16 Trus (1/2)

”What happened to you?” Wang Yang, Rachel, and the rest of the gang were shocked to see Joshua lying on the floor.

”Oh, my God! The DV camcorder!” Rachel took a deep gasp, and they shifted their gaze to where her eyes pointed. And there it was—the camcorder—lying haphazardly on the floor just like Joshua. Wang Yang had a sudden, sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He rushed over to the DV camcorder and picked it up. As he began to inspect it for damage, his face darkened.

Upon seeing Wang Yang's grim expression, Jessica's heart sank. ”Joshua, you didn't drop the DV camcorder on the floor, did you?” Jessica asked, hoping that somehow things weren't as bad as she thought.

”I'm so sorry, I did drop the DV camcorder…” Joshua picked himself up in front of everybody's anxious gaze, rubbed his forehead, and uttered regretfully. ”I didn't mean to! I was just minding my own business when a rat appeared out of nowhere, scurried in front of me, and tripped me over. D*mn that stupid rat…”

”A rat? Are there any rats here?” Zachary Levi sounded skeptical. ”How come I've never seen one before?”

Jessica looked at Joshua, obviously suspicious of him. ”A rat? Jeez, what kind of rat could trip a big ape such as yourself?” Then, suddenly, she raised her voice. ”Please Joshua, if you want to lie to us, at least come up with a better story!”

Rachel cast a look at Zachary before consoling Jessica. ”The DV camcorder might not be broken. Let Yang take a look at it, first.”

”But…” Jessica was still spearing Joshua with her eyes.

”Quiet, d*mn it!” In the heat of the moment, Wang Yang lost his patience, lifted his head, and let out a yell. Then, he apologized and continued to examine his DV camcorder.

Jessica was stunned. D*mn it? She looked at Wang Yang, not saying a thing. Each time she replayed those words in her mind, it felt as if a razor was slicing through her heart. Was Yang mad at her? Was she supposed to feel offended? She bit her lips and turned her face away. She thought it best not to reveal her negativity and acted as nonchalant as possible.

The DV camcorder in Wang Yang's hands was a Sony DCR-TRV900, a high definition 3CCD camcorder released by Sony that year. It was widely considered to be the best DV camcorder for home use on the market at the time, and its price tag reflected that. A crack in the lens or a nick in the display would've likely resulted in the forfeiture of his 1000-dollar deposit, not to mention a hefty fine.

To Wang Yang's relief, the case, the lens, and the display of the DV camcorder were all fine. However, as soon as he pressed the ”on” button, he realized that it wouldn't turn on. Even taking out the battery, putting it back, and pressing the button again didn't help. It remained ominously unresponsive. He shook the contraption in frustration. He thought, ”Please don't be broken. If you're broken, how am I supposed to afford to rent another DV camcorder?””D*mn it… please be fine, please!” he cursed.

”Yang, stop it.” Rachel walked up to him and grabbed his hand. She gave him a gentle, reassuring smile and said, ”There's always a way, isn't there?” Wang Yang took a deep breath to calm himself down, then nodded and said, ”Yes, you're right.”

Jessica felt an urge to interrupt when she saw Rachel patting Wang Yang's arm and consoling him, but her lips failed. She wanted desperately to soothe him, yet an invisible force in her heart was holding her back…

Wang Yang fiddled with the camcorder a few more times, but to no avail. He smiled resignedly and shook his head. ”It won't turn on. There must be a problem with the internals. I need to take it back to the video equipment store and let the owner look at it.” Then, he extracted the MiniDV cassette, held it to his eyes, and let out a sigh of relief. ”The good news is, the cassette is fine. We still have all the footage we shot today.”

Wang Yang tried to remain optimistic and think on the bright side. Perhaps the DV camcorder only had a small bug that could be easily fixed. At the same time, being no stranger to video equipment, he also knew it could be a sign of a major complication. Hence, despite his carefree exterior, he was extremely troubled inside.

Wang Yang clapped his hands together and said to Rachel and Zachary, ”All right guys, I guess that's it for today's shooting session. I'm going to take the DV camcorder to the video equipment store for a check-up and let you guys know the result as soon as I hear from the owner.” With that, he retreated to his bedroom and turned off his computer.

Rachel and Zachary nodded in agreement and began to pack their things. Zachary collected his belongings and left before anyone else, while Rachel had to go to the bathroom and change out her pajamas for normal clothes, leaving Jessica and Joshua alone in the living room.

”Joshua, are you happy now?” Jessica finally snapped. Her lips trembled, and she clenched her jaw and stared at Joshua. ”I'll deal with you when we go home. I want you out of here, right now!” she said in a menacing voice.

Joshua threw up his hands innocently and swore, ”Trust me, I really saw a rat, and a very big one too. It tripped me!”

