When Sue heard about Justin taking care of her hospital bill, she was devastated. She didn’t need Justin now…not now.
Long ago, they had been friends; she considered him a friend. But, all of that changed when--.
“Ready to go?” Ash was knocking on her open door.
“Just a minute.” She slipped into her shoes and followed him to the door.
Today, the two were meeting up with some other friends and heading out to Pleasantview. Even though Ash didn’t have family in Pleasantview, he still liked to go; he was a small-town boy from the outskirts of Veronaville. If he were to go home, he’d have to hop on a plane.
As the two were walking to the meeting place with their bags in hand, Castor came up in their conversation.
“What do you think? What are your feelings towards Castor?”
“He’s friendly.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, isn’t he?”
“He is…but, I meant, do you feel…?” His vague question made her laugh.
“I don’t feel whatever it is you’re implying I feel.” She sighed. “I mean, I’m grateful and everything for having him take me out of that party and I’m absolutely grateful for taking me to the hospital, though he was the one who hit me.” She looked at Ash. “If I were to put it, he’s a pretty good friend.”
Ash would regret the next question he asked. “And…And Justin Cleveland?”
She paled. “…Y-yeah?”
“What do you feel? What do you feel for him?”
She remained quiet. “…Well, I’d rather not talk about it.”
“So, I’m thinking it’s more than friends…”
She bit her lower lip. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Ash nodded. “Okay.”
The walk to the meeting place didn’t take too long. By the time they were there, others started showing up and they were walking to the bus stop.
“Going somewhere?” Castor stopped Sue in front of the bus stop.
“I’m going home.”
“For the break?” It was only a four day break.
She nodded.
Castor looked at Ash. “I thought you were from Elsinore…”
“I am.”
“Then…?”
“I like Pleasantview.”
“I’ve never seen you go there, often.”
Ash shrugged. “Just felt like going.”
Castor’s eyes drifted to Sue. “So, you’re from Pleasantview?”
“You didn’t know?”
“I had a feeling.” He smiled. “I thought you were from your country.”
“No. I am from here.” She wouldn’t go deeper into that.
The bus pulled up and the group of college students began heading inside.
“We’d better get going.” Ash grabbed Sue’s arm. “I don’t want to make it there in time for lunch; everywhere will be packed.”
“Are you staying at a hotel?”
Sue shook her head. “I’m staying with my family and so are the others.” She looked at Ash. “Ash has a friend that’s willing to let him borrow a room.”
“So, if I went, where would I stay?”
Ash’s eyes glared at him. “What are you saying, Castor?”
“Well, I’m free this weekend…And, it has been awhile since I’ve been to Pleasantview. Actually, I kind of have wanted to go since I need some things from the Pleasantview Mall.” He looked at the bus. “Actually, I’m thinking if you took the bus, it would take nearly a day to get there, right?”
“It’ll only take three hours.”
“If I took my car, it would only take an hour and a half.”
Ash didn’t like where Castor was heading with this. “So…?”
Castor smiled. “If you guys don’t mind, then maybe you should go with me?”
“Why did you have to say yes?” Ash asked as they waited in the frat house for Castor to get his things.
“He’s your friend, Ash. You have to at least pretend to like him.” Sue shifted in her seat. “And, he does have a point about using the bus…Too bad you guys don’t have a van or something, so we could’ve taken the others along as well.”
“I-I kind of don’t want him to go.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
“Because…?”
“He’s an ass.”
She smirked. “I think you’re the ass.”
“I-I mean it. He’s not really all good and stuff.”
“Oh, why can’t you be friendly with your friend?”
“He’s not my friend.”
“You’ve lived in the same house for how many years?”
“He’s just someone that gets all the parties that I get into.”
“Face it. You think—probably know—that he’s cooler than you, and you’re totally jealous.”
“And, when did you change to a psych major?”
She sighed. “I think anyone around you can pretty much tell…”
Before the conversation deepened, Castor came down with a backpack on his back. “Ready?”
Sue nodded and got up. “Do you have snacks or something?”
“The ride isn’t long, and there are plenty of gas stations. Don’t worry.” Castor winked while putting on his sun glasses. “Let’s hurry. It’s almost getting close to noon. If we don’t get there soon…” His vague comment proved the seriousness of not making it on time to Pleasantview.
