Onerous
“It would be really great if you help me here.”
Van exudes effort in pushing the new table inside his room while Tim is in the living room playing video games with his headphone on.
“I’m sorry, what?” He asked and removed his headphone.
Van sighed and ignored the brazen brother. The fact that he lived here alone for a year still a mystery for Van. Most of the time Van is the one who cleans. “Never mind.” He answered back.
“Hey, it’s music fest tonight. You will come right?”
“Music fest?”
“It’s an annual event, you know from the name itself.” His face suddenly turned to smile and excitingly replied to him. “There will be bands, music, beverage everywhere – oh and there will be carnival tonight.”
Van arranged the table cloth and the books to the shelves then went out to the kitchen.
“It’s a hard pass.” He replied.
Van grabs a cup, poured it with hot water from the kettle pot, and then mixed it with two spoons of sugar and coffee powder. Van prepared the pan as he went to the fridge, picking out two slices of ham, cheese, and bread and he places it in the pan then onto the oven, heating it and setting it to go off within 10 minutes. He enjoyed the coffee while sitting down as he witnessed how’s the enemy kicking his brother’s character’s butt.
“What’s the name of the game again?”
“Mortal Comeback, I think… something like that.” He paused and look at him. “You sure you don’t want to come? There will be booze and jazz there. I’m pretty sure Kate will show up too.”
Van paused. The oven alarms and automatically shut down. He quickly draws out the pan and put it in the bread. He poured it with mustard and hot chili ketchup on it before revering the homemade sandwich in his seat.
Before Van can put his thoughts together, Tim interrupted him. “Don’t think about it and go. This is a perfect opportunity to you socialize, make some friends, asides from Kate… or Raymond and the others.”
“What’s wrong with Raymond, Lester and the others?” He replied and frown over the thought while still clutching and eating the sandwich. “They seem to be cool about me.”
“What’s wrong? The hell is that kind of question? You met those dudes because of me, I wanted you to go out there and make some of your own not just to hitch hike. Sooner or later, you’ll be tired of them. You need to find people that you can vibe with… make most of your time.”
“What about Kate?”
Tim carefully kept his neutral face and observed Van.
“She’s different.”
He shook his head. Mostly, his brother is on the right point, but some things Van can’t comprehend. “It would be better if you expound it rather than put your thoughts into pompous words, otherwise, it will become your tiresome habit.”
“I’m saying she’s a girl, there are things that you can’t share with a girl… you know guy stuffs, hence the need to find yourself a guy friend.” Van waited for more, but it seems that he’s done.
“What’s up with the stereotype? It’s okay to tell her whatever I want because she’s, my friend. I don’t see there’s any problem with that.”
“Trust me, Van. You’ll need a friend of the same gender. Not all women can sympathize with you.” He turned his attention back to the screen.
Van unconsciously corrected his posture and stand up then walked to the bathroom.
While still clutching the towel, a person came to his mind.
“Tim!” He shouted.
“What?!”
“You know anything about Rick?”
“Nope. Not an inch. Oddly enough, he’s popular with girls. I don’t get how he’s alone and not be bothered how handsome he is… I mean look, he can use his looks for a greater purpose.”
“Greater purpose? Like what? Getting laid?”
“Isn’t that what’s the handsome face was supposed to use to?”
Van ignored his brother’s uncanny remark. Sometimes, Tim can be mature to hear, but to the bones, there's a perversion that doesn't bode well to his character.
He’s not the only one who noticed about Rick. He’s always been alone most of the time, if not, then he might be with someone who’s partner of a certain project.
After a long thoughtful shower, Van comes to conclusion. It was rather ill-advised not to attend such revels after self-pitying and loathing over the last year in high school, he should at least have some fan. He nearly forgotten a promised he made for him himself to not missed anything and should enjoy whatever free time he has. His thoughts are the only onerous that dismayed his desire to attend revelries.
He always disliked talking to people, he feels that there’s a burden on his chest that make him always wants to run, the reason might lie back when the times he was bullied by his fellow classmates, they always had him do that even him does not like, the bullying only comes to stop when he fought back and luckily his brother too fend off the bullies.
His cynical thoughts are like a cockroach, so easy to purge yet they always come back with an evil surprise.
Tim is right, he should go out more. Now he has a chance to start anew, he might as well enjoy it before the time comes to the end of the school year.
It was late afternoon when Van came. He took right and heard a moan at the side of the alleyway, he ignored it and came pass the pedestrian lane. He certainly remembers the place, at least he already has an idea about the layout of this part of the city. Trembling in cold he jammed his hands on his pocket. There was a bugger that diminish his line of sight and accidentally bump onto a man, wearing in what seems to be look like expensive black trench coat. Van bowed and apologized. At last, he reached the park.
He strides and cautiously observes the joyful faces of the people. Teens with surging hormones are having festivity over the band on the stadium where they drink and dance just like what he had expect and what would been casually do in this time of events.
A certain person had caught his attention. Rick Mavenhart brought a keg over the nearby booth and what it seems it was requested by the owner of it. When he receives the payment of his service, Van casually walks beside him.
“I take that you’re not a partygoer.”
Rick’s black eyes twinkles and were stammered for a moment but regain his composure, “Oh it’s you.” He answered. “You alone?”
“Yeah, well a moment ago, but yes. How about you? You working extra shifts?”
He’s hesitant at first but answered anyway, “Uh yes. I need money, for you know… school and kinds of stuff, can’t keep relying on someone else’s pockets. Had to make my own.”
“I see.” Van replied. “By the way you look, you don’t intend to miss the party, right?”
Rick shakes his head. “I’m afraid I don’t have time for that.”
“For real? Don’t you have any friends to have to hang around?”
“I’m not that socializing type of person and I don’t think anyone is willing to be with me. I could be pretty weird and all.”
“Lucky for you, I’m weird and I don’t have that kind of plucky attitude that might bore you or kill the mood.”
Rick raised his wrist and look at his watch.
“Uhm I really appreciate it but uhm I really need to go now. It’s been really hectic, sorry.”
“Hey, don’t be. Maybe we can play games next time?”
“Yes, we can, if you have a play station? Do you?”
“Yes, I do.”
He took off and hurried, staying away from the people’s path feeling the effects of the adrenaline of what seems to be a spin of situation about his boss’s orders.