The guys waited until Virginia left the room. Jeff’s gaze lingered on the door that just shut closed. “You really like her don’t you?” his best friend’s voice broke into his daze.
Jeff turned to his friend with a smile “Im not the only one.”
Jeremy nodded “She seems to like you more.” His comment was blunt but not harsh.
“Its hard to say. She doesn’t exactly express her own feelings a lot. She talks more about the concepts of life in her point of view, but barely talks about love. Im not sure who she likes.” He gave a sigh before sitting on the chair next to Jeremy’s bed.
“I think you’re a much better candidate.” Jeremy commented.
Jeff smiled vaguely “What about you? You’ll be hurt IF Ginny and I do get together. I don’t want to be the cause of your heartache and Im sure she doesn’t either.”
Jeremy shook his head “No, that’s not true. I chose this decision not you nor her. I am willing to back out, for our friendship’s sake.”
Jeff took a hold of his friend’s hand for the first time ever “I know what you’re trying to do and it won’t work. I don’t want to live with the fact that I caused my best friend to possibly lose the love of his life.” His serious tone was taken over by a laugh “You know we keep talking about who should be with her? But in truth, we don’t even know who she really likes. For all we know, she’s probably secretly in love with Freddie.”
The guys joined in together with a good laugh at the thought of the homosexual guy winning the girl of their dreams. “So what are you saying? None of us go after her?” Jeremy asked while Jeff nodded “Im sure she’ll chose the right person for her.”
“Me too.” Jeff couldn’t help but feel a little sad. She was never his to begin with yet he felt like he just lost her. “Well, Im gonna let you rest now. Don’t stay up too late. Call me if you need me.”
Jeremy rolled his eyes “I need a best friend not another mother!” His friend laughed as he got up and prepared to leave. “Hey, take care of Jo for me.”
Jeff nodded “Who’s being a mother now?” he gave his friend a quick wave and closed the door behind him.
**********
Outside the waiting room, the noise level increased from the relaxation of knowing that Jeremy was all right. Ginny saw Jeff walking towards them at the corner of her eyes. She nodded to everyone to get their attention “You guys had a nice talk?” she asked Jeff when he returned to the room.
He smiled and nodded in answer. “I want to stay here.” Joanne spoke up.
“No, its not good for a girl to stay here alone. He’s doing better, just go home and rest.” Jeff replied. She pouted her lips in disagreement, he smiled “How about this? I’ll take you back here tomorrow morning?”
This time Joanne grinned “Thanks!”
“How about we all go out for dinner?” he turned to the crowd.
They all looked at each other as everyone began to nod except for Freddie who was still sitting at the corner. They all turned to him for an answer, but he looked like he was in his own little world. Ginny was concerned as she looked at her friend, he seemed a little down since that phone call he took while Jeff was still in the room with Jeremy. She walked over to him “Hey, you want to go or not? I won’t go if you don’t want to go.”
Like magic, he snapped out of it and looked up at her with the same intensity in his eyes as his wide smile “A free dinner? I won’t miss it for the world!” he popped up from his seat and followed the crowd. Ginny stared after him wondering what was the matter, even if no one sensed his uneasiness, but she did. Six years of Psychology would do that to a person.
They all met up at a local casual restaurant where Jeff and Jeremy use to go to when they needed to talk. The atmosphere in the crowd was much better than before. They were joking with each other as usual. Especially Joanne and Freddie who can’t seem to stop arguing. Yet Ginny sensed a more closer bond then the first time they met “She-boy, you gonna eat all that?” he pointed to Joanne’s dish of sliced beef. She had a few slices left.
She gave him her most evil eye “I have a name you know.”
He laughed “ I know, She-boy.” Her glare turned vicious at his answer, he then rolled his eyes dramatically “Okay, Miss Joanne Hung, can I please have the rest of your beef?”
She smiled “That’s better. But one correction, its Jo not Joanne, that name is just so girly.” She wrinkled her nose as she plopped the beef onto his plate as he prepared to attack it.
“Freddie, you still hungry? Why didn’t you order another dish?” Ginny asked from across his seat.
