Remark

Taking You

When Friday came, I didn’t know exactly how my head was feeling. I felt somehow light headed, but I felt my head heavy too. It was like somewhere in between but I was feeling so suffocated inside, like I was inhaling a lot of bad gas in my system.

I didn’t even feel like going to school but I respected everyone too much for me to leave the booth in their hands alone when I know I should have a part it taking responsibility. The idea of the booth is my doing and the least I can do is to honor my position in the department. I put up a smile on my face as I head to the booth which I was sure was open by now since I got up really late. Everyone looks at me as I step inside to usher ticket holders telling me I wasn’t really doing a good job at faking my smile.

I was surprised when someone suddenly pokes my head. I looked up frowning and saw my annoying step brother. He was with Tyler and Jeffrey as well. Good thing I still remembered about the tickets I’m supposed to give them. “Your face looks like it’s about to get hit by a truck.” Johnny says. “Oh no. Your face looks like it’s been hit by a truck.”

I glared at him not thinking it was funny. “Then I’m dead. I’ll wait for you in hell.”

“Why the upside down smile, sissy? You still on your period or something?”

I rolled my eyes and sighed. I wasn’t finding everything funny today.

“She doesn’t look fine, Johnny. Stop teasing her.” Thank God for Jeffrey.

“Okay, sheesh! Can we just get the tickets and review what this talk-of-the-school museum that my little sister actually came up with?”

I turned to Tyler and handed him the tickets. “You can just go inside but I won’t usher you. I might ditch my work today so,”

He just nodded. “Thanks.”

As I was walking away from my post, I hear Johnny say, “We’ll enjoy ‘lil sis! Thanks for the ticks!” but I just ignored him and walked away before I take out my anger on him. I walked away from the booth and decided I wanted to stay in the garden Jonah brought me once but wanting to go there made me instantly regret it after passing by a familiar figure from a distance. Mark was with Juliette again and they were laughing like how they did when I saw them together again before with Hikaru. He was laughing like he can’t feel how annoyed and irritated I am right now.

I watch them from my post and not dare move a single step – I was just watching them with so much questions in my head. Like why was Mark laughing with her so brightly and different; like why he was always with her. Like why rumors started spreading about him dating Juliette. Like why I was bearing to watch all these without doing anything. Like why Marcus was wearing his hair up today and looking so beautiful and why I was stopping myself from thinking that the rumors might actually be true.

I sighed and looked down gulping hard. I haven’t heard from Mark. It was like he was convincing me himself that the rumors were true but I stand by what he tells me. He once told me that one should never believe in rumors because they are still news you can’t rely on. I trust him. I keep telling myself – or at least I was letting myself think that way out of scare.

I looked up when hands suddenly groped my wrist. When I looked up, I see Jonah looking at me intently with his cold deep brown eyes that were showing me how disgruntled he was and I didn’t know why. “Jonah,”

He doesn’t reply to me and just stares at me in a way he never did me before. They were like throwing swords on fire and I was starting to get really frightened by him. “Okay, forget about last day. Let’s get you out of here.”

When my head voluntarily turns back to where Mark and Juliette were, they were already gone and I hope they were hanging out for the right reasons like what I expect Mark to discuss with me once he feels like telling me everything. I nodded and let him drag me away with his hands still holding onto my wrist.

I wasn’t even looking at where we were heading so I was surprised when I see wheels on the ground when we stopped. I turned to Jonah who was giving me a look. “I thought we were going to the boo—”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to bear working with you in that state of yours, Nami.” He suddenly said which makes me instantly feel bad that I was that transparent to him. Sometimes I wonder if Jonah and I were really meant to be friends because he can read through my lies and actions; he can make me do things I don’t do for other people. “I’m stealing you today from your boyfriend so get in the car and ask me later why.”

“What about the b—”

“I wouldn’t be dragging you away like this if I hadn’t thought about the department first so get in and ask me questions later.” He opens the door for me and glares at me like he was going to shoot me arrows if I didn’t get inside now so I just did. Feeling his comfy passenger seat was great partly because it was making my butt warmer and relaxed.

