5

JUNE 8, 2017 / NASVERSIX

The three-on-three friendly that evening went on between CGTSS and Reformation College. Even when fighting against college students, Troll and his teammates were leading by quite a few points. Maybe those college students lacked stamina – didn’t get enough sleep, didn’t eat much, or had too many alien substances in the body.

As always, Gibbs, KJ and Ray attended as spectators to give support to Troll. Gibbs watched the cheerleaders at the field’s side, especially Trish. She had the best curve out of all of them. As he was checking Trish out, he noticed something.

“KJ, is it just me… or is Eva giving you the death glare?” asked Gibbs. It’s obvious that the girl beside Trish was glaring at KJ with her round eyes. KJ just laughed at it. Ray smiled as if knowing the reason behind it.

“Last week was her birthday. She asked me to buy her a Body Shop perfume and I said that she’ll get something much more valuable than that,” KJ reiterated, filled with drama.

“What did you get her?”

“Maggi noodles. The buy 5 packs get 1 free type.”

Gibbs almost spat out the Coke he was drinking. “Serious?!”

“Of course! Did she think that I’m her boyfriend or something, asking for expensive gifts? It’s not easy making money, and she just wants to dig them in one go from me. No way in hell!” KJ replied.

“The best thing was that I wrapped the Maggi nicely and then put it under her table inside the class. The bitch had already told her friends that I was giving her a very special present… so she opened it in front of everybody!”

Gibbs just let his laugh out and even Ray who would usually only smile let out a small chuckle. So that’s why she’s glaring at him like she wanted to eat him!

“At least we’ve tasted her,” Gibbs said.

“It’s exactly because of that I…”

“Hi,” a voice cut in KJ’s words that seemed to want to continue his story. The three looked towards where the voice came from. A dark-skinned girl was smiling sweetly at them.

“Hey, Deepa,” Ray was the first who greeted her.

“Hi. Hi Gibran,” Deepa went straight to her target.

“Hi,” Gibbs replied. His eyes looked behind Deepa, hoping that there’s someone else there. None. She’s brave enough to greet us alone?

The situation became a bit awkward for a while. Deepa was still there, hoping for something.

“You… like watching basketball?” the question came from Gibbs, wanting to rid of the awkwardness.

“Oh… no,” Deepa replied honestly, her eyes never leaving Gibbs.

KJ whistled. The same whistle he did when discussing Deepa the other day.

“Gibbs, half-time. Let’s go meet Troll,” Ray invited, wanting to give Gibbs a way out.

However, Gibbs said to them, “You guys go ahead first. I’ll accompany Deepa for a while. It’s a bit too pitiful, leaving her alone here.”

KJ raised his eyebrow, shocked, but Ray just shrugged, taking KJ along with him. KJ certainly was Gibbs roommate, but sometimes, it was Ray who understood Gibbs’ Casanova tactics. His skills were fine and smooth. Fine. Art is fine.

“Where’s your roommate… what’s her name again?” Gibbs pretended he didn’t know.

“Fara.”

“Right, Fara. The new SL, right?” Gibbs asked again.

Deepa nodded. “She went to a meeting for the new SL board members.”

“She sure is busy, right? Poor you, being left alone.” Gibbs said.

Deepa was quiet. Perhaps not knowing what to say.

“I know you like her.”

Or maybe not.

Gibbs was slightly shocked hearing the comment that came from Deepa’s mouth but he kept his cool.

“If I’m not her roommate, would you still treat me this nicely? Or maybe you’d just straight up ignore me?”

Hot damn, this bitch is direct!

“Have you seen me treating people poorly before?” Gibbs returned a question.

Deepa smiled. “Nope. Never.”

And that’s why you and many others fell for me. I’m a gentleman you know, Gibbs praised himself in his heart. It’s fine as long as other people don’t hear it.

“I can help you,” Deepa suddenly offered.

“Help? With what?”

“To get you together with Fara. I’ve been her roommate for three years now. I know what she likes, what she hates. Even her diary, I could sneakily read it,” Deepa explained.

Do people still use diaries nowadays? So old school.

Gibbs smiled. “You misunderstood. I have no feelings whatsoever towards that Fara. I was just curious why she seemed to hate me so much. I wanted to know whether I had wronged her before.”

“Oh,” said Deepa. “She once said that you’re just a show-off.”

Gibbs smiled a slightly saddened smile. “Why? Because I brought a bike to school? Because I wear branded clothing?”

Deepa shrugged. “Maybe. She never mentioned why.”

Gibbs nodded. “If so, then never mind. What’s important now is that I have not troubled her in any way. She’s the one irritated by me, even when I did nothing wrong.”

Yer, I could feel you looking at me with an amazed look right now, Gibbs thought without even looking at Deepa’s reaction.

“Okay then, Deepa. I need to see my friend. See you around, okay?”

“So it’s true that you’re not interested in Fara?”

Gibbs stopped. He put on his Police shades before answering. People say that even if the mouth lies, the eyes can’t.

“Nope. I have no interest in Fara.”

“Big mistake! A big mistake!” KJ commented while shaking his head.

“You’re dead, man. The psycho girl will stalk you now that she knows that the line’s clear.” Troll interjected.

Ray was the only one silent. Gibbs smiled.

“You guys don’t understand this strategy. We need to know how to play with women’s feelings. Just look, okay? All this while, Fara was confident that I have a thing for her. It’s impossible that she didn’t realise I’ve given her a special attention all this while, right? But what if suddenly I ignored her? She must feel that something’s missing in her life. At that time… hah, she’s finished! She’ll become crazy because of me,” Gibbs explained.

“You’re too confident,” KJ denied while laughing.

“But psychologically, this is logical,” Ray commented.

“Weyh, where’s the pizza that you ordered? I’m friggin hungry now,” Troll complained. An athlete’s dilemma: always hungry.

The door was knocked. “Speak of the devil,” KJ said while getting up. He grabbed a plastic bag beside the door – quite heavy.

After taking the pizza from the delivery guy, KJ gave the plastic bag to him. “What’s this?” the guy asked.

“Money, obviously,” KJ replied.

Troll was already laughing and Gibbs smiled. Ray shook his head. KJ’s at it again.

The delivery guy was speechless. The large amount of coins was observed in disbelief. Believe it man, this is just how KJ is.

“What’s this lil bro?” the guy sweated.

“Eh, that’s money big bro! Exactly 30 ringgit. You don’t believe me? You can count it on the side. Sit down if you want. We’ll eat first okay?”

The guy just shook his head and left, not bothering with KJ anymore. Troll’s voice was hoarse because of laughing. “KJ you bastard! You’re even pranking the pizza guy?”