9

JUNE 8, 2017 / NASVERSIX

The library at night was quiet. Not just that particular night. Who’d even want to hang out there? The bookworms would stay in their classes while other stayed inside their room.

Only those who wanted some privacy would come to the library.

That night, Gibbs promised Trish to meet her in the library, at the furthest shelf, the place where Geography reference books were placed. The place where the books were all dusty, having nobody looking at them. It’s not that he didn’t want to do it in his room like usual, he just felt like having a more thrilling experience that night. Doing it in public, only then would there be an adrenaline rush. To top it off, he’s with the daring Trish.

Trish pushed Gibbs to the wall and started kissing him. Ooh, she likes to play warden, though Gibbs while kissing Trish back. His hand started embracing her curvaceous body but she held them and stuck it to the wall. Okay, she REALLY likes to play warden…

As Gibbs was getting hard, a sudden voice came…

“Ehem!!”

Gibbs and Trish were startled. Fara was standing beside the shelf, her hands on her waist. Trish looked at Fara with an unsatisfied face. “Excuse me, could you mind your own business?”

This Trish is too daring, Gibbs thought in his heart.

Fara’s pair of eyes was glowering in anger. But if you guys are gonna have a catfight here, that’s fine too, Gibbs thought again.

“Excuse me! I came here to study! Not to do something immoral like you! You better get lost before I take any action!”  Fara threatened.

Trish widened her eyes at Fara but knew that she had not the ability to overpower this SL. Trish snorted and left with a stomp. Gibbs was still leaning back on the wall, with his hands casually in his pockets.

Fara turned to Gibbs, as if waiting for him to leave like Trish, but he was still there.

“Shouldn’t you be running after your girlfriend?” Fara spoke sarcastically.

“Nope. I was looking for a Geography book. She came on to me.”

“Yeah, right!”

“You saw it yourself. Who was against the wall earlier? Was it her, or me?” questioned Gibbs.

Fara clammed up. Ha, now you’re silent! It’s a good thing I was playing the prisoner earlier, hehe…

“Whatever. I don’t even care,” she replied. She moved to the front shelf and started looking for books. Gibbs was still there, enjoying the ‘view’.

“You really hate me, don’t you?” asked Gibbs.

“I told you, right? I don’t care enough about you to hate you,” replied Fara.

You think you’re smart answering like that? Don’t make me play the warden later, haa…

But Gibbs just went past her. There’s no point in him staying there. It’s not yet time.

During the weekend, if everything went as planned, Gibbs, Troll, Ray and KJ were supposed to hang out at a nearby waterfall area, but Ray was busy with his staging things, Troll had a tournament and KJ had a date with a cougar (oh ye… he caught the girl at Bintang Coffee Shop and had romanced her successfully. The 29-year-old indie musician was apparently trying to do everything before reaching 30 – and seducing a minor is apparently in her bucket list. She would have to change that to doing four minors soon – said KJ).

So, Gibbs decided to go home for a while. His brother just got back from overseas – it’s pretty interesting hearing stories of someone older who went travelling. His Cagiva Mito bike glided out the school area. Gibbs normally went back without bringing anything with him. Everything’s there anyway, and it’s not like he was going for too long. A night was enough.

Gibbs entered the main road and saw a bus stopped to the side with its passengers lounging. How pitiful. The bus must be broken, Gibbs chuckled at the scene. Suddenly, he saw an unexpected familiar face amongst the pitiful passengers.

Fara.

Gibbs stopped his bike a little bit to the front of the bus. He turned to look behind and saw Fara who had clearly noticed him bit pretended that she didn’t know him. This isn’t the time to play hard to get, Gibbs reminded internally.

“Hey,” Gibbs greeted.

Fara only nodded.

“You… going back?” he asked.

“No. I’m going to my aunt’s house. My cousin is sick.” She was still avoiding eye contact.

“Where?”

“Tanjung Malim.”

Gibbs was silent for a moment, though he already knew what he had to do. “You got a lot of stuff on you?”

“Nope. Just this,” she pointed to her backpack.

“Do you dare ride a bike?”

“Hah?”

“I’ll send you there. So are you afraid of riding bikes?”

“No thanks. I’ll just wait for the next bus.” There’s hesitation in her voice.

“I see. How long until then?”

Fara was silent.

“What’s your cousin’s illness? Aren’t you worried?”

“Of course I am!”

“You’re willing to waste your time… just because you hate me?” Gibbs asked, his voice deep.

“No! I just…”

“Oh, I forgot. You don’t care about me enough to hate me, right?” Gibbs cut her off.

Fara crossed her hands. Her face was red because of anger, and a bit of guilt.

“Well…” Gibbs softened his tone, “I care enough about you to help you out, okay? No strings attached, I promise. I won’t bring it up afterward, you don’t have to feel indebted or anything. I just want you to safely arrive at your destination. That’s it.”

