Loi felt himself sinking into the abyss, his presence and awareness of space falling away, descending perpetually into the nothingness. He was alone. "Maya?" He saw her gaining distance on him, falling away, being whisked from his sight by the sudden speed and direction. "Where are you going?" he cried out, begging her still form for an answer. "Maya? Speak to me!" he frantically yelled. Her body nearly imperceptible, she shrank and appeared to vanish. "Don't leave me, Maya!" he pleaded.
As the miasma of his feverish nightmare faded, Loi awoke with a sudden jolt, startling the contemplative Maya sitting at his side. Not seeing her, Loi sat up and stretched out an arm, making contact with her head. "Ouch...I didn't mean to do that. Maya? You're here?" he asked, apologetically. Maya sniffed back the tears from the sudden hit and replied. "Well of course I'm here, it's my house after all. What's wrong with you, Loi? What was that for?"
Loi cracked an awkward smile and agreed with her. "You're right, I know we've been over this before." He sighed heavily as Maya looked on in confusion. 'It was all just a dream... What if it happens someday? I can't shake this creeping, gnawing sensation that something is amiss. Maya won't always be here, will she? Hold on. When did start needing her around? We met with her telling me to get out and that she'd kill me... When did I develop a bond with that?!' Loi battled with his spiraling thoughts.
***
Kenta walked alongside Loi in the clear daylit roadway, destination unknown. Like carefree specks of particulate dust, they carried on, compelled by an invisible current. "Loi, you look so serious. What's bothering you, man? I haven't seen you look so hard-up since you had to move into your new place - we both know that's going better than anticipated." he carefully stated. Loi shot him a slow look. "Do you think Maya will disappear someday?" he asked. Kenta's immediate response was an equally sluggish closing of the eyes, contemplation of his next words.
He drew a deep breath. "It's possible...if she can fulfill her unfinished business on Earth, then she'll probably be able to ascend away from her trapped undead form. After all, Maya is a ghost..." Loi paused a moment. "Unfinished business? Like what, exactly?" he interjected. "When people die with matters that they have yet to attend to, they can become ghosts and haunt places or people. Guilt about something in their lives can be a reason that they would become stuck in between this life and the next..." Loi coughed. "Wow, you sure know an awful lot about ghosts."
Kenta wore a wry smile. "That's because I googled it after you met Maya, in case you had questions about her." Loi narrowed his eyes and adopted a smirk. "Uncle Google...everyone's information go to... I really should have known." Kenta's smile spread and now he gained a devious sparkle in his eyes. "Don't tell me - you're beginning to fall for Maya and you don't want her to lea-" Loi cut him off quickly. "No! Hell no! Are you insane? Maya wants to kill me! Well, she said she did. I'm just curious, that's all."
Much to his chagrin, Kenta picked up on Loi's faltering tone and burgundy face. "Oh! Now you're blushing!" he teased. "I am NOT! It's just hot out and I'm flushed! Why do you have to be like that, reading into everything, I mean..." Kenta bellowed a hearty laugh that resonated above the treetops. "Loi, regardless of what you say, there's something different about you. Maya's a ghost, but she's also a girl...it would only make sense that living together would give you - things to consider."
Loi soured. 'Yeah right, you just keep on laughing at me, Kenta...' he thought haughtily to himself. Kenta relaxed. "Don't worry, it's perfectly normal to falling in love with someone whom you're always hanging onto." Loi dropped his eyebrows. "Riddle me this, Casanova - why haven't you fallen in love with Jaja, seeing as YOU'RE always hanging onto her?" Kenta became quiet. "You're wrong Loi, because I actually am in love with her - with Jaja. I fell a long time ago." Loi reeled back in shock. He wasn't expecting his friend to admit to such a thing, especially not in such a way.
***
2 years ago:
Jaja gripped the would-be assailant by the collar, eyes aflame with righteous indignation. "Alright, who's next?" she growled, ferocious. The attackers turned tail and ran as quickly as their frantic feet would carry them across the pavement. "We lost to a girl?! She's too strong! This is so embarrassing, run!" they squeaked. "Come back here, you pathetic cowards!" Jaja crossly exclaimed after them.
A delicate and steady clapping began to resonate from Kenta's open palms as he walked near the warrior. "Wow, you're so strong! I am struck with awe and admiration of your strength!" Jaja glared at him with a deeply displeased look. "Who the hell are you? What do you want from me, do you want to fight me too?" she fired. Kenta beamed. "No, I want to join the judo club and quit being a delinquent! Fighting you might be the last thing I'd ever do. It'll be fun, I promise." He was met with a still-eyed and vacant stare. This would serve to be a turning point.