He was chewing and didn’t want to answer with his mouth full so he covered half of his face with his palm “I won’t finish it.” He answered.
Jeff was too busy talking to Deana to noticed the other conversation taking place “Deana, I want you to take off a few days.”
“Why?” her eyes opened wide, showing her complete innocence.
“Because of your arm. Its casted! Anyways, I don’t want you to get injured again.”
She smiled “Its not the first time Lai Sir.”
“Don’t call me that, we’re not at work. How many times do I have to tell you that? Call me Jeff, please.” He looked at her with a stern face.
“Yes Sir!!” she saluted him jokingly “I mean Jeff.” She whispered.
He laughed as he shook his head. Ginny was looking at them from across the table. Her lips curved up in a slight smile “Do you always study people when they’re not looking at you?” his eyes turned to her abruptly catching her off guard.
She looked down at her plate and smiled “Force of habit. I don’t really study people, I just notice things and conversations around me.”
“Don’t mind her! She’s always like that, Im so use to it. Sometimes I put on this act so she could have something to write about in her little journal.” Freddie announced to the table.
Ginny looked embarrassed but continued to smile “I know you do.” She replied not really believing her own words.
“She even has a name for her journal, its… Ow!!” he rubbed his shin where she kicked him under the table.
“Ow? That’s an odd name for a journal.” Joanne said, her eyebrow arching in question. “I call mine Maureen.” She said dreamily.
Freddie laughed as he pointed to her. “Maureen??” she snapped her teeth together as she tried to bite the finger that was pointing at her teasingly. “You don’t have to get all nasty about it!” he said sarcastically “What’s with girls and journals? Deana do you have one?” he asked as he arched his neck to get her attention.
Deana smiled “I guess it is a girl’s thing. Mine is named Gary.”
“Oh, another ugly name. Well, except for Jeff, I liked that name better.”
Virginia’s face turned a beet red as she gave his shin another kick under the table. This time he jumped back in pain causing the waiter behind him to fall down with a tray full of drinks. Luckily the glass cascaded to the ground instead of on someone else. She covered her mouth at the scene before her, all eyes turned to her as she looked apologetically at everyone.
“Your journal’s name is Jeff?” Joanne asked with curiosity, ignoring the fact that Freddie was stumbling to get up, at one point he used her arm to pull himself up when he was unsuccessful.
“Yes, and it was before she met Jeff over there.” Freddie pointed to Jeff, who looked as embarrassed as his friend. “I guess some things are just meant to be.” He sighed as he looked up into heaven.
Joanne followed his gaze “What are you looking at?”
His dreamy looked changed in a second as he looked at her sarcastically “Im trying to be poetic…romantic…you know?” she shook her head “You’ll never know.” He waved his hand nonchalantly “Now I have to go and ice down my bruise.” Freddie looked at Virginia with a disapproving look but she ignored his gaze and everyone else’s.
Jeff paid for dinner as everyone thanked him for the kind gesture “Anytime. Oh wait, I take that back, anytime that Im free. Wouldn’t want you guys to ask me every week for a free dinner.” He joked.
“Bye.” They said it randomly as everyone separated to their own cars.
When Virginia and Freddie returned to her house, she walked straight into her room and shut the door with a bang. Freddie was close behind her but jumped back at the shutting door. He didn’t expect her to be that angry “Ginny!” he knocked on her door “Ginny!!!” he said louder.
She swung open the door “If you don’t mind, Iam writing to Jeff, not the real one but the one I call my journal!” her voice full of sarcasm, with that she slammed the door again.
He laughed “Is that what you’re so upset about? If you must know, Jeff was just as embarrassed as you were.”
Virginia opened the door again “Im upset because you said it even though I warned you not to say it.” She crossed her arms protectively.
“You didn’t tell me not to say it.”
She dropped her hands, her look of dismay portrayed her anger “Would you like another bruise?” she pulled her feet back threateningly.
He backed away “Oooh, okay, I know what to do now. Sheesh, you sure are moody today. What’s wrong with you?” he asked with a serious tone.
