26

“Hurray to you for having a cool girlfriend like that,” said Ray while hanging out in Gibbs’ room that Saturday morning. KJ had yet to return from the hotel and it seemed like Troll went there too.

“Someone sounds upset,” Gibbs responded.

Ray shrugged. “Happy if you’re happy.”

“Being happy is fine, but I’ve deleted those pictures. I’m dead once KJ finds out,” Gibbs voiced his worry. It was normal for Gibbs to share his problem with Ray. The understanding of an artist was different than other people.

“Knowing KJ, he definitely has a backup,” Ray tried reassuring. He then lit a cigarette.

Gibbs stared at Ray. “You’re oddly calm for someone who was haunted in the auditorium.”

Ray puffed out smoke. “I fainted. What calmness are you talking about…”

“I meant… the thing just happened. You’re still not spooked?”

“Dunno. My brain is filled with preparation for my production,” Ray replied indifferently.

“You’re always like that. Committed,” said Gibbs.

Ray smiled cynically.

Yes, Gibbs. I really committed. My heart is loyal. Loyal to one. And Ray continued gazing at Gibbs’ profile.

Deepa was gone for a significant amount of time. Around a month. But she came back to CGTSS, even though the semester had almost ended. She should have just stayed home until the end-year break. But, well – maybe she wanted to prove that she was still spirited. Or perhaps because she was involved with Ray’s year-end production and thought that if her name was called during the curtain call, she could gain a bit of popularity for her final year in CGTSS.

When she came back, she really seemed more confident compared to before. It’s even to the point of being weirdly cheerful, giving KJ the chills and making Troll curious. Ray was calm as usual, while Gibbs was slightly anxious but tried focusing his relationship with Fara to distract his attention.

“Something wrong?” the question came from Fara that evening when they were walking beside a lake.

“I’m okay. Why did you ask?”

“I don’t know. You seem a little restless.”

Damn it, this is all KJ’s fault, thought Gibbs.

Before going out, the gang had a meeting discussing Deepa. Every voodoo, dark magic and other stories came out. Whether he wanted it or not, worry was displayed on his face.

“Is this about Deepa?” asked Fara again.

Why is she so good in reading my mind?

“Is she… okay?” Gibbs finally asked.

“Surprisingly okay…”

“Don’t you think it’s weird?”

Fara thought for a bit. “But… she really is weird.”

“Well, I definitely won’t object to that. But, it can’t be that she’s… not even a bit traumatised?”

“It’s been a month. Her psychologist must’ve done a good job.”

“Did she went to one?” Gibbs was afraid if she told the psychologist of what happened – psychologists had many ways to make us open our mouth.

“No, I’m just assuming,” said Fara. “You’re really worried, eh?”

“I’m not that heartless. I still think about other people.”

Fara hugged his waist. “Dear, don’t be too worried. If the time comes for you to do what you must do, you should do what you should.”

“And what does that mean?”

“Well, clearly you have a little guilt going on. So after this, just be civil towards her. Once the guilt recedes, everything would be fine.”

She sounded so confident. If only Gibbs could be as confident as her.

There’s only a week left until the students would return back to their home for the year-end break. On the last night, just as past years, Ray’s production would entertain all. Ray was really busy during the last week, making it hard for him to hang out with the others.

“There’s one more year for us here. Then out to the real world.” That night, Troll was a bit sentimental when hanging out with the others.

“Shit! Just a year?” exclaimed KJ.

“What’s wrong, KJ? Even if you want to be forever young, you can’t really be planning to stay your whole life at school?” teased Gibbs.

“School life is the best moment, guys. Trust me. When you enroll into uni, everyone would be busy doing their own things. Once you started working, you’ll have many things to think about. Finding money, buying a house, marriage…”

Troll choked on the water that he was drinking when hearing KJ’s few last words. “Aik? You? Thinking about marriage already? Is the world ending?”

“It’s logical. When your life’s table in the future, your family would definitely pressure you to marry! It’s so annoying,” complaint KJ.

While Gibbs was laughing, his handphone suddenly rang. An unknown number was displayed.

“Hello?”

“Gibbs…” Deepa’s voice was heard from the other end of the line.

Ah, damn!

“Who’s this?” he pretended to not know. He saw that even Troll and KJ had focused on listening.

“Deepa,” she answered.

“Oh. What’s up?” asked Gibbs.

“I’m… outside your block. Can we meet?”

Fara’s reminder suddenly floated into his mind: Just be civil toward her..

But can I give face to this kind of chick?

“Wait a bit. I’ll be there,” Gibbs hang up.

“Who?” KJ immediately asked.

“I’ll talk later,” said Gibbs while standing up and going out.

“Why didn’t you say it earlier?!” KJ immediately monkeyed as Gibbs told who he went to meet.

Ray too was there. It was Troll who was gone now – KJ said that a cheerleader chick was asking for his ‘service’.

“I want to know what she wants first,” explained Gibbs.

“What is it?”

“One date.”

“Huh?”

“She said she wanted to go on a date with me. That’s it. She promised that she won’t bother me after that,” said Gibbs.

KJ’s face turned confused. “How weird can this girl be? Then, you didn’t say anything about what happened?”

“I did,” said Gibbs. He remembered Deepa’s extremely calm face when he brought up the matter. For some reason, he felt his spine tingling.“But she said that if I want to spread the pictures after the date, she won’t mind. As long as she gets to have a date with me.”

“Our Romeo’s charm really is out of this world,” said Ray.

“Really? She really won’t care? Then let’s do it!” said KJ.

“Hold on. Wait until after the date. Do it only if she does something weird,” Gibbs suggested. He really hoped that Deepa won’t be up to something strange – as he really didn’t want to spread the pictures.

The deleted pictures which weren’t yet confirmed whether there’s any backup or not.

“You’re saying you WANT to go on this date?” questioned KJ.

“It’s not that I want to. But no harm, right?”

“’No harm’ my ass! What if she does anything to you?”

Gibbs laughed. “What can she even do?”

“I dunno. Maybe she’d pluck your hair… or your skin… and put it in a nasi kang kang?” replied KJ, but with a slight smile, which then turned into a laugh.

“I think it would be fine. It’s just a date. Bring her around with my bike, eat something, then come back. Done,” said Gibbs – more to assure himself.

“Won’t your girlfriend care?” Ray suddenly asked.

He again remembered Fara’s words…

“If the time comes for you to do what you must do, you should do what you should.”