Until The Very End

CHAPTER 3: New Day, New Chapter

            What had happened at the hospital remained at the hospital. Matt couldn’t forget how he acted worriedly, shirtless. It was a total embarrassment. He could not even ask Rodolfo how his wound was. He was having a hard time forgetting it, but how can he when he and Rodolfo will be together at school?

            Matt arrived at the school’s parking lot. He went out of the car and by the time he closed the door, a voice came.

            “Hey! I see you brought a different car this time,” it was Rodolfo, holding one strap of his backpack and added, “Clever.”

            “I actually bought this just last night. After I drove you home,” he answered, feeling frightened of what he had just said. After I drove you home.

            “Last night?!” he asked in disbelief. “As in, it is yours now?”

            “I need to buy a cheap-looking car,” Matt said, looking at it. “To avoid what had happened yesterday.”

            “I’m totally confused. How can you just bought a car just like that,” Rodolfo was looking horrified. “I mean, you need to earn a lot of money before buying a car. And earning takes quite enough time. Not just a day or an hour. U – unless you have a very wealthy family.”

            “You do not know me, don’t you?” Matt asked simply. “Let’s go.”

            “You could tell me now who you are. It’s a bit uncomfortable hanging with a friend that I do not know from inside to outside,” Rodolfo followed Matt.

            “Hey, we are in the same situation. I barely, barely know you,” Matt checked him, tapping his shoulder.

            “Right,” replied Rodolfo.

            As usual, Matt goes to the locker hall before going to his first class so, Rodolfo followed him to his locker.

             “Anyway, what if Zander saw us? What’re you planning to do? Attack him without giving him a chance to speak?” Matt questioned him continuously, arranging books in his locker and in his backpack.

            “They are already looking at us,” Rodolfo was glaring to Zander and his friends as they walk in their direction.

            “Huh?” Matt looked at Rodolfo to where was Rodolfo looking. Zander already arrived in front of them so, no chance of speaking to Rodolfo or give him a sign to go. Matt doesn’t want troubles at this time.

            “Any plan bringing him to us, Pete?” Zander approached them.

            “Hey, old friend,” replied Rodolfo.

            “Old friend?” repeated Zander. “Don’t tell me you two are friends together. After what you did to him yesterday. Come on, Pete, let’s go.”

            “No,” Rodolfo said. “And I mean it, old friend. Or should I even call you that when I treated you as a jerk?”

            “What do you mean by that, flatty Pete?” gritted Zander.

            “Let’s go,” Matt motioned Rodolfo to follow him.

            “Choosing to be a weak, pathetic boy just like the old days, Pete?” Zander asked after Matt and Rodolfo made a couple of steps?

            “I have never been weak. You are, Zander. Leading you to gather bunches of stupid to earn power,” Rodolfo replied, without turning his back to face Zander. Matt looked at both of them.

            “No, no. That is what I called taking advantage of other’s power over other’s frailty,” Zander said, grinning evilly.

            “No more than an act of a recreant,  pathetic, unadulterated s**t-celebrity student,” Matt made his way forward before Rodolfo moves a single muscle in his lips.

            “Never expect you to involve here. They chose and accepted me, though,” Zander said after getting a deep breath.

            “Out of fear or fame,” he replied.

            “Fear. That means I’m no weak,” laughed Zander.

            “You are and will always be. You have them because you cannot stand alone,” Rodolfo responded, widening his arms.

             Matt and Rodolfo turned their back and began walking away once more. They awkwardly looked at each other as they made their way to their first class. Rodolfo had been curving his lips into a little smile that Matt did not notice from Rodolfo’s face. Here comes the boring class, so Matt puts on his Airpod and sleeps on his desk chair.

             Breaktime of that day, they were in the cafeteria of the university. There were few people with them, but it wasn’t a big reason to avoid talking to each other. Both were scared to start a conversation.

            “Why here?” Rodolfo asked him, starting a conversation.

            “Don’t you like it in here? Let us go somewhere else then,” replied Matt, preparing his bag.

            “No, no. I’m fine here, but this is a cafeteria,” he said softly, almost a whisper.

            “Is there any problem here? I need a comfortable place,” Matt looked at him and grabbed his backpack. “If you wanted another place to stay, here are my key. You can borrow my car.”

            “Forget it. A place for?” he questioned, watching Matt placed the key on the table.

            “Something important,” Matt answered, pulling out his laptop.

            A silence fell to their table. Matt was constant fixed to his laptop, probably working or checking his company. While Rodolfo watched his fellow freshmen walked and talk to each other. Of all table filled with two or more person, only their table was surrounded by silence. Moments later, Rodolfo found himself staring at Matt’s face.