Virginia put her hands on her hips “What’s wrong with me? I should be asking you that! You’ve been the moody one and when I ask you, you tell me that nothing’s wrong when you know damn well that something is bothering you!” he looked away guiltily. Her face softened “Freddie, Im your friend, you can talk to me.” She said almost pleadingly.
He opened his room door “Im fine, Ginny. Its nothing you can solve, even if you are a Shrink.” He slipped inside the room and closed the door leaving her to her own thoughts.
She closed her own room door and pulled out her journal hidden in the last file of her desk. “I guess its you and me again.” She smiled to her book and opened it while she pulled out a pen from her pen container:
‘Hey there Jeff,
Its been a long time hasn’t it? Funny how I only write to you when something’s bothering me. Anyways, a lot of things has happened since the last time I wrote. I met two wonderful guys. Jeff and Remy, yeah, one guy has your name. Freddie was joking about how it was fate that I would end up with Jeff. But well, you know Freddie, he’s another story.
But as I was saying these two guys? They sure know how to treat a lady. Remy was injured on the job and was taken to the hospital. His life was in danger but he’s okay now. I was with Jeff when we saw him after the operation. He looked great. After I left the room, they had a chance to talk. Probably about me. Im not trying to say that they are fighting over me, but I have a hunch that its about me. I really don’t know why, what is it about me that someone would like? I really don’t see it.
Well, I won’t bore you with the details. We’ll move on to Freddie. I know that something is bothering him but why won’t he tell me? Im not sure. Maybe he’s no longer gay? Nah, that couldn’t be it, he still acts like it. I think I worry too much about him. What do you think? He’s just so different you know? When I met him over a year ago, he was really suspicious and very concealed about his feelings. Now, he’ll tell me everything on his mind and I do mean EVERYTHING. Usually I would mind knowing so much information about a person, but in a way he was my only friend at that time. I was going crazy from not seeing other people besides my patients. I guess Im just being worried for nothing, if he’s ready to tell me, Im sure he will.
Thanks Jeff, its always so nice talking to you. See you again soon or should I say not soon cause that would mean I have a problem?’
Chapter 14
Virginia Chan – Vivian Leung
Freddie Lam – Nick Cheung
Michael Lam – Steven Ma
Deana Chu – Ruby Lin
James Lee – Dicky Cheung
Deana came home that night expecting the house to be quiet and dark, instead she found Jim up and about. He was dressed in sweats with rubber gloves over his hands and an apron across his chest. He was cleaning the whole house “Jim? What are you doing up?” she asked.
He looked up “Waiting for you.” He smiled “I saw you on the news.” He pointed to the television.
“You did?” she looked surprised but then remembered what happened that afternoon “Oh yeah. I got a little present from it.” She pulled up her casted arm that was hiding behind her jacket.
He dropped the mop to the ground and ran to her “Oh my gosh, are you okay?”
She smiled “Yeah, just a few scratches. I’ll be back to work in no time.”
He looked concerned “Its not like you need the work. You own this apartment building.”
Deana’s face dropped “How in the world did you find that out?” it was a secret she kept hidden for so long, no one knew about it. Not even the police station where she worked.
He shrugged “I made a few phone calls.” He picked up the mop that he dropped and continued cleaning.
His words gave her chills as she shuddered at the thought of him knowing her only secret “I see.” She muttered “Well, Im going to sleep now. Don’t stay up too late okay?”
Jim smiled adoringly at her “I won’t….Deana? You’re so good to me.” He said with admiration “I want our kids to be just like you.”
She shivered again but remained cool and gave him her sweetest smile “You think we’ll get married?” she asked calmly, not wanting to trigger any old memories.
“We are married.” He said nonchalantly, she took a step back with a look of horror on her face “Im just teasing!” he said as he laughed and took the mop into the kitchen sink to be rinsed out. “That’s the fun I get from people who know that I use to be a psycho. Not literally speaking that is, because most psycho’s are serial killers and strange people you know?”
Deana smiled nervously “Yeah, I know.” She returned to her bedroom, but she couldn’t shake that strange feeling she had about him. She tried so hard to treat him the same as any of her friends, yet he continued to give her the chills. Deana would eventually shake off the feeling as she psyched herself to believe that he meant no harm.
