Rule No. 1: Don’t be too emotional : Chapter 9

Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair.

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“Hi, kids. Mind if I sit here?”

“Not at all! Please, P’Jane, have a seat.” Gap gestured for the tall senior to sit next to me. I can honestly say we’re in that stage where we are deeply in love. We see each other every day, talk on the phone for hours every night, and if P’Jane is free while I’m playing football, he’ll come and watch… Lately, my life looks like it’s been viewed through a rose-colored lens. As for Namkhing, I thought it would be incredibly awkward, but it wasn’t at all. Gap told her everything the day P’Jane and I cleared up our status. Namkhing was shocked and even a little annoyed at herself for not realizing who P’Jane actually liked. The next day, she even apologized to me for the chaos and said she wasn’t that into him anyway, so there was no problem with us being together. She even called P’Jane to clear the air. Honestly, I was so moved l almost cried. My girl is a total “bro.” I know things are sweet right now because we’re at the beginning-the blooming stage. I don’t know if it’ll stay this way forever, but for now… I love this.

“Can’t do it?” “Nope. P’Jane, give me the answer, please?” “You always want me to just give you the answer.”

“Oh, come on, just this once!” He tapped my head lightly with a pencil, acting playful, before finally agreeing to solve the Fundamental Mathematics problem for me. I rested my chin on my hand, watching his profile as he worked through the equation while teaching me. I’ve realized one thing for sure:he really is as smart as Gap said. The rumors of him getting straight A’s aren’t an exaggeration-he truly earns the nickname “God Jane.” It’s amazing; I don’t know how he does it, but it makes me admire him even more. If you want to say I’m head over heels for P’Jane… yeah, I admit it.” Do you understand?”

“Huh… what?” I startled when he suddenly turned from the notebook to ask me.

“Ugh, he doesn’t understand a thing, P’Jane!” Sherry blurted out.” He’s too busy staring at your face to hear a word. I’m the only one actually listening!” “Sherry!” I snapped at her to hide my embarrassment at being exposed. Namkhing chimed in, “Jane, you should really focus. You failed the last quiz. If you fail again, you’ll have to retake the whole course.” I made a face, feeling the stress kick in. Even though I was in the Math-Art track in high school, I’m not naturally quick with numbers. I get by on hard work, but in university, hard work isn’t always enough-you need a “spark.” I’m not terrible at math, but I struggle with complex, twisted logic. I survive the core stuff, but the advanced problems always kill me. “Yeah, you’re the only one in our group who failed,” Putt added .

Usually, Putt stays silent when P’Jane is around; sometimes he even disappears. But lately, I think he’s getting used to it because he’s started talking more, and occasionally even talks to P’Jane.

“That’s because you won’t let me copy you!”

“Copy what?! We had different versions of the test! If you’d copied mine, your score would have been even more disastrous,” Putt shot back. I pouted. I’d tried so hard to brainwash myself into forgetting that failed quiz, but my friends won’t let me forget the bitterness.

“Jane, focus. P’Jane is going out of his way to help. Tomorrow is another quiz. If you fail this, you’re dead for the midterm. Honestly, if you fail again, just withdraw. But let me tell you, you’ll be studying alone next semester because the rest of us are definitely passing,” Gap added , piling on the “tough love” stress.

I’m going crazy!

“Seriously, we wanted P’Jane to tutor us too, but he won’t tutor anyone except Jane,” Namkhing said .

P’Jane just smiled widely without responding. Then Sherry asked, “P’Jane, do you know how to do this one?” “Give it here, I’ll teach you,” Putt said , standing up and walking around to sit next to Sherry. She looked bewildered.

“What’s gotten into you? Is all this necessary? I can just ask P’Jane; he’s right here.” “Don’t. Don’t bother him. I can do this one; I’ll teach you myself.” Sherry was confused, but it was clear she’d rather have P’Jane explain it since he’s the expert. P’Jane cut in with a smile.

“Sherry, let Putt explain it to you then.” “Oh… okay.”

“Jane, I’ll be right back. I’m going for a quick smoke.”

