(29) keeping up with

The school festival is fast approaching and as it gets a day closer, the tasks only seemed to get more and more compressed as it tries to fit in to the remaining days, and what’s worse it that there doesn’t seem to be an end to them. Every now and then something happens, and Airi is forced to make time and adds the son of a bitch to the piles of things she is supposed to do before the school festival starts. She was this close to giving up when a few people decided to lend their hand.

It has been a long time since she had seen Liam and Noah, mostly because of what happened when they parted ways, not to mention the events leading up to their parting (Zoey hopes it doesn’t get dug up again). So, when she sees them walk through the door, it was like seeing the dead rise from the grave. Honestly, she never thought they’d see each other again.

“There’s our superstar!” Liam greeted raising the can of cola he was drinking, looking straight at Zoey with this sheepish grin, and she returns by ignoring his entire existence. Well, Zoey did say she was willing to put up with anything.

As it turns out, Neil exchanged contact numbers with them and had been in touch ever since, and they couldn’t have come at a better time. “Thanks so much for this guys!” Airi could almost cry. Will laughs and pats her head like a kid. “I missed you, kiddo!” he grins as he ruffles her hair like some kind of dog. There’s something about the way Liam interacts with her that reminds her of a more jolly and less obsessive version of her brother.

“Can’t say I feel the same,” Noah jokes. Airi looks at him and remembers how much he helped them during the trouble at the bar. She turns to him, “but you still came so thanks! I won’t take up too much of your time I promise!” They needed all the help they could get at this point. He turns away from her, whether from sheer awkwardness or just the fact that she was acting way out of character, she doesn’t know. “We were promised food,” Noah deadpans and she laughs a bit.

Introductions were made.

“My name is Will and your name is Liam, together it’s William. How cool is that?” Will comments mid-introduction. It was funny with how late the introductions felt. Especially with how everyone has known and had been working together these past few months.

"Liam is actually short for Willem" Liam admits, going along with Will. When asked how his name came to be he just shrugs, couldn't provide an explanation why.

“That's cool man," Will grins, "meanwhile mine's spelled with a U, like Uilliam.” He explains to everyone’s amazement, he insists everyone call him Will though. With a 'W'.

“What’s the difference they're the same.” Zoey remarks.

“For the shock factor.” He says with a smirk, appearing self-satisfied with the punchline to which Zoey snorts in disgust.

Work started after the introductions almost immediately, and it didn’t take her long to feel the tides turning, especially after finding out where the two attend university –K University, which is one of the most prestigious (not to mention expensive) university in their local area only a few could attend. Will and Noah were quick to react and find solutions and suggestions that she was so sure Neil probably told them a whole lot more than they should have, which she supposes should be a blessing, one way or another. She only hoped he left out the part best left unsaid.

It was smooth sailing with the problems being solved as soon as they popped up that she was almost mystified at how two people could suddenly make the burden and the responsibility lighter, like suddenly being shown a different angle to a problem they’d been dreading for weeks. When praised they just shrug it off and says it was because they were apparently part of some social group so planning parties and festivals were a piece of cake.

Although it still didn’t solve the bigger problems like the stagging and lighting preparations (not to mention they could only come only twice a week), it was still a relief to know there’s someone she could reach out to for advice when something happens.

“When you have any questions, you can just call us,” Noah tells her as they stand by the gates of her university, seeing them off as they went their separate ways. “For now though you should rest. I heard from Neil how these events have been taking a toll on you.” He stares at the bags under her eyes, making her consciously look away.

Behind them Liam continues to tease Zoey.

“Thanks! I’ll do my best!” Airi struggles to maintain eye contact with him, nonetheless still appreciative of the gesture, says that with them around it will be a lot easier for her to do work. He sighs at this, feels like she didn’t hear the second part of what he had just said.

He calls out to Liam and turns back to her, patting her shoulder.

“Take it easy, we’re here for you.” he grins.

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“I know a few guys who’s asking price is lower than standard, since they’re still starting out and all. Still getting their name out there.” Liam suggests one day, on the topic of deciding which band would play on the last day of the festival.

“That could work,” Airi says, looking through the band’s social media page on her phone, “not to mention they’re within the budget.”

“Are they any good though?” Neil asks.

“They’re great, you can trust me on that.” He assures them, “if you’re still undecided, they happen to have a gig tonight, wanna go check them out?”

