Bag of Chips
2394 Words
“I feel guilty lying to them,” Eli confesses, sobbing.
Lying? Oh, she means lying about our relationship and her gender to her parents. “The way I see it,” I reason. “you're being kind to them. You're fighting who you truly are for them. That takes a lot of courage. All of this led you to go to different places, leaving the friends you made. I understand how hard it is but you still carried on. I don't know if I could've made it if I was in your place. But right now, I'm your only friend that knows who you are and the rest of your story, please don't shut me out from your life. I know how painful it is to be lonely more than anyone. Don't make the mistakes I did. Don't ever soak the sadness all to yourself or you'll drown—I thought you know this.”
Her sobbing becomes slow breaths and sniffling. I hope what I said got through her. She begins to hold me tighter.
“I shouldn't be the one who's giving advice,” I add. “because I'm the one who needs fixing. I just said what I had experienced. I was lucky that I found you and my friends. If not, who knows what I have done to myself?”
She lets go and I didn't see her face because she turned her head as soon as she retreats. She goes straight to her bedroom, away from my sight. Sora comes to follow her. He must be aware of her sadness right now. What a good boy. Maybe I should just wait here in the living room. I want to check if she's fine before I go. I feel that she needs to be alone to think right now, I've done more than enough.
For minutes I waited here on the sofa of her living room until she comes out with a calm face. It's like she never cried.
“How are you?” I ask.
“I'm perfectly fine,” she says, rolling eyes on her way to the fridge. She opens it and grabs a carton of milk to drink.
“That's good then,” I smile at her but she just frowns, walking to the window pane. She's thinking about something.
“So, when are we gonna go to your family's?” she asks.
Sora is sniffing my knees when I answer, “This Wednesday, maybe. I still have to finish something at school.”
“Then we still have time to test you in an actual day on the job.”
“What?” I ask.
“You'll be working in the cafe tomorrow.”
“But... I don't think I'm ready.”
“You sound like a virgin girl,” she smirks over her shoulder.
“I am not!” I yell at her, at the same, glad. She's back to her usual self.
“Besides, I won't let you ruin my business so I wouldn't be letting you work if I don't think you're ready. You're ready, so do your best.”
I let out a sigh to calm myself before nodding, “Okay.”
“Good, you'll be working tomorrow.”
“TOMORROW?!!” I exclaim springing up from the sofa.
She frowns at me while wiping the milk from her lips with her arm. “What are you nervous about? The sooner the better.”
“But are you sure you want me to work?”
“If I have a choice? No. But since I have no choice because there aren't that many people who want to take the job,” She sighs and looks at me. “I'm stuck with you.”
Those words feel different. Her tone and the way she said it—was that an insult or praise? Must I feel lucky or unlucky? I'm not sure. She's stuck with me? Does it mean something more than just because she has no one to hire? Maybe I'm just overthinking this.
“Meet me here tomorrow,” she says and I'm stirred. “Or perhaps, you can stay here for the night.”
Is she joking or not? She's saying it with a straight face.
“No, I won't because-”
“Because I'm a girl and you already have a girlfriend?” she cuts, predicting exactly what I was about to say. She scoffs. “Are you thinking that I'm gonna suck your little d*ck in the middle of the night?”
What the f*ck?! That's too far from what I think!!
“Ugh...,” she sneers, disgusted. “you're pathetic.”
I think she's better off being a depressed little sh*t. With my palm on my face, I calmly suggest, “Please stop overth-”
“We're gonna be so early tomorrow so that we can prepare and be there when the cafe opens,” she explains. “Staying here will save us time—that's my reason. What lewd ideas did your head come up with?”
“Nothing! And fine! I'll stay here for the night!”
“Why are you yelling?”
“I'm not,” I speak in a calmer voice. D*mn, I couldn't control myself from getting triggered by this annoying tomboy!
“Whatever,” she says rolling her eyes, before taking a drink.
I return to my dorm so that I can grab the things I needed. I only brought with me extra clothes, my toothbrush, and other necessities for my hygiene. It's afternoon right now and Irene messaged me.
“I'm home now, babe,” she sends.
Then I reply, “I'm happy you're safe. Have a good time with your family. I love you.”
“I will. I love you too. And enjoy your time with your family too.”
“Okay, babe,” I sent so that I'll be the last one to chat. She heart-reacts my message and that's the end of our conversation.
It took me less than half a minute before arriving at Eli's. I just entered without knocking because I have a key. When I entered, I find out that she's watching AoT with Sora. She has a bag of chips which she shares with him. After eating a chip, she gives one to him. It kinda gives me the creeps, knowing that she has no bra and wearing a loose shirt that I can see her cleavage. What am I looking at?
“Oh, you're here,” she remarks, still looking at the TV. She startled me.
“Yeah,” I answer, walking then sitting beside her, putting my bag on the floor.
I'm so hungry! The smell of what she's eating is tempting me. I tried to reach for the bag of chips in her hand but she takes it away and frowns at me.
“This is mine.”
“Just give me one. Stop being stingy.” I tried to reach it again but she pushes against my face and distances the chips from my reach. “Just one!” I yell.
“No! I told you, this is mine! Get a bag of chips for yourself!”
