chapter 18 - past relations
wednesday, 2/9/2020
Mai sighed exhaustedly as they neared the apartment. "Too many things have been going on lately."
Kineta chuckled. "It'll die down eventually."
Mai nodded. Although she felt relieved that Rod would be gone, she still felt a tinge of guilt for taking it a bit too far.
"I might cut off on Vivi and Azli," Kineta blurted.
Mai furrowed her brows, pondering. "I know about Azli but you've never told me anything about Vivi."
Kineta shrugged. "She never really came up in the conversation."
Suddenly, he felt a soft pinch on his hip, causing him to flinch. "You should've at least mentioned her once."
Kineta rubbed his hip. Her current pinch was harsher than her previous ones. "How can I redeem myself, then?"
"Tell me about your friends."
Kineta raised a brow. "I don't think the trip home would be enough time."
"How did you meet Francis and Ryan, then?" Mai asked, her eyes glued to the star-filled sky.
"Middle school. We used to play basketball in breaks. We separated for some time but reconciled after we moved." Kineta explained.
"Basketball buddies," Mai chimed. "It's cute how you guys kept the tradition."
"Hm? How'd you know?" Kineta teased, nudging her. "I've never told you that we still played basketball."
Mai flushed, scowling. "Yeah, you did."
Kineta grinned. "Nope. I've never told you anything about that."
Mai sucked in her cheeks as Kineta pried for her attention. "Maybe I've passed you once or twice."
"But none of your classes are near the court."
Mai huffed, facing him stubbornly. "How'd you know?" She poked his forehead. "Stalker."
Kineta grabbed her wrist and pulled her in tenderly. Mai immediately reddened at their close proximity. "That's ironic for you to say," he retaliated before he released her and continued walking.
Mai paused, still flustered after their exchange. Her nose scrunched in embarrassment before she caught up to Kineta, regaining her composure. "You've gotten bold," she sneered.
"Hm? What was that?" Kineta chirped.
Mai puffed out a breath. "How about Vivi?"
"I was friends with Vivi before Ryan and Francis in middle school. We moved here together, actually. Sometimes, I'd tell her to babysit Brownie."
Mai nodded. "Are you closer to her, then?"
"We've known each other longer. We're close although we don't spend that much time together." He showcased his dimple. "She takes care of everyone. She reminds me of a mother."
"So all of you had the same middle school," she stated above before her features lit up. "I'd like to get to know Vivi."
Kineta gazed up, pondering. "I'd ask her to buy us ramen sometimes."
She slapped his shoulder softly. "Heh! Isn't that impolite?"
He smiled innocently. "I told you that she's like a mother. She'd definitely be okay with it."
Mai shook her head in disapproval whilst Kineta chuckled. "You should invite Azli."
Kineta deadpanned. "Nah."
"Why not? Isn't she a close friend too?"
He clicked his tongue. "She'd been acting weirder than usual. I think that it would be better to keep some distance."
Mai nodded. "That's understandable. How did you two meet?"
Kineta shoved his hands in his pockets. "She was Vivi's childhood friend who moved to our middle school a year after I've known Vivi."
"So you aren't that close to her?"
Kineta drifted his attention to the ground. "I don't like to think that I am. But she knows me. She knows everyone, actually. Better than anyone." He sighed.
"You say it as if it's a bad thing."
"It is."
