LXXXII | Desire

❦

We walk
at the neighbourhood park
near my place
because

Shuhui
refuses
to go home.

'I don't want to see that old woman (her mother)
'ever again,'
she says.

'Your stuff for school is at home,'
I point out.

She lights a cigarette.

'I can borrow Pretti's uniform.'

'Homework?
'Textbook? Notes?
'Food? Panties?'

She blows a cloud of smoke
into my face.

It's unexpected
so I end up coughing.

Shuhui glares.

'I'll help you with Ming and the rest,
'so help me out a little, yeah?'

It should be okay, right?

Rowan let Kumar stay over
when he was in trouble too.

Same same.

'Fine,' I say.

She drapes an arm
around my shoulder in an

attempt
of a side hug.

❦

'You can have the bed,' I tell her.

She stares
at my bed
in bewilderment.

It's not dirty.

I still take care of my bed really well.

My room
has gotten
messy
since
that time Rowan

helped to tidy it.

'What's wrong?
'You want to sleep with my mother instead?'

A glare.

'What about you?' she asks.

I point at the leather couch
in the living room.

She sits
on the edge of the bed,
stretches her hands.

'There's enough space
'for both of us.'

I cross my arms.

'I have a girlfriend right now.'

She flops down
onto the bed,
breathes into my blanket.

'Didn't bother you last time.'

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