Someday Soon, With You

Chapter 23

“So, why do you hate him so much?” she asked Aro as soon as they got back to their seats. She’s talking about the man they talked to earlier.

“William?” he asked. She nodded.

“What about him?” Archi joining the conversation as soon as he heard the name. She rolled her eyes at him. He continued talking with Harold and Mathew when he saw it.

“Well, their team were really good back when we still play in tournaments. We’re like the ‘play-smart’ team and when it comes to strength, we’re not so bad. But their team, they’re brute strength. They’re also good with techniques but they can pummel anyone just with force alone” he looked at her as he explains. “We never won against them, not even once” he continued.

“But you were so good” she answered with a questioning tone.

“I know!” he immediate replied. “And that William, he’s their ace. Knowing how good you are is one thing, but telling it to people who worked hard to defeat you like it’s just natural, is another thing entirely” he continued. “He doesn’t boast about it, to be fair, but when he talks about it like just a normal thing, you can’t help but just hate him” he explained.

She laughed silently. She can feel Archi’s hand holding hers. “So that’s the reason Archi hates him? That’s a bit petty” she told him.

“Yeah, well it irritated him every time William ask me to switch schools and join their team” he laughed and then stopped.

He might’ve realized she might get the wrong idea about it. She looked at Archi who’s still talking with Harold and Mathew.

“That’s in the past” Aro immediately told her. “We all moved on now, and we’re working together in college. I think he even recommended me to coach the volleyball team at school” he added.

She smiled. “That’s nice” was the only thing she said.

Aro stared at her, realizing her sudden change of energy. “Hey” he called patting her back. “You know, when I heard that Mom told you about my Dad even before she even told me, I was a bit jealous” he confessed.

“Really?” she asked.

“You’re the first person she ever talked about it” he smiled.

Her hand suddenly went up to chest. “Wow. I’m so touched” she told Aro eyes starting to tear.

“You’re more of a daughter to her than you realize” he told her. “Yeah, but no, no, no!” he almost exclaimed. “No crying! You’ll ruin your make-up, as simple as it is” he scolded her. She laughed.

“What’s happening with you two?” Archi then interrupting when he saw Aro close to her patting her back.

“Nothing! We’re just talking about many things” she told Archi.

“Alpha, please! Sometimes you need to give us space” Aro said to Archi waving his hand a bit.

Archi crunched his eyes brows still looking at them.

“Isn’t this fun?” Harold swooping in. “Your two exes bonding and leaving you out of it despite you being here the whole time” he joked and Mathew laughing with him. He glared at them and they stopped laughing.

The program ended and they started eating. Some danced in the dancing area, the whole room is abuzz trying to catch up with one another.

@Yuan, sent.

She sent a message to their group chat. Not long after, her phone beeped.

Yes mom? Its Yuan.

Is there any way I can gate crash? ? And sent.

No. It’s TJ

Sure. Why tho? Yuan sent.

She laughed.

I want to meet that almost a goddess lady manager of yours, she replied.

Meet me outside in five. It’s Yuan.

? TJ sent.

“Love” Mira called Archi. She looked at him and saw his face starting to redden again. She laughed. “I’ll gate crash in the next center, you wanna come with me?” she asked. Archi nodded but looked like he had a bit to drink. “But I will be okay alone, I just wanna meet Ms. Lady Manager of Yuan” she said laughing.

“Are you sure?” Archi asked. “It’s okay, I can go with you” he added.

“Yuan and TJ will be there. And I’ll be back as soon as I see her in person” she smiled. He looked at her and nodded.

She walked out of the center and looked around. Not long after, she saw Yuan coming out of the door two centers away from them and waved.

“Hi” she greeted.

Yuan offered his arm and she took it. “After you, mom” he said.

“Thank you” she laughed.

There are also a lot of people in their center, she saw a group of really rowdy people among them. Some are dancing, laughing really loud and two look like they’re about to punch each other. She looked around for the other group as they walk inside.

“Meet my teammates, Mom” Yuan introduced her.

Oh, it’s the rowdy group, she thought. “Hello” she greeted.

They all flocked around her, her eyes just widened she didn’t know how to respond to their sudden flood of questions.

“You guys! Sit down!” a guy shouted. And it seems they all listened and started to sit down.

“Guys, this is Mira. She’s our team mate in the community team” Yuan introduced.

“Hi, Mira” they greet her almost in unison. She sat in the next available chair she saw and smiled at them. She can hear Yuan boasting about her and calling her mom. She smiled looking at him. She looked around, the pretty lady isn’t there. Then she saw TJ sitting by her side, silently drinking his beer.