Jessica rolled her eyes. She'd about had it with Joshua. She threw herself on the sofa, stewing in her own anger without saying a word. Who did he think he was kidding? What an absurd story!

”Okay, I'm going, I'm going.” Joshua knew she was in no mood to listen to his explanation. Not wanting to aggravate her any further, he turned and left.

Once Joshua was gone, Jessica had no one to vent her anger on. She glanced at the bedroom and sighed.

At that moment, Rachel came out of the bathroom, having just changed her clothes. She entered Wang Yang's bedroom and tapped on his shoulder. He was sitting in his chair with his eyes glued to the computer screen. A sequence of her walking around the house was playing. She smiled and said, ”I like that shot; it has a great feel to it.” Then, she consoled him. ”Yang, it'll be fine. If there's any trouble, you can always hold my paycheck.”

”Thank you, Rachel.” Her comment made Wang Yang feel warm inside. He shrugged his shoulders and said genially, ”But I prefer not to owe my actors money.”

”I shall await your good news back at the hotel, then. See you, bye!” Rachel smiled and gave Wang Yang one final pat on his shoulder. As she exited the bedroom, she saw Jessica laying on the sofa. ”Jessica, want to go together?” she asked.

Jessica looked at her and smiled. ”Oh, you go first. I need to talk to Yang.” Rachel nodded and took her leave.

Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Wang Yang continued to pour over his work on the computer. At last, the room was peaceful and quiet. As he watched the videos, his mind gradually drifted into blissful respite. It wasn't as if there was only one DV camcorder in the whole world. There must be a way!

After reviewing his videos, he turned off the computer, put on a windbreaker, and packed his damaged DV camcorder, ready to head out to the video equipment store. But when he stepped into the living room, he saw Jessica sitting on the sofa all by herself, seemingly deep in thought. Wang Yang couldn't help but feel surprised. ”Jessica? You're still here?”

”Oh!” Jessica sprang up from the sofa, startled. She looked at Wang Yang and said calmly, ”Yeah, I'm still here. I wanted to ask if you'd like me to come along with you? I brought my car.”

”Good idea.” Wang Yang nodded.

In America, people typically got their driver's licenses when they turned 16, and Jessica and Wang Yang were no exception. They reached the apartment's parking lot and made their way toward Jessica's silver Ford Focus. She gave her car keys to Wang Yang and installed herself in the front passenger seat. Then, Wang Yang got into the car, inserted the car key, revved up the engine, and began to drive.

Wang Yang drove the car out of the parking lot and exited the apartment complex without saying a word. Jessica kept turning her head and glancing at him, distraught at his silence. Finally, she couldn't help but ask, ”Yang, are you still mad?”

”What? No. I'm just thinking about something!” Wang Yang shook his head with a smile. As he turned the steering wheel, he said, ”Jessica, I was quite frustrated before, but now I'm fine. It was just an accident. No one wanted it to happen, and I'm not mad at anyone.”

Even though Joshua broke the DV camcorder, Wang Yang didn't think he did it on purpose. Sure, Joshua might be a little childish. He may have taunted and insulted him in the past, but nothing more than that. In fact, he'd say he was quite considerate. He remembered the day he leased the furniture, and how, despite his constant whining, Joshua spent the whole day helping him move them to the apartment.

”Thank you.” Jessica nodded, then apologized. ”But, still, I want to apologize to you. Perhaps I shouldn't have brought him to your apartment in the first place. He's always so abrasive toward you, I couldn't even tell if he did it on purpose or not.”

The car came to a halt at the traffic light. Wang Yang looked to his side, at Jessica, and said in a serious tone, ”No, Jessica. I don't think Joshua would do such a thing. I trust him. I know what it's like to be wronged and to be doubted by other people. That's why I choose to believe him. He doesn't like me because he believes in USC's judgment. It's perfectly understandable. He doesn't know me as you do.”

Astonished, Jessica asked, ”He knew you were expelled? How did he know?”

”The other day, when we were renovating the apartment, he accidentally saw my expulsion letter.” Wang Yang shrugged his shoulders and smiled as if it was all a funny memory. ”Ever since then, he's been treating me like a racist scum, a pothead, and a monster. He's worried I might lie to you or hurt you.”

”Is that why he's been such a jerk to you?” Jessica finally understood. She rolled her eyes exasperatedly. Did Joshua even know about her relationship with Wang Yang when they were little? ”He doesn't even know a thing, yet he acts as he does. He's wrong about you, that arrogant little twerp!”

Wang Yang gave her a carefree smile. ”It's fine. I'm not mad at all. Let's listen to some music,” he said as he reached for the center console. A song was playing on the radio, filling the cabin with music. It was an upbeat country song, and the two of them were so drawn to the tune, they stopped talking.