“Sure, why not.” Rena says and turns to Will, who nods approvingly. Liam says that it’s a bar just one station away by train, but he suggests they have Nathan take them by car instead since the gig usually runs late. Will beams, “Finally something fun! you guys in?”

“I’ll go,” Airi says, putting down her phone. The serious look on her face tells everyone she isn’t planning to have any kind of fun.

“C’mon lighten up, Prez,” Luke says, sharing Will’s enthusiasm and ignoring Airi’s comment not to call her ‘Prez’. “It’s gonna be fun.”

“So long as Zoey doesn’t drink.” Neil and Luke gave a teasing look in Zoey’s direction, which she ignores and instead turns her head down, placing her hand on the side of her neck nonchalantly.

"To be honest, I can’t go,” she says and explains that she has a paper due tomorrow so she couldn’t come even if she wanted to. Luke pouts at this, says that it’s a shame. Airi turns to Zoey and gives a somewhat dispirited smile.

Zoey has always been a person of subtle clues, this is especially true when it comes to finding out her true feelings. It wouldn’t be obvious at first glance that her gesture of turning her head down with a hand on the side of her neck tells how relieved she is, and this behavior of her displays how much she wanted to keep this fact hidden. And this usually works, except to the people who has known her since childhood.

“I’ll update you,” Airi tells her, smiling gently and she smiles back, her relief seemed genuine. She thanks her.

If she was being honest, she wanted Zoey to come, it’s not the same without her after all. However, at the same time, she already feels bad dragging her into this mess and making her help despite her already busy schedule. She’s the one who should be thanking her, not the other way around. Zoey warns her not to drink too much and she happily obliges.

They agreed to meet up tonight at the university’s main gate and go to the bar using Nathan’s SUV. Since no one would take the initiative, Neil volunteered to be the one to keep Nathan updated and borrow his car for tonight.

“I’m sorry to make you do this,” Airi tells him to which he shrugs, “I can understand why you wouldn’t want to.”

She knew it should be her job however recently, they haven’t really talked. Airi thanks him for understanding and he gave a small smile back, patting her head. “No problem.”

Behind them, Rena asks Marie if she would go tonight and she nervously declines, saying she had prior appointments. She wasn't surprised at the response.

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Airi calls her dad, he picks up after the third ring and the sound of his voice on the line makes her feel nostalgic as if she hadn’t seen him in ages. They talk freely, and she tells him about her day and how they’re going to this place tonight to see a band. Hearing her talk about how eventful her university life seems to excite him, she observes, as if he was experiencing it first-hand. He has always been supportive like that.

“That’s great,” he beams, but with that tone that tells her he’s still worried. She assures him it will be alright, and that a teacher will be coming with them which immediately sets him at ease. His voice back to being warm. She was about to continue her story when he informs her, "Oh by the way, don't forget we have a dinner on Saturday!" She knew instantly from the nervous excitement in his voice that he'll be bringing someone else to their dinner. He confirmed her suspicions.

He tells her about this girl he met, and how kind and understanding she is of their circumstances. She smiles a bit, and realizes that she isn’t a bit enthused by the idea of her father talking fondly about another woman, a woman who isn’t her mother. Regardless, she gives her approval, “she sounds great, dad.” His delighted reply to her doesn’t really help either.

The more they talk the more this strange tiredness hits her and she finds herself crouched down, sitting on the pavement her chin lazily resting on the small gap between her knees. People were passing her by her, seated on the corner of the stairway and she paid them no mind. The odd way people looked at her reminded her of the past that she almost laughs, mocking herself.

She was quiet for a while that her dad asks if she’s still there and if there’s something wrong. She shakes her head and tells him that it’s nothing, “I just think I might get the sniffles soon that’s all,” she reasons, “it’s been cold lately.” He was silent and she imagined him nodding his head in understanding. He had always been a person who shows his understanding more than says it. After a while, he tells her to be careful. “You should give your brother a call too, Aiden’s been worrying.”

“Uh, yeah. Sure.” She says, remembering her five missed calls from him just yesterday alone. Recalling her brother somehow makes her more tired than usual. He hears her sigh, signalling how Aiden’s going overboard again. He reasons that he was just being an attentive brother, “he just loves you.”

A call from a co-worker prompt them to say goodbye earlier than planned, “I’ll come pick you up on Saturday, hopefully Lorraine could come so I can introduce you two,” he says finally before hanging up.

She smiles as she says “bye,” and hangs up. She breathes in deep, wishes for time to slow down, even just for a while. So she can keep up.