“Hey... hey... HEY! WAKE UP!” Aiden heard a voice gradually became
louder, calling him.
Aiden opened his eyes slowly. He saw a blue clothed figure wearing
a mint cream color jacket with medium long hair. Directly, he knew who it was.
He closed his eyes back and rolled his body over to the opposite side.
“Hey! Don't go back to sleep. It's 6pm already. How long have you
been sleeping since you've arrived home from school?” Aiden heard the person‘s
saying but kept focusing himself to go back to sleep.
“I know you haven't ate or even took a bath right? Hurry up and
shower, I'll make you some dinner.” Jessica continued while grabbing his arms –
forcing him to get up from the couch he had slept on.
The house was empty this time of the hour, it always is. Aiden's
mom and dad are very busy so they haven’t arrived home yet. Aiden came from an
above average family but wasn't too wealthy too.
He had a medium sized house, it's warm and comfortable most of the
time. But it's lacking of the presence of love - his parents attentions to be
exact.
Aiden knew his mom and dad worked hard for him because they loved
and cared about him a lot. He knew that clearly, but sometimes he just missed
his quality time with them.
Aiden wasn't able to convey this to his parents and often felt
jealous towards Jessica's good relationship with her parents. Jessica knew
about this all along and understands Aiden very well.
Aiden woke up and sat straight while adjusting his eyes with the
fire shining bright from the fireplace. Soon, he realized that he had left the
TV on the entire time he slept and directly took the remote on the table in
front of him to shut it off.
He went up and walked towards the bathroom, passing the kitchen.
There he saw Jessica who was cooking seriously. She is his childhood friend and
neighbor.
Jessica has always been an important person in his life; he could
even conclude that she is like a family to him. Jessica knew his mom and dad
were busy so she constantly came to keep him company because Aiden tends to get
lonely easily.
He watched her for a while, gazing on to her and soon smiled in
relief – knowing that he wasn't alone and grateful she was here with
him.
The rain was falling heavily outside; thunder and lightning were
shooting as fast as a rocket and as loud as a child screaming. The winds were
whirling, dancing towards the trees and plants causing them to sway like they
were doing waltz.
Inside, after Aiden finished taking a bath, he went straight to
the kitchen and watched Jessica cooked. But Jessica was so focused by her work
she didn't realize Aiden was behind her, watching.
Jessica was chopping some vegetables when accidentally she
cut her own finger, causing a minor injury. Blood was flowing out of the cut,
“Ouch!” she mumbled as soft as she could, not wanting Aiden to know – she thought
Aiden was outside the kitchen that time.
Jessica didn't realize that Aiden was behind her all this time.
Aiden saw what happened and acted quickly, walking directly towards her.
“Jess, are you okay?” he took her hand and examined the wound. He looked
at her, very concerned, “I'll take the medicine first, you wait here okay?”
Aiden jogged to his room as fast as he could. 'Bang! Bash! Bam!
Clank! Clink!' Jessica could hear loud noises coming out of Aiden's room. He
frantically searched for the medicine and arrived on the cupboard he had in his
room, “Alien mask? No... Board games? No... Canvas? No...” he kept on finding
things he didn't need in this kind of situation.
Until sometime later, he found the emergency medical kit and ran
as fast as a shooting star to the kitchen. But he didn't find Jessica there, he
looked outside the kitchen and found Jessica was seating in the sofa on the
living room – in front of the fireplace and TV.
Jessica was silently holding her wounded finger while watching the
TV. Soon, she noticed that someone was behind her. She looked back and smiled
seeing a familiar figure standing there.
“Hey, I'm sorry it took you so long to wait. It was hard to find
it, it's almost nowhere to be found. All I could find at first was some old
stuff I had,” he said, flustered.
She giggled, “It's okay.”
She signaled him to come closer to her, “Hurry! Before the cut
becomes worst.”
“Okay,” he came closer.
He holds her hand gently and applied medicine on the cut. Jessica
shivered a little from the pain but when Aiden looked upwards at her, she
forced a reassuring smile so he won't feel worried.
Afterwards, they went back to the kitchen and had dinner together.
They were laughing, talking loudly – enjoying the time they had.
“Aiden! Stop stealing my food! You have your own you know!” She
pouted, trying to stop Aiden's actions.
“Hehe. I like seeing you angry,” he
smirked evilly, full of victory.
“You idiot!”
