Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Found

“What’s wrong with me, actually?” She muttered to herself again.

Suddenly, the screen of her phone turned on. Emma just remembered, three hours ago Jonas had sent her a short message, which she had not had time to reply to. Like a father, Jonas regularly asked how Emma was at least once per three days. He really knows how to treat that girl right.

Emma is the type of girl who doesn’t like to be cared too much, but always appreciates the affection she receives. She really appreciated Jonas who cared about her. And as a sign of her gratitude, she became quite obedient to the middle-aged man.

Unconsciously, Emma had pressed the holly button on her cellphone. Yes, the number 5 button which was a speed dial to Jonas’ cell phone.

Only a few seconds later, Jonas swiftly picked up the princess’s call.

“Hello. Did something happen, Emma?” Jonas asked directly. His voice still sounded fresh, as if he wasn’t a human who needed time to sleep. It was unusual for Emma to contact him first.

“Em.. That.. Actually, I didn’t mean to call. The button was accidentally pressed.” Emma stammered a bit.

.....

A few seconds of silence across the phone, “Yeah.. It could happen.” Jonas replied lightly. “Since it’s been connected, I just remembered that I haven’t asked you for these two days. How are you?” he asked.

Emma nodded slightly, “I’m fine. The food here is good and I’ve made some friends.”

“Is that so? How about your ballet class?”

“Good.” The girl answered briefly.

Jonas could hear Emma’s voice, which sounded sad, but she tried to hide it.

“Looks like your ballet class didn’t sound that fun. Are you thinking of changing course?” Guessed Jonas.

Emma’s brows immediately sharpened, “Fun! Of course! There’s nothing more fun than ballet!”

Jonas laughed loudly, “Well.. Now, it sounds as fun as the beginning.” Said him. “May I guess something? I thought you might have a bit of a problem. Hmm.. Is the parking fee more expensive there.. Or maybe you have annoying neighbours.. What is it exactly?” he pretended to be muttering to himself.

“Tsk!” Emma was annoyed. She knew Jonas was fishing for her. Emma wasn’t that stupid not to know that Jonas know her very well, “Hey, Jonas. I have something to ask you.”

“Please..”

Emma thought for a moment, then took a deep breath and cleared her throat, “Do you believe in fate?”

“Fate? Hem.. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control as humans. I like to call it fate.”

Emma patted her thigh, “Is it, right?! It happened beyond our control. Like a fired arrow, it will turn if suddenly a strong wind comes!”

Jonas nodded, “Then what does fate have to do with your problem?”

“It’s not a big deal, Jonas. But I feel like there’s a lot of things that keep getting me into the same troubles I’ve always avoided.” Said Emma.

“It’s called fate if you can’t help but be dragged in a circle. But don’t mistake a destiny for a fate, because you can control your own feet, right? What happens today, is the result of your decisions yesterday.” said Jonas. Then he cleared his throat, “An old man once told me that.”

“You’re disgusting, Jonas,” Emma said. She knew Jonas was quoting those words from the meaningful movies that he often watched.

“Emma, There are times when we have to follow what our heart desires. Don’t think so hard that it shuts down your own inner voice. You seem to be confused. As an impromptu psychiatrist, I advise you to give your heart a chance to speak.” said Jonas.

Jonas’s words on the phone made Emma keep thinking. Until finally she fell asleep because of exhaustion.

Emma woke up to the sun shining on her face through the window curtain. The sound of birds playing in the small garden of her house made Emma’s mood feel better. It was as if she had forgotten all the events that had made her feel anxious last night.

With staggered steps, Emma walked to the kitchen to get some water. She drank a full glass of water. Then her eyes for some reason stared at the door leading to the basement next to the refrigerator.

Emma placed her glass on the counter before opening the door. She turned on the light and walked down the stairs.

Today is a holiday. Emma looked at her reflection in a pyjama suit with a cartoon panda print on it and messy tangled hair. She looked at the shelf in the corner of the room. On the shelf were several pairs of ballet shoes neatly arranged. They always looked so beautiful in Emma’s eyes.

She walked over to the shelf. But something was bothering her. She didn’t reach for a single pair of shoes. But instead, her hand pointed to a cupboard door next to the shelf.

Emma’s eyes stared at the contents of the cupboard without blinking. She felt an uncomfortable feeling in her chest. A feeling that if been removed, would feel so pleasant. It is a feeling of longing.

Emma pulled the Mok Yan Jong she had been ignored for a long time, out of the cupboard. Her delicate hands touched each of the wooden stalks. Her chest was pounding. She saw the face collections of men last night that made her hands itchy but helpless.

“HIYAAAA!!”

CRACK!

Emma threw a punch at the wooden stalk.

That somehow made her smile.

“HIYAA!! HYAA!!” She threw her punches again.

Emma understood now. This is what Jonas meant last night. She had to stop for a moment to hear her inner voice once more. Emma really loves ballet. She is crazy about ballet. But her love seemed to make Emma forget that she also likes martial arts. She likes to fight. Something that surrounded her for a long time that made her didn’t realize that she actually liked it.

***

That night, a shocking news came quickly to the ears of an eccentric guy with dozens of gold jewellery. News about the failure of The North Viking in catching a parasite that was previously not considered by them at all.

Actually, the problem is not about Calvin Lee who managed to escape the arrest. But the people who helped free him. It was Jita Kyoei’s name that seemed to stab their eardrums to bleed.

The crazy news had already reached the ears of the Dragger group leader. A group that has a bad relationship with The North Vikings after their territory was messed up by the motorists’ group.

“I’m not surprised those cowards finally lose. Yes.. it’s because they are cowards and very weak.” Pablo Diablo tapped on his cigarette butt to knock fall its elongated embers.

He couldn’t forget how that damn group had invaded his precious Jen Marrie street. They thought they could take over the money mine easily. Luckily, they were stupid enough to believe three losers who actually stabbed them from the back.

Pablo never plays in investing. It’s okay to spend a little more money to win the fight. Three people named Lary, Brian, and Donny had become a Trojan for the group of The North Vikings. TJ is adept at burning the spirits of his members, but he is not good at business strategies.

In fact, normal humans would prefer a bigger offer. And such a human would also be willing to stab people in the back. Although in the end, that shallow thought would later get them into new problems.

“But he was helped by Jita Kyoei.” Said a guy in a white t-shirt, who stood leaning in the doorway without intending to enter the room full of cigarette smoke.