New Beginnings. Ch.2

Chapter 2: Don’t Want to See You. 

Arriving home I place Avelyn down on the coach, she ran off with Ella to their room as I enter the kitchen getting dinner ready followed by Darren   . 

“ Hey Darren, you’re not busy later, are you?”

“ No, Why do you ask?”

“ Oh, well... I was thinking why not stay for dinner my sisters really like you and I want to also thank you for helping me back there.”

“ Umm...” 

“ Oh... You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“ No, no, no. I want to stay, I would stay.” I asked a few more times to be certain that he wants to stay voluntarily and not because I wanted him too. He never changed his answer it was always ‘I want to stay, I’m going to stay.’ Darren stayed, helped me make dinner and accompany me as I took care of my 2 sisters. Just as I finished making dinner my older sister had walked through the door. I looked at the clock and wondered how come my sister is home so early. 

“ Da Jie~ Welcome home” called out Ella and Avelyn as the rush towards my sister hugging her around the waist. I greeted her as I placed the last two plates on the dinner table as well as introducing Darren to her. She looked at me with the look as to say “ is he the guy you like” as I nodded slight hoping Darren didn’t see it. The 5 of us sat on the dinner table eating, talking and laughing. This was the best night I’ve had in a while, spending it with my family and the guy I like. I was planning to clean up the dishes however my sister told me to accompany Darren to the bus stop giving me a wink as I left. We were silent for a while, one of us had to start a conversation. So I build up as much courage as I can to start a conversation even though there wasn’t much courage in me. 

“ I hope you like the dinner I made and my sisters, they are very nice people.” 

“ Everything you made is delicious to me. Don’t you remember the time you found so random berries in the bushes in pre-school and pretended to cook it for me to eat. Didn’t I eat all that up.”

“ Yeah I was happy and surprised that you ate that. I really can’t believe you ate that.”

“ Dora, I need to ask. I have been holding this back for ever since we got back from your sisters primary school. Do you know that...”

“ He is a complete stranger to me.” I quickly interrupted him. There was a moment of silence until we arrived at the bus stop and waited for his bus to arrive. Suddenly, Darren turned around and faced me with a serious expression. 

“ Dora, I need to... I want to tell you something. I have held this back for sometime but I need to tell you... I ...”

“ ...Darren   ... I don’t want to stop you but... Your bus is here... it is the last bus, you don’t want to miss it otherwise you can’t get home...”

“ But...”

“ You can tell me tomorrow. But it is late you don’t want to miss you bus, ok?” 

“ Alright then. Good night Dora.” 

“ Good night, Darren.” I gave him a hug before he jumped on the bus. Walking back into the house my sister had just finished putting everything away in the kitchen. As I walked in my sister immediately ask me how the walk went. I hesitated explained the situation to her and we both realised that I once again tried to avoid this situation. Darren had tried many times before but either there was a coincidental event or accident happen or I try to change the topic. I am afraid. I am afraid what this would do to our friendship. I am afraid that the relationship won’t work out. I was afraid of the change. I like everything the way it is meant to be even though I want to be with him. This feeling still couldn’t bring out the courage for me to take the risk of change. I want to be emotionally ready and 100% certain that I want this situation to happen. I quickly dodged the topic with my sister, rushing back into my room before taking a depth sigh. The minute I closed the door, I heard a ringing from my mobile, I immediately dropping all my worries and doubts as I answer the phone. 

“ Hello?” I answered

“ Hey Dora, remember me. I am back.” greeted my childhood friend, Alice. Alice is one of my closest friends and the longest friend I have ever had. She enter the same school as me with a half scholarship in dance and singing. 

“ Alice, you’re back. How was your holiday?” 

“ Great, I would be coming back to school tomorrow. So I thought I will let you know... Oh and I will be attending tomorrow’s early morning dance lessons.” 

“ That’s great. Tomorrow we have a lot to catch up on. We both better sleep early So we have enough energy tomorrow for dance and our long catch up talk.”

“ Ok, well lets see each other tomorrow then. Talk you then. Bye.”

“ Talk to you tomorrow. Bye.” Filled with excitement as I hung up the phone and jumped in for bed. 

Hardly slept during the night yet still waking up early in the morning to get ready for dance class. While making breakfast I decided to make my sisters breakfast and set in on the table so they can eat when they are ready. I arrived a little too early for the dance lesson, regretting that I wasn’t able to sleep a little longer. Nevertheless I began stretching and warming up as I waited for the other students and the dance teacher. 

“ Hey Darren, why are you in school so early and why are you peeking into the dance hall.” The voice startled Darren as he immediately turned around facing the direction of the voice. 

“ Oh, it is you. You scared me, how... How are you?” asked Darren   .

“ Don’t change the topic. So what are you doing here?” 

“ You already know why. So why do you still ask?” 

“ True, well you can stay out here then. I am going in.”

“ Wait, please don’t tell Dora that I am out here watching her, ok?”