“Argh!” I exert, trying to get her hands off of my face. “A bag of chips is too much! I just want a single bite! Just-” *Gasp*
She falls lying back on the sofa and I could control myself from falling over on top of her. My right hand is still grabbing her left wrist. The contents of the bag of chips spilled and spread around her neck and cleavage. Her eyes are widened and so are mine. And her hair is spread out on the sofa. I feel the pulse on her wrist that she's unsettled as I am.
Why can't I look away from her eyes? And why isn't she looking away too? I feel a weight pushing me down. I can't fight it. Is it the gravity or it's just... I'm drawn towards her.
*Bark* Sora goes eating the chips from her chest. I let go of her wrist and sit properly, feeling awkward. D*mn... I'm trembling so much. Although I'm looking at one of the best scenes of AoT, I can't shake away the look of Eli's face carved in my head! Sh*t, stop thinking about it!
She sits up and *slap*, my cheek hurts instantly after she slapped me, yelling, “LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID!!!” She's referring to the powder all over her and some of it is on the sofa.
“IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING STINGY!!!” I yell back.
“You better clean up that sofa!” she yells before standing up and walks to her bedroom. “You imbecile!”
“This wouldn't have happened if you just gave me a single chip! How hard could that be?!!”
Holding the door, she growls, “I don't know about you, you worthless piece of sh*t!”
“You're the piece of sh*t!” I point at her.
“Argh!!” she roars, slamming the door.
ARGHHHH!!! That was so awkward!! I put my fists against my lips, hoping that tightening my muscles would squeeze out the awkwardness from my body. What was I doing? I should've given up on it so that wouldn't have happened! Ugh, I hate myself!
-
*
Eli is leaning her back against the door. Her hand is against her chest trying to feel her fast-beating heart, confused why it is doing that. Her breath is very hard. She swallows, hoping that it would calm her down but it didn't work. Shaking her head and hitting it with her wrist, she walks to her bathroom to take a bath.
*
-
With a damp rag, I clean the mess on the sofa while Sora is licking the floor clean. Eli's not coming out. Maybe she's angry with me. I called her stingy although she has given me so much that I can't even give back. I'm such a fool! I must apologize when she comes out.
Then the doorknob clicks, she comes out with wet hair and new clothes. I look away, ashamed of myself. Let's just finish cleaning this thing. Oh, I just remembered that I should apologize.
“I'm sorry,” I apologize just as she opens the fridge to grab something to eat.
She didn't say anything and just comes sitting on the sofa far from me, eating her new bag of chips while watching TV. Both of us are quiet except for the TV and Sora's panting. Gosh, this is so awkward!
Wha-
She's-
Her bag of chips is close to my face. She's letting me take one for myself? Or she's accepting my apology? I think, yes, so I did take one chip although my hunger is gone after what happened. Somehow, this chip tastes so good! I've had this before but why is it tastes better? She's sharing it with me by putting it on the sofa between us.
We watch TV until the night comes. I feel sleepy and she looks like she is too. Also, the lights are off, making us even more tired.
The last episode of the season is over and she asks, “You still want to watch?”
“I think no,” I answer. “I'm going to sleep.” I begin to slowly lie down sideways on the sofa. She turns off the TV.
“Come,” she says.
“Come?” I ask.
“Sleep, of course,” she yawns.
“What do you mean?”
“You'll get a strained neck sleeping there, trust me. That sofa... always gives me strained neck whenever I sleep on it.”
She's asking me to... sleep on her bed? With her? Yeah... that would be... nice... I hate my neck getting strained... after all. I never want to feel that again. So, I follow her there, both of us are tired.
Her bed is so comfortable when I lie down on my face. It smells just like her hair. Falling asleep has never been made so easy. The blanket over my back is so... comfortable.
“Kevin... wake up.” *Yawn* “We gotta be early.”
It's morning already? I feel I want to sleep more. I feel so comfortable. Also, I have to press “it” down on the bed. It is always hard in the morning.
“Kevin!”
“Ow!” I cry in pain after a slap on my butt. Wait... is that... Eli?!! Restless I was when I opened my eyes. Her knees are near my face and I can almost see her blue panties through her shorts.
“What the f*ck are you looking at?” she yawns, slapping me on the face this time.
So, I turned my head to the other side. That slap woke me up. And I never heard her morning voice before. It feels... intimate for some reason. But no... stop thinking about it. How did I get here? And... *swallow* I saw her panties first thing in the morning.
“Kevin!” she shakes me. “Get up.”
I can't right now because I'm still calming this thing. Thanks to what I saw, I'm gonna be here lying down for the rest of the hour.
“I can prepare for half an hour,” I tell her with my morning voice. “You prepare first.”
“If that's what you want.”
The bed shakes when she gets off of the bed. Her bathroom is just right there in the corner. She didn't close the door completely, what the f*ck? It's fine though because she has curtains. But it's still bothering me. Ugh... it's still not calming down. What am I gonna do? I don't want her to see more than one of me standing up. The splashing of the water on the bathroom floor doesn't help. Also, the smell of the shampoo she's using. Why does she have to be this girly? Okay, I'll close my eyes here for a moment until “it” calms down.
“Kevin,” she calls from the bathroom. Her voice echoing.
“What?” I ask.
“Can you hand me my panties?”
- Writer
