Chapter 10
Creepy. Not.
I don’t know what happened to him, but Jonathan suddenly became very nice. It’s not that he wasn’t nice; he’s nice ever since we met. But I can’t help but to think that he’s suffering a multiple personality disorder.
There are days that he’s super nice to the point that he’s already scaring me; then there are days when he’s so arrogant, bossy, and obnoxious that he makes me want to throw heavy things at him. But there are also days, like today, that he’s just…neutral. Not too good, not too bad. Just…Jonathan. I guess…
We were both sitting in the garden, under the shade of a tree and just staring somewhere far. A while ago, we were both reading a book—but we got bored and now here we are, doing nothing.
Jonathan was leaning on the side of the tree facing the house while I leaned on the side that faces the road, on his left.
We’ve been quiet for quite some time now, and a lot of things about him have been plaguing my train of thoughts. I wanted to ask him a lot of things about him but I don’t know if he’ll even acknowledge them.
I shrugged the hesitance and decided to give it a shot, “Do you have a girlfriend?” I asked, I was supposed to say, “You’ve been here for quite some time now, I bet your girlfriend is already missing you.” But no~ that was not what came out of my mouth. I wanted to bang my head on the tree behind me until the tree falls down. Grrrgh!
He snorted, “Why? Would you like to apply?”
Wow, that wasn’t what I expected. (Heck, who would expect an answer like that?) I was expecting him to ignore me, and oh goodness I hope he doesn’t notice my flushed cheeks.
I took a deep breath and released it slowly. That was a joke, Tiffany. It’s not like you wanted to. Oh shoot! I did not just think about that! “A question isn’t supposed to be answered with a question, Jonathan.”
“Touché.” He said then sighed, “Well, since you sound serious…”
“I am no…”
“…I’ll answer you seriously.”
He fell silent for a while then again, he sighed, “No, I do not have a girlfriend. I’m not allowed to.”
As soon as he finished, I felt like laughing in-front of his face. He’s not allowed to have a girlfriend? He’s already a legal adult!
I decided not to laugh and kept it to myself; but when I tried to talk, the laughter was getting hard to suppress. “Seriously?” I managed, as soon as I felt that my laughter has already left my building.
He nodded. “Why?”
I heard him pull a few grass from the ground, “I’m already engaged.”
I turned to look at him. If I didn’t know him and just passed by and saw him like this, I would think that he’s a teenage high school student: troubled and uncertain, not a mature 23 year old medical student. Mature? Sometimes.
Wait, he doesn’t have a girlfriend but he’s already engaged? That’s…a little bit…familiar.
“Wait, you don’t have a girlfriend but you’re already engaged?” might as well just say it out loud than keeping it to myself.
He chuckled, bitter, “Yea. You know, you might not believe me, I am a very good boy and obedient son.” He emphasized the ‘very’—sarcastic.
I didn’t wanna say it out loud, but I do believe him. “Please elaborate.”
He moved closer to me and our arms were a bit close, I can feel his warmth, but we were still staring opposite our position in the tree.
“My mom and dad has already fixed a marriage ever since before I was born.” He began; I just nodded, he continued, “My dad and my fiancée’s dad are best friends and business partners. They wanted to preserve their business through their children so they decided to betroth them. I was first born and a boy, so my father decided that I will be the one to be in the betrothal.
But if ever the other party also conceives a boy as their first born, they will have to wait until there will be a match. Actually, when I first heard of it, I laughed. It was funny that they waited until there would be a pair.”
He fell silent for a while, and I just enjoyed the silence. I wanted to hear the whole story, but I don’t mind a long pause. His story is making my head ache; is his story the same with mine, my family and my future marriage?
“Anyway, so there, my parents tried hard to have a girl since the other party’s first born was also a son—funny ‘cause her mom also tried to have a girl.” He continued then sighed, “After 5 years, and 2 sons after me, my mom stopped trying because at the same time that my second brother was born—my fiancée’s older brother died of an illness and her mom was pregnant…with her. ”
Oooh, wait. He’s 5 years older than his fiancée? Mine is…no, he can’t be. I mean, this could just be a coincidence. Many older brothers die, and…and, any girl can have a fix marriage with a guy 5 years older than her, right? And besides, a Korean-Chinese fixed marriage? Haven’t heard of anything like that…yet.
“What’s up?”
Jonathan’s voice sent shock waves throughout my body that I almost jumped; maybe I was so into my thoughts.
I faced him. “What’s up, what?”
“You look, terrified.”
“Huh? What? Why? How?”
He shrugged, “Dunno. You were also mumbling words that aren’t in my vocabulary. If you’re bad mouthing me in Chinese, that’s not fair.”
I laughed, “If I was bad mouthing you in Chinese, you could bad mouth me in Korean; then we’d be even.”
He chuckled then sighed, “Sorry, I think I bored you with my story. You shouldn’t have opened the topic in the first place.”
“No, you didn’t bore me”, I said, shaking my head, “It was actually quite interesting. It’s just that, I’m disturbed.”
He raised an eyebrow, “And why? I mean, I know it’s kind of disturbing. But, I’m involved so~”
“I know that”, I cut him off, “It’s just that, I almost have the similar story. Excluding the talk about the fathers, because I have no idea what my dad and his dad talked about; but the age gap, the older brother, and the fixed marriage before we were born, is all too familiar.”
