Ambedo

1 ❦

The sky was dark, stars trembling in distance. My mind entranced with the candles dancing to the slow song. Then there was a silhouette, hiding them from me.

"Dance with me Eve."

Kevin's palm was warm. It always was. His cologne calming and his hold sanctuary. Kevin moved slowly, my legs following his lead. Kevin could dance with his eye closed and still get a standing applause.

Michael Bublé was playing in the backyard of my parent's home, couples swaying slowly to the beat, like some invisible powers were stopping them to move their bodies faster.

I moved slower, sloppy movements that mocked my two left feet, like child learning how to walk, long and tone but barely able to dance their way to safe a life.

It was twenty seconds before midnight, fifty four minutes before my flight back, and four hours till my shift. It was moments like these that made me believe I could fall a sleep while standing up, too tired, spent and hungry.

"Don't fall sleep on me pretty Eve," Kevin sung, twirling me effortlessly, "I can't have your folks down my throat for a scratch on your precious body."

"I thought you promised you'd never let me fall."

I moved back, fighting the twitch in my lips. It was hard to play someone who knew you more than you knew yourself but it was fun to try.

Kevin laughed, "that promise was mainly for my safety."

The song ended before I could tell if his tone was serious or not and Kevin was drugging us to the sliding doors that led back to the house.

The inside was warmer, brighter, a little bit louder and much more fuller. Kevin led us to the kitchen, pass the friendly smiles and acknowledging nodes, a joyful stride in his steps, like a kid counting his way to his grandma's house.

Compared to the rest of the house, the grayscale kitchen was almost empty except for two ladies, one of them munching on meatballs, while the other held her glass of champagne delicately.

"Eve," Adam jumped from nowhere, arms clenching my middle, lifting me from the ground, leaving me panting, "I missed you little sis." His hands fell from my side, to my hair, before I could even say a word, whirling around the counter to Kevin, hands open for a hug, brown eyes gleaming with mischief. "You too Kev."

Kevin sidestepped him before he could reach, hiding behind mom's expensive china. "Don't you dare!"

"But it's just a hug," Adam pouted.

"It's never just a hug with you," Kevin said, then gestured to me frowning, "look at her, the poor thing is shaking."

"I'm not shaking," I snorted, filling a plate with spaghetti and meatballs.

Food like these, cooked with love and passion, was a scarce back in college. The only two things that I could afford with the little time and money I have was instant noodles and junk food, which was never close to a warm home cooked meal.

"Slow down champ," Adam hollered, taking the fork between my fingers and passing a glass of orange juice to me, "it ain't going anywhere."

Adam was loud, brilliant for sure and innocent like child. He was five seconds younger than me(yet called me lil sis religiously), and surely acted the role just fine. He was bright, joyful, affectionate, and a stoner just without the supplies. He was tall, lanky and dark, poorsighted and wore his shell glasses religiously.

"I'm going somewhere though," I threw the words aimlessly, disappointed at the fact that I couldn't enjoy the leftovers in my pajamas.

Kevin sighed, seeming more disappointed than I was, "can you just stay for few days? We can drive back together and spend few hours on the road?"