10 Three Gorrillas

"You look so beautiful Xhemin Lae"

"You look so beautiful Xhemin Lae"

"You look so beautiful Xhemin Lae"

"You look so beautiful Xhemin Lae"

"Okay fine, I know I'm pretty!"

I covered my face with my hands to wash away the emotions. His words echoed in my head over and over— it was giving me severe headache!

I looked through the glass window on my left and busied myself admiring the beautiful waves kissing the sand. The sky was clear and the sun was scorching outside.

I remembered those wonderful summers that me, Huzey and Ziggy spent on beach during our childhood years. How displeasing we had to grow up so fast; our summers these days are spent on academic researches and trainings.

The team was at a seafood restaurant situated along the beach. This place was just few kilometers away from the University Circle where we were staying. We were currently celebrating the success of Huzey and Ziggy's performance.

The view was so refreshing it made me forget my previous predicaments.

"What are you thinking?" Huzey asked me when he noticed that I was lost in my own train of thoughts.

" Err.. nothing.." His question crashed me back to reality. I turned to his side and realized there was only the two of us left sitting in the table right now. I wondered where Ziggy and coach had gone to.

"Not a convincing alibi." He let go of the newspaper he was holding and stared at me with suspicion. He squinted his eyes while scrutinizing my expression trying to figure out if I was lying or not. Huzey knew me very well and this time, he knew there was something bothering me that I wasn't telling him.

Huzey and I had been the best of friends and there was nothing in this world we would not tell each other. This was the first time I was hesitant to convey my thoughts to him. But the thing which was bothering me is quite complicated. Truth was that, I was dying to tell him. Yet, I didn't know how to tell him what was really on my mind. How could I convey something that I myself was having hard time deciphering?

"Have you ever been in love?" I asked in my attempt to confess what was on my mind.

"Why, are you in love?" He asked in a straight face.

"I don't know." I answered as I heaved a sigh. I tiredly gazed at him confessing my agony.

How can someone tell whether they were in love or if they were just having a system failure with their heart? The beast and I crossed the line earlier. We did something that we shouldn't have done. The last time I checked, he was my nemesis. But from what had happened this morning, I didn't know how to label him anymore.

"With that man?" He asked.

I lowered my head as my face went red with embarrassment, but I did not respond. Huzey stared at me pensively knowing my answer to his question was a yes.

"Do you like him?" He asked again as he pulled back the newspaper and flipped through the pages.

"I don't know."

"Do you like seeing him always?"

"I don't know."

"Does he makes you happy?"

"I don't know."

I was not lying to Huzey. Everything that had happened between the beast and I only confused me. I was feeling so helpless that I needed Huzey's opinion to understand what I was really feeling. This was what I usually did whenever there was something that I couldn't figure out. I always sought his opinion. However this time, I literally was dying for him to tell me what to do.

"So tell me Huzey am I in love?" I asked eagerly anticipating his answer. I stared at him moving closer as I held his gaze waiting for his reply.

"I don't know."

He answered in a stoic expression as he flipped through the pages again. I continued staring at him not sure how to react and saw his mouth curved slightly that he tried so much contain.

'Did he just grin?' I thought to myself.

PAAAACK!

I managed to snatched the newspaper from his hand and used it to hit shoulders.

This man! He knew very well I was hopelessly seeking out his opinion, yet he is laughing over my dilemma.

"What's that for?" He retorted trying to hold his laughter.

"You just mimicked my answer! " I pouted showing my dismay.

"Sorry, last word syndrome!" He winked and looked at me with shining eyes. He managed to keep a straight face for a minute before he let loose with a loud guffaw.

Since his expression was a bit contagious, a little later, our table was filled with both of our laughter.

"What are you guys laughing about?" Coach and Ziggy appeared out from nowhere. They both pulled a chair and seated themselves.

"Well, what is it?" Ziggy demanded eagerly as if he couldn't wait to join the fun. He reached out for the glass of water from the table and drank a big gulp from of it. I saw droplets of sweat from his head. I bet they went for a stroll on the beach.

"Love" Huzey spoke without oddity in his voice as if the word he mentioned was an ordinary topic for us. I glared at him, feeling betrayed over such revelation!

"What! Cough…cough...cough…!" Ziggy almost fell from his seat.

