Jury

by David Dada

  “Well… uhm…” May stuttered.

  “Let me play a scenario out for you.” Taylor interrupted her. “You get a text from your best friend saying “Chloe cheated on me.” and you know exactly where you will find your pathetic best friend, so you go to his favourite bar, have a drinking contest with him even though you are both too young to drink, you cannot hold your liquor, he cannot hold his liquor, you get drunk, hail a cab, go back to his place and have the best one-night stand of your lives. Does any of this sound familiar?”

  “Nope.”

  “Why are you lying?”

  “I’m not lying.”

  “I beg to differ. Let me ask you this again. Is Mike your best friend?”

  “Yes he is.”

  “Does he tell you everything?”

  “Yes he does.”

  “Did he tell you Chloe cheated on him?”

  “Yes he did.”

  “So which part of the story I gave isn’t right? The drinks and the sex after or everything as a whole?” Taylor snapped. He was now back to using contractions and he knew he had to slow down.

  “The whole story.”

  “Bull. If he is your best friend, tells you everything and indeed told you his girl cheated on him, the only way the story is false is if you do not really care about him and this whole “best friend” thing is a sham.”

  May’s throat went dry. Why are you so mean? “I care about him a lot.”

  “Then stop lying goddamn it.” Taylor had winced when he heard her voice crack. He hated seeing her hurt but he had to get through it this one time without caring so he steeled himself and continued. “I am going to ask you the three questions I really want you to answer right now. Forget sides, forget everything that has led up to this point and focus on telling the truth.” Taylor pointed at Chloe. “An innocent girl is being accused of being a cheat and I bet if it was you, you would not feel too good about it, so please tell me, tell the court, did Mike ever text you that Chloe cheated on him? Do you think Chloe cheated on Mike? And what happened on the night of the seventh of October, 2017?”

  The room was silent except for May’s sobbing. All eyes were now on May as they waited for her to say something. Mike was staring at May as if willing her not to say anything.

  “You have to answer his questions Miss. Davies.” Professor Wishbourne said.

  May wiped her tears and sighed. “Mike did text me saying Chloe cheated on him. I went to meet him at his favourite hangout spot and he told me everything that happened. I figured he was just overreacting but still stayed to keep him company. We did have drinks, but I didn’t drink anything alcoholic because I am underaged and one of us obviously had to be sane enough to get us home. I hailed him a cab and he asked me to go with him.” May smiled. “I obliged like the good best friend I am and took him to his flat. Right after I got him inside, he said “Why aren’t we together?” and then he kissed me.

  “My feelings for him rose to the surface again and I couldn’t help it. I kissed him back and then we proceeded to have a “good time”.” May wiped the tears that had rolled down her cheeks and looked sat Taylor. “Have I answered your questions?”

  Taylor stared at her for a while and glanced at Mike. He had his head in his hands and when he looked up, he looked absolutely disoriented. When Mike had told his side of his story, he had said May was the one who asked why they were not together and now he realized it was him who did it. Taylor walked back to his table and sat. “Yes you have. Thank you.”

  “No questions for this witness your honour.” Mike said. “I’ll like to call Miss. Emily Reese to the stand.”

  Emily walked down to the front of the class and sat. She looked at Taylor who mouthed “do not worry” and then smiled. The fool still would not use contractions when he was mouthing the words. She made a mental note to ask Taylor why he hated contractions so much.

  “Hello Miss. Reese.” Mike stood very slowly, his mind racing. I need something to get me some more time. He smiled and looked at Emily. “ Lovely day, isn’t it?”

  “Cut the shit and just get it done with.”

  “Miss. Reese, please watch your language.” Professor Wishbourne said.

  “I’m sorry your honour.”

  “You may proceed Mr. Marlon.”

  “Thank you your honour.” Mike crossed his arms. “Miss. Reese, is Mr. Rhodes your best friend?”

  “Yes he is.”

  “Are you in love with him?”

  Emily looked shocked. “I… I…”

  “Objection. Irrelevant.” Taylor smiled.