“Mhm,” I nodded, left hand on my forehead, right hand holding a pencil, trying to solve the next problem. As soon as P’Jane left the table, Putt spoke up.

“If anyone wants P’Jane to tutor them, hire him properly. Don’t just ask for freebies. It’s not right.”

“Is it that serious?” Sherry asked shrilly. “He should have some kindness for us-isn’t he Jane’s future boyfriend?” Putt sighed

.” Nothing in this world is free. Especially not with a man named P’Jane.” “What the hell are you talking about?” even Gap had to ask. “Just… don’t bother him or ask him for anything. Like this tutoring thing-if you want him to help, just hire him. Split the cost. You too, Jane.”

“Me too?!” I pointed at myself. Why would I have to hire my own future boyfriend?“ Yeah.”

“Why, Putt? Tell us,” Namkhing demanded. Putt looked left and right, then lowered his voice. “P’Jane… there are rumors about him… ”

“Putt, can you just stop?!” I snapped, losing my temper. I was tired of this. He knows I love P’Jane, yet he keeps bringing up this nonsense. Putt slammed his pen onto the table. BANG!

“I’m tired of warning a stupid idiot like you too, Jane! Didn’t I tell you to stay away from him? What’s wrong with you? Why did you fall for him? You’re going to get yourself in trouble. P’Jane isn’t a good person. No-he’s a monster.”

“Hey, that’s going too far!” I stood up, face red with rage. Sherry jumped up to intervene. “Stop it! Jane, Putt, don’t fight!” “I’m speaking the truth! There’s no smoke without fire. I’ve warned you about everything, but you won’t listen. You’re being tricked. What you see isn’t the real him. Mark my words: one day, you’re going to regret this.” “Shut up! P’Jane isn’t like that!”

“Are you living in a bubble?! Are you so blinded that you believe everything he says? I’m saying this because I’m your friend, Jane!”

“Putt! Calm down… ”

“Get out of the way, Gap! You don’t know what P’Jane-”

“ENOUGH!” I screamed. “Where’s the evidence?! I only hear you accusing him over and over. You never have proof! I’ll only believe you when there’s actual evidence!”

“Heh. Someone at that level isn’t going to leave evidence to hang himself with.” “There’s no evidence because it isn’t true!” “Fine. If you want to believe that guy over your own friend, then whatever. But I’m telling you, you picked the wrong person. You’ll suffer because of him. Someone like you could never handle what he does. By the time you realize it, you’ll have nothing left. Not even your own soul.”

“You bastard, Putt!” “STOP! What is going on?!” P’Jane, who had just returned, stepped in and grabbed me just as l was about to shove Putt. Gap lunged to hold Putt back while Namkhing and Sherry cried out for us to stop.

“Don’t fight! Please! We’re friends!” “We can talk this out!”

“Talk what?! Jane is blind! You guys too-all of you are blind! You want the truth? I’ll tell you. I don’t care anymore!” “You’re not going to stop, are you, Putt?!”

“ENOUGH, BOTH OF YOU!” Gap yelled. “P’Jane, please take Jane away to calm down. I’ll deal with this side.” “Understood.” Putt and I were still shouting insults at each other as we were dragged in opposite directions. P’Jane grabbed my bag, and before I knew it, I was sitting in his car. An eerie silence filled the air as he drove. Finally, I spoke.

“Where are we going?” “I didn’t know where you wanted to go, so l’ve driven around Aksa Road three times already.” “Oh… ”

“Are you ready to talk? Do you want to tell me what happened?”” It was just stupid stuff. You don’t need to know.”

“If it made you that angry, I’m happy to listen, no matter how ‘stupid’ it is.” I turned to look out the window.

“The reason you won’t tell me is likely one of two things: One, it’s about you. Two, it’s about me.” Crap…

“I’m guessing it’s the latter.” I stared at his profile as he drove. I was shocked and impressed by how easily he read me. I flinched when he turned to look at me.

“Right? It’s about me.” “… Yeah.” I admitted it. P’Jane pulled over to the side of the road and reached out to take my hand.

