It was the first time I had ever seen Ray act so accommodating.
- 19.
“Izzy.”
Ray called out.
<
12:32
914
I came to and nodded at him, distantly. “I’ll go
see a doctor. I promise I’ll be healthy before
your wedding.”
“Ray, you don’t have to worry. I won’t ruin your wedding. Please leave now.”
Ray was already at the door. I closed the door
on him and that girl.
Ray knocked on the door, “Izzy, Izzy…”
Then I heard the girl’s voice, but I couldn’t
understand what she said.
Ray didn’t knock anymore.
I took a few pills and went to bed.
I started dreaming about my parents.
It was the summer of eleventh grade. We were harvesting rice.
<
Becca, wanted to humiliate me, and invited
most of our classmates to help me harvest rice.
My mom and dad brought out the best food to
entertain them.
Mom and Dad didn’t see the disgust on their
faces. But I did.
Ray was the first one to say something. “Uncle, this fish is delicious. Is it from the river?”
My dad nodded, smiling. “Yeah, there’s plenty
in the river. I have a few more in the bucket,
you guys can take them home with you.”
Ray ate happily, and went to help harvest the
rice.
- 20.
He didn’t know how. So I showed him.
He grinned and pinched my face. “Izzy, you
know so much.”
Then he started working silently.
The others gave up pretty quickly. Started doing
something else.
I went to the store and bought a bunch of
popsicles.
I gave them out.
Becca crossed her arms, “We’re helping you. You should at least treat us with something decent. Cheap popsicles are insulting.”
I replied, “It’s refreshing.”
Ray worked the hardest throughout the whole thing.
My dad kept praising him.
く
Everyone left one by one. Only Ray worked until
it got dark.
It was too dark to walk home.
My dad said, “Young man, stay the night. I’ll have Izzy set a bed for you.”
My room was on the second floor, and Ray
slept on a mat on the second–floor balcony.
The house wasn’t soundproof, and I could hear Ray tossing and turning.
So I brought him mosquito repellent.
As I reached him, he opened his eyes and grinned. “What, valedictorian, trying to do something to me while I’m sleeping?”
- 21.
I placed the repellent by his side, and asked softly. “Are vou hurtina?”
<
12:32
914
Ray had a delicate body. He never did any farm work, and I knew he must be sore.
I couldn’t see Ray’s face in the dark. He was
quiet for a while, then said in a low voice,
“Yeah, it hurts.”
I grabbed his arm, “I’ll rub it for you, It’ll get
better.”
I rubbed his arm. His body was getting hotter.
“Are you feeling hot?”
He coughed twice. “No…I’m fine.”
“Valedictorian, you’re really good at rubbing. I
feel a lot better.”
I thanked him after a while. “Ray, thank you for today. If it wasn’t for you, my parents and I would still be harvesting for days.”
<
12:32
Ray suddenly grabbed the back of my head and
pulled me closer.
His eyes were burning into me.
He asked, “Can I have a kiss?”
I froze, but then I nodded.
Ray looked stunned. “I was just kidding.”
My hand didn’t stop moving. I just “hmm“ed.
- 22.
Ray started to act cold towards me when senior
year started.
I was already saving up, thinking about how to
pay him back for his help.
Since my grades were good, people often asked me for help.
Since my grades were good, people often asked
me for help.
One guy, Jerry, asked me for help seven or
eight times a day.
When Ray passed us by, he said with sarcasm, “Jerry, using the valedictorian as your free tutor, huh?”
He then leaned down and looked at me, “Izzy, are you gonna get rich doing this?”