They bundled into the civic and Castor started the engine. Sue was in the back; Ash was in the passenger’s seat.
Castor blasted the radio on and started the hour and a half ride to Pleasantview.
The silence began from Castor. A conversation had been struck between Castor and Ash about the new pledges coming in.
“I mean, he seems like a kid that would only care about studying. I heard from Joshua that Victor doesn’t really care about partying, but his father was a brother a long time ago.”
“Oh, so family tradition. We can’t accept him if he’s not up to it.”
“Then, that only leaves six other pledges.”
“How many signed up?”
“Not many.”
“This is bad…”
“They’re all going to the other fraternities. We’re losing popularity.”
Ash shook his head. “We barely have anyone in the house…”
Castor nodded his head to the beat of the music, possible lost in thought. Taking his silence into consideration, Ash thought that Castor wasn’t interested in the conversation anymore.
“…Sue, what do you think about fraternities?”
“They’re a waste of time.” Her answer was cold and blunt. “So are sororities.”
Ash chuckled. “A typical Sugunya answer.”
From the corner of his eye, Castor glanced at Ash. His pronunciation of her hard name was almost close to her way of saying it, from that time at the Halloween party.
“S-Sugunya…?” Castor tried saying.
Sue gave him a pity smile. “Please, don’t imitate Mr. Know-It-All. He knows nothing. Seriously.”
Once again Castor grew silent. He would remain silent for the rest of the ride, listening to Ash addressing the girl behind him with her real name. With a real love.
Lunch was out of the question by the time they arrived in Pleasantview: Everywhere was packed. They got a MacDonald’s and decided that they should make plans for dinner.
“I know this great restaurant on Main. I can make reservations for us,” Sue admitted. “What time should we meet?”
“I like seven,” Ash admitted after dumping his fries into a pile. He looked at Castor. “Seven okay?”
Castor nodded.
“Okay, then, I’ll bring my family. We can reserve a small party room. I heard the others will be here around four or something, so we’ll call them up.”
“Are you sure it isn’t too much trouble?” Castor asked. “Are your parents okay?”
“My parents love to eat out…and, the only way we do that is with big parties, because it’s more worth it if we eat out with a big party.” Sue sipped her soda. “So, seven, right? Castor, where are you staying?”
“I’m checking into a hotel.” He smiled. “I have a discount to anywhere I check in.”
“That’s…why do you have that?” Ash was the one who sparked the question.
A gleam crossed Castor’s eyes. “Well, I do practice at a law firm, now, Ash; don’t you remember? I’m at Edison & Co…”
Ash remembered. But, he didn’t know there was one in Pleasantview…
“Oh, that’s right next to the hospital!”
“Over breaks, I come here to practice.”
Sue smiled. “That’s a waste of gas.”
“It’s worth it. Edison & Co. is one of the top law firms in the country.” A prideful smile crossed Castor’s face. “It takes real brains to get in there.”
“Have you always wanted to be a lawyer?” Sue’s innocent question must’ve sparked from somewhere deep in her childhood. “When I was younger, I didn’t always want to be a business owner. Actually, I kind of wanted to be a teacher.”
“…No.” Some kind of sadness came from his words. “Ac-actually, I’ve never wanted to be a lawyer…”
“Oh? Then why did you come here?” Ash whispered, as if someone was choking him.
Castor’s sad eyes turned into a well hidden lying smile. “…I had a full scholarship to somewhere. I didn’t want to waste it.”
“You must’ve been a good student.”
“…I was okay.”
Lunch was finished quickly after that. Strangely enough, it was Ash who left first, saying that his friend’s house was only a block away.
When he was gone, Castor and Sue walked to the car. “Is your house far?”
“No, not at all. Very close by, actually.”
“Oh, okay. But, I’m thinking that it isn’t in walking distance…?”
“It’s close by, but not that close.” When in the car, Sue looked straight ahead as Castor started the car. “Um, do you think that Ash is in a bad mood?”
“Recently, he’s always been in a bad mood. I think it has something to do with Kylie.”
“Oh, his girlfriend…”
“…Are you jealous?” His smirk wasn’t really intended.
“Nope.” She sighed. “I think it’s good that he has one.”