"You okay Zigs?" I reached for the glass of water that he was holding, afraid he might accidentally let go of it.

"Why are you guys talking about love? Are you two having an affair behind my back?" He yelled as he pounded his chest with his hands.

"Why can't we talk about love? Is it forbidden?" Huzey answered as if nothing unusual was happening.

"And do we need to have an affair to talk about it?" I responded sarcastically.

"Who by the way is in love?" Coach asked suspiciously as he looked at the two of us. His eyes scanning our faces demanding an immediate answer.

"She's gonna kill me if I tell you who." Huzey mercilessly exposed me.

"Huzey!" I yelled in rebellion. My best friend just betrayed me. I can't believe this!

"She's not only gonna kill you, she is also gonna throw your soul to hell too!" Ziggy threatened him as soon as he recovered from his incredulity.

The three bursted into laughter. I blushed red with humiliation. I was their victim again today!

"Whoever laughs will face death tomorrow!" I threatened them when I realized how pitiful I was at the moment. These three boys were teaming up against me.

"Hahahahaha" They laughed harder when they heard me.

"Whoever laughs will turn into an ugly ogre!"

"Hahahahaha" They laughed harder than before. They even exaggerated it this time.

" If you guys won't stop laughing, I'll EAT YOUR SHARE OF THE LUNCH!"

Silence finally engulfed the table as no one dared to laugh. Yes, the food threat was effective!

"Are you going to finish even the chicken bones?" Ziggy asked teary eyed. He was like a child being bullied by someone bigger than him.

"Yes." My voice was firm and my expression was icy. I meant every bit of what I said.

"Even the sauce?" He asked again anxiously.

"That too" I nodded hastily while crossing my arms.

"Won't you spare even a drop of the drinks?"

"No"

"Are you going—"

"I'm going to eat everything on the table including the utensils!" I glared at them with a murderous look.

"Coach, she really is serious!" Ziggy grabbed coach shoulders as he yelled helplessly to him.

"Yes I know, so be quiet now…. okay?" Coach encouraged him to be silent, afraid that one more cry from him will make the situation worst.

"I don't want to die of hunger." Ziggy said sobbing in silence.

Few minutes after, the waiters served our food. The three boys were so quiet in fear of my threat. They lowered their head and ate as hurriedly as they could. Their careful and calculative actions were rather musing, I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. I ate my share quietly, enjoying the silence. A silent meal rarely happens when we eat out together.

We were almost finished eating when Huzey spoke again.

"So Xhem do you already have an answer to it?"

"To what?"

"If you are in love with Mr Lagdameo or not?"

I looked at Huzey with a madman gaze creeping in my eyes. I wished I was Cyclops so he could die instantly from my stares. I really did think I had successfully ended this topic earlier. Guess I was wrong!

"You can eat the plate if you want." He intentionally showed me his empty plate. So he dared to defy me because he was already full?

Sh*t!

"Cough..cough…cough.." Ziggy faked a cough this time. He was amused by what Huzey just did. His eyes were shining bright, saying 'It's payback time!'.

"Ziggy boy, I think you have a severe coughing fit. Do you want me to ship you to heaven right now to get cured?" I tried to threaten him again and gave him a sharp-laser like glare.

"No thanks! Why are you so mad? Huzey was just asking a friendly question and you are acting like a madman. Is that how a person who is in love acts?" He rolled his eyes at me.

"Ziggy. That's really how it works. Because when you are in love your heart beats faster than normal, giving you intense feelings. That's why Xhemin is so intense!" Coach said succinctly.

"Really?" The two boys turned their head to coach in unison. They look at him intently. Like me, the boys were also stunned by coach's love expertise. How come he didn't teach these things to us?

"Coach, since it looks like you have some knowledge, why don't you tell us a bit about love?" Huzey suggested. These guys were doing everything to keep humiliating me. They were enjoying themselves over my chagrin.

"Right! So the academy's fee for you coach will be worth it as well!" Ziggy said sarcastically.

PAAACK!

Coach hit Ziggy's head without warning. I already had a feeling that coach would do that because of what Ziggy said.

"Coach! Don't do that to my precious brain!" Ziggy exclaimed helplessly.

"Are you telling me I'm not a good coach?" Coach glared at him.

