Jaya's messy look was etched in my mind and her face managed to bring worries in my heart. A part of me felt everything she wanted to say was already felt through her appearance…
"I meant talk in private."
"As much as I feel it's important dear, we need all the help we can get to save Alan" Angie grabbed a seat for Jaya
"Alan?" She asked looking at me.
"Yes" I nodded at her and immediately she smirked. A coy one.
" Angie said he looks like he's upto something, BAD" I said scrunching my eyebrows to maintain the seriousness the matter deserved.
"So what's up with Alan?" Jaya asked shrugging.
"We think he's planning to do what Parkour did!" Angie jumped in to answer.
"damn" Jaya said pulling her hair back.
"After work we follow him, okay?" Angie suggested making sure Alan wasn't around
We nodded in unison and after we agreed to keep track of each other by sharing numbers. After Angie left I made sure to ask Jaya what was bothering her. It was too risky to prolong her matter even if Alan's situation seemed much worse.
"Well it started with dating, we met on this dating app called swipes" Jaya begun and from the looks of it I could say it was not a good story.
"After two days he started to ask for pictures.."
"Pictures? Which kind of pictures?" That line seemed suspicious to me and I couldn't think of anything negative than that one word.
"nudes" she said as tears begun to roll down her chubby cheeks.
"Did you send them?"
"yes!" she said as more tears came out.
"Then what? " I shook her to make her come back to her senses and stop her from mumbling.
Her words made me doubt myself. I felt failed as a friend. The suppressed feeling of letting her down was now crystal clear. A part of me hated who I was and what I was planting in myself. No matter how my problems was I never did a thing to change apart from regret. But this person that was standing next to Jaya was a new person and probably the friend she needs.
"Speak up!" a whispered at her in a commanding tone.
"He threatened me with those nudes and before I knew it I was involved in drug trafficking"
"When did all this start..?" I couldn't believe what I heard. If I was less weaker than what I was I would collapse from the shock.
"Before Parkour died"
Oh my Lord! Where was my senses all this time?
"Don't tell me Steve is involved? "
"As much as I hate admitting it, he is "
I was pacing back and front rubbing my forhead with the palm of my hands. I wanted to scream and run away from this trouble but the new me was supposed to face the struggles and not look at it and walk with it.
Generous streams of tears rolled down her cheeks and in that vulnerable moment I hugged her. She cried while holding me tightly.
"Both of you should stop PMS-ing and prepare to go, Alan is moving out. HURRY!" Angie said quickly as her eyes didn't lose sight of Alan.
"SURE" I grabbed Jaya by the hand and we followed Alan once her left the bakery.
Angie stayed behind to close it while we slowly followed him. He would at times stop by shops and watch through the glass. He looked at every shop he stopped with a sad face like he it was the last time seeing them.
He finally passed by Parkour's home. He looked at the house and muttered something which we quite didn't get. Something along mother…
After Parkour's home we went to the house next door. I assumed it was his because he entered the house and closed the door. After a few minutes Angie decided to knock and no one was opening. We couldn't wait any longer and pushed the door open. By good luck he didn't lock his door.
Angie seemed to know the house well because the moment we stepped in she knew where to get to his room. He found Alan laying on his bed while the pillow was on his face. Angie ran towards him pulling the pillow away from him.
"Dont you dare try and kill yourself, Alan!" Angie hissed at him like some mother bear.
Alan's face was hilarious because he looked shocked.
"I wasn't trying to!" he said pulling the pillow back from Angie.
"Then how do you explain the pillow on your face? " Jaya jumped in
I nodded my head while pouting to show support to Jaya and don't look out of place.
"I always put the pillow on my face when I am thinking if I am on my bed."
"No" Jaya and Angie both shouted back at him in unison.
Just then the midnight bell from the house clock which was downstairs in the living room rung. Alan closed his eyes tightly as if something extra ordinary would happen at midnight.
Jaya looked at me confused, we were all confused. After a minute, Alan opened his eyes and looked around.
"Is this heaven? " he looked around and pinched himself.
"This can't be happening! " He started pacing across the rooms and looking at the mirror at the left side of his bed.
"I didn't leave the body! Noooo! "
Slap!
Angie slapped him to calm him down from his absurd behavior.
"Are you taking drugs or something?!" Angie asked him
"I am not!" Alan replied his hands rummaging his hair.
"Sure he is, explains the weird psychopathic behavior"
"Theres a whole lot bigger explanation for my behavior Jaya! "
"Do tell snitch!" Jaya answered back with anger.
"Are you here to confront me about your love buddy Steve?!"
"Trust me I wouldn't help a douche if it weren't for my bestie. Anna let's go, I am not welcomed here!" Jaya said holding my hand
"Jaya wanted to help you even if you got Steve jailed!" I said in Jaya's defence and left immediately with her.
That felt good. Standing up for her once felt good even if it wasn't that much of a big deal to her