The Defects

‹one›

NARI was not having the best of mornings.

First, she had had to wake up at an utterly God-forsaken hour of the early morning to catch a train.

Second, her best friend was supposed to meet her at the station, and he was running late. She wouldn't have minded too much if it wasn't raining, and if her best friend hadn't 'accidentally' stolen her umbrella and taken it home with him some weeks before. But it was, and he had. So, here she was, shivering in the pouring rain; her hair and clothes utterly soaked; contemplating all the different ways to get even with Jay when he arrived. Perhaps I'll take a shot at him with my suitcase.

Five minutes.

Ten minutes.

Twenty minutes.

She let out a shriek that ripped through the silence when a pair of hands suddenly clapped over her eyes.

"Guess who?" a low voice chuckled. I know that voice. It sounded so smug that Nari was half-convinced that she could hear the owner of the voice smirking. "Did I scare you, princess?"

"Agh! Jay! Get your hands off my face right now!" Nari was desperately trying to wriggle out of his hold, while Jay just watched her struggle to slap his hands away with amusement.

"Whatever her highness commands," Jay stepped away from her, his hands moving to hang limply by his sides. She turned around and glared at him. The orange light of the station lamp a few metres away danced in her eyes, making her look slightly crazed. Suddenly, her glare switched to an unnerving grin.

"Nari? You okay?" said Jay, looking slightly worried. She was a lot smaller than him, but knew that she was not one to be underestimated – that girl is as unpredictable as she is crazy, and that's saying a lot. "What the - ?" Nari had run straight at him, flinging her arms around him. He could feel the water from her rain sodden clothes soaking into his shirt, making his skin cold. "Nari!" he pouted, "you're getting me soaked!"

"Says the guy who made me wait out here in the pouring rain for I don't know how long."

"Okay, fine. I deserve it."

"Yes, you do." Nari grinned and poked his chest, still hugging him. Jay rolled his eyes before putting his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"I've missed you, you know, Nari..."

Nari burst into giggles. "It's only been a few weeks since you last saw me, silly!"

"And do you know how dull a few weeks can be without my best friend?"

Nari did not say anything in return, but the corner of her mouth quirked upwards cutely. Suddenly, a horn blared in the distance, making her jump away. Almost immediately afterwards, she could also hear the sound of wheels rattling as they sped along the metal tracks. "It's our train, Jay – quick!" She ran to grab her luggage, and, as the train slowed into the station, the two friends hauled their stuff on board and collapsed, breathless, on two worn out seats as the doors snapped shut.

 In the light of the rising sun, she could see Jay's features more clearly. He was far from a normal guy: his hair, which had been mint green the last time she'd seen him, was now jet black, standing out against his pale, almost luminescent skin. He was wearing black eyeliner, which made his face look cat-like, but not in a bad way. His black jacket and ripped jeans gave him an intimidating air. . . but he's a softie really. At least, he is to me.

Nari was jolted from her thoughts by Jay's voice, which echoed around the otherwise empty train carriage. "I can see you staring at me. . ." he teased in a sing-song voice.