There were always something nice about small city. The calm and friendly atmosphere were things that can't be brought in big city. It was relaxing, knowing that you can walk slowly and enjoying the peaceful night without afraid. But for a certain blonde girl, this night has been nothing but series of annoying event.
First, she was stuck in the office, with her boss glued her back with his eyes, waiting her task to be done. Finally left the office, her electric bike was broken down in the middle of the park, a shortcut she used if she wanted to go home faster. And because it’s in the middle of the park, she has to drag the useless bike to the nearest bike shop by herself, only to be told the the core engine melted and need a week to order the parts. After a long walk home, just after she opened her fridge that she remembered that she was supposed to do some shop before home. Fighting the urge to slam her head to the wall, she decide to take a bath.
A clean starving lady is way better than a filthy starving lady!
She nodded to her resolved spirit but betrayed when she only got cold water from her shower. Her old water heater has choose this moment to brokendown!
Dejected, the starving lady now also freezing cold from her unfortunate shower accident. Shivering heavily under her blanket, her brain worked hard to find a solution for her situation. Called her boyfriend? They were under LDR (long distance relationship) status.
And today is his free day… damn it.
After a short discussion with her brain, she decided to call him. She just wanted to say hello and nothing more. But to no surprised that her boyfriend did not responded well. After nagging for several minutes and failed, she gave up and just hung up the phone.
Ari felt bitter inside her heart. It’s one of many rule they place together when they agreed to do LDR. Free day means he was free from his duty as boyfriend and could not be disturbed.
Why the fuck i agreed to that rule?
Sneezing, her brain came back to her problem in front of her. She was starving, cold and dead tired.
Oh crap, my homework!
She also still have to do her homework tonight. Scratching her hair in frustration, she finally give up and called an emergency number.
“Hello, is this jerryman? The nice guy from the neighbourhood that will help a lady in distress?”
There was a silent answer, before he cut the phone.
He hung up!!
She called him again. “Pineapple man! Please help me!”
Sighed hard, Jerry gave up and spoke. “If you need help, please do it with proper manner. For god sake Ari it’s past 10 pm!”
Ignoring his objection, Ari blurted all the thing that happened this night. She added a few fake tears and weird shivering noise to make it more dramatic. The result was staggering.
“Why you did not say it earlier! Okay i’ll bring you something to eat. Go buried yourself on the blanket and stay warm!”
Ari raised half her eyebrow when her phone was cut. It went better than she thought!
Waiting in the sofa with hot tea and a blanket, Ari realized that this was the first time she felt so lonely since Sheila left this house to life with her boyfriend couple month back. They had been together as a housemate since started working at Harmonica magazine two years ago. The house were medium sized, packed with two bedroom, a kitchen, living room, and a garage. It was supposed to be a house for small family, but the owner moved away to the big city and rented their house to Ari and Sheila. Now that she think about it, Sheila still left several of her items in here and there.
Do i have to moved out when the rent ended next year?
Paying this house alone was kind of taxing for her. But she already felt that this house was her home and reluctant to moved out. Struggling to fight the empty stomach and heavy head, she found herself thinking something less important.
Maybe i should do my homework.
Her gaze fell on her laptop across the living room. She sighed hard.
Nope… maybe later… or next year...
Around 15 minutes later Jerry came with a emergency ransom for her stomach. A hot chicken soup with extra potato and garlic, a hot ginger tea, and a melon slice were presented on the table.
“Eat all of them! After that drink this medicine.”
Without another beat Ari ate all the dish he brought. As her stomach filled, she could feel her body got warmer and her head get lighter. After finishing her last melon slice, she slumped on the sofa and burped.
“Thanks Jerry! You are the best!”
“Yeah yeah. Please don’t burping like an old man like that. You are a fine young lady y’know!”
Ari just smirked. “Sorry for the trouble, but i still have a homework after this. You really save my ass Jerry.”
He blinked twice. “Then go do your homework. If i go now i know you are going to sleep don’t you? I will stay with you and make sure you do it.”
Smiled wryly, she felt that Jerry sometimes behave like the older brother of the groups. He was always be there for them when any of them need anything. While her devil side whispering the lullaby song, she still needs to do her homework. Pumping her spirit, she got her laptop and started to do her homework while share small chat with the pineapple guy.
“This is not working. I tried to write about cooking and it just don’t make any sense despite my amazing cooking skill.”
“What do you mean cooking skill? You even make the stove blew up the last time you boiled some eggs.” He said with flat tone.
