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Aoi

Last night, we went to sleep late after watching Coraline and snacking on popcorn.

We wore our comfiest pajamas and smeared face masks on our faces. Between midnight and one a.m., we spoke about everything and nothing.

It isn’t unusual for us to have these kinds of fun and deep nights where we rediscover happiness and the sense of life.

For me, it’s a gift more than a mere routine.

He has this insane ability to fill my soul with joy and warmth and sometimes I wonder how I ever managed to get through my life without this little Gremlin by my side. Without Visha and his incessant blabbering about why people put pineapple on pizzas and whether yellow and black is a good color combination or if it just makes you look like a bee, I wouldn’t know who to be.

He became an integral part of my life, a fragment of my soul.

I wake up before him this morning and enjoy watching him at peace in our bed. He sleeps soundly, cuddling my torso. He’s more a koala than a human.

“Visha…” I nudge him gently. “Sweetheart, you have to get up now.”

He groans and nuzzles his face deeper into my chest, refusing to let go. I push him off me and head toward the curtains then pull them apart, letting the spring hues of daylight shine in.

“Five more minutes,” he whines, pulling the covers over his head.

I stride around the bed and yank the covers off. “It’s literally noon.”

Like a zombie crawling out of the wet soil, he lifts himself up and glares at me with sleepy eyes. “You’re so mean,” he mutters and spreads his arms. “Hug me.”

Shaking my head I give in. “You’re such a baby.”

I walk up to his side of the bed and embrace him as requested. His eyelashes graze my neck as he breathes in my scent.

“Stop it, it tickles.”

Visha groans and slowly uncurls from my space before getting up to start the day.

“You can shower first. I’ll make breakfast in the meantime.” I grab the mugs we brought into the bedroom the night before when we made hot chocolate.

He wipes his eyes and seizes the mugs from my hands. “As if. You go first.”

Giving me no time to refute, he leaves the room. “Huh? Never mind then.”

I let him take care of our food while I head into the bathroom and undress. As I turn the shower on and wait for the water to warm up, I let my thoughts wander.

Moving to France, huh? It’s still hard to believe that he’s leaving at the end of the week and will probably only be able to come for vacations. Undoubtably, I would make the trip to France if I could but financially that’s not possible. Jason won’t lend me money either because of his abnormal beef with Visha.

I slip under the scorching water and rinse off the doubt and anxiety sticking to my skin.

He needs my support and love in this life-changing event and that’s what I intend to do. After an everlasting shower and three songs from the Epic Musical, I dry myself off and get dressed. Today the weather is clement, needless to say I still end up wearing a cozy sweater and a pair of jeans.

Visha walks up to me, arms spread for another hug but this time I refuse. “I just showered.”

“So?”

“So, you know I don’t like being hugged right after I shower.”

He pouts and lets his arms fall to his sides. “I’ll never get the logic behind that.”

“You don’t have to get it. You just have to respect it.” I smile, messing up his hair.

“I know but still why can’t I hug you?”

I roll my eyes. “Because I’m clean and right now you’re not. After you shower you can hug me as much as you want.”

“Fine by me.”

To be honest, it feels like he’s manipulating me with his puppy face to steal hugs and affection out of me. I can’t say that it bothers me because it doesn’t but after the conversation we had yesterday, I feel that I should keep some distance between us. But then he’s leaving soon, so I don’t want to waste the little time we have together by putting unnecessary space between us.

He undresses and disappears into the bathroom for at least an hour. One thing I won’t miss is the water bills piling up because lord Visha loves taking long showers.

On the dining table, I find toast, jam and butter, all ready. There are two glasses of freshly pressed orange juice, and I smell coffee brewing in the kitchen.

We don’t use fancy coffee machines. Not because they’re expensive per se but simply because I prefer the Italian ones. I like brewing my coffee myself rather than waiting for a fancy machine to do it for me with a stupid capsule. It’s an experience itself.

I pour myself a cup and check my phone for texts or calls.

Jason

Are you free tonight?

ME

Depends. What for?

JASON

Don’t tell me you forgot.

ME

What are you talking about?

JASON

See you tonight.

That’s so like Jason to make plans without telling me why. I seem to have forgotten something according to Mr. Know-it-all, but I can’t put my finger on it.

I drop two cubes of sugar and a dribble of milk in the coffee, then take a sip.

Technically, we should cook lunch or something but somehow, we don’t really operate that way. Over the years, we simply decided that if we wake up late, we’ll still eat breakfast and then lunch if we’re still hungry. So basically, a brunch but for some reason I refuse to call it that out of spite, ever since Visha called it a breakunch two years ago.

I head out of the apartment, mug in one hand, keys in the other and check the mailbox. Visha’s supposed to go to school but considering he’ll be transferring soon, I don’t see the point in forcing him to attend.

“Hey, Aoi,” a cheerful female voice rips me out of my reverie. “What are you doing here handsome?”

“Sally? What the hell are you doing here?” I ask, confused considering she doesn’t live around the block.

She smirks and gives me a thumbs up. “My boyfriend lives here. Well, he’s not my boyfriend yet but we’re basically getting hitched. That is if he answers my texts before I murder him.”

I raise a brow and shake my head. “You need to get checked for that delusion of yours one day.”

She gasps, feigning indignation. “Me? Delusional? How dare you!”

“You didn’t tell me about this almost boyfriend of yours.”

“You’ve been missing in action and not really replying in the group chat. Can’t really blame me now can you.”

“Ouch.”

“Just kidding. But yeah, it’s a recent thing. Don’t think it’s gonna last not gonna lie.”

I nod. “I’ll check the group chat later. Sorry I haven’t been present. I got a lot on my plate lately.”

“Your uncle giving you a hard time again?”

I laugh. “Not this time. It’d be easier if it were just that.”

“You know you can always talk to me about it if you want. War machine Sally will execute your enemies for you. You can count on me.”

“Thanks, but how about you stop your killing spree? First your almost boyfriend and now my said enemies? You’re a menace.” We burst out laughing and I sigh. “I have to go but have fun with your guy.”

“Thanks. See ya at Uni. Oh, and check your messages! We’ve got to party for the occasion.” She waves before exiting the building.

The occasion? What the hell is everyone talking about? I should really check my texts more often.

I head back up and hear a loud crash coming from the kitchen. “Oh my God, Visha!”