**
Echoes of opponents squaring off against one another clattering off of the walls in the Judo club dojo. PAK! Another ill-fated maneuver foiled by the undertaker. Jaja stood determined in her place, arms at her sides, ready to spring into action. "Who's next?" she bellowed, only to be met with silence. "You're all pathetic! Won't SOMEONE face me?" Kenta thrust an excited hand high into the air. "Me! Me next!" he shouted. Jaja narrowed her eyes slightly and sighed. "Alright...but I'll warn you now. I have no mercy."
"Bring it on!" Kenta yelled, charging headlong into his oblivion. BAM! Effortlessly to the mat, on his back. "I..lost?" he said, confused. Again to the floor. Kenta redoubled his efforts, they did not cease to be for naught - flip after toss after slam. He waved his arms frantically. "That's it! I'm quitting...you're so persistent! This club sucks now!" Jaja panted. Kenta, looking worse for wear, still refused to budge or crumble. Like a man possessed, "Again! I'm not done yet...again!" he yelled defiantly at her. Jaja scowled deeply and shot back "And you, why the hell are you doing this?"
"I wondered to myself if beating me would make you happier, since you like to fight and all...does it?" Kenta stated with a slight smile. Jaja's expression fell dour. ' I'm strong...I don't need you to help me... Mind your own damned business!' the thoughts swirled within her troubled skull. She stormed through the dojo and slammed the door beside her, shockwaves crashing through the air in her wake. "Wait!" Kenta called meekly after her.
Nightfall. A dazed Jaja walks through the streets, her thoughts in disarray. A grinning man begins to follow her. All of a sudden she is gripped from behind, unable to move, paralyzed by the prospect of her violation or worse, Jaja can only panic internally. 'I can't move...he's too strong! I can't escape! Someone, anyone...please notice...please help!' THWACK! The unknown assailant fell to the pavement with a thunderous thud. Kenta was standing behind the fist, drawing heavy breaths and asking her if she was okay. Jaja had already been caught unawares.
This was too much. A vacant and bewildered stare slowly spread across her eyes as they met his. "Y-you? What are you doing here?" she squeaked, adrenaline making it difficult to keep her composure. "There's no time for questions like that right now...I knocked him out. We need to get the heck out of here! Follow me." he assuaged, reaching out a tender hand. "By the way, are you doing okay? Are you hurt at all?" he doted. Jaja's eyes began to fill with heavy tears that pulled at the bottom of her eyelids. Kenta flashed a delicate smile.
"Come on, lighten up a little bit, I'll walk you home." he reassured. Then he grinned at her, realizing this would be a good time to introduce himself. "In case you didn't manage to learn it yet, my name's Kenta" he said kindly, "I'm glad that I found you again tonight." 'No one really considers that the hardest part of possessing strength is that nobody ever thinks you could be struggling somewhere. However this guy, this one...he might be worth getting to know.' she mused. "Nice to meet you, I'm Jaja." she simpered.
***
Loi's homestead in present day was ever bit the unassuming place as it was when he stumbled upon it. Not much else to it. A doorbell rang throughout the hallway, who could it be now? "I'm coming, just wait a second!" he called after the ringing. Loi pulled the door open to lay eyes on his visitor, a pout-filled boy meeting them in disgust. "Shunta...why are you here?" he sighed. "Why don't you ask your mom, you rude kid?" Shunta snapped. Loi offered him a raised index finger and bid him wait as he called her. "Mom, why is Shunta on my doorstep?"
"Loi, do you remember your Auntie Gina, my best friend? She's out of the country on business trip for the next 3 days... Since no one else is able to watch her son, she asked if Shunta could stay with you in the meantime. Naturally I said yes...you're responsible now, good luck! Bye, MWAH!" the voice on the other end of the line giggled. A piercing screech cut the still air. "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" Shunta and Maya were in an exchange of shocked glances. "A ghost...an old, ugly, hag of a ghost!" Shunta yelled and pointed hysterically.
Maya glared at him. "Ugly? Who's ugly? You had better take that back, or I'm going to haunt the ever-living daylights out of you, kid!" she glowered. Loi held her fury back. "Calm down, he's just some 6-year old kid..." Loi said. Maya was livid. "Let. me. go! I need to teach this brat some proper manners! He's such a rude..." Shunta interjected, leering at Loi.
"Hey, pubic hair! Could you make her quiet down? She's so noisy!" he curtly blurted. Loi tensed. "Pubic hair?! C'mere kid, I'm gonna beat the snot out of you!" he howled as he was held back by Maya. "Loi! He's only a kid..." she chattered. Shunta thumbed his nose at the pair and frowned. 'How do people deal with these little terrors? It's amazing anyone can.' Loi ruminated, inches from snapping again. Whether he was in or out, he was stuck with Shunta now. 'Gee, thanks Aunt Gina, Mom...'
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