Facing Crossroads

VII - First Times

                                                                               Shane

I felt my vision swirled after the quiz in Electives. It was not a surprised quiz and I had to admit that I wasn’t prepared. I went straight to Drama Society’s room, bringing my lunch box.

Only a few were present and nobody was eating their lunch.

Theo was busy explaining to the props team how to make a sword, trying to explain each distinction. He moved his arms, forming a shape in the air, passionately telling them what to do. They were all invested in this stage play, and I wished I could suck their energy in doing my job in this club.

When he was done, he sat opposite me and sighed.

“Why do you always look so tired?” I asked, eyeing him.

He looked away, avoiding my gaze. “That’s what you get when you’re trying to win your girlfriend back.”

That intrigued me. I thought they were doing fine, growing strong. Or maybe not.

“Oh, sheesh,” I whispered. “Something wrong?”

Theo narrowed his eyes, head c*****g to the side. “Question is, will it ever going to be right again?” His tone was low, somehow sad.

“That bad?” I asked.

“Bad bad,” he said, echoing my words. “Don’t mind it. I’ll figure something up.”

This time, I shared my lunch box with him and he took it without saying anything. He looked lost.

After school, Jellaine invited me again to join them for dinner. Seeing her expectant look, I nodded, allowing myself to mingle again. Meryll clapped her hand and linked arms with me, smiling like a foolish kid. I actually found her sweet and easy to get along with, not like Sandra when I first met her.

While eating on the diner called The Hub, I couldn’t help but noticed Theo. He seemed distant today, not the usual guy who get along with everyone.

“Hey, are you listening?” Meryll snapped her fingers, getting my attention.

“Yeah,” I said.

She shook her head, a ghost of smile on her lips. “You’re not. You’re distracted.”

Shrugging my shoulder, I said nothing.

“I said, look at how sad Theo is,” she whispered as we waited for our order. The Hub had a small place for arcade games, and some were already out there playing.

“I noticed.”

She huffed. “Girlfriend issues.”

I know.

“I wish they would just break up for real, you know?”

That made me raised an eyebrow. Glancing at Meryll, I saw longing in her eyes, her gaze fixated on Theo. “Why would you say that?”

“She seems not taking good care of him.”

I threw her an incredulous look, like what-the-hell-are-you-saying look. “Relationships are not always about sunshine, Meryll.”

She turned her gaze at me, taken aback. “I’m just saying. I mean… He deserves better. It seems like Sandy’s treating him not quite well. And like, there’s a lot of girls who’s willing to take her spot.”

I shook my head. I thought she was nice. Turned out she had a different agenda with Theo. “I’m guessing you like him and feel like you deserve him.”

Her eyes grew wide, not expecting what she had heard from me. That was one of my flaws which Sandra told me about. She said I was straight-forward, hurting people with my words. Though, most of the time I didn’t intend to.

“There’s nothing wrong liking someone,” she muttered in a low tone.

I nodded, agreeing. “There is if you’re praying for their breakup.”

She was about to speak when I stood up. “I’ll just go play with them. It was nice taking to you.”

I left her and didn’t give a damn what she would think of me after our conversation. I guess I knew a toxic friend when I talked to one.

When I reached the others on the arcade area of the diner, I watched as Jellaine tried to get a doll from one of the machines but when it neared the hole, the doll would drop from the metal claw. They all sighed in frustration.

“Hey, Shay,” I heard Theo called out and pointed at basketball game. “One game?”

I shrugged my shoulder and we both stood on each booth as we inserted a ten-peso coin. When the ball got released, I started shooting, subtly tip-toeing every time I threw the ball into the ring. I heard some cheers, urging me to beat Theo, who expectedly, had a high score than mine.

As we finished the game, I saw a smile on his face, like a kid who was finally allowed to play outside.

“You suck at this game, Shay, do you know that?” he commented, looking to my score.

“Hey, at least I got eight!”

Theo chuckled, shoving a hand on his back pocket, looking down at me. Standing this close to him, I just realized how tall he really was.

“And it’s a first for me.” I added and looked away from him, trying not to observe everything about him.

“You’ve never played arcades before?” he asked, tone surprised.

I just shook my head. “My dad never brought me to one.”

“We should pop your cherry, then,” he said with a smile. I threw him a knowing look, trying to decipher his mind. “Of course, no pun intended.”

I smiled. “Good.”

After we ate some cheap sea food, the group hung out for a while, as they watched me played different games, from dart to car racing and they were awed when I hit every target in rifle shooting. On that game, I made him a loser.

It was nearing nine when we all decided to go home. Jellaine thanked me for joining and asked me to hang out with them again. Unlike Meryll, our president’s had genuine heart.

“Where’s your minivan?” I asked Theo, noticing he didn’t have any wheels today.

“Mom needed it,” he replied. “Besides, my home’s just couple of blocks away from here. I’ll walk.”

I tapped my boots on the pavement. He was really nice to me from the moment I stepped foot into the auditorium. I should pay my debt.

“Want a ride?”

Theo stared at me like I was joking.

“What? You’ve never ridden a bike before?” I asked, making it sound like it was a big deal.

He just laughed, looking at my motorcycle. “Are you a good driver?” he asked instead.

Spreading my arms wide, I motioned to myself. “I’m still in one piece.”

“You’re a smartass, do you know that?”

Grinning, I handed him my helmet. He looked at it like it was the most foreign thing his eyes ever laid on. “Better safe than sorry, right?”

“I’m fine, Shay. You should go straight home.”

“Yeah, right,” I replied with a nod. “You’re nice to me. I’m just reciprocating.”

He thought for a moment, staring at me, his eyes seeking something I wasn’t sure what. I wiggled my yellow helmet for him to take.

A smile broke his serious face. “You should wear it.”

I insisted, rolling my eyes. “I can tell you’re scared so just put it on, Theo. Besides, I’m just trying to be a better person.” I mirrored his words.

He looked amused. With a sigh, he put on the helmet and climbed at back of my bike.

“You can just hold on the metal lining of the seat or whatever.”

I heard him cleared out his throat.

“I promise I’ll go slow since it’s your first time.”

Theo laughed out loud. “Shut it, Shay. Just drive.”

He was lying. His home wasn’t just a few blocks away from The Hub. It was almost a twenty-minute drive.

“Can’t thank you enough,” Theo said, handing me my yellow helmet.

I gazed at the two-storey house, the ground floor looked like a medium-sized convenience store. All lights were turned off, the neighborhood quiet.

“You owned a convenience store,” I commented.

He shook his head. “Not mine. My mother’s,” he said. “And it’s nothing compared to your wealth, for sure.”

“My father’s wealth, you mean,” I whispered. “So…”

Theo gazed at me, hands shoved in his jeans pocket, standing still in front of their black gate.

“So… go on and get a sleep. You look like hell, Theo.”

He smiled again. “Drive safely.”

Putting on my helmet and mock-saluting him, I started my bike and headed home.

I honestly didn’t know what to think as realization dawned on me. Two rivaling syndicated ran the little town of Victoria. Theo was living in La Ex-Trimis Vill, the known village for powerful men. The Ruscos developed the place, and only the respectable and reputable families were allowed to buy a lot there. My father always reminded me not to venture to that place, as it was a nest for the most dangerous of things.

But here I was, dropping a friend to his home in the forbidden place. Truly, there was always a first in everything.

Chill ran down my spine, not because of the cold wind, but because of fear, warning me, honking for me to get away as fast as possible. To distance myself as long as I could.

Shuddering, I speed up, finally turning left going to our village. Now, there was only one question left that lurked in my head.

Who the hell is Theo?