I feel exhausted all of a sudden. "Damien, are you certain that you want to work on the assignment today? My head kind of aches."
He signs Katie to leave. She heads upstairs leaving us alone. "Oh c'mon... You're already here. Won't you look at the progress I've made?" He opens the fridge and hands me a soft juice bottle. "Just drink and relax. I don't bite."
I give out a bitter laugh. "You won't dare anyway."
He rummages through his bag and takes out the short diary. "It's not finished yet. That's why I asked for you. I need you..."
His lips releases the words and I gulp.
"To help me."
Ah so that's what he meant. What did I think?!
I finish the bottle. It's very refreshing. How did he know that I like pomegranate flavour? I take the diary from him. "Your writing is very... Hm... Like a newly created font."
"Just go through the damn thing without mocking me. I've heard it enough of times already."
Hahaha...
"I was just being my usual self
Moving in a club a seven O pm.
Saturday-every other Saturday
I was being the guy I've always been-free spirited
My buddies left me and I went for a game
I shouldn't have left the club a seven O pm
Saturday-it was any other Saturday
That thought of mine was a big mistake..."
These lines give a very energetic vibe which is the very style of Four of Clubs.
"Can you sing this to me?" I hesitate after asking. He asked me the same thing that day...
He stares at me awkwardly. "Like I said it's not finished yet. But if you want to hear these eight lines...let me try alright?" He picks up his weapon-the guitar, then strums a cord with his pick.
I know he's the lead guitarist of his band and even if the song lyrics need the unity of all four members, he's not very good at arranging words. I learnt from Mika that Swordsplay lyrics were written by him and edited by Zeb. It's the only pop song that got popular. The other two were raps which was less popular.
He starts singing. Subconsciously I start tapping my foot. Very energetic beginning...hm ..
He stops. "Well?"
I take a pen from his table. "Gimme that."
He hands me the diary and continues gawking at me as I write. "It can go like this..." I mutter.
"You bumped into me I'm scared
An accident that cost me my sleep
You're invading my dreams
Even when I'm drunk, out at night
You, an accident or a lifelong debt?
I thought I could avoid
But that thought of me was a mistake
Saturday-it wasn't just a Saturday
You bumped into me at seven O pm
An accident or a lifetime game?
I should have left at seven O pm..."
I could only recall that first night with Chris in the arcade. And also the night when Damien got me drunk. He's the literal accident.
When I finish it's already 8.50. I stretch my limbs. He takes the diary from me. Katie jogs down the stairs. "Oh Hi Saint... I thought you left already."
"I'm about to."
"You've stayed this long. Why not have dinner with us?" Katie asks me requesting Damien, "Babe, tell your partner to eat with us. I'm going to make us dinner."
"I can't Katie," I politely refuse. "But I'm grateful for your offer though."
She walks over and slings an arm around Damien's neck. "I..uh... Yeah she's right. Have dinner with us," Damien adds.
What's with him today? "Some other day. I wouldn't dare being a middleman between you two, right?"
Damien purses his lips. A flash of regret dances in his eyes. "I don't mind you staying."
I bet you don't. You need everyone's attention spoiled boy. But I say nothing. When I'm at the door he comes to walk me out with the diary still in his hand. "Hey..."
I look up to his calling.
"Thanks for today. But when will we practice for it? We have only three days left."
It's been a while since I've gone to the beach and I'm having this sudden urge to go there tomorrow. I need a short break from all of these...him. Several trouble sleeping nights and studies... I deserve a break.
"Oi are you listening to me?" He slashes at the air in front of me. "What're your plans for tomorrow?"
"I want to sleep Damien. Why don't you work on it by yourself? I'll try to do the same with my song as well," I say tiredly. "Just don't spend too much time on your girlfriend."
"Katie is..."
Before he could give me some obnoxious excuse I'm far from his earshot already.
••••
The next day: I asked Chris to hang out with me but he didn't reply to me. Should I visit him? Mom enters the room with a questioning look on her face. "Are you sure it's a good idea?"
"Mom?! I'm old enough to not have this conversation in the first place."
"But Sein..." She looks at the clock and her lips curl to form a half frown. "Alone? You've never went to the beach alone before. Why not take Chris?"
Chris's been ignoring/avoiding I'm not sure what but yeah... We haven't talked for four days and he didn't reply to my messages either. I guess it's about time you learn to spend more alone time with yourself Saint. Even though Damien would've wanted to come with me if I told him yesterday.
"Honey..?"
"Yeah... I figured I needed some me time to clear my head. Don't worry... I'll be back before 8p.m."
••••
It's around 11a.m. when I reach there. Tuesdays aren't too crowded in the beach. Good for me-I don't like crowd. But still... it's not all desolate.
I stretch my arms taking a mouthful of salty humid air. It's not so bad-being like this.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I picked up immediately hoping it'd be Chris. But it's Damien.
"Whatcha doin'?"
The way he asked it... he's eating something. "Did you call me just to ask this?"
