I've learnt something

These days, I've learnt something from my friends and my family. Sometimes, when someone does something to you, well, it doesn't have to be bad things, anywayz, you may think that it's such a big deal and you think it's a serious problem, but somehow that person who does it thinks that it's not a big deal and just can't really understand why you are making such a big thing about it. Once when you know that he or she doesn't really think what they did is wrong then you will get mad, well.... then things are gonna get reallllllly ugly.

However, on the other way round, sometimes when you do something, people will think the exact same way as you do. They will think that it's a big deal and it's a big problem when you think it's nothing.

Actually, there's no right or wrong, everyone has their way of thinking. So... why don't we put ourselves into people's shoes for just a minute and reallllllly try to think about what others may thin about what we do. Just by doing that, things are gonna be reallllly cool. XD

Here you go! Chapter 5

Chapter 5

December 2008

“Serena!? Where are you!?” Jasmine asked anxiously through the phone. That morning, every graduates of West High gathered at the Kansas International Airport. Today, they would be flying to the capital of China, Beijing and started their seven days trip!

Serena was not yet there at 7:59 a.m. They had to be there at 8 sharp. Jasmine started to worry about her.

“I’ll be right there in one minute!” Serena told her and then she hanged up. Her hands were way to busy to hold on to the phone. She put the cell phone into her pocket and got off the shuttle, as soon as her baggage made contact with the ground she dragged it crazily. She ran to the Terminal 7 which was Cathay Pacific Airline. The cell phone in her pocket kept ringing, but she knew it must be Jasmine so she did not even bother to pick up.

Her watch said 7:59:59 a.m.

“Hey!” Serena called to Jasmine and the others.

8:00:00.

“Yay! You made it.” Jasmine and Joanna said together, and all three of them laughed.

“Yeah, stupid shuttle.” Serena said and walked to the line and waited for instruction.

“Ok, everyone, after you go through the immigration, you wait there until everyone’s ready, then we will go to the boarding gate together. Don’t run off by yourself! Got it!?” Mr. Wilson made himself clear. Every teacher was so worried, they hoped they would get there safety without any incident, after all, it was a very difficult task to bring such huge number of students for a trip.

*

Finally after more than fifteen hours, they arrived at the Beijing International Airport. Everyone was so excited. They claimed their baggage and followed the teachers in order to the coach. They put the baggage into the trunk with the help of the tour guide. The tour guide was a funny guy, he dressed simple but he was awesome, because he knew all the things about Chinese culture, but of course since it was his job. But anyway, the students liked him so much. During the way to the hotel, the tour guide, Tom, told them what they would do and where to visit the next day. Some students had already fallen asleep and some were chatting happily and some were looking out of the window. Only a few were paying attention to Tom.

Joanna shifted to a comfortable position, she was feeling awful. She wanted to puke, her head was pounding and her stomach seemed to be eaten inside and out.

Ah…what’s wrong with me? she thought.

“Hey, are you alright?” Serena asked when she noticed how pale Joanna looked. Serena sat behind Joanna with Jasmine. When she reached for the overhead cabin, she saw that.

Joanna was looked pale.

“Ah….I don’t know. I’m not feeling that good.” Joanna answered, pulling her jacket closer to her body.

Serena frowned. She opened her mouth to speak but was stopped by Mrs. Lucy, the class advisor. “Everyone get all your belongings; we’ll be there in two minutes.” she said and she got up to gather her belongings as well.

Serena had her attention back to Joanna, “Hey Jo. Grab a hot shower and hit the sack, yeah?” Joanna looked at her and nodded with a yes. Serena smiled back and then she retrieved her backpack from the overhead cabin and pulled on her jacket, waiting to get off the coach.

Sam turned to Joanna after he heard what Serena said to her, and looked at her with concerned, “Joanna, you ok?”

“I’m still alive,” she smiled weakly, “Can you get my baggage? I don’t feel too good.”

Joanna smiled at Sam as he nodded, “Of course.” He got off the coach when they arrived at the hotel; he walked to the other side of the coach and retrieved both Joanna and his baggage. He dragged them into the lobby; Joanna walked next to Jasmine and Serena, and Sam walked to the counter waiting to get the key card.

A while later, Joanna walked to Sam, and lead against his body, “Hey.” she said, almost whispered.

“Go sit down, Joanna.” Sam turned to look at her over his shoulder, he pointed at the chair.

Joanna nodded.

