Nostalgia: The Bucket List

two

As I sat down by the dinner table, I suddenly felt a warm palm rest on my shoulder. My head averted as quickly as it could to look at my right, but there was no one there.

"Maki?" He sprung from the couch.

"Yes?"

"Have you been playing there?" He inclined his head to the side in confusion before he nodded his head and continued to play around.

'You're just hungry, Winter.'

"Is this okay? Do you need more rice?"

"I'll get more if I want to, mom"

"Make sure you eat a lot, nobody cooks soup like this for you anymore"

Minjun instantly regretted saying those very words. I could feel him shrink from his seat, hanging his head low in embarassement. Mom was left speechless and frozen, clearly clueless for ways to break the ice.

June gave me a glass of water, he was once again a life saver as I chugged it all in, slightly agressive in the way I had put the glass down. They all flinched.

At that very moment, I knew why they wanted me to come over. They thought I was still currently not in a good state to live alone. Realization struck me, but I knew they intended to try reaching out as approachable family members.

I let it slide, paving way for the appreciation I could bear for their efforts. Without much say, we ate dinner in that thin iced space that was also safe enough to avoid anything from adding up to the atmosphere.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So June, what are you up to these days?" I sat down on the couch, he took the sleepy Maki in to his arms and started to craddle him to sleep.

"I have been coordinating celebrity parties. And... I guess that's all I can say"

"Do continue"

He was still hesitant to do so. I lifted my brows at him indicating that I was all good to hear whatever he felt like keeping away from me. I have been avoiding everything that involved the things happening in my life recently, but I wanted to act all brave this time.

'Well, to be honest, I did feel a bit of interest as well...'

"A few expected people are expected in all of those parties I've coordinated within the previous months, but all they offered was the unexpected... until it became expected... for them to not be expected"

I squinted. And sighed.

"I believed in you, June"

"Stop hot seating me!" He aggressively whispered with his ears turning red.

I couldn't help but laugh.

Despite the clenching feeling in my chest, I laughed.

I sighed and sunk in the couch. June excused himself and brought Maki up to their bedroom for him to get some rest.

I was left in the living room alone, sinking and drifting. My limbs were numbing and I slowly plopped my head on the arm rest. It felt as if my surroundings were turning dark and grim, my mind felt like in a haze and I found myself feeling cold and breathless.

"Winter..."

"... grow.."

"... feel stuck..."

'Huh?..'

"... I need to pee"

I had no reason to feel muscle cramps yet my legs felt heavy and tight. I slowly stood up with the support I was getting from the sofa, letting out a grunt of pain coming deeply from my throat.