Capítulo 22: PROMISES SHOULD NEVER BE BROKEN: JOY GONE! 5

They arrived at Garada at exactly 5'oclock in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Joe was ready for the game and on her way to the Basketball courts.

After they arrived at the hospital, Christine quickly ran off to her sister's room with David trailing behind her. She saw her sister strapped in the bed. She was awake and smiled weakly at her.

"You're here," Tara said.

Christine chuckled and kissed her forehead, "Hey, kiddo. You okay?"

"You know me. I'm strong. But, it's just painful taking the shots. I cried again. Are you still proud of me?"

Christine smiled and nodded.

David smiled at the reunion of the sisters but his smile quickly vanished after remembering Joe. He motioned to Christine that he will make a phone call and walked to a secluded area of the hospital.

He really felt so bad. 'Joe.' He took his cell phone and browsed on it until she found her name. 'What will I tell you? I couldn't make it again.' He looked up. 'I can't do that.' He sat down on the cold tiled floor. He dialed Kenji's number instead.

Kenji was at Ji's estate writing a song intended for Joe when his phone rang. His forehead scrunched after seeing who it was. "Don't tell me you can't make it, David." He picked it up.

"Kenji," it was David in the other line.

"Where are you?" he asked right away.

"Garada," David answered.

Kenji sighed. Garada is a four hours drive away. He felt sorry for Joe, "Joe's already at the court. Did you call her?"

David closed his eyes and could not explain why tears started to flow down, "I don't know what to tell her anymore. I promised I could make it. Can you play with her? Please… Christine's sister was rushed to the hospital. The girl has leukemia."

David heard Kenji take a deep breath before responding. "I will. Be safe when you drive back."

'This is going to be painful.' Kenjo thought after he hung up. He took his water bottle and went to his car.

David wiped his eyes and looked away, "I'm really sorry, Joe."

*****

Joe was waiting excitedly for David to come when after thirty minutes, Kenji's car stopped by. She sighed sadly. Somehow, she knew what it meant. Kenji came down the car with a box of pizza and a liter of soda. He smiled as he walked to her direction. He sat down beside her.

"Let me guess. He could not make it, huh?" she asked, a bit angry. She was hurt and angry.

"Christine's sister was rushed to the hospital at Garada."

Joe smiled sadly and looked at Kenji.

Kenji pointed at his shoulder, "You know my shoulder is always available."

Joe's face expression changed into crying. She pulled Kenji's shirt towards her and cried on his shoulder. Kenji sighed.

After a while, Kenji cleared his throat. "I bought your favorite pizza. Toppings are all meat," he said.

Joe chuckled and pulled away. She wiped her tears, looked at him and smiled, "Let's have fun today, okay?"

Kenji nodded, "Sure."

Together, they stood up and played Basketball.

*****

After Christine saying it was all right for him to go back to Chiness, David drove off. He was at full speed so the 4 hours trip became two. He arrived at their estate at 9:45 and immediately headed for Joe's room. He knocked.

"Joe…" There was no answer. 'Please don't be so angry with me.' He knocked and called once more, "Joe, are you there? Can we talk, please?" There was still no response. 'She is really too angry.' He tried once more, "Joe…"

"Master David," Matthew called. David turned around, "Miss Joe is with Master Kenji at the Basketball Courts. They haven't returned yet," Matthew added.

"What? But it's almost ten," he said and walked back to his car. He drove to the Basketball courts. He saw the two still playing. He stepped down the car and called, "Isn't it too late for Basketball? "

Kenji after hearing David's voice threw the ball into the hoop and it went in. He smiled and turned to him. "We probably forgot what time it is," he answered.

David nodded and looked at his best friend. She could not hide from him that she was angry. She picked up the ball and threw it again. It went in. She did it over and over again, ignoring his presence.

"Joe…" he called. She kept on playing the game. "Joe," he said and walked to her. Joe caught the ball and took a shot one more time. David gently held her elbow and turned her to him, "Joe."

Joe looked at him. Her sweat was trickling down her forehead. She faked a smile and shrugged her elbow from his hold, "Hey… you're here," she said.

"I'm sorry… I really wanted to come here."

Joe closed her eyes and smiled sadly. She lowered her head and opened her eyes, "But you didn't," she said softly and walked over to Kenji but David took hold of her wrist.

"Can we talk? Please?" Joe did not say anything. She just looked down. This was the second time he saw her like that. The first time was at her parents' funeral. "Joe…"

'I'm tired.' She still loves him and wants to stay beside him. But, now, she is hurt and tired. She was about to shrug off his hold again when Kenji took her other wrist and smiled.

"Hey, you promised me you'll help me find a good LP today as long as I keep on playing basketball without resting. The music stores are going to close already," he said and smiled at her.

She knows Kenji was lying. But, she knows why. Kenji understands that she cannot talk to David in this state. They might have a very big fight and she does not want that. Joe looked at David and pulled her wrist from him.

"I promised Kenji," she said. Kenji let go and Joe quickly walked to his car.

Once she was far from earshot, David looked at Kenji, "Thanks."

Kenji gave him a small smile. "It's fine with me. But next time, try to keep your promise because it hurts when promises are broken," he said and walked to his car.

David watched as the two rode off. He sighed. Somehow, he fears that this situation will be worse. 'I have to make it up to her.' He picked the ball up and shot it in the hoop. It went in.