Few minutes later, everyone got their key cards and went to the lift. Sam walked to Joanna, shaking her shoulder gently and said, “Hey, let’s go.” He dragged the baggage towards the lift and Joanna walking next to him, unsteadily. Seeing her like this, he sighed and then wrapped around her protectively with one hand and with other hand dragging the baggage into the lift, he pressed the floor number with his elbow.

Serena saw it, she was glad Sam was taking care of Joanna, but she felt really uneasy when seeing that. What Sam was doing were exactly what he had done to her when she was sick.

Déjà vu stroke her once again.

She hated it.

Everyone got out of the lift on the 4^th floor. Serena walked down the hallway; she stopped until she reached the Room 412.

“Serena, is the key card with you?” Jasmine asked, not sure whether Serena or herself took it just now.

“Here” Serena said and handed it to her. She continued to stare down the hallway. Sam was supporting Joanna with one hand around her waist—she was really sick—and the other hand dug into his own pocket and slotted the key card in and opened the door.

Watching Serena walking into the hotel room with Jasmine, Sam’s heart bled. He always wanted to be in the same room with her during the trip, they had already been talking about it last year. However, it was useless, the relationship was over and the chance of being together was kind of little. Almost none. He sighed and turned to Joanna, “C’mon, let’s get you to bed.” he whispered in her ear, and smirked at the half-waking girl. He was trying to look at normal as he could in case Serena saw his expression.

Serena still looked at the direction was Sam and Joanna’s room, even when they had gotten in already.

“Serena? You coming in or not?” Jasmine called from the room.

“Yeah, I’m coming in.” Serena said, and walked in and closed the door behind her. She had the feeling, the feeling that Joanna and Sam were together, they had been really closed from the beginning of the year and now being in one room during the trip, just made her suspect more.

“Do you think you can mange to take a shower, Joanna?” Sam asked as he was unpacking his suitcase.

Joanna was lying on the bed; she had her head buried in the pillow, “No.” she replied, almost murmured.

Sam turned around and looked at her, “Well, then, just go to sleep.” he turned back to his suitcase.

Joanna shifted to a comfortable position and whispered, “Night, Sam.” and she drifted off.

Sam smiled with a shake of his head.

Half an hour later, before Sam went to bed, there was a knock at the door.

“Who’s it?” Sam asked through the door.

“Me.” The voice answered.

“Who’s me?” Sam asked.

“Lax! Open up, man.”

Sam opened the door, “What is it?” he asked as Lax walked in.

“Faith wanted me to come see if Joanna is alright.” Lax explained as he saw Joanna was sleeping already.

Sam frowned, “Why didn’t she come herself?”

“Because now she can be the one to take shower first when I’m not there to stop her.” Lax shook his head.

“Oh, ok. Well, Joanna is sleeping, she’ll be alright in the morning, you know, just motion sickness she will be fine soon.” Sam told him.

“Oh My God! Alex!” Cathy threw opened her door which was exactly opposite Sam’s and laughed loudly.

Both Sam and Lax turned to look at them, “Hey! Can you be quiet? People are sleeping!” Sam said his voice low but was enough to have Cathy’s mouth shut and not going to make any noise for the rest of the night.

“Sorry.” Cathy apologized and closed the door at once.

Lax looked at Sam, but did not say anything.

“Well, mission accomplished. I better go back before Faith used up all the hot water. See you tomorrow.”

Sam grinned, “You do realize that we’re in a five star hotel, dont you?”

Lax nodded, “so?”

Sam let out a laugh, “So, the hot water won’t be used up, genius.”

Lax chuckled, “Whatever.” He made his way down the hall way.

Serena wanted to go and take a look at Joanna, to make sure she was alright, but she hesitated when she remembered Sam would be there in the room too.

Well, whatever, Joanna’s my best friend. She told herself and then headed to Room 409. She stopped half way and immediately turned back and walked back to her room. She heard Sam asked someone to be quiet, she recognized the voice, the same dangerous and threatening voice when she was sick and Sam used this voice to ask the one next door to shut up. She could not go to their room. No she could not. She would not know how to deal with Sam. Not right now.

God. Joanna and Sam.

Her best friend and her ex-boyfriend.

Oh, shit.

*

Joanna moaned and rolled to the other side of the bed, she opened her eyes, blinked at the clock, it said; 7:00 a.m. she felt a lot better after a good night sleep. No more headache, no more feeling like throwing up, no more motion sickness. She smiled and sat up, stretched her arms.

“Sam?” she called, when she saw the empty bed opposite her. Getting no reply, she swung her legs off the bed and walked to the bathroom, she heard the shower running.

