17

Gibbs was still grinning when he opened the door to his room.

Until he saw his three friends sitting down with grim faces. It seemed like a big problem had occurred.

“What’s up?” Gibbs asked while getting closer.

“Ray got beaten up by Sofil,” explained troll.

“Hah?! When?”

“Yesterday. This friend of ours intelligently sat alone in the auditorium at night after everyone went back from rehearsal. He’s really asking for a beating,” KJ quipped.

Ray was silent. Too lazy to bother. Besides, he really didn’t need to say anything, Gibbs understood perfectly his habit of staying at that place.

“The guy sure is bold,” commented Gibbs.

Sofil was a tough gay who had long since had feelings towards Ray. He confessed to Ray once, but Ray ignored him. After that, he started threatening Ray, saying that if Ray told anyone his sexual orientation, he’d beat the light out of Ray. Ray never did reveal it other than to his three friends, but the story of Sofil being gay had long been suspected but nobody cared. Maybe the rumour spread again and Sofil though Ray was the origin.

“Of course. He knew that you weren’t here, and I went to a game,” said Troll.

“How about you? Where did you go?” Gibbs’ tone turned a pitch higher when questioning KJ.

“Eh, don’t blame me for no reason! How would I know this would happen, you idiot!” KJ defended himself.

“Sorry, sorry. I’m not blaming you,” said Gibbs. It’s just that Gibbs naturally a bit too overprotective when it came to Ray. During their second year, when listening to a group of their seniors planning to attack Ray after lights-off time, Gibbs switched place with Ray – so that the one getting beaten up was not Ray. He felt that it was unfair that Ray got bullied just because he was a man of art.

“It’s fortunate that it was just a beating. What if he was sodomised?” KJ slit in a joke but with a slightly serious tone.

“Was it bad?” Gibbs asked Ray who was still quiet.

“He’s alone, but he took me by surprise. He had kicked my stomach when I realised it. By the, I was already down, giving him time to kick 2-3 times more,” Ray replied.

“At least he’s smart enough to hit just the stomach,” commented Troll.

“Teach him a bit, Troll. Give 4-5 kicks back at him,” ordered Gibbs.

“Don’t bother,” Ray sounded.

“Why not?! He thinks he can just freely beat people up?” Gibbs yelled.

“I don’t want him to cause trouble during my show,” replied Ray.

Gibbs really wanted to retort but he knew how much importance Ray placed on his show. This was the problem with Ray. He treated his show like his life, but because Gibbs understood him, he stayed quiet.

“How’s your brother?” Troll asked.

“Oh… he’s fine,” replied Gibbs. He almost forgot that he was supposed to be at home during the weekend.

“You guys… didn’t taste KJ’s cougar chick?” Gibbs asked, trying to divert the attention from him.

Troll snorted. “When I came back, she had already left. Ray did though.”

“Aik? In getting beaten by a closet gay, he still had the time?” Gibbs joked.

Ray just smiled.  “Just my luck.” He simply replied.

“Troll said he found one during the game,” KJ started.

‘Ah! Before I taste your cougar, I won’t bring her here,” Troll pretended to threaten.

“Weyh, that’s no fair! You’ve built up the image of Mila Kunis in my head,” KJ retorted.

“No. no. Give the cougar first! Musketeer Code weyh,” Troll reminded.

“I’m going to shower,” at the moment, Gibbs immediate excused himself… when talking about the one rule. The rule that he broke.

During the assembly that morning, Fara made a few announcements – and one of them was the cancellation of the security system contract change. In other words, the guard company won’t be changed.

“You don’t have to go through the trouble of getting in her pants to make her bend, bro,” KJ had the time to poke fun at Gibbs. Gibbs smiled – mischievously, sinisterly and filled with secrets. Fara’s talisman was tied neatly in his left wrist.

AT noon, on the way back to the academic block, Gibbs’ steps was suddenly stopped by someone.

Deepa.

What does this girl want now…

Gibbs cursed in his mind for not walking with KJ and Troll earlier, or not following Ray to the auditorium. He thought to meet Fara before evening prep started. The heart yearned. During recess earlier, he only sent an SMS, teasing:

Guard company isn’t changing, let’s fly this evening to go for a date? =p

“Gibbs, I know about Ray!” without any opening, without anything… Deepa exclaimed. The more I see her, the more distasteful she becomes. What an attention-seeker.

“Know what?” Gibbs asked while continuing his steps. Trying to clearly show her that he wasn’t that keen on chatting with her.

“I know about Ray getting beaten up by Sofil. I saw,” she said.

Gibbs steps paused, “You saw?”

Deepa nodded. “At that time, I went back to the auditorium since I left something. I saw Sofil pushing Ray inside the control room. I peeked in, seeing him kicking Ray,” told Deepa.

“You saw… but then you did nothing?” Gibbs asked. He knew that it wasn’t her fault even if she did nothing. Thinking about it, what could she even do? It can’t be she should protect Ray? But Gibbs deliberately said it. He wanted to show her that instead of being helpful, she’s just troubling people.

Deepa paused. “At that time, I can’t do anything. But… but afterward. I can!” she said enthusiastically.

“What do you want to do?” Gibbs asked, continuing his walk.

Deepa tailed Gibbs like she was waddling. “My big brother is in a gang. His gang can go beat up that Sofil back,” she suggested.

Gibbs was nervous when he heard her brother was in a gang. Don’t ask what kind of gang. It’s definitely not a stamp-collecting gang. But Gibbs still pretended to be unfazed. “No need, Deepa. Ray doesn’t want this to become big.”

“You’re willing to let Ray get beaten just like that, the doing nothing?”

Wah! Are you’re teaching me camaraderie now?

Gibbs stopped and looked at Deepa. His left hand pulling his hair back – his style when feeling that there’s something troubling him. “Look, Deepa. I know ray way better than you do, okay? I know how to handle this. Just drop it.”

Firm. He can’t be bothered. And I can’t wait to go for a date with your roommate, Deepa.

Gibbs went by, without realising that Deepa became conscious of something.