“How about writing something you like?” He asked.
“A man in swimming trunk-”
“Rejected.”
“A rich young man who took girls into his playro-”
“No way!”
“A dazzling vampire?”
“It’s a fiction!”
Ari held her head tight. “So what should i wriiiiteeeee.”
Jerry slumped in his sofa, staring at the blonde directly. “Magus and Vanskoria.”
For a moment their eyes met each other, with Ari seems diverted her stare awkwardly.
“Did you see the news? After Emma’s show Ray was blocked by protest from feminist and religious people outside the TV buildings.”
Ari surprised. “What? Really? I get it feminist, but religious people?”
“Some say magus carried the demon seed inside them. That’s why they could use magic.” He said with half smile before continued. “But that’s not the point. Your homework is to write about clashing opinion, and this weird circumstances is a fresh example how people can be…”
His words trailed for a bit, looking the right wording. “...retarded.”
“The protest for the magnus was short lived as both parties seems to be more interested in clashing each other. Ray literally walked leisurely leaving the battlefield.”
“That was…” Ari furrowed her eyebrows. “...completely retarded.”
He took her laptop and browse something, before gave it back. “This is a good example how your homework should be done.”
In her screen there was an article that clashing whether it was a good thing or not if Vanskoria decided to opened up their shell. It was written 4 years ago under the Global Post, a well known post media in the country. But the most shocking thing it was the name of the writer.
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“Jerry… this is your article! You were working for Global post before?” Ari has disbelief expression on her face.
“It was long time ago when i was young and still have dream to make the world into better place.” Jerry said with sad face.
“What? Wait, this is a big news. I don’t think any of us know about your past was this amazing.” Ari had questioned look on her face. “But why are you doing here? I mean you have dream works over there.”
There was a small pause as the short guy took a sip of his tea. “It was a shitty place. Not worth to fight for.”
His short and blunt answer threw her off. “How can you said something like that. It’s my dream to work in big media like that you know! You insulted me Jerry!”
“Look here Ari. I’m not insulting your dream.” He had serious tone. “But for me it was not the place i wanted.”
They stared each other for a few second. Ari clearly demanded more explanation.
“Fine i will tell you.” He gave up, the girl in front of him has tendencies to be stubborn at the weirdest thing.
It was investigation toward a sensitive political issues. Jerry was not in the team but a friend asked him for a favor to do a small research. What was started to be “just another digging” turned out to be a deep well of juicy information. And when the article finished, she just hog all the praise for herself. If all that is take then Jerry can somewhat just go on with it. It turn out the article inviting dangerous attention from powerful figure in the country even before it’s release. The company crumbling under the pressure and need a scapegoat.
“No way…” Ari opened her mouth.
Jerry shrugged. “Yes, it was another dirty trick pulled by her. Somehow convince the director it was me that dig too deep. That i forced her to push it on the article so her career destroyed.”
Under heavy pressure, Jerry was sent into the possibility of lawsuit and his career trashed. Everyone else on the office just turned the blind eyes and left him alone. It was a dark and long six month, but finally he turned the table around.
“The disturbing thing about politic is the fact that there is always a chance to negotiate things around. So i did it, i negotiate things.” Jerry touched his chin, remembering those days were not quite pleasant for him. “On my research i found about a gap that could be used to elevate their political power during the next year election. I sell my information to buy my way out.”
“What about that bitch?” Ari seems enraged.
He chuckled. “The lawsuit dropped, i resigned and the company was forced to pay me some consolidation fee for falsely accused me. And the bitch…” Now he had small laugh. “She was kicked out and her name was named on blacklist for all major media in the world. There is no way her career would bounce back, no matter how big her tits is.”
Ari laughed, clearly satisfied with the ending. She hug him and pat his back. “Thanks for telling me this Jerry! It’s mean a lot! And thank you for being my friend.”
“Yeah, i did not meant to hide it though. The older employee know this story but not from my own mouth.” He smiled.
She nodded. “Reminds me not to get on your bad side okay?”
They had another small chat, mainly discussing about tomorrow BBQ party at Sheila’s house. Ari also suggested that Jerry told his story to others.
“I really wanted to punch that bitch.” Ari grunted in annoyance. Jerry was a good guy, how dare she used him like that?
She tighten her jacket for a bit. There was a bitter aftertaste when she repeated her own thought.
