Immature Mistakes | mj.q✓

Twenty-One

Ava arrived home earlier than her sister that afternoon. She had walked into the house and found her father drunk on the couch, a couple of bottles scattered all over his feet. It wasn't surprising to find her father drunk, but he had never gotten drunk on a Monday before. He was dedicated to his job even though he was an unpredictable person who may have arguably done more right than wrong.

'Dad?' Ava asked him, trying to make sure if he was completely drunk or not.

There was no answer. She walked over to the couch to check on him, but something else on the floor caught his attention. It was a framed photo which had probably been dropped on the floor by accident, the glass was shattered and the photo was facing downwards.

She crouched and picked it up, only to see the photo of a woman in it. This certainly wasn't her mother, Ava had seen photos of her mother several times. This lady was different, and even though Ava didn't know her, she somehow seemed familiar. She had a beautiful smile on her face, and Ava wondered if this lady had played a big role in her father's story. Jiaqi had once said that her father had a story for acting that way, and maybe this woman was involved.

There was nothing at the back of the photo that could contain the name of the lady, but there was none. So Ava took the photo and placed it on the coffee table, then cleaned the shards of glass that were on the floor.

She had remembered how she hadn't really talked to Jiaqi much that day, she missed him. They had only met in the morning and their conversation was short-lived because Evelyn interrupted them. She didn't believe that she actually missed a person, this could be the first time for her to miss someone since she had grown up.

At lunch when she wanted to sit with Jiaqi, she had found that Evelyn was already sitting with him. She would have joined them either way, but Jiaqi had told her that they were discussing something private and she should probably not sit with them. He had sounded a bit harsh and unfriendly that afternoon, but Ava had chosen not to think much about it. Evelyn's stories were probably annoying him, that's what she believed.

She went over to the backyard and threw the glass in the trashcan.

...

'I don't believe you,' Jiaqi said after class that day to Evelyn, standing in the school lawn. The two of them had met after classes because Jiaqi hadn't thought that the story had been concluded. He still felt like he had so many questions and they were unanswered.

'But I'm not lying, and that's all the information there is,' Evelyn shrugged. 'You just don't want to believe the truth.'

Jiaqi took Evelyn's cellphone from her and looked at the screenshot once again. 'Maybe you fabricated this.'

'Why would I?'

'Because you like me and you're jealous that I like Ava...even though I don't!' Jiaqi quickly clarified.

'Okay then, let's ask Ava. You should pretend Janine told you everything and see what her response will be.' Evelyn suggested.

'Fine,' Jiaqi nodded and read the screenshot one more time. It was a conversation between Janine and Ava which had occurred about a week after Janine's assault during the period which Janine was recovering from the brutality.

Janine: Ava is it you? It's me Janine from school.

Ava: oh...what's up?

Janine: I know what you did sucked but I'm willing to not mention your name as the perpetrator. I'm going to mention Jiaqi's instead, and everyone will believe it.

Ava: why?

Janine: oh me and Jiaqi have a bone to pick, it's none of your business anyway. Just be glad that I'm not going to mention you and you'll be safe.

Ava: oh thanks. That's kinda nice of you to do.

Jiaqi looked up at Evelyn once he was done reading. 'But I don't even have a bone to pick with Janine. I have no idea what she was talking about?'

Evelyn shrugged, also not completely understanding the conversation between the two girls.

'All I know right now is that Ava knew all this while and is probably the one who did it but had probably chosen to keep it away from me even after we started speaking.' Jiaqi sighed.

Evelyn nodded sympathetically.

'I need to know why, just why. It doesn't make sense.' Jiaqi shook his head. 'What can I do? Can you let me meet Ava right now?'

'Hmm,' Ava thought for a moment. 'Sure, you can just come over to our house...'

'Your dad won't be concerned?'

'Nah, he doesn't mind. Let's go.' Evelyn used the opportunity to grab Jiaqi's hand and pull him away with her. He didn't really have the energy to push her hand away, all he was thinking about was what Ava and Janine's texts actually meant.

When the two arrived at Evelyn's home, Ava was sitting in her room. Evelyn pushed the door open and let Jiaqi inside with her. He was immediately greeted by the smell of alcohol.

'Oh that's weird, I didn't think dad would be home at this time.' Evelyn commented more to herself than to Jiaqi.

Jiaqi turned to the direction where Michael was, seeing the man in a deep hangover. He didn't want to pry but he decided to speak anyway. 'Does he always get drunk this early?'

'Not at all.' Evelyn answered and started leading Jiaqi to the stairs. Jiaqi took another look at Michael before proceeding to climb the stairs with Evelyn. He felt like he would get a good explanation from Ava, it probably wasn't what he was thinking.

The two of them finally reached the door to Evelyn and Ava's room. Evelyn opened the door, making Ava look away from the freshly-done laundry she was folding.

When Ava saw Jiaqi enter after Evelyn, her heart skipped. She was surprised to see him, but at the same time she was excited. After all, she missed him because she hadn't seen him the entire day. She couldn't help but smile at him.

But Jiaqi didn't return the smile, instead, he had a serious expression on his face. Ava was surprised at how he was acting since that afternoon, but she knew there had to be a good explanation to everything.

'Jiaqi wants to talk to you about something really important,' Evelyn announced.

'Well what is it?' Ava asked curiously.

Jiaqi turned to Evelyn. 'Can you excuse us for a minute?'

Evelyn reluctantly nodded. She wanted to hear the whole story too and wanted to see how everything would turn out, but she had to listen to Jiaqi. He would probably not be comfortable to say everything he wanted to say in front of Evelyn.

So Evelyn grabbed the door handle and slowly left the room. Ava turned to Jiaqi impatiently, because she had no idea what he wanted to say.

'I saw your conversation with Janine,' Jiaqi finally spoke. 'I saw the entire thing.'

Ava's heart skipped. She hadn't forgotten about that, but she didn't expect it to ever be brought up. Perhaps she should have been smart enough to delete that conversation from some time ago, but she never thought someone was going to look into her cellphone.

'Jiaqi...' she started.

'Just tell me what it actually means...I'm sure there's a misunderstanding.' he tried to make himself feel comforted by the fact. He didn't want her to have been involved in this.

'Well,' she shrugged hopelessly. 'I don't know exactly what you're thinking but it's as bad as it sounds.'

'Can't be as bad as it sounds,' Jiaqi chuckled without humor. 'Then tell me everything, tell me everything honestly. I've been looking for the truth for the longest time and it seems that you know it. Why didn't you tell me sooner?'

'Because it's bad.'

'I don't care how bad it is, I just need to know.'

'Have a seat,' Ava said with a shaky voice, pointing at her bed. Jiaqi quickly sat down, and Ava eventually sat down next to him.