“Do you have one?” A teasing tone.
She bit her lower lip while smiling. “No.”
“Oh, I don’t have one either.”
She chuckled. “You? Don’t have one?”
“Believe it or not.” He pulled out of the MacDonald’s. “I’ve been single since the start of college.”
“So, you’ve had one.”
“And, you? Did you have one?”
She tried not to smile too hard…or else he’d see her desperation in needing to lie. “I’ve been single my whole life.”
“Ah, a virgin at l’amour.”
She laughed. “Virgin?”
“Yes, a virtuous virgin.”
She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t inexperienced. But, she knew it wasn’t the right time—or the right person—to tell. “…Well, I guess so.”
“So, where to?”
“At that stop light, make a left.”
“Do you have siblings?”
“Yep. I have five siblings—four girls and one boy.”
“Oh, wow.”
“I know. The second eldest is graduating high school, the third is a sophomore, the fourth is in eighth grade, the fifth is in fifth grade, and the youngest is in third grade.”
“It must’ve been hard growing up.”
“…Not at all. I love my brother and sisters. Do you have siblings?”
“An only child.”
She laughed. “You don’t know what you’re missing out on!”
“I don’t think I’m missing anything. I’ve got a frat house, and frat brothers.”
“Make another left. But, college and families isn’t the same thing. You don’t have a connection…”
“I’ve never been jealous of having siblings.” He smiled. “Actually, I’m kind of relieved.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know what you’re missing…” She perked up. “I’m the last house on the right.”
Castor marveled at the small home. He wondered how six children and two adults could fit inside.
“Come inside?”
He parked the car. “…Well…”
“You’re a guest. It’s the least I can do.”
“…Well, okay.”
Castor did feel strange having to take his shoes off. Luckily, he wore sandals. He didn’t want to bring out his smelly sneakers.
“No one’s home,” Sue announced.
A scratching sound came from a room. When Sue opened the door, two dogs came out and immediately ran to Castor. The little one jumped on him, like he was an old friend that it hadn’t seen in a long time. The big one cautiously sniffed him.
Sue picked the little one up after patting the big dog on its head. “This is Fluffy.” It was a typical name to the fluffy dog. “That’s Mao. He’s nice. He won’t bite.”
“I see.” Castor was already petting the friendly dog. He looked around. “I like the color scheme of this place.”
She giggled. “I never thought that a man would care about the color scheme of a house…My mom has good tastes; but, she doesn’t look it.”
“Why? What’s wrong with her?”
“Well, for one, she’s strict. Very strict. She’s a college professor at Pleasantview State. All she ever wears are neutral colors and black pumps. She looks like a strict and mean secretary.”
“Is this her?” Castor asked, noticing pictures on the side table. He picked up a picture of a woman who was in a black suit, carrying a child.
“Yep. That’s my youngest sister, Aliyah.”
Castor looked through the pictures. His eyes drifted to one of a little girl who was sitting on a piano, in a red Christmas-like dress. He smirked. “I’m willing to bet that this is you?”
He was the first one to get the bet right. The guests that came by always said that the pictures of the second oldest child as a girl looked just like Sue; that’s why they must’ve been Sue. “You know, you’re the first one to get that right. How’d you know?”
He looked at the picture, then slowly drifted his eyes to her. A spark struck his lips; struck his eyes when he looked at her dark eyes. He couldn’t back away; he had to back away. “…It feels like you. This one had your glow…”
Her smile set a firework off in his eyes. “That’s a first.”
“It’s the truth. This smile…yeah, the picture feels like you.”
“It’s weird, but whatever.”
The front door opened and Mao with Fluffy ran to the person who opened it. The slightly old man was stepping inside, in a business suit, a briefcase, and the newspaper. “Oh, Sue. I didn’t think you’d be home this early.” He noticed Castor. “Oh, hello, there.”
“H-hello, sir.”
“Ba, this is my friend from school, Castor. Castor, this is my father.”
“Hello, Castor.”
“Hello, Mister…?”
“Punyawong. Apichart Punyawong.”
“Yes, Mr. Punyawong.”
“So, I guess you’ll be staying for the break, Noo Sue?” Art made his way down the hall. He set his stuff down on the couch. “Come, come, have a seat.”
