Myne

nine

The ending was sudden.

“That’s it?” Emi asked. “Really? Was it good?”

Rain’s answer was slow in coming. Was a while too. And it was a shake of her head.

“Sweety,” Emi said, cupping Rain’s face between her hands. Took little strength to turn Rain’s face toward her. She waited until Rain’s eyes were with hers, until their breaths were one. Then, she continued. “I didn’t read. You know that.”

Rain nodded. Emi nodded in sync.

“Yeah. You know that. Not because I didn’t want to. I didn’t. But that wasn’t it, wasn’t the reason. I couldn’t. I tried. You know I did.”

Rain nodded. Emi nodded too.

“I just couldn’t,” Emi said. “It’s like we’re reading two very different books. It’s scary. I don’t know how you could continue. I was freaked out. The only reason I’m still here, sitting so close to the book, is you. I was listening. For as long as you were reading aloud. You stopped, a while ago. I, I’m not sure you even realised it. I did listen. After that, I just sat by your side.”

“I’m sorry,” Rain said, finally finding her voice. “I am. I didn’t realise.”

“I know,” Emi said, gently patting Rain’s cheek. “It’s okay. You were in too deep. You loved the book. The story.”

“I had to.”

“I know. It’s just. I started reading. Near the end. Was a minute, I think. Read the ending. It just didn’t seem like it. Like an ending.”

Rain didn’t answer. She looked at Emi, looked into Emi’s brown eyes. She just didn’t have an answer.

“What now?” Emi asked. She wasn’t looking for an answer. Truth was, she was delighted. That they were done with the book. She hoped Rain would return it to the library. Find a more regular book. One that didn’t shine. One that could be found easily. One that was the same to all reading. That would be so much more comforting. “We should return the book. Find another book. We’ve only started with the vacation. So many holidays remain. So much reading can be done.”

Rain smiled. But still didn’t answer. Didn’t even nod. Just kept looking at Emi. Even feeling sorry.

And when Emi had enough of her friend’s undivided attention, when she was convinced the green book had slipped out of Rain’s head, she let go. She let her hands fall. She grinned. And then she announced. “Sweety, it’s my time now. I’m thinking, a nice old movie. I’m sure we can find something. Or, we could also just go over to my room. There’s lots in my laptop. Last I checked, over 500 GB of movies. What do you say? Let’s go and find something fun?”

“Yeah,” Rain said. “Let’s. Something black and white, maybe.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” Emi said, groaning and grinning at the same time. The movie was a favourite of Rain’s, and both of their mothers’. It was from about sixty years ago. It wasn’t a bad movie. Wasn’t boring. But it wasn’t so amazing either, that they could keep watching it, over and over. This would probably be the fifth time they were watching it. “Again?”

“Yeah,” Rain said. “Again. It’ll be fun. Afterward, we can watch one of your favourites. Isn’t that exactly what we need right now? Favourites?”

“If you say so.” Emi didn’t even try to hide her excitement. She could certainly sit through Rain’s favourite black and white movie. And then, they’d have a blast with her favourite movie, which was in colour, had great music, special effects that were stunning even today, and most of all, it was an action movie and a horror movie rolled into one. It was for good reason counted among the best movies of all time. And they would enjoy it with pizza and cola. Yeah, it would be a blast.

*

“You watched Falling hearts on high seas?” Clara asked over dinner.

Emi nodded with puffed cheeks, her mouth stuffed with rice and red fish curry and vegetables. From the very first day she began eating solid food, this was how she ate. A little hamster, Jordan called her. Lovingly, of course. Emi wouldn’t accept being spoken to any other way. Especially them. Yet, despite all his efforts, and he really did try everything, she didn’t change. She even tried changing him. And he did sway, he had to admit reluctantly. That’s how to best enjoy the burst of flavour and the weight of the food, she said. And it was an argument so logical, there was nothing to argue. Really.

“And Dark Planet too?” Jordan asked.

The black and white romance was Clara’s favourite. The alien thriller was Jordan and Emi’s. Emi stuffed her mouth again, then nodded.

“How come?” Clara asked. “Didn’t you girls go to the library only yesterday? Must have absolutely found a book. Rain finished it in a day?”

What Emi wanted to say was, you have no idea. What did say was, of course. “You think too little of my sweety,” she said.

“Your sweety?” Jordan asked. “You keep at it just like this, and you two will have each other. And no boys. That’ll be something. Not that I’m complaining. I think you two are fine. Perfectly complement each other. I wish the two of you were one. You know. You’d be the perfect, the best daughter anyone could ask for.”

“Dream on,” Emi said scoffing, and throwing her father a dirty look. “Oh, the girls from the team called. We’re going out tomorrow. Scoping the competition.”

“For the tournament?” Clara asked.

Jordan was still frowning, aggrieved by the dirty look. But he was all ears.

“Of course,” Emi said. “We’re going to win this year.”

“You know this, because,” Jordan said.

“Because they have me,” Emi said plainly, as if simply stating a fact.

“Of course,” Jordan said, nodding. There was nothing on his face, yet he made no secret of his disdain.

Emi threw him her strongest glare. He was unaffected. By their side, Clara looked at the two of them fondly.