21 Days

XIV: Confrontation

                It’s been two days but Seven’s fever wasn’t getting any better. Jay was starting to get impatient with him and has been complaining a lot about the fact that they should’ve been home if it weren’t for Seven.

                “Why do you have to get sick out of all times?” Jay whined.

                Jay has been missing the feeling of being in the manor. He wants to cuddle himself up with the warm fresh blankets and soft beds as well as fill himself up with Ava’s cooking. It’s been Aiki who was cooking food for them as Sky and Hiro was always busy and sadly, her cooking was always bland. No one dared to mention it to her as they know well how Aiki would react and the fact that it would be really bad.

                “You’re acting more like a brat.” Jake pointed out and Jay’s ears perked up.

                “Are you just talking to me like that? When I am here because of you?” Jay defended.

                “Ah… Here we go again.” Ethan shook his head.

                Since there were more people inside that small building, they have to divide who occupies who. On the second floor where most operations were being conducted, Hiro, Aiki and Sky were the ones occupying. That also includes Shelly who still haven’t spoken up about their organization nor does chose to eat what those strangers offer her. She was afraid that things such as truth serum would be included and that she would say things without being aware about it.

                The rest was on the first floor. Their job to be stay on guards so when things occurred, they could report it towards Sky or whoever was above and so they would have a warning. They were tossed by camping cocoons where they could sleep and Jay’s muscles have been aching because of it.

                “How many times should you use the same dumb excuse you’ve been using since you arrive here?” Jake scratched his head. The crease on his brows didn’t left and he was getting angrier about Jay being such an ass.

                Jay groaned.

                “You are being selfish Jake.” He said.

                “No. It’s you who is being selfish.” Jake rebutted.

                Ethan was just sitting on the floor, next to Seven who, despite being sick was watching those two argue once again. It has been going on for days and his ears were starting to get annoyed by their voices

                When Seven first came down, a few days ago, he wasn’t able to take the toll on the stairs once again as his leg was starting to ache like mad. Hiro have informed him that upon inspecting Shelly, they’ve found a poison in her pocket and that she used it to coat her bullets with some and unfortunately, those made a hit on Seven’s leg.

                Like the virus, that poison’s properties were foreign.

                Hiro was worried that it would have the same effect as the virus but seems like nothing’s big has been happening with Seven yet, aside from the fever. Every now and then, he would check on him and record his status. That time, Seven realized he became a subject to an unknown poison that has the possibility of having the same effect as the virus that have spread along the world.

                “If ever I turn as one of those, I’ll bite you two first. You’re wearing my ears out.” Seven complained in between breaths.

                “You know what, you two should calm down.” Ethan headed towards them and put his hands on both of their shoulders. Just then, they went at ease and Jake sat in behind the counter, tapping his fingers on the wooden surface of the counter.

                His eyes started to observe around the once flower shop. The walls were painted with light pink, possibly to give off the vibe of being flowery. On the walls were dried smudges of blood that perhaps came from the people that was once been there and some of those exists on the glass window and door that leads to the exit of the shop

                The ceilings were low but enough to support a small chandelier, there was a small counter area where transactions between the customers occurs and on the left area where the benches was were the piled pots they have transferred so they could have enough space to sleep on the floor.

                “This is once a home to people.” Jake suddenly blurted out. This made Ethan look at him, Jay just glancing while still frowning and Seven also heard it. Ethan was helping him with a glass of water as he just had his medicines.  

                “Maybe. There was even a cooking area upstairs.” Ethan answered him.

                “What do you think have happened with the people here? Or what would this place be if that thing didn’t happen?” Jake questioned.  

                “Well..—coughs—of course, just what happened with everyone. They see people die in front of them and one of their own kill them” Seven struggled to answer.

                “Shut up when you can’t even talk properly. You’re just tiring yourself out.” Jay spat.

                “Oh.. Lil ol’ whiny Jay is concerned—coughs—“ Seven teased him.

                “I’ve been here before.” Jay stated.

                “Oh? Bought flowers for you girlfriend?” Ethan asked.

                “Shut up!” Jay’s brows creased. “We bought flowers for my mom. For her first death anniversary.”

                Everyone was quiet.

                “We’re supposed to buy those flowers together, she loves white roses and… and I was supposed to come with my Dad but he of course cancelled plans in the middle and told me that I should not bother because he wants me to meet someone. That was my new mom. It felt strange though. He even told me to buy flowers for her since I was there. Since that day, I started to resent my father little by little.” Jay snorted, his brows were frowning and he was making such a strange face.

                “That made you mean.” Ethan fact checked and Jake glanced at him.

                “Just… It’s so painful even if I think about it now. Even if years have passed, it’s still fresh for me yet he quickly moved on.”

                “It’s not your fault though. Such things happen even if you don’t wish to.” Seven said while looking at the ceiling. He then laughed softly. “Jake should stop asking questions. We’re now sentimental here.” Seven said as he too started to go back on memory lane.

                “Jay started it.” Jake blamed him then felt guilty when he looked at Jay who was in the middle of his own sorrows. “Sorry.”

                “Why are you guys so sad? I’ve been there too. But I guess my most painful memory is the archery club.” Ethan chuckled. “Not as deep as yours but marred in me. That just mean we have different experiences and it made us see the world differently. Mine won’t be as painful for you and reverse but it is still our pain and that it makes us stronger, brings us to where we are, here, gathered, surviving.”               

                Ethan this time smiled.

                “I sound corny. Well, like you, I’ve been missing home.” He followed.

                “Same. Even if I arrived to nothing.” Jay chuckled as he leaned his head on the walls. He was now sitting on the floor as well.

