To Express Happiness || Fayne ✔✔

Cabled 🚊

''Aaron? Aaron? Wake up!''.

The first thing that Aaron sees is hair, lots of hair. His vision still blurry from the sleep, he looks up to all the mass black of the hair to see a face, as the vision clears, her face becomes visibly familiar. Aaron shuts his eyes again, thinks about the cyclone of emotions that should be whirling inside him now, but there isn't any. He feels heavy and warm as he gets up from the sofa, and soon discovers a small, thick blanket falling off from his lap to his feet. He looks up to Irina and gives a stare that imposes a hundred questions, but Irina doesn't bother about any  of them. Aaron picks up the blanket and smells it, and drops just as Irina notices.

'' Well...if you want to tidy up the place, be my guest''.

As Aaron moves away to the bathroom, Irina picks it up and analyzes it, finding trace to what Aaron was doing just know, but just keeps it away.

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While pressing the towel to his face, Aaron comes out of the bathroom, fully dressed for today. He does everything in silence: combing his hair, having his medications, tidying up his suitcase to opening the curtains for fresh air. He doesn't panic, doesn't overreact,  doesn't burst out. It's something that had sprouted inside him; an aura of serenity and assurance that replaces nearly all emotions. His heart often skips a beat, his mind slips too but it's all on the go. Life, is one the go.

Thinking that, Aaron looks at his surroundings after retrieving his money bag from the locker. Irina gives a thumbs-up as she adjusts her bright-red scarf over her turtle-neck , and Aaron gives one too as they exit the room together. Irina locking it afterwards.

Soon, Shae and Zack catch up with them from behind. the former sliding beside Irina while the latter hangs on Aaron's shoulders, asking '' You still a virgin bro?''.

Aaron and Irina exchange very brief awkward stares.

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They all reach Powell street in no time. The gang enjoys the outdoor view while Neha and Shae separate from them, paying for the tickets and filling up stuff. As the gang waits before the cable car, Aaron notices them coming to their way. Shae's hands are dug deep inside his leather jacket, as he walks and listens to what Neha is saying to him. Neha is spreading out her hands to express something and soon she  suddenly matches Aaron's eye contact as he gives an unintentional smile at her. She ignored him at first, but later replies with a blush as she looks away and brushes past him.

They all enter the cable car in a line, with Aaron at the back, and no one after him. Including the gang, 15 people enter at once, and the inside gets cramped. Aaron stands there awkwardly as they all find seats near them; Zack sitting beside Ashley, Shae beside Irina and Neha beside an elderly woman. Aaron looks at every corner  of the car, just for a little bit of space;  just before he cries out all the insecurities inside him, as the car guide advises him to sit outside for the time being. The entire gang stares at him in a half-pathetic, half-humorous way as he lowers his head and goes outside.

The tram jerks as it starts, and picks up pace afterwards. As it carries him, he hovers past hundreds of street pedestrians and he keeps wondering, what it feels like to walk alone and never talk to somebody on the way. Is everyone a total stranger? Can't people just open up, reveal themselves and how much they care for each other? Can someone just hug one another and say, ''Chill, you're safe now''? These sullen questions make Aaron shiver as he hugs himself, head almost close to his lap. Suddenly, the door opens.

'' You seem pretty down''. 

Aaron looks up, and trips as the tram goes sideways, making him almost fall if not for the handle.

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''You don't really have to stand to make room for me, you know'', Irina gives a slightly-remorseful smile as she adjusts her scarf and sits some centimeters away from him , '' I, on the other hand, should have''.

Aaron tries to look at Irina in awe, but sudden tears roll down his cheeks and he busies himself fighting them back, so he looks away to hide them.

To break the silence, Irina speaks, '' Aaron...tell me this honestly...what is holding you back? Why do you often seem to feel so...distant...from the gang? Like something is bothering you but you can't let it out.''

Aaron's head gets flooded by thoughts,thoughts that go in every direction, thoughts that will spill out of his head from his mouth. He seems to have no control over them, so he finally decides to let them loose.

'' I don't know, Irina. I really don't. It's just that...I don't know what people expect from me...truly. They seem like they are everyday people; people with 2 ears, 2 eyes, 1 mouth and 1 nose and they are perfectly human. Why can't I just...melt into somebody? Why can't I just become someone's special? Why can't I tell them already that I care for them? I treat them like I want to be treated: I treat them with love; but I never got treated  like that. Why do people have to be plastic on the outside and solid rock on the inside? No body ever opened up to me, and it makes me feel  so.......feel soo...''.

The rest of his thoughts appear as tears as Aaron rubs his face. Irina summons a tissue and gives it to him.

She waits for 5 whole minutes for Aaron to settle down. Then, she begins saying:

'' Listen, Aaron'', she says while loosening her scarf and wearing it again, '' There are almost 8 billion people in the world with 800 billion different dreams and expectations. Now...imagine yourself falling into a crowd of 800 billion thoughts. How chaotic will it be? You'll be simply lost...your meaning of life, or any life inside you...just gone with the million dust particles'' .

Aaron lifts his head up, and faces Irina as he says with a strong tone, ''Then what do I do?''.

Irina looks away, and takes a deep breath as she continues.

'' All you have to do is focus on the right people, and spend more time with them.  Take Zack as a practical example''.

They both turn their heads to the window of the tram as Zack is seated there, an arm over Ashley, chatting with Shae. 

'' Within one and a half year, Zack Riley topped among all the popular boys in school. He was seemingly perfect. Thus, everybody, even the most nerdiest of the students became Zack's friend. However, soon Zack realized that not all of the people would've cared for Zack at the end of the day. Afterwards, Zack entered this group and gave more priority. We valued Zack's time while Zack valued ours. Why us? Because we acknowledged Zack's growing insecurity and didn't use it against him.''

Aaron doesn't move a muscle as the words start get pinned to his brain.

''Well Aaron...personally....you valued me, too. I never thought someone would actually complement me so much and...I still don't know what for but...I'd like to say a big 'thank you' for that''.

Aaron cracks a half-smile while Irina blushes, curling her legs and pulling a whisk of hair at the back of her ears. 

Suddenly, Irina claps. ''Well...let us strike a deal. Try me. Spend 4 days with me, like fully me, and you will know it yourself if you will be closer to me or not in the end''.

Aaron's senses return, as he replies in a shaky voice, '' Are you...sure...?''.

Irina silently groans. ''Duhh. That's why we're partners. Hell...I'll stay awake all night to talk to you and if that's not enough...we can even bathe together! So...deal?''.

Aaron barely hears what Irina said just now as his blood boils near his ears, but as she reaches out her hand for a handshake,   he takes it with heartily, and with a warm smile.

As they are skin-to-skin for the second time, the tram comes to a halt just as Zack enters.

'' Isn't your make-out session done already??''.

Irina releases her hand as she swats Zack.

As she wears her scarf again while leaving, she turns to Aaron and says, ''You do know I joked about the bathing part, right?''.

As Irina laughs her way out of the tram, Zack mouths a big 'O' to Aaron, just as the latter covers his face, biting his side-lip.