Aiko. Tales of Full Contact. Part 2. 3 Jstn Bieber

Part 2. 

3.

Justin Bieber.


I was in my 1st year of high school. By the end of it, I saw the girl he was dating. He was a junior.

The 1st time I saw him was in 6th grade. I just looked at him. No talking. Simply looking.

Justin Bieber’s hair.
Clean. Like just out of the shower.
Always smiling.
Red lips.
Baby face.

The 1st time he spoke to me was on the school bus. It was that 1st year of high school.

- Hey Donald Duck, can I take your seat? Just this 1 time?

My stuffed toy from Tokyo Disneyland was always on the window seat next to me. I sat in the middle of the bus; Bieber stayed in the back with his friends. That day, the backseat was full.

I just looked at him. No words.

- Yes, Donald Duck says—you can take my seat. But please hand me over to my friend.

He was full of smiles. He looked at me.

- You can’t say no. You heard Donald Duck. He said yes.

He handed the toy to me and took the window seat. I was on the aisle. I just looked at him. No words at all. Blushing. My crush was next to me. My crush was talking to me. Can you at least smile if you cannot talk? So, I smiled.

The whole bus ride he talked.

- Hi, I’m... and your name is? Ooh, I know you. You’re from Disney. And who’s that next to you? Your girlfriend?

Then something about kissing and marriage. Then the bus stopped.

- You’re a cute baby girl. See you around. And thanks to you, Donald Duck. You’re my best friend today.

He never did that again. Just that 1 time. After that, every time he saw me, he’d just say:

- Hi, baby girl.

I wasn’t a baby girl. I was already in high school.

I didn’t see him on the bus during my 2nd year. I just had this data from the 1st:

100 ‘Hi baby girls.’
100 bus rides.
1 next to me.
A toy he called his best friend.

During my 2nd year, my math teacher insisted on coaching me. They said I was good, but I needed more to compete in the Math Quiz Bee. And Justin Bieber was the all-time champion—freshman, sophomore, and junior years. I was just playing with formulas. Literature and Greek mythology were my favorite subjects.

I didn’t know anything about him. All I knew was that he was my 1st crush. I didn’t even know his name. He had told it to Donald Duck, but I didn’t remember. My cheeks were hot, my hair was dancing, my crush was beside me. Only that. And "baby girl" was what he called me.

I did well. 1st, my class. Then, I beat all the sophomore groups. On the day of the Math Quiz Bee Championship, there were 12 from the girls’ department and 12 from the boys'.

12 rounds.

The final round had 3 left: 2 seniors —some girl and Justin Bieber — and me, the sophomore.

I won.

Everyone expected him—the back-to-back champion. I was just not expected.

We were on a break after the final round, waiting for the results.

- Third place goes to...

That senior girl. She went up. The seniors were shouting. Some sophomores were jumping. I was still eating my hotdog, talking to my friends. Bieber was already by the stage with his cheering group. Then they announced the 1st runner-up.

They called his name.

Gasps. Widened eyes. Rapid heartbeats. Reset.

The seniors were in shock.

- What? How?

Then the voice over the speakers changed:

- For the 1st time in school history, a sophomore beats the senior.

My teacher had the mic. He was jumping. He called my name. My friends and I were talking about Disneyland. The other teacher ran over to us:

- Let’s go up. You are the champion. Leave the hotdog.

All the sophomores were jumping now. Blue balloons dropped from the gymnasium ceiling. I got the medal and a trophy. When they announced the Jollibee voucher, I ran. Bieber was about to shake my hand, but I ran toward the Jollibee mascot. I liked Jollibee. I liked my hotdog with mayo and cheese. I never finished that hotdog.

I heard him say it on his way down from the stage:

- That baby girl with Donald Duck.

That was the last time I saw him in high school.

He was so confident. To him, I was just Chicken Little. But the sky was falling on him. His class had prepared a banner:

CONGRATS ALL-TIME BACK-TO-BACK MATH CHAMP!

