Linked

12: pocket knives and boba tea.

"Do you really have to come with us?" I asked Sol.

"You'll be thanking me," Sol answered.

"...why's this happening...?" Jamila wondered out loud.

The three of us were standing in front of the building where the rooftop bar was sitting on. Sol had a cup of boba tea and was staring up at the building like he didn't want to be here. Jamila was jumping around, obviously excited. I was checking my hair while holding my small baby blue compact to my face.

Sol and I had come to an agreement: I can go on a date with Jamal with the makeup Sol did for me and in return, I must do whatever Sol tells me to do for one whole day. Him coming with Jamila and me on this date, however, wasn't part of the deal.

"You for real think something bad's gonna happen," I said rhetorically, shaking my head.

"Look," Sol said, taking Ortega's phone out of his pockets. "This phone is on 47%. It shouldn't die. That means when the date doesn't work out, I can record you crying then play the video every day to remind you that you was wrong and I was right."

"Wow. You're so petty," I grumbled.

"It's a gift," Sol proudly said.

"The date won't go wrong!" Jamila cried with enthusiasm. "I've always been drawn to Jamal for some reason, even before we became a couple. Maybe we're soulmates or something!" Jamila cried before giggling to herself.

Sol dug his fists into the pockets of his jacket and glared at Jamila. "You're a ghost. You don't have a soulmate anymore."

"But I'm still drawn to him! Maybe when I was alive, we were actually soulmates!" Jamila insisted.

"So a kiss and you'll suddenly move on?" Sol asked.

"And me letting my beloved former soulmate know that I still love him!" Jamila cried.

I blinked. "Wait. Are there actually such thing as soulmates?"

"Yes," Jamila answered.

"No," Sol answered.

The two of them glared at each other.

"Okay. You know the red string myth from East Asian Mythology? Think of that," Sol said.

"Which means soulmates exist!" Jamila cried.

"No they don't!" Sol cried.

I closed my compact and shoved it inside of my purse. "Okay. I look presentable. Let's go."

"Wait," Sol said, moving closer to me.

He reached with his free hand and undid the tiny bun I did with the rest of my hair down. He smirked. "Satisfied."

I glared at him. "Sol! What's wrong with you!?"

"I'm helping you," Sol answered before he took a sip of his drink.

I pulled my compact out again. "Now I need to fix my hair again!"

I made sure my tiny bun was back and the rest of my hair was down while pushing down my annoyance. I have to stay calm. I can't show up to my date annoyed.

"Missed a spot," Sol told me when I closed my compact.

"What!? Gonna ruin my hair again!?" I cried.

He laughed and put his hands up. "My bad!"

I calmed down when I heard his laugh. Usually, he's either sulking, being grumpy, or yelling about something. Laughing is new. It's actually...not that bad.