Kiri

I have been staring at the door before me for ten minutes now. Thank god Kae left me alone to meet Kiri, or else she would’ve seen this terrifically dumb sight of me.

Shit, what should I say, what should I do, I can’t open this door until I’ve figured it out.

I was agonizing and still, nothing came to my mind. Those two hours of riding were truly useless. Nonetheless, it didn’t matter. Since the person who opened the door would not be me.

It moved instantly, yet it also felt sluggish. The wider I could see what was on the other side, the more my heart pounded.

Kiri.

Obsidian black hair that’s tied up into a big round ball on her upper left side. Pale skin, and a sculpted figure that was twine-thin. She was like a doll, and her beauty left me mesmerized, it was almost unnatural.

“Hey. Long time no see.”

As she spoke, I noticed her attire. A yellow-striped tank top and ginger trunks, which exposed quite an amount of her bleached skin. The outfit screamed a lack of care and enthusiasm, signaling to me that the girl really was my one and only childhood friend. As I thought so, I noticed her expression, one that is so familiar and engraved deep into my consciousness. A grinning Kiri.

“Hey. long time no see too.”, I smiled In return.

Perhaps this encounter won’t be so bad.

“Well, come on in, you have a lot to talk to me about right?”

“Y-Yeah, if you don’t mind.”

The entrance connected straight to the living room. Two armchairs sit behind a mini circular table, with an aged rectangular TV to accompany the room. The only source of light was from the window just beside the TV, resulting in the dim illumination that surrounded the flat. As I walked to the seat that Kiri was offering next to her, I could notice two rooms on the left side, one of which I guessed was where she slept.

“A pretty decent place you’ve got.”, I spoke as I sat down.

“Yeah, you liked it? Cozy ay?”

“So, I’m guessing that you’re doing well then.”

She glanced to the side.

“Yeah, I guess. Well, certainly more fun than going to school every day.”

“Is that right? What do you do every day, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“I have a part-time job so that’s what I do. The rest of my day, well I just loiter around, nothing noticeable.”, she answered.

“Part-time job. So it’s just enough for your daily necessities?”

“No, I’m gathering money as well.”

Money, huh?

“What do you plan to use them for.”, I asked

“Money’s important. There’s never too much of it so why not get some now?”

I figured that she’s still isn’t telling me something, but I laid it to rest.

“So that’s why you stopped living with Uncle. By not working for him anymore, you get to have a job that pays you more than you need to go through the day?”

“Yeah, I’m a girl without education after all.”

Still, that wouldn’t make much sense. A part-time job shouldn’t be able to hold out a high school girl’s life expanse, not to mention actually having excess to save up. Some things don’t add up.

Abruptly, she cleared her throat

“E-hem. Enough about me, how’ve you been.”

“I’m fine, I’m worried about you.”

“C’mon now, the fact that you’ve spent your time driving all the way out here only to see me, after so long. We both know your life isn’t so fine Stan. So what is it? Bored and unsatisfied? Missing something? Feeling lonely? Lack of I daresay, bitches?”

Was I that easy to read through?

“I admit that my life isn’t exactly fun. But that doesn’t undermine the fact that I’m trying to compensate for what I’ve done to you. I realize that now, and that’s why I’m here.”

She put a halt to the conversation and just smiled at me. Feeling nothing but awkwardness, I returned her expression with a shaky one.

“Whatever I’m past all this. I’m fine with my life now, you don’t have to worry about me, Stan.”’

“Are you thinking at all about going back? I don’t know about your mother but there’s Alice. You had other friends as well concerned about you. You might think you’re lonely but there’s always someone.”

“So you met Alice, heh, didn’t she tell you why I ran away then? School life is just something that I can’t stand, you know I need more excitement.”

So she really thought Alice couldn’t see through her superficial stories. This would put me in quite a pickle since I couldn’t tell anyone whom she might care about who was waiting for her. Then, I’ll just confront her upfront about this.

“I know that isn’t the sole reason. Kiri, I know why you ran away.”

She suddenly gave away a smirk and spoke in a mocking tone.

“You mean the rejection? Are you taking center stage now, Stan? You think-“

“No, I know you know what I’m talking about. Something more personal to you.”

Her joyful expression ceased from her face, and what was left were her cold eyes staring at me. For a second, I could see her whispering something. But simultaneously, her mouth moved into a curve, and once again she smiled.

“Let the past be the past. Like I said, don’t worry, I’m fine with my life now. I have a plan you know, I’m not just loitering around doing nothing.”

“But you said you were loitering around whenever you weren’t at work.”

“Is that so?”

Sweat started to drop down my forehead, signaling my need to feel worried.

“Now this certainly is a strange meet-up. We’re childhood friends for god sake, why aren’t we talking about the old times? What happened to our misadventures? What happened to the adventurous Kiri and the worrying, yet very loyal little Stan?”

“I’m worried about you Kiri.”

Sigh

She let out a loud, tiring exhale.

“Why are you like this now Stan, wouldn’t it be nice if you shared some of those caring energy when you shunned me?”

“I’m sorry about that but that’s why I’m here n-“

“You know what, forget what I just said.”

Another pause. This time more torturing than the last, affecting us both. Yet, somehow, Kiri was still able to break through it.

“Well, you didn’t come all the way here only to experience this torment. I’m sorry Stan.”

“It’s okay. I deserve everything.”

“Don’t beat yourself too hard.”

She stopped for a second as if pondering about something. Then, like a burst of a rocket, she stood up.

“All right, stand up, I know just what to do to make us forget about all of this.”

“What do you mean.”

“You’re worried about me, right? Well, I’ll just have to prove to you that my life is just fine as it is, or even more fun than yours.”
“That’s not the point.”

“You’re here because your life is boring in the first place, it is the damn point. Since when were you this persistent, Stan. You used to love fun and excitement”

But I still do.

She spoke as she scurried to the door and opened it. Turning her back, she lunges her hand toward me and said.

“C’mon, there’s nothing to be worried about. It’s going to be fun.”

Somewhere in my mind, this scene had happened before. I could recall that it was a pleasant memory, though something still felt off. The whole reason why I’m here right now is to make Kiri’s life go back on track. But I guess none of that would matter if she wasn’t happy.

Respect her choices, Stan.

Yeah, Uncle, I guess it’s her life and her decisions. Plus, Kiri is a bright girl, I’m sure she is able to assess her life and have a plan.

Well, as long as I know that she’s happy.

Though hesitating, I leaned my hand forward to accept hers. As we touched, she smiled, and I could feel the usual warmth she had always given me.

I guess it’s good to have fun. After all, it’s been a long time since we had hung out, even though she was my best friend all those years ago.

To all the high school years that we missed. I assured myself the final time and stood with her.

“You know, you still have to change your clothes.”, recognizing that Kiri was still in her home attire, I reminded her.

“Oh shit, right.”