이름없는 기억

Things That Never Go As Planned

“Rock, paper, scissors. Rock, paper, scissors…”

Eli was watching Dong Ho and AJ play to the death. They were already at their thirty-fifth ‘best of five’ game of rock, paper, scissors. Secretly, he wondered how anyone could endure that many rounds(I mean, seriously. Who does that?). “He said one hour,” he said, checking his watch. “It’s already been two and a half.” Then silently, he’s even later than Xander. Not that they expected him to turn up on time. He probably had his own schedule anyway.

“I’m giving it twenty minutes,” Lexi muttered from her place on the coffee table. She was staring at the blueberry cheesecake she bought. “If he doesn’t turn up, I’m going to divide this between Dong Ho and me.”

“Jinjja?” Dong Ho turned from his game. A grave mistake on his part.

“Excellent,” AJ muttered, pumping his fist in the air.

Dong Ho turned back. His hand was frozen on the rock sign while AJ’s had paper. “Hey, no fair hyng! I wasn’t looking!”

“Not my fault,” the older boy taunted. “This means I get one of your cake slices.”

Lexi was looking at them with an expression that greatly resembled =.=’. “You dweebs were playing for a cake slice?”

AJ was about to answer –probably to defend their incredibly idiotic game when the doorbell rang. Lexi jumped up at once.

“I’ll get it! If that’s Kevin I get to beat him up for being late for his goddamn birthday party.” Not that it’s a party, she added as an afterthought.

Eli, Soohyun and Kiseop were behind her, just In case it really was Kevin. They watched her peek through the door like she was expecting something hideous behind. There was a moment’s silence then she flung the door open with a shriek worthy of –I don’t know. Brad Pitt or something.

“Xander!” The four of them exclaimed at once.

Lexi launched herself at the boy, who held his arms out for her  and caught her in a tight hug as he greeted the other three.

Eli and Kiseop looked at each other and raised eyebrows. A silent conversation passed.

How do they know each other? Kiseop asked with his eyes.

Ili shrugged. Does it look like I know?

So it really was him she was calling that time. Kiseop had his lips pursed.

Curious, Eli smiled then turned to Xander, who still had an arm around Lexi. “Xander, my man!” They exchanged high fives and man-hugs. “Dude, who did your hair? It looks hot.” He saw Lexi give him a questioning look. “Uh, I meant that in a complimentary, non-gay way, Eun Byul. No need to look like you swallowed a toad.”

She stuck a tongue out at him.

He answered by playfully aiming a kiss at her.

She recoiled. “Gah!”

Xander was laughing. “You sure you guys just met a month ago?”

“Yeah, ” Lexi nodded. “And look, they’re already sexually harassing me. Fun!”

Kiseop laughed and draped a shoulder around her, looking meaningfully at Eli. They had the same thought. SINCE WHEN WAS LEXI SO TALKATIVE?

An hour and a half later though, the constant talk broke down to a very tense lull. The cakes they’s laid out on the table were stuffed into the fridge(no, Lexi didn’t really divide it between her and Dong Ho –not that he didn’t beg) and they were already bored to death.