44- Triangular, Rectangular

"Cray, would you mind sending me home tonight?" Min asks, wrapping her arms around Cray's waist and pouting like a baby.

"Sorry, but we live in different directions. You should ask Ha," Cray replies gently, pushing her hand away. Min frowns and stomps her foot.

"You used to send me home before! It's not that far from your house anyway!"

"I'm going back to my parents tonight."

"Ah... Send me home, naaa...."

"Ha," Cray calls out to his friend. Ha walks over quickly.

"Send Min home. I've got to go now."

"Cray! How dare you ditch me like this!" Min's sharp voice pierces through the room. Cray can only grin and shake his head.

"Come on, I'll send you home," Ha says.

"I don't want to!"

"Then you can sleep here..." Ha cross his arms and gave Min a stern look. She glared back at him, her expression fierce.

"Fine! Send me home! Now!"

"That's more like it," Ha says, pulling out his car keys and whistling as he walks to his car. Min follows him reluctantly, full of dissatisfaction.

"That damn Cray has been giving me the cold shoulder lately! Do you have any idea why?" Min asks once they were in the car. Ha starts the engine and adjusts the side mirror.

"Ha, I'm talking to you!"

"What do you want me to say? You already know the reason."

"It was just a joke, okay! I never meant it!"

"Telling his parents that you're his girlfriend is not a good joke, Min. I know you like Cray a lot, but this is serious. His parents are strict, and you know that. Yet, you still chose to play with fire?"

"I am his girlfriend!"

"You're a girl who happens to be his friend, Min. Don't delude yourself just because he treats you well. Cray treats everyone equally; that's how he was raised. So please, stop making stupid remarks, or you can kiss your ass goodbye," Ha warns subtly. He shifts the car into drive and pulls away from the food court.

***

Cray carefully navigates his car out of the food court parking lot, heading towards the exit after seeing Ha's car leave the premises. As he rounds a soft corner, he notices a group of people gathered in the parking lot.

The crowd caught his attention.

"Hey..." Cray calls out, rolling down his window. The group turns to look at him immediately.

"Cray!"

"Pan, what happened?" he asks.

Pan, looking visibly upset, refuses to answer. Zee and Aye Yi seem to be locked in a silent stare-down.

"Cray, can you give us a lift?" Pan suddenly asks.

"Ai Pan!" Aye Yi shriek, her expression one of exasperation.

"Sure! We're heading in the same direction anyway," Cray says with a smile. Without waiting any longer, Pan grabs Yara's hand and pulls her towards the car.

"Pan..." Zee calls out, trying to stop her.

"Go home, Zee..." Pan glares at him before getting into the car. Cray glances at Zee and Aye Yi, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"Where to, madam?" he asks Pan in a playful tone.

"Boarding," Pan replies shortly. In the back seat, Yara could only watch the two men standing there, the air between them tense.

***

"Thanks for the lift, Cray," Pan said. Yara hopped out of the car first. As Pan tried to open the door, Cray gently halted her.

"Can we talk for a moment?" Cray asked. Pan nodded.

"I should go upstairs now, I'm drowsy..." Yara said, taking her leave with a playful smile, still finding time to tease Pan before leaving them alone in the car.

"You're still upset..." Cray observed.

"I'm fine. Don't worry," Pan replied.

"I won't let you sleep in anger," Cray said, turning his body to face Pan. "You can vent to me, you know," he added, smiling sweetly at her.

Pan let out a tiny sigh, pausing for a moment as she looked at the empty space in front of her.

"I don't know what's wrong with Zee and Aye. But, honestly, I hate it when they compete against each other in such a childish manner!"

***

Night has fallen deeply, so they decide to go home. Unfortunately for Han, he had to leave earlier because of family matters. Now, there are only four in the group: Zee, Aye Yi, Pan, and Yara.

"We should part ways," Pan suggests.

"Let me send you home!" Zee and Aye Yi say simultaneously, with the same tone and words.

