#2. Croaked
I never had any regrets in life, except for believing everything would be alright if I just let it be. Things were different ever since my father went out with another woman after he had divorced my mother.
The woman was Ulfi. She owned a small arts and crafts business, and it wasn't who she was I was worried about, but rather what life she lived. My suspicion was right after we had a certain visitor to our home the last few weeks: her ex-boyfriend Jovan. The guy embodied the stereotypical ex found in movies: possessive, edgy, and most likely hostile. I couldn't deny he was a threat, based on how Ulfi described her previous relations with him to me and my father. My father and Ulfi had talked to him about the various times where he was stalking them, or signs he was around the house when I was doing my shifts at the local pet shop. Jovan's been doing this for almost 2 months now, and I've craved for getting my shot at putting him in his place.
Although a talk with Ulfi one day makes me think otherwise.
"In spite of Jovan's behavior, doing him harm won't make it better."
"What do you expect me to do? Just be silent? Just let some fiend threaten my own family?"
I am not against what you feel, but I am against how you would channel it." She remarked. "Violence doesn't solve anything."
I wanted to take her words to heart, but I wonder if she could say that for wars, self-defense, and 'necessary action' by the police and the military. Okay, shootouts or gun related violence almost never happen here in the country, seeing how guns are illegal except for the ever so obvious law enforcement.
Bear in mind though, is that the death sentence still exists, and most of the time, people have zero trouble with bad people being put down.
I'm not saying Jovan should be put down, but if he does cross that one line you should never cross. I'll be sure to be there when it happens.
***
Working at a pet shop never brings a casual day for me.
Yes, there are those particular moments when it comes to working with animals. Good moments like washing them, grooming them, and making sure they're every bit of healthy. Once in a few weeks or sometimes once in a month, my coworkers and I would bring the animals to a vet not far from the shop, just to be extra sure these animals are in top condition before they would have to be seen in a home and managed by people who would be more than happy to take care of them.
I don't have a pet myself, but I am interested though.
I was in the backroom, feeding the dogs and cats their food, before I moved onto to the front display where I refilled the small bottle belonging to the glass case filled with hamsters.
"Things are all good at home?" my coworker Gerry asked.
"Something like that."
"Let me guess, that possessive freak's after your old man's girlfriend?"
"I am this close to getting the police involved, or taking manners into my own hands." I said as I heard a large thud, before I ran outside to see a broken case which spilled water on the ground, and frogs.
"Dammit." I told the guy who sheepishly looked guilty. "Don't just stand there! Help me get the frogs!"
After the frog catching fiasco, I had an aquarium filled to the three quarter with water, before putting some plastic ground and lily pads for the frogs. One of the frogs seemed hesitant to get it, as it jumped out of my hand before I ran around the shop, and catching it with my hands, being careful not to hurt it.
"Always a caring guy." said Gerry who was holding a wide but small rectangular plastic case with water. "Put him in here." I did as he asked, and the frog went in. He then put the case near the counter. "Looks like he prefers being here."
"Looks like it." I said, amused by how the frog was swimming back and forth, before standing on its feet to stare at me.
"You're a feisty one are you?" I asked amusingly. I head over to the counter as soon I heard the door open. There, a woman and her daughter entered. The girl's eyes widened in awe upon looking at the glass box cases of the animals here. Dogs. Cats. Reptiles. Hamsters. This place isn't a zoo, but it's enough to see some animals, but as any business, we're here to make money. We also want these animals to have a home, but we also get the money. Every family or person seeking an animal companion is more than welcome to come in here and find the one that suits them. I can't blame them. Human beings can be complicated sometimes. "Good morning." I say to them with a smile. "Welcome to the Pet's Haven. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"I was wondering if you have any cats on display?" asked the mother. Her daughter seemed more than excited as her eyes filled with awe upon looking at the animals around here.
"A frog!" she pointed at the frog in the plastic case on the counter. "Is he yours?"
I chuckled. "Oh no, this one is a bit...out of place with the other frogs. Follow me." I brought them to a smaller section of the shop where several cats were display in their cages. Many were still sleeping, and I do hope they don't act hostile because somebody disturbed their sleep.
