"Are you taking me to a place where you could officially murder me Mr Kade?" I asked. "I want you to know that I have no valuable asset that you can acquire from me, alright?"
I heard laughter from Jason who was walking beside me. I turned and scowled at the guy who was leading me to another part of town, a place that I had never been to before.
"Wow, do you have such little trust in me?"
I scoffed. "Dude, I barely know you. I can count the times that we have crossed path. Me following you to a place that I have only heard from my neighbours, is already passed the thirty percent trust I have for you, good thing you did not decided to blindfold me. Then I would have definitely thought we had a vendetta after that silly supermarket fight and you are planning to go chop me off in the woods" I said bluntly.
Well maybe I was over thinking, but what do you expect, he said he was taking me to the Luca Lay. The mystical place at the other side of town. Not everyone had been there and I have only heard it from few neighbours who had said the place was as beautiful as a magical island.
Which I believe they were just over exaggerating, even though I haven't been there, I still have the internet. And it was just a theme park. Yes it was made to look like like heaven on earth and I won't lie, I am dying to see this place and be among the few people who had gotten the chance to experience the fun.
As you all know, money makes the world go round, especially in Lara's island. The division between the less rich and the rich men is nonsensical. They are like money racist, which is completely absurd. Everything is about money, even a theme park which is supposed to be for everyone was as expensive as buying a rare artifact.
It's not like we don't have jobs, we do, we work...but the value of our money is low making anything with dollars look like millions. But this rich are people who have companies outside of Lara's island, who get paid a huge fat cash. Not people like my family.
Sigh. Lara's island should just be made to a resort. I can't wait to leave this place. You feel trap and desolate among others, inferior among fellow human being and then people assess you and then scoff like you aren't worth their time. It's only few that actually care and hang out with you. Like Jason...or maybe he just wants something for me. I don't get his motive.
But what do I gain from always doubting, I guess I should enjoy the moment and protect my heart. Don't fall in love and you won't get heartbreak.
Beside no one said you can't be friends with a guy, right? So, I can just have him as a friend and that's it.
The thought made me smile.
Jason placed his arm around my shoulder which I tried to shrug off but he insisted and I let him be. Our footsteps were in sync with each other as we walk down that tarred road.
He laughed. "You think too much Hermosa, I promise you that you are going to enjoy this evening and you will go home with a smile on your face and your heart beating for me like crazy, your head will be filled with images of me and you shall fall in love with me"
I gave him a look and laughed. I just kept laughing. "You...hahaha...do you seriously think that? I don't mean to bruise your ego but boy you have big dreams. What would make you think that? Why would you even think that?"
He shrugged. "Because I am handsome and a cutie pie"
I looked at him. "Did you just call yourself a cutie pie?"
He stopped walking and gave me a cute look. He pouted his lips, placed his palms on his jaw and pushed his cheeks up giving me a cute face. "Don't I look like a cutie pie?" he said in a baby's voice.
I don't know whether to laugh or just walk off but I have no idea where we are going to, so I laughed.
"You look like a big baby, no you don't even look like a baby. Babies are cute, your skin may be smooth but you have a little beard. Your jawlines are strong and puberty is seen in your eyes. So you look nothing like a cutie pie, just...a hand..." I gulped.
He wiggle his eyebrows. I wonder how he does that. "A what, Ruby?"
I wanted to say an handsome man which is true, but then he will act all smug and his ego will fly up to the roof. Then he would use it against me.
Not going to happen. "You look like a bear!"
"A bear? I am sure that was not what you wanted to say. And bears are cute, so you are indirectly saying I am cutie pie"
What kind of logic is this?
"That's not what I meant. I meant the kind that is so angry, and bared their teeth ready to eat you up"
He placed crossed his arms and stared at me for a while, then grinned. "Hmm, you are right. I do want to eat you up"
"Excuse me?"
"You said I looked like an angry bear that want to eat you up. Not like I am going to eat you literally, but in another sense. You know what I mean" he smirked.