  “Sustained. The answer to that question doesn’t have any …”

  “But Taylor practically asked the same question to his witness.” Mike interrupted what Professor Wishbourne was saying.

  “I did not ask a yes or no question. I asked for an opinion and I was leading up to something with my question. You are just being a dick.” Taylor shrugged.

  “You bloody bastard.”

  Taylor stood. “ You better watch the next set of words that come out of your mouth or I will come down there and smack some teeth out of it.”

  “Enough.” Professor Wishbourne sounded his gavel. “I don’t know what is going on between the both of you and I don’t care. Take your fighting out of my courtroom. I’m giving the both of you ten minutes to straighten things out. The court will resume after then.”

  “Ok your honour.” Taylor and Mike chorused.

  Taylor walked out the room and Mike went after him. Emily left the stand and ran after the both of them.

  “Mike! Mike!!” Emily shouted once she was in the hallway.

  Mike did not listen. He just stormed into lecture theatre 405. “You bloody bastard!”

  SIXTEEN

  Taylor turned and looked at Mike, a smile on his face. He could see Mike’s clenched fist and he was ready to get into a fight if Mike made the first move.

  “Hold on.” Taylor sighed. “Do you not have another insult in your bag? Is “bloody bastard” the best you can do?”

  Mike took a second to think. “How’s “fucktard”?”

  “Too cheesy. Fucking Bastard is also not that much of an upgrade, even if you shorten it.”

  “What about “shilly-shally miscreant”?”

  “Too high class.”

  “How does “son of a bitch” sound?”

  “Just right.” Taylor chuckled.

  Mike sighed. “You fucking set me up. You knew I’d go for it when you asked Maya those questions.”

  “Yup. Like trapping a bird with nuts, but then you intentionally took the bait to buy yourself time. You are lucky I was in the mood to play.”

  “I should punch you in the face right now.”

  “At least this time it will not be a cheap shot.” Taylor pointed at his face. “Come on go for it. Right here. Come on.”

  Mike swung his left fist at Taylor but he ducked under it and started laughing. Taylor walked around Mike taunting him and he took another swing which Taylor ducked under again before jabbing him in the side and going back to taunting him. Mike was about to take another swing when May and Emily stepped between the both of them.

  “Will the both of you just cut it out?” May said with her arms on their chests, trying to prevent them from getting to each other.

  “Mike started it.”

  “Shut it, Taylor.” Emily said.

  “Tay, Emily, I’m sorry for Mike’s actions. I started this fight and it has gone on long enough.”

  “I’m not apologizing.”

  “Now who needs to learn to admit defeat?”

  “I said shut it, Taylor.” Emily snapped. “You’ve both taken this thing too far and I know we agreed to make Mike look the fool, but that was a little too much.”

  “Really?” Taylor snapped back and took May’s hand off his chest. “So his lying that Chloe cheated on him, blindsiding his own best friend and his question after calling you to the stand are all charitable actions?”

  �
�No but…”

  “No buts Emily, he is right.” May turned and slapped Mike. “You didn’t come to me before giving your opening statement and you left me without a plan. I did my best to keep from talking but I couldn’t argue against Taylor’s logic that I’d not be feeling all too well if I was the one being accused of what you accused Chloe of and by the way, Taylor is clearly better than you at all this “lawyery” things so stop the fight already. You need to admit he has beaten you fair and square and move on.”

  Mike was stunned. “But…”

  “No buts. Both of you shake hands and leave it to Taylor to get this case dismissed. It’s a win win for everyone.”

  “What do you say, Tay?”

  Taylor smiled and stretched his hand out. “It is fine by me.”

  Mike shook Taylor’s hand. “Alright. Let’s go end this.”

  They all start walking out but Taylor drags Emily back. “We need to talk.”

  “What about?”

  “I would be stupid to think Mike will actually allow me end this case.”

  “That’s way too much bad faith.”

  “For good reasons though.” Taylor sighed. “I just want you to get ready for anything.”

