Читать книгу Jaya and Rasa. A Love Story - Sonia Patel - Страница 20

WORLDS APART

No one at school had ever rocked liberty spikes. Jaya thought he was the perfect person to introduce his classmates to this classic punk hairstyle. He was a misunderstood outsider anyway, why not be true to himself? He walked a brisk pace through the Manoa Prep campus with his head held high and his hair even higher.

He’d made it through the busy morning parking lot without any negative attention. Maybe his classmates would leave him alone today. Maybe they’d respect him for making a bold fashion statement.

Yeah, maybe.

His luck ran out as he approached the track.

“What’s with the Mohawk? You’re not that kind of Indian, you dumbass.”

It was one of the three haole boys from Hawaii Kai, juniors just like Jaya, who bullied him at least once a week. He and his co-tormentors sprung up from the sidewalk and surrounded Jaya.

Jaya touched his scalp and looked away.

“We know you’re gay, Jaya. Good thing, because no guy would ever hit that,” the freckled one said with a slight one-handed shove.

Jaya took a step forward, hoping to escape their insults. But they tightened their circle. Jaya was trapped. And they turned their derision on, full blast.

“Curry-eating carpet-muncher.”

“Go with me. Betcha I can turn you straight.”

A minute later, someone pushed through the circle and stood next to Jaya. It was Alika Keahi. “What’s going on?” he wanted to know, crossing his arms. He looked the shorter haole boys up and down, right and left. Jaya couldn’t help but think of that Herb Kane painting in the school library—Warrior Chief. Alika was the chief thrusting his leiomano and saying, “Really? You’ve got no chance. Run along now, little white invaders.”

Jaya stifled a laugh when the Hawaii Kai boys did just that. They left.

“Thanks, Alika,” Jaya said. He extended his hand.

“No problem.” Alika gave him a double-handed handshake.

Alika Keahi was more than fifty-percent Native Hawaiian with some Chinese and Portuguese. He was from Waianae. Unlike many of his classmates and their families, he and his family weren’t well-off. They certainly couldn’t afford Manoa Prep’s tuition.

But Alika was the top wideout in the state, a talent that awarded him a full scholarship.