Picture Perfect
Elka wrapped the towel around her head. Long, wet locks slipped through and trailed down her back. She looped the tresses around her fingers and stuffed them back into the towel, tightening the knot on her head and securing it in place. Smoothing her bangs back, Elka inspected herself in the bathroom mirror. Even though she noticed the slightest hint of puffiness under her eyes, she decided she looked presentable.
She smoothed out the wrinkles on her pure white bathrobe, the cotton material still soft and pleasant despite over a year of wearing it. Taking the sash, she pulled the ends and tightened the knot by her waist. Elka took another look at herself and smiled, setting her hands on her neatly accentuated hips and nodded, feeling more comfortable and confident with her appearance.
She left the door open as she exited the bathroom, letting the remaining steam waft into the hallway. Her bare feet did not make a sound as she trekked across the finely carpeted floor, the colors a mishmash of homely dark reds and browns. She passed portraits hung up on the walls of other members of Maloof's family and paused to gaze at one featuring Maloof when he was a chubby toddler clinging to his grandmother's leg while she sat in her rocking chair in what she believed was her personal den. He had her smile, one which pushed up pudgy cheeks, and her curls, although hers were distinctly gray and thinner. Elka tilted her head, fondly remembering how his grandmother had taken her aside to ask if she was alright among so many verbose, sneering family members with their quick, scrutinizing gazes during the annual Canola family reunion. Glancing to the next frame, she chuckled to herself at Maloof and her holding cotton candy and standing on Santa Monica Pier. The beach shone so brightly in the background that it blended in with the golden shore, the sun a bloody dot as it melted into the water. Behind them were people walking their dogs or running after their children, the carnival-like surroundings populated by all kinds of people near pop-up vendors and distinctly Californian stores. Even now, she could still smell the overwhelming stench of butter popcorn mingling with the sea salt breeze.
Stepping away from memory lane, she came out to the living room and found Maloof lounging in a dark brown loveseat fit for two. He had his arm slung over a throw pillow, one leg crossed over the other. While the widescreen television mounted on the wall showed a late night talk show, he was more invested in his phone. His thumb swiped from left and right, up and down, with his eyes tracking the digit's movement. He hadn't realized she arrived, amusing Elka as she crept closer, quietening her footsteps on the hardwood floor when she made her way behind him. She leaned forward, stopping her breath as Maloof's finger twitched on top of his phone and hit the power button, mistakenly returning to his lock screen.
A smile curved on her lips. She set her hands on the top of the loveseat while Maloof typed in his passcode. As the screen lit up with apps, she whispered in his ear, "Am I your lock screen?"
The shriek he emitted pierced her eardrums. Maloof jumped a foot in the air, propelled by levitation before plummeting back down. He fumbled for his phone, it bouncing between his hands before Elka pinched it with her index finger and thumb. As he whirled around to face her, she maintained her grin and clicked the power button, returning to the lock screen.
"You weren't supposed to see that," he grumbled, heat flushing his complexion cherry red.
"We've been dating for five years, and you get embarrassed because of that? How cute," she cooed, reaching down and lightly pinching his cheek.
As he uttered what she believed to be a combination of a grumble and a chuckle, Elka inspected the picture he chose. It was one he had taken early in their relationship. If she had to guess, she supposed it was when they were dating for a few months. She stood on a sandy shore which stretched on as far as she could see until she found a strip of deep blue waves in the distance. Her mouth was open in a laugh, the wind seemingly whipping at her body. The shot had been snapped when her baby blue sundress was in mid-flutter, sand kicking up and hitting her long legs, and she was pressing her straw hat to her head, as if it would have been taken by the breeze, but even if it had, she could not find a trace of annoyance in her features.
"This was...hm, this was our weekend in Myrtle Beach, right?" she asked, slinking around the loveseat and tussling her fingers through his curly mop of hair.
"Yeah, our first real vacation together," he replied with a lopsided smile. While she made herself comfortable next to him, tucking her knees to her chest and readjusting her bathrobe, he fixed his own. Pulling up the collar of wine red robe, he leaned into her shoulder, looking up at her through full lashes.
"I can't believe you haven't updated this. Has this been your lock screen ever since you took it?" Elka teased.
"Why update it when it's perfect?" he retorted, smirking.
She conceded by gently tweaking his nose. "Touche," she purred, smiling, her heart swelling with contentment. Setting his phone on the glass table in front of them, carefully avoiding the glasses of rose he prepared for them, she cupped his round face and pulled him in for a kiss. Feeling Maloof melt into her embrace and wrap his arms around her waist, Elka closed her eyes and immersed herself in their mutual happiness.