“Hey, did we used you too? I mean look at me, i’ve been spoiled by you since, like what? Forever?”
He snorted. “I love taking care of my friends. A truly friend that is. No shit motive and all. Just pure enjoyment to each other companies.”
“Beside, i’m kind of felt a bit responsible to you girls since i’m the oldest.” he added with a older brother smile.
“Wait, weren’t you like just two years older than me? The way you said it’s like my uncle.”
Jerry had disbelief look on his face. “Hon, i’m already 31! What? You did not know this?”
Ari’s eyes widen in surprise, before she explode into a laughter.
“Oh my god i did not know this!” She whip her tears from her eyes. “I’m totally calling you uncle Jerry from now on!”
Jerry did retort to his new nickname, but his smile clearly shown that he kind of like it.
After the laughter died down, Uncle Jerry told Ari to get back on her homework. While nagging like crazy she was forced to do her homework. And after reading his article she finally understand what a clashing opinions should have. The article was barely 8 paragraph long, but packed with information both objective and subjective from people. Something that making Ari understand why Jerry became their main reporter is that how he sew those piece of information and how he use words to evoke readers curiosity to read it to the end.
“The most important thing about all this is balance. You should let the readers decide and not you dictate them to fall into one side. That is not journalism, that’s a shitty article.”
His harsh tone shown how much he think highly of journalism etiquette. Ari smiled as she realised how much she had to respect Jerry as a work colleague. With new vigor she dive into her homework.
Vanskoria is a city on an island that emerge mysteriously 300 years ago. The rumour about an island full with monster and treasure was came from pirates in that lurking on the pacific ocean. Located on the southern east of japan, the island itself were surrounded by a weird weather all year long. From heavy tornado or extreme heat, to blizzard and calming spring wind. Further investigation report stated that around the island is a no flight zone because when a plane got into the zone they just suddenly lost their engine and fell down.
“Rejected!”
Ari almost cried when Jerry blatantly refuse her first paragraph.
“You said that your reader are everyday people. How on earth this information would attract them? You are about to make opinion and not some scientific article. You need to attract your reader on the first paragraph!”
With sobbing fake tears she redid her paragraph. An hour later, finally the pineapple man gave her a thumb up.
“This is what i’m talking about. You started with Ray’s appearance and confirmation about their multiple partner way of life. Then you dig into different people reaction on the net and make them into general opinion. You stay on the line to let the readers gave their final thought. Great stuff.”
The blonde girl put her fist in the air and let out a victory roar. The clock already close to 12pm and both of them clearly tired.
“You should stay for the night. Sheila’s room is available y’know. I kept it clean just in case she drop by.”
“Mmkay…” he mumbled, sipping his tea while slumped in the sofa.
“Thanks uncle Jerry for tonight. You really help me this time.” Ari said while also slumped in the sofa.
“Are you sure it’s just this time?”
Ari laughed. “Everytime!”
The two of them enjoying a bit of comfortable silent. Ari closed her eyes, she felt her shoulder was stiff and really need some sleep now.
“What about your own thought? Do you agreed with the way of life in Vanskoria?” Jerry asked.
For a moment she stay silent. “I just feel that we know too little to judge. I’m sure there is a lot of things going on in that city that we know nothing of.”
“Didn’t matter isn’t? It’s opinion after all.” He persisted.
“I’m not sure. I grew up reading all those adventure and fantasy like story. You know, some kind of you were suddenly woke up in a magic and sword world, or you have to defeat the demon lord to save the world. The story about magus was somewhere between that. Exploring the dungeon, then come home to your family. A simple story yet rather romantic don’t you think?”
She shrugged. “When you grow up you suddenly realised that those story may closer than you think. Magus are real, they do real dungeon diving, to deal with real dangerous things. Of course as an adult we have different point of view about how life should have. But in the end, i still think the same.”
Ari smiled wryly. “I think it’s rather romantic in it’s own way.”
Jerry frowned, then messing up her hair in playful manner. “You should write your own novel girl. Sweet words, but i got nothing at all. Are you agreed or not? Simple question, simple answer please.”
There was a painting of snowy mountain on the wall, something that has been there when the girls move in. It’s bring cool feeling to the room, so they agreed to let it stayed on the wall. Now, staring at those mountain bring certain memories about her savior. Sat in silent, under the lit of fireplace, His broad back that looked so fragile that she just wanted to held it together. It was something that she decided long ago.