            “Oh yeah, how’s your wound,” asked Matt while his eyes were on his laptop.

            “U-hmm, it’s great. Healing, I mean. Thanks again,” Rodolfo answered, stumbling and shocked.

            “Did your family find out what happened?” he asked again.

            “They did. They noticed the blood on my shirt. Plus, they watched the video that spreads all over social media. So, no chance for lying to them.” Rodolfo told him.

            “What video?” he asked once more.

            “They have this video of me attempting to jump off. Apparently, lots of them have taken a video and uploaded it online,” Rodolfo explained.

            He finally lifts his head and looked at Rodolfo. Their eyes met.

            “It’s okay, though. I don’t mind such things,” Rodolfo added.

            “Zander hasn’t watched it yet? It seems he knows nothing about it the way he approached us earlier,” he returned his head on the laptop. “If he is, he’d probably use that to make fun of you. You know his mouth.”

            “He has, or he hasn’t. It is either of the two, but as I said, I don’t care,“ Rodolfo tried to look away from Matt.

            “And your parents?” he asked more.

            “My parents?” Rodolfo repeated. He shrugged in his seat and added, “Well, they were very angry at me, of course. They told me I was so stupid to climb that high just to help a friend get away his expensive car.”

            “You told them?”

            “What valid reason I could excuse for them to believe me? Heartbroken?” Rodolfo questioned him back, smiling. “They were so worried about my wound, but when I told them what you did, they were glad at you. I told them everything about yesterday.”

            Matt, again, feels uncomfortable remembering what happened yesterday. He stopped what he was doing for a minute and continued. He can’t look back at his friend.

            “Aren’t you hungry?” he tried to change the subject.

            “I never like the food here,” Rodolfo answered.

            “Let’s go, then,” he closed his laptop and took his backpack to put it inside.

            “Where are we going?” Rodolfo questioned, standing slowly in complete bemused.

            “Somewhere better than here,” he replied, pushing his chair after he stands up.

            Rodolfo did not dare to respond. Instead, he looked at Matt with pure happiness and a cute smile. Footsteps before they reached the door going out of the cafeteria, a female voice spoke to them.

            “Going back so soon? You, guys, have plenty of time to waste.”

            “Oh, no, Hailey, we aren’t going back. We are about to move somewhere better than here,” Matt said, smiling at her.

            Hailey smiled back and blushed. Matt seems ill at ease seeing her.

            “Is there any problem here?” Hailey asked him, widening her arms.

            “None. My friend here, Rodolfo, doesn’t like to eat here so we’re going to another cafeteria,” Matt stepped back to Rodolfo’s side and added, “Or a restaurant.”

            “Rodolfo? Rodolfo Petterson? You are with Zander’s friend?” Hailey asked incoherently.

            Matt smiled at both of them and responded, “He’s not a friend of Zander. Anyway, wanna come with us?”

            “With pleasure,” replied Hailey with excitement.

            Rodolfo’s cute smile fade away, but he was still happy. He knew Hailey since they were eighth-graders so, he does not have to feel uncomfortable with her. What amazed him was how Matt and Hailey met and why they seem so close to each other?

            Three of them arrived at where Matt’s cheap car was parked and got in. Matt, of course, was the driver. Hailey pushed herself beside the driver’s seat. And Rodolfo sadly sat on the back seat like how he sat in a taxi cab. Alone in silence. When they were all settled inside, Hailey made a horrible shocked voice.

            “Oh, my! How stupid I am to leave my spot here yesterday!”

            “What do you mean by “spot here yesterday”?” Matt asked her before he turns on the engine of the car.

            “You’re kidding, right?” Hailey said. Matt smirked, then she added, “There was a very expensive sports car parked right here yesterday! I was waiting yesterday just to see who that car belongs to!”

            Matt turned his head to look at Rodolfo with a small smile. Rodolfo gave a smile. They stared for five seconds and Matt replied as if he was innocent, “What’s with that sports car? I mean, why would you have to know its owner? I don’t have to see that car. We never heard about it yesterday.  And, I’m sure it is a huge waste of time.” He started driving the car.

            “Hey! I’m not alone here yesterday. There so many of us waiting for its owner,” Hailey exclaimed. “It is my first time seeing guys having no interest in luxury cars.”

            “Get used to it. Not all guys or men liked such cars. Why would I have to? I’m pretty satisfied and happy with what I have now,” Matt said humbly, looking at the rearview mirror to get a glimpse of Rodolfo. Rodolfo was facing down, but he can tell he was smiling or laughing.