I blushed. I placed my hand on my cheeks. Did he just say that?
"You infuriating shameless boy! I swear to God, you are going to give me high blood pressure one of these days. How could you say that...to me?! Ugh, just take me to the park right now. Call a cab, I am tired of walking and I can't trust myself not to strangle you"
His Adam apple bobbled as he laughed. His laughter filled the air and surprisingly it felt contagious. I tried to keep my stern face but I couldn't help but chuckle a little.
He looked at me, his eyes bright, he was grinning. He raised his hand up and patted my head. "i trust you enough not to strangle me. You are too sweet to do that. Beside we are almost there. And as always, you still look cute when you are riled up. Especially when you puff your cheeks when upset" he turned and walked forward.
I rolled my eyes following him with a smile on my face.
Even though he is annoying, he still twisted his words to give you compliments. For someone as insecure as me, it meant a lot.
****
"Improv? You took me to an improvisational theatre?" I said flabbergasted.
He nodded. "Yes, don't you like it? It's unique"
I looked around the place. It was huge, couple of seats were filing around. Almost all the seat were taken, some people were on the wide stage acting out a scene from their head. We were standing at the back looking around. People were laughing at what the actors were doing up stage, it was jolly and everyone looks like close friends. No one was treating each other differently. No rich snobs, it was not what I expected.
"Are you sure this is Luca Lay?" I asked.
"Of course it is" he said looking confused. "Why do you ask?"
"Hmm, I thought it was a theme park? "
A look of realization appeared on his face. "Ah, oh that's the Luca Lay ultimate theme park, it's at the heart of the city. Luca lay is just a street name. So we are at Luca Lay"
"Oh, I see. Well, it's nice"
"If you want to go to the theme park I can take you there. I just thought you wouldn't feel comfortable. And it won't be fun. Maybe one of these days, I can take you to a theme park in the capital. It's different from the one here. You don't need a pass to go in, so a lot of games and people are there. It would be super fun"
I smiled. The capital, seems like that place is different from this town. I shook my head. "I really do appreciate the thought, but it's fine. So...why a theatre?"
He leaned against the wall, tucking his hands in his trouser pockets. "Well as I said it's unique and I just wanted to take you somewhere fun where you could be yourself and don't need to be in the presence of those judgemental people. And also, I own this place"
The revelation left me shocked. "You own this place?"
"Yeah, I bought it a while ago when I heard it was going to shut down. The other people that own this place are greedy fools" he scoffed. "Almost everyone in this town are greedy, the place was too expensive for people and not everyone have the time to always come here, so instead of them to reduce the price they decided to shut it down. I could not see that happen because this place meant so much to my grandparents. This is were they met and fell in love, so I could not bear for them to shut it down so I decided to buy it. Made it free, everyone can come here, also equality is a must too"
He smiled a little while looking around.
I looked at him, his eyes were filled with honesty and he looked glad to see that his hardworking was paying off.
"You know, I always thought you were some arrogant rich snob just because you were the prince but I never expected that you were actually this nice. You would be a great king, Jason"
He chuckled. "I am an arrogant snob trust me. But I guess there are some things that I am honest about" he stared at me, hurt flickered in his eyes before he quickly blocked his eyes and gave a discreet smile.
I nodded. "If you don't mind me asking, you said your grandparents met each other here. I thought, your grandfather was suppose to be doing his princely duties in the capital? Also, as a prince why are you here then?"
"Wow. So many questions, is this a sign that you want to get to know me better?"
"I..." I looked into his eyes, seeing my reflection in his dark pupils. I took in a deep breath and shrugged. "Maybe I do want to get to know you better, we are friends after all, right? Or are we still acquaintances?" I asked.
He shook his head. "No, we are friends. I shall answer your question, but first why don't we act out a scene"
He pushed me towards the stage. My eyes widened in shock, I did not expect this.
"Jason stop. Like seriously, I can't act. Jason, I swear to God I will kneel you in the balls if you you make me do this!"
