DOS GARDENIAS PARA TI

06. TWELVE HOURS

     I was tired, almost asleep.
    Our day had been more than hard,
    But even then, I smugly smiled at you.
    "I'm going to say something controversial," I teased.
    "What is it?" She asked, half scared.
    "Let's grab Korean BBQ—"
    You smiled, your hand covering your mouth.
    We'd just been talking about saving for our trip—
    What a bad idea this trip is right now—
    And had scolded you for spending on useless things you didn't need.
    "Shit—"
    "Actually, aren't you tired? You only slept an hour and a half after your concert—"
    I remembered watching you coming in, eyes half open, but a sweet smile still on your face as you said "good morning".
     "I'm never tired for you," she teased.
     "Damn? Not even with just an hour?"
    "That's enough if I get to spend the day with you."
    I smirked, shaking my head.
    You're getting good at this teasing bit.

    Your curly hair had been straightened,
    There was something alluring about this look.
    Your curls make you look innocent,
    But straight hair made you look assertive.
    It's funny how such tiny details change the appearance of someone—
    Especially how they enhance your eyes—
    Eyes that hold galaxies in them.

    "But this is such a bad timing—"
    "Why?" I asked, fully expecting her to say she already had plans.
    My heart broke a little at the thought.
    "I'm not wearing any makeup— I'm not wearing anything at all! You really chose to grab a bite while I'm looking like this—?!"
    "Love—"
    "I look so crusty!"
    "Love," I laughed.
    "I didn't even put foundation nor anything in my eyes—nada en la cara—"
     "You look beautiful! Stop that!"
     You looked at me with those unsure eyes of yours, pouting your lips as though trying to catch my lie—
      but all I could do was smile at you.
     It's not to say I do not appreciate your artistry,
     But at that moment, nothing mattered.
    You were still as radiant as whenever you did do something special to yourself—
     Your eyes still twinkled.
     But I bit my tongue to not toy with your heart.
    "You look fine."

     "What will you do if she feels the same way?"
     "Run away, of course—"
     "That's not fair—"
     "It's for the best."

      "Yeah, we've seen one another almost every day—" I nodded as I turned to look at her. "Sorry about that."
      "No— we're making up for all the times we haven't spent together. For all the times you've been gone—"
     "Don't." I glared, threatening tone aimed at you.
     "You don't understand," she teased as she held my shoulder. Her gentle finger pressed against my button-up.
     There was that touch of hers again.
     So gentle, so small.
     So warm.
     "I've missed you—"
     "Mira," I turned to look at her. "Don't fucking bring it up because I've been trying to forget it, but each time you bring it up, I remember, and I get angry."
     She tried to suppress her smile, giving me that look of guilt.
     You called me by your name, shaking my shoulder as you pulled onto my arm.
     "What happened?" Our mutual friend, Artemis asked.
     "Whenever I was gone for two months, she didn't contact me!" I scoffed as I shook my head. "After everything I told you, you didn't reach out."
     "That's not true—"
      "It is. And it hurt most with you, you know that? It hurt with her—" I said, signaling our mutual friend, "But mostly with you. I've known you longer— we've been together since the start. And you forgot about me like some ordinary person?"
You laughed innocently as you covered your mouth.
     "Stop!"
     "No, no, don't bring up the past. That shit gets me mad."
     "There was a hole in my heart for like two weeks," you said as you placed some meat on my plate.
     "And I was depressed the entire two months, not seeing you. Our pain is not the same," I shook my head, angrily putting some meat on the rice paper. The meat you had cooked.
      Artemis raised her eyebrows, unsure of what to say or do.
     Almost noticing the tension I felt.