“You had it coming,” he mumbles.
“Guys, she’s torturing me! You traitors! Stop laughing.”
Sarah lets go of his poor finger and smirks, proud of having turned it into a harmonica. “Should we go?”
No one dares to contest her, so we gather our stuff sprawled over the grass and leave the park. We jump into Olivia’s car and drive off. It’s still early when we get to the arcade and since it’s Xander’s favorite hangout spot, he immediately gets to business.
“I’ll beat y’all into next Tuesday.”
“Ha, try me.”
Olivia’s in her element with competition. Perhaps because she has to compete for her parents’ love so often or because she has to excel academically to get out of this shit hole one day.
Xander gestures at her to play against him just to eat dust after she’s done with him. We burst out laughing at how he loses every time and yet can’t hold back from challenging the queen of arcades.
“Dude, come on, you know you won’t win unless you practice another fifty years,” I mock.
“One day I’ll prove to y’all who’s the true king of the game.”
A series of cackles erupts from the girls, slapping their knees and gasping for air. “He just can’t accept that he’s an eternal loser.”
Sarah nods in agreement. “Maybe you should get a different specialty. Clearly, this one did you wrong.”
“Don’t say that,” Liam interjects, making me snort. “He’s doing his best.”
Xander lays a firm hand on his only defender and nods along, wiping a fake tear away. “Thanks, you’re the only real friend among those hyenas.”
“Hyenas?” Sarah cracks her knuckles. “I’ll show you what the hyena can do, you dolphin looking ass.”
And for the next three hours, we spend the entirety of our pocket money playing games and having the time of our lives.
I check the time and hiss. “Shit, I have to go home. Aoi’s waiting with sushi.”
A round of envious groans echo from my friends, and I stick my tongue out in mockery.
“You always get good stuff,” Xander whines. “Hey, can Aoi adopt me? Man, that’d be so cool.”
“He’s mine.”
Olivia places a hand on my back and taps it before walking me to the door. “No one’s taking your place.”
I know that, of course I do but somehow my heart can’t let that sink.
“Guys, I’m driving Visha home. I’ll be right back,” she hollers, and they all respond with gestures, too busy with the game to bother looking up.
The drive home is quick and quiet. I need a break from talking and Liv perfectly understands that. She’s my best friend after all, my sister of another mother.
“There you go.” She parks right in front of the building.
I pull her into a hug. “Thanks for everything. I’ll see you Sunday at the airport, right?”
“As if I’d miss your departure. Who do you take me for?” She smiles but I see the hidden sadness in her eyes.
Despite knowing the truth she must be worried and pained that I’m leaving. We’ll never forget each other nor will our bond break but being so far from her could take a toll on our friendship.
I laugh and get out of the vehicle. “My annoying best friend.”
“Damn right.” Olivia cocks her head at me and grins. “Love you, Visha.”
