Boombox

Winter In Summer | iii

Winter In Summer || iii || 

On this very fine afternoon, the twosome met again at Mr. Oakley’s woods. The boys have planned a meeting for the American Russian Allegiance to Recruit Blue and Green Power Rangers, as they sat side to side Hugo cracked a joke.

 “Why did the chicken cross the road, Winter?”

Winter looked at him doubtfully and answered in a monotone voice. “To go to the kitchen, obviously.” Winter wondered how clueless Hugo was when he snorted a laugh.

“That is the most ridiculous and believable answer I have ever received.” Said Hugo.

"Well it is the most ridiculous question to be asked." retorted Winter.

"Look, Winter. It's Patricia." He pointed across the road on top of the woods that surrounded the walls of Mr. Oakley's jungle as they were sat on a top hill that overviewed the street. They were safe from people's eyes but the contrary couldn't be said.

And indeed, Patricia Fernandez was walking— more like skipping— with a basket in hand that contained red flowers and was handing some to elder people as handful of them were walking and sitting on side benches. She was clothed in a yellow knee-length dress with her pale hair tied up to the top of her hair. Patricia has always been known as the most beautiful girl of their age group in this town, and she thankfully wasn't a mean snobby one. She was modest and shy, with the just right twinge of sassiness.

Winter was in a trance by her beauty but it was unlike the other children around the urban whom desired Patricia's company for special gains of popularity or more dilute matters. He genuinely admired how her long eyelashes would flutter whenever the sun was too high in the sky and she'd reach a hand to cover her eyes, or how her freckles would grow more adorable when she blushed at times of compliments, and how she always approached him with both her hands behind her back and smiling with all of her perfect shaped teeth showing making his hands cultivate sweat. He always desired her company, he always desired being friends with her. She was the most interesting person he had ever met, besides the fellow he was sitting next to.

Hugo always snapped at his irrational behavior toward Patricia, so whipping his attention back to the backpack he fumbled with the toy figures of the Rangers and took them out.

“What now?” he asked Hugo.

Hugo was staring quietly ahead of him.

“We should get the other Rangers as too, it would be rude if they’re only two without their friends.” answered Hugo, still staring deeply in the space looking as if he was possessed.

“But—Green and Blue are our favorites. No, Hugo. Now c’mon we have to write the rules of the first meeting since we announced the formation of this allegiance. “ he began writing the title on the notebook that belonged to Hugo’s father when he was younger and looked up to see Hugo hugging his knees to his chest and tilting his head sideways looking at Winter, looking deeply concerned and lost.

Winter brought the notebook and pen down to the ground and attempted to ask Hugo when he spoke.

“Sometimes, I wish we weren’t hiding our friendship because older people didn’t like something and they feel like they should control it and ruin it for others.

“Also I miss my sister, Winter. I love her so much but I miss her so much more. If she was here she’d tell me I’m being silly for being sulky on a beautiful day. She liked summers. I liked winters. We didn’t like the same thing but we were good to each other. “

Winter swallowed the lump that has formed above his Adam’s Apple, he knew about Hugo’s sister, Kylie and what he also knew he never talked about her unless he really, really, really missed her just like he said. He didn’t talk about her because she’s a painful memory, but because he didn’t know her for too long yet she was buried in Hugo’s mind. He questioned about her to his family but they seemed to hate it when he did so, she was a painful memory that they’re trying to forget to them, which bothered Hugo the most because he’d say:

“Why would they want to forget family? I’m family. Would they try to forget about me If I died?”

Winter looked at Hugo.

“ If you died, I will make sure nobody forgets you. If you died, I will tell everyone about you. If you died, I’ll name all my grandsons after you with the first and second titles that you find pointless. If you died, I will make it my responsibility to make a shrine for you and send it to Russia so they can lay it in Moscow since it’s a touristic place and people will be intrigued by you and they will ask, ‘Who is Hugo Osborn and why does he has a shrine?’ and all sorts of questions and I will answer them. If you died, Hugo, you will promise me now and then that you’ll stand, sit or swim for me when I come there too. You gotta swear it to me for the love of ginger cookies and myself because you know I don’t like it without you. Swear it to me.”

Winter finished with a look of determination in his eyes and growing fond of the boy opposite him.

Hugo eyes glowed with water and a smile played at his lips, he said.

“I swear it to you for the love of ginger cookies and yourself, Winter Wilfred.” He said in a breaking voice.

“Good,” Winter replied, “good. Now can we write the rules down?” he added.

Hugo still staring at Winter said, “I love you, Winter. You’re a bravura  friend.”

Winter looked back up and grinned at Hugo. “I love you too. I just hope we don’t kiss now. It will get odd.”

Hugo’s eyes suddenly gleamed with mischief and he started to lean forward and puckered his lips as he said, “give me a kiss winny, give me a kiss, I love you, kiss me winny.”

Winter backed off immediately but Hugo was faster and he jumped on Winter, still talking in the mockery voice, teasing and tickling him. Winter hated being tackled and tickled, the boys’ laughter and noises were marvelous as the sunshine dwelled and the glazing heat maneuvered with the nearing of the evening.  

 *   *  *  *  *   *  *   *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *   *  *  *  *   *  *   *  *  *  *  *  *  *

A/N: Little Talks might not be perfect for this chapter but I love the song too much. :)