***********
The next morning Freddie woke up to the sound of the front door closing. His eyes strained to open as he reached over his night stand to look at the time. It was only 6am. ‘She’s already off to work?’ he asked himself. He fell back onto the bed with his eyes closed but his mind awake. He knew she was upset and yet he couldn’t tell her the truth. He didn’t want her to worry about him.
His thoughts again traveled to his mother. Freddie received another phone call from his mother while he was in the hospital. She was crying again, claiming she saw his father’s spirit in the home. She missed him so much and who could blame her? He was her life partner for 36 years. Its like losing your other half. She asked him to move home with her and he hasn’t yet to answer her.
He was more worried for Virginia. He knew she was caught between Jeff and Jeremy, which was more the reason for him to stay with her. She needed a friend at the moment not someone to give her more problems. He eventually drifted back to sleep after thinking too much.
************
Ginny arrived at work early to do some paperwork. She wanted to take her mind off of everything. She began typing some documents on her word processer when a knock at the door startled her. “Come in.” she took a deep breath, wondering who was up at 6:30 in the morning.
“Dr. Chan?” the tall young guy asked, he looked to be a professional himself. Clean shaven and very handsome.
“Yes?” she asked “Can I help you?”
He smiled nervously “Im not sure if anyone can. My name is Michael Lam.” The name sounded so familiar yet she couldn’t put her finger on it. “Im Freddie’s youngest brother.” He finally said when she looked blankly at him.
Her faced brightened up “Oh yes, he’s talked about you a few times. You’re the surgeon in the family huh? Well, its certainly nice to have finally met you.” She stood up from her seat and shook his hand.
He nodded “I guess we’re both doctors. He’s told me quite a lot about you. I got your address from a business card that I took from him. Apparently he has about 10 in his wallet so I figured he won’t miss one.”
She smiled “Yeah, he’s doing a bit of advertising for me. You didn’t have to take it from him, Im sure he’ll give it to you if you asked.”
Michael nodded “I know, but I didn’t want him to know that I wanted to see you.”
Her face fell “I see. But what makes you think that I can help you? I assume being a surgeon yourself would mean that you’ve taken a lot of courses in psychology?”
“That may be so, but it doesn’t mean that I can solve my own problems? Haven’t you heard of the saying ‘Doctors can cure others but they can’t cure themselves?’ Its true because if you think about it, we were taught how to help others or save others but when it comes to our own problems we’re pretty much stuck.”
Virginia’s eyes turned down to her fingers “That’s very true.” She said softly, then her head shot up “Well, what can I do for you?” remembering that someone needed her help.
“I know it’s probably not your department. I’ve been diagnosed with severe depression in the last few months. I’ve been going to therapy in hoping that it would be cured. But it seems to be getting worse.”
She observed his movements and they were calm and very normal. There was no way that anyone can tell he was depressed, even herself. “You hide it quite well.” She complimented.
“Too well. Even my mother doesn’t know.” He let out a sigh “The person I appear outside is just a shell to show people that nothing’s wrong, but once I am alone in my room, I break down. I’ve given up on everything and Im such a pessimist and the ironic thing is that I was an optimist at one time. Suicide has crossed my mind about a week ago that’s when I realized how serious this was.” He seemed embarrassed from being honest with her.
Virginia got up and walked around the table “Its not bad that you can admit you were suicidal at one time. Most of the patients go through a denial stage before they actually come to me for help.” She took a seat across from him “You didn’t seem to go through that stage.”
“I know what I feel, that’s the difference. But I can’t seem to understand why I am so depressed about.”
She looked thoughtful “Have you ever asked yourself what’s made you sad?”
He shook his head and stared at his hands “Everything seems to make me sad, which is even harder for me to find the source of the problem.”
“Is it work?” he shook his head “Family? Love?”
“I know seeing my mom so depressed has made me sad but I doubt that she was the cause of my depression. I’ve even tried to cheer her up a few times, but when I realized that she would be sad for a long time to come, I gave up. As for my love life? I don’t even have time for a girlfriend with my profession. Im on call all day long, that’s why I came early this morning hoping that you would be here. I heard from Yee Gor that you are an early bird.”