Castor sat in a nearby armchair whereas Sue went to sit next to her father. “Cah, Ba.”
“Excuse me.” He began rubbing his feet. “A long day at work.”
“What do you do, Mr. Punyawong?”
He smiled. “Oh, I’m a city planner.”
“Oh, wow.”
“I’ve been for almost thirty years.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Sure is.” He turned to Sue. “Get something for him to drink.”
Without warning, Sue jumped up before Castor could protest. She disappeared into another room.
“So, Castor, what are you majoring in?”
“Pre-law. Actually, I’m almost done; this’ll be my last year. I’ll be practicing with Edison & Co.”
“My, that’s very good. You are really good, then.”
“Th-thank you, sir.” Hearing it from anyone was something that made him feel arrogant—hearing it from this man sounded like a genuine compliment and made him humble.
“Will you become my lawyer when you’re done practicing?” Art laughed. “I’m looking for a new one…”
“O-of course!”
“Thank you. The lawyer we have isn’t on the same page as I am—even though we speak the same languages, no matter English, Thai, or Chinese.” He chuckled. “Where are you from, Castor?”
Sue came back with three glasses of iced tea and some snacks.
“Riverblossom Hills.”
“That’s a long way from here…” Art took a glass. “What makes you come to Pleasantview?”
“I had a full scholarship.”
“Ah, I see.” Art looked at the nearby clock. It was only twelve thirty. “My wife’ll be home soon. She works at Pleasantview State as a Chinese language teacher; so, she only has morning classes.” He nearly finished his drink when he set it down. “So, where are you staying in Pleasantview?”
“At the Hamilton Hotel.”
The Hamilton Hotel was an expensive five star hotel—almost a hundred per night, and that was only a room. “Isn’t that a little pricy?” Sue asked.
“I have a discount card.”
“Well, I was thinking that we should have dinner together, Castor.”
“Oh, Ba, speaking of dinner, how about we all go to Komen’s? I have a lot of friends coming later on.”
Art had on a very ponderous face. “Well, how many friends are we talking about?”
“About six more friends.”
Art nodded. “Okay. Go ahead and make the reservation…Yeah, Komen’s sounds good tonight. Ah, ask them for the private room in the back. Use my name, ‘kay?”
Castor didn’t mean to stay for another hour; but, Art’s persuasive conversation was pretty interesting. Then, Tip joined them—she was just as interesting as her husband.
By three, almost the whole family was in the living room, talking to Castor.
The second eldest—Susie—and the fourth eldest—Nita—had come to say hello, but quickly excused themselves to their rooms. The third eldest, Lee, and the two younger siblings—Nick and Ali—were crowding around their eldest sister.
When five came around, Tip gasped. “Oh, we’ve kept you here forever! I’m so sorry! And, you still haven’t checked in!”
“I-it’s fine, Mrs. Punyawong. If you don’t mind, then may I go check in now and freshen up? I’ll see you at the restaurant.”
“Do-do you know where it is?” Art asked. He then turned to Sue. “Maybe you should go with your friend…?”
Sue looked at Castor, while he desperately stared back at her. “I-I guess. Come pick me up when you’re done.”
“Oh, oh, sure.” Castor stood up.
“Noo Sue! Send our guest!” Tip was busily pushing her two younger siblings towards the hallway.
“Cah, Ma, cah.” She followed Castor all the way to his car. “Sorry about that.”
“About what?”
“My family.”
He chuckled. “Your family’s great. I really like them.”
She gawked at him. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m dead serious. You have a great family. I’m kind of envious…”
Everything was going according to plan: The group from the bus was already at Komen’s, the Punyawong family was already ordering favorites, and the conversations were bountiful.
But, one person was missing: Ashley Pitts.
Texting hadn’t helped. Calling wasn’t a great way, either. Leaving countless numbers of voicemails was helpless.
“I-I told him two hours ago about Komen’s…” Sue sighed. She paced the front of the restaurant; Castor sat on the planter near her.
“Maybe he’s coming. Probably forgot his phone or something.”
“I don’t think he’s coming. Well, I don’t care, much. He’s missing out on a good dinner. He was kind of psyched to meet my parents, too.”
Castor looked up at her. “What?”