                Jake glanced to where Jay was.

                “My life was only miserable because of Jay.” Jake sniggered. “Actually I feel weird, till now associating with him because we have some issues but yeah, let’s say I’m slowly adjusting.” Jake admitted. Seven has finally dozed off to sleep by that time so it was only the three of them talking about sad things.

                “Sorry? I guess?” Jay said scratching his head. “I really didn’t want to be mean but… how should I say this? That’s where I get attention from my father.”

                “Still, not a good excuse for attention. You’re still mean to Jake and that fact doesn’t change. You should apologize heartily and it’s up to Jake to decide when to forgive you. All those asshole years you’ve made him suffer.” Ethan’s mood was now that of anguish. “If only I am acquainted to you two before, I may have shot Jay’s eyes with some arrows.”

                “Hey! That’s mean.” Jay pointed out.

                “Well you are mean.” Ethan said rolling his eyes. “When did it even start? Like you two should discuss it. I’ll be the mediator.” Ethan nodded to himself.

                “Well…” Jake shrugged. It’s been a while and he doesn’t really know how to handle awkward situations as well. It will be his first time confronting Jay with a calm method because the first time ended into fist fight and left them bruised and more awkward.

                “Now…” Ethan stood up and went to where Jake was seated. He grabbed his arm and dragged him to where Jay was. He made him sit on the floor, Jake and Jay facing each other while Ethan was beside them and facing them.

                “This is a great method. We usually use this when we have issues with some members in the club back then and it sure resolved many issues.” Ethan said brightly. “Oh, you two should hold your hands and look at each other’s eyes.

                “Damn it.” Jay turned red. The way he knows how to express his conflict is through anger and not some weird calm s**t that Ethan wants them to do.

                “Stop being persistent Jay.” Ethan grabbed his hand and made them held each other’s.

                Jay’s eyes have been unsteady, glancing from here to there and not straight to Jake’s face and sure enough Ethan noticed it.

                “Stop ruining it Jay.” He said. “Just apologized.

                “Sorry.” Jay murmured.

                ‘That’s it?” Ethan asked.

                “Dude, I don’t even know what to do.” Jay said.

                “You just have to apologize for being mean to me.” Jake snorted. “You see we’ve been chill for now but I still hold some grudges against you.”

                He said bluntly and Jay paused, taken aback by Jake’s straightforwardness.

                “I’ll share my piece for now.” Jake took his courage to express everything right in front of Jay. He decided that he would not be kind and just say things straight onto his face since this will be the only time he’ll be able to express it.

                “We first met at the basketball club. I was a freshman, you were a freshman. Evans was still the team captain back then and the team’s really doing well because he’s a good captain. Let’s admit that. We’ve became close upon knowing that we’re both in first year and things are going well but then you started it.” Jake sighed.

                “You started ruining the basketball team and kick Evans because you think he doesn’t deserve it. You’ve been the one planting cigarette butts in his locker. I saw you one time putting it and your dumb gang and then told the coach about it. Then things start to get messed up.” Jay noticed how Jake’s hand has been gripping onto his tighter than before. He could feel Jake’s anger repulsing from all those years that he has endured things because of Jay. He remained silent and just gave his ear to whatever Jake has to say.

                “The coach confronted Evans and at first it was in between the basketball team. You’re the only one unhappy about him keeping the position. Then you did it more. I can’t endure your s**t anymore and I told Evans and then you started rumors about me being gay.” Jake exhaled frustrated.

                This time, Ethan looked at Jake. He was concerned. Jake has been the calmest of them and seeing him getting mad was new to him. He also looked worried for Jay who seems to be guilty of what Jake has been saying. His brows were creased and he was trying his best to avoid Jake’s fiery glares.

                “What more, I know it’s you who have sent the message to the head that me and Evans were smoking together in the locker room. It’s the same time we found out about the cigarette butts and then we were punished. It made my life horrible. Evans had to transfer school because he was expelled since it was his second time and I was suspended for days. When I returned, rumors about me have already spread and people have been avoiding me.” Jake was still glaring at Jay.

                “Then you started tormenting me. You’re the one responsible for making my life hellish. People are avoiding me. Clubs are refusing to accept me and I was so agitated but I can’t do anything. It’s depressing but for the sake of my parents who believed that I was fine, I strived and told myself that my revenge would happen after we graduated high school.”

                Jake’s shoulder then dropped. His active emotions have suddenly gone down the drain and he remained looking blankly at the floor, out of focus. He then sighed and pulled his hands away from Jay. He stood up and headed to the opposite part of the room to heave his frustration. He realized that it was difficult to forgive, that he still wants revenge if it was wrong and the fact that he still wants to get Jay for what he’d done made him exasperated.

                Jake leaned his forehead on the wall, bumping it so lightly. He had a knock of sense of reality in his head. That he has been getting along with that person while holding such grudge inside him.

                “Pathetic. Pathetic.” Jake whispered.

                All the while he was doing that strange gesture. Jay walked towards him and put his hand on the wall where Jake has been bumping his head.

                “You’d hurt yourself.” Jay said guilty. He was trying his best not to cry but once he can’t anymore, all his emotions poured out. He kept whispering sorry to Jake whose expression was still blank yet his tears have been streaming onto his face.

                It was a strange scenario for the two of them but that time, they felt that they have a connection much deeper than they were aware of. On the other hand, Ethan was on their tail. He thought that he should be there and prevent a fight from occurring but he was relieved to see that they’re far from doing that.

                He went back to where Seven was. His eyes were on the ceilings and he suddenly raised a fist bump.

                “You’re one of a mediator.” Seven complimented and Ethan returned his fist bump.