Life's Challenges (Chapter Nine)

He paced up and down in his room, his hands swinging to and fro. His mind was all a whirl. He couldn’t think straight. What with Danson targeting for Hebe as his next victim, he warning Danson and Hebe being silent the whole time he dragged her home. He just felt like destroying his brains and becoming a mad person. But he knew he couldn’t. He just couldn’t bear to leave Hebe like that. She would become a prey for Danson and... and.. and wouldn’t... be... clean anymore. How was he to explain to her parents, his aunt and uncle, then? He couldn’t just turn his back on her.
A knock came on the door. He ignored it but went on pacing. The knock repeated and this time he answered.

“Come in,” he said, in an annoyed voice. He wanted to think but the person on the door was making his brain stop with all the knocking.

Hebe came in nervously. She had not seen Jiro angry before. He had always been cheerful and full of life. But because of her, his normal behaviour seemed to have all disappeared, making him... abnormal. She had never been afraid of him before. But now, she was walking slowly from the door, which she closed silently, to him. He was pacing. She understood why. She wanted to comfort him. She wanted to be there for her dearest cousin. Since young, he had always been by her side and was the closest person to her. Whenever she was sad, he’d cheer her up. Whenever she was happy, he’d make her even more joyful by cracking jokes even though they were not funny.

At that moment, she felt helpless and did not open her mouth at all. Jiro kept on pacing like he didn’t even know she was there. She stayed silent. She didn’t want to disturb his thoughts. She stood a little far from him, making way for him to pace for all he wanted. She just wanted to keep him company, although he might not realize her existent there. At least, she thought, it was better than being with Arron downstairs, who was simply too engrossed with his book that after telling her about Danson and Jiro’s difficulties, just continued reading ad lost himself in the world of illusions.

Suddenly, Jiro turned to her and shouted. “What do you want?!”

Hebe stood absolutely still. She didn’t even dare to breathe. She didn’t even know she bated her breath for she was getting more and more afraid. Not a word came out from her lips. Jiro, looking at hr scared state, soften. He could never be angry when Hebe was around. He didn’t know why. It was just like that. It was like she was his anger suppressor. He spoke once more, in a softer tone. “What do you want, Hebe?”

“I... I... I.. I want to...”

“You want to know why I’m so angry?”

Hebe shook her head.

“Then why are you here?”

“I.. just want to comfort you.”

“Comfort me? You want to comfort me? You don’t even know what the problem is and you want to comfort me? Look Hebe, I....”

“I do know what’s the problem,” she interrupted.

“You do? But, how?”

“Arron told me. He told me everything about Danson and the consequences of talking back to him.”

“Ar.. Arron told you?”

She nodded. “Why? What’s the problem with him telling me?”

“Its just that, Arron had never talked to anyone in the school except the teachers and me. Why would he suddenly tell you about me? And about Danson too. What is his motive?”

“I expect he just wanted me to comfort you. I mean, he’s a guy and I’m sure he’d feel shy to comfort a friend who’s a guy too.”

“Well, I think there’s more than meets the eye.”

“Jiro, leave that problem. Focus on what you’re going to do tomorrow. Have you thought of what to do?”

“I have. I’m going to just show myself and let what will happen, happen.”

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Arron noticed that Hebe had ran up the stairs to Jiro’s room. He heard the door click open and Jiro shouting at Hebe. Then he heard soft mutterings. He knew Jiro was troubled and as his friend, he should think of something to help. But nothing came to him. Arron knew that he didn’t express himself well enough. Somehow, he preferred being silent most of the time. Without Jiro, his life would be dull with no colours at all. Jiro was a person who made everyone like his presence no matter where he was. Now, Jiro was in trouble. He had to help him some way or another. But how?

Suddenly, something clicked in his brain and pieced everything like a puzzle. He suddenly knew how he could save Jiro from Danson and indirectly, save Hebe too. Although he knew what to do, he had to plan it properly. He had to make sure everything was plotted properly and go according to his brainwave. He neatly put his book into his bag and zipped it up. He stood and left, taking along his bag, thinking a plan on the way home.

-brenda-