Present time, end of November 2011
She never talked to me about what happened to her that summer. Every time I tried to bring up that subject, she would just smile and brush it off like it wasn't important. Still I had to know! She changed so much it was frightening not just to me – her parents and all our friends noticed that and felt the same.
So I called her to come to my house, my mind all made up to try once more to get a straight answer. But she said she was busy and that she can't make it. Nerve-wracking morning became lazy afternoon and then grew into disappointing early evening. How many hours have I spent in planning every line of our future heart-to-heart conversation? Sora was very stubborn person so I had to choose my words carefully if I wanted to hear anything out of her.
A deep sight left my throat as I sat on the sofa in the living room. Melancholically I let my head fall back, eyes fixed on white surface of the ceiling. Sora is old enough to take care of herself and we were all overthinking it a bit. That'sright! We could just give it some time and hope it was a passing phase in her life.
I had already gave up on the whole idea of making her spit everything out when she suddenly showed up at my doorstep like 10 minutes later.
Before I could even react, Sora stormed in saying her server chrashed and went straight to my room.
At first I was shocked, than happy that some higher force arranged this second chance for me, but... What should I do? Right now she was sitting on my bed behind me, while I was sitting at my computer and entering the verification code for free download.
Few clicks after I turned to face her and of course she was completely ignoring me, her head stuck behind some old magazine. I continued to stare at her without uttering a word. I knew very well that she noticed the silence; she didn't turn the page for quite some time.
„Sora," I started, admitting she won in silence game. „Please, just tell-"
„Has it finished downloading?" It was like I dind't say a thing.
„Ha?"
„Na-ru-to. The latest episode, remeber? I came to watch it with you 'cuz my connection went to hell?"
„Y-Yes, you did. Hmm,... almost. Just a few minutes more," I answered turning to the monitor. Her interruption almost made me forget what I was trying to do. I turned to her again, this time to see her rummage through magazine pile near beds end.
„Sora-"
„Do you have any girl magazines here? All I see is piles of Computerworld... Jeez, sometimes I wonder where did your femininity go..." She picked one out, pull her knees as close as possible to her face and placed a magazine on them. Every flip of the page felt to me like a ticking of a bomb. Like it was challenging me to blow. It was a matter of now or never – all my patience ran out.
„Sora, enough!" Wellthatwasquick.Somuchabouttact.„We're worried as hell! All of us, and, and you... You're like 'Sun is on the sky, oh way, oh way...'!* Since when does my best friend come to my house to watch anime instead of talking about boys and music and her boring every day job? Now you're just like-"
„I'm just like you," she said not even bothering to look at me over the page.
I blinked. That one sentence was like a bucket of cold water.
What she said was true. All she did in last four months was go to work and then straight home, up to her room and her computer.
„Bullseye," she giggled and put down the magazine. She took one of the pillows and put it behind her back. „Why are you staring at me like that? Don't tell me... you didn't noticed that before?"
„No. I haven't. Wait..." Somehow all became clear to me. I just knew that there was something familliar about that girl who stalked me throughout network. The one who called herself NewSky... The one of those who just wouldn't stop asking questions, someone that would made you frett of meeting on-line. „You're the NewSky, aren't you?"
„Bullseye, again."
Even after she confirmed I felt it hard to comprehend. How?HowcanSorabeher...?
„Then... The reason you refused to leave your house is because you were watching anime?"
„Well, you can say that. I had a lot of catching up to do, if you know what I mean."
„Yes, b-..."
„Damn, you're good, if I might add! I've checked your 'watch history'...You're like a monster; 5000 episodes within a year? How can that be humanly possible?"
„I don't know... just happened..." My thoughts trailed off – the previous shock of discovery was too big for me to handle. I just couldn't wrap my mind around the new image Sora showed me. Could this really be the reason of her sudden change? In my toughts I saw myself head-benging the wall. Silly me... No, I couldn't be just that. Suddenly it occurred to me:
„But I've chocked you to death by boredom like, million times with anime, and yet, you... never..."
„Yes! But this time-" She stopped herself of saying the rest.
„What?"
„I'm sure it's over. The download."
„Fuck that. 'But this time' what?"
She got off my bed taking her cellphone and walked to the door. I jumped from my chair, ready to do whatever it takes to stop her from leaving. I knew I got her into the corner. If she escapes now, I'll never get the new chance to clear things up.
„Where are you going," I asked making a few steps towards her.
„To the balcony. I need to call my mother and inform her I'm staying at your place for the night."
„Why?" I was complately dumbfounded by her decision.
„The story I'm about to tell you can't be told in matter of minutes. Now, if you excuse me, I have to get this phone call over with."
With that, she opened my bedroom door leaving it open. I could see her going out to the balcony and flipping her phone.
I couldn't help but wonder... What could have happened to her so that her outgoing personality turned 180 degrees literally over night?
It was impossible for me to hear but I saw her letting a huge sigh before starting the convesation with the person on the other side of the line.
A.N.
*Reffering to Lily Allen song called 'Smile'. The Narator tries to depict Sora's nonchalant behaviour.
