CHAPTER 32: ...

Basically, it was way past 10 pm by the time we finished. I thought I was going to go insane. The school’s security guard kept coming over and told us to leave. Seriously, it wasn’t like we wanted to stay. We would’ve gotten ourselves home if it weren’t for all these bands! The longer this went on, the sleepier we got. Om and I kept taking turns nodding off the entire time.

I look down to check my Diesel watch. It tells me that it’s a little over 10:30 pm now and we’re still cleaning up the club room. Golf and some 10th graders, who were the last band to perform, are staying behind to help out. The other bands left after they had played their set. I mean, who would be crazy enough stay until the very end (aside from us judges T_T)?

Oh, there is one crazy dude that stayed behind though, and that would be Earn. He’s helping Om cleaning up in another corner of the room. He chooses to stay behind because he wants to help out, or so he says. It’s not like I have a problem with that. This is a good thing. It’ll mean that we can finish up faster so we all can go home earlier.

Are you guys curious about where Phun is? Well, he already fled home after his band finished playing. (I see how it is.) Although, he did ask a 9th grader who was around to let me know that he’ll be back to come get me. I guess he left to take Aim home. Heh heh, I really wanted to tell him that he doesn’t need to come back (I’m being considerate) but I didn’t get a chance since he left before I could say anything.

“Hey, Noh! This sofa right here is ripped a little! Do you wanna mend it now or wait until tomorrow morning?!” Om shouts at me from the other end of the room. We had moved the long sofa there earlier since we were afraid that it might get damaged but it apparently did anyway.

This really sucks. “Yeah, I’ll do it now. Gimme a sec though!” While I am yelling a reply to Om, I feel someone tugging on my sleeve with a force. Oh! It’s just Golf! ##########, I thought it was a ghost. (Although this isn’t that different.) He flicks my arm rather hard, and pokes his head in close. “Hey, I gotta run or my dad is gonna yell at me. You should take these before I leave.” Right, I almost forgot the reason he came over. It wasn’t just a regular visit like how we were yelling everybody.

Golf and I leave the club room and head downstairs. Everything is pitch black. Fortunately, the nice security guard left a light on for us so he and I are having our chat underneath it.

“I totally get it now. It’s really hard to bring it up to him.” Golf begins. I let out a sigh with a heavy heart since I feel as awful as he is. “Exactly. I don’t even know what to say. I don’t even wanna bring it up because it’ll seem like I’m purposely trying to break them up.”

“I bet Aim came here today so that you can’t talk to Phun. I saw that he was walking over to you but Aim kept diverting his attention.” I didn’t notice this since I was busy with the judging. (Well, I was sneaking in a nap here and there.) But I sort of understand that anyone would do the same. However, doesn’t she realize that I’m at school with Phun the entire day? I can go up to him whenever I wanted. Is it not obvious to her that since Phun still doesn’t know about this, it means that I’m not a tattletale?

“I can’t tell him. I honestly don’t know how I can tell him.”

“Yeah, but what will you do? Are you just gonna let this go?” Golf asks me with a weary expression on his face. I can tell that he is worried about Phun no less than I am. This is one of the reasons why I respect Golf a whole lot. To the teachers, he might be a terrible student in their eyes. For us, he is always such a great friend. He and Phun aren’t even close, but he still cares so much for him.

“I don’t want to let this go. I’ll try to bring it up at the right time.” I reassure Golf as I pat his back. He gives me a nod before he takes a CD out of his pants pocket.

“Here, take this. In case proofs are needed. I asked my buddies and got my hands on 4 files.”

“Holy ##########, 4 files?!” I was so pissed off watching just one, but there are three more? I feel like I need to tie myself up for a while or I might physically hurt Aim.

“Yeah, 4 clips. Can you believe that? There are actually more, but I don’t want Phun to go into a shock. So take these for now.”

“He’ll definitely go into a shock. I think I’ll only show him just the one.” I mutter quietly as I accept that godforsaken CD from Golf.

Golf lets out a long sigh. “That’s up to you. Just take this for now.” He stares at me before he pats me on the back a couple of times to give me some moral supports. “Fighting. I really have to get going though. I bet my dad is already complaining.”

“Want me to walk you out?”

“It’s fine. Go fix the sofa. You’re probably not gonna get to go home tonight, heh heh.” This ##########. Thanks for the well wishes. I flip him the bird as he leaves the building. I put the CD in my pants pocket while I make my way back to the club room.

Now, Om and the underclassmen are the ones getting ready to leave.” What? You guys are done already?!” I quickly protest.

“Yeah, we were hauling our asses. If we stay here any later then we’re gonna end up spending the night here.” Om complains with his hands on his waist as he glares at the underclassmen as if he wants to rush them to finish up even faster. I give them a melancholy look. “Are you really leaving?” ##########, can’t you at least stay and keep me company?

“Yeah. Sorry, man. My mom will scold me until my ears go numb. I gotta take Mum home too. I don’t want his grandma to yell at me in Chinese again. Not that I can understand what she says anyway.” Om tells me. He turns around to pat the head of a chubby boy who happens to be his neighbor. He is grinning widely at me. Well, I guess it can’t be helped.

“Okay, okay. Make sure the rest of those kids get a ride home. Take care of them, alright?” I leave Om with those words before he transforms into a tour guide as he leads a bunch of kids outside. Om may be a complete weirdo, but those kids love him to death. I don’t have a clue why. I guess he can still be charming even when he gets on people’s nerves.

