Honey, why?

13. Ghost of Girlfriend Past

2009

Only a minute have passed when another group arrives in the spot. I move Pegasus further back as I hide on the side of Pancake House.

"Their horse isn't here," I hear a male voice say. "Ace must've taken it with her. Luke has gone for the gem."

It's Vinz Teng from Class-B. His features have always scared me. He's part Chinese and I'm not being racist for saying this but his eyes make him seem like he's scrutinizing everything and everyone he looks at. Not to mention he's such a snob.

I once joined this summer camp two years ago for elective writing where he also participated in and since we're from the same school and I never really knew anyone there, I figured why don't I come to him and ask him to be my partner for the assignment given to us? So I went up to him, said hi, and asked him to be my partner for the murder mystery dinner later that night. He just looked down at me with a frown and never I had shivers down my spine from just one look from a guy. Not even my own father looks at me that way when he's upset with me. I thought well screw this, I'd rather go alone and enjoy myself solve the mystery playing Irene Adler rather than having him as a partner. He walked away from me, hands in his pockets and back slouched, his fair skin looking as cold to the touch as his attitude.

Weird thing was he came to the dinner that night and sought me out. We finished first that night and got a detective package each with Arthur Conan Doyle books, a gray deerstalker and matching gloves, a wooden pipe, and some detective trinkets like a magnifying glass, an invisible ink and quill, a compass, a penlight, and a Swiss knife.

That's all the interaction we had the duration of the camp and when we got back to school, we didn't acknowledge each other except for curt nods exchanged every now and then when we pass by each other on the hallways. Now, it seems like we'll do more than just that.

"You go get the gem, I'll go get the girl."

There's a huge sigh. "This is ridiculous. We don't even need her. It's the necklace we need."

"Just go and get the gem. You're wasting time."

Please don't go this way. Please don't go this way. Please don't go this way.

The sound of hooves gets farther and farther away from my hiding spot and I breathe in a relief. Thank God.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

I swivel around and see the person I least expect to see. Last time I see her was in a rolled down window in the front passenger seat of a yellow car as she eyes my house with slit eyes. And the last time I've heard of her, she was dropping out of school for unknown reasons... except that I know exactly what the reason was.

Right now, looking at her, it's almost feels like I'm seeing someone who came from a dream. Her curly brunette hair is cut into a short bob and those piercing brown eyes stare up at me coldly. But her haircut was the least of my worries. The shock that I am sure shows obviously on my face comes from the bump on her stomach. A huge bump.

I remember that time when we found out how she told Luke that she was presumably... well, pregnant. With his baby. I know. It's one of the heaviest thing me and my friends ever faced together.

It was Valentines Day. How could I ever forget? Oh, how could I ever forget? I thought nothing could have topped the pregnancy news but I was proved wrong later that day. It has been two and a half years since.

"Zoey?" Luke emerges from the walkway beside the Häagen-Dazs ice cream shop with a shining bottle green pendant hanging from the gold necklace around his tanned neck.

I move closer to him so he could jump back behind me but his gaze is fixated on Zoey. "Luke. Let's go." I doubt that my voice could even reach him. I see Vinz rounding the far corner of the Food Park, heading our way. "Luke!"

He starts, mouth opening and closing before he hoist himself up the horse. I waste no time steering Pegasus away from Vinz and for a second I think he would stop chasing us but as I see Karelle in front of us flailing her arms running on the side towards him, I don't hear the hooves of the horse halt. I chance a peek behind us as I turn left and see Vinz still pursuing us. What the heck, Vinz?

I increase my pressure on my calves slightly and Pegasus lengthens her gait. I'm not planning to improve her speed, I'm just looking forward to losing the one chasing us.

My ear is being tickled by Luke's hot breath and it is only then that I realize that he's panting. His chest rises and falls heavily against my back, and I swear I could feel his hands shaking as he holds on to my hips. Good thing he's not holding my waist, I'm very ticklish.

"Luke, are you with me?" I shout back at him. I need him right now. He is not in the right place to panic, that's my job and I'm very close to losing it.

When he doesn't answer, I repeat my question. "Are you with me," I ask him as we halt in front of the Concert Hall. Then I add that one word that I know he'll have to react to no matter what state he's in. I deeply breath and say, "Sweetheart?"

I feel him go rigid behind me. Then his arms slowly encircle my waist in to a tight hug as he pulls me against him. I could feel the hard gemstone pressing on my back.

"Don't worry," Luke says on my hair. "You've got me, sweetheart." He presses a hard kiss on my shoulder before climbing down the horse.

He holds his arms out to me, fingers moving to a come here gesture. He wants me to come with him this time. Yes! "Be careful of that dress," he tells me and mumbles something I couldn't understand.

With much poise and utmost care, I climb down Pegasus. I shriek as I feel a mini heart attack when my foot almost slip out of the stirrup but Luke's hands are already steadying me by my... bottom... to prevent my fall. He then grabs me by the waist and carries me flat on the ground.

