The Playground

I don't know but I was already smiling seeing her happy for an ice cream. I thought she's just a spoiled brat but I'm surprised seeing this kind of side on her.

Emerald's POV

I'm currently at Jaden's front door in his house. I was hesitating whether to ring the doorbell or just walk away from here and pretend this never happened. I'm just standing here and keeps on debating whether to do this or not but decided to do the first though.

I tried pushing the doorbell but it seems broken. I keep hitting on it with much force this time until I grew tired and angrily stared at his door. I was even surprise when I saw his house. It's not that big and seems like its size is just for my bedroom excluding the restroom. So, he's not rich and he's not new money? Then he just entered the school through the entrance exam and the school gave him a scholarship?

Even though you aced the entrance exam, the school will not just give you the scholarship without knowing anything about you at first. Everything about the School of Elites is money and connections so how could Jaden entered into that school? How could the school entrust the scholarship to Jaden when he's just any other normal student? Too normal for me and after knowing what he's been living, I think he's just a normal jerk senior high school for me now. I sighed for the last time and thought why I was here in the first place.

I was packing up my things for today's last subject was over and I'm excited because mom said that she'd like to have some mother and daughter bonding with me. I miss having some time together with my mom doing girly stuff because she's always busy on her own business and I was always devoting my time to my studies. She's a professional 5 star chef and she built her own chains of restaurants from her hard-work. With her as a chef working together with dad who owns chains of hotels too, the cuisines we have are explicit with high ratings from the critics.

It's just gonna be me and her so I hurried up and when I was done packing up my things, I was about to leave the room when Daniel called me back.

"Emerald, can I ask you a favor?" I raised my eyebrows at him but he just smiled and handed me some papers. I just looked at it and saw that it was our last quizzes and lessons discussed this week. Yes, it's been a week since Jaden's absence. Maybe I gave him a curse with more complicated disease than I thought.

"What am I going to do with that?" I asked and tapped my foot on the ground, growing impatient. He scratched his nape like hesitating what and how to say it to me and carefully planning his words so I knotted my forehead in confusion and was about to walk away again when he stopped me by holding my wrist and hastily handed me the papers making me get a hold of it because he was about to let go.

"What is this Daniel—"

"The teacher asked me to give it to Jaden but I can't right now," he quickly said stopping me from whatever I was about to say. I scoffed and put my free hand on my waist and looked at him with irritation.

"Why do you think I will give it to him?" He was about to answer me when his phone rang and he looked at the caller and then sighed. After rejecting the call, he looked at me again and tried to smile.

"Just this time, Emerald. I have an emergency and it could take some time so I might not be able to give it to Jaden." He could just ask someone, why me?! How the hell will I find that jerk's house? I am not that close to him nor will I want to!

"He's the top 1, he doesn't need this—"

"I know you, Emerald. You don't wanna be the top 1 again without letting the opponent have the fair fight. You wouldn't want to cheat on your ways, right?" He had that boyish apologetic smile and I glared at him. He's right. Even though I despise that Jaden jerk, I don't want to have the top 1 rank again without letting him have a fair fight. It's not what a Sandejas would do. Damn that Jaden for being absent and damn Daniel for making me feel guilty!

"Fine. Where does he live anyway?" He gave me the address and I just nodded when he bid his goodbye and left me with all the papers in my hand and the jerk's address. I guess I did end up visiting him after all.

So here I am now, standing stupidly in front of his front door. I was about to knock on the door when it suddenly opened leaving my hand nothing in midair and the surprised look on Jaden's face. I blinked a couple of times to realize how stupid I look right now so I immediately retreated my hand placing it at my side and composed myself again and cleared my throat. He just stared at me with confusion but later on replaced by a smirking face and leaned on the door frame waiting for my excuse of being here.

"I thought you are sick," I deadpanned and looked at him from head to toe and he seems to look okay for me, too okay for a person having a fever.

He's wearing denim jacket, a white inner shirt, black pants and an Adidas sneaker shoes. He's only wearing a normal outfit just like any teenager but I feel like he's modeling it in front of me. He looks good while leaning on the door—

"Done checking me out?" I was back at my thoughts when he coughed to catch my attention and smirked when he knew what I was doing. For the second time around, he saw me staring at him again. First was in the library and now here. Ugh! What's wrong with me? Praising a devil is not good! I composed myself again and faked smiled at him.

