Staying For Real
Grand walked back to the coffee shop to grab his bike. He checks the time and he knows Bobby will be at the old abandoned building skating. He decided to drop by since he has plenty of time before his curfew at the WIZ.
He gave the manager a salute as he saw him peeking from the store when he's on his bike putting on his helmet. It's been a while since he has ridden his Panigale, he stopped riding his motorbike because a girl from his past asked him cutely not to because it's dangerous and she is worried about his safety. Grand smiled bitterly with the memory.
When he hit the highway and he could speed up, he forgot all those things and just enjoyed the vibration of the motor, and the wind slapping his helmet. He loved this feeling of freedom.
After fifteen minutes or so, he approached the place, and just as he expected cars were parked scattered all over the back of the building. When he was here last time, it took the taxi driver an hour and a half drive in minimal traffic. He smiled with his fifteen minutes drive.
He didn't see Bobby in the crowd when he got off his bike. He was about to ask someone if anyone sees Bobby when he doubled over after someone kicked the back of his knee. He rolled on his butt and saw Bobby laughing in front of him.
He reached out his hand to be pulled up then wiped his back as he watched Bobby circled his motorbike.
"Hey, it's been years since I last saw this bike of yours. I thought you already sold it," he said, surprised.
"Why would I sell the first thing I bought from the money I earned from CTF?" he said, smirking.
Bobby nodded in agreement, then asked, "What brings you here?"
"Why can't I visit you now?" he asked his friend pretending to be hurt.
"What the fuck you're trying to pull off, you won't see me without any reason! And to actually come here?" he said disbelievingly.
"I just want to go somewhere where I can drive the bike."
"Hmmm…. If that's what you want to say."
He playfully punched Bobby's shoulder, dismissing his disbelief.
"I'm seeing a lot of new faces with your group, man!"
"Let me introduce some of them before you go," he said.
"Why are you kicking me out? You don't want me to stay?"
"Nonsense! Look at the time. Don't tell me you don't have curfew today?" Bobby asked him, not giving him a look.
"Yeah, that's true. Can't hang out for long."
---
He's back at the WIZ and just finished showering, and decided to check his Weibo if Arbiter replied to his message. When he saw that there was no reply he sent a message again. He really liked his photo that the artist sketched.
While he's already on his phone, he also checked his WeChat if Dana posted a new photo. There's a photo of her laughing in what seems like a dressing room.
Grand is brooding on why she didn't post a photo of their date when she took photos in the coffee shop. He decided to give her a call, and he was surprised that on just the second ring the call was cut off. He's staring on the phone in his hand thinking what happened when he received a message from Dana saying, - dinner outside, can't take calls.
Who would she be having dinner not to be able to answer a call? he thought. Unsatisfied with her reason, he sent a message but didn't get any reply. Pissed off he went out of his sleeping quarter and looked for Ellise.
He stopped Ling Chee who's going to the shower room, to ask if Ellise is already in. Before he could answer him, DT who was getting out of the shower spoke up, "Why are you looking for Ellise?"
"Just asking if she's in. That's all. Why don't you have any chill, man?" he asked, irritated.
DT stared at him for a few minutes before answering that Ellise was back before the curfew.
The lines on his forehead deepened with what he heard. He gripped his phone and debated if it's wise to call Bobby to ask his whereabouts at this hour.
---
When her phone vibrates on her lap, Dana quickly pressed the reject button. She's in the middle of a discussion with her aunt, she can't entertain any calls. She's about to turn off her phone when she saw it was Grand who called.
In haste, she sent a message to him, then shut off her phone.
"Your mother is adamant that they won't support you financially here in China. She is putting her foot down on what she decided that they will only pay for your tuition and nothing more."
"It's the same thing she told me. I'm earning money from Madame Bae, the theatre, and with my art commission. It's not much but if they will pay for my school, I'm good already. I don't need a lot of money to survive." she declared in defiance.
"It's a good thing that Ellise still has the apartment you're staying in. It cannot be traced back to me." she sighed in frustration with this ongoing war between mother and daughter.
"You have to understand Dana, your mother is not backing down this time. When she talked to me she called me into your father's library and your father sat down with us for the whole tirade."
She looked at her aunt in panic and try to remember all her cards in her hands that she could use with her mother, or what she has that her mother could use against her. The only thing that comes to mind is money.
"All of my accounts are co-deposited with my mother, and I don't know what she did but she was able to have everything frozen," she reported to her aunt.
"They know the banker." her aunt answered simply.
Dana exhales an air of frustration, mustering all the courage she has, expresses her final take on the matter.
"I'm not going back to Tokyo. I'm staying and I'll accept anything they have decided on."
"Is that your final answer?"
"Yes!"
"Well congratulations and welcome to the commoner's life." her aunt said taunting, but with a proud smile on her lips.
She smirks at her aunt teasing.
"So let's do a recap. Your food and accommodation are good, your school fees are taken care of, allowance is okay. And as long as you live within your means, you are good to go."
She just nodded in affirmation. She's already too tired with all of these talks.
Watching her tired face, her aunt asked for the check and bill out.
"Let's go, Ting is already waiting outside for us. I'll peek at your apartment first before I go to the airport."
---
"Good evening, Miss! Welcome back!" The receptionist on duty at the concierge greeted Dana when she entered the revolving door of the building.
"Good evening Mr. Hao." she greeted back.
The receptionist smile got wider when he heard Dana addressing him in his name.
"A package arrived this afternoon for you, Miss," he said, putting a box on the counter. "Should I ask someone to bring it up to your apartment?"
"No need, I carry them myself." she smiled and picked up the said package.
Her aunt is already inside the elevator when Dana catches up.
"What are those?" her aunt asked about the box by her feet.
"They are skateboards of a friend. I promised him I'll design them as his birthday present."
"I don't agree with you being here in China too, but the fact that there are people here that you called friend, I'm willing to concede."
Before Dana could give an answer, the elevator operator said, "Eighteenth floor."
"Hmm, this place finally looks like something people actually live." her aunt said, checking the place. "When Ellise was living here it looks like a weird cult house."
"Would you like some tea?"
"No need. I have to hurry to catch my flight," she said, opening her bedroom door.
"It looks like I don't have anything to worry about," she said when she came out of the bedroom.
"Here," she said, handing her a thick envelope.
"What's this?"
"What else? Cash of course! The chosen way to transact monkey business without being caught. Your mother won't know if I give you cash."
Dana was shocked by how ludicrous the situation is.
"What? Do you think I'd really allow you to be poor? I feel insulted darling."
Dana listening to her aunt's exaggerated British accent, she was torn between laughing with relief, or annoyance. She chose to just shut up and let her have her fun.
She walked her aunt to the door, and bid her goodbye.
She hugged her and whispered, "Remember, live within your means," she said before leaving.