Song: Good to Me by Seventeen
PROTAGONISTS POV
To say that I wasn’t shaken up by the nightmare I got a week ago would be an absolute lie. I’m not entirely sure about what induced it; probably the movie, but I can tell one thing for sure is that it brought suppressed memories, not only of my parents but also of my foster system parents.
After I was abandoned by my mother, I was thrown into the foster care system. Care? What a joke. Foster care parents were any different from how my parents treated me, the only thing I was thankful to them was that they provided a roof above my head and food enough so that I didn’t die. I was made to do all the chores and I slept in the storage room.
My mind was marvellously unpleasant as I made my way towards the old boring office building. I was late today anyway. As I was walking down the street, some lanky dude bumped into me. Cold air brushed past me and the force made me stumble into the pole. He didn’t turn around to apologise and kept walking. I was one incident away from starting a war.
The red poster plastered on the contrasting silver pole caught my eyes. It looked like a poster for the opening of a new roller coaster at the local theme park. I immediately fiddled out my phone from my back pocket and opened zaira’s chat.
‘Fancy going somewhere with me?’ i typed while trying to keep it as casual as possible.
Just as I reached the corner of the office building, my phone dinged.
‘And what am I supposed to do about my job?’
‘what about yours?’
‘ukw fuck it’
‘I’m in’
She spammed my phone with texts within a minute. I am not even sure if she contemplated not going considering how quick she switched to I’m in.why was i even thinking about the possibility of her not agreeing . I keep wanting to spend time with her.
‘you think I care about mine?thats cute’
‘meet me in the parking’
If I’d be taking out someone basically all the time, I need to get my own transport. A two wheeler would be the best option because I don’t think I have enough money saved up for a car.
I walked into the barely lit parking lot and scanned for her car. I leaned against it, my bare elbows touching the cold metal.
I was deeply in thought about, if the fruit orange was purple in colour, would we still call it an orange? or would it be called something bizarre.
I was scrolling through my phone when the sound of heels clicking the cemented pavement echoed through the noiseless basement.
“Oh there you are! Where are we going today?” she inquired as she waved at me and swung her purse over her shoulder.
I beamed at her and extended my hand for the car keys.
She kept the keys in my hand, her hand was still on top of my palm and she made a puppy face to tell her where I was taking her.
How can i just kiss her now. Wait, what?
Why did I think that?
Why is my body feeling all squirmy, in a good way.
Before I could rewind myself on what I thought, her voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Where are you taking me? To eat ice cream?
What are you thinking about? Is something wrong?” she asked with concern written all over her face.
“Whoa woman, slow down with the questions and no i’m not telling you where i’m taking you. Ice cream? Maybe or maybe not” i retorted and stuck my tongue out at her.
I completely turned a cold shoulder to the latter questions and proceeded to the driver’s seat. I opened the gate and glanced at her. She was still standing there.
“Do you not want to go or do you want me to carry you to the car?” I teased her and instantly her small feet scrammed and made their way to the passenger seat.
“Brace yourself” I smirked at her and she reciprocated it. I hit the accelerator and sped off to the amusement park--an embodiment of happiness.
She plugged in her aux and blasted random songs and we sang along in our disturbing voices.
Just as I hit the break in front of the park, her eyes went wide as she took in the familiar atmosphere in front of her. Her hands went flying in all directions as she squealed in excitement.
“Oh my god! I can’t believe this! You are the best!” she gave me a side hug before exiting the car with giggles. She was still excitedly jumping on the spot she was standing on like a small baby.
I just gazed at her from behind the wheel. If i knew this would have made her this happy, i would have brought her here sooner.
My focus on her was disturbed as she made gestures to hurry and come out, I nodded and went to park the car. I walked to where she was standing after parking. Before I could even match my steps with her, she ran up to me and took my hand and dragged me to the ticket counter.
“Hurry up, you sloth” I was cracking up over how this small woman could drag a tall guy like me.
“Who are you calling a sloth, you hamster” I sassed back at her, commenting on her petite figure.
“You want to die?” she turned her so fast i’m surprised she didn’t get a whiplash.
I held my hands up in surrender while trying to control my laugh.
She stopped in the middle. She was still holding my hand and i didn’t want her to leave it.
“freefall?” she questioned.
“let’s go!” this time i was the one to hold her hand and drag her.
She shudders while looking up the drop tower.
“Scared? Don’t worry, I’ll let you hold my hand” wait, was this called flirting?
“Don’t get too ahead of yourself Z” she replied, smirking. I loved the way she used my initial to address me.
There wasn’t much of a crowd today as it was a weekday and everyone should be at work, including us.
The only thing I remember about the ride is everyone’s screams and her holding my hand.
We stumbled our way out of the ride.
Next was Kamikaze, the pendulum ride. I was honestly scared of these rides.
This time I was the one who was quivering and she just patted my hair saying it’s okay.
And it was, because she was there.
As we exited, I sat down and tried to recover from what I just went through.
After five minutes and Zaira called me a child, I got up.
“Airburn?” I asked , referring to the new roller coaster.
She nodded in agreement.
It was one hell of a ride, I couldn’t wait to ride it.
“I can’t wait, hustle!” it was as if she read my mind.
At the entrance of the ride it read HAVE FUN.
So we did. It was so exhilarating, we rode it thrice.
After all that we were knocked out of all the air and energy so we decided to ride the carousel like little kids we were.
It was embarrassing because it was filled with only kids, but she was happy so it didn’t matter.
With the soft tune playing in the background and me gaping at her grinning face, it felt like a movie.
I don’t honestly remember feeling this happy and content in my entire life. And the fact that zaira was there to make me feel that way. Funny how today’s mood totally turned around. We just romed in the park until we found a good place to eat because at this point we could die out of starvation.
“Taco Bell it is” both of us said in unison as we gazed up at the familiar hoarding sign.
After fifteen minutes of waiting we could finally order.
With drinks and tacos we sat down to eat.
“I am so dead at the meeting tomorrow. But today is worth it” she spoke as she took a bite of her taco.
“The office must be dirty as fuck today. Office doesn’t realise my importance“ I scoffed and took a sip out of my coke while she took one out of her beer.
“ i have noticed you don’t drink, why?” she tilted her head in question. She had almost finished her taco.
“Ah well, um because of um my mom” that’s all, that’s all i could get out of my mouth. I couldn’t get myself to continue so I changed the topic.
“Hypothetically speaking, what would you do if i broke that antique window behind you?”
I smirked
“No way! I’m way too sober for this.” she laughed.
“Come on, don’t be such a party pooper” I said with a puppy face.
She set down her beer can and with a mischievous tone she said
“I’ll keep the car running”
I passed her the keys from my pocket and she ran to the parking lot, in seconds I found myself running behind her hot on my heels, laughing my head off while people chased after me.
I didn’t know this side of me existed.
As I neared the exit, I saw her waiting with the passenger door open.
I jumped into the seat and she sped off before I could even close the door.
This is possibly the last time we are coming here.
As laughter filled the car I realised something. That amidst all the assorted chaos in our lives. I somehow and somewhere fell in love with her.
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