Page 45 of A World Apart
“You refused to wear your shoes when we got home and said you wanted to feel the grass on your feet.” I rummaged through the cupboard for a coffee filter.
“They’re still in the bag on the counter,” Becka said, “what grass?”
I turned around and looked through the unpacked grocery bag, finding the pack of filters. “Thanks. The grass outside on the sidewalk, the bit with the tree.”
“That’s where Jose takes Milo to do his business!” Becka wailed, and I cackled. Jose was our downstairs neighbour, and Milo was his very sweet, very geriatric chihuahua.
Becka ran to the shower, hot-stepping like she was jumping on stones, and I laughed as I prepared the coffee.
By the time Becka was out of the shower, wrapped in a towel and drying her hair on another, I was sat at the counter, drinking a coffee and eating buttered toast.
“If you’re staying home today, you can clean these floors,” she grumbled, pouring herself a coffee.
“Can’t. I won’t be here.”
Becka slowly spun around like a turnstile mannequin to face me. “Whhyyy...” she said, drawing out the word, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
I finished my bite of toast before I answered her, deciding honesty was best. “Because I’m spending the day with Jihoon before he flies home tomorrow.”
I watched Becka’s face as it slackened, her mouth falling open. She put her coffee down and took the seat next to me.
“Babes, are you sure this is a good idea?”
“No,” I said honestly, “but it’s what I want.”
Becka regarded me plainly for so long I felt the need to fill the silence with something other than the sound of crunching toast.
“Okay,” she finally said, taking a sip of coffee.
“Okay?”
“Okay,” she repeated. “Ky, you’re a grown-ass adult and I’m not your mother-”
“Thank God,” we chimed in unison and shared a grin at the years-old joke.
“If this is what you want, who the hell am I to tell you not to?”
I finished my toast and wiped my hands down my pyjama bottoms. “I appreciate that, thank you.”
“But I reserve the right to tell you ‘I told you so’ when you come home crying about it!” She waggled her finger at me, but there was no ice in her tone.
Becka stood up and took a few gulps of her coffee before dumping it in the sink and walking back to her bedroom.
“What are you both going to do today, anyway?” she threw over her shoulder.
I thought for a few moments before realising I had absolutely no idea. We hadn’t spoken about it.
“I have no idea,” I laughed.
“I’m rolling my eyes at you,” Becka called from her room.
“Yeah, me too,” I said to myself as I pulled out my phone. There was one new message, sent about half an hour ago.
Joon
Good morning
[Sent 06:23]