“ Don’t worry your secret is safe with me as always.” she confirmed while walking past Darren and entered the dance hall.

“ Alice, long time no see. How have you been?” I greeted excitedly. The both of us began chit chattering about the events that has happen the pass few weeks while she prepared herself for our dance lesson. Not even halfway through our conversation, the dance lesson have began as we stopped to concentrate on our dancing. Throughout the day whenever we have the time we will continue catching up with each other and during recess Alice took out gifts for everyone in our friendship group. Once school ends, Alice stay behind for choir practice while I rushed off to pick up my sisters. In front of the school gates, there was a crowd of people surrounding and watching 2 guys who, from where I stand, seem to be fighting. The closer I was towards the crowd the more clearer the scene became as gradually I realised who the two guys were. It was. . . It was Darren  and the stranger we met yesterday in front of the primary school gates. I couldn’t understand nor believe that those two guys would be fighting in front of the school gate. Shocked. Confused. Angry. Upset. Concerned. I had to stop this fight, I had to stop them that was all that went through my head. While I rushed towards them, I could tell that Darren isn’t hold up very well yet he is still persistent to keep fighting. 

“ What are you guys doing?” I yelled as I pushed them apart. I turned to Darren’s aid as I questioned the both of them. The whole fight began while Darren was outside the school gates waiting for me. The stranger had come and stop by as he did they both took a glance at each other. The stranger paused for a few seconds before he began walking up to Darren and asking,

“ What is your relationship with Dora?” 

“ I don’t think that is any of your concern,” 

“ Well it is. Don’t you know who I am?”

“ I don’t care who you are. I only care about what I know, hear and see with my own two pair of eyes and ears. I know that Dora does not know you or does not want to know you or does not wish to ever see you.”

“ You better watch what you say. I am a fantastic gold medal Judo fighter. Don’t get me angry.” 

“ I don’t care who you are and how strong you might be, but you better leave. I know Dora wouldn’t be happy to see you here.” The stranger and Darren from then up started fighting until I arrived to stop them. Finally understanding the situation, I asked one of the people in the crowd to take Darren to the school infirmary. 

“ Look, stop appearing everywhere I go. I don’t know who you are and I don’t want to. So please leave me alone.” I whispered at him loud enough for him to hear as I walked past him. Unfortunately, my words had not stopped him from following me towards the primary school. Slowly I couldn’t take it, I turned around to give him a piece of mind. Telling him over and over to stay away that I don’t want to see him again. He was persistent and just wouldn’t leave, losing my patient I turned to ran away from him until. . .

“ Father has passed away and mother is unwell. She misses you and wants you to come back as well as Lili and Lingling.” he called out. I paused for a few minutes, letting the news sink in as different emotions spun like a wheel of fortune picking an emotion for me to feel. This wheel of feeling began to slow down as the information finally became to have sunk in, little worried and upset but I mainly felt angry. 

“ Why are you telling me this?”

“ Mother wanted me to find you. . .” 

“ I don’t care. . . I. . . It is no use in telling me this. It. . .”

“ What!?” 

“ Look Damien, I disappeared from that house for 5 years. 5 whole years and not once did you guys ever came looking for me. Not once did you called the police to look for me. Not once did you guys ever care about me. Now that you need me, you come and look for me. If you guys didn’t care about me then why should I . . . Damien, please don’t keep following me. I don’t want anything to do with you. Go away.” I yelled out before rushing away with teared filled eyes. It was not tears of sadness nor tears of happiness but tears of anger. I could not keep it in any more longer, 5 years of suppressed anger and sadness burst just like popping a water-filled balloon. No matter how hard I tried to lock up those suppressed feelings, I could not ease the tears the streamed down my cheeks even after arriving at primary school gates. 

“ Jie~ Whats wrong?” called out Avelyn and Ella as they rushed to support me as I leaned on the metal bars before gradually sliding down to the floor. 

“ Jie, is it him again? I will give him a piece of my mind even if I am not as strong as he is. I will. . .” Ella called out fiercely as she was about to run off aimlessly. Grabbing her hand and pulling her back as I persuaded her that I am fine and not to begin a worthless fight. Holding on to both their hands we walked silently home. Each step I took I had calmed me down until we arrived on the doorstep of our apartment. Pushing in the key, gradually turning the key as the door unlocked I noticed from the corner of my eye that Darren was waiting for near my door. Avelyn and Ella both rushed to give him a hug, as they both like him and enjoy spending time with him. I gave a forced smile at him as I opened the door and let my sisters in.

“ Avy and Ella, you two better go and finish your homework. I am going to go out for a while so I will check it when I come back. Da Jie is cooking dinner so be patient and wait for her, today. Ok?”

“ Ok, We will be good and do our homework Jie. You go on your date in peace.” teased Ella. 

“ Ella, stop joking around and go do your homework.” I said shyly as I left with Darren out towards the street.