“Oh, you’re here” she smiled.

“No, this is just a 3-D image” he sarcastically answered.

Her brows lifted up, why is he so irritated, she asked herself.

“TJ, you play nice” someone said squeezing his shoulders. TJ continued drinking his beer silently after. She looked at him and smiled. “Hi Mira, I’m Daryll. I was the team captain during our time” he introduced.

So that’s the reason everybody listens to him, now she understands. “Hello, Daryll. I’m Archi’s girlfriend, I just came by to meet you all—” she stopped when she heard TJ scoffed. Her eyes squinted at him. “Do you have a problem with me? Do you want to tell me about it?” she directly asked him.

He looked surprised by her questions. He might not be used with people talking to him straight to the point. “I don’t have any problem with you” and then he stood up and went to the direction of the food and drinks.

“Don’t mind him” Daryll told her. “That’s his natural way of talking to people” he smiled at her and went to his seat.

“It’s okay, I’m kinda used to how he talks. I just thought he’s extra cranky today” she told him. TJ went back with more foods and drinks. Yuan tapped her shoulders, she looked at him and saw he’s pointing to the lady walking towards them. She stood up.

“Hi, Audrey! This is Mira, Mira this is Audrey, she’s our team manager before” Yuan introduced them.

“Hello, Mira. It’s nice to meet you” her voice is angelic. She smiled at her extending her hand.

Wow, she thought. She’s wearing a high-waisted blue jeans, a tucked-in white blouse, a coat and white sneakers. She wore her hair in a messy bun and she’s wearing a large, round eyeglasses. In a simple clothing, she already look like a model, or a celebrity. “Hi, you look so beautiful” her eyes widened when she realized what she just said. “Oh! Did I just said that out loud? I’m sorry!” she said in a hurry. She also heard the boys behind her laugh.

Audrey also laughed at what she just said. “Thank you, Mira. You look just as beautiful. And your dress, it’s very pretty, it suits you very well” she complimented her.

“Thank you” she replied. She took a glance at TJ who seem not interested in what’s happening around him. She stopped herself from saying it’s from him, he might just get crankier, if that’s even possible. “It’s nice meeting you all, but I think should go back to the other center, they might—”

“Already? But you just got here” TJ told her, sitting sideways so he can face her.

She looked at him and he was smiling just a bit. Ah, this guy! He knows she just went there to see Audrey in person. Why is he so irritated? “Okay, I guess I can stay for a little bit more” she replied. She sat back next to TJ.

TJ then put a plate of food in front of her and a bottle of water. “So, how do you find us so far?” he started asking her. “A little too loud?” he continued.

Every one suddenly became silent and watched the two of them. “No, I think they’re all very nice” she replied looking at him.

He looked at her and slightly shook his head. “Let’s go, I’ll walk you to the other center” he said and stood up. He took her hand and pulled her up.

“Let’s meet again some time” she smiled at them and waved. They all smiled back and waved. She felt TJ’s hand in her back guiding her out and making her walk faster.

They walk almost in total silence halfway to the other center. “Thanks for walking me here” she told him. He didn’t answer her. “TJ, is there anything wrong? Can I help you with anything?” she asked.

“No” he answered. He looked at her and smiled. “I’ve been totally out of line since this morning, I’m sorry” he apologized.

“Like you’ve never crossed a line before” she joked.

“It’s nice to cross it from time to time. But I’m totally rude since earlier” he said sincerely.

She looked at him, you can tell he had a few to drink based on his flushed face. She smiled. You can almost never see this side of him. “Apology accepted” she answered.

“You do look beautiful today” he complimented her. “You’d be perfect only if I didn’t saw your snotty face” he added.

“You always have to ruin it, didn’t you?” she said. She heard him chuckle, “but really, is there any problem?” she asked.

He nodded.

“I was duped” he started. She stared at him, worried. “You know when I told you I had them put a kidney in my chest?” he asked.

“Yes?” she asked.

“Apparently, it’s not a kidney they put in here” he continued.

“Did they put the liver?” she asked making TJ chuckle. “Oh, no! Did they put a stone?” she asked almost whispering.

“I hope they did. They put a heart, instead” he told her touching his chest.

“Why does having a heart have to make you so sad?” she asked.

“Well, it can hurt you as well” he answered her. “It’s you” he told her tapping the door of the center.

He’s telling her to get inside. She nodded. “TJ” she called when he’s about to leave. He looked at her, “someday, I hope you’ll be thankful that they put a heart instead” she smiled at him. He nodded. She opened the door and went inside.