            “Brilliant,” she responded.

            “Why would you missed such a wonderful opportunity to get to know the owner of that sports car?” Matt questioned, looking once more at the rearview mirror to check Rodolfo.

            “My friends dragged me to see this really serious suicide situation. I never knew who it was, but I hope he was doing fine,” Hailey answered.

            “A suicide situation?” Matt repeated, pretending he doesn’t know about Rodolfo’s fake suicide attempt. He saw Rodolfo from the rearview mirror chuckling and looking at him.

            “How could you not even know about that one? A very serious one!” Hailey asked both of them.

            “I was in the…” he was cut by himself, thinking for a good reason. “… Library.”

            “Probably there at that building holding on two bars bleeding while feeling the breeze on my face,” Rodolfo finally spoke to them.

            “It was you?” Hailey asked in total disbelief. Matt looked at him again through the rearview mirror.

            There was no need to give an excuse or lie about it. Hailey may not have watched the video yet, but sooner or later she will. It is all across the internet now. Rodolfo nodded as a reply.

            “Why would you do that? Didn’t you know that your life is the greatest gift you received?  What bothers you to do a thing that can make anyone you love upset and suffer from sadness and loss?” Hailey throws him more questions.

            “I was having a hard time in my family. Never mind about it,” Rodolfo answered quickly.

            “You okay there, bro?” Matt asked him, looking again at the rearview mirror. To his pleasure, Rodolfo directs his eyes at the rearview mirror. Their eyes met once again.

            “Fine. Better at least for now,” Rodolfo smiled at him in the mirror. He thinks both of them were alone.

            “We are here,” Matt said happily, looking outside of the window seat. “Welcome to my favourite restaurant! I hope you enjoy it here as much as I did all the time. But first thing first, parking lot.”

            “This is also your favourite?” Rodolfo called out, bending over to Matt.

            “There were no times I hated their pizza here,” Matt replied to Rodolfo.

            “You love their pizza too?!” Rodolfo was getting more excited. “No weeks had passed to me without visiting this place. I never knew I would meet someone like you.”

            “How come I never see you here whenever I eat here?” Matt asked him as the car had already parked in its place.

            “Wait, how special this place to the both of you?” Hailey asked suddenly before Rodolfo could answer Matt’s question.

            “Very special,” Rodolfo replied to her, grinning.

            “Plus, this is where we first met,” Matt added, smiling.

             Rodolfo stands, looking aghast. He was not expecting Matt to remember the place where they had their first proper met. He was now even happier for what he had just heard.

             “Let’s go,” Matt motioned them to go.

              They walked out of the parking lot. Matt opened the door for Hailey to go inside first and he even waved his hand suggesting Rodolfo go inside before him. They order a large pizza which delighted Matt and Rodolfo to finish their parts. Hailey, however, enjoyed the pizza with them. Three of them had hilarious conversations sharing about their small mistakes when they were kids. Most of Matt’s story about his life when he was a kid was a total lie. He made it up for himself because he doesn’t have good memories to share regarding his childhood. He feels so bad for his friends though, but it was for the best, at least. If he had told his friends about not having a mother and father like them, the whole conversation will drown and focuses on his life.

                They decided to skip the remaining hours for subjects they shall take after their break time.  Hailey was so unsure at first because it might drag her marks down, but Matt and Rodolfo convinced and assured her that no such thing will happen to her school marks. Nothing is wrong with having a little fun, right?

            “Are you two going tonight?” Hailey asked after they ran out of memories to share about their        childhood, changing the subject for something new.

            “What’s up for tonight?” Matt asked back.

            “You don’t know?” Rodolfo questionably answered him.

            “Know what?”

            “Tonight is the start of the travelling carnival here! Didn’t you know about it?” Hailey explained to Matt.

            “I never knew about these kinds of things, I – I…” Matt started stuttering in front of them. “I used to stay in my room and just play computer games.”

            “Wanna go tonight?” Rodolfo asked him. His eyes were fixed to his.

            “I’m not sure,” Matt replied, thinking about the company. “You guys go without me.”

            “It’s a loss, Matt! Join us,” Hailey tried to persuade him.

            “I should probably go. My mother needs my help,” he lied to them.

            It was already half-past four  when the three of them got out of the restaurant. None of them had realized that one hour and couple minutes, the sundown is coming.

            “I’ll drive you both straight to your houses. Let’s go,” Matt told them.

            “Oh, no. I can take care of myself. I have to go back to University and fetch my books. Sorry. Bye,”  Hailey started walking.

            “Are you sure?” Matt asked worriedly.

            “I’m sure my friends are still there, studying!” She shouted afar.

