"What?"
Once again we are exclaiming the same question to the fact. There is really a bundle of newfound information that surprises us.
Gently, Mrs. Jang pours the tea into our glass cups, her hands are steady in her age. Drawing back to her seat, her bitter smile reflected as the poignant memory resurface.
"Indeed, he is my half brother. I don't pledge for Naomi, she has the reasons why she is ashamed to declare his own uncle." She demurred. "Growing up, he had always cast problems. Drugs, gambling, and debts from the loan shark, always gave my mother heartache and disappointment. My mother died soon later, having no one else to depends but for me, my family is living in hell soon afterward. " Tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to fall at any time.
"Aunty... it's alright. The bad memories are best left behind." Samuel puts his hands on hers, retaining her from being sad all over again.
"Son, as a mother, I'm alright, I'm strong. But, my pity daughter, Naomi's fate, is what breaking me apart." She stuttered, wiping the tears away from the corner of her eyes.
Anxious, I have a bad omen, "What's wrong? What has he done to Naomi." I repeated the same questions.
"I don't want Naomi to waste her intelligence, thus, I enroll her in that school. My little girl's determination entitled her to a scholarship. But, that jerk instead got a job in there. He had been blackmailing to reveal Naomi's background for money ever since." Sniffled, the constant flow of tears had her nose all stuffy. "I had been condemning her but I know, my girl didn't mean it, it's hard to survive in the prestigious society perspective when she is only a mere girl from a shantytown. I don't want her to be bullied."
The fact that Naomi had been hidden all of this from me had me perturbed. I don't understand, when my mom prohibited me to go to her house and befriend her, I only thought that mom is mistaken her as a bad influence on me as I never wanted to come home early when I'm with her.
Naomi's house feels home to me, I love to see how they greet each other warmly in the neighborhood. I had been using her to fill my emptiness, without even bother the little things about her in return, it is not surprising at all if she started to hate me out of a sudden. I swallowed the bitterness that is forming in my heart, in a low voice, I replied to Mrs. Jang, "I never thought that way Aunty, I always think she is a good friend. But, she had been avoiding me these few days, I had been worried."
"Oh dear, I had been emotional again. I'm sorry. Drink, have a drink" She turned the other way, using the corner of her sleeve, rubbing away the sorrow from her eyes.
I take the opportunity to wipe the tear that is about to bombard my sight in instant. From the corner of my eyes, I sensed that Samuel is watching me, picking up the glass of warm tea, I motion Samuel to do the same. "Sure, aunty don't worry we will."
"Aunty, Is there anything that might be bothering Naomi?" Putting the glass back on the saucer, Samuel asked.
Inhaled deeply, Mrs. Jang exchanging a glance with both me and Samuel, "I'm worried too. This is something unpredictable, my half-brother's death was supposed to be a relief for her. Tragically killed, but, of course, which sane human would want to curse their own family to die in such away. Naomi must be depressed in between. I don't even allow her to attend the last farewell ceremony. I have given a thought to protect her from the pressure."
Tragically killed. And that one killer could be me...
I clutched my chest, the words ignite a sudden painful throbbing from the center of my body.
But, I'm not the killer. I reminded myself, again.
The fact that I was there at the crime scene, makes me guilty. And the guilt is eating me from the inside as long as the real perpetrator is still on the loose.
"Are you alright, Lana" Mrs. Jang extending a hand on my shoulder, looking into my distressing expression.
"Ah, I'm fine. It's just a reflex, nothing to worry about." I assured her.
"That's good. Please enjoy my simple recipe, it won't be nice when food getting cold." Mrs. Jang offered, the warmness she always radiates return as she smiled. "I'm happy that both of you love the food, I'm going to check on the soup I heated this morning, I will back shortly." Mrs. Jang excused herself and get into the house.
Samuel elbowed me softly, leaned over, and whispered to my ear, "Lana, this is scallion. Real scallion."
"Duh, what is the matter with you? Just eat already and leave sooner. I'm getting uncomfortable already." I hissed.
He rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Gosh, you are something, Lana."
"But, Sam..., do you have any new outcome on this? I'm kind of afraid of where this case might lead us. Shall I just..."
"Shh, we will talk later after this. It won't be nice if aunty overheard us." He spoke quietly under his breath.
I nodded, obeying him, stuffing a piece of the pancakes into my mouth, and letting the taste devour my senses. The other day, Mrs. Jang's pancakes had always amazed me, but today, my tastebuds had decided to betray me. I munched in silence as my mind conjuring a plan on the reason to see Naomi. At least I must get her to talk to me again, how can I ignored my friend just like that, right?
Though throughout my childhood, I have befriended Samuel the best, I am still longed to have a sister and best friend.
And Naomi had been the first friend I have, I don't want to lose this friendship.
Fumbling with my cellphone, I texted her. Few seconds passed, Naomi is online and the indicator shows that she had read the message, but there is no sign of Naomi will be replying to me.
Sighed. I put my cellphone aside and stuffed another piece of the pancake to bite. My mind was about to drift away when the "TIING" of new message notification startled me.
"Who?" Samuel asked, curious to my sudden utterance.
The short text from Naomi sounded, "8 am tomorrow, at my home."
"It's Naomi, she finally agreed to see me," I exclaimed in joy.
"Really? You must be happy. When?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"So you are going to skip piano class?"
"Yes." I nodded with a smile. Samuel understands me, I can't stop admiring him.
Examining the look on my face, Samuel turns away and replied, "Sure, anything for you."
"Great, Samuel is the best!"
And in an instant, my favorite scallion pancake tastes better like before again.