Booooo!

"Thank you for inviting me"

Mina said politely as I opened the door of our flat. She was casually dressed wearing oversized t-shirts and jeans. For some reason, I expected that she'd turn up in some girlly dress or something.

"No problem. Please come in"

With that, we walked across the living room and down the short corridor to enter my room on the left end. The opposite room on the right was my brother's room.

"So, er, this is my room. Sorry it's a bit messy"

Mina seemed to look around the room and just smiled silently as if to say "it is very messy but I won't say anything".

"Do you want anything to drink?"

"Yes please"

"Coke? Coffee? Tea? Juice?"

"Coffee please, if it's okay"

"Sure. Black or with milk?"

"Black please"

"Got it"

It took a few minutes for me to go make two cups of coffee, mine with milk and black for Mina. When I returned to my room I found Mina sitting in the exact same spot as she did when she first entered, looking like she just sat there politely without getting too curious about my stuff while I was away.

"Here you go"

"Thank you"

"So… what kind of games would you like to play? This fighting game is good and you can just smash the random buttons and won't do too badly. The kart racing game's also fun to play together and it's easy for anyone. Even kids play them"

"Really?"

"Yeah, I recommend we try the racing game first"

"Ok"

I loaded up the cart racing game and taught her some basic controls.

After about fifteen minutes of playing, one thing became very clear.

She. Totally. Sucked.

"I'm sorry I'm really not good at this"

"It's okay, everyone's like that at the beginning. Well, actually a bit better than that.."

Mina looked a bit downcast. Did she really want to become good at games? Ah, that's right, she was probably fantasizing about getting good and playing with me and Juno in the same clan - patience young grasshopper, you are still some years behind our level.

"Booooooo!"

"Whaaaaa?!"

My room's door suddenly flung open and a boy jumped in.

"For fucks sake Juno! I told you to never do that again!"

"Kekeke, you looked so scared!"

Juno had one hand on his tummy and pointed at me with another hand in exaggerated laughter, which suddenly stopped.

"Oh.", Juno noticed Mina in the room.

"Oh.", I remembered Mina was in the room.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here"

Juno looked embarrassed realizing that he just made himself look like a little bratty child in front of another girl in our class.

Mina just sat there frozen, with her eyes on Juno but not saying anything.

"Er… Mina?"

I called out to her. No answer.

"Mina?"

I put my hand on her shoulder and called her name again.

"Oh. Sorry. I was just. A bit lost"

"See Juno, you frightened her!"

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have barged into the room like that"

"It… it's okay", Mina stuttered.

"Get out" I waved Juno away and he sulked out of the room.

"Sorry about that Mina"

"It's okay… does he always come to your house just like that…?"

"Well, he probably came back with my brother. Hang on"

I got up to open the room's door and shouted,

"Kris, are you home?!"

"Yeah, what's up"

I could hear Kris, my brother, answering from his room without opening his door.

"Is Juno in your room?"

"Yeah"

"Please keep him there"

"Ok"

Then I closed my door and sat by Mina again.

"Sorry, Juno and my brother have been friends since elementary school too, so he makes himself TOO comfortable at our home"

"I see... I didn't know you have a brother"

"Yeah, he's my twin brother actually. He goes to a different school because that one has a good football team there"

"He plays football?"

"Yeah, he's pretty good. He won the regional championship with his middle school team last year"

"I see… I remember.. Ju..no also likes football"

Oh yeah, that's what I wrote in the questionnaire.

"Yes, he does. They probably playing some football game now"

"Right"

We then sat on the floor quietly for a few seconds, and I thought I'd break the awkward silence before it lasts too long.

"Another round?"

I asked Mina offering the controller.

"It's okay. I think I will get going now"

"Er... Ok. Sorry that Juno bothered you"

"No, it's okay. I will see you at school on Monday"

"Right. See you"

I escorted Mina out of the house.

She waited for the lift to come, gave a friendly smile when it did, and then off she went.