JEON
Aircon's breeze runs inside but mah sweat still drips on mah back. It's hot. Mah head's hot too. Why have I agreed to this? Only if I knew it's gonna be her house.
The taxi stops suddenly.
"Is it here?" Matt asks.
"Yes. This is Avenue B."
"Alright. Jeon, let us go."
"Sure."
We pay the driver before coming out.
Outside, the sun's high. Prolly too high mah skin's turning to black bacon. This ain't good.
Matt looks around.
"This avenue is broad."
"Indeed... Do you have the address for the house? I am certain that you do."
"Yeah. Street B1, Block 3, Lot 22."
We enter the street. Left and right, all can see are buildings, having glasses, having same lines. Some are big while others are bigger and only few are biggest.
"It's good that you don't have activities today."
"I am," not, "glad to accompany you here. Honestly, I am fond of paintings."
"Most people really find it boring to watch someone paint. I don't know hong long you'll be interested."
"I will never be tired from appreciating your artwork." cuz you, yourself's already an art.
"Do what you want. I'm sure that you and Shizumi will get along well."
Heebie-jeebies crawl me. Ain't gonna let that bitch lay a finger on you.
"Actually, she's Japanese."
"Really?"
"Yeah. That's why her name's Shizumi."
Now am high to meet her. Bitch can't be pretty. Who knows if she be looking like the ring's ghost. Sudoku? Is that the name?
Matt keeps on walking and I tail behind. On the corner, I see a 11/7 that has lights full power. It only makes things hotter, but also flashbacks me of Shapagetti. Might grab some later after this shit's done.
"You're pretty popular aren't you?" Matt takes mah attention.
"What are your words?"
"Many people are recognizing you here and there."
"I am certain that I am not popular."
He points to left. "Just look at those girls standing at the 11/7's facade."
I turn mah head to 11/7. Just like he said, two girls are standing the front, boring stares at me. Creeps.
"They're observing you for quite some time right now."
"Those ladies are just enjoying the morning view of this humble neighborhood."
"And in school, I'm hearing talks about you, being a great swimmer, winning the national competition, stories like that."
"I do not want to boast, but what they are saying is true. I managed to win the national competition during the past two consecutive years."
"Also at the mall, last week, there's someone that you know."
He looks straight away. "Hey, do you have a girlfriend?"
"I do not have one." ain't gonna, even if have to face death
"Ok. A boyfriend?"
What the heck?! Peeps blabber bout that too?
Hell, am gonna break their faces! "What are you talking about? Do I appear gay to you?"
"No. You look very manly and not effeminate. By the way, I met one of your friends back at the mall. His name is Gunwoo." he shrugs. "I don't know if you're close though."
The back of mah throat starts to burn. Mah chest tightens, and it's hard to sniff. You knew him?!
"She said 5 blocks away from the convenience store." he stops. "This must be it."
Calm down... Calm down...
"You look pale. Are you alright?"
This is Gunwoo's fault. "I am fine. Do not worry about me."
"Just tell when you're not. You have your medicine with you, right?"
Not really, but... I tap mah pants' pocket. "Yes. I have it with me."
"Ok."
He steps forward to press the bell. Side post's gate has name plate too shiny to be real cheap. It says 'Tama'. And can already tell it's a name for a bitch.
Immediately, a girl in uniform comes walking the gate.
"Good day. What are you here for?" she asks.
"Good morning. I'm Shizumi's hubae from the art club. She told me to practice painting with her today."
She bows. "Very well then. Just wait a moment good sirs."
"Thank you."
The house is humongous. Like straight up coming from one of the books or movies I know. She's rich but it ain't making her less bitchy.
"You came!"
Looking the voice, I see someone tall and fair skinned in a long dress of some sort. Her eyes are kinda rounded but ain't small. Guess she's not pure jap.
Bitch opens the gate. "Please come in."
Matt smiles. "Thanks. By the way, this is Jeon, my dorm mate."
I bow mah head. "Good morning, madame. I am Jeon-chun Myers. A pleasure to meet an enthralling beauty like you."
"Hahaha. You don't need to be so formal, but thanks. Just call me Shizumi."
"Yes."
Bitch leads way to her house and we tail.
Trees are everywhere. From the gate straight up to the concrete walk, all them are trees. Overall, the place just screams bitchiness. It's even plastered on the walls like 'The owner of the house is a bitch!' Can't wait this to be over.
Matt rotates head 360°. "Your house is huge, and here you said you aren't rich."
"I'm not. But I guess you can say my parents are? But I'm not that spoiled-brat-that-gets- whatever-she-wants-child, you know?"
Matt's looking sticky to her. Too sticky that it makes me go shitting her even more. What a damned bitch.
Suddenly, the pain in mah chest gets sharper.
