I was lying on my bed again looking at my ceiling. Today was downright boring. Miku and the whole crew were at the meet and I spend all day gaming at my console till my head started hurting. I tried to keep me busy with some apps but I gave up soon…now my phone was lying on the other end of the bed…were I threw it in frustration.
I suddenly heard the awful sound of my ugly ringtone. I hated it…that's why I chose it. It makes me react fast. I took the call instantly. „Hey Miku, are you home again?" I asked sure of the other persons identity. I mean Miku is one of five people with my contact. The others are my father, my mother, my elder brother and a guy from my class I had a school project with. I want to keep it that way because my father is a control freak. He even asked me openly what person that classmate was and if contact with him could be possibly harmful. Harmful to whom? Or better: to what?!
„Yeah! We had sooo much fun. You really missed out, Kaito." I smiled. „Sounds great. How was everyone." She snickered in an evil way. „Hot…especially Purple –„ „-Miku!" I interfered. She knew we had a really good connection…and that I had kind of a thing for him. She giggled. Yeah, just tease me, but I can play that game just as good. „What about PinkTako?" Silence…
„She was so cute…so girly and ladylike." There she goes again. Going crazy over her crush. But I have to be honest, if I would be into girls or both I would go for her too. Good for Miku we both are completely one-sided. Father would kill me…
„Did you flirt with her?" I asked in fake boredom. „No way, we met for the first time and EVERYONE was there!" Good point. You won. „By the way!" she suddenly sounded super exited. „Gumi decided to meet up monthly, every second weekend. Like that we will be real life friends too. That means your chances get better to finally see your beloved Samurai." Great, so that means I have to find an excuse every month? Awful. „Really?" I probably sounded miserably. „Kaito, chill. Meiko won't be there next time as well and the siblings are not sure." Okay, still it worries me. „If you say so…but who is Gumi and Meiko?" She gasped. „Oh, when we met we decided for our real first names. Gumi is GunGirl, Meiko is RedWarrior. OrangeJuice is Rin and her brother name is Len aaaand PinkTako is called Luka and PurpleSamurai is Gakupo."
„…" Gakupo. I have a normal name for is beautiful face now….god, help me! „They want to know my name?" That would be not so good. „Well…it would be nice. We are real friends, right? But take your time. I am with you, come what may…" I smiled. Well if I would be into girls I would probably be already married to Miku. My father would also hate that, but to separate her from me is impossible even for a Moneybag like him.
„Will I see some stuff at school?" I am looking forward to it. „Who do you think you are talking to? The break won't be enough time to show you all my pictures." I guess this was not an empty threat. „Hear you tomorrow." We will finally do some fun matches together again. „Yeah! Good night, Kaito!" She made a weird exaggerated kissing sound and hung up after I wished her good night as well trying to copy the noise but failing in my ears. Finally the day is over.
When I got online everyone was already there. I joined the voice chat right after I set my coffee aside. „Morning." I announced and started my Webcam while the streams of my friends faces where still loading. „Morning? It's nearly 2pm?" Len will never understand students. „Don't say you really worked on your assignment after coming home." I sipped on my coffee. „Well that's what I wanted to say, carrot."
„No way!"
„You're such a nerd."
„Oh man."
„I am impressed."
I laughed lowly and looked at our group chat list again. „Where is IceCreamDragon?" He usually is not that late. I looked at the time again. Still around 2pm. Strange. I thought he would be first to ask all kinds of questions.
„Haven't heard from him." Gumi said now wondering too. Confusion seems to fill everyones face. „He will come for sure. He was exited for today. I spoke to him for short on the phone." Miku was the only one who had closer contact with him. I was a tiny bit jealous of her but…Icy was a little special. Friendly and really sweet. He would help you with what he can without thinking but then he also was…closed off, shy and kind of mysterious.
Suddenly I could hear a familiar melody screeching through my boxes. Miku took her phone and everyone groaned. This sound always surprised us in an uncomfy way. But then it was silent on her line. She muted herself. No good sign.
No one spoke and everyone was watching Mikus stream to guess what's going on. First she seemed surprised but then her face twisted in a grimace of irritation and disgust. The next moment it melted in to pure sadness. She bit her lip and nodded. After some more silent words and nodding she hung up and unmuted herself. „Icy can't make it today. He…is feeling unwell."
Wordless disappointment was reflected on our faces. „That is…too bad." I said carefully. Miku still looked so sad…Sometimes it feels like those two are not telling us the whole truth. But even if so, who are we to demand something like this. If Icy does not want to share parts of his life, than Miku has no right to share them. Maybe even she has no real idea what's going on.
„Okay, well, if he is sick, than it can't be helped. Just let's start a match!" Sometimes Gumi is a real lifesaver. Still the sadness in Mikus eyes was still visible for a while and I am sure Luka was worried the whole time.
It was already damn late and everyone was gone, but I still had an assignment to finish and I won't have time tomorrow so I had to finish today because it was due on Tuesday….who set's a deadline on a Tuesday? University makes no sense at times.
My workflow died out of confusion about an online notification.
- IceCreamDragon is now online –
…huh?!
I dropped my pen to open the chat.
= Your late. The others are long gone. =
…
No answer? Well, maybe it was just the chat tricking me. But then the chat showed me someone was typing.
= I know. Sorry. =
= Are you feeling better? =
= I don't know… =
= If you're sick, you should go to bed and rest. =
Again he did not answer right away, but the chat flashed the typing sign a few times.
= I can't sleep. =
I starred at those words for a while just to take a deep breath.
= Can I call? =
This time nothing happened for a while. I already took my pen again when I suddenly heard the voice chats ringtone. I answered immediately.
„Hey." I nearly whispered because he didn't said anything. I just heard some white noises. „Hey" he whispered back sounding slightly hoarse. His voice was kinda deep but usually it was smooth and soft. Now it sounded rough…and shaky. I heard it like this once before…I hated it but I was powerless in this situation.
„We missed you. Yesterday too."
„…I'm sorry"
„I didn't meant to make you feel bad about it."
„I…I know…it's just…it's complicated."
I could hear his frustration. Whatever he was talking about, it was distressing him…a lot.
„It's okay. You don't have to talk about it…just know…I am here, okay?"
There was a heavy breath.
„Thank you…"
There are times a screen is like a cruel window to another place you desperately reach for…but you will never be able to touch what is hidden at the other side. It's painful.
I looked at my nearly finished paper. „Wanna listen to my assignment?" Another shaky breath. He maybe even smiled.
„Sure…ready when you are." I started to read my paper out to him and eventually I finished it even before 4 am…
