INCIDENT 23
AFTER THREE DAYS…
DURING THE DRIVE, I kept quiet. Laura didn’t speak to me much after what happened on that dance battle night.
Tejie, who was driving, called me, “Doc, you’re spilling over again, bro!” He saw that I’m not in a good mood.
“Stubborn?” I uttered.
Gwen, who had finished dialing the phone said, “She doesn’t want to answer. She keeps on canceling it.”
I rubbed my nape in disgust. Why didn’t she even tell me?
“What did she eat and why is she going to sleep there?” I was pretty upset.
We are going to pick up Laura who is now at a birthday party. An acquaintance from the club they used to attend invited her and told Gwen that she might not be able to go home because she was waiting for someone to introduce her and get her a job.
“Is it still far away?” I asked while craning my neck to peer out the car window. I just opened it because I wanted to breathe in the air. It was late at night, so it was a bit cold. “Do you know the place, Gwen?”
“Yes, doc, we’re almost there,” told Gwen.
Tejie gave me a brisk look. He was aware that when I’m quiet, my thoughts tend to wander.
Following that instant…
Gwen pointed out, “It’s over here, in that big house.”
We pull over at a substantial black gate.
Gwen exits the vehicle and says, “Wait for me here.”
Tejie prevented me from following Gwen as I was ready to do so. He grabbed my arm firmly and said, “Doc, stay here! Let’s just wait.”
I’ve set up a seat. “Why doesn’t she have to return home? What kind of birthday is that?”
Tejie stroked my hand because I bit my finger, which is one of the indicators when I’m annoyed, and this is one of the things I do when I’m brimming again.
“Stop doing that!” He snapped at me again.
I remarked, irritated, “Besides-what work does she need? I can support her, but she simply doesn’t want to!” I got out of the car because I could no longer take it. “Clyde! Clyde!” he yelled as he caught up to me.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
I kept on walking.
Tejie grabbed my arm, “Clyde! You motherfucker, I told you to just calm down!”
As I walked toward the gate. He kept tugging me back to the car, saying, “Fuck doc! Look at the house-a mansion! I’m making sure that this time you will lose your license if you don’t calm down!”
I paused. I responded in a low but irritated voice, “Sorry Tej! Fuck!”
And after a short while…
“There they are.”
I believe Laura was drunk because of the way she walked.
“Clyde, why are you doing this?” Laura asked softly. Even from a distance, her wide eyes were swollen, and I could smell the alcohol.
“Didn’t, I-I told you I wasn’t coming home?” she yelled to Gwen.
I glared at her, “Why didn’t you even tell me you were leaving? That you’re going on a birthday. Let’s go home; you’re drunk!” I can’t seem to smile anymore.
“What?” she asked, shaking her hands. “Hailey just invited me-he said he’d let me in for work.”
Gwen was taken aback. “Is Hailey with you?” she said in surprise when she heard the name, her eyes wide open.
“Yes! He’ll drop me off later, so go home! You’re all so annoying, Gwen!” Laura yelled, her gaze fixed on Gwen. I grabbed her right arm. “Let’s go home; you’re drunk; come on, Laura,” I gently said, trying to give her a meaningful look.
“Shh!” She said as she yanked her arm away from my grasp. “I don’t want to go home yet! Clyde? What the fuck?” she exclaimed, snapping at me. “Can’t I enjoy it?”
Two men came out of the large gate a few moments later.
Immediately after seeing her, the young man called out, “Laura! Come on, sweetie! What are you doing here, baby?”
I exchanged glances with Tejie. My heart skipped a beat when I heard the young man talking sweetly to Laura but I kept calm, letting out a sigh.
“Hailey?” Gwen exclaimed when she saw the young man.
The young man reached out to her, “Hello, Gwen!” He hugged, kissed her cheek, and squeezed her face. “Ummm! I missed you baby! How are you? Hmn?” He again kissed Gwen’s cheek.
“Hailey.. Stop..” Gwen said in whispers as she smacked the young man’s face turning her gaze on Tejie.
Tejie saw her reaction. He turned his look away, pouting his lips.
“What the fuck is this? Who the fuck is that?” Tejie asked me quietly. I noticed he was grinding his teeth and became uncomfortable. “Let’s go, Clyde!” He uttered as his face turned red.
Gwen noticed the sudden mood change of Tejie.
The young man approached Laura. “Come on Laura, Doc Wun is coming,” he said as he clutched Laura’s waist.
The young man is quite attractive. He’s about four years my junior, with a bad boy look and graffiti tattoos all over his neck. A young Chinese man who appears to be rich but arrogant.
I drew Laura behind me and hid. “Ah! I’m going to take Laura home; she’s already drunk,” I said calmly and politely.
“What, Clyde?” Laura muttered, trying to catch a glimpse of the young man.
“Wait! I seem to know you?” The young man said, pointing at me. “Fuck! It’s you! It’s you who caused trouble in our club!”