"Are you really alright?" Matt asks, he's given me gentle eyes already.
"Yes. D-do not worry about me," I say.
"You're very pale right now."
"I am al-"
"Is he alright?" bitch screams. "Are you sick or something, Jeon?"
"I am fine."
He looks at her. Then, she nods.
"You can take a breather in the garden if it's fine by you," bitch says.
"I'll go with him."
"That's much better. Or actually, you can go home with him. We can just reschedule our practice."
Am not gonna break this for him.
"No!"
Mah voice comes louder that I think I've sonic voice.
"Do not be bothered with me. Matt, please continue your practice session with... with Shizumi. I will be just staying here for the time being." tryna force a smile. "I am really fine, and a rest will be sufficient."
"So you'll be here while we're painting?" he asks.
"Yes."
"But-"
"Ok. If that's what you want. Just text me when something came up or you're coming over."
"Sure."
Bitch looks at me."Are you sure about this?"
"I am certain," I say.
"Don't worry because he can handle himself." he walks to her. "I'll take him home if he really can't."
"Now, the two of you must go painting, or else the time will be wasted."
"If you say so." she smiles. "Let's go. Follow me."
The thin air gulps em faster than anybody can do me. On the other foot, I drop mah body to the bench. Shelter's roof hovers round me so the heat can't pass through.
Hell, why didn't I pick up pills today? This stupid shit won't go off.
While sitting, a thought comes to me.
I... I just left the two of em!
What am thinking?! This is bad. To stop bitch's schemes, I stand up.
"Excuse me sir. Ma'am is giving this to you." a maid's suddenly front me.
She sets down a teapot and a cup + a tray with a freaking large cake.
Ugh.
Sitting down, I cross mah fingers.
"Thank you. Please pay your madame my gratitude, but excuse my audacity as I cannot possibly eat this all." president will bang me if ate too much.
"Ma'am insists that you have it."
"A slice will be enough to fill my hunger."
"As you wish."
She meekly slices the cake. "What about the tea?"
"Only a cup."
She spills it the cup.
*Swoosh...*
Every movement it makes sounds like a piss. Gross.
"If you're done, just leave them there, sir. Don't bother with it."
"I understand. Thank you."
She leaves, and now, am left alone with a cake of white frosting. I pick it up with a fork.
The cake slides smooth down mah throat. Odd sweetness fills in. What's with this taste? I know this.
A table was in the center. Facing me, was ma and pa sitting beside each other.
Pa looked at me. "Happy birthday, Jeon!"
Little me yapped all around cuz it's mAh day. If mirror's place front of me, am sure be smiling like an idiot.
"He's happy, sweetheart. Jeon's really missing you these days." ma said. "Without you around, he's getting real antsy."
He smiled downward. "Aww. Don't say that. It's making me feel guilty."
"You're here! You're here!" I said.
Real smile immediately formed his face.
"Yes, I am here. I'm sorry if papa got a job far away from here."
"It's ok! Hehehe."
Holding ma's hand, he put it over table. Both em were smiling.
"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you!"
Then, he burned the cake with the lighter.
"Close your eyes and make a wish."
Like a dumb dog, I closed mah eyes and make wish.
"Yay! Jeon is 6 years old now."
"I'm a big boy!"
He chuckled. "Yes you are. Not only big but also good boy for understanding papa."
He ruffled mah hair.
"Hehehe."
*Clink*
The sound came from ma cuz she laid a plate in front me. A small white cake's on that plate.
"Mama baked this for you."
"Really?"
"Yes. Have a bi-"
I grabbed the cake without waiting. In hours, the taste overflowed like the Mediterranean Sheat.
"Woah!"
"You liked it?"
Nodded mah head like a spring toy.
"That's carrot cake." ma said.
"Carrot? You mean the orange carrots?" I dumbly asked.
"That's it."
"It's good!"
Pa looked at ma with a smile. A very warm smile that's hot, it could burn the whole house.
I'll never forget that look.
Mah wish was to be with 'em. Heh. Stupid mind. It didn't come true.
*Clink*
Something's hard. Suddenly, mah teeth feels a sharp pain all of a sudden and the taste becomes dull. I've bitten a fork.
Tsk. Why everthing's brings me in badood? Putting it down, I gulp the tea.
Its taste resembles dried peaches, and I hate peaches cuz it ain't long like bananas.
A wind blows to me. I sniff it, weirdly, I don't feel any tightness. That's why I pick up mah phone.
"Good afternoon. Where are you?" I send Matt.
Can't just sit there and cross fingers when a bitch's near him. I walk away the table.
I stop mah steps before the house and break the door. In the way, Kethel Thayer greets. She's wearing an old-fashioned dress.
"Good morning," she says. "Dear, you can get rest if you want. The rooms are available."