"Ugh partner... Why so sus all the time? I was enjoying with my boys today and suddenly my head received an interruption by the thought of what you're doing."
So he's also doing great without me. Just then a ball hits my back from behind. "Watch it!" I yell.
A younger looking boy collects his ball apologising repeatedly.
"So you pitied me huh."
He snaps. "How's that pity? You were the one to shoo me away when I asked about your plan tomorrow regarding the song's practice. But you said you wanted to rest."
Hmph... an ever annoying leech. "Yeah... It's not all dull without sun you know," I opine.
"So I'm the sun? Thanks."
"That's not what I meant you self-absorbed idiot! It means you can find peace in your own presence if no one else happens to share the same thoughts as you do."
Yeah, if no-one gives a shit about me I'd do the same. I'd be happy on my own. For some reason I'm not liking the angel version of me lately.
"But nevermind." I hear Zeb's voice. He's shouting at someone. But I'm not sure whether it's coming from the phone or the beach. My suspicions compel me to ask, "Where are you btw?"
"I'm at the beach," he replies loudly. "These three kept nagging me last night and here I am. What about you?"
Am I thinking what I'm thinking? It can't...be. I turn my head around to look for them. "I..."
"Ah don't keep me waiting. Where are you? Why's it so loud there?"
"Cause I'm in the beach..." I reply dryly. It better not be where I think it's going.
"Whaat!"
His surprised tone unsettles me a little. Why does he sound excited?
"Finally you came out of your shell," he remarks.
"I wasn't in any shell you idiot. I just like being alone with my thoughts sometimes."
"Oi what are you wearing?" His question catches me off guard.
"Err what? Why's that important now?"
"Just tell me already," he demands.
I look at myself. A fruit printed white summer shirt-watermelon and kiwis and strawberry... Very beachy. I describe it to him. After a pause I hear his chuckle. "What's so funny? Do people wear tuxedo in a beach?"
"That's not why I'm... my angel."
Everytime he calls me that I get irritated with some weird goosebumps.
"Turn back," his commanding voice echoes from behind.
I gulp down turning back and I see a hand waving at me form a little far ahead. Gah! What a bloody coincidence! Three of his all time blind followers trail behind him as he marches towards me with an excited puppy face.
Todd was holding a beach ball which he throws at me with a condescending smirk. "What a small world huh... Saint Angel." He gives an approving nod at my outfit. "So you can dress accordingly huh to mingle."
Guess that's his way of saying that I look good. "Indeed what a small world," I stare Damien down with a patronizing smile.
"Now that we're here, why don't you join us Saint?" Mika links his arm with mine. He's the only calm, sensible and polite in his group.
"You guys are here to have fun. You might be disappointed to know that I came here for a serious reason," I try to dispirit them.
But Zeb shrugs. "Well whatever reason it is, no way in hell we will beg you to tell us or join us. Who cares? I don't care."
"Zebediah Pierce, would you be a little less cocky?" Mika pinches his arm silencing him. "Don't unnecessarily be an ass."
Yeah... he's the second ass of Damien's group. The first is always Damien. Zeb is his most trusted buddy and sometimes overly cautious over him.
"Wait is that his real name?" I ask giving them an ambivalent squint. I didn't know that.
Mika chuckles. "He only uses Zeb for every occasion. What do you think mine is?"
I look at him with amazed eyes yet don't try to sound surprised. "Michael maybe?"
"It's Miklan Froye. And don't wonder about those two over there. Todd is just Todd. And so is Boss."
"Miklan Froye as in mother fu..." Todd sneers at him. "Todd is just Todd? Hah that's what you get for making me look basic."
"Don't go spilling each and every detail of me or rather us to some outsider, Mika," Zeb opines.
"Stop making an ass out of yourselves. You two always piss me off." Mika glares at them. "And stop acting like a child. I'm not wasting my time on you."
"Hey hey.." Damien claps twice. All this time he was just standing there. Now he signals them to be quiet. "We're here to enjoy ourselves guys. Don't ruin it. Come on, the more the fun."
Hah it's the more the merrier. But alright. It's Damien Frost we're talking here.
"Don't blame me if I don't play with you silly boy. I have things to do." As I walk to the other side they all scatter.
Damien takes the ball from Todd. "Ready?" He cocks his eyebrows at me. "Play a game."
"What did I say just now?"
"If you win I'll do...anything you ask for a whole day," he tries to entice me.
"What a tempting offer. I might make you do things you don't..."
"Boss you can't! I don't want him to play with us." Zeb's eyes roll out in severe displeasure.
But Damien ignores him. "So you in Saint Angel?" He aims the ball at me.
"Al-right." As I catch it Zeb interferes again, "What if he loses?"
That demon grins cockily. "Vice-versa."
Damn... He's a negotiator. No wonder he's Kennedy's son.
"We'll have two sets of game. If it needs, we'll have a 3rd round" Todd sets the rule.