            Matt and Rodolfo watched her ran until she was out of sight. Seconds after, Matt turned to Rodolfo. He feels awkward again, remembering what had happened as he helps Rodolfo treat his wound.

            “So, hmm…” Matt started. “Let’s go. I’ll drive you home.”

            Rodolfo nodded. Both of them went to the parking lot quietly. When they settled themselves inside of the car, they drove off.

            “Are you not really going tonight? It’s pretty fun,” Rodolfo started the conversation.

            “Honestly, I don’t have much time to spend with that kind of events. I’m pretty much fine alone at my house,” Matt replied.

            “So, that was a lie?” Rodolfo questioned, looking puzzled.

            “Lie? What would I lie about?”

            “You just said, “I’m pretty much fine alone at my house”. That means you live alone and about your sick mother, it is a lie. Am I right?” Rodolfo said, sounding genius.

            “Yep,” Matt admitted. “You got me.”

            “Why did you lie?” questioned Rodolfo in a good manner.

            “That is not what I just lied about,” Matt sounded serious. “I lied about those childhood memories.”

            “Okay, now I’m even more confused,” Rodolfo said. “May I have any of your social media name account, email or anything where I can contact you later?”

            Matt paused in silence for a minute and replied, “I can’t write. Write it down, will you?”

            Rodolfo pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from his bag.

            “It’s w.matt@email.com,” Matt spelt w.matt.

            Rodolfo jotted it down fast. When he finished, Matt added, “Or you could contact me through my social account @mattwilliams.”

            “Thanks, man,” thanked Rodolfo pleasantly.

            “No problem, no problem,” Matt laughed. “Yes, we’re here.”

            The car stopped in front of Rodolfo’s house and Rodolfo got out.

        “See you, man,” Rodolfo waved him goodbye.

            “Bye, bro.”

            Matt began driving straightway to his home. He feels so bad about lying to both of them. But he was relieved that he said it to Rodolfo. Though they didn’t know about their backgrounds, he trusted him.

            About the carnival that will be happening tonight, he’d love to go, but something from his inside is telling him not to. After a couple of minutes of driving, he arrived at his house. He was happy that he was alone again. With that, he could think freely.

            He went straight to his room and took off his shirt. He lied to his comfy bed, facing the ceiling. Until, without even realizing it, his eyes started to close for either a nap or sleep. The silence made him sleepy.

            After thirty minutes, he wakes up to a continuous beeping sound from downstairs where his sports cars were. It was his cheap car that was beeping. His cat did something again that makes the car beeped. He was too lazy to get up and check his car so, he just lied on his bed, listening to the annoying sound of the car.

            “Any recent emails for me?” he asked at his digital assistant after the alarm of his car stop.

            “You have three new emails ,” his assistant answered.

            “Read my second email,” he commanded, looking at his fingers while abed.

                        “This is an email from Rodolfo Petterson.

                                                Hey,

                        Can we talk? I mean, video chat. I have been trying to reach you on your social account you have given me, but you never pick up. Are you busy? I will be expecting your reply before 5 this afternoon.

                        Rodolfo,”

            Matt froze for seconds. Moments later, he stretched out his hand and grabbed his phone laying on the bedside table. He had 32 missed call and 20 messages from Rodolfo. Rodolfo was, indeed, calling and messaging him. He opened it and saw that the last message was sent about 15 minutes ago. He never expected that Rodolfo would call when they had just hang out an hour ago. While still in bed, he dropped his phone and let a very deep sigh.

            A couple of seconds after, his phone rang. Rodolfo wanted to have a video chat with him. He tapped the “answer button” without hesitation.

            “Hey. How come you never pick up earlier?” Rodolfo asked.

            “I’m so sorry, I just woke up,” he replied. Rodolfo’s face on his phone was shaking. He can tell that Rodolfo was walking. “Anyway, why did you call?”

             “I want to talk to you about later,” Rodolfo smiled.

            “Later? I don’t quite understand. Tell me more,” he sat on his bed and stretched forward his arm where he was holding his phone.

            “About the carnival. Don’t you really want to come with us? This happened once in a year.”

            “I told you I can’t.”

            “But, why?”

            “I have some other things to take care of.”

            “Is that very important than having fun which is a part of us? Look, I heard everything you said at the Nanny’s and you tell me it was a total lie. I want you to experience what real fun is. Not just making up a funny story and pretending it happened to you.”

            “I would love to go, but this is really important. No one can do it but me.”

            “What is it? Computer games? Just like you said?”

            “No, no. You wouldn’t understand,” he finally stands up and positioned his phone on the bedside table and walked a few feet away from the phone. Rodolfo could see half of his body.