His name was on it. When he was coming down from the stage, his banner was on the left and the senior girl’s was on the right. They couldn’t pull them down in time. Freshmen and sophomores didn't have banners. They were never champions. My teachers and sophomore friends made last-minute posters and taped them to the back of the stage:

Sophomore pride!
Math Quiz Bee Champion!
Congrats, Donald Duck!
Congrats, Astro Girl!
Congrats, Voltes V!

His red balloons were still up. Every year the balloons were color-coded: green for freshmen, blue for sophomores, and red for juniors. All competitors were given a free Jollibee meal. Jollibee spaghetti and hamburgers for all sophomores. After the announcement, more posters appeared on the walls and doors. The blue balloons stayed for a month.

Bieber sent his meal over to me. The Voltes V soundtrack was playing when his teacher walked up:

- This is for you, baby girl. From him.
- I like hotdogs. Can it be exchanged?
- He lost. Please leave the hotdog to him.

The next time I met him was at a high school reunion. He worked in the client department of Asia Brewery. I was at the bar getting a drink. Bieber was there, waiting for his:

- Hi!

I just smiled and nodded. No words. When the drinks came, he raised his glass toward mine:

- Cheers.

I smiled at him:

- Cheers.

He was shocked:

- You’re talking?!

- Yup.

- Since when? Since when did you start talking?

- From... baby? From toddler.

- Since when could you hear?

- From baby.

He looked at the bartender:

- Shit. She talks. She can hear.

He came over to our table afterward, friendly as usual, sat down in an empty chair and looked at me:

- I never got your name. I only remember you as the baby girl with Donald Duck. We were on the same bus. You beat me at the last championship. In the final year of my high school life.

Smiles broke out all over the table.

- And you never shook my hand. You ran to a giant bee.

Suddenly, the Voltes V soundtrack came on. He gave a slow nod, then stared into his drink:

- That was a sophomore theme. You know, looking at us now... 1/2 of our lives are almost gone.

The 2 girls at my table didn't miss a beat. They looked at him:

- Look, the 3 of us are "half" something.
  Half-Bulldog.
  Half-Shih Tzu.
  So please –
  Don’t bullshit us!

He looked at them:

- So you knew she could talk? That she could hear? She’s not deaf or mute?

- Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes!

Everyone laughed.

- She can talk, she can hear, and she’s well-versed in Greek mythology. You want another round of Quiz Bee?

He leaned toward me now:

- Then why not even a single word from you on that bus?

- You were talking to Donald Duck. Not me. How was I supposed to answer?

- Yeah. True. My bad. I called you baby girl. You were a cute baby girl. You know, I had a crush on you, but you were so young.

- You had a girlfriend.

- Oh, yeah. That girlfriend — she was the one who told everyone you were deaf and mute. Then this baby girl turned the tables on me. How did you do that?

- I was trained well. I liked Algebra; it was easy. My teacher taught me Statistics and Calculus 4 months before the competition.

- The final question was Algebra they don’t even teach in high school, and you got it. How?

- Don't know. Played with formulas. I liked it and maybe I got lucky.

He studied my face, a wide smile breaking out:

- I really did have a crush on you back then. You. Baby girl.

- Same here.

His smile froze.

- What? What did you just say? Same here? Same where? You...

- Yup. You were my 1st crush.

He grabbed his drink.

- Cheers!

- Bottoms up. I have to go now.

- Wait, please. Just 2 minutes. Your name? Your number to get in touch?

- Maybe next time.

And I left.

A 1 1/2 years later, I was at a party with those same 2 friends. He was already drunk:

- The last time we met, that was the 1st time we talked. I had a crush on you. And you had a crush on me. Why didn’t I make you my girlfriend back then?

We all laughed.

- If I’d asked you to be my high school girlfriend at that time, would I be your high school boyfriend?

- No.

- Why not?

- Still playing with Barbie dolls at times and thinking about Disneyland.

- And why was I your 1st crush? What did you even see in me?

- You were like Justin Bieber.

So neat.
So clean.
Always looked like you just stepped out of the shower.
Always smiling.
Red lips.

- Do you think I can be your boyfriend? Of course, we are not in high school anymore...

- No.

- Why no?

- I thought you were very tall, but not really.

- Wow... how tall do you want a guy? Tokyo Tower? Eiffel Tower? Jack and the
Beanstalk?