"There you are." We both look up at the sound of Vinz's voice. He stares coldly at us from his black horse. I shamelessly scream a bloody scream for one more time. Luke grabs my hand and we dash for the Concert Hall.

"Pegasus!" She'll be lost if we don't tie her reins!

Luke glance back at me with a questioning look but doesn't break stride. "What?"

I try to keep up with him since there is no way of stopping him now to get back to Pegasus. "Our horse, Luke! We didn't tie her up!"

"You named the horse?" was all he say before we arrive at the grand auditorium. "Watch your steps." He warns me as he leads me down the aisle. We hear the door opens and it's no doubt that it's Vinz hot on our heels.

We climb up the stage where there are eight wooden boxes at the center. Suspended above those boxes are fish hooks that are tied all the way up the ceiling. Luke heads for the farthest box on the right and removes his necklace. I follow suit and hands him my necklaces. He manages to hang them all three of them on the hook just as Vinz arrives on the platform. He tries to catch the ascending necklaces but it goes up too fast for him to do so.

The box opens and Luke takes the content inside.

"What about the rest of us?" Vinz asks Tati who is standing behind the curtains on the side. Has she been there all along? "How could we complete the race now? I assume there's only one of that blue rock."

Tati moves forward, tapping the box next to ours. "Use your brain, Vinz. Don't bore me with your silly questions."

Ouch. I guess it's not only me that Vinz has been displaying the attitude at. Tati seems pretty pissed with him.

Luke entwines his fingers on mine, holding on to my hand firmly. "Let's finish this race, sweetheart." I give him an affirming nod and we climb down the stage. I want to ask him about Abby but he is so focused right now that I don't want to distract him from his concentration.

He pulls me aside as he pries open the envelope from the wooden box. Together, we read the last of the riddles.

"It is finished but this is not the end

Leave the goddess behind the curtain's bend

But not before sacrificing her porcelain neck

With a honey golden color rock of her eyes' fleck

Outside the huge theatre gates

A golden chariot for you awaits

You have already won this battle my friend

So do as you are told. Do not offend.

From,

The Lion of the Roe Deer Meadow"

Cold chills run up my spine. The goddess pertained in the riddle is obviously me (cringe) from the porcelain neck down to the honey golden flecks of my eyes. I mean, I'm a pale girl but I wouldn't consider my complexion fair. I think I fall into the fair category with neutral undertones. Great. I'm talking about my skin like some kind of le fabricateur.

"Great," Luke says to me with a smirk. "So all we have to do is sacrifice you to the lion and we'll win this thing!" 

He means it as a joke and I take no offense in that. However, he notices my sudden change in mood, cupping my face with one hand. "What's the matter? Are you afraid? You know you'll be safe, right? I'm gonna give you to Tati. She'll take care of you."

"Of course." My voice is faint as I look up at him and laugh nervously. "But, um. But... the rock," I manage. It's good to think of this moment right now rather than what I already know is about to happen. "It says that I have to have a rock same color as my eyes."

Luke let's go of me and holds up another necklace to my face. "It's in the envelope." He grins sheepishly. "I believe it's an Imperial Topaz and may I just say this, whoever arranged this game is absolutely one hundred percent accurate about liking your eyes to this gem." He places the necklace around my neck and gives me a slight peck on my forehead. "But this rock doesn't do your eyes justice because your eyes are and would always be a million times more mesmerizing than any other thing on this planet, inanimate or not."

My heart just melts into a puddle. Aw, Luke. That's so sweet. He doesn't know it but he just gave me the boost I so desperately need. I should be the one comforting him but he ends up making me feel better like he always does. The same thing happened two years ago with the same dilemma of his that we all thought he'd be free of once the proprietor has moved away but now that she's back, I'm more than certain that the fish bone is once again stuck in Luke's throat.

And the thing with him is that he'd almost always try and fix someone than fix his own problems, may he be aware of his doing it or not. That is just his nature.

I hug him tightly around the waist and his arms envelopes me as he returns my squeeze. I pull back and on my tippy toes, I reach up to him so I could kiss his cheek. "Thanks, sweetheart." And this time, I really mean calling him by the word.

Luke stumbles back, looking somewhat dazed. "I, erm. I gotta... go to heaven - I mean, the gates, outside. Back to the soccer field." He points his thumb to his back, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. I giggle.

"You'll be alright here?" He asks me as he takes a step towards me. "Hey, Tati!"

Our classmate jogs down the stage carrying a binder in her arms. "Yes, Hector?"

Luke gapes at her, confused with the Iliad reference. He clears his throat and puts a hand behind the small of my back, gently pushing me towards Tati. "You got her, right? I'll go finish the race now."

"Yeah, yeah. What're you worrying about? You better get your ass outta here before stone face over here solves the alternative riddle." She jerks her head to the direction of the stage. Ha! So she is feeling salty about Vinz just as I do!