Joanna then walked to the end of the room and unpacked her suitcase, grabbed a clean bra, underwear and tee-shirt, she sat on the edge of the bed and waited for her turn to shower.

Serena left the room while Jasmine was taking a shower and went to Joanna’s room.

Knock, Knock.

Joanna wondered who came to them so early; she walked to the door and asked, “Who is this?”

“It’s Serena, open up.” Joanna opened the door as Serena looked around the corridor and then went in.

“Can I talk to you?” Serena asked quietly in case Sam heard that.

Joanna nodded.

“Then let’s go.” Serena said and turned around.

“Wait, but I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.” Joanna said, smiling at Serena.

“Here.” Serena gave her a pack of Extra, mint favor.

“Uh….whatever.” Joanna popped two into her mouth, she knew Serena must have something really important to talk to her, if not she would not be in such a hurry.

Joanna knocked at the bathroom door and shouted, “Sam, I’m going to Jasmine’s room, will come back soon.”

Sam shouted back, “Got it.” then added, “Wait! Joanna!” he shouted again when Joanna was already half way out of the room.

Joanna walked back in when she heard Sam called her for. “Yeah?”

“Are you feeling ok?” Sam asked, turning off the shower so he could hear what she said clearly.

“I’m ok, see you in a bit.” Joanna replied.

“Ok, be careful.”

Serena’s heart suck, maybe, she did not really have to ask Joanna for the answer. It was pretty obvious already.

Joanna turned to Serena and said, “Ok, let’s go.” Joanna put on the down jacket and she and Serena went to take the lift.

Serena waited to begin until they were in the cafe, “Is there something wrong?” Joanna asked with concern.

“Are you dating Sam?” Serena burst out.

Joanna looked at Serena with her mouth dropped open as she was temporarily rendered mute, then she laughed seconds later, “Ha-ha, you think Sam and I? No way! Serena you know I would never do this to you.”

“Well, it’s not about doing anything to me; sometimes this kind of feeling can’t be stop.” Serena told Joanna.

“Serena, we are not. You gotta trust me.” Joanna said, looking straight into Serena’s eyes.

“I trust you.” Serena smiled, feeling embarrassing, but on the other hand, relief. She believed Joanna when she said they were not, she knew Joanna would never lie to her.

“Besides, you know Sam loves you.” Joanna added.

“Hilarious, I don’t think he does.” Serena said as she was shaking her head, playing with her fingers.

“Of course he does! He kept asking me things about you, every single day! And it’s so annoying. Like I gotta hand him a report every night.”

“Well, but he’s not talking to me, what’s the difference?” Serena asked sadly.

To Serena, Sam never really cared about her, let alone Serena was hurting all the time.

“Serena….”

“I would trade back what I said to him last time, if I could, I said something about us can’t be together, you won’t have any idea of how hurt it is for me to say that.” Serena said as tears fell down.

“Hey, he tries to stay out of your life because he wants you to move on.” Joanna explained.

“I thought I can, I thought time will heal the pain, but I gotta face reality! I can’t move on without him!” Serena said, a river of tears making its way down her cheeks, Joanna moved forward and patted her on the shoulder.

“Serena, I know it’s hard, don’t worry, everything’s gonna be okay.”

Serena swiped a tear falling down her nose, eyes locked with Joanna’s, “Joanna, I don’t know what to do without you.” Serena smiled.

“That’s what friends are for! Ok, we should go back, c’mon.” They paid the check and headed back to their room.

*

When Joanna opened the door, Sam got off the bed quickly and walked to her at once, he looked at her with questioning eyes.

“Just ask and don’t look at me like that.” Joanna said as she was taking off her jacket.

“I’m not looking at you like anything,” Sam shook his head, “so what did you two talk about?” Sam asked directly after.

“She thought there is something between us.” Sam rolled his eyes, and Joanna ignored him and continued, “Of course I told her that’s not the truth; I told her that you still love her, but she wasn’t too convinced.”

“Yeah, I can figure that, with what I’ve been doing, I mean, technically I didn’t do anything, she will doubt.” Sam said, now sitting at the end of the bed, staring at the rug.

“She can’t move on without you.” Joanna told Sam.

“Did she actually say that?” Sam looked up from the floor and asked at once. Joanna nodded.

“What am I going to do?” Sam sighed.

“You only have two options. One is to forever stay out of her life, don’t torture her anymore. Two, is to go talk to her, don’t ignore her.”

Sam looked at Joanna and said nothing.

“Sometimes doing the right thing is never easy, but you gotta do it and pray that it works out.” Joanna whispered.