He gave me a confused look, “Wait, you’re also going to get married?”
I nodded, “That’s the reason why I’m not at home right now. Though in all fairness, this is not what I planned would happen to me.”
“Never thought it would be this bad?”
“Nah, no. Actually, this is better than what I expected to happen to me. I expected that I would be out for a while, renting, losing money then come back home crying.”
He laughed, “Now I know why you don’t want to go home yet.” he calmed, “Aren’t you worried about them worrying about you?”
“A little” I confessed. Really, just a little. “But I want to be a rebel, even for a just a short time. I mean, if they already planned the marriage even before I was even made, then I ran away for a short while, the marriage won’t be off…right? I just want to be alone for a while before they…tie me up!”
“Haha, that’s a good one. But yea, you’re right.”
Silence.
“You know what?”
I faced him, “What?”
“Right now, I think our brains work the same when thinking of getting away from the marriage.”
“What? Wait, you ran away?”
“For a while, just like you. But unlike you, I asked permission from my parents, it’s just that I was a bit naughty when I left when I should be having dinner with her and her family.”
“HAHA! We really do think the same! I ran away hours before the dinner with him and his family. Oh no~”
Jonathan turned his head to look at me, “What?”
“What if, you know…the people who should be in that dinner, together, was us?” it could be a possibility; after all, and like the Adidas’ ad, impossible is nothing.
He laughed then stood up, “That would be very interesting, being married to an immature high school student.”
I was just about to scold him when he added, “How about we go home together, set a date and see if your ‘What if…’ is right. Hmmm?”
I smiled and stood beside him, “Interesting.” I walked ahead of him and went in without waiting for him. “How ‘bout some snacks?” I asked him as he walked in. I wasn’t eating anymore, but I wanted to chew something. I think a few Oreos would do.
“Sure, Oreos would do.” He sat in the kitchen and watched as I look for the pack of Oreos.
If ever we really are the pair who’s suppose to marry each other, I don’t think we’ll have much of a problem—especially with food. I hope he doesn’t notice the blush on my cheeks, they were very hot.
“Stop blushing, you already look like a tomato.” Thanks a lot for pointing that out, Jonathan.
Apparently, my blush really wanted to be noticed by him. “I’m not blushing!”
“Ok, I’ll just pretend your flushed cheeks are caused by rashes, hmm?” he chuckled and I threw him the nearest light item I could reach: a pot holder.
I ignored his protests until I found the pack of Oreos and placed it in the table as I sat opposite him. I immediately popped one whole in my mouth. Ahhh Oreo, I missed this taste. Wait, I need milk.
“Milk, please.” Jonathan asked as I stood up to go to the fridge, what…a…coincidence.
As I poured milk in two different glasses, Jonathan was looking intently at me. “What?” I cocked an eyebrow.
“I thought you don’t get hungry anymore?”
I shrugged, “Yea, but that doesn’t mean I can’t eat.”
He just nodded and continued eating as I handed him his milk. He mumbled a “Thanks” then we ate quietly.
I wonder how interesting it would be if I were to marry Jonathan.
***
Note to self: ‘Don’t let Jonathan eat a lot of Oreos; sleep will visit late.’
Well, it’s not that I mind, since I don’t sleep at all. But, this is too much! It’s already 2 in the morning and he’s still awake!
Since there’s not much to do, we ended up playing chess. Actually, we have video games as another option; but since chess is a boring game, we chose it.
We started playing at around 10pm. Wow, 4 hours! Who knew Oreos can keep him awake ‘til this late even though he’s playing chess?
“How ‘bout you?” he asked, making me snap out of my thoughts.
I gave him a confused look and moved a pawn in-front of one of his, “How about me what?”
“Boyfriend.” He replied as he ate the pawn that I have just moved, oh, shoot you horse! “Do you have a boyfriend? You are in high school after all—and you said you wanted to rebel.”
I couldn’t hide the smile that formed on my lips, this is amusing. “Yea, well…no, I don’t have a boyfriend. My life’s too complicated.” I moved a horse and ate his pawn, ha! In your bald head pawn! Andrew suddenly popped in my thoughts, but I shoved him away. “Why? Would you want to apply?”
He moved his queen and ate my horse, where am I? I should be looking out more, “Sure. Where’s the application form and what are the requirements?”
“I…” wow, that was unexpected. Why does he always have to have something to say to what I say that I can’t even handle even if I started the nonsense? No! I have to learn to beat him. “I…hey, you’re already falling in-love with me, aren’t you?”
Jonathan’s queen slipped from his fingers when I answered, ha! You think you’re the only one who can do this? “Isn’t it too early for to fall in-love with me?” I asked, waiting for him to move. One more move, and I’ll be saying checkmate.
A smirk made its appearance on his face as he picked up his queen and concentrated on his next move.
“Oh, is it?” he was still looking on the board, “Well, should I fall in-love with you later in the day? Or later tonight? If it’s too early, I wouldn’t mind rescheduling my feelings." he grinned at me, Whaa…? “Checkmate.”
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