In the end, it is just me alone in the club room with the clock on the wall, which says that it is nearly 11 pm, keeping me company. I begin to wonder whether I should spend the night here or not. I still haven’t fixed the cushion for the sofa yet. Sigh, my pitiful life.

“Noh! Let’s finish up with the sofa so we can go home!” Ah, a ghost! Whose voice is that?!

I turn to see that Earn is still here. He has the sewing kit in his hands. “You’re still here?!” I ask, feeling surprised.

“How can I leave? You’d be here alone then.” He tells me with a smile. I’m so glad that I’ll have someone keeping me company. “Thanks, man!”

***

Some time has passed and I’m still fumbling around with the needle and thread, trying to repair the light blue cushion. I’m so close to finishing, yet it doesn’t feel like I am. I suppose I keep messing up because I’m so sleepy. Everything is a blur.

Earn is still waiting nearby. I can hear the sound of him flipping through the manga. At first, he said that he’d help me with this. But after we reviewed his lack of sewing skills, in which he was about to sew himself onto the cushion, we figured it’d be best if he sits there and keeps me company instead.

“You’re pretty awesome. You actually know how to repair these stuff. Can I hire you to fix the ones at my house too?” What? Did he get bored reading? Why is he getting smart with me? I force out a chuckle but I’m not looking at him.

“Sure. But I’m quite the superstar so my fees are pretty high.”

“If it’s for you, I’m willing to pay anything.” Hm?! I quickly turn my head to face him when I hear what he had said. He’s beaming at me. I feel like throwing up because this makes it sounds like I’m some sort of a prostitute.

“Can you not mess with me like that? It’s unnerving. Don’t get me started on when you were singing.” Truthfully. I wanted to let this jerk know that I’m not that innocent and my mind is in the gutter at times. At any rate, I don’t want to get into it.

I hear Earn’s loud chuckles. He places his elbow on the cushion and rests his chin using his hand as he continues to watch me work. So you’re not gonna read? You’re just gonna stare at me like this so I’d feel self-conscious? “What the hell are you staring at? Go back to reading your manga. You’re making me feel tensed.”

Earn responds with a laugh but doesn’t say anything else. He continues to watch me sew the cushion when I prick my finger with the needle. Ouch! ########## him, I told not to stare at me like that! This hurts like hell!

“Owwwwwwww.”

“Oh! Sorry! So you really were tensed?” Are you seriously asking me that? You try sewing something while someone stares at you, how about it? ########## it, Earn. Before I can curse him off, Earn takes my bleeding hand cradling it with both of his hands. He leans in close to take a look.

“ ##########, be gentle. That hurts.” I complain since it hurts more now that I can see the blood. I’m not sure if it’s the pain or my own fear that is getting to me. Ah! Do you think my intestines can make its way out through this hole?!

While I keep making a huge fuss (personally, getting prick by a needle and getting stabbed by a knife is the same level of pain), Earn covers the wound with his handkerchief. “It’s only a needle. You’re screaming like you’re giving birth. Get a hold of yourself.” He scolds me as he puts some pressure on the finger. He blows on it like one would when they’re trying to calm a small child down. “There, there. You’re okay now.”

“Don’t start with that ##########. I’m not some idiotic kid, you ##########.”

“Well, you were throwing a fucking tantrum like an idiotic kid.” This jerk! Maybe I should disqualify your band right now for accusing me of being an idiot. I glare at him and it seems like he realizes this.

“Hey, hey! You better not cut my band just because I called you names.”

“I was thinking about it.” Heh heh heh.

“What an ##########! There, there! Please don’t mind me, khun Noh! You’re so smart! You’re perfect in every way! In wealth, physically, emotionally, and mentally too!” Pfft! I’d rather he calls me names than having to listen to his sarcastic remarks about me. I turn my attention back to repairing the cushion, but an idea pops into my head. I’m still not over what this sincere (note the sarcasm) Earn has done for me. I turn back with a weapon in hand (the needle) in order to execute him. Haha! You’re leaving this place full of holes!

I’m not a sadist, but I just need to get this out of my system. This Noh will make sure that Earn will shed blood tonight! You’re dead, Earn.

I quickly prick his arm with the needle in successions while he dodges my attacks. He laughs and yells loudly at the same time. I take his chance to fire an insult back at him. “Jeez, it’s only a needle. You’re screaming like you’re giving birth! Get a hold of yourself!” Doesn’t that sound familiar? Heh heh. Now he understands how painful getting prick by a needle can be!

Earn continues to struggle, but he still argues with me. “This is not the same thing! Haha! Ow! Stop! I can’t take it anymore! Noh! Noh! I’m sorry! I won’t say anything anymore! Just me go now! Ow! Hahaha!” He proceeds to cause a fuss while laughing in between. The noises we are making fill up the empty room. I begin to have fun with this and forget about fixing the cushion. Earn gets his hand on a spare needle and starts to retaliate. We’re in a tangle, it’s chaotic.

Earn is a fucking sadist though! Ow! Maybe he should prick me in the stomach and let some of the air out so I can have a six-pack! Haha!

As we continue to poke each other in the stomach, the door suddenly bursts open with no warning or even a knock.

Earn and I are startled (thinking that it might be a ghost). We turn our heads to the direction of the door.

There’s a tall figure standing there. It’s Phun Phumipat, who happens to be showing up at 11:30 pm. He has a strange sullen expression on his face.