Chapter 98: Unfruitful Communication

The journey to the garage was not only awkward, it was almost unbearable. Nelly and Jack walked side by side with a distance enough for two elephants to pass between them. Nobody said anything for the whole five minutes.

Jack paused at the garage entrance. “I can tell you the menu from my memory. You don’t have to come with me, you know.” There wasn’t any response. When he thought she wasn’t going to reply, she spoke up, “am I that unbearable to be around?” Jack frowned. He turned around to look at her.

“You told me to not talk to you!” He spread his hands in exaggerated motion. “Yes, I did. But..” she was trying to think of a logical response but found none. Her voice faded out, leaving them with silence and ambience of surrounding men moving around. At least five seconds had passed.

Jack didn’t seize the opportunity to speak up in the silence as usual. He wanted to hear what she had to say. Only that she didn’t have any. “You changed your mind,” he said with a neutral tone. It wasn’t clear whether it was a statement or a question.

She paused for a little while longer before meeting his gaze. “I’m sorry, alright?” Another pause. “I wasn’t thinking straight,” her voice was small as she said it.

He ran a hand down his face. “I thought we had come to an agreement at this.”

Another long silence. “Say something!” Jack urged. “Why are you directing your fury at me now?” Nelly snapped. “It’s a conversation, for God’s sake!” Jack looked like he almost pulled out a handful of his hair. “Communication is a two-way process, I cannot do it alone!” Their “communication” started getting attention from the surrounding men. They started glancing curiously.

“I really have nothing to say,” she said, looking like she almost cried, “how can I say anything when I can't think?” Jack looked at her like she was talking gibberish. “You are the one who started this ‘you don’t want to be around me’ thing and now I’m trying to find a solution to this. What can I do when you don't even want to voice your thoughts?” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I don’t know! I’m stupid, okay? I’m sorry I can’t think straight. I’m sorry I was mad at you the other day. I’m sorry for even bringing this up!” More heads started turning their way.

“You started this whole mess, and now you are trying to act like the victim? What, anyone that looks will think that I’m bullying you,” he shook his head in defeat.

“You know what, let’s not do this. I don’t want to make you look bad. I’m sorry I even exist,” Nelly snapped, a little calmer now. “Forget dinner,” she turned and power walked in the opposite direction. Jack narrowed his eyes at her retreating figure.

“Right! Run away. Run! Let’s not settle this! Don’t ever bring this up!” He shouted in her direction. Nelly was crying then. She stopped and turned around, her tears flowing freely like a broken dam. “You’re a jerk,” she screamed before turning around and bolting. Jack stood on his spot, looking like a wronged child.

The stares weren’t any less. Some of the men around him gave him a sympathetic look. Someone stopped to pat his shoulder. “That’s why you don’t get involved emotionally with the girls. They are crazy.” After saying that, he left.

Jack kicked the door hard while cursing under his breath. He wasn’t one to get riled up easily. He didn’t know why he was reacting that way. It just wasn’t right.

Nelly ran all the way back to the clubhouse, keeping her head down all the time. She knew those around her were watching but she couldn’t stop the tears. Luckily, she had the cover of the night so she wouldn’t feel so exposed. The sun would rise soon and she was adamant to get back to her room quickly.

Her emotions had been a roller coaster. She didn’t know what caused it. It wasn’t time for her period yet and the previous menstruation cycles didn’t cause emotional disruption this huge for her to think that she had finally gone crazy. While she was focusing solely on the path to her room, she ran into the common area only to knock into somebody. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled without looking. With her head down, she headed for the stairs.

Stacy appeared with two bottles of mineral water. “I’m ready. Let’s go!” She pushed one of the bottles into Chad’s hand. Chad’s focus, however, is on something else. She turned into the direction he was looking at. “What happened?”

“I ran into Nelly just before you came back,” he said. “Oh? How’s she doing? She must be relieved her brother is alright now.” Chad shook his head. “I mean, to be precise, she ran into me, practically.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t think she looked relieved,” he said, “I’m a little worried, to be honest.”

Stacy looked at the staircase leading up to Nelly’s room. There was a pause. They were looking forward to eating out together. But at that moment, they both knew that their hearts wouldn’t be peaceful enough for them to settle down in the shop, munching slowly on their food and enjoying their moment.

Finally, Stacy touched his arm gently. “I’ll go check on her.”

Chad nodded. “I’ll pack some food for you.” Stacy was already heading for the stairs. “Get something for Nelly as well.” With that, they parted ways.

Stacy knocked on Nelly’s door. There wasn’t any response.

“Nelly? Are you there?” Nothing. “Are you alright?”

When there wasn’t any response, Stacy deducted that Nelly went back to her brother’s room. She went to check, just in case.

Nelly sat on the floor with her back against the door. She had to cup her mouth with her palm to not make any sound. Tears flowed continuously.

‘I'm sorry, Stacy.’