“That nosy guy.” She muttered with a smile on her face “Well, if it’s not family and not love?” here eyes pierced through his as she searched for his problem, his eyes eventually moved away from hers indicating that he was indeed hiding something. “Are you having problems finding love? You just said that you don’t have time but you never said that you didn’t want one.” Her perception of the situation was sharper then ever.
He looked up, his eyes full of admiration “My brother was right, you are very sharp.” He sighed and nodded “I was in love, I mean head over heals for this girl that I met at the hospital. She was a patient and you know our rules about getting involved with patients. But she was just so captivating and so full of life. When I got curious and read her medical records, I found out that she had a terminal illness. Her liver was giving up on her and there were no doners. Her doctor said she had two months to live. I tried everything I possibly could to save her. Take more classes to learn about livers and maybe some new medicine to help save her. You never know how important someone is to you until they are faced with death. Maybe it was God’s choice to not let her suffer. She died in a month.” His eyes brimming with tears as he explained “I was so depressed after that.”
“You feel that being a surgeon yourself, you should be able to save everyone?” Michael nodded “She may not be your patient but you treated her like one. So you feel useless cause you couldn’t even saved her. This is my opinion. It wasn’t love, it was your passion for saving lives. You just didn’t want to let one go.”
His forehead wrinkled as he thought about her words “You think so?”
She shrugged her shoulders “Is my opinion. I go through the same thing every time a patient walks in here. I try my best to help them and when they leave I hope that it has made a difference after talking to me. But sometimes it doesn’t help, I was so devasted when I learned that one of my old patients was still suicidal. Fortunately, he changed his mind at the last minute, I would have been a mess.” She leaned back on her chair, getting comfortable with him there.
Michael tilted his head, a natural smiling forming on his lips “Somehow I doubt that, I imagine you being very cool and collected. Nothing seems to bother you.”
“I guess that’s why they call us Shrinks? We make situations seem smaller than they really are.” She was joking but he looked serious. She laughed “I was just kidding. Anyways, just remember that we can’t save everyone, that’s God’s choice. The more pressure you put on yourself, the harder it is to help the ones that need it. You might overlook a few people when you were so deep in your own depression, you forget that life is about death. Don’t worry too much. Things come for the good, not for bad.”
He nodded with a complete grin on his face “Thanks, I feel a thousand times better than the past few months. My brother was right, you are amazing.”
She blushed as she turned away “Freddie said that?” she asked timidly.
Michael continued to smile “You know for a person so intelligent and in synced with the world, you seem to be shy when it comes to my brother, or is it ALL guys?”
“I just don’t take compliments easily. But you’re brother? Boy, he’s different alright. Sometimes you want to strangle him and there are times when you just want to hug him.”
“That’s a good perception of him. Although we’re not that close as I would hope, I could see what you mean.” He checked his watched and realized its been an hour since he walked into her office “Oh goodness, Im gonna be late for my first operation.”
“We wouldn’t want that now would we? It was a pleasure meeting you.” She said sincerely as she followed him to her door.
“It was a pleasure having you help me.” He was a bit reluctant as he leaned in and gave her a hug. She was surprised but didn’t want to make him uncomfortable so she returned the hug warmly. He was tensed but suddenly relaxed at her embrace “Thanks.” He whispered before pulling away.
She smiled to herself as she returned to her work. It was always nice to feel that she’s made a difference in someone’s life.
Chapter 15
Virginia Chan – Vivian Leung
Jeremy aka Remy Hung – Julian Cheung
Jeff Lai – Louis Koo
Deana Chu – Ruby Lin
That afternoon, Virginia decided to visit Jeremy at the hospital. Since she knew he would not be able to get out of the hospital too soon. She dropped by a florist shop and got a mixed bouquet of flowers. When she got to the hospital she found Deana sitting with Remy. Next to his bed was the bouquet that Deana got for him. “I guess someone beat me to it.” She joked.
The two were so busy chatting that they didn’t realize she was standing by the door with flowers in her her hand. “Ginny?” Remy sounded surprised as he quickly got out of bed and greeted her with a hug. “What are you doing here?”