  “Alright.” Emily tiptoed and kissed Taylor’s forehead. “Come on. We’re running late.”

  They saw Professor Wishbourne heading for the room and made a run for it. They got in before he did and went to their various places.

  Professor Wishbourne sat and opened his notepad. “Shall we proceed?”

  Taylor stood. “Your honour, the defendant and I have reached an agreement on the case and we…”

  “Yes your honour…” Mike cut Taylor off. “… but before we get to that topic, I’ll like to call my last witness.”

  Taylor looked at Mike and then looked to the back of the room. He spotted Maya and mouthed “what is he doing?” to which she shrugged.

  Professor Wishbourne eyed Mike. “And who might that be?”

  “Mr. Taylor Rhodes.”

  Taylor snapped his head back to look at Mike and this time, it was with a lot of disgust and disdain. I knew this would happen, but why does it still hurt? Taylor was searching through his head for what Mike was likely to question him about when Chloe tapped him again.

  “What do you want now?” Taylor glared at Chloe who pointed at Professor Wishbourne.

  Professor Wishbourne was holding his glasses in his hand and staring at Taylor. “Mr. Rhodes, this is the second time you are spacing out today. Are you sure you are okay to continue?”

  “Yes your honour. I am perfectly fine.” Taylor said and walked to the seat in front.

  “Hello Mr. Rhodes.” Mike said once Taylor sat.

  “Can we get to the questions and skip the pleasantries? You lost the rights to that once you went against our deal.”

  “I’m sorry about the deal.” Mike smiled. “It’s just that I remembered something juicy that doesn’t really help my case but makes you unfit to represent anyone so I still win.”

  Taylor suddenly realized what Mike was going to do. Oh hell no. Was he really going to use that? “You would not dare.”

  Mike chuckled. “Then you mustn’t know me as well as you claim.”

  “Can you carry the rest of us along with you?” Professor Wishbourne looked at the both of them and wondered what was going on.

  “I’m sorry your honour. I’m about to fill you in on the details.” Mike walked forward. “Mr. Rhodes, Please can you state your full name for the court?”

  “Taylor Rhodes.”

  “Yes. I know that’s what you call yourself, but what is your real name?”

  Taylor looked to where Emily was and winced when he saw the confused look on her face. It was the only secret he had kept from her and this was not the way he wanted her to find out. Mike also looked at Emily and smiled. “Taylor Yeng.”

  Everyone in the room started murmuring and Mike did a little shimmy. “Isn’t that Chinese?”

  “Yes it is.”

  “And why, pray tell, do you have a Chinese last name?”

  “Objection irrelevant.”

  “Oh it is plenty relevant. I’m trying to provide a background of the person representing my accuser.”

  “Overruled.” Professor Wishbourne said. He never had any intentions of sustaining the objection anyway.

  “Thank you, your honour.” Mike bowed. “Now Taylor, why is your last name Chinese?”

  “I was adopted by Chinese parents. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “No I don’t.” Mike said. “Just two more personal questions before I go in for the kill. Why did you change your last name? and does it have anything to do with your tattoos?”

  Taylor put his head in his hands. This fool. Taylor wished the floor would open up and swallow him. Mike had set this up so perfectly and now everyone in the school would know his secret.

  “Please answer the question Mr. Rhodes or Yeng, whichever one it is and do not forget, you’re under oath.” Mike waited for Taylor to start talking but he did not. “Okay. I’ll count to three and if by the time I get to three, you haven’t started talking, I will.”

  Taylor let Mike count and smiled.

  “Fine. My way it is.”

  “Shut up.” Taylor said, his head still buried in his hands.

  “What did you say?”

  Taylor lifted his head. “I said shut the fuck up. I will tell my story myself.”

  “Then get to telling it.” Mike snapped.

  Taylor sighed. Here goes nothing. “My name is Taylor Yeng and I was adopted by a Chinese couple when I was three years old. I kept my first name because that was the name my mum gave me before she put me up for adoption and I was used to hearing everyone call me that. I have an older sister, Malia, who was also two at the time and their only child. They adopted me because they wanted a male child and apparently, I was a promising child.

