The Third Wheel

The Third Wheel - Part 4

“Johnny? What is HE doing here?” gaspedJordan, referring to the Mathematics teacher with his nickname.Jordansuddenly felt sluggish. Damn, I thought that I already felt better! Why do I feel so dizzy now? Suddenly,Jordanheard a voice behind him “What are you doing?”. This madeJordanstartled, making him bump into the door. Due to this, he suddenly barged into the room, though his head met the floor in the process. ForJordan, the last thing he saw was the startled expression on Sophie’s face. He even thought that it was gorgeous before darkness enveloped his eyesight.

Jordanopened his eyes. The first thing he felt was an aching pain at the side of his head. After regaining his eyesight, he saw the pure white colour of the infirmary ceiling. He sat up, and was surprised to see a presence beside his bed. It was Sophie, reading a novel. She looked up, her expression calm. She gave him a gentle smile. She then puts her hand onJordan’s forehead. Her skin is so soft, he thought. Her scent is nice, too.

“It seems that you have cooled down” she said. “The nurse told me that you were anaemic and you had a mild fever” she explained, after seeingJordan’s puzzled face. “Never mind that, who brought me here? Don’t tell me you have superhuman strength in that slender body of yours” he half-joked, hoping to see her smile again. Sophie was caught off guard by this remark, and gave a slight giggle.Jordan’s heart skipped a beat. “No, it was Peter Jennings, my vice-president who carried you here. Don’t be surprised, he’s quite strong” she replied, half-smiling.Jordanwas about to say something when Sophie surprised him with her strength when she pushed him down. Her face also turned from gentle to serious. Seeing that, he knew the Sophie he knew has made a comeback.

Sophie stood up, while packing her things. “Stay there and get some rest. I expect you to come to school tomorrow” she said coldly.Jordanlet out a tired chuckle. “I don’t get it. You’re nice to me then you become cold. Are you trying to discourage me to pursue you?” he said, looking at her with sad eyes. Sophie stopped packing, and while her back facingJordanshe whispered: “If I said yes, would you?”.Jordanlooked up the ceiling. “No, you’re just firing me up” he answered with a serious tone. “I thought so. Just give it up. You don’t even know my past. Let’s just think of you giving me my favourite food just a coincidence” she said, turning towards the door. “Wait!”Jordanyelled out after her. “Make sure you lock the doors when you leave” she said, and before she closed the door behind her,Jordanheard her say: “I’m sorry”.

Jordansighed, lying down on the bed once again. He then looked at his watch half-heartedly when he yelled out. “Ahhh! I’m late! I promised the others at the usual place!”. He quickly sat up and started to find his things. After he did so, he turned to leave when he saw something glimmer under the sunlight. He identified it, and found out that it was a golden locket. He unconsciously opened it, and saw a small picture. A picture of a young and beautiful woman, with a girl and a boy at each of her side, an older boy putting his head on her lap. Possibly her children, he thought. He was studying the woman when he suddenly gasped. The girl beside the woman had the long black hair and sapphire blue eyes that he longed for. The younger Sophie Manuel was smiling up at him. He then studied the younger boy. He had auburn hair and grey eyes. He had on an innocent smile. It wasn’t a mistake. The younger boy resembles Mr. John Harper. Then he studied the older boy. He had jet-black hair with blue-green eyes. He looked familiar, butJordancouldn’t remember where he had seen him.Jordanpocketed the locket, and left the building.