Their song-filled joyride came to an end as they reached their destination—a video equipment store called ”The Perfect Shot”. The store, located downtown near USC, sold and rented all kinds of video and film equipment, including the latest gadgets. It was the go-to place for Wang Yang and his classmates when they needed to lease equipment. The owner was a portly, bearded, middle-aged, white gentleman named Frank Sibole. He and Wang Yang knew each other, albeit not on a close, personal level.

The owner's chubby face twisted into a frown as he scrutinized, almost obsessively, the DV camcorder that Wang Yang had leased behind a glass counter, all the while grumbling incessantly. ”D*mn it, Yang! I told you not to break it when I leased it to you! It's a TRV900, the latest DV camcorder from Sony. This thing costs a fortune! How could you drop it on the floor? D*mn it! If the lens is damaged, not even your thousand-dollar deposit can cover it!”

Jessica and Wang Yang stood in front of the counter, listening to Frank Sibole's rants. Fed up with his attitude, Jessica frowned and said, ”Sir, can't we work something out?”

Frank lifted his head, darted her a look, and said indignantly, ”Look, sweet cheeks, the DV cam ain't yours. You've got nothing to worry about. I'm the one who has to pay if the thing breaks!”

Wang Yang scowled and said reproachfully, ”Frank, there's no need to get testy.” He pointed at the DV camcorder and said, ”I've checked it. The casing, the lens, and the display all seem to be fine. The problem's probably on the inside.”

”Hmmm…” After a few minutes of tinkering, Frank Sibole inserted the battery back into the DV camcorder and pressed the ”on” button, but nothing happened. He put down the DV camcorder, looked at Wang Yang and Jessica, and threw his hands up. ”Maybe the battery connector broke, or maybe it was some other parts. Who knows?! I need to send this little devil back to the manufacturer for repairs. It's going to take a while.” Then, he said to Wang Yang, ”Of course, the repair fees will be deducted from the deposit. You'd better pray to God it won't cost too much.”

What a bummer… Sending it back to the manufacturer and getting it back would take at least half a month. Wang Yang's main concern wasn't the cost of repair anymore, but the fact that he wouldn't be able to finish filming without a DV camcorder.

Wang Yang sighed with profound deference and said, ”Fine. I guess I have no choice. So, Frank, can you lend me another DV camcorder in the meantime?” Frank pushed back immediately. ”No, no, no. Perish the thought!” Wang Yang held up three fingers and said, ”Frank, I only need it for three days!”

However, Frank was resolute in his refusal. ”Nope. No way. I won't lease it to you even if you pay me. You should try your luck somewhere else.”

”Okay.” Not wanting to bargain with the fat man anymore, Wang Yang told Jessica, ”Come, let's go.”

”Okay.” Jessica nodded, feeling terrible inside. Would Wang Yang have suffered like this if it weren't for the broken DV camcorder? Should she forgive Joshua just because Wang Yang did?

At that moment, a group of people came into the store. There were four of them. Two guys and two girls. A young, white couple and a young, black couple. They noticed Wang Yang, and one of them—a bald, burly black male—suddenly hollered, ”Yo, yo.” He pushed aside his girlfriend and walked toward Wang Yang with a malicious grin. ”Well, well, well… if it isn't Chinaman Yang!”

The voice made Wang Yang's eyebrows tightened unconsciously. As he turned around, he immediately recognized the two guys standing at the doorway. They were USC students. The white guy was Matthew, and the black guy…

”That's Terrance Ben…” Wang Yang muttered quietly to Jessica, who was standing beside him. Slowly, his fists clenched.

”That's the *sshole who accused you?” Jessica took a deep breath and turned her head around. When she saw Terrance Ben walking toward them, her face froze.

Terrance Ben had the typical build of a quarterback. His musclebound arms, combined with his beefy, protruding chest, lent him an air of invincibility. All that muscle popped conspicuously under a red t-shirt with a skull on it that was a size too taut. He approached them with a cocky look on his face and sneered, ”Chinaman Yang, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back in San Francisco?”

Matthew, who was standing behind Terrance the whole time, came forward with a smirk. In his arms was his girlfriend—a generic white girl with a plain face and an unremarkable figure. Terrance Ben's girlfriend, who sported a curly hairstyle, thick lips, and two big earrings, stood at the back, waiting eagerly for the confrontation to unfold.

”So I'm still here. What's it to you?” Wang Yang wasn't afraid of him at all. Terrance may have been built like an ox, but he was nothing but talk. He never could hold his own in a real fight. Wang Yang smiled coldly and said, ”Didn't you have enough last time?”

Terrance Ben, who'd had his eyes on Wang Yang since he came into the store, suddenly noticed Jessica. His eyes lit up brightly as he ogled at her angelic face and devilishly sexy body. ”Oh, my God, what a beauty!” he said admiringly.