  “I grew up being home schooled with my sister who did not like me very much and it was hell on earth but my parents always said to be patient with her. By the time we turned eleven, my dad took my sister and I to a camp. Turns out, it was a camp for training spies or well, assets. We were taught how to hack, fight and disguise ourselves and for every level you passed, you would get a tattoo.

  “That is where I got my tattoo from.” Taylor rolled up his shirtsleeves to reveal the tattoo: two black stars on each arm, vertically drawn on his biceps. “I know you all are wondering why I have four stars. Well, the last level was for the top two people who passed the other three levels the fastest and that was Malia and myself.

  “For the last level, we were taught to withstand torture and how to torture someone and since we were just two, we both took turns at torturing each other. To cut the long story short, we both passed and got the last star. Malia and I had become close while we tortured each other and she told me she hated our parents. I thought she was joking until one night, she murdered the both of them in their sleep and ran away. I was without anyone, so I changed my last name and left that life behind me.” Taylor shrugged. “That is it.”

  The room was silent yet again. Taylor picked a pin out of his pocket and dropped it. I guess this is not pin drop silence.

  Mike looked at Professor Wishbourne. “Is this the kind of person we want in our school? A trained spy?” He turned to face Taylor. “And you, aren’t you even ashamed of yourself?” Mike pointed to Emily and Taylor looked at her for the first time since he started telling the story. He saw her crying and sagged. “Look what you’ve done to the person you made think is your best friend. You’ve been lying to everyone and you are trying me for a crime that one, I didn’t commit and two, is like a speck of dust compared to what you’ve done.” Taylor started laughing and Mike frowned. “You think this is funny?”

  “I am so sorry. I just cannot help it.” Taylor said amidst giggles.

  “Stop laughing.” Mike looked like he was about to explode.

  “Oh please.” Taylor smiled. �
��You are the dumbest, smart guy I have ever met. The fact that you believed that story when I told it and even decided to use it now means it served its purpose, and to think I did not tell Emily, bitch please.” Taylor looked at Emily. “You can stop the waterworks now, darling. I will give you your Oscar for best actress later.” Mike looked back at Emily who wiped her tears and smiled. “You are surprised and to be honest, you should not be. I was just two steps ahead of you once again.

  “I knew that a time like this would come since I learnt you wanted to be a lawyer and we started competing. A mock trial was bound to happen and I needed some sort of insurance seeing as you always play dirty. Telling you that bullshit story was step one. Once you left the office, I knew you would go against the deal and to be honest, I did not expect you to use the story, but I still told Emily to get ready for anything. That was step two.

  “Look Mike, you are a fucking genius, but you do not play by the books and that leaves too many tracks to cover that you always forget to cover one. Attacking me, lying about Chloe, going against a deal we shook on and then trying to shame me on the stand in front of the whole school? Those are all bitch moves. You need to start coming to terms with the fact that as long as you play dirty, you will never beat me because you are the Louis Litt to my Harvey Specter, the Denver to my Annalise Keating.

  “You are better than me at a lot of things that I would not admit to at first just to have a competition, but I know when I am beat. Now the only things about that story that are true are one, I was adopted at the age of three by a Chinese couple and my real name is Taylor Yeng. Two, I have a younger sister, Malia, who was my best friend at the orphanage, so they had to take us both and three, my parents are dead, but they died in a car accident. As for the tattoos, I used the four stars to represent each letter of my last name before I changed it.”

  Everyone started applauding as Taylor walked back to his seat, smiling. That is what I am talking about. “Now, I am ready for my punishment your honour. I did not watch my language.” Taylor smirked.

  “Don’t worry about that Mr. Rhodes. You are exempted for now.” Professor Wishbourne smiled. He looked at Mike who was still rooted to the spot, staring into oblivion. “As for you Mr. Marlon, I am pretty sure you already know you’ve lost. You weren’t able to prove that you didn’t cheat and with the testimony of the last witness, I have to say, I am very disappointed in you.