He arrived at the usual place, meaning the neighbourhood diner. It was a favourite spot for his high school peers, so it’s not a wonder to see a few familiar faces. When he entered the diner, he high-fived a few of his friends and finally sat himself at a corner booth nearby a window, where all his friends are. “You were late, Jo! What took you so long?”Kimberleysaid, caressing Samuel’s biceps. “Yeah, yeah, I’m here. You don’t need to bite my head off” he replied nonchalantly. He was beside Robert, who was eating mango pudding. “I thought your mother’s pudding’s the best?”Jordanasked. Robert looked at him with a blank face. “I’m comparing it. And my mother’s pudding won”.Jordanchuckled and suddenly turned serious. He glanced at Samuel andKimberley, then the people around him. “I need to talk to you about her” he said in a low voice, only for Robert to hear. Robert glanced atJordanand put his spoon down. “Alright. I’m getting sick of them anyway” he said, gesturing at the couple. “Okay, you love-birds! We’re leaving to pick up some girls! Unlike you, we feel lonely!”Jordanspoke up and stood up, preparing to leave. Robert and Jordan left the diner, hearing Kimberly’s shrill voice behind them: “Hey! Where are you both going!?”.

They stepped out of the diner, feeling the late spring breeze, the smell of various flowers in their nostrils. They walked towards the car, and left to go to a park. They arrived, the sound of birds chirping were heard, as if greeting them. They sat themselves at the each side of the park bench, a table between them. “So what is it that you want to know about her? Her allergies, maybe? She doesn’t have any, though” Robert started the conversation, watching a bird washing itself. “No. I want you to explain about this”Jordantook out the locket and opened it, studying Robert’s reaction. Robert didn’t flinch, nor did he show any change of expression. “What is this?” he asked.Jordancleared his throat. “I think that this girl in the picture is Sophie and the young boy beside this woman is Mr. John Harper” he replied.

“So?”

“They are siblings, right?”. Hearing this, Robert gave a sad smile. “So you knew. How?” he said.Jordangulped. “I overheard their conversation in the student council room” he replied, biting his lip. “Really, now? Knowing Sophie, she wouldn’t be that careless. I guess John’s getting desperate. So what do you want to know?” Robert said, picking a dandelion from the grass and blew it. The seeds started to disperse due to his breath. “I know that if I want to pursue her, I must ask her myself but I’m impatient. Who is this black haired boy?”Jordanasked. Robert looked atJordan, and then took out a magazine. “Remember when you saw me buy a business magazine? You asked me why I did so. Thing is, I did it out of a whim. Who knew it would be useful for situation like these?” Robert said.Jordanbrow was furrowed when Robert slammed the magazine in front of him.

“So what do you want me to do?”Jordanasked, still puzzled.

“Turn it around. The it’s the back cover you’re seeing right now”

Jordanobediently turned the magazine around and let out a gasp. The magazine cover revealed a man in his late mid-20s and by the side of his picture was the title ‘Phillip Bradford, the man who saved Bradford Corporation’. But what shockedJordanwasn’t the title, it was his face. Black hair and blue-green eyes. His smile was unreal compared to the bright smile in the picture, butJordanwas sure that he was the mysterious boy whose head was on the beautiful woman’s lap in the picture. “Is he…Sophie’s and Johnny’s older brother?”Jordanasked weakly. Robert nodded his head slightly, and plucked another dandelion. “The mystery now is, why do they have different surnames? And why is John a teacher, when his older brother is the CEO of the most influential corporation ever existed?” Robert askedJordanback, studying him.Jordangulped, and rubbed at the side of his forehead.

“I don’t know. What do you expect?” he replied.

“Is that so? Then, let me ask you this: Are you still going to pursue her, or just give up?”

“I…I won’t give up”

“Even if you don’t know about her past?”

“If my feelings for her are real, then I will try to find out”

“What if she’s a serial killer?”

“Robert!”

“Just saying. Well, if you really are serious with her, knock yourself out. But remember my first warning: Don’t you ever try to hurt her” Robert said, his face calm though he said it with a threatening tone.

“I won’t hurt her. I promise”

Both boys smiled, and shook hands. Little did they realise, a person was hearing everything they had said. This person stood behind a tree and since this person is petite, both boys did not notice this person’s presence. This person twirled their honey-blonde hair, drinking in the information that was just heard.

TO BE CONTINUED