"Jonea, what are you doing here?" Ed was utterly taken aback. "Ahem!" He pretended not to care and immediately straightened up.
"You alone; why are you sitting on the side of the road?"
Ed was scared. He felt threatened when he saw the girl. Jonea's appearance was like a ticking time bomb for Ed. He looked left and right.
"I'm waiting for a taxi. What do you want?" asked Ed curtly and warily. "You want to threaten me again?"
Jonea pursed her lips. "Wow, you keep prejudiced against me, huh? I saw you failing to get on the bus and refusing several taxis that passed by. Do you need a ride?"
Ed was very nervous. He couldn't believe the girl in front of him. Jonea's appearance was very different from when she was wearing a dress. This time Jonea was only wearing jeans and a thick sweater. But she looks more attractive.
"Ride?" Ed glanced at Jonea's scooter. It's a delivery scooter. There is a big box on the back of the scooter. "On that beat-up scooter? Huh, are you kidding me?" Ed gave her a disdainful look. "I don't-"
Hap!
Jonea threw the helmet at Ed's chest. The young man caught it on reflex and nervously.
"I don't need tum-"
"Get on!" Jonea exclaimed casually. "I'll take you to your destination." Jonea started to straighten her scooter.
Edison just stood holding the helmet. He just flipped through it like a confused person.
Jonea glared. "Good grief! You've never worn a helmet, have you? It's outrageous."
Jonea parked her motorbike and walked over to Ed. She snatched the helmet from Ed's hand and helped put it on Ed's head.
Jonea's height is only Ed's shoulder. The girl had to tiptoe a little to put on the helmet. When the helmet was on, Jonea accidentally stepped on Ed's leg and made him jump. The girl almost fell. Ed supported her back, and their faces met. Ed reflexively hugged the girl's waist.
"You… make me hungry," whispered Ed.
Thump!
Jonea threw one punch right at Ed's stomach.
The young man bent down, holding his aching stomach. "Your punches… really hard."
"Not really. You're the only one weak," Jonea hissed. "You think I'm your prey?" She left Edison and returned to her motorcycle.
"N-not like that. You… smell of fried chicken!" Ed grinned.
"Do you want to come or not?" said Jonea curtly.
"Yes, but…." Edison hesitated. "I've never ridden a motorcycle before. What should I do with such a small vehicle? Where should I sit? There's a box in the back."
Jonea rolled her eyes. "You just sit in the middle and hold on," she told Ed.
Ed sat halfway between Jonea and the delivery box bearing the logo of a fried chicken restaurant. He searched for the handle on the bike but found nothing.
Jonea, ready to pull the gas, suddenly failed to do so and sighed. She pulled Ed's arms forward and wrapped them around her waist.
"Hold it like this! If you fall, I won't bother turning around and picking you up again."
Ed was really nervous. He was afraid of falling off the motorbike but also scared of touching Jonea's body. He always felt a strange sensation whenever they touched. It felt like there was an electric shock on his body.
After the previous incident, as soon as he saw the girl's back, Ed's mind again drifted to the open zipper of the dress. He quickly shook his head to drive the thought away.
"Why are you in a place like this at night?" Jonea shouted over the roar of the wind and the echoing sound of the motorbike.
"Should… I should be asking you!" said Ed no less loudly beside Jonea's head.
Ed rested his chin inches from Jonea's right shoulder. His arms were tightly wrapped around the girl's slender waist.
"Hey, don't do that!" she shouted.
She started to lose concentration on driving. Several times the motorbike rocked because Ed hugged her very tightly. Ed even screamed every time Jonea went a little faster.
"I can't breathe, idiot!" she shouted. "Don't hold on too tight. You want us to die together?"
"I don't care!" replied Ed. "I don't want to fall. Your motorbike and your driving away are very scary. You're pushing it too fast."
Ed even closed his eyes the whole way. He did not dare to look at the bustling streets around him. Ed kept hugging Jonea's waist tightly like a child. Jonea had shortness of breath. Many road users glanced enviously at them. Time and time again, Jonea almost loses her balance.
"The seats are too cramped," Ed protested.
"You!" hissed Jonea. "You are a man, but complaint so much! If you don't like it, you can walk home right now. I'll drop you off here."
"Don't!" shouted Ed. "I don't want to come down. You have to walk me home."
They arrived in a densely populated suburban area. There are many flats and cheap apartments there. Jonea stopped her motorbike in an alley of a busy entertainment district.
"We have arrived!"
Ed opened his eyes and saw a small fried chicken restaurant.
"Come down, we've arrived!" hissed Jonea.
Ed was still in a position to hug Jonea tightly from behind. He gawked at the place.
"Well! You want me to hit you?" Jonea shouted as she took off her helmet.
Jonea is annoyed. She thought Ed was taking a chance. She swung her elbow into Ed's stomach.
Ed fell and groaned in pain. He rolled onto the asphalt, hitting his head first. Luckily there is a helmet that protects him.
"You… are really not a girl!" shouted Ed angrily.
"You… are really not a man!" Jonea retorted even more viciously.
He pulled the helmet from Edison's head and hung it on the motorcycle's handlebar. Then Jonea left Edison, who was still sitting on the asphalt, and she entered the chicken restaurant.
"Wait, Jonea!"
The girl ignored him.
Ed stood up, holding back a shiver. He wasn't wearing a coat or jacket. He tucked both hands into his trouser pockets and stared at the chicken restaurant Jonea had entered. Ed walked back two steps before turning around and crossing the street.
"It turns out… this place is crowded too, huh? I didn't realize it because I was too busy bemoaning my fate when I moved here a week ago. Phew!"
Suddenly Ed heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Ed turned his head before crossing.
"You have eaten?" she asked.
Edison's stomach grumbled. But he was too shy to say he was hungry.
"I've already eaten. I just want to go home and rest," Ed said in a relaxed pretentious style. "Remember our agreement. Do not divulge my secret; then, I will keep yours."
"Okay, whatever!" Jonea answered casually. "Have a good rest!" She teased Ed. "Even though I want to treat you to fried chicken. But, since you've already eaten, I'll finish it myself."
Jonea turned, and Ed grabbed the girl's elbow.
"What?" she asked.
He grinned. "Thanks for the fried chicken!" He snatched the plastic bag from Jonea's hand and sent her running across the street.
"Damn it!" hissed Jonea.
Ed waved as he stood across the street. "Thanks for the ride!" said Ed quietly. "I LOVE U!"
Jonea shuddered for a moment. She felt goosebumps. Jonea responded by waving her middle finger at Ed, and the young man laughed.
When Ed was going to go home, someone stood in front of the young man in shock. "Edison? What are you doing here?"