Arizona Dreaming

With You

                 

The happiness I felt from being with Julia affected a lot of things.

My father called.

Unlike before when I couldn't wait to end the conversation, I was actually glad that he was checking up on me.

He was happy that I was making friends.

Also, he knew about Julia.

My grandparents were talking on the porch and I wondered who told him.

"Is she nice?" he asked.

"Yes,"

I understood his hesitation.

The last time I was with a group of people, I ended up being sent to the Philippines to be disciplined.

Dad asked about the Warriors and my studies.

I told him we just finished our exams.

"Did you study?"

"I did," I replied, proud.

"You did, huh?"

I shook my head.

He knew how lazy I was when it comes to studying.

I asked about Regina and her pregnancy.

His voice didn't hide his surprise.

It was one of the few times I asked about her without being mad.

"She's better," he replied.

Her morning sickness wasn't as worse than before.

"I'm glad to hear that," I said to him.

It wasn't a lie.

I was happy that she's adjusting to her pregnancy.

My dad worries a lot.

When my mother died, it worried him even more.

Before I hung up, he asked if I wanted to spend Christmas with them.

"What happened to me staying here?" I reminded him.

"Arizona, I panicked. It would be nice if you'll spend some time with us,"

I thought of the time I planned to escape to the US because I hated what he did.

"I'll think about it," I answered.

My mind wasn't planning on going on vacation.

I wanted to be with Julia.

***

After our last exam on Friday, Coach Lim called all of the players to his office to remind us of our practice the next day.

"We have to get ready for the season opening," he was seated behind his desk.

I was exhausted from studying but I made a commitment so all thoughts of sleeping in could wait till Sunday.

While waiting for the driver to pick me up, I told Julia I was more excited for the movie than the practice.

We were seated under the pine tree, the August sun a bright ball of orange.

"There's something I want to tell you," her face turned serious.

I frowned, anxious of what she was going say.

Julia looked down and shuffled her feet.

She couldn't look me in the eye.