SHORT STORIES COMPILATION

Chapter 9: Favor

"Here, it's my treat," Jay said as he offer Lorraine the ice cream he had bought.

Lorraine immediately accepted the ice cream and said a simple thank you.

"How do you feel now?" Jay asked.

"I feel better, thanks to you."

"I'm sorry that I made you cry earlier. You could also report that to the police if you want." Jay said.

"Why would I do that?"

"You said you will report me for kidnapping you earlier, right?"

"When did I even say that?" Lorraine look away from him as she felt embarrassed for saying such thing earlier.

They just finished watching a funny movie on theater and they are now outside, sitting on a bench.

Jay is actually a nice guy. After they roamed around the public aquarium, he brought her to the arcade and played games with her. He also won a stuff toy at the claw machine and gave it to her. Then they watched a movie together and now, he treated her ice cream. She doesn't know how to repay his kindness. In just a small amount of time, he already done a lot for her.

"I'm really really thankful for today." Lorraine said.

"I've been cold to you and said lots of mean words that I didn't actually mean. I'm very sorry for that." She apologized.

Jay just smiled at her sweetly.

"It's fine. I know that you have your reason why you acted like that. But now that we're already okay, am I officially your partner now?" He asked.

Lorraine stares at him for a couple of seconds before giving him her sweetest smile.

"Yes." She answered.

Jay felt so happy.

He already made Lorraine smile and she now accepted him as her new partner. They are going to play on the festival together and Lorraine's mom would be so happy to hear that.

"When are we going to start practicing then?" Jay asked. He's so excited to practice playing the violin with the girl's piano.

"We can start tomorrow. I will try my best as your partner." Lorraine answered.

Jay smiled as he looks at the girl's eyes. Unlike the first time he met her, her eyes now look lively.

"Me too." he said.

Because Lorraine is now okay, he knew everything will going to be fine.

##

The next day, just like what Lorraine told him, they started to practice for the festival.

She greeted Jay as soon as she saw him and the guy greeted her back.

Lorraine looks down and notices that Jay's shoelace is not done properly. She was about to ignore it just like what she always do, but then she found herself kneeling infront of the guy and started tying his shoelace properly.

Jay got taken aback by her actions.

After Lorraine finished tying it, Jay said a simple thank you and she suddenly can't look at him straight in the eyes.

"L-Let's begin the practice," Lorraine shyly said.

She took a seat infront of her grand piano so Jay won't see her blushing.

Jay's smile widened as he get his violin out of its case. He stood beside Lorraine and they started to practice.

##

Weeks have passed, Lorraine's jolly face is really back. She now wakes up early in the morning to eat breakfast on time so she will have strength to practice with Jay the whole day.

She now talks a lot and she didn't treat anyone coldly anymore.

Mrs. Park is so happy to see that her daughter is finally back. In the past 2 years, her daughter's eyes look lifeless. But thanks to her new partner and friend, she's now smiling genuinely again.

She thought she doesn't have anything to worry anymore since Lorraine is already okay, but Mrs. Park got it wrong when Lorraine accidentally heard her and Jay talking about her hearing condition.

Lorraine got shocked to know about it. She almost can't take herself to believe it.

"I-Is that true?" Lorraine asked her mom shakingly. "You want me to play on the festival again because you're going to get deaf? Why didn't you tell it to me before?" She asked. She's now crying.

She didn't just stop playing the piano for the past 2 years, she also distant herself from her mom. And now she's going to find out about this? She feels like she's going to break down again.

"Lorraine... I-I'm sorry, I just don't want you to get worried." Mrs. Park apologized.

She was about to approach her daughter and hold her hand, but Lorraine took a step backwards.

"I... I want to be alone for a moment mom. I'm sorry.." She looked down because she can't look at her mom straight in the eyes. She wiped her tears that are falling down to her cheeks and turned her back to walk to her room.

Jay wants to stop her, but Mrs. Park gestures him to let Lorraine do what she wants to do.

"Let her be alone for a while. I know she'll be okay later on." She said.

"But Mrs. Park..."

"I just have a favor to ask you," She added.

Jay got stilled. He suddenly got scared of what that favor would be.

"W-What favor Mrs. Park?" He asked nervously.

"If ever Lorraine decided not to play the piano on the festival again, don't get mad at her, okay? It's true that I want to see her play on the festival that's why I asked a help from you, but that's when she still doesn't know about my condition. Now that she already found out about it, I don't want to force her. I can always wait for her... I don't want her to be unhappy anymore."

Jay's heart got touched by her words. Mrs. Park really loves her daughter so much and for sure, Lorraine also feels the same way.