Chapter 42
“Khob khun krap Mochi,” said Sun after sitting at the front passenger side of his friend’s car. He asked him if he can hitch a ride to Exeter’s house. This is the first time since waking up from his coma that he gets to meet his Grumpy’s family. It was Exeter’s mother, Mrs. Jane, who set up this meeting after they came back from a vacation in England.
“It’s okay Sun. Your stop is en route to where I am going.”
“I don’t want to impose on you, Mochi, but Uncle Jek doesn’t want me to drive. He even wants to rent a driver for me.”
“Nah! What do you mean impose? Hahaha. However, I cannot fetch you back from there and take you home after.”
“That is fine. I’ll just rent a Grab to get home.”
“Okay. Let’s get going,” said Mochi, moving forward slowly to be safe, as he wants to converse with Sun.
“Where are you going, by the way?” asked Sun.
“I’m going to the mall to buy a new book for the coming semester.”
“I see. Are Nom, Tas, and you still in the same class?”
“Yes. Fortunately, we are.”
“Are they going to join you in buying that book?”
“I think Nom already bought his last week. I’m not sure about Tas.” They stop because of the red light with a three-minute waiting time.
“Speaking of Tas, what is wrong between you two?”
“Nothing. There is nothing wrong with us.”
“That is not what I learned, Mochi.”
Mochi looks at the traffic light and the timer beside it. He wants, as much as possible, to avoid any questions about Tas and for the timer to reach zero. He has been avoiding Gan and him since they officially got into a relationship.
“Why? What did Tas tell you?”
“That you have been avoiding him for a long time now.”
“He already has a boyfriend. That is why.”
“You do know what I am trying to say, right Mochi? Distancing and avoiding are terms with totally different meanings.”
The stoplight turns green. Mochi moves his gear to Drive with such force that his hand slides off the gear and almost hits the aircon dial directly in front.
“I don’t want to intrude with them,” Mochi said as they move forward.
“You can still be friends even if he already has Gan.”
“Sun, you know how I feel for Tas. Since we were freshmen medical students, I have always liked him. Everything I did – in school, in life – I did it for him. He is my inspiration,” said Mochi, who slows down and makes it to the innermost right lane, preparing to turn.
Sun, on the other hand, knows better not to rebut. He knows that Mochi just wants to vent out his feelings – his frustrations. He just listens and lends his ear to his friend. After the turn, Mochi continues with what he is saying.
“Did Tas ever tell you about his problems with Gan?” asked Mochi.
“A bit. Why? What did he tell you?”
“Gan is very jealous of everything that Tas does. Apart from that, Gan is always in doubt with him – a worse characteristic of a boyfriend. That day we visited you on the hospital after you woke up, Tas was in tears when he told me how Gan is in their relationship.”
“Did he call you?”
“We went to the supermarket first before visiting you. He vented it out to me there.”
“So, you two are talking. Why were Tas and you avoiding each other when you were in my room? You two were like strangers back then.”
“I don’t want him to get the wrong meaning of what I’m doing, especially now that Gan and he have a dispute. I am there to help him. That's it - just to help.”
“You still like him, don’t you, Mochi?”
“Before, yes. Now, no. Eventually, I have learned to let go of him. Although, he is our friend, and friends help each other.”
“Well, that is correct, and I think what you are doing is right, though to others, it may be a cold.”
“That is maybe why others don’t like me: they think I am as cold as a stone inside out.”
“Because you are always wearing a poker face?”
“Yes.”
“You’re being hard on yourself. There is someone who will like you.”
“I wonder who, Sun. Hahaha.”
“Just lend an ear to Tas if he ever does talk to you. He needs someone to tell things to at this time.” Sun said, then, tells Mochi to stop next to an alley.
“Is this your stop, Sun? I don’t think we are in P’Exeter’s house.”
“Yeah. I’ll walk to there from here.”
“I can take you there, Sun. It’s okay.”
“If you do, you will have to go back to that intersection you turned right at. If I get off here, you can go straight ahead to the mall.”
“Are you sure you want to get off here?”
“Yes, I am sure, so you can go on ahead and buy your book.
“Okay, if you say so.”
“Thanks again for the ride, Mochi. I owe you one,” said Sun, giving a pat on Mochi’s shoulder.
“This is nothing. Take care going back home.”
“Krap. Oh, by the way, I see how Guy looks at you in class – at least during those days I still go to school – and it’s not how one normally looks at a classmate.”
“Him? He hates your guts, Sun.”
“He hates me but not you. Besides, I think what he is showing towards me is more of a tantrum rather than hate.”
Mochi stares at the horizon from his windshield. After all those things that Sun received – insults, profanities, even hearsays, and blames – Mochi still does not hold any grudge with Guy. On the contrary, he does feel good towards him. Apart from Sun, Tas, and Nom, Guy has been in the same class with them since their freshman year. In fact, there are times when Guy approaches Mochi when he is alone or when Sun is not with their group. Mochi is okay if Guy hits on him, or vice versa. What worries him is that his friendship with Sun may be affected.
“I hoped with Tas before, Sun, but only got heartache in return,” said Mochi, still with the strong pessimism about where Sun is trying to get.
“Mochi, hope doesn’t die unless we kill it ourselves.”
“Get out of here, Sun, but thanks for that encouragement.”
“Well, what do you think of it?”
“Go! Missis Helman and the others are waiting for you,” said Mochi, deflecting Sun’s question.
“Okay. So, we are repelling questions now? You like Guy, don’t you?”
“He’s obnoxious.”
“That is not what I asked you.”
Mochi smiles and shakes his head. Sun knows that despite not answering directly, his friend makes a clear response to his question.
“Good luck, then,” said Sun. He gets off the car and bids Mochi to drive safely.
When Mochi has left, Sun starts walking to his destination, feeling both excited and, at the same time, concerned for what is in store for him in this visit.