"I was just checking whether you're really sick or not but I guess I just wasted my time on—" he grabbed the papers I was holding and looked at it like it's the most boring thing in the world. He flipped the pages after scanning it for just 5 seconds, he gave it back to me. Wait, just like that?!

"Done. You can go now." He crossed his arms, he's waiting for me to leave his house even though I am just outside. I gaped at him and knotted my forehead. He gave me a dark look like we're even worse than enemies now. I know I was not good to him but at least I didn't treat him like this! I even went here even though it was really against my will just to help him cope with our lessons!

"Could you at least be thankful?" I sarcastically asked and tried so hard not to smack this on his face again just like in the library. Sometimes it's so tempting to just slit his throat or cut his eyeballs out. I heaved a sigh and tried to relax. My hands are so precious to do such murderous thing and serve a life sentence in prison just because of a mere low-level ungrateful jerk.

Obviously he's not sick or something right now since he's so cocky at me. I thought we're at least civil with each other after those agreements for our research. Why was he suddenly mad at me? Is it because I knew his address and his house now? I suddenly remembered how he strictly made it clear for me to stay away from his private life. Daniel should be the one in here and not me so it's really not my intention to know a little about his oh-so-precious life!

"I didn't ask for you to do this."

"I didn't wish to be here either!"

"You can leave now--"

"What the hell? You're being a total jerk right now--"

"I said leave!"

"FINE! I'm leaving! You don't have to rub it on my face!" That's it! I know he's a jerk but this is too much! He could at least be thankful or he could just let me leave without saying and showing me this trashy attitude of his! I stepped back to walk away but stopped and faced him again. I was done controlling my anger and threw the papers at him which was useless since it just flew like being blown by a wind and just laid flat on the ground not even reaching him.

Great! What a lame throw Emerald. I should have smacked it again on his damn face!!

I was fuming in anger right now. I was giving it to him to help him catch up with the lessons since he decided to just ditch the class for the entire week saying he's sick which in fact, he was obviously not! He didn't even hear me complain for his absences and lack of cooperation for our project and now he's acting like this? If I'm gonna fail that research because of the lack of teamwork, I'll just kill him! Burry him to the ground or drown him to the Bermuda Triangle and pray for his soul to reach hell! The hell I care!

"You could have just accepted the damn papers!" I yelled and glared at him. "You don't even have to say anything but you shove it away and being ungrateful! I don't deserve to be treated like this! I didn't even treat you like this! Daniel just asked me to do it because he's considerate of you! If you didn't want to be offered any help, you should have told Daniel! I regret coming in here trying to see if you're okay!" I breathe in and out and fought the urge to cry. I wanted to cry not because I was hurt but I was mad at him for being like this. "I'm sorry for my kindness, JERK!" I shouted at the top of my lungs and didn't wait for him to recover from shock because of my sudden outburst. He just stood there, wide eyed and stared at me. I walked away from him with heavy steps and tried to suppress my tears.

I admit. I thought about how he's doing, why he's sick and when he'll be back to school. School was not the same without a jerk to argue with and maybe that was the reason why I agreed to come in here but I take it back now. I really hate him. But he suddenly grabbed my wrist making me stop and forced me to face him.

"Let go, you jerk!" I keep on hitting his chest to let go of me but he tightened his hold of my wrist but still gentle like he's afraid to hear me yell at him again or have another wave of outburst. He looked at me with those black eyes again and stared at me. I just avoided my gaze at him and kept on hitting him to let me go but he's grip was still the same, not letting me escape. I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from crying in front of him because of too much anger and frustrations. Even my family couldn't make me mad like this.

Without saying anything, he halted a taxi and pushed me inside while I was still struggling on his hold. This is it. Maybe I angered him so much of what I called him. I was afraid of what he'll do but I was more afraid when he sat next to me on the backseat of the taxi. The tears I was suppressing was now freely falling and I was crying and keeps on struggling on getting out of this taxi. He said something to the taxi driver and the taxi drove to somewhere I don't know where.