"There's an alternative riddle?"

Tati explodes. She whisper-shouts, "Go, you dickhead!" And that got Luke scrambling up the steps between rows and rows of seats.

"Take care of her!" He shouts back at us. He's taking two steps at a time. I hope he doesn't hurt himself.

"What an i***t," Tati murmurs beside me. She sighs and motions for me to follow her. I have to ask her. For sure, she knows about this whole thing. It wouldn't be possible with her help and cooperation.

We are on the left part of the stage hidden from the audience's view, when I muster up the courage to say what has been eating at me since earlier this morning. I have this nagging question since then but it's only now that it's making sense and I'm quite sure of my deductions. I just need a conformation. I'll figure out about the why later.

"Tati," I call her softly. She's watching Vinz inspect the box.

She shakes her head. "Wrong, jerk." She then crosses the stage before my extended hand reach her. Dam. Just my luck. She's talking to another student, a Math Club member, on the opposite side of the stage, talking him something about the lights above the stage, perhaps? She's pointing at them and making small gestures with her hands. I guess I'll have to wait a little bit longer to talk to her.

By the time Luke reach the upper floor, almost all of the contestants are on the stage, deciphering the riddles and looking for clues to tell them how they could compensate for the missing gem. All of them have their heads bent down except for one. You guessed it right, folks! All except Vinz. He is looking up the ceiling, hard on thought. Good luck cracking that case, Mr. Holmes.

The Match Club member that Tati spoken with announces that the contestants have to work harder to figure out how to open the boxes without the special rock and the students all stare at me with looks of disapproval in their eyes. Well, it's not my freaking fault that I'd been blindsided into taking that stupid gem. What's their problem?

I watch as Luke is about to open the door when it swings open violently and in came an out of breath Karelle. "f**k that shithead!" she shouts for everyone to hear. "He..." She takes a deep breath, gasping. She points her finger to the stage. "That bastard left me!" Her eyes zeroes in on Vinz who is staring at her with wide eyes. Tough luck, buddy.

"You really are a jerk," Tati whispers loudly to him as she passes him by on her way to my side. Vinz eyes her with such hate I can feel it. It almost seem like he's glaring at me and not at Tati.

Karelle reaches the stage and lands a solid punch on Vinz's arm. "I'll make you pay later, you asshole."

Beside me, Tati's body is shaking from hiding her laughter. "That's what you get. You mess with the bull, you get the horns."

Vinz explains something to Karelle and they both begin to load their necklaces to the hook and what do you know. You don't need the extra lapis lazuli that I had. The weight of the necklaces collected from the locations is enough to lift the lid of the wooden box open. The other contestants watch in amazement before following suit but by then, Vinz and Karelle are already on their way up the steps of the auditorium, running for the chariot that awaits them outside.

"Tati." My voice is louder than I intended it to. Tati is, after all, just standing shoulder to shoulder beside me. I'm just afraid she'll do something else again and I need her to listen to me.

"What is Ruslan planning?" I cross my arms under my chest and look her seriously in the eyes. She stays still for a moment before swallowing and there it is, the obvious sign of her hiding something. Her right eye twitches seconds before she speaks.

Her shoulders shrug. "What is Ruslan planning? What?"

Repeating my question in the form of another question therefore not answering my question. If that's not a clear sign of a person lying then I don't know what could be more evident than that.

"What are you talking about, Ace?" Her voice hitches at the end of her sentence and I hold my guard, planting my feet firmly on the floor and locking my knees in place.

I just continue to stare at her, trying hard not to blink, until she cracks. Tati is a tough girl but she's the worst liar I have ever met, worse than me I must say. She also cannot keep a secret. Much like Teddy but Teddy spills the secret so effortlessly whereas Tati is the kind of person who becomes paranoid when asked of a certain disclosed matter. Like this one. Tati's binder makes a huge sound as it falls to the ground.

"He made me promise, okay? He made me swear on my ex-pet pug, Marbles, may he Rest In Peace, and how could I not help him? The guy's desperate and you know he's a good person, right? He even paid for a month supply of Chicken Bon Bons at Chicken House for me and gave me a gift check worth five hundred dollars at Game Center."

Tati's eyes are wild and she's flailing her arms up and down as she confesses to me. She's panting and I feel bad for her but I have to find out if what I think is real. Like I said, I need confirmation. I wait patiently for her to calm down and listen painstakingly as she recounts the scheme.

When Tati finishes explaining, my heart couldn't have been heavier and tighter than when I was just in the middle of speculating things. Now that I've heard everything, I think I've heard enough but apparently, that is not the case as a familiar voice comes from behind us, startling both Tati and I.

The voice came from the person standing just a few feet shy between the stage and the backstage door, a figure hidden among the thick red drapes. The only visible part of him is his shadow.