Women in This Generation

“I told you a lot of times, didn’t I?”

Cj folds his arms as he scolds his beloved friend while standing in front of him. He’s towering him for he’s sitting on the couch looking like a child who just got scolded by his parents.

“Stop provoking women.”

“Argh! You’ve said that a lot of times! I hear you!”

Irritation is written all over his face. The moon has finally set and the sun has risen and yet the incident that occurred last night still pisses him off.

Since the girl who pissed him off isn’t around, he gave all of his annoyance to Cj who is unshakeable from his stares. He only gave back what he is giving to him—a glare.

When he realizes Cj will never back down, he looked away.

“The hell would I know if she’s that strong?” he said almost a mutter. “And most importantly who’s that monster…”

“Women in this generation aren’t the same as the women in histories,” Cj enlightened and went to the couch where his other friend is sitting. It’s only in front of the guy he was scolding. “Men cannot dictate their life now and some of them are even stronger than us. So, I suggest, for the nth time Sean, be careful of who you provoke. You can’t even walk properly now. What more to next? You’ll turn into a crippled young man?”

The guy beside him chuckled, finding Cj’s remarks amusing. He can’t help but imagine Sean’s situation if he’ll turn one day into a crippled young man.

Who would take care of him? He doubts there is one.

Since the laugh is indeed offensive, he received a glare from him.

But what could a young man who can’t even stand properly do now? Since Sean is aware of his current situation so in the end he looked away and sighed.

That’s all he's been doing since the day started. He couldn't even count how many times he looked away and sighed.

“Do you know her, Cj? Do you know that girl?”

Cj is looking in a different direction when he heard that question. At the same time, he’s thinking. He’s recalling what happened last night at the casino.

“I think she’s my sister.”

Their eyes blinked repeatedly, gawking at him. Cj isn’t a man with interesting humor so they doubt he’s pulling a joke now.

But even with that, they still think he’s joking. What they just heard is just…strange.

“Did Lorenzo hit you on your head without us knowing?”

Finally, he looked at them. “I’m serious.”

“What?!” they said in chorus. They’re seeing his eyes screaming solemnity. “I am not sure if you’ve forgotten about this but Cj, she’s long dead!”

“She’s considered as dead because her body was never found,” he pointed out.

Their mouths remained wide opened but no words coming out.

That's uncounterable. Cj’s instincts have always been true and yet thinking that her dead sister is still alive is just so much hard to believe in.

Is he just being too emotional? That he’s making a mistake this time?

But he looks really serious. As if he’s certain of what he just said.

“Does...uncle know this already?”

“He forbids us to look for her. I’ll tell him once I’m already sure that’s her.”

“But how did you…find her?” there’s still hesitation in Ron’s voice. “Didn’t know you’re still looking for her. How did you able to hide it from him?”

“She showed up in front of me at the most unexpected time and place,” an amusing smirk plastered on his lips. “so much like the Cheska I know. So good at hiding that she will only be seen once she finally shows herself.”

“And...how will you know if that’s really her?”

“We will investigate.”

“I think I’m becoming deaf. Did you say ‘we’?”

He stood up and slid his hands to his pockets. “I’ll arrange your enrollment at Lee University. And Sean, do some investigation about the girl named Cheska Park and delete it afterward. I need it as soon as possible.”

“Huh?!”

He doesn’t know how he got involved in it because first, that girl is the reason why he can’t walk now and who knows until when?

Second, he’s not even in the conversation so how did he still got involved?

Third, just like what Cj said earlier, his dad is forbidding them to look for his daughter anymore.

They’re both wearing the same expression, confused and surprised. What’s more surprising to what they heard is him fixing their enrollment in Lee University when in fact, they have no plans to enroll at all.

Why would they do that? They’re done studying. They don’t have to do that. It’s only a waste of time and most importantly, they hate schools. They’re completely done with it.

Like a painful past they’re not ready to deal with again.

“She’s a student from Lee University. I can’t do it on my own. I need your help.” he looked at them, letting them see his sincere eyes. “Lorenzo is around. I can’t risk being part of his suspicions. I would need someone he doesn’t know.”

Perhaps there’s still a way for them to get away with this.

“W—wait. How are we supposed to explain this to our—”

“I’ll talk to them and give them a reason. They trust me so that would be easy. They can’t know, for now, that we’re investigating someone named Cheska. It would reach dad in a swift and the next thing I know, he’s already requesting for my immediate arrival in Amare.”

They had no time to protest since Cj has already turned his back and left the room. They were just about to use their parents to get away with it but who are they kidding anyway?

That’s Cj. Everyone trusts him. Their parents even trust him more than their own kids. They're going to give Cj want he wants in the blink of an eye.

He didn’t even ask if they’re fine with his plan. He didn’t even ask for their opinions. He didn’t wait for their response as well.

It’s like they have no choice but to go along with his plan.

Sean looked at Ron with his leveled-up annoyed face. “This is your fault for asking who that girl is!”

Cj is just silent as he takes his walk while thinking about Cheska, what happened last night, and their first meeting.

Now that he’s recalling all of them at once, he can’t help but think that the world is indeed playing them. He doesn’t want to believe it’s just a pure coincidence.

Frankly, that’s what he thought when he learned her name and her illness. He only acknowledged it as nothing but a pure and ridiculous coincidence.

But it all changed after what happened last night.

He witnessed an incredible strength, an extraordinary strength. He felt an intimidating presence. He saw familiar eyes.

It all reminded him of Cheska and her almost perfect resemblance to their mom.

The evidence isn’t evident yet. It’s not even enough to assume but deep inside his heart, he knows that’s her sister.

“Cheska Park huh…” he muttered and sighed deeply. “This would be a big problem…”