Fara was still silent. “Will be quick and safe?” she finally asked, emphasizing on the word ‘safe’.

Gibbs let out a laugh. “I won’t dare send someone’s daughter back home without ensuring her safety. What if your uncle chases after me with a rifle, then what?”

Fara smiled. “My uncle don’t have a rifle.”

“I’m sorry, was that a yes?” Gibbs asked for confirmation, a charming smile on his face.

Fara smiled a little bit, then became confused. “Oh wait… I don’t have a helmet…”

This time, it was Gibbs’ turn to fall silent. “I’ll go back to the dorm for a bit. Gonna take an extra helmet.” A statement, that’s it. No question mark. Fara wasn’t able to argue back before he was already on his bike and went away.

Gibbs arrived at his room in less than 10 minutes. When he entered, he saw a sitting KJ who immediately stood up.

“Don’t you have a date with a cougar?” Gibbs greeted.

“Definitely! I’m waiting for her now. You’re just making me restless for no reason,” KJ replied.

“Hah?! Here?”

KJ grinned. “She said she wanted something thrilling. Wanting to relive her younger days.”

Gibbs shook his head but smiled. “What’s the point in dating a cougar if you don’t do it in a 5-star hotel? Not one bit like a sugar mummy,” Gibbs commented.

“She’s not able to do that,” KJ replied, looking at Gibbs who was looking everywhere. He asked, “What are you looking for?”

“Helmet…”

“What’s that on your hand?”

“An extra one, you idiot.”

“Ohho! A smoking hitchhiker?”

Gibbs smiled. He had promised to Fara, no strings attached. If KJ knew, he would definitely want to join in. Gibbs felt that for now, it’s important to keep his promises. For the sake of the greater good.

“I think it’s in Ray’s room,” KJ said while giving Ray’s room key to Gibbs.

“Thanks.” Before he could even make two steps, the room was knocked.

“Ril? You there?” a wet throaty woman’s voice (is it really a woman? Throaty wet… it’s a bit arguable) was heard from the opposite side.

“Ril?” Gibbs whispered with a slightly teasing tone.

“My name is Khairil, you dumbass,” KJ replied. “Eh, you’re not staying?”

“We’ll look at her face first. If it is, then no. I’m afraid it’d take too long,” replied Gibbs.

“Of course she’s a looker! My taste is…”

“Ah, your taste can’t really be trusted!”

Gibbs opened the door. Outside stood a woman wearing an oversized kurti and a bellbottom jeans. Her long and curly hair was tied with a headband – truly Flower Power. Yes, she’s a beauty, but there’s a better one waiting for Gibbs.

“Hey,” Gibbs simply greeted and excused himself, wanting to proof to KJ that his taste wasn’t that great. While letting the woman in, KJ gave the finger to Gibbs, making him hold in his laugh.

After finding the helmet in Ray’s room, Gibbs accelerated to here Fara was. On arrival, he saw something weird. The broken bus was still there, but the passengers were no longer lounging around. Everyone…

None. Including Fara.

Demmit, the other bus must have arrived! Gibbs complained in his heart. He cursed and cussed – KJ, the hippie woman, the extra helmet…

Just as he was thinking what more he could curse, he heard someone calling him, “Gibran…”

Gibbs turned around. Fara was actually still there, faithfully waiting in front of the bus that blocked him from seeing her.

“Hey…  Err, where are the others?” asked Gibbs.

“Why? You want to bring them all with you? Would it fit?”

If it came from Fara, what more could he ask for than her sarcasm? But now, it came with a slight smile. Gibbs comforted his heart by saying that it was her teasing him. And from Fara’s smile that was widening, and finally letting out a quiet laugh…. It was definitely a teasing.

Gibbs smiled abashedly.

“The next bus arrived, taking everyone else.”

“Why didn’t you go with them?”

Fara raised an eyebrow. “You’ve troubled yourself to take an extra helmet for me; I can’t ditch you now, can I?”

So it’s a matter of moral and etiquette… or is it because you really want to hug me on the bike?

“Nah. You could’ve just sent me an SMS saying that you got on another bus. I don’t have a problem with that,” Gibbs replied in disregard. He didn’t want to be seen as appreciating her thoughtfulness. Maybe she wanted to make it even. Earlier, Gibbs tried helping her and now, she’s trying to help Gibbs. Help what? Help hugging? Hehe…

Gibbs helped Fara in riding his bike. Gibbs’ papa once teased him when he bought the bike for him. He said that this bike was a “live together, die together” kind of bike. Since the one riding behind would definitely stick to the one driving. Papa really understands his male children.

Gibbs controlled himself when feeling Fara’s body on his back. He restrained himself when sensing Fara putting her hands on his shoulders. But to contain himself all the way to Tanjung Malim…