He runs to the driver side and gets in, starts his car, and drives away – out of the school and down the street we ride together. He doesn’t say anything and I was just staring at him trying to figure out why he was dragging me away like a rebellious president he never was. I couldn’t see any answer from staring at him but I still stare at him. I only noticed the mark he has over the muscle between his nostrils. They weren’t ugly. If anything, they looked flattering to his face. His clef chin felt like it was deeper today which I’m sure it wasn’t but maybe this all because of my thorough examination of his face for the first time. His blue eyes are what I usually stare at when he speaks to me and the way his upper lip was curled up. You can’t really blame me for staring a foreign guy driving next to me in this city full of Asian people like me.

I finally looked away and out the window pane watching the numerous buildings pass by us like air. Now that I wasn’t staring at Jonah, I was back to thinking of Mark and couldn’t help but wonder why he was hanging out with that fairy so much that it almost feels like he’s forgotten about me. I sighed. I just have to trust Mark – that’s what I need to do.

“You can wake up now, Nami.” Jonah suddenly said.

The car pulled over and I look at an unfamiliar neighborhood. I was about to ask him where we were but I realized he wouldn’t tell me so I just kept quiet and waited for him to get out of the car before I get out myself before he opens the door for me like a freaking heiress which I am far not.

I shot up from my floating head and looked around me. Where are we? Where did you decide to take me Jonah? I asked and when I see out the window, I only see green grass and a building from a distance.

He takes off his seatbelt and steps out of his car so I followed him. I examined where we were. It was so quiet and I can only here birds chirping around, the sky was so bright and blue, and clear. I walk with him and I see a steep hill coming our way.

“Yen’s diner is the best.”

I scanned for a certain Yen’s diner and my brows arched when I read the store sign from the end of the hill, the only building I could see around. “You could have just drove there if we were going to eat there? What’s the point of parking here?” I asked turning to him confused but he replies me a soft chuckle.

He looks at me with his shimmery blue eyes. “What’s the fun there?” Are we supposed to have fun before we eat? “Run away with me?” He offers his hand and I just stare at it still confused of what he wanted to do right now.

Then I realized what he actually wanted to happen. I looked at what I was about to get myself into and looked back to Jonah with a nod. I grab his hand and without further notice, without further preparation, he pulls me and we start running down the hill like kids. I laughed as we run our hearts out.

When we reached the diner, we were laughing and out of breath. We crouch down to our knees trying to catch our breath before laughing at each other after. We enter the diner after a few minutes of panting and order a normal burger and some soda.

We sit over next to the window with the amazing view of the hill and the place in general. After a bite from my burger, he suddenly talks. “Didn’t you feel like a bird? Just a free bird soaring?” He tells me and I let out a chuckle.

I nodded and finally stood back up. “I did actually. That was quite adventurous. I haven’t ran that fast since I got my injury.”

He turns to me creasing his brows. “Injury?”

“Yeah,” I answered him and took a quick sip from my soda. “I got it while I was dancing and eventually I was f*******n to do a lot of heavy work with my foot by my doctor because it might shatter.”

“Didn’t you think it might have been more convenient for me to know that fact before I actually almost shattered your foot?”

“If I did, I wouldn’t have had the best day of my life.”

He doesn’t reply. “So you never danced ever since that day?”

I shook my head. “Except the other day when Tyler brought me to an arcade. I felt so happy dancing for the first time again.”

“I’m really sorry about your foot. I didn’t know.”

I frowned at him. “It’s okay. I actually really like doing those types of things now because I feel like I’m disabled which I’m not. I just want people to treat me normally like before. I’m really glad you did that so thank you,”

“People can’t help but worry about you, that’s why.”

I shrugged. “Maybe? Or maybe they’re just locking me up from my happiness and I hate it so much.” After taking another sip from my juice, I finally averted the topic and realized how often he wore the brown bracelet he had over his right wrist. “So tell me about that bracelet? Is it like from someone special?” I asked and he lifts up his hand.

