Why?
I was still speechless, staring at the ticket in Leon's hand with a feeling of frustration. From the way I understand it, dealing with problem people is bound to get us into trouble. Delinquents like Leon would never let anyone live in peace; at least that's what I understood at my last school.
Leon's smile was actually sweet, especially when he had dimples on his cheeks, which I was fairly unaware of all day because I hadn't noticed them. Still, as sweet as he can be, it's scary. It must be because I was scared.
"By the way, what's your name?"
Leon's question surprised me a bit, but I soon understood that, as a freshman, I hadn't personally introduced myself to my classmates, including Leon. Even if I introduced myself, it would be easy for Leon to forget my name.
"Alin. Alina."
"It's a good name," he said. "And my name is..."
"Leon, right?"
He turned back to me, then smiled. "Smartass."
"I don't think anyone will know who you are."
He chuckled. His gaze now led to the ferris wheel in front of us; one hand he put in the pocket of his pants. Leon's appearance is quite different from his time at school. The blue shirt with short sleeves and black trousers made Leon attractive. Her hair was also neatly combed—not cluttered at all, much less uncombed.
Probably because he's at the fair right now.
"Want some ice cream?" He said.
"You're offering me ice cream?"
Leon nodded without turning his head, and he was still staring at the local ferris wheel that was operating and decorated with glitter lights. "I know a great ice cream place here."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you ask me to buy ice cream?"
Leon looked surprised but immediately turned to me. Squinting his eyes, he looked at me. "Don't you know if asking for the reason that someone wants to buy you something is rude?"
"Since when is there such a rule?"
"Since today." Leon laughed. "Well, I'm not going to force you, either. It's just that I'm a little hurt because, despite my good intentions, you're accusing me of something."
What'd he say?
For fear of displeasing him and that in school he would make me a target of abuse, I turned to my friends. They're still over the rainbow. It's impossible to ask them for help. As a result, I was willing to accept Leon's invitation.
I chose chocolate ice cream, while Leon bought vanilla ice cream. Then we ate them on a long bench overlooking the sea.
"Did you come to this island by plane or by boat?" Asked Leon.
I scooped out that perfectly normal flavor of ice cream and put it in my mouth. "I'll board the ship."
"How does it feel?"
"This ice cream is too sweet."
"It's not ice cream; it's like crossing the ocean."
"Oh, my god, I just boarded a passenger ship. Not good or bad. Luckily, I don't get seasick. Wait, you've never been across the island?"
Leon looked shy and shook his head. "I'd really like to go to sea, actually."
"Then, why not go to the sea?"
"I mean, I want to go out to sea alone, without my parents."
It's weird to hear Leon say that. He looks like a scary mountain bandit in school, but he's a spoiled kid.
"Take your friends to the beach with you."
"Friends?"
"Your fellow gang."
"Gang?"
"Uh, hold on a second. My phone's ringing!" I reached into my shirt pocket and pulled out my smartphone. A message from Mom.
Mom: Alin, can you come home now? Oma collapsed.
*_*
In a hurry, I ran to where my bike was, but unfortunately, it's now in the middle row, and it's hard to get out. Whereas Leon, who turned out to be following me, asked, "Why?"
"I have to go home now! Can you help me get my bike out?"
Leon nodded and quickly rolled up the obstructed bicycles. I didn't want to stay put either. Luckily, thanks to Leon, I was able to get my bike kicked out.
"Why are you rushing home?"
"My grandmother is sick."
"I'm sorry," he said.
"No problem. Anyway, please tell my friends that you met them. I have to go home first."
Without waiting for any answers from Leon, I pedaled my bike down the mountain road because it was getting darker and darker, and somehow it seemed so overwhelming. This road is getting longer than it used to.
By the time I got home, the gates were closed. I tried banging on the door, but there was no answer.
"Mom! Dad! Open the door! Please! It's Alin!"
I screamed as loud as I could, but there was no answer. Apparently they went to the hospital, and sure enough, when I opened the phone, there was a message sent by Papa saying they were on their way to the hospital right now.
Auntie Tin was waving from her open window. "Alin, come here!"
"What's the matter, Auntie?"
"Your mother left me the keys to your house!" The middle-aged woman with curly hair took the key out of her jacket pocket.
"Thank you, Aunt Tin!" I said. "What about Oma? Why would she faint?"
Aunt Tin took a deep breath, then opened the door of her house and asked me to sit in the lounge chair on her porch. "Oma suddenly lost consciousness. Apparently, she's getting worse. Your uncle is really going too far to let his mother go this way."
Honestly, I can't blame Uncle Tom entirely, but Aunt Tin is an outsider who doesn't know anything about our family at all.
"If you want to catch up with them, there's a motorcycle. Just take my husband's."
"Really?"
Aunt Tin quickly got up and took me to his family's humble garage. There's a Mr. Huang bike that used to go to the garden. The bike was dirty and full of mud.
"You want to ride this?"
I nodded confidently. "Why not? I'd appreciate it if you'd let me drive it."
"In a moment, I'll get the keys from home."
Auntie Tin lives only with her husband, Mr. Huang, who is a retired police officer. Their daughter had married and lived in Australia, while her son was a member of the House of Representatives. Being far away from her children and grandchildren, Aunt Tin became so close to Oma and our family. She even thought of Oma as his own older sister. Especially since Opa died, Auntie Tin and Uncle Huang even helped out with a lot of Uncle Tom's education.
"Drive safely, Alin! Stop speeding."
"Fine, Aunt."
I was wearing a gray helmet that covered my face. Then the old motor swung along a winding road. Luckily, my ability to ride is good enough. However, the problem is that I forgot to ask where the hospital is.
It's simple; I can call Mama when I get down the mountain.
"Aaa!"
"Watch out!"
I immediately swerved to the right when I saw someone coming out of the bushes. I almost knocked him out on the bike. And luckily, I didn't go into the ravine.
"Alin, help me!" The girl I was about to ram into me, whom I immediately recognized,
"Tia? What are you doing here?" I wondered. "Uh, can you help me up?"
Only after I was released was I able to see clearly that what I saw was Tia and not a mountain ghost. It's just that he looks terrible. Her hair and clothes are falling apart.
"You know what?"
"Where are you going?" Instead of answering my question, he asked me. "Can I come with you?"
"I'm on my way to the hospital."
"Well, take me with you. It's a long and impossible story for me to tell right now."
I was going to refuse Tia's request, but seeing the bruises on her neck, I avoided the thought of uttering a sentence of rejection.
"Well, come on my bike."
"Thank god."
"My mom's blood pressure was too high," my mom said when I got to the hospital. In front of the emergency room, mom and dad were sitting next to each other. They seem to be under a lot of anxiety.
Dady wiped his sweat and said "Fortunately, we managed to get Oma on time; otherwise, it could be worse."
"You're right, honey!" Mom added. "By the way, who are you?"
Tia, who has been standing next to me, has finally introduced herself properly. "I am Mr. Roger's daughter."
"Tiana?"
"Right, mom."
"My goodness!" Papa got out of the chair and continued the question, "Are you Patra's daughter?"
Tiana nodded again. "Right, uncle."
"Say hello to your mom and dad for us."
After making sure everything was safe, I hurried to the toilet because I had been suppressing my desire to pee. On a fairly clean hospital toilet, I went into the toilet and sat there. I opened up the smartphone that I had been able to revive, and a message went in there.