“Tell me. What happened?”

“Putt… Putt said bad things about you.”“ Bad how?”

” He said you aren’t the good person I think you are.

That one day, I’ll be sorry because of you… ” P’Jane raised an eyebrow, but his expression remained calm and neutral.” Why would he say that?”

“I don’t know! He’s crazy! He hears rumors about you and gets paranoid. I told him it wasn’t true, but he wouldn’t listen. He just kept accusing you. I got mad, and we fought.”

“Rumors about me? I have rumors?” P’Jane sounded genuinely puzzled. Seeing this made me even angrier at the people spreading lies. How could it be true if even P’Jane didn’t know he had a “reputation”?

“Yeah. Rumors like… that you’re a ‘mafia’ boss, I guess.” I didn’t want to explain the “soul-trading” stuff because it sounded ridiculous and I didn’t want him to think I was childish. “Mafia… ?”“ Mhm.” “Me?” “Yeah! Think about it-isn’t it infuriating, P’Jane?”

“I never knew there were rumors about me at the university.” A small smirk touched the corner of his mouth. I wasn’t looking, sol didn’t see his expression clearly. “Because… I never thought anyone would be brave enough to start a rumor.” I wasn’t really paying attention to his phrasing. I sighed, thinking about Putt. P’Jane murmured to himself, almost like a whisper: “I guess… I misunderstood a lot of things here… ”

“Yeah, people misunderstand a lot. It’s a crazy rumor. When I first heard it, it sounded like a Japanese manga. Anyway, forget it. It makes me grumpy just thinking about it.”

“Don’t be grumpy, Jane.” He rubbed my head like he always does.

“Don’t pay it any mind.”

“I’m just angry. Angry that a good person like you has to deal with this. At first, I was terrified of you because of those rumors. But now that I know you, you’re so sweet. I almost missed the chance to know you. It’s not fair for people to just smear someone’s name.”

“Jane, I’m happy you care about me. But don’t worry. Putt has a right to his thoughts. He’s probably just worried about his friend. It isn’t wrong.” His words made me admire and love him even more. He’s so noble. Despite being slandered, he wasn’t even mad. I can say with my whole heart that I believe him over Putt. He interlaced his fingers with mine again.

“Let it go, okay?” “Okay.” “You know me. You know better than anyone what kind of person I am.” I nodded firmly. “You have a quiz tomorrow. Focus on the math. You and Putt will make up eventually.”

“Mhm… ”

“Want to find a place to tutor? I’ll help you.”

“That would be great! I was going to ask you before the fight started. Sigh… ”

“It’s fine.” He gave me a gentle smile.

“We can go now. We don’t have any more classes.”

“Where should we go? You probably don’t want to go back to campus; there’s never any parking and we’d have to walk in the heat.” “Hmm… you’re right.”” Starbucks again?”

“Probably not a good idea. You’ll complain it’s cold.”

“True. That branch really uses the AC to drive customers away.” I crossed my arms, trying to think of a place. I could feel P’Jane watching me out of the corner of his eye.

“Then… how about we tutor at my place?”

“Oh! Right! You live in a dorm!” I clapped my hands. P’Jane chuckled softly.

“Not a dorm. I live in a condo.” “Wait, really?” “You don’t remember anything about my condo, do you?” I shook my head. I didn’t remember a thing. That day I was so drunk, all I remember is… we kissed. That was it. And we haven’t kissed since then-we’ve been very “innocent.”

“It’s okay. You’re sober today, so you’ll remember. So, is it a deal? My place?”“ Deal!”

“What do you want to cover? Is there anything you already know?”

“Can we do… everything? I’m not solid on anything yet,” I said, sounding worried.

“In that case, there’s a lot of material. It’ll take more than three hours. I’m going to make you solve problems until you can do them perfectly.”

“Whoa… more than three hours? That’s fine! I can stay late. I’ll call home and tell them I might stay at Gap’s dorm tonight in case we finish really late.”

“Okay. It’s up to you.”

“Mhm. Let me call my mom real quick.”