“This?” He chuckled. “My sister made it for me last December as a Christmas gift. I never took it off.”

“You shower with it?”

He nodded. “It’s kind of like a lucky charm to me now, you know.”

“You must really love her.”

“I do.”

I smiled and watched him stare at the bracelet his sister made him. I think it was adorable that he’s not embarrassed of wearing stuffs that his sisters make for him. I mean, it’s really rare for brothers to be proud of their siblings so it was very heart melting to see that off of him.

“What about your anklet?”

The memory of meeting Jonah during my first day reminisced. I feel like it’s been so long since that happened but it was just less than six months ago. I look a glimpse of my ankle and see them peeking through my pants. “Mark gave it to me.” When he doesn’t reply, I turn to him and he just looks down with a faded smile on his face. “Am I being too insensitive or?” I started and he lifts up his gaze and meets my eyes.

“No, of course not.”

“It would be good if you really tried to get rid of your feelings for me, Jonah.” I see him gulp which makes me feel like a very terrible person at this point. “I mean, you might as well find a different girl who can like you back because I honestly think you deserve that. You’re a really nice guy and I’m sure a lot of girls would die for you.”

He suddenly burst into laughter. “That’s a very nice rejection speech Nami and I assure you that once I do get rid of my feelings for you, I’d tell you right away. It just doesn’t beat for anyone else right now so you can’t really do anything about that.”

“Did it come off like that really? Rejection speech?”

“It did,” He laughs. “Nevertheless, I’m really glad you look much better now than a while ago. I know your relationship with Mark is none of my business and I respect you for that but I really am just here for you if you need someone to talk to as cliché and overrated that sounds.”

I wheezed. “I’ll remember th— YOU HAVE A TATTOO?”

Jonah quickly hides it from and looked tensed. “Well—”

I pull his arms back in front to see it. “How come I never saw this?” I asked in fascination. It was like a contour of a country of something but the details were amazing. The buildings like it was a city night, the flag I think. I turned back to him. “You just got this?”

“Yes?”

I stared back at the work of art inked over his skin. “What does it mean?”

“It’s my hometown.”

I looked at him. “So you won’t feel homesick?”

He laughed. “Kind of? Sort of.”

I nodded. “But how come I never saw it yesterday? I basically am with you all the time recently.”

“Because I always try to hide them, I guess – with concealer.”

“But why?” I squinted my eyes. I was so mad over the fact that he’s hiding such masterpiece from other people. “It’s not inappropriate or anything.”

“No but I just don’t like being judged by other people by how I look physically. I mean, Asians think of tattoos as rebelling and I don’t want people to think that. I just like being able to express myself by inking them under my skin. I was worried that people would think of me as a different person.”

I guess that makes sense. People are judgmental these days.

“And I was afraid that people will start getting scared of me when they see it. Stereotype thoughts when people come across tattoos people.”

I laughed. “I think it’s really cool though.”

“Do you?”

“So, what, are you planning to have more?” I asked out of curiosity.

“I actually have one more that I’ve had on longer than this.” He suddenly shows me his other arm and I see a palm tree inked there as well. “I don’t know why I wanted that there but I just kind of did. It’s dumb but whatever.”

I laughed harder. “Why are you hiding these? These are great. You shouldn’t be faking yourself just so you can please other people. It’s always better to be yourself.”

“And the school doesn’t allow tattoos so,”

Oh. “Maybe conceal them on campus?”

He chuckled. “I’ll try.”

That night, we were out in the town square just wandering around and deciding whether or not we wanted to eat which we were debating about so much but we decided not to and just enjoyed the cold air brush through our faces. We see a group of people singing for free over the pavement side and we watch.

I bopped my head to the music and watch them sing for us. They were good. I honestly am still confused why people do this a lot in our city. I feel like it’s a normal thing for us now. I was surprised when they suddenly pull Jonah from my side and asks him to sing something.

I watch in anticipation when he first shook his head and refused to their request but once he gives in I clapped and cheered for him. He starts whispering to one of the performer’s groupmate and he starts plucking the guitar. Jonah holds the microphone and turns to me with a very bothered look but I gave him a nod and smiled at him.

