With Your Heart Wide Open

A Day In

"Where's Aaliyah?" Jeremy asked for the second time, once Esther closed the door.

"She's not here."

"Wh-What happened?" he gulped.

Seeing his alarmed expression, Esther was quick to explain, "She went out with... her father,"

Jeremy exhaled in relief.

"Don't worry. She's okay. Everything's okay," Esther felt the need to say.

He didn't sound happy though, "Why did you tell me that something was wrong? I thought something had happened to her!"

"I never said that something was wrong. I said that it was about her. What I meant was that she missed you. Terribly,"

Jeremy ran a hand through his hair in frustration, "Why couldn't you just say that?! I was at work. I had to tell my boss that I had a family emergency!"

"I didn't know you were at work. We haven't talked in a while,"

"Do you remember why? Because you told me to get out of your life," he turned his back on her pretending to look through his phone.

"Jeremy, look at me,"

"..."

"Jeremy!"

He faced her, "Don't you dare yell at me!"

"Listen to me," It didn't sound like an order. It was more like a plea.

Jeremy didn't answer, but he was now looking at her.

Esther continued, "I shouldn't have said these things. I didn't meant any of them,"

"Then, why did you?"

"I went to see my dad that day."

"Your dad's alive?" Jeremy asked noticing how little he knew from Esther's past.

"Yeah. Seeing him made me remember and realize many things,"

"Like what?"

"It made me see how messed up I am. That's when I thought of you. I couldn't think of a valid reason why you'll put up with me... apart from pity,"

"Esther... How could..." he trailed off as his voice broke.

"It's true,"

"Do you know how I see you? I think you are a moody arrogant and occasionally selfish jerk,"

"Ouch!"

"But, I'm a crazy and a teensy tiny teeny tweeny bit immature jerk. At the end of the day, we're both jerks. That's how and why we put off with each other,"

"In a weird way, that made me feel better," Esther confessed.

She smiled at him.

"Don't you smile at me like that! I'm still mad at you," Jeremy warned.

"No, you're not," she said confidently.

"Believe me, I am. You made me leave work,"

"Come on! You wanted to come here. When you saw my text message, you could have just called me to ask about Aaliyah. Why did you have to come all the way?" Esther pointed out.

Jeremy smiled despite himself, "I'll give you that,"

He let himself fall on the couch.

"What are you up to today?" he asked.

"Nothing much... Right now, I feel bad that I don't have no female friends to hang out with,"

"I'm offended. Who wants some female friends when you have an alpha, caring and funny male friend here?"

"To braid my hair. To do my nails. To gossip with,"

"I can do that!"

"No, you can't,"

"I'll show you but first you have to..."

"What?"

Jeremy pointed at her and she realized that she still had her bathrobe on.

"Oh! I'm... Sorry... That's so embarrassing,"

Jeremy rubbed the back of his neck and looked away from her.

"Don't worry. I've seen worse."

He laughed when Esther threw a pillow at him before leaving the room.

When Esther came back, she was wearing a tank top and sweatpants. Her hair, still wet, sparkled with droplets while staying close to her scalp.

"Where's your blow dryer, Missy?" Jeremy asked

" I don't use heat on my hair, I usually wrap a towel around it and let it dry on its own,"

"Then, get it so we can start,"

"Oh... Actually... I just started the washing machine and it's in there,"

"Don't you have a t-shirt or something?"

"They're all in the washing machine,"

Jeremy looked pensively for a moment then said, "You can use my t-shirt as long as you're okay seeing me in my undershirt,"

"Please! I've seen you shirtless. Too many times,"

"You are twisted!" Jeremy explained

"Come on! You only keep your shorts on when you play basketball with Aaliyah"

"Hmm. Looks like somebody's been enjoying the view"

" Please! What would I've been enjoying? Crooked biceps? Three-pack abs? And table flat pecs?"

"Girl! Hush!"

Esther sat down on the chair he presented and close her eyes as Jeremy slowly wrapped his t-shirt around her head. After messaging her scalp, he sat down in front of her and pointed at some bottles of nail polish on the coffee table.

"Which color?"

"Why don't you choose, bestie?"

"Pink, maybe?"

"I hate pink,"

"Green?"

"Don't even think about it,"

"Purple?"

"Acceptable," she said as she presented her hands to Jeremy.

As he started applying the nail polish clumsily, Jeremy said, "Hair? Check. Nails? In progress. I guess we should start gossiping,"

"How are things with you and Leonie?"

He smiled, "We had a small fight the other day because she was feelings nostalgic. I assured her that I will be back in two months and we'll never be apart,"

"Aww. Anything else?"

"What do you mean?"

"What else is going on in your life?"

"Nothing much. I'm an open book anyway. You know everything going on in my life," Jeremy sighed

Esther raised an eyebrow, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Nope,"

"Jeremy?"

"Fine! I'm supposed to be your friend but you won't open up to me. I know nothing of your past,"

"Why are you always digging into my past anyway?"

"Because you never tell me enough. Like you told me that Liyah's dad lives here at Red Valley. Who is he? It's a small place,"

"If I tell you, I'd have to tell you everything else,"

"I have all day," he pointed out.

"Just drop it," she said with a tone that did not allow further discussion.

Jeremy frowned but stayed quiet. He resumed his messy artwork on Esther's nail.

After a silence that stretched for too long, Esther said, "It all started when I wanted to be beautiful,"