CHAPTER TWO - THE LION AND THE ZEBRA (ROKU N' ROLL SCHOOL)
In the next morning.
- Talk to him?! That’s your big plan? - Whispered Yugo to Jesse. They were both hiding behind the school’s shrub while Juri was just some meters away from them talking to Shintaro.
- Pretty much. - Agreed Jesse to himself.
- But… Isn’t him scary?
- Nah, I’m taller than him. - Said Jesse trying to find excuses for himself to not feel scared.
- But the guy next to him... He is so big! I’ve heard some rumors that he even punched someone in the face and broke their teeth.
Jesse swallowed his own saliva.
- But this Juri guy - Continued Yugo. - He is really good at flirting… My sister has the biggest crush on him.
- Go flirt with him then! - Mocked Jesse.
- YOU go flirt with him, idiot! - Replied Yugo pulling Jesse’s arm.
- Okay, then! - Said Jesse pretending to stand up but Yugo quickly pulled his jacket down in the same second.
- Can you not be an idiot just once?
Jesse could try. But it was better to deal with issues in this way.
“Okay, I’m going to do it!” - Thought Jesse to himself.
He stood up and walked out the shrub with a confident attitude.
- Jesse, are you... Hey!!!
Yugo scared, got out of the secret basement in jump like a scared cat and followed Jesse (close enough so he could use Jesse’s body as a shield to protect himself).
So just like this, the fearless zebra faced the king of the jungle from far away. In the middle of the savanna, all the animals notice the tension and took a step back. The fearless zebra and his scared friend, the hedgehog, walked in the lion’s direction ready for the battle that would probably cost their own lives.
Once the lion heard the silent steps from the zebra, he got his ears carefully following the sound that got closer every second. He confidently faced the zebra with one straight look and smirked to himself. All the animals around went in a euphoria state of mind because who dares to face the jungle’s majestic.
- What do you want? - Asked Tanaka Juri with authority.
The zebra had two choices: Run away or apologized for the inconvenience. But Jesse was not an ordinary zebra, he was a crazy zebra. A crazy zebra that had his trustful best friend, the tiny hedgehog, right by his side… Well, between his legs.
- I’ve heard that you play guitar. - Said the zebra.
The lion smirked so the zebra could see a bit of his huge canines. The lion glanced his body guard, the bear, that shivered off his shoulders. They both didn’t understand why the zebra brought this topic up.
- What? - Asked the king wondering if the poor zebra was making fun of him.
- My-my… - Jesse could feel a cold drop of sweat running down his face. - My name is Jesse and I’m from the second grade.
- Hm. - Growled the lion crossing the arms.
- And there’s the school’s talent show in two weeks… And I was wondering… I mean, since you play guitar… If you would like to join my friend Yugo…
“Why you had to mention me?!” thought Yugo.
- And I… In a band.
The lion stood quite.
- I’m serious! - The zebra gained confidence once he realized the lion wasn’t that big in front of him. - I know how to sing and I play a little bit of guitar… And Yugo knows how to play the bass!
“Shut up, Jess…” thought Yugo scared.
- So I thought… - Concluded Jesse with straight posture. - What do you think?
“It wasn’t that bad!” Jesse thought to himself proud.
The lion probably thought of something for a second. He stood there. Analyzed the tall moron boy standing in front of him, then he wasted his precious time looking at the weird dork holding to the tall boy’s arm like his life depended on it.
“What a coward” thought the lion.
The zebra impatiently waited for the lion’s answers. He knew that his legs were ready to work in the speed of light to get him out of there. Suddenly, the lion opened a big mouth and started to laugh like the zebra told him the funniest joke ever. The zebra was confused but he decided to follow the king’s reaction to save his life.
Once the lion stopped, he stared deathly into the zebra’s eye.
“That’s bad” thought Jesse.
- That was the most ridiculous e stupidest thing I’ve ever heard in my whole life. - Finally answered the king.
Juri took a step closer. Close enough for him to feel Jesse’s respiration. Even though Jesse was 20cm taller, the lion didn’t lost his posture. He faced the zebra and looked at it in the eyes.
- Don’t you dare to talk to me again.
Then the lion and the bear walked away leaving the zebra and the traumatized hedgehog alone, but Shintaro kindly looked back at those two weirdos and giggled to himself.
***
After the embarrassed incident, Jesse and Yugo were hidden where they have beem hidden since they became friends: the P.E.’s storage room where the balls and other materials were kept. It was dark and old but it was a perfect place where those two could chit chat about everything without being bothered.
- So embarrassing… - Said Yugo while scratching his head nervously.
- No, it wasn’t. - Said Jesse while Yugo was complaining in the other side of the room, he was sitting in the chair facing the floor. It was his thinking pose.
Yes, it was embarrassing. After Juri left, it was like him and Yugo were naked in the middle of the school’s park. Everyone was looking at them and gossiping around. Probably, the rumor of Jesse confessing to Juri already came up by now. Jesse was trying to look at the bright side. Juri didn’t say no, he just called his idea stupid and it was - indeed - a stupid idea.
But even after this, Jesse wouldn’t calm down. He just couldn’t. It was his only and probably last chance to make it happen. He knew that if he didn’t make it now, he would lost Yugo by the end of the year to the universities’ exams. He would be alone and it was the only thing he hated the most. No one would be on his side. As much as Yugo complained, he was there. Somehow, he trusted Jesse and Jesse couldn’t let Yugo down. He couldn’t gave up like this.
- Let’s think of something else. - Said Jesse anxiously shaking his leg.
- Something else? All I want to do down is drawn myself inside an onsen…
- Onsen… - Repeated Jesse giggling alone. -Well, I’ll not let this brat ruin everything!
- Jesse… - Yugo tried to stop Jesse’s thought but he knew that it was impossible.
Since he met Jesse, he knew that Jesse was obsessive with famous rock bands. Even when Jesse approached him five years ago was to say that his t-shirt was cool and since then their bond became inseparable. This adrenaline that Jesse has inside his mind was what makes Yugo’s life more fun.
- What’s your plan then? - Asked Yugo dropping a burning match in the poured gasoline in Jesse’s mind.
- What plan? - Said a mistery voice from far away.
They both looked to the room’s door that was opened and brought an unnecessary light to their eyes. A not so tall but strong silhouette was coming closer with a bright energy and a wide open smile.
- Shin- Shintaro?! - Exclaimed Yugo ready for his end to be right there, in the old P.E.’s room where no one would notice because no one dared to go there.