6
677 Words
SAVANNAH
"This is so tiring," I heard him complaining about how tiring it was while holding all the shopping bags I brought.
I chuckled at his comment as we made our way to a cafe inside the mall.
The cafe was filled with people sitting in cozy seating areas chatted over steaming cups of coffee, treats and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods.
"You already look like a boyfriend material," I teased Kairos.
"You don't have other plans today?" he asked curiously.
Before I could respond, a call interrupted our conversation. I glanced at my phone as it rang, but I had no intention of answering. I already knew what my mom's call would entail—it would either be about the money I had sent not being enough or that she had already spent it.
The familiar feeling of frustration washed over me as the phone continued to ring. Each time her name appeared on my phone, it triggered a wave of conflicting emotions—guilt for feeling this way, sadness over our strained relationship, and frustration at the recurring pattern of her requests.
I wished for a relationship built on mutual love and support, not one where money was the primary point of connection. Despite these feelings, a part of me still longed for a meaningful bond with my mom, yearning for her to see me not just to provide financial assistance.
"You okay?" Kairos asked, his voice filled with concern.
In that moment, I realized I had been lost in my thoughts, almost forgetting Kairos was here with me. The weight of my emotions, triggered by my mom's call, left me feeling a sense of emptiness that was hard to shake.
"Just some family stuff," I replied softly, not wanting to burden him with the details.
"Well, it's not worth it to drown yourself in that," he said reassuringly. "How about we go to the arcade?"
I couldn't help but smile at his suggestion. The idea of escaping into a fun and lighthearted activity sounded appealing, offering a much-needed distraction from my swirling thoughts.
"Sure, that sounds like a great idea," I replied.
We left the cafe and made our way to the arcade. As we reached the counter to pay for our games, I reached for my card, ready to pay.
"Are you using a card, miss? Unfortunately, there's a problem with our card system at the moment. We can only accept cash," the cashier explained apologetically.
"Oh no, I don't have any cash," I murmured, feeling a bit disappointed.
"Don't worry, I got this," Kairos said reassuringly. He quickly got cash and handed them to the cashier.
With the payment sorted out, we ventured into the bustling arcade, filled with flashing lights and the sounds of various games. The air was alive with excitement as people competed in different challenges and cheered for their successes.
Kairos and I dove into the arcade games, eager to try our luck at the various attractions. We started by challenging each other in a game of basketball, aiming to score as many hoops as we could within the time limit. Kairos showed off his skills, sinking shots effortlessly, while I struggled to keep up, resulting in laughter and friendly competition.
Next, we moved on to the racing car games, where we each picked our favorite virtual cars and raced against the clock and each other. The excitement was palpable as we dodged obstacles and sped around corners, cheering each other on and reveling in the thrill of the race.
Afterwards, we wandered over to the classic arcade section, drawn to the familiar sights of Pac-Man and pinball machines and we took turns playing, trying to beat each other's high scores.
Kairos turned to me with a grin. "Having fun yet?"
I chuckled, catching my breath after a particularly intense race. "Definitely! This is exactly what I needed to take my mind off things."
"Good to hear," Kairos replied, his eyes bright with amusement. "Who knew arcade games could be such a great escape?"
- Writer
