got into any fight before.

Attorney Chu? the name keep repeating in my mind. If he’s mad about Attorney Chu, then maybe this Attorney Chu was connected with his past cases. But Joong said it’s his brother. He’s too young to handle case that time, even to be attorney. How old Joong’s brother? Or maybe Attorney Nathaniel Chu was his friend in college and got into fight and didn’t reconcile anymore. But knowing Juancho, he’s not kind of person that keep past issues. Who knows?

What the heck I’m thinking about that, I shouldn’t he bothered about that, so what if Juan won’t like Joong, he’s not even my friend.

“Practice postpone, will continue practicing next week. Chief Organizer said that all the representative will take their exam this week so that you can focus to your practice. Additional of that we will having a whole day practice”

What? Advance examination? You’re kidding me. Shit. This will be the end of me.

“Any clarification? Our trainer, then he added some do’s and don’ts for us to follow, he said it’s for maintain our body, based to him all of us got nice shaped body, so all we need to do is to maintain it. After that he dismiss us.

“This is fucking hell week for us, I guess” Maxine whine after rendering in her plate. “I even not finish this plate yet, why they are doing this to us”

“I guess this is the only choice they have” I said without removing my eyes to the book that I’m reading.

“This is insane” she added

“Hmm, yeah”

“By the way Nine, yesterday? Ahm, about you and Aya, she was crying when—”

“We got a small fight, I’ll talk to her later, after this”

“After this, aren’t you going to eat? That will be lunch. Anyway, what happened?”

“We just have argument Max, stop asking, were studying here” I make sure that she’ll not gonna ask me about that thing again”

“I’m just asking, okay? Calm down”

Well she talk to me? I’m not okay with this kind of set up, she’s too cold, she didn’t even text yesterday after that, I texted her a lot but I got no reply.

I once told before that Aya didn’t deserve the uncertainty, but the heck I’m doing it now to her. I indeed giving him no light in our relationship? Does we have any relationship, she’s not just a friend, special friend, is that enough, is it counted.

“Nine, break?”

“No, we’re not breaking up, it will never happen”

“The heck what are you saying? I said it’s lunch break” Maxine burst laughing “Are you really okay? You’re distracted, I noticed” she added

I fix my things after realizing that it’s already lunch time, I’m going to talk Aya.

I even left Maxine without saying anything, my mind seems so occupied.

While walking towards Music Faculty, I see Aya eating her lunch with Geo.

I feel the heat in my face and I feel like my ears is burning.

“What the heck, Nine. What is your fucking problem?” Aya shouted after I punch Geo’s face. This man? Really Ya?

I massage slightly and pinch the bridge of my nose, in that way I calm my self and think.

“Why are you with him Ya?” I make self

“Why? Can’t I? We’re just eating here, I’m exhausted Nine, we got our break from studying, what are you thinking?” she’s saying those words but her eyes is in Geo, she’s helping him to stand up.

I grab her hands “Ya, can we talk?”

“No” with full of conviction

“We will talk, you like it or not” then forcedly grab her but she remove my hands to her. I give my all strength to hold her, but I guess she’s too strong to remove it.

“Stop it, You’re making scene here”

“We will talk Ya, this is what you want right?” I’m about to grab her hands again but this step back

“We will talk if you’re fucking ready, Nine. For now stay away from me, please?. Compose your self and focus to the pageant and upcoming exams. Focus on that first and can you stop making scene here, this is not your place, you’re not just embarrassing me, you’re are also embarrassing your goddamn self Nine, so please, can you stop it. ” then she turned her head away from me. For the second time, seeing her walking away from breaking me into pieces. She’s right. I might just hurt her if we’ll force ourselves to fix things between us, knowing I’m not yet ready for anything.