Small talk

That night he thought he dreamed of a sunset so incandescent in red that it could almost compete with the color of blood.

When he awoke he was warm, on a cold autumn morning.

"-Noah, today I plan to tell him.

It was only a few minutes before the break was over and June wanted to have the emotional and moral support of her friend so he wouldn't regret it, as always."

As he set his feet on the carpet those waves of random events bid him good morning. He closed his eyes, lowered his head and furrowed his eyebrows in a clear gesture of concentration to take in as much information as possible, they were not always images, sometimes just dialogues, like someone in the distance shouting.

"-I'm asking you to give me one more week, I promise I'll pay you what I owe you but don't rat me out to my father."

A small laugh escaped June, yes, that was his laugh from when he was fifteen.

"-I'm talking about. xxxx, the thing about your camera can still wait," The bravery with which he said it at first vanished as if by magic, his face felt hot and he had to duck his head. - What do you think?"

A small silence that felt like a minute was interrupted by a pat on his shoulder; there was no one with him but it was so real, almost as if Noah was beside him.

"-Don't you think you were taking your time?"

"-Yes, I mean...don't you think it's odd? I would have thought the 'like' was an expression of admiration and not romance."

"-Juny, I wouldn't be your best friend if I hadn't known what you meant when you confessed to me. There are only people who love people, live with that in mind. No matter what happens I'm always going to be your friend."

A familiar nostalgia settled in his eyes wanting to release a salty waterfall already announced by a tickle at the back of his nose.

He'd be lying if he said he remembered the last time he saw Noah, the last time they talked, because he's pretty sure that memory definitely wasn't it. The carousel of thoughts stopped the instant his door opened. A short, white-haired man, head and face, peered out from behind the porch.

-Nikki came looking for you again.

A freckled girl with big glasses and an energetic personality stopped by every morning to ask about June.

They were neighbors on the outskirts of Seameet, there were few houses with several meters of separation between them thus giving a more country and private aura and lifestyle; the center was a bit busier, cobblestone alleys and some main streets with cracked pavement. None of that was what had led June to decide to stay with his grandfather, Seameet had not only its crimson sunsets, a red fire that gave the sensation of being always on fire, nor its aquatic caverns that in summer were the tourist attraction par excellence, at least from June's point of view it was the frightening cliff that had been closed for security for a few years. All the more reason why it was his favorite place, the fierce winds that blew made him feel a freedom and peace that made him feel that if he jumped he would fly among the strong currents coming in from the sea.

He sighed in defeat, Nikki's perseverance sometimes surprised him and the curiosity, of the one who always has the good or bad fortune to win in her mental debates, won the decision again. He scratched uncomfortably at the back of his neck and exhaled resignedly.

-I'll go tell her that...

-I'll go.

He finished his grandfather's sentence. He definitely wouldn't take a bath as he was used to at night time, nor would he fix his hair, which was short and tidy without having to brush it through, , much less would he make himself presentable to see Nikki, as his pajamas were too comfortable to leave behind, he didn't have the desire or energy, he just wanted to have breakfast and test if after that day the girl would be disappointed enough in his appearance to give up on his invitations.

-Junny!

She beamed with such a white smile, a clean, neatly pressed school uniform, and her hair pulled back with a garter and a pair of ribbons.

-Aren't you running late?

Her disinterest was such that she didn't even bother to look at the time.

Contrary to the unpleasant impression he wanted to give, the freckled girl found him even more adorable than he already was, she definitely needed to get to know her mysterious and reserved neighbor better.

-I always come early to have time for you and to be on time. Let's have breakfast together! I have sandwiches, strawberries and chocolates.

Not even half a second had passed when alone she invited herself into the house as she arranged her backpack on the nearest table.

-I don't like chocolate. Too sweet.

-You should try it, I made it with the coffee left over from the weekend.

Nikki also lived with her grandfather, who was a good friend of June's grandfather, and had a coffee shop in downtown Seameet where the girl would go after school and on weekends.

-As a courtesy, I'll accept a sandwich.

Again the attempt to be a person with a horrendous temper failed again as saying those words ignited an unparalleled gleam in her neighbor's eyes who quickly pulled out a container where she kept them in the shape and freshness of a good sandwich.

-Choose the one you want, there are sweet, savory and vegetarian!

The truth is that he didn't expect that, either the girl loved to share not only with him but also with her friends or she ate too much, the latter seemed a bit far-fetched since Nikki's build was small and slender. Nikki's voice was mere background noise as June munched parsimoniously on a vegetarian sandwich, his diet had changed for the better, having led a life of privilege that whetted his appetite for bad eating habits that ultimately affected his gut, skin and weight. That was perhaps one of the great advantages of living with a senior citizen, they lead a healthier life to which it did not cost him much work to adapt, after all, part of his income was still from what his parents were responsible for sending monthly with the promise that he would save for the future and look for a job. He understood that he was a parasite with no aspirations in life, resigned to spend his days cooped up living at the expense of his family's economic assets, and he should feel guilty for having that perception of himself but he doesn't feel guilt, he feels pity and sometimes he wants to think that those wind currents will give him wings to fly and be free.

-Hey, listen to me!

His insane ideas disappear after a loud clap Nikki gives in front of his nose and brings him back to the present in his mouthful he has yet to swallow. Her voice is one of concern, she had been warned that he had asocial behaviors, that he used to dissociate often but she hadn't seen anything like this until now, I mean, it's not every day you observe someone so absorbed in the gloom of his thoughts looking like a zombie, or like someone who is about to transform into one.

June looked at her not knowing what to say, not even with her grandfather can he cross more than a couple of monosyllables, he averted his gaze, uncomfortably struggling with his unconscious to thank her or apologize... To hell with apologies! He hadn't done anything wrong other than being himself, at no point had he disrespected her.

-Thanks for the breakfast.

He got up from his seat, watched her for a couple of seconds, her expression that of someone watching the next moves of a predator ready to pounce to devour its prey.

-Tomorrow I can bring you more, if you want.

June shook his head slowly.

-No need for that. Umm, it's already late.

He almost ran out of the dining room, that was too much socializing for one day.

-I'm... I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?

-Don't worry about it, little girl, you made him talk more than usual.

Not entirely convinced, Nikki began to pick up her little picnic to start on her way to school. The old man wasn't lying, nor was he trying to improve the morale and spirits of his best friend's granddaughter.

-Nikki, you can keep coming, I can't promise that June will always come out or that he will accept tomorrow, be patient with him. Thank you for coming, please send my regards to Connor for me. Tell that old man not to disappear for so long, it's not good for a senior citizen to wander in solitude.

-I always tell him so, or ask him to let me go with him but he doesn't trust anyone to leave the coffee shop. I'll let him know anyway, thanks Dylan. I'll be back tomorrow.