I just let him point until… “Me? Are you sure? Umn!” I replied sarcastically, then smacked him across the face that instant.
“Clyde! Tej, stop it!” yelled Laura.
Tejie stepped in after I started beating that arrogant young man, and his companion is now approaching us. Gwen grabbed his arm quickly, attempting to stop him, but when the other young man was about to cut me off…
“Come here, you fuck!” Tejie grabbed him and kicked him in the stomach, knocking him down.
“Eeeeee! Stop!” yelled Gwen as she dashed over to stop Tejie, who was also beating the other young man.
They expected Tejie to stop Clyde, but he joined in, putting us both in trouble.
“You’re lucky I didn’t catch you at the club-but not here! I’m going to paralyze you, you animal! Umm! Umm!” I repeatedly punched him in the face. He can’t fight me back well because he’s drunk, and he can’t hit me hard because I’m bigger than him, but he did hit me in the face twice. My jaw is slightly numb.
We’re screwed up. They had no idea how to handle us. Both of the young men were drunk and did not put up much of a fight. It’s also a setback for me because you can’t do anything about jealous boyfriends!
“Enough, Clyde!” Laura exclaimed.
People came out from the house a few moments later, as did other visitors, and the entire street was almost noisy as a result of the number of people watching who came out of their houses. It was an embarrassing moment, but I didn’t care! I wanted to beat that young man until his fuckin’ cute face was deformed.
I didn’t care that I was hurt; I refused to let go of that arrogant young man, even though the tee I was wearing was nearly torn. Laura had become sober as a result of what had happened.
Until a split seconds later…
“Tejie?”
I heard a woman yell at the young men with whom we were fighting.
“Tejie? Guys, stop! Hailey!” she yelled. “I said stop it!” “Huh? Fa-Fatima?” Tejie stumbled when he saw who it was.
“I told you to stop!” The woman exclaimed as she commanded the two young men to stop.
I was even taken aback when I discovered who it was.
We all came to a complete stop at the same time.
“Tej? What’s wrong?” asked the woman, who turned out to be Tejie’s former girlfriend, Ms. Fatima Lee.
Tejie looked at Gwen, who was about to walk towards them.
“Tejie! Stop it, what’s wrong sweetie?” Ms. Fatima asked Tejie, touching his cheek because it was scratched. “Look at your face, baby ”
Gwen frowned as she walked away and stopped approaching.
Tejie said, “Gwen.”
He never caught up with Gwen. She walks quickly to return to Laura.
“Tejie, look at your face,” Ms. Fatima said sweetly as she continued to brush his cheek.
“Ugh! I’m fine!” Tejie shook his head. He went in search of Gwen.
“Oh, Tej, your cheek is bleeding; come on inside to fix it,” Ms. Fatima said. “And you guys?” she asked, pointing to the two young men. “You fuckin’ cut it!” she said, giving them a sharp look.
I looked around. I didn’t push that brag too hard; I kept it in check, even though I was enraged, because I know what I’m capable of doing to him. I’m sure I can beat him to death. Ms. Fatima intervened, and everyone listened. The man I punched was also afraid of her, as evidenced by his erratic behavior.
Tejie and I exchanged glances. I recognize those stares because the situation is complicated and you must devise a strategy to get through it. He made a signal. Ms. Fatima looked at us for a moment before Tejie whispered something to her. Tejie then simply motioned to me.
We were getting ready to leave when…
“Where do you think you’re going?” said the young man who was blocking my path.
“Hailey, stop it right now!” yelled Ms. Fatima.
“Uh! Huh?” The young man looked at her. “Aunt!” “Come back inside! There was no serious damage, and I know you’re the first! You’re always doing it! I’m fed up!” Ms. Fatima yelled angrily at him.
Before returning to the house, the arrogant young man did nothing but snap at me; I later learned that she was his aunt.
“Come on, let’s go home,” I said as I led the two to the car.
“How about-is Tejie?” Laura simply asked as we made our way to the car.
I replied in hushed tones, “Come on, he’ll handle it all.” She and Gwen exchanged looks. They didn’t say anything and just got into the car quietly.
Tejie made a gesture and pointed to Gwen. I’ll just tell her. I’ll give everything to Laura first so she can assist me with the explanation. I’m aware that these two are already connected, they have feelings for each other now. I saw how Tejie reacted when the young man kissed her and talked sweetly to her, just like Gwen did when Ms. Fatima Lee was with Tejie.
And, as our car passed in front of Tejie and Ms. Fatima, which was outside…
“Gwen-” He touched and peered through the window behind where Gwen was sitting, and I noticed that she, too, looked at him, but quickly avoided it.
“Why did we leave him? Who is that elegant lady, Doc?” Laura asked.
I didn’t respond right away, instead just looked at her then glanced at Gwen who was looking distant at that moment.
June_Thirteen