"I think we're fine on our own," Pan replies.

"It's quite far from your boarding," Aye Yi objects

"It's dangerous at night," Zee add.

"I should be the one to send them back. My boarding is next to theirs," Aye Yi quickly offers.

"You came here by motorbike, Aye," Yara reminds him.

"We can call a Grab. I can tow from behind to make sure you guys are safe. Or we can just share the fare. I'll pick up my bike tomorrow," Aye Yi's suggestion makes everyone raise their eyebrows.

"That sounds silly. Such a waste of time," Zee counters.

"I have to ensure everyone gets home safe and sound."

"I drove my car today. Let me give you a lift," Zee tries to convince the girls.

"Nope! I don't trust you!" Aye Yi shrieks.

"That's better than your stupid idea, you sutt!"

"Shut the fuck up, both of you!" Pan yelled. The two boys immediately fell silent. Yara pulls her hands away from her ears when Pan is done scolding them.

"Thank you for the warning beforehand, Pan," Yara said, bowing slightly. Pan response with a tiny nod.

"We scatter now! All of us are going home separately. No need for argument. I can book a Grab, and you guys can wait until we board the car. Follow us home or do whatever you want, feel free to do so!" Pan says, taking out her phone from her backpack. Zee stops her mid-action.

"You'll waste money. Just let me send you and Yara home. It's safer," Zee insists.

"Come on! Let them have their freedom, would you?!" Aye Yi argues, chasing Zee away again.

And the fight starts once more.

***

"I know it might sound silly, but I don't understand why they make such a ruckus over a small matter like this!" Pan vents in a moderate tone, just enough to show how upset she was.

Cray giggles, looking at Pan with a smile. "Sounds like a good cat fight."

"More like a sandbox fight! The dumbest ever."

"I wish I could join them, you know..."

"What are you, five?" Pan playfully smacks Cray's shoulder. He softly grabs her hand and holds it tight.

"If that can draw the attention of the girl I like, I'm willing to be five years old again," Cray says in a soft tone.

Pan is taken aback by Cray's action. She tries to process everything but felt clueless about where to start.

"Yara is there too. There's no way they want to fight for me. That's so delusional," Pan replies, slowly trying to pull her hand away from Cray, but he tightened his grip.

"I didn't say Yara isn't attractive, but I know both of them. I know Zee likes you, and Aye Yi... They used to be friends. What Zee likes, he will like too," Cray says calmly.

Pan feels bitter. Learning the fact that Aye Yi is that kind of man and friend makes her slowly grasp why he has been acting weird around her.

"That's a major case of jealousy," Pan says, looking worried.

"Yeah. Lots of people know how competitive they are. Ever since they stopped talking to each other, things haven't been fine between them," Cray sighs.

"I hope you're wrong. Because if this is true, me and Yara; our position will be awkward. Zee is always around, and now Aye Yi is our mentor. They might cause tension among us," Pan thought deeply.

"I think they might stop if you're in a relationship," Cray smiles.

"What?"

"Yeah. You now know that Zee likes you. And Aye Yi likes you because Zee likes you. If you have a boyfriend, Zee might pull back, and Aye Yi will leave you alone. They won't fight again," Cray explains.

Pan watches Cray, full of surprise and uncertainty. "I don't think I need someone just to escape this silly thing—"

"Believe me, you do."

"I don't think that's a good idea..."

"Try first. Then you'll see from there," Cray says.

Pan sigh, slumping back into the passenger seat. The idea might sound silly, but if it could stop the childish, nonsense fighting between Zee and Aye Yi, maybe Cray is right.

"Okay, maybe the idea is good. I better meet someone soon..."

"Why would you need to meet a new person when you already have someone who can be your boyfriend?" Cray asks.

"Who?" Pan frowns.

Cray leans closer to Pan, swipes her curtain bangs aside, and stares at her sweetly.

"Me."