"Hi," I said as I met Emu at the cafe down the street.
"Hey!" she cheered back in that sweet melody of hers. We found a quaint table by the window and I gazed out at the silent sidewalks.
"I'm surprised that it's not that busy today," she observed, as if trailing my thoughts.
"Yeah." I watched two young boys race their skateboards down the street, one tripping over and crashing to the ground while the other helped him back up again. They didn't cry, they just laughed.
"I'll go order something," Emu offered. "Anything in particular you want?"
"Nope. Whatever you think I'd like."
"Okay~"
She constantly waved and winked and gestured at me from her spot in the line until she was at the front, beaming like there wasn't a care in the world. I laughed then sucked it back in when she tapped me on the shoulder with two sandwiches in hand.
"You're so cute when you smile~" she teased while watching me eat with lovey-dovey eyes.
"I thought you said I was scary."
"Well- yeah, you still are! Your cute smile is cute though."
"Thank you."
"You were supposed to compliment me back!"
I reached for the door handle and held it open for Emu and the two young skateboarders that just entered.
"Thank you!" the one with bruises crawling down his leg said to me. The other boy's leg didn't match his markings but they looked like they had fun.
"What do you want to order?" I heard the un-bruised one mutter.
"I don't know, but can you order for me? I'm stranger-shy."
I looked back as the door closed to see the boy elbow his partner before sputtering a hearty giggle. I imagined him asking:
"What do you mean stranger-shy?"
"I can't talk to new people!" the other said in my imagination. "What if I mess up and become someone unforgettably embarrassing?"
"They won't care! It all starts with hello, just give it a try."
Just give it a try, he said in my mind. Emu was waiting for me to catch up with her from down the block.
Just give it a try, she'd say.
It all starts with hello.
"Hi!" I shouted to her.
"Huh? Uh, hello~!"
YOU ARE READING
It's Only Us in the World
RomanceI never thought I'd find you. Because I didn't. You found me. They're both on opposite ends of the spectrum. How could people of conflicting identities join hands and brave the same sunset every single day? It's a subtle summer morning when Mafuyu...
