BAREFACED

Chapter 93

You stare at Emma a bit before putting the sticker back into your pocket.

"He's my friend."

"Friend?" She questions. You slowly nod. She nods too and looks back at her clothes.

"It's been a long time since I heard that name." Emma slowly says.

"Huh?" You look at her confused. She smiles and puts her clothes away.

"Izana... he has tan skin? Kinda like a foreigner?" She asks. You slowly nod. She nods and smiles more.

"He's my brother."

"HUH! He doesn't look like your brother!" You say in shock. She laughs and turns towards you.

"Wait! Do you like him?" She asks.

"I-"

"You know he's like- way older than you."

"What are you talking about."

"Isn't he like in his twenties?"

"I think-" You say, furrowing your eyebrows.

"You like older guys?" She chuckles.

"No!" You say shaking your head fast. She laughs again and takes a deep breath. She stands up and sits beside you.

"I haven't seen Izana in years... Last time I saw him was when he- left with child services."

"Child services?" You look at her.

"Mhm-" She hums.

"I don't remember much... It's been so long." She smiles. "I wonder how he is now."

"Yeah-"

She slowly looks at you and tilts her head to the side.

"What made you ask about him?"

"I don't know- I guess I'm wondering why he suddenly appeared one day looking for me." You say, looking back at the fish in the painting.

"Mmm... weird." Emma stands up and walks towards her closet and pulling a blanket out.

"So- How do you plan on confessing to Draken?" You ask, quickly changing the subject. She quickly looks at you, holding the blanket in her hand. She smiles at you.

"I don't know- Hina said we should do a bunch of fun things together and then... I should ask him out." She soothes.

"Mmm..."

"But I don't know what we should do-" 

You relax your eyes and then your eyes widen as you randomly think of something. You stare down at the sticker in your hand.

"Let's go to the beach!" You bubble.

"OH! GREAT IDEA!" She says hopping up and down.

"No-"

"HUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!" Emma says in a shocked and whiny tone.

"I don't want to go to the beach." Mikey says, furrowing his eyebrows.

"WHAT! WHY NOT?"

"Because I just don't-" He huffs.

"It's really humid out... and besides- there's a bunch of stuff going on with Toman." Draken adds.

"Oh come on... It's just one day of fun!" Emma pouts.

"Yeah- but the fight is a week from now."

"You're acting like you need to prepare for the fight." Emma huffs.