“I can’t find Chen. He’s been gone all afternoon and he’s not picking up. No one seems to know where he is. I’ve tried calling so many times, I don’t know-“
“Alright buddy, calm down. Maybe he just muted his phone and forgot?”
“But where would he be?!” I demand pacing back and forth.
“I don’t know man. Have you tried calling Mimi? It’s probably not a big deal-“
“Normally it wouldn’t be but after his ex showed up I don’t know…”
“Alright, ok, have you checked with Mimi yet though?”
“Yeah. Josh I’m not sure what to do.”
I hear a sigh from the other end.
“Alright, I’ll bring some people out to look for him. Where are you now?”
“Near north campus. I’m checking the surrounding stores.”
“Ok, I’ll meet you outside of the library.” Click. I glance down at the phone and press my lips together. I look back up, ready to resume my search. Suddenly my phone starts ringing again, I glance back down, then freeze: Chen.
I hurriedly pick up with an inhale, just as I’m about to speak I hear Chen’s slightly muffled voice.
“So why do you want to jump from the Jay Building?” I freeze. What is he…? Then I hear Ean”s voice.
“What do you mean why, I already told you! I have nothing aside from you!”
“But you only want my body! You don’t even like me!”
“You just don’t understand-” Click. The call cuts off. I’m tempted to call back but I pause. Jay Building…I’m on my way. Then I pause again. “Jump off…?” I’d better call the police just in case.
I rush towards the building while dialing 911.
“Yes, hello? I think someone’s about to commit suicide from the Jay Building…”
Within minutes I’m there and after shutting off the phone amidst the policewoman’s questions, I rush inside…Elevator? No, too slow. I run to the stairs and start sprinting up.
Sometime later, I reach the 88th and final floor, huffing and puffing. As I rush towards the door, I try to slow my breathing down in order to quieten it. I slowly slide the door open and peer through the crack. I’m met by a sight that makes my heart drop. Ean and Chen are facing each other at the very edge of the top of the building. I’m sorely tempted to rush forward and grab Chen but then that guy may…I mean, not that I care about him but it wouldn’t be pleasant if he died from here while we watched. Furthermore what if, upon seeing me, he pulls Chen along with him? I feel a shiver go down my spine.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Ean, you’re being ridiculous!”
“Cw P? Lj!”
“Xfa yjmx ogbw tfgf. Tbe vbc’a kjca ab vb atlr.”
“Lbk vb sbe xcbk atja? Lbk vb sbe xcbk jcsatlcu jybea wf?! Tbe vbc’a ecvfgrajcv. Tbe vbc’a ecvfgrajcv jcsatlcu!” Lf gbjgr, oilculcu tlr jgwr bea lc j ogfchs bo qjrrlbc. Fcobgaecjafis, lc atja ogfchs tf aglqr, Jtfc atgbkr tlwrfio obgkjgv ugjyylcu tlw, jcv P vjga obgkjgv yjgfis mjamtlcu Jtfc’r rtlga jcv yjgfis wjcjulcu ab tfjnf atf akb yjmx. Jtfc ibbxr yjmx lc regqglrf ktlmt rbbc wbgqtr lcab gfilfo.
“You found me.”
“I did. You made that phone call purposefully?”
“Yeah, I was looking for a good opportunity to covertly-“
“JUST LET ME GO!!!” The madman lying next to us rudely interrupts. “WHY DIDN’T YOU let me go!!!!!” His screaming morphs into sobbing. I frown and turn back to Chen.
“In the first place how did you get here?”
“Well I was at the Jay Building talking to one of my publishers. I suppose he followed me because he came to the roof and called me, threatening suicide.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, so I’ve been trying to reason with him this entire time.” He closes his eyes and sighs.
“Well, why would he do this in the first place?”
Chen shakes his head helplessly. “I don’t know.”
Soon the police arrive and we explain the situation to them. Leaving the sobbing fellow for them to deal with, Chen and I quickly escape back home.
On the car ride back I suddenly turn to Chen. “So why did you ever go out with him?”
He opens and closes his mouth a couple times. Then finally replies, “I don’t know either.”
A few days after the whole Ean fiasco I’m about to face another, possibly scarier, trial in my life. I gaze at the tiny gray 262 plaque, inhale sharply, and push open the door.
“You unfilial son! How could you do this!?” I freeze. Then I realize that the words are coming from an I-pad Patti is clutching. Phew.
“Hi Patti.” She glances up from the screen and upon seeing me, she smiles.
“Ramakrishnan.” She’s smiling, that’s a good sign.
“Hi Patti, how are you?”
“Good, good.”
“What are you watching?”
“Oh…”
The conversation progresses smoothly. She seems fine…So I decide to prod the elephant in the room.
“Hey Patti, do you remember last week?”
“Hmm?”
“Um when I told you I like men…” I glance up, peeking at her and instantly my heart drops. She’s expressionless.
“Um, Patti-“
“I don’t understand you young people’s things.” She says turning away from me.
“Oh, uh, okay, um well I uh made you some idli, would you like some?” She doesn’t respond for a moment.
“Um, Patti-“
“Have you cooked so much that you think you’re a woman now?” I pause, then stand speechless.
“Patti…it’s not about feeling like a man or a woman. I like him, I really, really do. It’s like in your Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Mihir wants to be with the poor Tulsi instead of the rich Payal or Dr. Mandira because he loves her right…?” I gaze at her, hoping she’ll understand. She doesn’t speak for several moments. Finally she says “where are the idlis?”
“Oh, here.” I quickly pull them out. “I made them with vada and sambar just like you like…”
We spend the rest of the visit discussing the food, soap operas, a variety of other topics. We don’t touch my love life. Finally, it’s the end and I’m consolidating my things, preparing to leave.
“Ramakrishnan?”
“Hmm?” I look up from my bag. Patti’s face is turned away from me.
“Bring him next time.”
“Huh?”
“That boy.”
“What boy-” I pause. Then my face alights into a wide grin. I remain smiling on my way out and my excitement persists all the way until I reach home and head inside.
“Chen!” He’s sitting on the couch fiddling with his laptop. Upon hearing me, he glances up.
“Hmm?”
I walk straight to him and grab his shoulders.
“What?” His eyes are wide and he stares at me like I’m crazy.
“She said she wants you to visit her!” I cry shaking him, grinning from ear to ear.
“W-Who?”
“My grandma!”
His eyes widen even further. “R-Really?”
“Yeah! So next time I go you’re coming with me!”
“Wait-wait! What do I need to bring? I need to bring gifts right? Wait-is she really okay with this? Isn’t she upset that you’re…”
I shrug. “A little but she understands or she will.” I hug him. “I can’t believe she said yes!” Then I still and pull away from him. “Hey, what about your family?”
“H-huh?”
“When can I visit them? You said you have a sibling right? Boy or girl? And what do I-“
“Wait, wait, wait, wait!”
“What?” I look at him.
“That…maybe it’s best if we just visit your grandma for now…”
“Why???”
“Well…um do you want some watermelon? I just bought some.” I blink at the blatantly obvious attempt to change the topic.
“…Sure.” Chen doesn’t want to talk about his family. I mean, I knew that there was something going on there and with what he mentioned at the speech but hmm…
Oof Ean is intense but ahah Chen… why didnt you call the police first?
Thanks for the chapter € ^ *^)/// ~~ ♡♡♡♡♡