She smiled “Visiting the patient.”
He laughed “No, I mean its 12:30pm, aren’t you at work? I thought you were dedicated?” a touch of teasing in his voice.
“Well a person’s got to eat you know. Anyways, how are you doing?”
“Better, I guess. I can move now.”
Virginia nodded to Deana, who sat quietly in the corner of the room “Deana, how’s Jim doing?”
She shrugged her shoulders “Okay, I guess. He kinda gives me the creeps.”
“Who’s Jim?” Remy looked confused.
Deana quickly explained their situation. “He seems nice enough and I know he needs a friend more than anything right now. But I can’t help feeling scared.” She turned to Virginia “You were once his friend, what do you think of him?”
Virginia looked thoughtful as she tried to remember how he was in high school “I didn’t know him too well. But I remember him being picked on by the bullies due to his small figure. I tried my best to defend him without him thinking that I liked him. But he’s very sensitive to that sort of thing. He ended up stalking me for a month until I layed down the line.”
“What did you tell him?” Deana was fully concerned for her safety hearing Virginia say that. She’s done way more for Jim than just fight the bullies.
“I told him that I was gay.” Virginia said nonchalantly.
Remy burst out laughing “Oh my gosh! And he believed you?”
She smiled “Guys are vulnerable when they’re in love.” Her words had more meaning behind it but she didn’t elaborate on it.
He turned away, trying to hide his red face. “So it worked?” Deana asked, not noticing a bit of tension between the two people in front of her.
“Yeah, it did. He was still a friend after that but he stopped stalking me. He never asked me to any dances or anything. I knew it was for his own good, I would have been an awful girlfriend.” Her eyes veered towards Remy, but he continued to look away. She eventually turned back to Deana “Im not sure if it will work with you since you actually took him into your home. I didn’t want to warn you at the pier because I was afraid it might trigger something else inside of him. Then again, I didn’t expect you to ask him to move in with you. That was a very kind gesture.” Virginia complimented.
Deana turned away shyly “Oh it was nothing. I just wanted to help.”
“What is this a party?” all eyes turned to the voice coming from the door. It was Jeff with a box of chocolates.
“Awww, you know me best.” Remy smiled as he got up and reached for his favorite English chocolates “These are the best.” He said mostly to himself but the girls exchanged smiles.
“He acts like the chocolates came to see him.” Jeff smiled as he shook his head.
“How’s work, Lai…I mean Jeff.” She caught her tongue in time, but still earned a stern look from Jeff.
“Don’t worry about it. You rest your little arm there. How are you feeling?’
“Good. A little sore but that’s from trying to use my injured arm.” Deana replied.
“I almost forgot. I got something for you.” Virginia smiled as she pulled out a cream bottle from her purse “I got this from a friend of mine this morning. After you take off your cast, your skin might be a little dry and wrinkled. Use this and it’ll return to normal in no time.” She handed it to Deana.
“Thanks.” She smiled sincerely.
“So are you guys here to see me or Deana?” Remy asked, interrupting the conversation going on.
“Someone’s being a baby.” Jeff muttered under his breath. The girls muffled their giggles while Remy gave his best friend the evil eye.
“Well, its been a pleasure coming here, but I have to be on my way.” Virginia said abruptly.
“So you are as dedicated as I thought!” Remy announced.
She smiled “That’s my life. Always on the go. Get well soon, I’ll be waiting to treat you out to lunch when you return.”
“I’ll be there tomorrow.” He joked.
“Bye.” She waved good bye to them before leaving.
“Ginny!” she heard Jeff’s voice calling after her when she walked out of the double doors of the hospital.
“Did you need something?” she asked.
He shook his head with a small smile, he looked reluctant to tell her “I…can I talk to you for a minute?”
She glanced at her watch, she was already late from lunch “Yeah, actually I do.” Smiling as she followed him to a nearby empty bench. “So what’s on your mind?”
“You know that barbeque we never had?” she nodded, remember him mentioning it a few times yet it never happened because of all the problems that happened “Well, Im planning one this weekend since Remy will probably be released within three days. Im inviting a lot of people, of course we can’t leave you out.”
