4. The Automobile Company (The past)

Just when they reached the right corner at the far end of the washroom, where they will appear well hidden from the wondering eyes of many, Ann leaned on the wall and sighed in relieve. Her heart was palpitating hard and her hands sweating profusely, what she just went through was a bit traumatic for her. She jumped up immediately and her eyes wide open, as if remembering something very important, she turned sharply to Judith and asked,” who-who is he?, who is this Rex Radford?”.

Judith stood there frozen for a while, too surprise to alter a word. After a while and a lot of blinking she turned her attention to the expectant Ann and spoke slowly to her as if talking to a child, “ what? You-you mean to tell me that you had no idea who Rex Radford was and you choose to disgraced him like that? oh my gosh! Oh! Oh my gosh! Of-of cos you don’t know him, why did I follow you blindly? Oh! Oh! I should have warned you but when I saw him smiling and approaching us like in the movies, I was mesmerized until he opened his mouth and said all that nonsense. I was so angry when he was trying to degrade you like that, then you insulted him and those idiots started looking stupid. I was super proud of you for standing up for yourself for once. Then-then……….”, she paced around nervously.

Ann rolled her eyes dramatically and tapped her impatiently, Judith stopped talking and turned to her startled She saw Ann with a more confused expression, pouted lips and one eye brown lifted upward,”so who is he?”, Ann asked her again.

Judith sighed helplessly,”oh! do you remember that gorgeous, super expensive and fast sport car we saw a few weeks ago? The white one won’t stop talking about when we went shopping during that midyear sales at the mall? Do you remember? We saw a lot of people taking out their phones to take pictures of it and Frank Lai the actor and his friend came out of them for their movie premier”, Judith described vividly.

Ann nodded blushing as she remembered those fine species of the male gender they happened to come across in the male and how she wanted to keep staring at them forever,” yhh I remember, what about it”. She muttered shyly.

Judith wanted to pull her hair in frustration, Ann doesn’t know how bad their current situation was but she doesn’t blame her either because she has a non-existent relationship with the outside world. Judith sighed and continued slowly,”do you remember how much the said car costed when we browsed it later and the company that manufactures them?”, Judith asked her.

Ann nodded again,” ohh yhh, I remember. We googled and said the car costed at about ten million dollars and the manufactures was......”, Ann thrilled off thoughtfully. She forgot the said company but remembered it was a multibillion company owned by a rather good looking man.

“Mmmm..….Oh! Oh! Oh yes! I remember now, the manufacturer was stated to be Radfords Automobile company. Right?”, Ann asked with a confused expression.

Judith nodded with a small smile,”who was stated by g****e to be the president of that company?”, Judith asked patiently.

Putting on her thinking cap once again, Ann thought till she remembered the answer,”Hmm I think one Alfred Radford, why?. Can you just go the point already”, she sighed in frustration.

Judith ignored her tantrum,”we’ve been hearing the same information from almost everyone’s lips all day, who is said to be Rex’s father?”, she questioned Ann.

Ann answered whilst rolling her eyes, she was beyond at this stage. The entire school population won’t stop talking about him and it was annoying her to the core.

“ Rex’s father? Alfred Radford, I’ve been hearing that name all day, it was actually beginning to annoy me like.....”, Ann started but paused half way.

A loud gasp escaped her lips, her heart escalated and her bag fell on the ground with a loud bang. Judith lifted up her head slowly and saw the ghostly pale appearance of Ann and rushed forward to catch her before she fell on the ground.

After managing to help her walk to her mini van without either one of them making a fall, she drove them to Ann’s apartment. Thou it was nothing to write home about, it was cozy and warm with lots of memories.

If not that Judith knew she drove a sane person to the apartment in her mini van, she would have sworn heaven and earth that her best friend was insane or was probably in the early stages of psychosis. Judith sat on the small couch whilst her best friend sat at the other end in the corner, staring into space and talking to herself almost at the verge of tears.

Wanting to comfort her, “ Ann it wasn’t that bad and I guess he will forget it by tomorrow but I doubt Aviriana and her friends will let it go. Oh! oh my gosh I knew his year was doomed when I didn’t go to church on 31st December to welcome the new year and pray for forgiveness of sin but I didn’t know it will be this bad! Our lives are ruined, like my life is over and ........”, Judith stated with a sigh.

Judith heard the door open harshly, bringing her out of her dazed state. She turned and caught Ann just in time with her hands pointing outside. She had a hard glare on her face making gestures with her finger for her to get out of her apartment.

Judith gasped loudly in astonishment and put her hand on her chest,” I should leave? Why? bu....t b.......ut, you can’t throw your bestie out of your place? It’s against the best friend rule!”, Judith exclaimed in anguish.

Ann glared harder,” I can if I need my piece of mind and my said best friend is rather trying to made me bust a vein and get a stroke or probably trying killing my last brain cells! I need to think about my life, I might not even have a life anymore tomorrow so please, excuse me!”, Ann outburst whilst breathing heavily. Mental health is key and hers was currently hanging on a thin thread.

She pointed at the door once again stomping her foot in an impatient manner. Judith knew she had no choice but to take her school bag, car key and walk towards the door with head bow down in guilt. She knew she wasn’t being helpful nor a friend to her at that moment.

She murmured a soft, “I’m sorry”, as she by passed Ann. Judith soon realized she made the issue more complicated for Ann when she was blabbering, instead of trying to comfort her, she rather poured more fuel in the fire. She went to her mini van and drove home slowly and silently, not even in the mood to listen to any music.