"Reza. There's something out front." Gerry called out to me. I was confused. His voice sounded like it was an emergency, so I left the customers to look at the cats, and went to the front door.
Damn, I thought, as I noticed a car parked a few meters away from the shop's front doors.
Jovan was there. I recognized that stupid hairstyle greased with hair gel and while there were places around this region to do, like eat, I'm not really sure if that was the case. I felt the need to go out and question him, but my job. No. Not today. I'm sure he's just living his life, doing whatever he likes to do outside. That doesn't mean I won't be wary of him though. I'm sure he's a nice guy and he's got a good side to him, but until I witness that, it's all him being a fiend.
I look at the frog on the counter. In my mind, not many people in general would want frogs as a pet, presumably because they're too small, they jump all over the place, or maybe they seem gross. I looked at Gerry. "Hey, you think the boss will be fine if I take this frog?"
"I guess he'll be fine with it. Long as you manage the purchase"
***
Normally I'm not paranoid, but something about Jovan being here rubbed me the wrong way, even after he's left. By the time I had the frog brought back to my place, I called my father's home number.
First call. No answer.
Second call. Same as the first.
Third time lucky? I thought nervously as I heard the phone pick up.
"Dad-"
"Hello!?" exclaimed a woman's voice. It was Ulfi, and in the background was some shouting between two men.
"Reza! It's Jovan, he-"
"I'm on my way now!" I exclaimed as I locked my place and went on my motorcycle. I sped towards traffic as adrenaline started to build inside of me. I stopped at my father's house, where I saw the door violently open and I saw Jovan walking out. He turned to see me.
I ran toward him. "HEY!" I took of my helmet and threw it at him as he ran away like the coward he was. I ran back inside the house, Ulfi was holding my beaten father. There wasn't any sign of blood, but he was in pain.
***
Days had past ever since the incident, and the police agreed to press charges against Jovan the animal should he dare show his face around. Father thankfully didn't need hospital care, but I came every morning to check on him and Ulfi, accompanying them, and as usual, be on the lookout for a certain someone who had just crossed the line. You don't hurt an old man, especially if that old man has a son full of fighting spirit.
Family is their one thing that gets you up and life, seeing how they're the reason you were brought into this world. For some people, they never knew their parents, their actual ones, and it can be one of those moments where the parents are at fault. Unless that's the case, I don't see why you honor, serve, and protect your family. I might sound like a family man, but I have yet to have my own family. My father, he's a strong guy, and I still respect him despite the struggle he had with my mother. It wasn't anything spectacularly horrible, but there were signs of an argument going wrong. I stepped in to stop it at the time it happened, just as I was fresh out of college.
Although my parents are separated, and there's not much harmony between them left, I still respect for them and their wellbeing. That, for me is what being a son is all about.
As for Jovan? He's not family.
He's not my friend.
He's not even somebody I'd help on the street.
All he is now, is a threat to me and my family.
Right now, I was guarding my father's place because he and Ulfi went out to get some supper. She left her phone charging on the kitchen counter and here I am just waiting on things. Although I do hope to get home soon so I can replace Donnie's water. Oh yeah, that frog I encountered back at the pet shop? Yeah I took it home with me. Named him Donnie, in in honor of one country rock musician, Donnie Watson, whose music has made me chill and wanting to learn to play the guitar, again.
I heard a buzz from the kitchen counter. Looks like Ulfi left her phone on while charging. My father checking in? If that was the case, he could have phoned my number. My plan was just seeing if there was a message on her phone or just a plain notification.
Turns out, there was a message, but after seeing who it's from, my blood boiled.
Some people just can't move on, I remarked as I saw Jovan's name. It's been weeks since my father first started going out with Ulfi, and she hasn't blocked his number yet.
The message he sent? It was a voice recording.
'Ulfi, I hope you can find it in your heart to hear me out, already 5 seconds in and I was already rolling my eyes. I understand that you are with somebody else, and I understand that you are angry with my behavior the past few weeks after we've call it quits to our relationship, especially since I've done something inhumane.'
I wonder why.
