The Ferris Program

Part 3

A well-founded new friendship based on each other's fun facts, or not-so-fun facts. I was curious about her name, I think her name is also cool, as is her heritage.

Unfortunately, the Ferris Program bans us from telling names. What can be done to distort that rule?

"You called me Pocket," she says.

"Yes, I did."

"Does it closely relate to any specific memories of yours?" she asks.

I state, "Not really, but I have this t-shirt that has a little pocket in front of my chest, on the left. And I think it's cool to imagine my heart has a pocket to contain my feelings, easy to access with just a hand grab."

She chuckles, "That's poetic. Are you a poet or sum?"

"Haha, thanks. My dear Naravan friend also supported me to become a poet, but sadly I didn't make it. Instead, I became an academic teacher."

"Teacher, cool!"

I chuckle as a reply. I don't usually see people impressed by a teaching career.

She continues, "But it's unfair. I should also call you by a nickname. Not just Mongol this or Mongol that in my head."

"Sure. It's rude to call Mogol this or that, bish."

"Sooo, Peanut. Also starts with a P," she hollers. I can imagine there's a lightbulb above her head popping up.

"Peanut? What's with it?" Not to mention, peanuts aren't even close to my name 'Altantsetseg' or 'Agi'.

"Uh, because I'm allergic to peanuts, but I found it cute to call someone," she replies.

"I'm not surprised. Before, you said you're allergic to detergent but I smell like detergent. Now you name me Peanut, which you're also allergic to. But poor you, you're allergic to many things, while I'm not."

"Lucky you, Peanut," she says.

Now I have a gut feeling that she always tries to irritate me. But whatever, I don't mind. Peanut is fine.

.

My head chains a rhythm.

Hardly do I know how it rains

Someone would better explain

Why you aren't designed for me

Why my heart feels so heavy

"Why my heart feels so heavy!" I voice the last sentence out.

"Is that a question?" the girl asks from my back.

"Oh shit, sorry. I just chain a poem in my head and it turns out..."

She stands up, leaving me to sit on the seat. The instant loss of warmth makes my heart flutter.

I think she will sit back to the opposite side, but instead, she's back to me, gazing.

"Oh you have a little scar on your forehead right here, just now I notice," she says.

"Yeah, silly accident. I always hid the scar when I was young, but now I have decided to show it. I don't like hiding."

She grins, "Haha, you're slapping on my face for liking hiding in my room. And you said you wouldn't use my personal details against me."

I realize she may also think I try to rile her up all the time as much as I think she tries to irritate me.

"Oh balloon, I don't mean to make you angry. We're just opposite, pardon me."

"Wait, balloon? What?"

"Haiz," I sigh, "balloon is a swear word in Mongolia, the ferris auto-translates it or something. I mean... never mind."

She kisses my forehead, to my surprise.

I freeze.

"You're cute," she grins after she kisses my head. "Does your heart feel heavy?"

Actually, it feels like heart-attack when she acts all of a sudden. "I haven't prepared for the kiss, Pocket!"

"Peanut, you said as if we kissed."

"But that's also a kiss," I argue.

"Okay, I leave you now," she replies. And that sentence triggers me.

"Stay for a bit," I cling to her arm. "Say that again."

"Say what?"

"That you love me on my bad days," I say.

She hesitates, then she reaffirms, "Yes I love you on your bad days."

"Thank you, I need that affirmation."

"That's your love language?"

"No."

"But mine is, I love words of affirmation," she says.

//

A/N: Writing materials usually come from personal stories. My experience with this particular girl helps build up the conversation in this story and you can see how good talks can build up a well-founded friendship. Indeed, I realize I fell in love with her words more easily than the personna she reprensented. Thank you for the best part. Till now, I have very few details about her life, and I think I may not know her very well.