I hate to admit it, but I enjoy seeing him so cheerful. I wish that was me. Aoi strikes me as a person with no worries, a huge heart and a peaceful mind but it’s not his real self is it?
He bends over in two and holds his stomach as he laughs uncontrollably, his cheeks flushed. It’s quite a sight. He looks so carefree and relaxed now compared to when he was lying on the couch, lost in deep thought. He seemed to be reminiscing about unwanted memories, but now Aoi’s cheeks are colored by a peachy tint.
“You’re so iffy, it’s hilarious and kinda unsettling.”
He brushes a tear away from the corner of his eye and rises up, catching our jackets from the closet and wrapping me in mine. The midnight blue scarf he lent me last night envelops my throat as his scent submerges my senses like a tidal wave.
“What does iffy mean?”
Aoi doesn’t dumb down his speech with me which I appreciate yet also aggravates me if I don’t understand a word. I read as many books as I could to further my education and one day get out of Redmond so I’m not dumb to say the least. But his manner of speech is sometimes hard to understand as his vocabulary is more developed than mine.
“It means unpredictable or unsure,” he explains, helpfully zipping up my grey puffer jacket.
I’m iffy?
“What cologne do you wear?” I interrogate and stare intently, needing an answer or I’ll die.
Okay, I won’t die but close enough. When I’m grown, I’ll buy the same cologne and smell as ephemeral as he does.
“Why? Does it smell bad or is it too strong? Does it bother you?” He tugs on his shirt and sniffs himself.
I shake my head frantically and catch his hands, pulling them away from his shirt. “No, no, it smells good! I was simply curious.”
Aoi exhales a sigh of relief, wiping nonexistent sweat off his temple. “You almost gave me a heart attack. If you hadn’t liked my perfume, it would’ve been a real issue because it’s my favorite. I can’t stop using it for your sake.”
As though remembering something important, he lets out a small breath then says, “It’s Neroli Portofino by Tom Ford but I doubt you know what I’m talking about. I’ll show you at the mall.”
He grabs his keys and shoves his phone in his back pocket. I can’t wait to see the perfume bottle. I wonder what color it is.
Aoi extends his palm and smiles. “Shall we get going then?”
I nod. “Can I tell you something?”
“Anything.”
“Promise you won’t get mad.”
“I promise.”
I hold my pinky up and unexpectedly he reciprocates the gesture. The sun shines through the window and reflects over his frame, radiating a heavenly glow around him.
“You’re a terrible driver.”
He gasps but instead of getting mad he cracks up and ruffles up my hair. “Care to drive in my stead then?”
“Sure, if you want us to crash.”
“At least you’re self-aware.”
Aoi’s eyes shimmer with delight and I momentarily catch myself hoping this moment could last a lifetime and it still wouldn’t be enough.
12
Visha
“Absolutely not!” I shout, gazing at my reflection in horror.
“Aw, come on! I’m sure it looks great! Come out so I can see,” he calls out, but I categorically refuse to budge.