They continued eating happily. The kitchen became vivacious,
cheerful, noisy and warm despite the unfriendly weather – storm – outside,
where everything seemed so cold and lonely.
“Jess, we would always be like this right? Nothing will change
right?” Aiden asked. Now, they’re in the living room – sitting down next to
each other while watching the TV. The fireplace was just underneath the hanging
TV screen, giving a sense of warmth and peace.
Jessica found this question rather odd but managed to answer, “Of
course, nothing will ever change. Why do you ask?” She was gazing on the
fireplace, not paying any attention to the news broadcaster on TV.
Aiden looked at her, seriousness was drawn in his face. His eyes
showed worriedness, “I’m just making sure that we’re not going to lose each
other.”
Jessica stared back at his black brownish eyes, showing a
comforting smile.
“We won’t. I promise, except if you were to break them.”
“I won’t, you don’t trust me?”
“I don’t…” Jessica showed her serious face and Aiden really
thought she didn’t trust him, sadness was seen in his eyes.
Jessica saw this and laughed, “Of course I do trust you Aiden.
Okay, to settle this matter let’s pinky promise like we always do since we’re a
kid.”
Aiden saw Jessica had raised her pinky already, ready to accept
his and he laughed, “Okay.”
Aiden responded to Jessica’s pinky and Jessica smiled widely, “Now,
there’s no need to worry right? We’ve pinky promised!”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Don’t ask such questions, Aiden. It scares me you know, thinking
that we might part someday. We’ve been friends all our life; nothing’s going to
change.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m glad I know you. I’m
glad I’m close to you.”
“Me too.”
They smiled and continued to watch the TV with ease when a couple of
minutes later the doorbell rang.
“Must be mom and dad. I better open it.”
“I’ll come with you,” Jessica said and
they both went to the door.
“Hi mom! Hi dad!” Aiden said cheerfully. Mr. and Mrs. Lee looked
exhausted but managed a smile when they saw their only son and his best friend.
“Mr. and Mrs. Lee, hello.” Jessica
politely said.
“Hello to you too Jessica.” Mr. Lee said
while smiling.
Aiden’s parent went inside and seemed really relief that Jessica
was here to accompany their son.
“Jessica, thank you for always being here for Aiden when we
weren’t. We’re grateful that you’re here.” Aiden’s parents genuinely said.
“You’re very welcome Mr. and Mrs. Lee,” Jessica looked at the
watched she wore. It shows that it’s almost 10 already.
“I would love to spend more time with you but I better get going,
it’s late already. I think my parents would be waiting.” She smiled courtly.
“Ah! You better get going then. Don’t make them worry and give
them our hello and thanks okay? We’ll visit sometime.” Aiden’s mom said.
“Okay,” Jessica replied.
She turned to Aiden, “Aiden, I better go
now.”
“Okay, I’ll accompany you to your house.”
“You don’t need to, it’s close anyway.”
“I’m worried about you and it’s late already. Please let me
accompany you and drop you off.” He pleaded and showed his killer puppy dog
eyes.
Jessica hesitated but gave in, “Fine, fine. You’re so cunning! You
know I can’t resist those puppy eyes of yours.”
“It’s because I know, that’s why I did
it.” He grinned in victory.
Aiden’s parents watched their son’s actions and smiled, happy that
he had a friend like Jessica.
“You guys better get going now, Jessica’s parents is waiting for
her at home. Take care of Jessica on the way okay Aiden?” Aiden’s dad warned
him.
“You don’t need to tell me, I know
already.” Aiden grinned.
“Mr. and Mrs. Lee, I’ll be going now. Thank you and see you.”
Jessica said, respectfully.
“Be careful on your way you two!” Mrs. Lee raised her voice a
little because Aiden and Jessica were at the door already.
The storm had stopped and so they went outside and walked. The
streetlights were dimly lighted and the winds were breezing lightly passing
them, caressing their face.
So they went two houses to the right from Aiden’s house and
arrived at her house in a couple of minutes. Jessica smiled and bid goodbye
saying she’ll meet him again tomorrow. Aiden grinned and agreed. He watched her as she went inside her house and eventually closing the door.
There’s always this fluttering feeling he had when he’s with her,
when he saw her glowing smile and cute pouts. He’s somehow always smitten when
he saw her and his heart always beats two times faster than it should be.
Walking back home, he thought about what these feelings were but
couldn’t figure it out in the end.
“Maybe someday I’ll know what these feelings actually are.” Aiden
mumbled.
