Timely Trials

Chapter 4: Making arrangements

YAO'S POV

I hated this boy who kept calling us and hanging up again. He hadn't ever even introduced himself. At least this time he was saying something useful.

"I... I accept your offer."

I couldn't believe what he'd just said. I didn't think he would do it, especially after that morning's call. But what can I say? They did pull the switch again.

"That's great!" I started, I was going to explain what was going to happen next but he started talking again.

"But I want to change something about it."

"Wait-- what? Then you're not really accepting, now are you?"

There was a pause at the end of the line. I took it as an opportunity to ask something.

"What's your name?"

"Why should I tell you?" he snapped. "I don't know your name either!"

"My name is Yao. Yao Wang." (China)

"Lovino. Vargas."

"Okay, then, Lovino. You accept my offer for helping your brother, but you also don't want to give your part of the deal. I don't think I can let you do that."

"But it's pretty much the same!"

I sighed. It's not like it was my choice of what to get in return for giving help. That was the boss's job..

"Well what is your proposal then?"

"You want Feli to come for experiments or whatever after you help him out, right? W-well I'll come instead. The same thing but with me instead of him coming." His last two sentences seemed rushed out.

I opened my mouth to talk but I didn't say a word. I looked over at Amelia, who was spinning around in the chair she was sitting in. She shrugged her shoulders. She could hear everything that Lovino or I said, but she wasn't helping a bit. Just sipping her soda and spinning around.

"Be helpful and work! Ask him if this is okay," I ordered her.

"What?" said a very confused Lovino.

"Nothing for you."

I watched Amelia type the question into the computer.

From the background of the phone I could hear a conversation happening.

~ "Come this way. The food I made is almost done."

~"Not right now."

~"If you don't come eat it then I'll eat it instead."

~"Don't eat my food, you little--"

"He's not answering," says Amelia.

"Then try again, maybe it didn't send."

She looked at me like I was stupid. "It says right here that it sent. It always gets there." She stretched. "Come on, man, you should accept that this stuff works, you're so old-fashioned sometimes! Learn how to use more technology than the basics of a cellphone..."

"I'm not old-fashioned! Just--"

"Oh," she interrupted me, "He's saying... it'll work. Lovina or whoever can come instead of the brother."

"Thank you." --then into the phone-- "You can come instead of your brother."

I heard "Shut up" in the background before "What did you say?"