Toto and the Boys II: George

Chapter 3

When Georgie said we had to talk, yes I included myself because they wouldn’t and I have the right to do so, she meant driving away from Art District to the abandoned unfinished mall just near the border of Bacolod and Talisay City.

“You are really making me nervous,” Jackie said as Georgie parked me in the usual place. This was the boys’ secret place.

Dannie was silent the whole ride and so was Georgie, not giving us a hint of what was on her mind or what she was about to say. Jackie did all the talking, taking out her phone for a while during the ride to send a text to Dean to tell him she went out with Georgie and Dannie for a talk.

When the three of them climbed out of me, Georgie went to my little trunk at the back and grabbed the small cooler with beers inside.

She opened three and handed Jackie girl and Dannie baby their bottles as the three of them leaned against my hood.

Somebody should tell these three on the police. They shouldn’t be drinking, especially the driver!

“Our living arrangements will change for the next three months, boys,” Georgie began.

My bumpers almost slackened. What are you talking about, Georgie? Are you getting married tomorrow? Next week? What?

Jackie and Dannie looked at her inquiringly.

She stared ahead, taking a gulp from her beer before she said, “Did I tell you I was arranged to be married by my parents since high school?”

Well, I knew about that already. But the reaction I was expecting from Jackie and Dannie did not come out right.

They did not look surprised.

“Well, we already thought of that,” Jackie admitted.

It was Georgie who gaped at her friends in surprise. “What?”

Jackie looked at Dannie before she turned to Georgie, saying, “Look, we know you have family issues and we sometimes talk about it privately whenever you are not around. We are concerned friends, George, and we know something is going on with you and your family. We came up with a lot of scenarios and you being arranged to be married is one of them. That was actually my idea. Dannie thought it was impossible and I was just being overly imaginative,” Jackie finished proudly.

George scoffed. “Well, it is nice to know I don’t have to explain myself on that one.”

“But with whom? Is he someone we know from college? Anyone we’ve met before?” Jackie prodded.

Georgie shook her head.

It is that dumbass, Jordan Ledesma, boys. No other. Just that one, I answered.

“You haven’t met him, but maybe you know him by name. He went to the same university with us, but went to the States to study further after that.”

Jackie and Dannie waited patiently.

“Jordan Ledesma.”

Jackie and Dannie looked at each other blankly.

Ha! I knew it. They don’t have any idea who he is. And don’t bother asking for a photo of the guy, boys. You won’t like what you’ll see.

“We don’t know him,” Dannie uttered.

“Well, he was not that socially active in school back then, but he was pretty known among my family’s class, if you get what I mean,” Georgie answered.

“And you know him well?” Jackie asked.

“Not really. We’ve been around each other when we were growing up, but not personally. I never liked him, he never liked me.”