- I don’t know.

- If you want a super tall guy, what would you then look like? Hmmm... You will look like a... Thumbelina?

- Hmmm. I prefer Tinkerbell. Sexy.

- Peter Pan has Wendy. Who’s your prince?

- Just some tall prince and you are not tall. You aren't counted.

- Shit. I need another drink. This Jap is such anime. So... we had a crush on each other in high school.

- Yup.

- But we were not meant to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Not before, not now. Maybe someday?

- You will be tall someday?

- Of course not anymore. What’s our age now?

- Then no ‘someday’.

- I need a double drink. It’s a good night to get drunk.

Then the memory of the Quiz Bee surfaced again:

- That was doomsday for me. I’m really sorry I called you Chicken Little back then. I’m such an asshole. No one expected you to win. That was the 1st time in Quiz Bee history. Sophomore beats the senior. I felt really bad. It’s a guy thing. My pride.

- Cheers!

- By the way, you are cute and smart and I lost to you. We both liked each other then, but not meant to be boyfriend and girlfriend...

- I didn’t say I liked you.

- We both had a crush on each other.

- Just that.

- What’s the difference between crush and like?

- A lot.

- Cheers!

- Bottoms up! I have to go now.

- I will send you.

- I brought my car. Just take care of yourself.
A new cycle started. He called me 1 afternoon:

- Hey! You remember your high school friend, S?

- She’s not my friend. A classmate, but she was nice to me.

- She just arrived today from Singapore. I met her at the airport and we are going to Baguio right now. Just me and her, you know.

- That's why you sound so happy. I’m happy for you!

- Wait, I'm driving now. S wants to say hi to you.

- Hi.

- Hi. When we are back from Baguio, let's grab lunch, coffee, or dinner. I want to see you. You still like Chocolate Kisses?

- You remember that?

- Yes, you always had the kisses in your pockets and in your bag. Everywhere. And you always gave me some.
When they came back from Baguio, the 3 of us met for coffee and cake.

- I’m kinda jealous of you, S said, — You and him were quite close, but nothing really happened between the 2 of you.

- Yup. We are just friends, but I was his enemy back then.

- Oh yeah, the Math Quiz Bee... We won! 2nd year we won because of you! He told me that both of you had a crush on each other?

- High school days. But then he didn’t grow taller.
The measurements stayed the same, but the drama increased. 1 night he called late. He was drunk:

- Hey baby girl. I know it’s late. Please meet me. I'm here at the restobar. I need to talk to someone. Shit. S broke up with me.

- Ok, give me a few minutes. I’ll be in my hoodie, shorts, and sneakers. Not going anywhere else. Just there, ok?

- Yes, please. I’ll be here.

I arrived. He looked up from his glass:

- Hi baby girl. Wanna drink?

- Pineapple juice. And I want to eat.

- Sure. Anything you like.

- Ok. What’s wrong with you? You look ugly.

- S broke up with me. Shit, I love that girl. She isn’t beautiful. She isn’t sexy. She isn’t that smart. She’s just an ordinary-looking girl with a beautiful smile. With Garfield eyes. With a soft-spoken voice. She’s like a mermaid.

- Hmmm... she has a tail?

- No.

- Scales?

- No.

- 1/2 human, 1/2 fish?

- No.

- Then she isn’t a mermaid.

- Mermaid, I mean like a mermaid’s beauty to me. She’s not perfect, but she’s perfect for me.

- Ahh... Ok. Go ahead with your mermaid story.

- She broke up with me because her friends told her I’m partying a lot and I can't be trusted.

- Were those friends in bed with you 2?

- No.

- Then they don’t matter. Ignore them. Their words = trash.

- God, I love her. I’m separated and want to file the annulment. She’s married and still in the same house with the guy. I want to file the annulment for her, too. Please say something.

I chewed.

- This Hungarian sausage is so salty. They should change it.

- Not the sausage! Say something about me and S! Any words, I’ll accept it.

- You love her?

- Yes! So much!

- So go and tell her.

- She’s in Singapore.

- Then go to Singapore.

- When?

- Now.

- How?

