365 Days

9

"Nope. No way, not happening." Reki said, slamming the door behind him and Langa. Reki's mother peeked her head out to them.

"Reki, inside voice please? Your grandmother is resting." She said, hanging up colorful lights on the walls.

"Sorry, Mom." Reki whispered in a sigh, pulling Langa into his room. They put their backpacks in a corner and taking off their winter jackets. Reki shivered, as he jumped onto his bed.

"What was I saying again?" He asked.

"You were talking about how excited you were to meet my mom." Langa chuckled.

"Right—Langa, how can I put this in a way for you to understand?" Reki smacked his lips, thinking. "It's a bad idea, okay? God knows what I'll do to make a fool out of myself."

"You won't. Besides, she really wants to meet you." Langa urged, sitting next to him. "She wants to see you in real life."

"Dude, do you talk to her about me?" Reki quickly turned to body to him, in a panic.

"Yeah, of course I do. Why wouldn't I?" Langa responded, controlling any and all emotions just barely under his skin.

Reki opened his mouth in disbelief as his cheeks began to warm up. He groaned, pulling his headband further down his face, hiding the red blush on his face in the disguise of frustration, though he wasn't faking all of it.

"Never mind, bro. The point here is—there is nothing smart about meeting your mom." Reki sprinted to feet, turning to him.

"Why not?" Langa asked, leaning backwards, propping himself up with his hands.

"Because it's Christmas this weekend." Reki blabbed mindlessly.

"So?" Langa urged.

"Langa..." Reki sighed, shaking his head.

"What?"

"I love you man, but... we kind of live differently, you know?" Reki mumbled, shifting in his feet. "I'm not saying it's bad or anything, I'm just saying that I'm not gonna know how to talk to your mom. I know she's from here and everything but you guys lived in Canada for a while, you know?" Reki explained and Langa nodded.

"That still doesn't explain why she wouldn't like you, though." Langa said, struggling to understand him. Langa knew Reki was insecure—it killed him, but it was something he knew, regardless.

"I don't know if what I'll say will make her mad or not. She could be super chill, like my mom or she could be..." Reki's voice faded into quietness as he looked away from Langa. "I dunno. I'd rather not take my chances."

"You think she'll judge you for being different?" Langa asked.

"Kinda... yeah." Reki nodded, looking back at him and Langa softly smiled.

"Well, different is good. It balances out, right?" Langa shrugged. Reki's face lit up with a grin, pulling him out of his despair. He took a step towards him, not seeing Langa's skateboard and began falling forward, on top of Langa. For just a second, Reki and Langa's lips grazed, barely for a second.

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to... I slipped... it was an accident, I swear." Reki stammered nervously.

"It's fine..." Langa quivered, trying to stay still. "Just... meet her. She might surprise you." He urged as Reki climbed off of Langa taking a seat beside him. Reki thought for a moment.

Langa wanted this—he knew Langa wanted this. And he's never asked him of anything before. The least he could do is meet his mom, although everything in him told him it was a bad idea.