She smiled “Thanks. I’ll think about it.”
He frowned “Why?” he looked like a lost child.
“Because Im not a social person.”
He rolled his eyes “That’s not true! You talked to everyone! Come on, it’ll be fun, I promise. If its not fun, I’ll….I won’t ever invite you anywhere again.”
She giggled “That sounds more like a threat…” he blushed due to his lack of quick thinking “But it seems like fun. Count me in.”
“You can invite Freddie too if you want, since Linda is his sister. That’s funny how we never knew that Linda had brothers.”
Virginia let out a small sigh “I know. She had a hard time with his sexuality.”
Jeff nodded in agreement “Who wouldn’t.” he quickly added “I mean, its not a bad thing to be gay…I mean, you’re friends with him and all. Its not like something’s wrong with you…”
She grinned while he stuttered through his words “Don’t worry about it, Im not offended and Im sure Freddie won’t be either.”
“Can I ask you something else?” his voice more serious.
“Of course. You should know me more by now that I don’t mind answering questions from friends.” She was careful choosing her words. She had no intention of leading on Jeff nor Remy. They were best friends and she did not want to come between them.
“I know I shouldn’t be asking this, but between me and Remy, who catches your attention more?” he held his breath internally, wondering what the answer was.
“Why does that matter?” she asked. It was the question she had hoped would not come up too soon.
“Ginny, you’re a smart girl, Im sure you sense that we both like you. Remy and I have promised each other that we would not fight over you due to our long friendship. He would kill me if he knew I was asking you this, but for the sake of the three of us, can you give me an answer?”
Virginia looked up to the sky as she let out a sigh. She smiled as she pointed to a group of birds flying in one direction. “You see those birds there?” he nodded “How about that one flying behind the group?”
“What about it?” he asked, unsure of her meaning.
“I am never following with the crowd. I am always the last one to do something. Always the last to try something new. Because I like to be original and different. Its not that I don’t want to fit in, its because its not my nature to fit in with the crowd. When a normal girl will fall for any one of you two, since you guys are such wonderful guys and good looking doesn’t hurt either.” She smiled when he turned away shyly at the compliment “But unfortunately, Im still that bird falling behind the group. I don’t feel what normal people feel. Maybe it takes longer for me to realize some things. But in the meantime, I don’t want to make a hasty decision. I hope you’ll understand.”
Jeff nodded after a moment of thinking to himself “I understand. We can still be friends right?” his question was so innocent, yet she knew it was also asking if he still had a chance.
Virginia smiled and nodded firmly “Best of friends if the chance comes. You will always be a good friend.”
“Just good?” his puppy face made her giggle.
“Great friend. How’s that?” she shook her head lightly, her hair cascading against her cheeks making her look childlike “You sure are tough to please.”
“Not if you rub me the right way.” He joked. “Thank you.” He said sincerely.
She tilted her head letting her hair fall to one side “Why?”
“For being honest, for being who you are.”
She nodded “I owe you that much. To be honest, I have a feeling your friend Remy won’t be too heart broken to learn what I truly feel. Looks like Deana is a better match for him.”
“How do you know?” Jeff asked “Remy’s not the type to love and let go that fast.” He was hasty in defending for his friend.
Virginia smiled as she nodded behind him “Just a wild guess.”
He turned around and saw Deana supporting Remy as they walked around together. She was laughing at something he said while he looked like he was enjoying her company. Remy was the first to notice Ginny and Jeff sitting nearby. “I thought you were going back to work?” he asked her but his eyes were directing towards Jeff.
“Just chatting with my friend here.” She smiled “Anyways, Im already late back from lunch.”
Jeff’s eyes shot up “I didn’t mean to make you late. Here, let me go back with you and explain to your boss, we could say that I was a patient of yours or something.”
She laughed “I am the boss! Its okay, I had fun talking to you. It was very ….interesting.” she was looking for the right words. “But no kidding, I have to go now because I have an appointment in 15 minutes. I’ll see you guys this weekend.” The three smiled as they bid her good bye.
SIU BING LIBRARY