- Let’s look up tickets.

- I’m sooo drunk.

- Then wash up.
  Take a shower.
  Get changed.
  Get your passport.
  Go to the airport.
  Go to Singapore.
  Tell her you love her.

- And then what?

- Go back to Manila.

  Back to your work.
  You’ve said it.
  You love her.
  If she comes back
  She’s for you.
  If not,
  She’s gone.
  Get drunk again.
  Until you get tired
  Then back to
  Normal you.

- I feel like dying. What if I feel like dying?

- Then die. Tell me first. I’ll need a black dress.

- I don’t want to die yet or... I don’t know.

- Let’s see. You get drunk. Hell drunk. Or die. As in RIP.

- What are you looking at?

- The black dresses. Choosing which 1 for the ‘rest in peace.’ In the end, if it turns out that you die, at least you let her know in Singapore how much you loved her. Which is romantic.

- No, no, I don't want to die yet. Let’s get a ticket now. Wait... My card is maxed.

- Use mine. Pay me back. Bring Garrett’s popcorn from the city. Not the airport. The caramel 1.

- I won’t forget. Singapore popcorn.

- Good.

  You go
  Wash up.
  See your mermaid.
  The love of your life.
  I’ll finish my food.

- Thank you. You are such a good friend.

- These people.. they are not in your bed. Stop caring. You want to be happy.

Then he left. Then he flew.
He came back happy and brought the popcorn. They were together again. Until again, at 1 of the parties, he came over to say hi.

- Hi. I was the happiest man in Singapore. We were together again, then we had some fights, some arguments.

- Because of?

- My lifestyle, drinking, bars, every night—it’s part of my work.

- There are 7 days a week, 6 nights a week. Can you make it 4 times a week?

- Quite hard. This is my lifestyle.

- Flirting?

- That’s normal. When you are drunk, you are drunk.

- Can you not say no?

- I don’t know. Maybe yes, maybe no. Why? Am I bad?

- You are a pretentious male bitch.

Face dropped. The smile, the shoulders, the clean look – all collapsed into a different shape.

- What? Say it again?

- You are a pretentious male bitch.

His geometry kept collapsing:

- How dare you call me that? Any other words for me?

- Yup.

Heart went less. Cold and numb. Clinical.

- Grow up.

  You’re failing the height check, boy.
  Not tall enough to ride.
  Couldn’t go to Singapore yourself.
  The magic was so close.
  The baby girl bought you the ticket.
  The sky fell.
  You aren't Donald Duck.
  Just clean.
  No rebel.
  No mischief.
  Just a boy lining up for a ride he can’t get on.

  Grow
  Up.

                ***

The last call was in 6 months:

- Hey, I'm in Kentucky. Fried chicken. Haha. US. Attending a wedding. Just realized you are the only girl I can really talk to as a friend. But sometimes you... it feels like it’s cutting. So sharp. Can you talk nicely to me? Softer. I want to get married again. Will we see each other again? Did we have a fight last time?

- Nope.

- What was that you called me?

- Pretentious male bitch.

- We were fighting that time?

- Nope.

- What was that then?

- Just told you.

- Why am I a pretentious male bitch?

- You said you loved her.

- I do. I really do.

- You want the relationship.

- Yes I do.

- You want her to be committed to you?

- Yes. I do want that.

- It’s a command then.

- S told me she couldn't wait for me every night, so we broke up.

- So what are you? Son of Zeus? Son of Thor? Second son of King Henry VII?

- I’m with a logistics firm now. I can change.

- So you aren’t god? A half-breed?

- I can change. S is already divorced. Single.

- A hot dog? Much less pretentious.

- A fried chicken. Haha.

- A hot dog in Kentucky. That’s 1/2 bullshit.

- So how are you?

- Eating takoyaki. It’s kinda hot and I don't want to be bothered while eating it.

- Enjoy your takoyaki, see you around, baby girl.

- Yup.

I finished my takoyaki while it was still hot. It’s hard to talk when you’re breathing in air to cool the burn. A few Happy New Year messages followed = empty variables. Then nothing. Like a math formula I used once. No remainder. Just a sharp breath against the heat. Then cold.