Nah. "Good morning, madame. I am sorry for intruding on your property. I am Jeon-chun Myers, a friend of Mr. Cruz."
"I'm Hinato Tama. Shizumi's mother."
Bitch's mother? Ain't looking as bitchy as her to me.
"How are you feeling?"
I look her straight though am bent. "Nice to meet you, Madame Tama. I am feeling fine now. Thank you for your concern.
"That's a relief."
"Can I ask a question?"
"Go ahead, dear."
"Do you know where Shizumi and Matt are?"
"Oh, they are in the art room. Let me show it to you."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"You don't have to be so formal. Just call me auntie."
"Who am I to decline if that is your humble request."
"Dear, I'm glad that Shizumi's friend is visiting over."
"Yes." ain't a friend though.
She walks me the stairs behind lobby.
"Are you from the same club as them?"
Shake mah head like a booty. "I am actually from the swimming club of the school."
"What a great recreation! That explains why you're fit."
"Thank you. If I say so myself, you are exceptionally beautiful for your age, auntie."
"Oh dear." she covers her mouth. "You're a sweet talker, aren't you?"
"I only voice what I am seeing. It is not a form of any flattery."
Her cheeks turn bloody like someone hit her on face nonstop.
"Only if all students back at school are like you."
"I see. You are an educator. That explains the way that you talk."
"Well, you can say that. I need to be careful with my words, but at the same time, I also need to draw people to me."
"May I know where you are teaching?"
"An art school in District 7. There are a bunch of interesting students there."
We pass several rooms. All have brown doors and weird carvings on them. After some days, she stops and points the door on the left.
"That's the art room. Shizumi and her sister mainly use that before, but now, it's just Shizumi who rooms in there. Go on. Say hi to them."
"Thank you very much for your kindness."
"Now, I still need to do some things. Will you be fine from here?"
"I should be all right. I can handle myself, auntie."
"Well, enjoy!"
"I will."
I pick mah phone. The screen's ain't displaying anything cept for many emails in school. Still replyless. I swear, her face's gonna break when something fishy's going.
I know. I'mma surprise em just to be sure. Without knocking, I open the door.
"Good after-"
In front me is Matt. And he's lying the floor while bitch's on top of him. Their faces are close each other.
"noon." mah voice comes like a whisper.
Feel shivers down mah back with mah chest tightening again. No freaking way.
Can't stand this. I runaway downstairs.
Vision becomes blurry of a sudden. Side mah eyes feels wet. Shit. Fuck bitch. Fuck Matt. Both are traitors.
Gave me flowers last week. Gave sweet talk. Saying he loves me. And I believe it?!
Fuck him.
As mah chest starts blasting, mah eyes almost turn white. Damn it, I can't think...
Like Gunwoo. Disgusted by homo. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Only used me.
Argh! Am stupid. Am idiot. I wanna die now.
Mah body pains but I ain't care no more. Just move!
I feel breathless so I stop. I catch air. When mah eyes die down, I see a boy in hoodie. Something inside turns on. Fine. If he cheated, then I'mma do the same. I tail him.
I blend mahself to the crowd. Peeps walk between us so I don't have to worry bout being found. Where's going? He turns to alley. If this is crime, better be ain't involved but little peeking won't hurt. As if am not hurt.
He walks the end of vacant alley. On other side, man in leather trenchcoat is waiting for him. Seriously? Trenchcoat for summer?
Mah phone vibrates. I ignore it. Contrasting, I hide mahself behind gift shop's wall.
"What did you find?" leather daddy asks.
"It's true," hoodie boy says.
"I see. What school was it?"
"The student with the Paradigm Class is Jip-Eun Sig Academy.",
Jip-Eun Sig? Paradigm?
Huh? What's that?
*Ding!*
A high sharp sound comes from the right. From the shop's door walk out two teeners. One has long hair while nother one's wearing glasses. Damn, president and glasses boy? Can't let them see me in mess so I quickly crouch behind the tall plant box front shop.
"You've received another letter?" glasses boy asks.
"Shush," president says.
"Ok. Tell me."
"In public?"
"Complain once more and you're gonna be more obvious," glasses boy says.
President's shoulders droop.
"I received another one," he says bitterly. "They knew my address."
"That's creepy, man. You should report it to the officers."
"But I'm not sure. It may be a prank or someone's good time but..."
"It started when the result of the audition came in?"
"Yes." he turns his head at him. "Just don't tell anyone about this. Not the members. I don't want them to be involved."
"Ok. But tell me, I'll help you."
"You won't give up anyway."
Their backs fade. What's up with the club???
Ah. Nevermind. Fuck anything.
*Ting*
Mah phone vibrates again. Can tell it's cheater. But ain't gonna reply now, he needs to think of his shitty cheating.
Feeling heavy, I swim back the dorms.