Ping.
"Oh… it's her."
I've been talking a lot with Lisa these days. Mostly through messages. She opens up quite a bit, and despite her fierce temper, she's actually really kind.
I don't think she's into me. She's probably just hoping I'll join her gym…
But I don't really mind.
I looked at my phone and Read the messages she sent...
Lisa: hey
Lisa: come kebab 🥙
Me: why?
Lisa: come
Me: ok
...
"Did you really just send him that?" Malik asked.
"Don't worry. He's quick to catch on. He'll be here soon."
"Hah? There's no way he's going to—"
"Oh, there he is!" Lisa said.
"But… you sent that 15 minutes ago…"
"Oh, hello guys! Am I late? I didn't know you'd be here!"
"What's up, bro? What do you want to order? It's my treat!" Malik said.
"Oh, don't worry. I won't take anything. I just came because it sounded urgent, but I won't stay long."
I walked over and approached the seat next to Malik.
He dropped his bag on it… and looked straight into my eyes.
"Hey, aren't you going to sit?" Lisa said.
Johan's thoughts:
Fuck… Malik tricked me. If I ask him to move his bag, she'll think I'm avoiding her.
"U-uh… sure."
I sat down.
"Haha~" Malik smirked.
"So, Johan, I heard you have a baby brother. Do you have any pictures?"
"Hey, I haven't really seen him either!" Malik added.
"Oh yeah, sure. I actually have a lot."
I opened my gallery and showed them a few pictures of Alexis.
"Wow, he looks so cute!" Malik said.
"Uh? How old is he? Are all babies this big?" Lisa asked.
"He's two months old."
"Two months… and already that big? Still, he's really cute."
"Right?!" Malik said.
"Almost as cute as Johan…" Lisa whispered.
I raised my head and looked at them, but they were still focused on the phone.
…Huh?
Malik didn't react either.
Maybe Im just imaginating things.
"But isn't it a bit weird?" Malik asked.
"What is?" I said.
"Well… he has white hair and white eyes. Your parents definitely don't."
"Oh, that. The doctors said he was born with a condition. It only affects his hair and eye color. It's not a big deal."
…Actually, I think there's more to it.
But they probably wouldn't believe me.
"Damn, he looks so cool!" Lisa said.
"Can I come over this weekend to see him?"
"H-huh? W-what?"
sigh
"Lisa, you can't just casually ask a guy if you can come over to his place," Malik said.
"Huh? Why is that rude? I just want to see Alexis!"
"It's not rude, it's just— never mind…"
"I mean… s-sure. You can come if you want."
"Sweet! I'll ask my parents!" Lisa said.
"I'll come too," Malik added.
Malik… don't you dare.
"Oh! If I say you're coming too, my dad will definitely say yes!" Lisa said enthusiastically.
"Oh… right."
...
Saturday.
The day had finally arrived.
Malik and Lisa would be here soon. I had already done all the chores and even cleaned my room.
"Dad… do I look good?"
"Why are you asking me that? Is a girl coming over or—"
Ding dong.
"They're here!"
"They? You invited more people than Malik?"
I rushed to the door and opened it.
"Welcome, guys!"
"Hey Johan, what's up!"
"Hello, Johan. I didn't know you lived in such a big house. Can we come in?" Lisa said.
"Uh—yeah, sure."
My dad glanced over from the couch.
"Oh, Malik! Long time no see, buddy!"
He stood up to greet him.
"Hello sir, it's been a while!"
"Haha! You've grown taller since last time! Thanks for looking after our Johan!"
"No problem, sir!"
"Oh—and you are?"
"Hello sir, my name is Lisa. I'm Malik and Johan's friend."
"Nice to meet you."
"Anyway, I'll go back to watching TV. Don't make too much noise—your mom's sleeping."
"Okay, Dad."
We headed to my room.
Hm… that kid. Did he finally make new friends?
...
"Here he is. He's always on my bed when he's not in my parents' room."
"Aw, he's so cute! Can I hold him?" Lisa asked.
"Yeah, go ahead."
Malik stayed back, watching.
His eyes were… sharp.
"Oof—someone's been eating well, huh? Can you tell who's holding you?"
"Lisa, come on. Of course he can't. He's only two months old," Malik said.
"Ga—ga!"
"Alex… that's a cute nickname! He looks even better than in the pic—"
"L-Lisa!"
"…What the—?!" Lisa froze.
She dropped him.
"Hey! Careful!" Malik rushed forward and caught him.
"He really is heavy…" he grunted, lifting him.
"B-but… that baby—I mean, Alexis! He just said my name!"
"Hm…" Malik looked at my brother.
"Johan?"
"Yeah?"
"Isn't your brother… kind of a genius? Babies shouldn't talk this early."
"Yeah… I think he's special. The way he looks at people… it's like he understands everything. It's pretty—"
Clack.
The lights went out.
"…The power's out."
The room fell into silence.
"Gihihi~"
"…Was that Alexis?" Malik said.
Someone grabbed my arm.
Tight.
Too tight.
"Hold on, kids! I'll fix it!" my dad shouted.
"Hey… that hurts!" I said.
"Oh—sorry…"
Clack.
The lights came back.
"Oh, there we go. Thanks, sir," Malik said.
"No problem, kids!"
But the mood had changed.
The power outage left an awkward silence hanging in the room.
"Hey… anyone want to watch a movie?" I said.
"Yeah! There's this new superhero movie—can we watch it?" Malik said.
Anything was better than this silence.
I looked at Lisa waiting for her approval.
"Sure… let's watch it." she said.
During the movie, I couldn't stop thinking about earlier.
Lisa… holding my arm.
I never thought something like that would happen today.
...
It was time for them to leave.
I walked them to the door.
It had been… a good day.
"See you, Johan! I've got to go—my dad's waiting!" Malik said.
"See you."
He rushed off to the car.
"Hey, Johan… I had a really fun day."
"As expected, those rumors about you were all bullshit."
"Haha… thanks, Lisa."
"…You should smile more."
"You actually look really cute when you do."
My heart skipped a beat.
"Huh—what?!"
"Bye!" she waved, already walking away.
"Bye…"
I waved back.
She was already too far to hear me.
...
I think… I'm in love.
...
"Dad… do I look good when I smile?"
"Geez, what the heck?! Stop staring like that—you're scaring me!"