"Of course I was just kidding! What I meant to say really is that, why don't you teach us these kinds of things aside from the strategies in the competition. I think that will help us too." He tried to explain like a puppy in front of him while caressing his head.

"Coach I agree. I think that's better so that we won't end up like Xhem. She seems to be having a hard time, look at those dark circles under her eyes!" Huzey now turned to me and pointed to my face. I covered my face immediately trying to avoid their scrutiny.

"Okay fine. Listen to me. It's like this!"

The boys leaned closer to coach as if they were about to discuss a secret strategy for the competition. They were acting as if the matter was one that was of high importance. Who are these boys fooling? I knew they were just trying to annoy me.

I decided to ignore them and faced the window overlooking where the beach was. I intentionally sat sideways to convey that I was not interested in joining their silly conversation. Not at all!

"This is how you will know if you are in love." Coach heightened his voice. He was intentionally doing it so I would hear his explanation. I refused to give in and focused on looking at the beach.

"How?" Ziggy leaned further.

"Don't put your mouth near me, I can smell your foul breathing. I knew you didn't clean your teeth earlier!"

"That smell—was the smell of the most expensive mouthwash in town today!"

"Really?"

"Yes, now tell us hurriedly!"

"Okay. First, you will know you are in love with the person when you cannot stand his gaze"

"Slowly coach, I'll write it down!" Huzey who was joining the fun, intentionally took a paper and pen from his bag and wrote it down. Huzey was a serious type of person, but throughout the years of being with silly people like Ziggy and I, he kind of learned how to join the fun.

"For how long?"

"Ten seconds is the maximum. So if you are in front of that person, look at him in the eye and try counting from one to ten. If you can't stand his gaze before the count of ten, then it means you are possibly in love with him!"

"Noted." Huzey responded and scribbled something on a piece of paper.

"Second. You will feel an electrifying feeling whenever you touch that person!"

"You mean you will be electrified? I didn't know love could kill!" Ziggy thought for a moment.

"Silly child. I'm talking of a different electricity. It's something that you feel running through your veins."

"Okay, noted." That's Huzey again.

"Third. If that person calls your name, your heart will jump!"

"Is it possible for a heart to jump?"

"Yeah I think!.. okay coach this is noted"

"Fourth. Whether you close or open your eyes, you will continually see his face"

"The fifth and the last. If you are unable to see that person, you will surely cry out of loneliness. That's it bow!" Coach exclaimed and crossed his arms confidently as if he was someone expert in this field.

I continually ignored them, but since we were on the same table, I heard every single word they shared with each other. After coach's last words, the boys suddenly became quiet. I wondered what were they doing. I wanted to continue ignoring them but suddenly, I felt sharp gazes behind my back. I turned my head to look at them.

Errrrr! My senses did not fail me. They were indeed looking at me intently. They were like big gorillas eyeing a helpless banana in front of them!

"What now?" I uttered innocently.

"Have you tried looking him in the eyes?" Coach started the inquiry.

"Were you able to stand it?" Ziggy said as his eyebrows curled into each other.

"Did you feel an electric feeling when you touched his abs that night?"-Coach.

"Tell me how does your heart jump?" - Huzey.

"Were you imagining his face when you were watching the oceans' view just now? - Ziggy.

"Are you about to cry because you haven't seen him for the last couple of days? - Huzey.

"Can you guys stop this nonsense!" I rose from my seat angrily.

These boys were really something! I clenched my fist and walk out. I knew these boys would not stop bombarding me with questions, so I decided to escape their inquiries to protect my sanity.

I ran towards the exit as fast as I could. I was really annoyed at the moment. I can't stand them anymore. My head hurts so much and they were making it worse!

"Guard! Don't let that girl run away!" Ziggy shouted as I reached the exit.

Suddenly a huge man blocked me with his arms crossed. His built was so big and his face frightened me. I halted in an instant in fear.

"What is it this time?" I turned my back to our table and asked them, gnashing my teeth in fury.

"We forget to tell that the meal is on you since we don't have cash!" Coach responded with a sneer and he looked away.

Ziggy was beside him whistling while looking at the ceiling and Huzey was pretending to read the newspaper again.

Toink!

I lowered my head out of frustration. Urgh, I really can't figure out why I had been a part of this team!