Last Updated: September 7, 2009


... Teddy Bear ...


Chapter Nine:

More drops of rain fell from above but two persons were protected from it.

"Teddy, we can't let anybody see we're protected from the rain!" Zick began.

"You're right." Teddy disused his Enviro Dom. And so, rain began to make the two tamers wet again.

Annoyed, Zick faced Teddy. "This is not what I meant!"

Teddy hugged Zick so tight. Zick was surprised.

"This is..." Teddy hugged Zick more tightly. "...what I understood."

Rain continued to fall as Teddy continued to hug Zick tightly.

Zick could not still believe what was happening. He couldn't move himself much not just because of the hug but also because he was surprised. Seeing as this was already happening, he planned to wrap him. He raised one of his hands slowly. But at the time he almost accomplished what he was planning, he stopped himself. He quickly put his hand down.

He tried to move to let go of himself. Teddy felt it so he let go of him.

"Did something bad happen?" Zick asked.

"Not really. I..." Teddy answered. "I was just protecting you from the rain! What's up with you? Is there something wrong with what I did?"

Zick became more aware about the existence of the rain. "Your hug is useless. I'm still being poured while you're hugging me."

"You didn't feel warm when I hugged you?"

"I guess... I felt a little warm." Zick couldn't look at Teddy in the eyes.

Teddy grinned. "Then my hug isn't useless." He tried to hug Zick again.

Zick wanted to stop him but something told him he shouldn't. Plus, he was already too late; Teddy was already holding him close.

He then slowly raised his hands and hugged Teddy. He was feeling that hug, slowly feeling that hug.

"So... do you feel the warmth, Zick?"

"Yes. I feel it."

.....

'It was like a dream.' Zick was remembering the rain scene while looking at the ceiling. His hair was still wet. What happened earlier was somehow weird but he really needed it.

After being happy for a moment, he frowned. Although he was pleased with what happened earlier, he wished it didn't happen. He didn't want to misunderstand anymore. Misunderstandings like this would hurt him more. The lesser the he-likes-me misunderstandings, the better.

'But what if he likes me?'

He wanted to feel good but these would also make him feel bad. He quickly rejected his theory. Though to be honest, he didn't really know what he should believe.

Zick felt someone entered his room. He moved his head and saw Timothy.

"Zick, I'm just reminding you not to let Bombo come in this room." Timothy impatiently said, wiggling his tail.

Zick nodded. Timothy was about to leave but—

"Timothy!"

The tutor stopped and faced Zick.

"May I talk to you about something?"

"I suppose the next thing I'm about to do will have to wait."

"Thanks." He paused. Then he started to explain slowly. "Well, let's say there's something you want. You really want to have it, but you shouldn't have it because you feel it isn't right."

"Like 'I like something but I shouldn't like it?'"

Zick nodded.

"If I finally got what I like, will I regret it?"

"I guess not?"

"If I finally got what I like, will I be happy?"

Zick took a deep breath. "I think you will be very happy."

"I see." Timothy paused. "Well, I see nothing wrong if a person wants to be happy... as long as that person won't regret doing something that will make him happy.

"Zick, I think you're just being pessimistic."

Timothy left. The things he just said were the words Zick needed to hear.

Zick began to think, 'Will I regret it if I tell him?'

He took a look at the floor to find the wristwatch Teddy gave him. He was glad it was still there. He picked it up and put it inside his drawer.

'No, I will regret it if I will not be able to tell him.'

He took a quick look at the window. It was already evening but it was still raining.

.....

'Be strong, Zick.'

"What was the something you wanted to tell me?" Teddy began asking, facing Zick. Both of them were sitting, facing the same table in the armory's dining area.

"I'm not really sure how to start..." Zick's hands were holding each other on the table.

Teddy was still waiting. He was expecting something but what he was expecting was more likely not the something Zick would want to tell. Or was it?

"I... I—"

"I love you."

Zick remembered the scene where Teddy and he were having an 'I love you' practice.

"You just have to say 'I love you.' Is that so hard to say?"

Zick repeated Teddy's question to himself. 'Yeah—is that so hard to say, Zick?'

"You know what, Teddy?" Zick began to speak again.

"Well, I see nothing wrong if a person wants to be happy..." Timothy's face appeared in Zick's thoughts.

"I'm very happy I met you." He looked at Teddy and was somehow surprised he was actually listening.

"Me think me feel better if me hug you." Bombo also became visible in his mind.

"I think I will feel better if I say this," Zick continued.

"You are here... because of fate." Teddy's words last time came back to make Zick stronger.

Teddy, I'm probably here because of fate. "I think I—"

"Zick!" Lay interrupted.

Teddy and Zick saw the 'disturbance' walking towards them. Zick wasn't pleased. He almost had said it. That girl...!

"What's up?"

Lay stopped walking. "I'm sorry for interrupting but I need you to research about Snyakutz Bambey as soon~ as possible. You know, for our project?"

Zick stood up.

"I'm sorry. Being the leader of our group, I'm the one who should do it but I need to go home for personal reasons. I hope you understand."

"I'll go now then."

"Thanks, I better leave too." She put on a fake smile. She tried not to look at Teddy as she left.

Zick faced Teddy. "I'll tell you later then." He left Teddy unsatisfied.

.....

Bobby and Paul were exchanging opinions about iPods while walking. Zick, who was also walking, was behind them. He could hear what they were talking about, but he was uninterested so he didn't want to listen.

Bobby changed the topic. "Say, Paul. What are your opinions about homosexual people?"

Zick was surprised. He started to feel Bobby somehow wanted to backstab him or something. 'But Bobby didn't know I'm a homosexual, right? Right?'

"No comment. You?"

"I find them dis-gus-ting!"

Ouch. The word 'disgusting' was like a cold-handed slap in Zick's face. Bobby, whether he knew or not, was insulting Zick already. But of course Zick shouldn't walk to other directions; he didn't want to be obvious. He continued to walk and tried to feel at ease.

Bobby continued, "The whole world in general doesn't like them. They are not really accepted in our society."

Zick gulped. He felt bitterer and more insulted.

"They say it's not a choice. Nonsense! No one is born gay.

"I even heard homosexuality is a sin! You see? Even God doesn't like homosexuals."

Zick stopped walking. He heard enough. 'He's really antagonizing me!'

Paul asked, "Really?"

"That's what I believe." Bobby stopped walking and looked behind him. "How about you, Zick?"

Zick looked daggers at Bobby, clenching his fists. Starting from they talked about homosexuality, he was being mocked, humiliated and antagonized. 'Curse him! Who does Bobby think HE IS?!'

"Do you... have any opinions?" Bobby asked, smiling.

Damn. That smile was mocking him as well. It made him feel more disgusted about himself. He felt weak as he put his hands to rest. Yeah, he hated the things said by Bobby. He then hated Bobby. But he felt affected with the things Bobby had said. He felt he was slapped a lot of times on both sides of his face. Words seemed to be really mightier than swords.

Zick wanted to fight the humiliation but tears wanted to appear in his eyes. The next thing he knew he already lost the game—he was already combating his own tears.

Game over?

.....

To be continued...