BANDED 2 (JUNIOR JAM!)

Chapter 7 (The Wheel Comes Down)

Sunday, November 20, 1994. At a bar outside the village, late at night, two girls and a boy stood, not knowing what to say… Lui’s drunkenness was slowly fading due to the shock of seeing Kim arrive as she was kissing Kris in her drunken state. Kim’s face was strangely calm as if not knowing how to react to what she saw, when in truth her mind just froze in place. Kris was in a panic, not knowing how to possibly explain this.

They just stood there, not knowing what to do for a whole minute and meanwhile, Tina had gone back inside the bar in a panic. It was immediately noticed.

“Hey! What’s the matter with you?” asked Paolo. The others also saw Tina’s pale and nervous face, so much unlike her.

“Yes”, said Noy, “you look like you’ve seen something horrible!”

“And by the way”, Robbie said, “Where’s Kim?”

“She’s… she’s…” Tina said, not knowing how to begin, she then took a deep breath but only managed to say, “Lui…”

Robbie was suddenly sure what Tina (and Kim) saw, and Rio’s reaction confirmed it.

“What?!” Rio said, almost shouting, “What did she do, Tina…?”

“She…” Tina began, “Kim caught her… and Kris… kissing…”

“WHAAATTT??!!”

And they all (Robbie, Noy, Ernie, Tina, Paolo, Rio, Mookie, Rachel, Martin and Gab) ran to the bar’s entrance and saw the three still facing off without speaking. They took care not to be seen and watched…

Kris still didn’t know what to say. But, even though he knew it would sound entirely lame, he decided to use the ‘classic explanation’.

“Kim… it’s not what you think…” he said, desperately wanting her to believe.

And that unfroze Kim from her shock. She still couldn’t believe what she just saw… Kris and Lui locked in a passionate kiss… It can’t be true… Kris had been trying to protect our relationship as I am doing… and Lui wouldn’t do that… I might be seeing things… this can’t be! Kris won’t do this to me!!

“Please Kim…” Kris was saying, but she’s still in shock, “Lui’s drunk… you know that, she’s been drunk for a while now… she’s not in her right mind…”

Lui really is still drunk… and that caused more problems…

“And what do you mean by that, Kris…?” Lui said, her voice still slurred. “I am acting in my right mind! I am now acting and speaking as honestly as I never have!!”

“Lui, please… don’t make this worse…”

“I love you!!” Lui shouted at the top of her voice, finally jolting Kim from her shock.

Kim walked towards her, and Kris feared the worst.

“You love him…?” she said, appearing calm, but everybody, including those nervously watching inside, can feel the torrent from within her. “And you said you’re being as honest as you can be…?”

“Yes! I love him and you do not!” Lui said, her eyes flaring and a finger pointing at Kim’s face. “I’ve been watching you both… your relationship is not in good shape right now… because you’re not treating him right… you’re being a sl__!!”

Kim heard it and her expression paled. She threw back her left hand to strike, but stopped midway…

“Okay…” she said, obviously trying to calm herself. “Lui… I’ll let that pass… I know that you’re really drunk right now… just go sleep it off…” She started to walk away, saying, “Kris dear… let’s just talk later…”