Crossroads | ✓

e i g h t

Because, what?

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"Please..?"

I even used my mega, super duper irresistible puppy eyes.

"You should be thankful that your appa and I already played along to this whole thing!"

And though my mother tried to look angry, I knew she wasn't. They were so unlike normal parents so I knew that she was just trying to at least sound like one.

"I've never really asked you anything before!" She raised her eyes as if to say 'minus going to Riverside for eleven years?' but I just shot her my best smile.

I felt her resolve crumble and finally she cracked a smile, shaking her head.

"You sneaky cat," she said, ruffling my hair and poof — there went my quiff. Oh well, some good things deserve sacrifices. "I'll talk to Kiranya about that."

I couldn't resist and pulled my mom into a bear hug. It had been a while since I last hugged her and it felt different. I was so used to being hugged back by a body bigger than me as I rested my head on her waist which slowly upgraded to shoulders. But now, she felt too small trapped inside my arms and her head was buried in my shoulders.

When did I grow up this big?

"Alright, big guy. I'm suffocating. Let go," my amma muttered as she thumped my shoulders and I let her go with a smile.

We both started towards the car where Kiranya was waiting. We had asked her to stay there as my mother went to buy her the prescribed medicines (which, let me tell you, was tough minding that Kiranya wouldn't let my mother pay for her).

Kiranya didn't acknowledge me when we returned but she did shoot my mom a small nod. My mother didn't seem to mind the lack of warmth and shot back a big smile.

The ride back to Kiranya's house was silent but it was a comfortable silence as we were all lost in our own worlds with our own thoughts. Mine, undoubtedly filled with Kiranya. I don't know when it happened but before I knew, she became the center of my world. Everything was about her. What was Kiranya doing? Did she eat? Did she sleep? Was Kiranya happy? She doesn't seem to be having that many bruises recently so does that mean that she's not that clumsy anymore? Where are her parents? What was Grandpa Beardie talking about? What did I mean to her?

And it scared me.

Why would she become the center of my world? She was only a playmate!

Right.

"We're here!" my mother announced cheerfully and Kiranya gave her a small smile.

"Thanks for today, auntie," she said and got out of the back seat, "please come inside for some tea."

Well, at least she knows how to be polite.

My mom didn't even try to deny it for courtesy. Instead she pumped her hands in a very unladylike fashion and thumped my shoulder, almost pushing me outside through the window.

"A hot cup of tea sounds amazing! You don't mind me bringing this extra baggage to our fun girl's union, do you?"

And did I tell you that the extra baggage she meant was me?

No?

Okay.

Even Kiranya cracked a small smile this time while she shook her head and opened my door. A small genuine smile.