***
He actually made me do it. I acted on a stage with people looking at me. And they even found me funny...like...what?
Jason was laughing beside me. "I have to admit Ruby, you were good. You were really good. I appreciate your acting skills, you should be an actress"
I punched him in the side but it wasn't enough to make him stop laughing.
I just ignored him and continued walking. He insisted on walking for a while before I take a cab back home and him back to the school dorm.
It was already 10pm which was way pass my curfew. Mom didn't answer my call, so I left Amina with a message saying that I would arrive home late.
It was a chilly night, the stars were twinkling in the sky and the moon was up there smiling at us. Fireflies were moving around in the bushes, the street light illuminating the street. Some couples were sitting on the bench making out as we walked by, people were still happily walking down the street. Voices of laughter filled the air as a family of three walked jovially.
It doesn't feel like night time at all, it was so busy, better than my quiet street. Maybe I could convince mom to move here one of these days. It would be so good to live in a place this busy and if we took the supermarket here then it would definitely boom. It's a wonder why my parents never thought of building a market in a busy place. Back then they did have the money, and well...that street too was once busy but almost every one have moved out of that area.
"Oh, yeah. I guess I should answer your questions now" Jason voice broke me out of my peaceful reverie.
I just shrugged. "You can if you want to"
"Well I do. Because now, you are getting to know me more" he said. "Answering your second question, At first I didn't want to study at Gideon's high. My father made me, he wanted me to be close to the people just as my grandfather, him, and every other person before them had done. He wanted me to experience life as a common student. As you know not every one knows who I am. Except people at school, and the confidential contract you had to sign to keep my identity a secret. I do get allowances, I live at the dorm like every other student in RM. It's just for experience"
I nodded. I see. So that was what the contract was for. Back then the principal had just appeared in our classroom and gave us a contract to sign to keep all the students name and picture in RM confidential and if it is found that we shared any thing of sort we would be expelled from the school.
"And for your first question, my grandfather was sent to Gideon's high as me. He was a kind man, and back then before those greedy people got their hands on the theatre he usually goes there a lot. My grandmother was a worker there, she was a security guard. A daughter of a soldier, she was strong and too strong my my grandfather. And she tamed him I guess or they tamed each other" he laughed and so did I. "But yeah, that's how they met"
"A security guard? To be sincerely speaking I was hoping you would tell me that she usually acts there and then one day she almost fell of the stage and your grandfather caught her and they fell in love"
Jason laughed wholeheartedly. "Your imagination never tend to stop surprising me. Too bad it was different, my grandfather was drunk after spending a lot of time at a pub. He wanted to break into the theatre after it already closed saying it was his home and he needed to get in there. He was stubborn and wouldn't leave, so my grandma use a stun gun on him and arrested him. After that, seems like my grandfather became a moth drawn to her flame. And viola, my dad came into existence"
The night air was filled with our laughter as we walked sharing stories with each other. I felt so free, like nothing was holding me back anymore, like I wasn't the girl who always felt like it was her against the world.
It has been so long since I felt this way.
***
I arrived home at almost midnight. I opened the door with subtlety, as I not want to wake anyone up, especially my mother.
After successfully closing the door, I laid my back on the door sighing in relief.
I took off my shoes, held my school bag tight and made my way towards my room, I was already close to my room when I stopped.
The smell of disinfectant filling my nostrils made me stop. My heart was pounding against my chest as images of when I saw my dad always applying methylated spirit to my mom's wounds. One of the reason I hate hospitals.
I made my way towards the kitchen because that's where the smell was coming from. I walked passed the dark sitting room towards the kitchen, the light was turned on and I could here clattering noises.
I took a tennis racket from the sitting room and headed towards the kitchen prepared to attack.
My heart dropped when I entered the kitchen.
I thought it was a burglar but who knew it was my mom. I wanted to sigh in relief but how could I, when my mother was holding a syringe filled with fluid and was injecting it into her veins.
"Mom...what...what are you doing?"