Episode 68 - Real Happy

"Huh?" Amari didn't have time to ask. Yangyang had already stood, lifting him up and setting him onto his feet. After a moment, he heard a loud voice echo out of the phone speaker.

"Jie, calm down."

More loud buzzing from the speaker.

"Well, now you just sound like ma."

Amari shook his head as the buzzing continued. That was the wrong thing to say.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry. I took the day off, so I'll go pick him up."

A few moments of silence.

"Ah, well... I'm in Brooklyn, actually. At Ziggy's."

Another moment of silence.

"Actually, A Li sent me a message last night, so I kind of just ran out..."

The buzzing returned, almost loud enough now to make out the voice.

"Well, you can ask him that yourself. I'll bring him home with me, and you can scold him in person."

Amari groaned and lightly punched Yangyang in the side. He was pulled into Yangyang's chest, Yangyang only making the occasional noise to acknowledge Yinyi as she lectured him over the phone.

"Jie, go back to work," he finally interjected, cutting off any more of her ranting. "I just wanted to let you know everything is alright. Thanks for taking Taitai to school."

There were a few moments of silence and then a beep, the call disconnecting.

"Well, this should be an interesting evening." Yangyang sighed and gave Amari' shoulder a pat before letting him go. "I have to pick Taitai up from school at noon. Do you want to come with me? Jie won't be home until after five."

Amari nodded, finding his suitcase. "I wanna come. Lemme just shower and change."

He pulled the suitcase to the bedroom, leaving Yangyang in the kitchen with Ziggy, and with the door closed, he slowly slid to the floor, leaning against the wood. Taking a deep breath, his eyes began to water, and he tilted his head back, blinking to dry the tears.

He had saved all of the messages Yangyang had sent him over the months, but had ignored most of them. If he had listened, he wouldn't have been able to stay away. He acted strong, but had barely made it through their conversation in the bedroom just now. As the situation finally sunk in, a wave of remorse and relief washed over him, a wet drop escaping.

There was a soft tapping at the door. "Everything okay in there?" Ziggy's sweet voice came through, a little concern in his tone, and Amari quickly wiped his cheek.

"Yeah." He grabbed the suitcase and felt around for a sweater and a clean pair of jeans. Opening the door, he smiled reassuringly at Ziggy's figure and pushed past him to the bathroom.

Everything was the same, his basket still at the side of the sink, and he fell into his typical morning routine. It seemed like a dream - like maybe he had just imagined the past three months. How does someone disappear without any communication and return months later as if nothing happened? It didn't matter how. It had been a long and hectic time away, and coming home to family was the best feeling. He didn't want to think about the rest.

Opening the bathroom door, Amari walked directly into Yangyang's chest and he was pulled close, a kiss pressing against his neck.

"What're you doing?"

"I just wanted to smell you," Yangyang teased, and he smacked him on the back.

"You know how creepy that sounds, right?"

Yangyang only chuckled in response and Amari slipped out from under his grasp, heading back into the bedroom to finish changing. He pulled out a small box and switched the long chain hanging from his ear for a black star stud. Then he grabbed a tiny bag, jingling as it moved. He wasn't sure he would need it, but better to bring it just in case.

"What's in the bag?" Yangyang leaned over Amari's shoulder to look through his things.

Pushing the heavy body back, he couldn't hold in a smirk. "It's a surprise."

"I thought you hate surprises."

He closed up the suitcase and moved it next to the bed, grabbing his phone and earbuds. Smiling, he gently directed Yangyang through the door and down the hall.

"It isn't a surprise for me."

"Ah." Yangyang moved to Amari's side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "I see how it is."

"I didn't get a chance to look at mon chou last night," said Ziggy, meeting them at the front door. "But look at this, hein? Green sweater, blue coat. Jewelry?"

Amari held up his hands, turning them, then felt the bracelets on his wrist. "The rings and leather strap're from Bobbie. She said I'm not allowed to sing if I'm boring." He spun the other woven bracelets around with his fingers. "The two colored braids are art projects from the kids. They learn colors by matching them to different objects, so they made bracelets for people after asking them about their favorite things. Just a way to remember and associate colors, while doing something tactile."