“I just wanted to believe… i think.” She lowered her gaze. “That somewhere in this world there is someone that protecting us from something that we don’t know and don’t understand.”
This time she had sad smile on her face. “And i wanted to support them. To say thanks even when they couldn’t hear it.”
The way she said it leaving Jerry breathless. He was already 30 years old, his experience was more than enough to felt there is something broken on the heart of blonde girl in front of him. That’s made him worried. Worried that if he peek further he would hurt her, or if he let her alone she would broken beyond salvation by herself.
“I… we was just worried about you girl.” He said it slowly, searching any sign of rejection in her face.
“I don’t know, sometimes you seems so distant. Some other time we were surprised by your choice. It makes us worried.”
Ari frowned. “What? How the talk about Vanskoria suddenly take a turn into i’m being weird?”
Both of them chuckled, but Jerry continued. “Cmon girl, we know about your addiction toward Vanskoria. Toward Magus and all their doing, you have it on your head. Your paragraph earlier, the one that i rejected, you write it without any source. You had it all in your memory. And that’s unusual.”
“I watched your reaction when we watch the Emma show earlier today. You had this lonely and longing face, desperate for some answer.”
He coughed once just to take a breath. “And your relationship with your boyfriend. We were bewildered when suddenly you came to us weeks ago, announcing that your boyfriend move out and you started an open relationship with him, despite long distance you guys already had.”
“Again, i don’t know what you are looking for. But giving your beloved a free pass to embrace another girl is not normal. Honestly, you make us worried. I’m worried that your heart would break from all of this.”
The girl, a blonde with scar on her past. The uncle, an older brother that worried about his little sister behaviour, and the clock tolling twelve times already. It was in the middle of the night, the time was supposed to be cold, but it was a warm silent inside the room.
Ari had a troubled face. Her heart had been stirred and stabbed so much by his words. No, she did not denying that he was wrong. On the contrary, he was right.
Slowly, her tears fell on her cheeks. No matter how hard she endures it, those tears cannot be stop.
“A-Ari, I’m sorry, i said too much.” Jerry panicked when he saw those tears. He took some tissues and passed on to her.
“No, No, you are right uncle. I am a weird girl. I know it but, but…” The tears just came on. Maybe it weird, but it’s giving her a push to tell a story that she was never tell deliberately to anyone aside her parent. She felt that she could hang on to her friends, so she push it. She had to, she was in the verge of broken down.
“It’s a story about me during a summer holiday 5 years ago.” She said slowly.
From then on the words keep flew out from her mouth. Every single details that on her mind, everything that she felt on her heart at that time, she just tell him everything. By the time she finished Jerry just hug her tight while her tears fell down uncontrollably.
“I’m sorry you have to go through that experience girl. I’m so sorry…” he patted her back like a big brother taking care of his little sister.
Jerry tighten his jaw so hard that it felt hurt. He trying hard to held his anger in check. Someone has tried to defiled his beloved friend, and to make it worse, he just pressed her to tell him about it.
After a while Ari finally calmed down.
“Ugh… i’m sorry uncle i messed up… i shouldn’t be like this.”
Sighed hard, Jerry bring another cup of tea for her. “I’m sorry too. I felt miserable pressing you like this. It must be unpleasant.”
She nodded. “But in the same time i felt relieved. I always wants to tell you guys but i just don't want you to feel different toward me.”
“Oh god…” He messed her hair again. “We are friends. Nothing can change that! And friend protect each other!”
Ari smiled widely. “Thank you! You are the best uncle Jerry!”
Once again he sighed. His heart still could not believe what she just said. There was also his rage that boiling in the corner of his heart.
“By the way, is that fucker still alive? He is in prison right?” He asked in cold tone, something that really not fitting his image at all.
Ari shook her head. “He is missing.” Then added after a small pause. “Police search the cabin. They found who he is, they also found that indeed that cabin is being used recently by a man. But they never found him again.”
“He just disappear without trace.” She ended with a sip to her tea.
Jerry felt strange. “He is gone? What about the magus?”
“When i opened my eyes i was already on the hospital. I was found unconscious on a bench near it. I never met him again.” She answered with sad tone.
The short guy furrowed his eyebrow. Something has been bothering him since Ari started her story. “You know, is not that i doubt you or something. But how do you know he is a magus?”
“Eh?” Ari tilted her head in confusion. “He said it when he was....”
Now the blonde girl really confused. Did he said that he is a magus? She can’t remembered.
Wait… he is a magus right?
Right?!!