“Well, when we planned the trip, I told him that he was probably going to meet my parents. For the next few days, he just kept interviewing me about them…”
He chuckled. “Guess that is his loss.”
Suddenly, her phone began to ring. She looked at the caller ID. As expected, it was Ash. “Hey, where are you? We’re already here-.”
“Can’t go.” He sounded weird. “Something came up.”
“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
“I-I’m fine.”
“Are you sure you won’t make it?”
“Hey, is-is Castor there?”
“Yeah. Want to talk to him?”
A pause. “…No. I-I won’t make it. May-maybe some other time?”
“Well, I guess that’s fine…Are you still at your friend’s house? It sounds like you’re somewhere else…” Actually, it sounded like a party in the background.
Another weird pause. “I-I’m at home.”
This kind of speech sounded way too familiar. “You’re drunk, aren’t you?”
A sort of hiccup. “Dr-drunk? Pssh. What are you talking ‘bout?” The sound that followed sounded like a gulping sound.
“If you’re drunk, just say so.”
“I-I’m not drunk!”
“Can you get home?”
“I’m fine! Just-just go back to him…to Castor…Shitty bastard…”
She sighed. “Well, if you’re fine then okay. I’ll see you tomorrow, maybe?”
“Are-are…Are you going to hang up?”
Castor grabbed her arm. She looked at him. He motioned towards the door: Lee was there, beckoning for them to go inside.
“Look, I’ve got to go. I have a family waiting for-.”
“Family?” he hiccupped.
“I’m at a dinner.”
He gasped. “Dinner! I was supposed to be there!”
“Look, no big deal. We’ll have dinner some other time.”
“And-and, Castor’s there? With your family?”
Castor pulled her gently. “I think they want us to order something.”
“He’s here. Got to go-.”
“Wait-!”
She shut the phone and let herself be led by Castor. “He’s drunk and at a party.”
“Figures.” Castor smiled. “Does this place have good pasta?”
She smiled. “Better sautéed chicken or fish.”
It was no surprise that Ash didn’t call the next day—nevertheless, appeared. It was certainly a surprise when Art suggested that Sue call up Castor and invite him for brunch.
Castor showed up in less than fifteen minutes of the call. It was a Saturday, and everyone was present. The table was crowded as they enjoyed a Chinese brunch.
When they were done, Castor invited the siblings to go out for shopping. Sue agreed, after Lee, Nita, and Nick agreed.
At the mall, the siblings separated from their eldest sister—the girls to a teen clothing store and Nick secured with a group of friends to the nearby arcade.
“This almost seems like a date,” Castor admitted as he held his hands behind his back as they walked on the first floor.
“Almost,” she repeated, a grin in her eyes.
“Dinner was great. I forgot to tell you and your parents.”
“I would think so. You finished almost everything…especially the wine. My dad really likes that about you—he complimented you all night about the wine, especially your so called talent on choosing a good wine.”
“My parents had a vineyard—I have good wine tasting in my blood.”
Sue looked up, just in time to see her two sisters coming down the escalator. She noticed the bags in Lee’s hands. “…My sister’s changed…”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“It’s bad. She’s…not herself at all. It seems like she’s forcing herself…”
“Who?”
“Lee…She didn’t even mention one thing about her best friends—Chase and Ashley.”
“Is something wrong with that?”
“Everything’s wrong. I’ve never heard her stop talking about them…She didn’t even mention them…”
“Maybe a hormonal change.”
“Lee’s a very stable girl, though…” She sighed. “Well, maybe you’re right…maybe it’s hormones. So…what are we going to do?”
“Want me to help you pick out a dress?”
She chuckled. “For what?”
“Maybe a date with me…Tonight…”
“You know what? You’re hilarious.”
He smiled. “How about it?”
“…Well…” She looked around and saw a movie listing panel. “I’d rather have that so called date right now. I have better things to do tonight.”
“Any time’s fine with me.” He shrugged. He came over to the listings. “…They all look boring…” He then thought about the movie theatre he passed by…but, they only had midnight showings. “…Are you doing anything after midnight?”
“Sleeping.”
“But, the best movies come out during that time.”
“What are you saying?”
His eyes sparkled. “Have you ever watched a classic black and white movie?”