The recording continued. 'I was dumb to let my anger get the best of me. I harmed a man, and I know I'll get what I deserved. I know I can't get you back, but let's just talk it out at least. Make peace. I don't want to live with double sided guilt. What I've done was already horrible enough. I don't want any trouble you or from your new lover and his son anymore.'
He gave a time and location to meet, to seemingly end it all.
If you could get a thermometer wedged into my skin, then the mercury inside would rise up to the edge.
***
I met Jovan at an empty parking lot, where I greeted him by dragging him out of the driver's seat of his car and shoved him to the ground
Right now I didn't want a fair fight; think of it as his actions toward my father days being reversed to him. The tables have turned. Jovan used his arm power to get up, but my foot made contact with his stomach. I kicked him with my right foot, my anger serving as fuel to give more power to the foot. I could hear him cough and wheeze at the same time. I gave a harder kick, and he rolled onto the pavement.
I knelt down, and had my right fist meet his face. Over, and over, and over, and over again.
Each punch seemingly harder each time I punched him. It was like hitting a punching bag.
Correction. A human punching bag.
He didn't seem good looking anymore. He was moaning in pain at this point. He wheezed again, and he wanted to call out something in his raspy voice.
"What was that?" I exclaimed. Before I called out. "Yes?"
"I'm so sorry." He said weakly. A pint of blood came out of his noise and his cheek was bruised. I shook my head at the sight of him. "I-"
I threw him against the side of his car, his head generated a small dent on the driver's door. Opening the driver's door, I placed his head in between, the door weighing on his head and neck. He kept weeping "no" several times.
My blood boiled. I can't help but feel that charges or even jail time would be enough to learn his lesson, not fully. I stood back and allowed the door to be near his neck, then I kicked it.
The door pushed his head to the other side of the panel, and he felt on his back, with the door pushed away wide up due to the impact of my kick.
I stood over his body, as my hands pulled my hair and I growled.
I'm not proud of this, I'm not, I thought, but you left me no choice.
***
Jovan got a one way trip to the hospital, and judging by his condition, I think he's heading straight to the Emergency Room. This became the big news in the morning of the day after tomorrow. I was cooped up at my place, not talking to my father, nor answering Ulfi's questions, in which if Jovan's accident had anything to do with me and voice message he left, which I realized was still there on her phone.
I failed to cover it up, but I knew what was coming to me sooner or later.
I figured.
The news got a close up on Jovan's battered face. His somewhat good looks now being replaced with a surface of bandages coated in some of his blood. The bandages even went all the way down his neck. Based on what the doctor says when being interviewed, apparently I nearly broke his trachea. I turned off the TV, before focusing my attention to Donnie, who was just being still in his plastic case. He was just standing there in his new little home.
Then, a knock was on my door. I opened to see to uniformed men standing up right. They had police badges.
"Reza?" The older man said as his partner was silent and staring at me. "Around a few weeks ago I believe, our colleagues received a task of pressing assault charges to Jovan Ananjaya for assaulting your father, yet a few days later, we overheard Jovan was assaulted at a parking lot, just near the Gladstone Hotel." He paused for a bit as I paid attention. I didn't say word, nor do I plan to. "We'd like for you to come with us to the station for some questions."
"Can I ask a small favor before we go?"
"And what would that be?" the second officer asked in an unkindly manner.
I pointed to Donnie's plastic case. "I want you to take my frog to the home of Azrul Palwano, my father, and his mistress, Ulfira Sastina. If you don't comply I will resist."
The two officers looked at each other, before the older one spoke on his walkie talkie. "Send an officer to the suspect's house, to pick up a frog belonging to him, en route to the address of Azrul Palwano."
"See ya Donnie." I waved goodbye. "Sorry I can't be here for the rest of your life.
The officers escorted me to a police SUV, where the elder officer took the front and his partner sat with me in the back. I was quiet throughout the journey to the police station. I've done what I believed I had to do.
We all get something in the end for what we've done in the end, and there's a 1% chance of nothing happening at all. That's how it works in life. Jovan and I, we aren't any different at all when we comes to what we've done and what we got in return, but the biggest difference between me and him? I'm going stay bad place for who knows who long, being silent while in my head, I get drowned in guilt.
As for Jovan? Well, he croaked like a frog.
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