“I need you in my life like limelight. Wherever I go I’m taking you. Whenever I call, you’re my lifeline. I never hang up I depend on you. You fly with me so I call you redeye. The sky’s so clear when you’re the view. I only say it ‘cause I really mean it. I ain’t afraid of how you got me feeling. The sky’s so clear when you’re the view. Anywhere I go, I’m taking you.”

I was so shocked by how good Jonah’s voice was. Partly because I wasn’t expecting him to be a good singer. He was really good at it and everyone would agree with me because they were liking the song he was singing right now despite not knowing what it actually meant. I didn’t know what song it was but it sounded great and he sounded great.

When the song ended, Jonah comes back to me after saying his thank you to the performer who let him sing for us. “You were really good. Why aren’t you a singer? Or is it like your secret job or something? Are you a celebrity all along and I’m just not familiar with you? That’s just very movie-like if ever you are,”

“I’m not sure why I told you about me not wanting my course.”

So singing was his other passion. Music. I thought it was like Jay music type – the one where he produces music of his own but I guess that’s still it. I nodded in realization and turned back to him. “You’re really good. You have a really nice voice. I never compliment anyone so you should be grateful that you get to have my limited stock of compliments.” I joked and he laughs.

“I’ll gladly take that then,”

Everything was like in slow motion when I was suddenly pulled to the back and when I turn around, I see Mark holding my wrist. I look at him and he doesn’t look at me. His eyes were on Jonah who apparently held to my other wrist when I was pulled back. Now they were like playing tug of war without a rope except that I am the rope and I’m worried I might break if they start pulling.

“Let her hand go.” Mark demands.

“Not if she doesn’t want to.” Jonah replied.

“If you don’t let my girlfriend’s hand go right now, you’re going home with a broken arm and nose. Now, get your filthy hands off of her.” He glares at him, his voice lower than normal and his eyes just fiery and piercing.

Jonah turned to me with a worried look and I gesture him that it’ll be okay so he frees my hand with a defeated look.

“Let’s go.”

Mark pulls me away from Jonah who first wanted to pull me back but he stops when I look at him with a thin smile before catching up to Mark’s unusual fast walking pace. He doesn’t tell me anything but he just kept walking and walking until we reached the darkest place I’ve ever seen. Maybe it only appeared dark to me right now because Mark’s aura was darker than the night. I was sure I’d know this place but it was dark and I only hear water down the bridge we were apparently at. “WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?” He exclaims and I was terrified. I felt a small jump of my heart the moment he shouted at me. “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ABOUT NAMI?” He repeats.

“Jonah and I were just hanging out.”

“A guy and a girl alone is never a hangout, Nami.” He corrects which makes me frown at his dim face. I can barely see him but I can feel how angry he was. “Why would you go out alone with a guy when you’re in a relationship with me, Nami? Why would you do that? Why do you keep hanging out with him? Why are you always saying yes to him? Why are you always with him whenever I see you? Tell me, Nami!” he screams and I was out of words. Even I am terrified of him right now. It was as if there was beast inside his soul getting ready to eat me for supper. I can’t believe I am hearing all these from him. I can’t believe it. “What part of me was not enough for you that he has for you to go out with him when you’re still with me? Couldn’t you have at least waited for us to end before dating another guy?”

“Are you serious?” He doesn’t reply. “Are you seriously asking me all these?” I repeat and I let out a snort when I realized he was actually asking me those questions.

“JUST TELL ME WHY YOU’RE GOING ON A DATE WITH A DIFFERENT GUY NAMI. WHY CAN’T YOU JUST GIVE ME A DAMN STRAIGHT ANSWER?” He emphasizes every word and it breaks my heart.

Just when I thought I was trying to save our relationship by building this trust together, it goes down to this. While I was trusting Mark with every bit of my pride and doubts, here he was accusing me for something I should be accusing him for getting involved in a dating rumor with another girl. “Let’s,” I feel the heaviness in my heart with every word and breath I was taking. “Let’s break up, Mark.”