"Where are you taking me?! Let me go! I'm done with this—" he let go of my arm and stared at me looking at my stained eyes again but unlike before, he's more calmed now. "Where are you taking me?" I asked again without looking at him and stopped myself from crying. I could feel his intense stare at me like studying my every move. I ignored it and reached for my phone on my bag to call for help but before I could dial up someone, he spoke again.

"To a playground where I usual play when I was a kid." Playground? What the hell am I going to do on a playground? I am really mad and confuse on his actions right now!

"Do I look like a kid to you?!" I raised my voice at him again and he just looked ahead on the road unbothered by my anger.

"Just wait till we get there." I just keep on looking at the window to calm myself.

My sudden outburst might not be a good idea for our research and it could create greater war and distance between us. No, not just war but back at being strangers—no talking, no looking and not giving care at each other's business but I'm done being patient and trying to be kind to him when he just keeps on doing this to me. He didn't even hear anything from me or didn't ask for his help for our supposed to be paired research project. Not that I needed his help because I can do the research on my own but he could at least gave importance for our grades. Maybe I'll just say that we'll just have to ask the teacher to make us do it individually because obviously we can't be civil with each other.

"We're here."

I tried to look around to where he had taken me. He waited for me outside not even bothering to open the door for me. Since he's not a fan of being a gentleman, I opened the door and was greeted by a nice playground. It was not just a normal playground. It has a garden with a lot of beautiful flowers and there were few children playing around and there were also vendors selling some balloon and street foods. I faintly smiled when I looked around and the young memories of the past flashed on my mind.

Why? Of all places, why here?

"It's a great view, isn't it?" I look at my side and saw Jaden sitting on a bench while looking at the same view. He's more relaxed now and seems like the fight we had an hour ago was forgotten. I just nodded and sat at the next bench beside him. I just can't sit on the same bench with him. I am still mad at him and even though he brought me here to lessen my anger, I can't still forget all those times he's pestering me around. "I always go here to lessen my frustrations and sometimes to escape reality."

I don't know what he's doing but seems like it's his way of apologizing for what he did earlier. I bet he's feeling guilty. And he should be.

"It's always happy in here. The children's laughter and the smiling faces of the vendors make me feel at ease." He smiled when he said that. It's a kind of smile that I haven't seen since we became enemies. I looked ahead and didn't know what to feel. It's been a long time since I was here. This place is every child's favorite place but not for me on my childhood years. Jaden sighed making me look at him and he stood up and looked at me.

"Wanna have some ice cream?" I froze on my spot and blinked twice looking at him with confusion.

Jaden's POV

She just stared at me like I grew another head. She even tilted her head sideways like she's making sure I am still the Jaden she knew. The Jaden she hated so much and the Jaden whom she just shouted an hour ago. I know I'm doing unusual things for her since we've known each other as enemies or how she hated me so much. I don't even know why I was doing this but it feels like my body just did what it wanted when I saw her eyes. It was like an automatic response when I saw her crying.

"What?" I asked when she just continued staring at me. She shakes her head and for the first time, heard her laughed in front of me.

"You have a very funny way of saying sorry." I avoided my eyes on her and furrowed my eyebrows.

"Are you coming or not?" She stood up and chuckled. I don't even know why I am doing this. She just reminded me so much of Chubby when I saw her eyes crying. It was like the same sad and angry eyes the last time I said hurtful things at her.

Never mind, I will just do this to lessen the tension between us and to show Emerald that I am trying to apologize for really being a jerk to her. I admit I was harsh on her. I took my frustrations and anger at her when she just wanted to hand me the study guide. I just snapped when she mentioned school and remembered what happened on the dinner party a week ago.

"So, where is this ice cream shop?" Emerald asked and looked around. I loosed my clenched fist and tried to forget about that dinner party. "Do they have Strawberries Arnaud flavor?"

"Just eat what I give you--" she glared again and I just sighed in defeat. "You can choose any flavor you want." She beamed happily and dragged me close to the ice cream shop just in front of this playground. I just followed her and watch her hand clinging on my arm. I fought the urge to smile when I remembered her face trying to knock on my door. You're full of surprises, Emerald.