"Yangyang." Ziggy's voice was hushed and he stumbled dramatically, grabbing at Amari's shoulder. "Mon petit frère just used the word 'tactile.' It's scaring me, tsé?"

"Oh, va chier. Fuck off, old man." He removed his roommates's hand and heard him sigh in relief.

"Ah, oui, he's still in there." Yangyang huffed at the theatrics and Ziggy handed Amari a guitar case. "You said you needed this today, hein?"

"Thanks." He slung the case onto his back, then took his wallet and keys from the table near the door and his coat from the hook. Grabbing Yangyang by the hand, he flashed him a sweet smile. "Ready?"

At the bottom of the stairs, Yangyang pulled out his phone and tapped him on the arm. "I'll call for a cab. You aren't going to say anything to Cate?"

Amari shook his head and leaned against the wall, kicking the sidewalk with the toe of his boot. "I wanna, but it's almost noon. We have to get Taitai, and it's always busy at the coffeehouse this time of day. We can catch up when I come back." He smiled to himself. "It's Cate. She'll forgive me."

As the cab approached, Yangyang waved it down and the two crawled in.

"Do you want to walk home from the school?" he asked after giving their desintation to the driver. "It isn't too far, and we can stop and pick up something to eat."

Amari nodded and scratched the star on the side of his head. "If it isn't outta the way, can we visit shūshu and āyí?"

"Of course."

It was quiet between them, just the normal sounds of tires on pavement and the traffic outside, then Amari felt a tug on the guitar case on his back.

"You bought a new guitar?" There was a little chuckle, slightly bitter. "I guess you left yours when you suddenly skipped town."

"Yeah, okay. I deserve it. I'll give you a month to get the comments outta your system."

Yangyang sighed and slouched down on the seat. "Shouldn't I get three months?" Amari punched him in the stomach and he coughed out a groan. "Alright, alright. A month."

Leaning forward, Yangyang gave the driver a few directions, a way to avoid school traffic, then sat back in his seat. "Taitai and I have been playing your Little Martin. Kid's got a pretty good ear."

"I know," Amari replied sweetly, the memory of Taitai plucking at guitar strings buzzing in his mind. "Just like his ba."

The cab slowed and stopped, and Yangyang tapped his shoulder, telling him to exit from his side. They slid out and the man naturally rested an arm on his shoulder. Amari smiled at the squealing and giggling of children as Yangyang led him to the edge of a tall fence.

After a few moments and a lot of hustle around them - parents picking up their children or children walking home together - Amari heard a familiar shout.

"Li gēge!" Taitai called the name out a few times before he crashed into Amari's leg, wrapping his arms around his thigh. Crouching to the ground, Amari found the child's head and gently ruffled his hair. "You're back now? We missed you! Ba was real sad."

Amari frowned and pulled him into a hug. "I know. I missed you guys too. There were just some things I had to do."

Holding Taitai in front of him, he put his hands on the small face, then shoulders. "Your hair is longer. And did you get taller?" He felt Taitai shake and smiled. "Words."

"Ēn!" the high-pitched voice exclaimed happily. "Ba says I grew three inches from last year."

"Waaaa..." Amari ruffled his hair again. "Very impressive." With a low grunt, he lifted Taitai into his arms. "I guess if I wanna carry you around, I've gotta do it now, before you get too big."

There was a loud giggle in his ear and Taitai hugged him tight around his neck, then poked the star in his ear. "Li gēge, you look different."

"Do I?" he asked, playing dumb. "What do you think's changed?"

The three walked down the sidewalk as Taitai hummed in thought, the familiar sound making his father snort.

"You're wearing not-black. And there's a star in your ear. And you have rings. And these." He played with Amari's bracelets. "And you look real happy."

Yangyang laughed, but Amari's smile dimmed a little. "Did I not look happy before?"

"No, you were happy, but..." Taitai's voice trailed off trying to find the right words. "Now you look real happy."