PROMISES SHOULD NEVER BE BROKEN: JOY GONE! 3

Kenji watched the screaming girl beside him. They were on a roller coaster ride at the amusement park. It had been almost a week after the terrace incident. And for those past days, he made it a habit to protect Joe from pain.

Last Monday, he made her laugh and forget about David's phone call from Christine. Tuesday, he picked up Joe from her classroom assuming that David and Christine will be walking that same hallway together. Wednesday, after seeing Christine and David eating together at the cafeteria, he called Joe and demanded she should go with him to his favorite restaurant. Now, he wanted Joe to avoid witnessing anything about David and Christine so he took Joe to the amusement park.

She screamed again. He smiled. 'I will protect you, Josephine.'

After trying all the rides Joe wanted, they were strolling around the park eating cotton candy. Kenji watched her as she quickly finished eating the sweets, pinching it here and there, and stuffing it in her mouth. She would swallow it hard. Then, when she was finished, she licked the stick. Kenji controlled his urge to laugh.

Meanwhile, Joe ran to a beverage stand and bought two cans of soda. She gave the other one to Kenji. Then, she quickly opened her drink and wolfed it down. She burped a loud one after she was done. Kenji could not hold his laughter any longer.

Joe looked at him with a wrinkled forehead, "What?"

Kenji drank his soda and put the remainder of his cotton candy in a trash bin. Then, he walked back to her.

"You are the most UNIQUE date I have ever had," he stated and laughed some more.

Joe narrowed her eyes and punched him on the stomach. "Hey, I am NOT your date. And was that an insult?"

Kenji motioned an 'ow' but chuckled after, "You screamed in my ears until I was deaf, you ate the cotton candy in what? Ten seconds? You stuffed the soda in your mouth and burped out loudly at me. That was so pretty disgusting by the way. Are you trying to turn me off?" he teased.

Joe crossed her arms and was about to say something when her phone rang. She looked at it. It was David. She scrunched her forehead and looked at Kenji.

"What does this jerk need?" she said. She did not notice the wide smile on her face after seeing David's name.

Kenji noticed her smile and sighed. Joe gave Kenji a signal to wait, then she went to a place where she could hear David clearly before she answered.

"What do you need, jerk?" she asked teasingly. Though, in truth, her heart was racing with excitement..

David chuckled on the other line, "Where are you at? Why is it too loud?"

"Kenji and I are in an amusement park. What do you need?" she told him in a pretend-angry voice.

"Well… I will be able to make it tomorrow. Our Basketball game is back so you better get ready," David happily informed her.

"Are you sure you'll be there?" Joe could not help but to be skeptical.

There was confidence in David's voice. "Yup. I already talked to Christine. She said I should spend time with you. Seems like she likes you. Hey!!! You better watch it, she's my girl…" he said and chuckled.

Joe's right eyebrow arched. "PERVERT!!!" she teased back. "Your girlfriend is not my type… eww"

They were laughing during the phone conversation just like old times. If David was in front of him, she might have not controlled herself and gave him a hug already. She misses him THAT much!!!

"Anyways, polish your skills. Tomorrow, I'll give you a hard time," David warned.

"Yeah right. Please… I can take you on anytime even without practice," Joe retorted.

David laughed again, "Okay then Joe. I'll talk to you more at home, okay?"

"Okay," she answered with a cheery tone.

"Don't stay up too late. Tell Kenji, you can't stay up too late," David advised.

"Yeah… yeah… yeah…" Joe replied and rolled her eyes.

"And no flirting with girls," David teased.

"I 'm not Kenji, you jerk," she replied and they hung up. Joe smiled and walked back to Kenji, skipping happily.

"Look at that smile. Good news? What was that about?" Kenji asked as she approached.

Joe smiled, "He'll make it to our game tomorrow."

Kenji managed a small smile, "That's good news indeed."

Joe sighed happily as she looked at her phone again. Kenji watched her smiling face. 'You really are in love. It was just a phone call,' he thought. Then, he sighed again.e

*****

Friday came. Joe was beyond excited! She was smiling ever since she woke up. The three of them were having breakfast before they drove to school. And Joe's appetite was to the skies. It was her third plate.

"Are you ready for this afternoon's game?" David asked her as she put a spoonful of omelet in her mouth.

"Oh you're so on…" Joe replied with her mouth full.

"You better put your game face on. I'll give you the most difficult time ever," David threatened.

"You always say that! But, it was always easy," she answered and shrugged her shoulders.

Kenji could not help but chuckle. He'd rather see Joe like this than crying.

David turned to Kenji. "Are you going to join us, Kenji?" he asked him.

Kenji shook his head, "No. Unfortunately, I have an analysis report to finish plus I have music to work on."

Joe pointed her fork at David, "Too bad, you're not going to see me beat up David Jerk."

Kenji laughed again, "I would love to hear about it though."

David glared at Joe, "Yeah right, Joe Shame."

Joe raised her brows, "Was that an attempt to call me names? Dude, that was too lousy! Joe Shame? What was that? No creativity… none at all!" she teased.

"Oh shut up," David replied.

Kenji looked at the best friends back and forth as they bantered. It was very transparent that Joe was beyond happy. And it was just a Basketball game.

As usual, David took off first to pick up Christine while Kenji drove with Joe farting in his passenger seat.