I didn't know that I was already smiling seeing her happy for an ice cream. I thought she's just a spoiled brat but I'm surprised seeing this kind of side on her. She let go of my hand and leaned in to the counter and looked at the available flavors. This ice cream shop is just new here. It was not here before when Chubby and I usually play here. Yes, this is the playground where we usually play together before. Maybe it was built years after that. I could have asked her favorite flavor.

"You look excited for an ice cream," I said in an amused tone. She looked at me and glared and looked back at the crew with a smiling face to order her ice cream. I chuckled at her.

"One strawberry flavor for me and—" she looked at me signaling me to have my order so I looked at the crew and pointed the flavor that I want. "—one vanilla flavor." Emerald said and the crew started to work for our orders. "You like vanilla?" Emerald suddenly asked and I nodded.

"I don't like sweets that much." She scoffed and I tried to hide my smile.

"No wonder, asdfgg..." I heard her whisper so I pretended to clear my throat to catch her attention and she just smiled again from ear to ear. I stared at the flavors again to avoid looking at her and to distract myself. Chubby might be still chubby right now and had those big round eyeglasses falling on her nose and chubby cheeks. Chubby had braces and had a brown straight hair while Emerald doesn't have braces and have a big twirling curly black hair.

She didn't even mention being on this place like it's her first time being in here. I shook my head to dismiss my thoughts and looked back at her again. She was pouting like she's murmuring of something while looking at the flavors like I did. I smiled at her and cleared my throat to stop myself from smiling and tried to have a smirking face.

"No wonder I'm this jerk again?" I asked and she sheepishly smiled like a kid caught in the act. I don't know but it feels like we've been trying to understand each other now. I'm also tired of fighting against her and I just want to have a day of not thinking anything.

I did not talk to anyone after what happened on that day. Uncle John knew that Daniel's Uncle is my father and he promised to protect me at any cost. He almost wanted to get out of this city and live elsewhere and be away from here but I forced him not to because the School of Elite is the only place I'll feel much safer. They guaranteed my safety after I top the exam.

I didn't let Daniel know about everything and after I passed out, I woke up in a hospital bed in a private room. Daniel brought me there and prepared the room for me since it's also his family's hospital. When I woke up, I saw Uncle John by my side and it only took a minute for me to grasp what just happened and I was filled with anger and pain again. I tried so hard not to mentally breakdown on the hospital because Daniel kept on checking whether I was okay or not and I know he wanted to know what happened too but kept silent to respect my privacy.

We went home when I convinced uncle that I will feel better if I just rest at home. I feel worse staying at the hospital and was anxiously thinking that any minute my father will come and get me. It was Monday when I felt much better and the fever was gone but my body was still tired and somewhat sick for unknown reason. Maybe I was just feeling hopeless now since he has everything I hold: my friends and my life. The only thing he hasn't control of is my school and I feel trapped again because my freedom was limited.

"Here are your orders ma'am and sir," I snapped back from my thoughts when I heard the crew. I just sighed and paid the ice cream after the crew handed it to us. "Enjoy your date." The crew smiled at us like we're the sweetest couple she'd seen so far on this day. Emerald was about to deny it of course she's the first one to be so against it but the crew left and attended another costumer.

"We're not dating and he's not my boyfriend," I heard Emerald said it to the crew or more like said it to herself when the crew is already away from us. We went back outside and sat at the benches we sat a while ago.

"How did you know about this place?" Emerald asked and looked at the playground. I took a bite on my ice cream and looked at the children playing on the playground. She was also busy eating her ice cream.

"I don't know. I was just escaping reality and ended up being here." I was busy running away from my father and ended up meeting Chubby in here. I bet she couldn't recognize me anymore. I used to be a thin and small boy weighing lighter than my usual age. I know what you're thinking, how could a billionaire's son be so thin and malnourished. Before I was born, my mom got complications and she almost lost me once. She gave birth to me when I was only 7 months old on her belly. I was a premature baby and depended on the machine for life support. But everything's different now. I'm well built just enough for my body.

Chubby was only 6 at that time and we don't always meet each other so maybe she really forgot how I look like now but I won't expect her to remember me. I'm the least person she wants to remember with.