She settled himself by the doorway, facing outside and attention set on the passing strangers on the sidewalk. I slowly moved towards Nixon, only to see the meeting eyebrows and displeased look painted on his face. "Hey, why didn't you sit down and make yourself comfortable? What are you peering outside for?" I asked him, but the real question I wanted to ask was why he wore such an antagonistic look.
But I received the least expected answer from him. He never answered; rather, he came to me with a strong grip and pulled me outside. It was only when we were outside, in the midst of our ornamental garden and distant enough from my mom to hear, that I heard his raging voice. "Why did you not come for me at the gym?"
"Ah, I did come for you, and I arrived there to find you totally engrossed in your basketball practice. So, I tried not to bother you and headed home by myself. Besides, I still need to drop by the mall to pick something up. I'm sorry if I didn't wait or say goodbye." I candidly answered him with ease and without jitters. Nevertheless, that feeling of serenity didn't last long. Cause, on my second glance, dread took over me, his eyes burning with jealousy. Like he had succumbed to the green-eyed monster.
"What a coincidence, you did not show up at the exact moment that Ziggy did not attend our basketball rehearsal." His sudden grasp on my shoulder terrified me. Much further, when he holds me close to his face, noticing his brows start to throb and his jaw start clenching, and his voice is intense with ferocity. "Tell me the truth, did you see each other? Are you together?"
Tears are about to fall from my eyes, with my straining muscles' pain caused by his fixed grip. "Ouch, please, babe, it hurts; please let go of me. We are not together; I haven't even seen him long enough."
He liberates me, but the stain of ire in his visage is still visible. He takes his attention away from me. Eyeballs now fasten in the sky.
"What happened to you? Why did you act like that? Well, I'm not with Ziggy, okay! I just went to the mall by myself alone. Besides, when have I not been allowed to see him? He's been my best friend for so long."
He turned his gaze back on me, and with his domineering look, he asserted. "As long as I'm your boyfriend. Stay away from him, Cloe." The sound of his voice is hard and strong, and his petrifying look reappears.
I did not try to insist further; I simply agreed and nodded at his demand. This is what I get for engaging in this relationship without reading the fine print. But anyway, since Ziggy and I are presently not on good terms and busy with our own lives, we won't be seeing much with each other, so maybe it won't really be a problem anymore.
*****
The next day, I'm trying to avoid more conflict with Nixon and feeding more on his jealousy. Right after my class, I go straight to the gym and wait for him to finish his basketball practice, as he wanted.
I reached the gym, seeing the players in the queue. One by one got the chance to receive the ball and shoot for three points and two points. After a while, I found myself settled in the bench nearest to the court before I turned my attention back to the players. It was Nixon's turn to throw, and the moment he did his routine, he noticed me attempting to approach me, but was taken aback when the coach called for him, "Nixon, we still have one more round." He frowned and opened his palm, hand-signing me, saying, wait, I'll be there later.
In the middle of the players in line, I noticed Ziggy, looking in my direction. I sent him a fair smile, and he gave me back a bright beam. That deed of his really lightened my mood, which shows resentment is gone now, if there had been any.
The players go on with their routine. I get up to go to the ladies' room. As I went out, I bumped into Ziggy, who had just come out from the men's room. The moment he caught sight of me, he promptly came forward to greet me. Hi, how are you?"
Before I answered him, I cautiously looked around to make sure that Nixon did not see us. I don't want another scene that might encourage more of his jealousy since he already warned me not to get in touch with Ziggy.
"These past weeks, are you hiding from me?" I asked him, showing the earnestness of my voice and looks.
"Sorry..." He didn't finish his words when I spotted Nixon, moving towards our direction. Straightaway, I pulled Ziggy inside the lady's room. "What happened?" There was shock on his face wondering what I had just done.
"Hush," I covered his mouth and whispered. "I saw Nixon coming in our direction, and I don't want him seeing us talking with each other. He prohibits me."
"What?" He looked away, hiding his expression, although his dismayed look is still noticeable. "What is he thinking? Is he trying to keep you from the people close to you?"
"No, not really that; it's just…" Me trying to reason out, yet…
"Wait..." he paused, composed himself as if gearing up for the next thing to happen. "Please tell me. Are the rumors about you being together, is it true?"
Without looking at him, I replied. "That news is behind time." As I'm trying to make a pun, minus the grin. I peeked outside to see if it was safe to come out, and after seeing nobody around, I assumed Nixon was already back in the court. I went back to Ziggy. I've got to go; please just come out later, okay?"
However, he held me by the hands and blurted, "Chloe, are you aware of what he's doing? Will you just allow yourself to be treated like that?"
"Zig, there's nothing wrong with that. It's common for a boyfriend to be insecure about his girlfriend's boy best friend. Whatever, I need to go now." I shake my head as I stride out to the bathroom door and back to my seat.
In a while, Nixon came over, and I met him with a towel to wipe the sweat off his body. Albeit, my hands are busy pressing the towel slowly on Nixon's face to sponge out the perspiration, while in one corner of my eyes is sighting on Ziggy, who just came out from the ladies' room. With his not-so-apparent glimpse of me, he walks his way to the water station with a puckered brow.