The Void Between Hearts ~~ongoing~~

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   She's right, and I don't even feel hungry anymore. Reminiscing the events of yesterday makes my stomach feel full.

   "Yes, I called you, and then I remembered I hadn't said yes to him, so I hung up and called him back, he was at the pleasure park–"

   "The new Pleasure Park?" 

   "Yes. Chinny let me finish. We have all day to answer your questions."

   "Sorry. I'm just so excited is all." She's wide eyed and grinning like a kid at a carnival, eating up more of my noodles without any apparent conscience.

   "Anyway, he lost the network before I could say yes and when I thought everything was messed up, he was downstairs, holding a teddy bear and flowers and . . . I could have kissed him yesterday." 

   "Why didn't you?" she asks with a mouth full of noodles and I'm too busy searching for an answer to her question to be disgusted.

   "His eyes looked golden brown, like they were almost amber. I don't think they're normally that light." I look at her, "am I overthinking?"

   "Nope. You're in love Boma, put yourself together." She says.

   "You wouldn't understand..." I say. 

   She doesn't know I'm sicker now, I hate not telling her the whole truth, it's killing me just looking at those eyes that have told me everything for the past six years and still choosing not to tell her. It's hard but it's better this way.

   "Buns!" 

   "Huh? what?"

   "Must have been a serious evening, you have that look that scares me."

   "What look?"

   "Wait. You're lying! You definitely kissed him. . ." She eats the last strands of noodles on the plate.

   "What? NO!" I stand up and take the plate to the kitchen.

   "You're lying to me right now, in front of this gorgeous face," she walks in after me. "Look I want you to do these things, so I won't judge you." 

   "Chinny, I'd never lie to you, we just hugged. That's all. A long hug. Besides Mom wasn't that far. Would have made kissing him weird, don't you agree?" I wash the plate while she rinses.

   "Okay, I believe you, but I see it in your eyes. The rules aren't holding you much longer."

   "Thought you'd be excited that I'm finally looking forward to prom."

   "About that, I am ecstatic," she smiles. "I told you, you would get pumped."

   "Yeah, but I'm freaking out silently."

   "About what?"

   "I don't know, I feel like I'm–" 

   "Wait. I'm missing something. Something important."

   "What?"

   I watch her eyes expand to their limit, as she simultaneously draws a breath.

   Why does Chinny always have to be so dramatic? I wonder, shaking my head and smiling, waiting for her to remember this all so important thing.

   "YOU DON'T HAVE A DRESS!!" 

   I feel my own eyes widen as I hold my breath. "I don't have a DRESS!" 

   She flings her fingers in the air, splashing water all over my face.

   "CHINNY."

   "That's what delay gets you," she says. "It's not too late, yet." She walks out of the kitchen.