            “Are you naked?” Rodolfo asked, confused.

            “No. Just shirtless,” Matt immediately looked for his shirt and dress himself. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

            “Still not going?”

            “You can’t make me, Rod,”

            “Rod?”

            “What? It is a nice nickname. I got it from your email address.”

            “If you want to call me with that nickname, you’ll have to come to the carnival first. Once after, you could call me with whatever as long as you want to.”

            “I am not going.”

            “Fine. Wish you have a great time tonight. I’m hanging up.”

            “Where is this carnival exactly, if may I ask?” Matt questioned suddenly.

            “Have you changed your mind?” Rodolfo asked excitedly.

            “No, no,” he sighed. “I’m not sure. Maybe? I can’t exactly tell.”

            Rodolfo gave his cute smile and replied, “Near the woods, after you pass the town square. Surely you can see it from afar. Just follow where the Ferris Wheel and you’re there.”

            “A Ferris Wheel?” Matt asked, perplexed yet astounded.

            “What?” Rodolfo replied with a voice of bewilderment.

            “Honestly, I literally do not have any single idea what do people do in this travelling carnival thingy,” he responded, staring at Rodolfo’s eyes through the phone.

            “That is why I wanted you to go. To have a little fun by riding some amusement rides. If you managed to come, you’ll see it.” said Rodolfo.

            “Gracious! I guess this is what my uncle is trying me to get into after ten consecutive years. Fun,” he hysterically laughed for seconds and looked at the window to avoid Rodolfo’s gaze.

            “I bet it is,” chuckled Rodolfo. “Wait, I don’t understand. What were you doing for ten years?”

            “Doing business?” Matt tried to answer him.

            “Doing business?” repeated Rodolfo with a muddled face. “Like, like – Andrew Carnegie? Bill Gates? Elon Musk?”

            “I think so,” he answered.

            “No wa – “ Rodolfo tried to reply but was cut off.

            “I have to prepare for something. I’m sorry, but I should go,” he said all of the sudden then he hanged up.

            He sat for a minute, realizing how foolish he was to mention about what he was doing for a living. Admitting to Rodolfo that he doesn’t have any good childhood memories was enough, but regarding his work and who he truly is was a total disaster to him. He does not want anyone to know concerning his identity, including his friends Rodolfo and Hailey. Doing business for ten years explains why he have such an expensive car. There is nothing he can do to hide himself and avoid Rodolfo’s prepared questions when they see each other at school.

            Still panicking after hanging up the video call, he asked his assistant, “Do I have to tell my friends about me?”

            “Of course you do! I’m right here,” the digital assistant answered.

            “Why?”

            “You called them “friends”. Meaning you trust them. Therefore, you have to tell your friends about you. I see nothing wrong about that, Matt,” the digital assistant answered him again.

            “Quite right,” he whispered to himself. “What is a travelling carnival?”

            “According to Wikipedia, a travelling carnival; usually simply called a carnival, or travelling funfair is an amusement show that may be made up of amusement rides, food vendors, merchandise vendors, games of chance and skills, thrill acts, and animal acts,” the assistant’s voice echoed in his hushed room.

            “Sounds fun. No wonder why Rodolfo keeps insisting me to go,” he murmured.

            Lying again to Rodolfo that he had something to do upsets him thinking Rodolfo might not trust him. As the minutes passed by in his bedroom, his thoughts were messed up whether telling him about his true self or not. That was a hard decision for him because he was afraid of what might public think or could do if they know that, at his age, he owns a parent company and holds billions of dollars.

            He indeed trusts Rodolfo when he told him everything, but he’s afraid that this may be leaked or overheard by others until the public knows. Sunset was still a couple of minutes away, but he prepared himself for dinner.  He cooked Roast Beef with Veggies, Potato Soup and Pasta for his dinner. Pretty weird, but that it was the right time for him to eat dinner. Dusk passed on, and he wasn’t able to decide what to do. 

            One hour after his early dinner, he kept himself busy by reading books inside his library.  But even none of the single words he read kept his mind away from telling Rodolfo who he was or distracted from the same thoughts he was having the whole afternoon. He was ready to introduce himself to his friend, but what about the public? It feels like delivering a message to a fly. Tiny yet loud.

            Shortly afterwards, he drove outside of the library, went upstairs to his black and white bedroom and then to his incredibly shower room. He spent enough time showering and proceeded to his closet room right after. He picked a white t-shirt and black long sleeve paired with black jeans, a black expensive watch and white shoes. He was ready to go to the travelling carnival though he was late.